Welcome to our football.london Carefree Chelsea daily news round-up. Maybe not the first, we've definitely done transfer round-ups before, and European round-ups, so I guess in some ways it's not that new at all. Anyway, we thought we would enter the world of football in a broad and roundabout manner for you and have some fun with some of the stories and captions doing the daily rounds.
Blues missed out on PSG star
Chelsea missed out on the signing of Marquinhos from Paris Saint Germain despite expressing their willingness to offer up to €100 million (around £86m), according to Loic Tanziloic.
However, despite the Blues' best efforts to prise Thomas Tuchel with a second arrival from Les Parc des Princes, PSG and the Brazil international declined Chelsea's proposals.
Tanziloic's report did not specify a time frame in which these talks happened, raising questions as to whether Chelsea's interest and desperation to sign Jules Kounde in the twilight stages of the transfer window were resultant or not of failed talks with Marquinhos.
The 27-year-old, who can play holding midfield and centre-half, would have rekindled a relationship with Thiago Silva and Tuchel following an era that blossomed between the trio.
Alonso will no longer take the knee
Marcos Alonso has explained why he will no longer be taking the knee before kick-off for Chelsea following in the footsteps of Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha.
The Ivorian forward was the first Premier League player to opt-out of the act by claiming it was 'degrading'.
Alonso has followed suit claiming that he feels taking the knee is 'losing strength' and will instead stand against racism by pointing to the Premier League's 'No room for racism' badge on his sleeve.
"I am fully against racism and I’m against every type of discrimination, and I just prefer to put my finger to the badge where it says no to racism like they do in some other sports and football in other countries,” Alonso said.
He added: "I think it’s losing a bit of strength the other way, so I just prefer to do it this way and to show I am fully supportive of fighting against racism.”
Tuchel tipped to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson
Tuchel has been tipped to follow in the hallowed footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson by Andy Townsend, should the Chelsea boss win the Premier League.
The former Blues midfielder insisted that Tuchel can produce something very special at Chelsea, much like Ferguson and Jose Mourinho have been able to conjure in the past.
"There’s a lot to admire about the way that Tuchel works," Townsend said, speaking on talkSPORT. "When Jose first arrived at Chelsea, he kind of shook the world.
"He grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and hauled them up, got them rubbing shoulders with the best and taking Fergie on when he’s in his pomp.
"Come January, if he’s got Chelsea where they are today – top of the pile – with a Champions League under his belt, he also is doing something very very special."
Chelsea risk losing Hudson-Odoi to PL rival
Liverpool are considering a move for Callum Hudson-Odoi amid the growing uncertainty surrounding the 20-year-old's future at Chelsea, according to Calciomercato.
Hudson-Odoi was subject to various rumours linking him to moves away on deadline day, before football.london was able to exclusively confirm that Leicester City were interested in the youngster's services.
The Blues number 20 has featured just twice this season but has pledged his desire to impress Tuchel by turning down an England Under-21 call-up over the international break.
Hudson-Odoi has seemingly remoulded himself as a wing-back under the German at Stamford Bridge, however, a move to Anfield would suggest he will be reverted to his natural right-wing role in Jurgen Klopp's front three.
