Here are your Chelsea evening headlines for Friday, June 5.
Werner + Ziyech = Pepe
Chelsea fans are basking in the glory of the reports they have agreed a deal in principle to sign RB Leipzig centre-forward, Timo Werner. The Blues stepped up their interest in the German this week as they are supposedly set to sign the Bundesliga’s second-highest goalscorer in a £53million move after activating a release clause in his contract.
The move follows Chelsea’s deal for another star attacker who is set to join up with the club in the summer. Earlier this year, Chelsea tied up a £33.3million deal for Ajax star Hakim Ziyech. He and Werner will join Christian Pulisic in a vibrant and exciting new-look front three.
And there is one gleeful development that Chelsea fans have cottoned onto as Ziyech and Werner combined cost just £14.3 million more than Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe, who arrived in a £72 million deal last summer.
Pepe is yet to live up to his price tag, while Chelsea fans are eager to see what their newly built attack will look like next season.
Chelsea to follow up Werner with major splash
While Chelsea apparently made the biggest transfer move of the year thus far on Thursday, securing the deal in principle for Werner and adding an elite goalscorer to a young and vibrant attacking unit, they are reportedly set to follow that up with another major splash.
The Blues are actively working on a deal to bring Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell to Stamford Bridge, according to Goal. Chilwell has been ever-present for Leicester this season and is viewed as one of the best young left-backs in the Premier League.
Frank Lampard, meanwhile, has struggled to find a suitable performer at the position, especially when playing in a back four. Emerson failed to produce early in the season and though Marcos Alonso has impressed in an offensive sense, the Spaniard lacks the defensive discipline in a more orthodox full-back role.
With Lampard likely to implement a 4-3-3 shape with the acquisitions of Ziyech and Werner, he needs a more natural left-back. Chilwell, it seems, as his and Chelsea’s number one target.
Abraham and Kepa react to Werner rumours
Werner’s impending arrival at Chelsea has excited fans and players alike as both Tammy Abraham and Kepa Arrizabalaga liked a post announcing news of the move.
The pair showed their satisfaction with the news by liking an Instagram post from 433 relaying a report from BBC Sport, which claimed Werner had agreed a permanent move to Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Rudiger, who is good friends with Werner from their time in the German national team as well as a spell at Stuttgart together, also liked the post before later unliking it. The German defender is said to have played a part in convincing Werner to choose Chelsea.
