Here are the Chelsea evening headlines for Monday August 3.
Chelsea boss Lampard explains his stance on Willian future
Frank Lampard maintains he has a good relationship with Willian, but is none the wiser about the Brazilian’s future at Chelsea.
The former Shakhtar player is out of contract at Stamford Bridge, with other clubs expected to offer him a path away from west London.
And, while Lampard was full of praise for the player’s contribution, he admitted Willian’s future is the player’s decision - not his.
“I know the situation at the club’s end. I have a great relationship with Willian, but I don’t actually know what the decision is,” Lampard said.
Chelsea are understood to be keen to offer him a contract extension of only two years, rather than the three desired by WIllian and his agent Kia Joorabchian.
"Of course, I am very happy with Willian. He has been brilliant for me this season with his input and work ethic, within the squad,” the Blues boss continued.
"But it is his choice and I respect his choice. He has been a great servant for Chelsea if he decides to move on, and if he does decide to move on then Chelsea will move on and we have to look forwards ourselves."
Chelsea ‘prepared to listen to offers’ for N’Golo Kante
As Chelsea aim to further strengthen their squad going into the the 2020/21 season, they may need to make some sales.
However, few will have expected N’Golo Kante to be one of the players offloaded.
The 2016/17 FWA Player of the year, who has just completed his fourth season at Chelsea, was limited to just 20 league starts this season due to injury - his lowest return since coming to England with Leicester City in 2015.
And according to the Times, the World Cup winner is among the players who could be in line to leave this summer as Frank Lampard looks to free up funds to bolster his defence.
The Blues conceded 54 goals this season, more than any other club in the top half of the Premier League, and conceded nine times in six Champions League group stage games.
Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell is one of the defenders being targeted by the London club, who have already spent big this summer to sign Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.
Chelsea unlikely to move for Coutinho despite “much genuine interest” in player
Former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho is expected to leave Barcelona this summer, with the player’s agent Kia Joorabchian revealing there is “much genuine interest” in the Brazilian.
However, according to the Star, Chelsea are not thought to be set on signing the 28-year-old due to the recent additions to their squad and their continued pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz.
“After the Champions League, it’s not been a secret that he wants to come back to the Premier League if he can; he loves playing in the Premier League and is adored in the Premier League,” Joorabchian told talkSPORT, hinting that a move of any kind was unlikely until the conclusion of the European competition.
"It is one of his priorities… but he is also not against staying at Barcelona, so it is very much open. There is much genuine interest in Philippe because he is a great player and a big success. There is always interest."
Coutinho is currently on loan at Bayern Munich, Chelsea’s opponents in the last 16 of the Champions League, but the German champions will not be exercising their option to sign him permanently.
