Here are your Chelsea evening headlines for Tuesday, August 18.
Chelsea tipped to sign RB Leipzig defender
In need of a centre-back, Chelsea have been tipped to sign Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig after the Frenchman produced a brilliant individual performance against Atletico Madrid and Diego Costa in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy, speaking on talkSPORT , said: “Largely, you look at the two squads, they went into [the quarter-final] as second-favourites, especially losing Timo Werner as well.
“You’ve got some big names, some household names in football in the Atleti team but I have to say, the boy at the back, Upamecano, what a performance.
“I was looking at him thinking, as the game was developing, ‘This was the first time I’ve had a close look at your game,’ and I was watching him and he was just immense.
“I was thinking: ‘Chelsea could do with him’.”
Leverkusen’s Havertz message
Amid extensive links with Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz will not make the switch to Stamford Bridge this summer if the Blues do not meet the German’s £90million valuation, per reports.
According to the London Evening Standard , Leverkusen are holding firm on their £90m demand and will not accept anything less for their star attacking midfielder.
After already adding Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, Frank Lampard is keen to add Havertz as he continues to retool his offensive unit.
However, finances are proving problematic after already spending more than £80m on Werner and Ziyech, and also having expensive deals for Ben Chilwell and Declan Rice lined up.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have pulled back from a potential deal, giving Chelsea a clean run at Havertz, but Leverkusen reportedly say that the season hiatus will not impact their valuation and are holding firm.
Chalobah signs new deal and loaned out
Versatile youngster Trevoh Chalobah has signed a new long-term deal with Chelsea, before agreeing to a season-long loan with FC Lorient.
Chalobah, 21, is the younger brother of former Chelsea product Nathaniel. He has already spent loan spells with Ipswich Town and Huddersfield Town in the Championship, but is now set to try his hand away from English football.
Chalobah clocked up north of 80 senior appearances over his loan spells with Ipswich and Huddersfield, but after Lorient’s promotion from Ligue 2 as champions, he now faces his first season in a top-five European league.
Lorient kick off their new season this week, while Chalobah’s new deal will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2023.
