Here are your Chelsea morning headlines for Thursday, 16 July.
Chelsea set sights on Ikone
Chelsea have already been active in the summer market in boosting their attacking options, but they’re not done yet.
The latest reports out of France suggest that while Newcastle and Spurs were the two Premier League sides looking at Lille forward Jonathan Ikone, Chelsea have now entered the race.
L’Equipe say the Stamford Bridge club have asked for information over a potential move, and claim the player wants a pay rise.
Ikone has just started to break into the France national team set-up, claiming four caps last year and scoring his first goal.
The 22-year-old faces a lot of competition for a place at the delayed European Championship, so a move might boost his chances if it lands him a bigger stage and regular game time.
Changing shape of attack will keep stars happy
Much discussion around how Chelsea will line up next season has centred on whether Timo Werner will play as the No.9 or from the left, and who else fits in around him.
With Hakim Ziyech arriving, Kai Havertz linked, Christian Pulisic shining and several other forwards all vying for game time, Frank Lampard will have a big job on his hands to keep them all happy with minutes on the pitch.
One solution could be to keep changing the shape of his attack, with different systems incorporating different players rather than rotating them in the same spots and having to pick between the same couple.
Tammy Abraham looks to be the odd man out at present, considering form and new arrivals, but much could change over the coming months.
Ziyech details how he’ll prove doubters wrong
Ziyech is training with Chelsea and ready to go ahead of next season, having sealed a move from Ajax.
The attacking midfielder is vastly talented, though some have questioned whether he’ll be able to cope with the more physical nature of the Premier League - as if the demands of playing successfully in the Champions League and World Cup are somehow not enough evidence of an ability to cope with every type of defence.
Ziyech isn’t worried, though, and says he’s aware of what he needs to do to showcase his best work.
“People said physically I was not ready, but if you look at the competition and players who have the same body as me,” he told the club;s website.
"Football is just playing with your head and be smart and creating spaces. Be always in the small things.”
