Here are your Chelsea morning headlines for Wednesday, 14 October.
Ziyech teases Chelsea debut on Instagram
Hakim Ziyech has raised hopes that his Chelsea debut is imminent after posting a cryptic photograph on Instagram.
The Moroccan has not yet featured for the Blues since arriving from Ajax due to a knee injury he sustained in pre-season.
However, having featured for his country during the international break, the 27-year-old has teased that his Chelsea bow could come against Southampton on Saturday, posting a photo of himself holding his hands up in prayer in the Blues’ kit.
Ziyech is thought to have travelled back to England after Morocco’s friendly with Senegal instead of staying on for his country’s clash with DR Congo.
Inter still keen on Emerson
Inter Milan remain interested in signing Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri after failing to seal his signature during the summer transfer window, as per Tuttosport via Sempre Inter.
However, the Serie A side’s interest may depend on their Champions League progress having been drawn in a difficult group alongside Real Madrid, Borussia Monchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Inter boss Antonio Conte brought Emerson to Chelsea in 2018, however the 26-year-old has failed to establish himself under Frank Lampard.
Chelsea strengthened the left-back position over the summer with the signing of Ben Chilwell from Leicester City, while Lampard also has Marco Alonso as back-up.
Emerson has made 57 appearances for Chelsea since arriving in January 2018, scoring once.
Zouma hails Silva’s impact
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has lauded Thiago Silva for making an instant impact on the younger members of the squad.
Silva, 36, joined the club this summer on a free after leaving Paris Saint-Germain with Lampard hoping the Brazilian’s experience could help shore up a defence that shipped 54 league goals last season.
And while Silva didn’t enjoy the smoothest of starts, gifting a goal to West Bromwich Albion in the 3-3 draw at the Hawthorns, Zouma has praised the veteran for giving advice to the more inexperienced defenders.
“You can see straight away, as soon as he walked through the door at Cobham, he gives advice to the players around him, he’s really good with people and you can definitely see he has very good leadership skills,” Zouma told the Chelsea website.
“Everyone has welcomed Thiago into the group and we are all happy he’s with us at Chelsea.
“I’m very excited to work with Thiago.
“But I don’t think I’m the only one, a lot of the guys here at Chelsea feel exactly the same.”
