7am Chelsea news LIVE: Alaba transfer UPDATE, Havertz demands Champions League move, Werner bags £10m bonus – The Sun
CHELSEA handed Liverpool the title – and boosted their own Champions League hopes – with an impressive 2-1 victory over Man City.
And the Blues are reportedly interested in signing David Alaba, having already snapped up Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Follow all the latest transfer updates and gossip from West London below…
GOOD MORNING CHELSEA FANS,
The Blues are reportedly lining up a stunning bid for David Alaba as Frank Lampard steps up his hunt for a new left-back.
The Athletic claims Chelsea have approached Bayern Munich over a shock move for the world-class talent this summer.
Lampard had been looking to prise England star Ben Chilwell from Leicester City.
But Brendan Rodgers’ £70million valuation of the youngster has put Chelsea off.
And it now appears that Lampard is trying his luck with highly-rated Alaba – who could also be under consideration as Chelsea search for a new centre-back.
But Kai Havertz is only interested in joining a team that is playing in the Champions League next season.
Frank Lampard's side are believed to put in an £80million offer for the Bayer Leverkusen star.
He has caught their attention after scoring 15 goals across all competitions this season.
But according to Sport Bild, a club not playing Champions League football is a deal-breaker for him.
And Willian has admitted he remains open to extending his stay at Chelsea past his short-term extension at the end of the season.
He told the Blues official website: “I want to finish the season well if I go, or maybe I can stay.
“I don’t know but what I want now is to play well and for Chelsea to finish in the top four.”
CHILED OUT
Brendan Rodgers says Ben Chilwell can handle speculation surrounding a move to Chelsea — as he prepares to line up against them.
The Foxes boss said: “I have no worries at all. Speculation is something you have to live with in this industry.
“He has good experiences now and can deal with that. It is a part of the game and we know that.”
Rodgers has been particularly impressed with how Chilwell has returned to action following lockdown.
He added: “Ben has come back and he has been brilliant. He has come back and looks fresh.
“In the lockdown he has really pressed the reset button again.
“He has been fit and his running ability has been great.
“His defending has been good — and you saw his goal he scored against Watford. It was a brilliant strike.”
PUL THE OTHER ONE
Christian Pulisic has shared his confidence after scoring in back-to-back games for the first time in his Chelsea career.
He told the Blues official website: “We have to capitalise on opportunities like that.
“I had another one in the second half as well [which was cleared off the line by Kyle Walker] but I’m just happy to help the team out by scoring. We needed it and we’re just happy to get the three points.
“We went into the game with a really confident mindset to go out and win. Obviously we want to finish the season strongly but we feel we’re capable of a lot more as well.”
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
Liverpool must pay some of their Premier League rivals millions in bonuses after clinching the title.
Jurgen Klopp and his team have worked wonders in the transfer market in the last few years.
But many players brought in have been heavily-incentivised, with Liverpool promising to pay huge fees to selling clubs if the player involved wins the league at Anfield.
With the Reds finally winning their first-ever Premier League title on Thursday, the Kop crew must now fork over.
Southampton are thought to be due a staggering £3million in fees, with Liverpool raiding the south coast club time and time again down the years.
Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana are all former Southampton stars set to watch their former club get richer.
Arsenal are also due a monster fee, with former Gunners ace Oxlade-Chamberlain now a Premier League champion.
Both Van Dijk and the Ox were linked with moves to Chelsea but both ultimately decided on a move to Merseyside.
TITLE CHARGE
Jason McAteer predicted Chelsea will be challenging for the title next season as he praised the club's transfer business.
He told the Racing Post: “I can see them being right up there next season.
“They needed to boost their forward line but Timo Werner's signing is a huge statement of intent.
“I don't think they can rely on Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud.”
FREE WILLY
Willian has admitted he remains open to extending his stay at Chelsea past his short-term extension at the end of the season.
He told the Blues official website: “I want to finish the season well if I go, or maybe I can stay,’ he added. ‘I don’t know but what I want now is to play well and for Chelsea to finish in the top four.”
WIL POWER
Willian netted his eighth goal of the season in the 2-1 win over Manchester City and the Brazilian admitted feeling fresh after the restart.
He told the Blues official website: “I’m feeling good.
“We had one month to prepare well with a lot of fitness training so all the players feel good to play and we showed that on the pitch.
“We have to keep going. We know teams that come from behind want to win to go in the top four as well so we have to do our job.”
BRIDGE TOO FAR
Willian has lifted the lid on scoring a second title-decider for Chelsea after netting the winner in the 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Six years earlier, the Brazilian had sealed a 2-0 scalp against Liverpool to hand the Etihad side the Premier League.
He told the Blues official website: “It was a really good game and a really important three points.
“We know that to play against them is very difficult. They have a great team and they have the ball all the time but we did well when we had possession.
“In the first half, we had a couple of good chances and then in the second half with the ball we played more on the counter-attack and created some great chances. When we didn’t have the ball, we stayed compact and together so it was a good game from us.”
BLUE IS THE COLOUR
Chelsea have announced that the club will be donating over half-a-million pounds to UK Charity Refuge.
At the start of April, the Blues joined forces with UK charity Refuge to raise awareness and funds to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic.
Chelsea agreed to match fan donations and with the addition of the Women’s Super League prize money, Refuge will now receive over £500,000 from this campaign with Chelsea FC.
KROOSING FOR A BRUSING
Toni Kroos has revealed how he turned to alcohol immediately after Bayern Munich's defeat to Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final.
Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Kroos's brother Felix recalled: “The Champions League final against Chelsea in 2012 – that was us drinking out of frustration. We were close to needing an emergency doctor!”
To which the Madrid star replied: “It was not a good thing but at least there was a reason for it. I remember that Jessi (Kroos's wife Jessica) then said: 'We can't do that (call a doctor) now. Imagine if it came out that I called an emergency doctor for having too much to drink!'
“There was no other way [to ease the pain of defeat]. In the end I had to call the emergency doctor myself because I thought: 'It can't be allowed to get worse than this.'”
HE'S THE DON
Erling Haaland has revealed he believes pal Jadon Sancho “is the best player” around – and was when they faced off aged 16.
The Norwegian forward, 19, was full of praise for his Borussia Dortmund team-mate – saying he's the best in the world.
Sancho, 20, is being chased by a host of European giants this summer including Chelsea, but Haaland will be desperate to keep his fellow attacker at the Westfalenstadion.
Haaland told BT Sport: “I'm not sure how many but goals and assists [Sancho has this season, but]) that speaks for itself.
“You can also see the goals and the way in which he dribbles past players it's looking so easy.
“It's also funny because I played against him when I was 16-years-old, and he was the exact same player dribbling past players.
“When I played against him then he was the best player I played against because he was so good.
“Now that I get to play with him it's fantastic and he's also assisted me and we play good together, he's as young as me and he's amazing.
“He has a very bright future.”
FOX HUNT
Chelsea will return to action in the FA Cup when they face Leicester in the quarter-final this weekend.
Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed he has no fresh injury issues ahead of the clash.
Speaking at his virtual pre-match press conference, he said: “No, nothing [new to report] at the moment.
“We are just ticking along and really looking forward to the game.
“There's nothing of note in terms of injuries and hopefully we can stay that way over the next day or so.'”
'HE WAS FANTASTIC'
Ex-Blues star Frank Leboeuf has praised Christian Pulisic following Chelsea's win over Manchester City.
He told ESPN: “Every time I see him play he improves.
“And I'm pretty sure he can still progress more.
“Pulisic was so clever, so fast.
“It was a fantastic goal, a beauty. He was fantastic.”
SEASON STANDINGS
As things stand, Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League table with 54 points.
Here's how they've looked throughout the season…
HOUSE ABOUT THAT?
Pedro is already searching for a new house in Rome ahead of his proposed summer switch.
The 32-year-old has agreed to stay at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the extended season.
But then the winger is expected to join Roma.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, he is already searching for somewhere to live out there.
BARGAIN BUCKET
Free agents are expected to hold extra value in the upcoming transfer market – and some top players are up for grabs.
With many clubs unlikely to splash the cash on transfer fees, any out-of-contract stars could be subject to many offers.
Frank Lampard has already signed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner and is closing in on Kai Havertz.
Here's who he could chose from if he fancies bagging himself a bargain…
TALK TO FRANK
Frank Lampard has praised Premier League champions Liverpool.
After win over City, he said: “We congratulate Liverpool.
“This game didn't decide the title, that was decided a long time ago through Liverpool's consistency and performances and wins.
“Fair play to them, give them full credit.
“They have great players and a great manager.”
AL BE BACK
Chelsea are reportedly lining up a stunning bid for David Alaba as Frank Lampard steps up his hunt for a new left-back.
The Athletic claims Chelsea have approached Bayern Munich over a shock move for the world-class talent this summer.
Lampard had been looking to prise England star Ben Chilwell from Leicester City.
But Brendan Rodgers’ £70million valuation of the youngster has put Chelsea off.
And it now appears that Lampard is trying his luck with highly-rated Alaba – who could also be under consideration as Chelsea search for a new centre-back.
FEELING BLUE
Pundit Jason McAteer predicted Chelsea will be challenging for the title next season as he praised the club's transfer business.
He told the Racing Post: “I can see them being right up there next season.
“They needed to boost their forward line but Timo Werner's signing is a huge statement of intent.
“I don't think they can rely on Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud.”
BOG OFF
United have made their move for Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga, according to ESPN.
It is understood that the 23-year-old is being viewed as a cheap alternative to Jadon Sancho.
The former Chelsea star is said to be “very interested” in the approach from the Red Devils.
it is understood he is keen to move to a “big” club – but would ideally want Champions League football.
MARC MY WORDS
Marco van Ginkel has penned a new one-year deal with the Blues.
The 27-year-old's contract with set to expire in the summer.
Since joining the Blues in 2013, he has been shipped out on loan to Milan, Stoke and PSV.
FER THE BEST
Former Chelsea forward Fernando Torres has congratulated Liverpool on winning the title.
Speaking on Instagram, he wrote: “Huge congratulations to everyone at @liverpoolfc on winning the @premierleague.
“An unbelievable squad, magnificient manager, great staff but above all my sincere congratulations to every @liverpoolfc support.
“You have been waiting so long and finally that desired trophy is yours. Very well deserved.”
View this post on Instagram
Huge congratulations to everyone at @liverpoolfc on winning the @premierleague . An unbelievable squad , magnificent manager , great staff but above all my sincere congratulations to every single @liverpoolfc supporter. You have been waiting so long and finally that desired trophy is yours . Very well deserved ????? #ynwa
A post shared by???????? ?????? (@fernandotorres) on
NICE LITTLE WERNER
Timo Werner has reportedly been handed a £10million signing-on bonus as part of his Chelsea contract.
According to Bild, he will also rake in £270,000-per-week at Stamford Bridge.
He will join Frank Lampard's side on a five-year deal after four years with RB Leipzig.
The German star has scored an impressive 30 goals and made 10 assists this season.
WILL I NEVER
Arsenal were reportedly prepared to offer Willian a £250,000-per-week deal before the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Mirror, the Gunners were ready to make a big-money move for the Brazilian.
But whether Mikel Arteta's side can put forward the same figures now is another question.
Manchester United are also interested in the 31-year-old.
But he is in talks with Chelsea over a new deal as his current contract is due to expire in the summer.
HAV A LOOK
Kai Havertz is only interested in joining a team that is playing in the Champions League next season.
Frank Lampard's side are believed to put in an £80million offer for the Bayer Leverkusen star.
He has caught their attention after scoring 15 goals across all competitions this season.
But according to Sport Bild, playing Champions League football is a deal breaker for him.
Source: Read Full Article