Here are your Chelsea morning headlines for Thursday, 8 October.
West Ham agreed to five-figure clause for Tomori
West Ham United agreed to pay Chelsea £50,000 every time Fikayo Tomori did not feature during his Hammers loan spell before the proposed move fell through, according to talkSPORT.
West Ham pursued the 22-year-old centre-back before Tomori decided to stay at Stamford Bridge, leaving the east London club short of defensive options.
“I’m no mouthpiece for these guys this morning, but this I know to be fact,” said Jim White on talkSPORT.
“They went after (Duje) Caleta-Car at Marseille. They bid £20million and were prepared to pay £3million to the agent and the player. But the player didn’t want to go.
“Then they struck a deal with Chelsea, including a huge loan fee, for Fikayo Tomori.
“They had also agreed to pay Chelsea £50,000 every time he wasn’t selected to play for West Ham, on top of that.”
What United’s failed Sancho hunt means for Chelsea
Manchester United’s failed bid to lure Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford this summer has left the door open for Chelsea in 2021, argues Tom Victor.
United courted Sancho all summer only to refuse to meet Dortmund’s €120million asking price, leaving the Red Devils red-faced after failing to land their top target.
And on top of Chelsea being buoyed by United’s failure to strengthen in a key area, the Blues will fancy their chances of competing for Sancho’s signature next year.
Sancho is good friends with Blues winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, while Frank Lampard’s men have this summer proven their pulling power by attracting Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech to Stamford Bridge among others.
Liverpool and Bayern Munich have also been touted as potential suitors for Sancho, meaning United will almost certainly face more robust competition for the 20-year-old next time around.
Ziyech intro could impact Hudson-Odoi
Hakim Ziyech’s return to fitness may have an adverse impact on Hudson-Odoi, believes football.london’s Alan Smith.
Hudson-Odoi has featured regularly during the opening weeks of the season with summer signing Ziyech nursing an injury he sustained during pre-season.
However, with the Moroccan set to return after the international break, Hudson-Odoi may be relegated to the bench.
Ziyech is expected to be installed as Lampard’s first-choice on the right of his three-man attacking midfield in a 4-2-3-1.
With Christian Pulisic on the left, Werner up top and Mason Mount behind, it leaves little room for Hudson-Odoi, who was linked with Bayern Munich before the transfer deadline.
