Here are your Chelsea morning headlines for Friday, July 3.
Chelsea prepared to fight Bayern for Kai Havertz
The Telegraph have added fuel to the rumours linking Bayer Leverkusen’s highly-rated playmaker Kai Havertz with a move to Chelsea this summer.
The player himself has caused mischief on social media by ‘liking’ posts that suggest he’ll follow in Timo Werner’s footsteps by trading the Bundesliga for Stamford Bridge, and the latest report suggests Chelsea are ready to “step up their pursuit”.
The 21-year-old could play his final match for his boyhood club this weekend as Leverkusen face Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal final, with the perennial Bundesliga champions keen to rival Frank Lampard’s side for his signature.
It’s said Levekusen value him at £90million and would be prepared to play hardball in any transfer negotiations.
Tammy Abraham must improve if he’s to keep his place after Timo Werner arrival
Chelsea academy graduate Tammy Abraham is finally enjoying a breakthrough campaign with the club after years of impressing in loans away.
The 22-year-old striker has been given regular opportunities by Frank Lampard this season after scoring 25 goals to help Aston Villa get promoted last season, and he raced out of the traps by notching seven goals in his first four Premier League starts this season.
But his manager has increasingly favoured Olivier Giroud of late after less prolific form from Abraham, who’s scored just one goal in 11 appearances in 2020.
He was given the nod against West Ham on Wednesday, but was withdrawn after an hour after drawing another blank in the 3-2 defeat.
Senior writer Alan Smith has taken a look at Abraham’s form and what he must do to continue getting starts once Timo Werner has arrived this summer.
Why David Alaba would be a good fit at Chelsea
football.london understands Chelsea want to bring in a new left-back this summer, with Ben Chilwell one of Lampard's key targets.
But Bayern Munich’s David Alaba has also been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and the experienced Austria international, who still has plenty of years ahead of him at 28, would offer a lot.
Following the emergence of Alphonso Davies at Bayern, Alaba has often been used as a centre-back by Bayern Munich this season, which is another area Chelsea need to strengthen.
Here’s a closer look at what he’d offer.
The Blues have kept just six clean sheets in 32 Premier League games this season, and Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat by West Ham raised more questions at the back.
