Good evening, Chelsea fans. Here are your evening headlines for Tuesday, September 22.
Lampard delivers huge Mendy transfer update
Frank Lampard has confirmed Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has undergone a medical at Chelsea and could be announced as the club's latest summer signing in a matter of hours.
The 28-year-old stopper is on the verge of completing a £22million move to Stamford Bridge to challenge Kepa Arrizabalaga for the number one jersey.
Kepa has struggled for confidence and form since Lampard's arrival and a costly mistake in Sunday's defeat to Liverpool only furthered the need for another goalkeeper.
"Mendy's having a medical as we speak," Lampard said this afternoon. "So subject to that being okay later on he'll become our player at that point.
"With Mendy coming in it's more competition, so every reaction will have to be positive around that from Kepa.
"Mendy, as he comes in himself, will push to try and play in this team, we know that.
"We know the standards that are required from a goalkeeper in this team, so we have to push for that.
"As far as I'm aware, he's having his test [coronavirus] now, he will be tested with us collectively on Thursday - and all being well with the tests being negative he'll be ready to play."
Chilwell and Silva fit for Chelsea debuts
Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva are available to make their Chelsea debuts on Wednesday night.
Lampard confirmed in his pre-match press conference today that both will be available for selection to face Barnsley in the Carabao Cup third round.
Chilwell suffered a heel injury before signing for the Blues but is expected to return to action tomorrow night at Stamford Bridge.
Silva, meanwhile, only joined up with the Blues last week after his summer break.
The 36-year-old Brazilian only completed the 2019/20 campaign on August 23 due to Paris Saint-Germain's run to the Champions League final.
Alisson reveals secret to Jorginho penalty save
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has praised the hard work of the club's coaching team after being the first goalkeeper to save a Jorginho penalty since the Italian's arrival in English football.
The Reds ran out 2-0 winners at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and Jorginho’s saved penalty – the first he has missed for the Blues – proved a vital moment in a testing second half for Chelsea.
Alisson told Liverpool’s official club website that hard work and careful preparation were the keys to denying the Chelsea midfielder.
He said: “I think in the Premier League this was the third penalty I had the chance to try to save.
“I’m really happy because in the Community Shield we lost on penalties. When the goalie doesn’t save any penalties you stay a little bit down and then you think, ‘I could do more, I could do it differently.’
“But the secret is to keep on going, to know that you are in a good direction, in the right direction, working hard and we did it together – me, John [Achterberg], Jack [Robinson], and all the video team who help us a lot.”
