Here are the Chelsea morning headlines for Friday, July 31.
Chelsea label wrongdoing claims ‘complete fabrication’ in Havertz transfer
Chelsea have denied that transfer chief Marina Granovskaia has been unprofessional in the club’s race to sign Kai Havertz.
Reports suggested that Granovskaia had been looking to target weaknesses in Bayer Leverkusen’s set-up in order to gain an advantage in negotiations.
However, the club have inherently denied those claims - as cited by Evening Standard.
"We vigorously deny these suggestions; these claims are a complete fabrication," a Chelsea spokesman told the Press Association.
It remains to be seen whether or not suggestions the Blues have acted in an unprofessional manner will have a knock-on effect in their pursuit of Havertz in the coming weeks.
Dortmund chief reminds Chelsea and Man Utd of Sancho’s contract length
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has provided a fresh update to Chelsea and Manchester United in their individual pursuits of Jadon Sancho.
The England international has been widely linked with a move to both clubs but Zorc has reminded them that the 20-year-old still has two years remaining on his deal with the Bundesliga club.
“Jadon is an outstanding footballer with a quota that I have never seen at this age," he told Ruhr Nachrichten BVB.
“I think it would even stand up to being one of the largest in the industry if you look at its age.
“I would be happy if he would still play with us this season. And that's the current state of affairs.
“First of all we have to stick to the facts - and they are so, that we still have a contract with him until 2022.”
Blues reach agreement to sell highly-rated youngster
Portuguese club Vitoria have confirmed the signing of young Chelsea goalkeeper Nicolas Tie.
In an official statement, the club announced they have signed the shot-stopper on a five-year contract.
His departure from Stamford Bridge marks the end of Tie’s efforts to get into the first team after arriving from French side Stade Poitevin in the summer of 2017.
The 19-year-old leaves amid growing speculation over Frank Lampard’s plans for a first-choice goalkeeper which could also see Kepa Arrizabalaga leave the club this summer.
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