8.45am Chelsea news LIVE: Havertz demands Champions League transfer, Werner £10m signing-on bonus, Pedro joins Roma – The Sun

June 26, 2020

CHELSEA handed Liverpool the title and boosted their own Champions League hopes with an impressive 2-1 win over Man City.

Meanwhile Frank Lampard has been talking about the Blues' transfer plans for the summer, which already include Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.

Follow all the latest transfer updates and gossip from West London below…

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.
FEEL THE BUR-N
Ex-Chelsea star Craig Burley has claimed Manchester United have an advantage over Chelsea in the race for the top four.
Speaking on ESPN FC, he said: “There's no doubt that Chelsea have to make sure they nail this top four.
“Fifth place as you know may get Champions League football, but it might not.
“United have improved and we know United's run-in is particularly easy.”
GOOD MORNING CHELSEA FANS
The Blues beat 10-man Manchester City to give Liverpool their first Premier League title.
And Frank Lampard sent a message to the new league champions.He said: “For last three season themselves and City have been out on their own.
“It's a gap we want to bridge. They are two of best teams in the world. Credit to them for what they have done.”
Chelsea also made a huge leap in their bid to secure Champions League football with a terrific 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Christian Pulisic opened the scoring with a smart finish in the first half before Willian sealed the three points from the penalty spot.
The victory lifted them five points above rivals Manchester United with seven games remaining of the season.
Lampard added: “We had to work a lot off the all. The work ethic and focus. A big three points for us. Nice result, should give us confidence.”
Ahead of the match, Chelsea announced that three players will leave the club at the end of the month.
Pedro is also set to leave west London at the end of the season, the Spaniard having agreed a two-year deal with Roma.
Yet Willian’s future remains a huge question mark, with the Brazilian having previously rejected Chelsea’s offers of a contract extension.
He is still a target for Arsenal, although the two parties are not believed to be close on the winger’s salary.
Willian could also still extrend his stay in SW6.
Youth products Josh Grant, Richard Nartey and Marcel Lavinier have all been released.
HAMMER TIME
Declan Rice needs to ‘sort his life out’ according to West Ham icon Frank McAvennie.
He told Football Insider: “I hope Declan Rice sorts his life out.
“There are a lot of rumours about him going and I am not sure if he will stay this summer.
“Look what he did to Ireland. He could not make up his mind.
“I do not think he will be a stalwart for England over the next few years.
“Declan might think he has to go to a big club and shine to cement his place in the England side.”
RATINGS
Chelsea made a huge leap in their bid to secure Champions League football with a terrific 2-1 victory over Manchester City.
Christian Pulisic opened the scoring with a smart finish in the first half before Willian sealed the three points from the penalty spot.
The victory lifted them five points above rivals Manchester United with seven games remaining of the season.
SunSport's Simon Phillips gives his Chelsea player ratings on what could be a crucial night for Frank Lampard HERE.
ALL DONE
SunSport's Andrew Dillion wrote: “If there is a good way to lose a title race then maybe this was it.
“Two hundred miles from home, no away fans to voice discontent, a spirited performance and fingers crossed that perhaps not that many people were watching on TV anyway.
“But there are no easy options for Manchester City right now.naline-pumped victory performance on the pitch so they win the league from their armchairs.
But there are no easy options for Manchester City right now.
“But next Thursday comes the excruciating indignity of forming a guard of honour for the team which is ripping it from them – Liverpool.
But next Thursday comes the excruciating indignity of forming a guard of honour for the team which is ripping it from them – Liverpool.
“Pep Guardiola will have to lead his players in a round of applause at his home stadium. And everybody is sure to be watching that…
ON KOP OF THE WORLD
Liverpool are finally Premier League champions, ending a 30-year title drought to reclaim their place at the top of English football.
Three decades in the making, the Reds have finally made it past the final hurdle after Manchester City lost 2-1 to Chelsea tonight.
After hammering Crystal Palace 4-0 on Wednesday, Jurgen Klopp just needed Pep Guardiola and Co to drop points at Stamford Bridge.
Former Liverpool target Christian Pulisic – who played under Klopp at Dortmund – got Chelsea off to a flier with a superb breakaway goal.
Kevin De Bruyne's stunning free-kick pegged the Blues back but Willian fired home a penalty to earn a huge three points and send Liverpool fans wild.
And now, with seven games remaining, the Kop faithful can finally breathe easy after months of stress with the season on the brink of being cancelled during the enforced break.
Klopp will now go down in Anfield folklore after guided Liverpool to that elusive Premier League crown – 11,016 DAYS in the making.
LIVERPULISIC
Liverpool once turned down chance to sign Christian Pulisic… and now may have just handed them their first-ever Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp always spoke of his admiration for the former Borussia Dortmund star – whom he worked with at the Bundesliga giants.
But the Reds boss never made his move, so as to not disrupt his star front-three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Klopp instead signed a back-up player – rather than a star with regular first-team intentions – in bringing in ex-Stoke man Xherdan Shaqiri.
And it may have just reaped the ultimate rewards, as Pulisic scored the opening goal of Chelsea's huge clash with Manchester City.
BYE BYE BLUES
Chelsea have announced that three players will leave the club at the end of the month.
Pedro is also set to leave west London at the end of the season, the Spaniard having agreed a two-year deal with Roma.
The former Barcelona winger will see out the rest of this campaign as Frank Lampard's squad battle to finish in the top four.
Willian’s future remains a huge question mark, with the Brazilian having previously rejected Chelsea’s offers of a contract extension.
He is still a target for Arsenal, although the two parties are not believed to be close on the winger’s salary.
Willian could also still extrend his stay in SW6.
Youth products Josh Grant, Richard Nartey and Marcel Lavinier have all been released.
CHELSEA 1 – 0 MAN CITY
Christian Pulisic has fired the Blues in front at half-time and as it stands, Liverpool are 45 mins away from their first ever Premier League title.
HAV A LOOK
Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz will reportedly only leave the club for a team playing in the Champions League.
BILD claim Chelsea are leading to the race for the German but the attacker would be open to other options should the Blues miss out on a place in the competition.
MEN Sport claim Havertz is open to a move to England amid links to Manchester United.
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea make two changes for this encounter, with Man City going striker-less in Sergio Aguero's absence.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE CHELSEA VS MAN CITY BLOG
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has admitted that he is relishing the battle for a place in Chelsea's side after featuring as a left-winger in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
He told the Blues official website: “I want to do as much as I can for the team.
“I played on the wing at the weekend, but I’ve played in midfield most of my career. Wherever I play I hope to bring what I can bring, my power and my strength, and try and get as many goals as possible.
“That’s what I did last season, getting in the box and trying to get goals, and using physicality in the middle of the park. I can’t wait to feel that power back and get my strength and speed to where it was last season.”
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.
The Austrian international has actually played the majority of his games in the middle of the defence for Bayern this season, despite mastering the left-back position in recent years.
RU THE DAY
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has admitted he is not yet at his physical or mental best after making his Chelsea comeback against Aston Villa.
He told Chelsea’s official website: “Honestly it felt amazing after so long without playing, 13 months since my last competitive game.
“To get on the pitch, even though there were no fans and it felt slightly different, it was amazing to feel that competitive spirit again.
“I’m just being grateful to be playing. I started against Aston Villa and I didn’t play as well as I wanted to play, but I just came off the pitch thinking I can’t be angry about that. I’ve just been out for 13 months.
“I did feel a yard off at times, physically and mentally, the feel of the game, how you would when you’re sharp and playing every week. I couldn’t say I felt like that. It’s hard to explain. You don’t have that smell for the game but it will come back the more I play.
“I wasn’t too hard on myself, I’m just happy to play and grateful to be back on the pitch. Slowly as I play more that sharpness will get better, and physically I will feel much better as well.”
BLUE IS THE COLOUR
For the second time in five seasons Chelsea have the chance to settle the Premier League title at Stamford Bridge without the champions on the pitch.
A 2-2 draw against Spurs allowed Leicester City to lift their first top-flight trophy back in 2016.
A positive result against Manchester City tonight will see Liverpool lift their first ever Prem title.
HEY JUDE
Bayern Munich will not join Chelsea in the race to sign Jude Bellingham, according to reports.
Bild's Christian Falk suggests there is no truth in the rumours the newly-crowned German champs have become the latest club to show interest in Birmingham ace Bellingham.
The reason being the Bavarian bosses “know” Borussia Dortmund have an agreement with the 16-year-old player.
The English youngster looks set to follow in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho by quitting the UK to move to Bundesliga side Dortmund.
A number of clubs have been circling around the highly-rated youngster including Chelsea and Manchester United.
GOLD£N BOY$
Chelsea target Sandro Tonali makes the cut in our most-valuable XI consisting entirely of 2020 Golden Boy nominees.
Earlier this month, the 100-strong shortlist for the award for most-promising youngster was released including Callum Hudson-Odoi and Billy Gilmour.
But neither of those two were worth enough to make the most-valuable XI of players from that list – worth nearly half a billion pounds – based on figures from Transfermarkt.
WILL HE OR WON'T HE?
Arsenal have reportedly reconsidered their £250,000-a-week contract offer to sign Willian from Chelsea.
The 31-year-old signed a short-term agreement with Chelsea this week to remain at Stamford Bridge for the season.
But the Brazilian is still set to leave Chelsea on a free transfer this summer.
According to the Daily Mirror, Willian received a £250,000-a-week offer from Arsenal before the coronavirus outbreak.
But the report claims that the Gunners are now deciding whether to follow through on that contract or attempt to reduce their package following recent financial troubles.
IT'S A SCORCHER
Not cool by any means in West London this evening.
Should be around 31C for the start of Chelsea's game tonight against the reigning champions.
AGENTS RAKE IT IN
Premier League clubs paid out a whopping £263million on agent fees during 2019/20.
Chelsea are in fourth place after forking out just over £26.1m, while Arsenal are in seventh with £13.5m.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is keen to complete a major overhaul of his squad at Stamford Bridge.
He has signed Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and are reportedly closing in on Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz.
MORE ON PEDRO
Chelsea winger Pedro will join Roma at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old Spaniard has agreed to stay for the rest of the extended Premier League season.
But he will then be heading off to Serie A to join Paulo Fonseca's side, according to Sky Sports.
Pedro has played just 18 times this season – with only nine of those in the Premier League – and scored twice.
Willian, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi are all ahead of him in the pecking order under Frank Lampard when fit and available, with Ajax star Hakim Ziyech joining next season.
Pedro joined the Barca academy aged 17 and went on to play 321 matches for the first team, scoring 99 goals, before signing at Chelsea in 2015.
PEDRO STATS
Here are the Spaniard's numbers this season.
Games Played 9
Minutes Played 656
Goals 1
Assists 1
Shots, on Target 9
Shots, off Target 4
Passes 310
Passes Successful 258
Passes Opp Half 201
Dribbles Completed 12
Dribbles Success Rate 54.55%
TRANSFER ROMAS
Sky Sports News are reporting that Pedro has agreed a deal to join Roma at the end of the season.
WILL POWER
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has confirmed the club are in talks to extend Willian's stay at the club beyond the end of the season.
Speaking to the media ahead of Chelsea's home tie against Manchester City, Lampard said: “Yeah we are still talking with the players, and Willian in particular we are talking with him.
“I always felt confident they [Willian and Pedro] would remain, they've been fantastic professionals for the club, and servants in all senses.
“And when you have that level of professionalism within you, I think it's a sign that they wanted to stay and see out the season at least.
“So we'll carry on talking and see.
“But I think everybody's focus now is on these next games, these individuals themselves and us as a club.”

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