Here are your Chelsea morning headlines for Friday, September 4.
Inter to offload trio before making Kante move
Inter Milan are ready to sell three players in an attempt to fund a move for Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, according to Calciomercato via Sports Mole.
The Frenchman joined the Blues in 2016 but endured an injury-hit 2019/20 campaign, making just 20 league starts for Frank Lampard’s side.
Antonio Conte is thought to be keen on reuniting with Kante with the pair having won the league together at Chelsea in 2017.
However, Inter must sell before they can buy, which could see Ivan Perisic, Joao Mario and Dalbert Henrique all being shown the exit door at the San Siro.
All three players spent the 2019/20 season on loan at other clubs and are not thought to be part of Conte’s plans.
Blues can challenge for title - Giroud
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud believes the club’s impressive transfer business can propel them towards a title challenge in 2020/21.
The Blues have recruited well ahead of the new campaign with Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr all arriving at Stamford Bridge, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz also thought to be closing in on a move.
Giroud, who is currently on international duty with France, has spoken of his delight at Chelsea attracting a player of Silva’s calibre.
"He is clearly a player who can bring us his experience, his journey, his leadership,” Giroud told Get French Football.
"I think that the coach brought him to Chelsea for that, to help the youngsters and of course for his qualities which are still the same even if like me he is getting a bit older.
"But I am certain that he will bring us a lot. It is a new league, so he will be discovering that, but I am sure that he will adapt very quickly.
"We have a lot of ambitions this year with the signings and I hope that we will be able to get tangled in a race for the title."
Havertz to complete Chelsea medical after Germany duty
Kai Havertz will undergo his Chelsea medical after the current international window with the Bayer Leverkusen ace in action for Germany, football.london understands.
Havertz was an unused substitute in Germany’s 1-1 Nations League draw with Spain on Thursday night, with Joachim Low’s side in action once more away to Switzerland on Sunday.
Chelsea have agreed a £72million deal with Leverkusen for the 21-year-old attacker, which would take the Blues’ spending in the current window past the £200million mark.
Havertz will become Chelsea’s most-expensive signing, eclipsing the £71.6million spent on goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018.
While some Chelsea fans have grown frustrated by waiting for an official announcement, Havertz should officially become a Blue shortly.
