Here are the Chelsea evening headlines on Thursday, June 4.
Chelsea close in on Timo Werner
Chelsea have overtaken Liverpool in the race to sign Timo Werner from RB Leipzig with positive talks taking place this week between the Blues and Bundesliga club that could see a deal confirmed in the coming days.
Sources have told football.london that there is now a "high probability" that the Blues will activate the Germany striker's €55million release clause before it expires on June 15.
And according to Fabrizio Romano, Werner has already spoken directly with Frank Lampard.
Chelsea trailing Bundesliga sensation Havertz
Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz has attracted plenty of attention in recent weeks following the resumption of the Bundesliga.
Scoring five goals in four outings since the restart, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge.
The Germany international is one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting prospects and a reported £90 million may be enough to tempt Leverkusen into selling him.
A move could be in the offing, following Havertz’s own admission that he would be ‘open’ to a Premier League move in future. His versatility would make him a good fit at Chelsea, while also adding yet more youth to an already enthusiastic squad.
Contact made for Brentford playmaker - report
Griffin Park maestro and Brentford winger Saïd Benrahma has been heavily linked with a Premier League move this summer.
The Algerian has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs, having been directly involved in 41 Championship goals over the past two seasons.
One of those clubs is Chelsea, who have already made contact with the player according to a report in the Daily Express.
The 24-year-old fits the mould of an Eden Hazard-type player, scoring and assisting in almost equal measure while putting on displays showcasing audacious trickery and close control.
Reports in Algeria suggest Chelsea are in pole position for Benrahma’s signature, however fellow London outfit Arsenal are also said to remain in the running.
Costa guilty of tax evasion
Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been convicted of tax offences and given a six-month prison sentence.
Costa will not spend any time incarcerated, however and as per the custom for wealthy defendants in Spanish law, will instead pay a fine totalling €543,708 to avoid his custodial sentence.
Costa – now 31 years-old – failed to disclose payments of over €5 million back in 2014 following his switch from Atlético Madrid to Stamford Bridge.
A statement made by an official spokesman for Atlético Madrid read: "Diego Costa reached an agreement a few months ago with the prosecutor and has already paid the corresponding fine plus interest and the request for a prison sentence was withdrawn.”
