Here are the Chelsea evening headlines from Friday, January 8.
West Ham told to tie Rice down amid Chelsea interest
West Ham United should offer midfielder Declan Rice a lucrative new contract and make him the “bedrock” of their side to ward off interest from Chelsea.
That’s according to former Hammers player Tony Cottee, who believes the 21-year-old is deserving of a new deal which reflects his worth to the club.
“I’m pretty sure that even now, with his elevated status, Dec will not be earning the same kind of money as the top men in the squad,” Cottee told The Sun.
“But he’s their most valuable player and in time will become the next captain after Mark Noble.
“I know he signed a five-year deal not so long ago but get him tied down and up there with the bigger earners and make him a bedrock of the future team.
“We all know other teams are interested. West Ham should be acting to secure Declan, so he is not allowed to drift into the last two years of his contract and possibly leave on a free transfer.”
Chelsea dealt triple injury blow for FA Cup tie
The Blues will be without Andreas Christensen, Reece James and N’Golo Kante for the FA Cup third-round tie against Morecambe on Sunday afternoon.
Right-back James has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem and has been ruled out for this weekend by manager Frank Lampard.
Christensen is suffering with a knee injury he sustained in training while Kante, who will be suspended for the Premier League game against Fulham, is also ruled out with a minor hamstring issue.
With Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma set to be rested for the 1.30pm kick-off on Sunday, Christensen’s absence could mean a rare start for Fikayo Tomori, while Billy Gilmour should start in place of Kante.
Lampard criticised over Havertz management
Bayer Leverkusen manager Peter Bosz has claimed Frank Lampard doesn’t know where to play Kai Havertz in his Chelsea side in an interview with The Athletic.
The 21-year-old has made a sluggish start to life in the Premier League after making his £75million move to Stamford Bridge and was then struck down by Covid-19 which Lampard said affected the player “severely.”
Now Bosz, who worked with Havertz at his former club Leverkusen, has questioned Lampard’s use of the German international.
“I can see why Chelsea brought him in but I cannot yet see the exact idea Frank Lampard has for him,” he said.
"It’s really good that he protects him in the press, though. But in the end, you must deliver, you must score goals and make goals. For a €100million transfer you must play, and he isn’t.”
