Here are your Chelsea morning headlines for Wednesday, May 20.
Willian could perform U-turn and remain at Chelsea
Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan believes that Willian may yet stay at Chelsea beyond the end of the current season.
The Brazilian is out of contract in the summer, and amid reported interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, is widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge.
But Whelan believes there is still time for a new deal to be signed.
“Look, a renewal is never ever out of the question,” he told Football Insider. “You can see U-turns, even at this late stage in a player’s contract when he can go on a free. There is still lots of talking to be done between Frank and Willian.
“He has got loads left in the tank. A standout again for Chelsea this season. Fantastic performances this season and he does not seem to have lost any of the pace or skill that he came to Chelsea with.”
Lampard recently told Chelsea’s official website that Willian’s contract is “something I’m looking at very carefully.”
Hudson-Odoi returns to training after being released on bail
Callum Hudson-Odoi took part in Chelsea's first socially-distanced training session this afternoon, 48 hours after he was arrested and released on bail following an incident involving a woman at his home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The 19-year-old was taken into custody after the woman, who had been invited to his West London abode on Saturday evening, phoned police. Paramedics also attended and the woman was taken to hospital.
Upon his release on bail until mid-June, Hudson-Odoi was tested for coronavirus along with his team-mates and Chelsea staff.
That test came back negative and he was pictured jogging around a pitch in a group with N'Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic and Kurt Zouma. Premier League clubs are allowed a maximum of five people in a group in the first phase of their return to training.
Chelsea lead race for 18-year-old Barcelona starlet
Barcelona defender Xavier Mbuyamba’s agent has revealed that Chelsea are current favourites to sign the teenager.
Mbuyamba has only been in Spain for one year after joining from Dutch side MVV Maastricht, but already he looks set to be on the move, with Real Madrid, Juventus, and Inter Milan reportedly interested.
However, Chelsea lead the pack thanks to their positive talks with Mbuyamba last summer.
“Almost all major clubs in Europe have asked about Xavier,” the player’s agent Carlos Barros said, per Voetbal International (via the Express).
“Chelsea have the best papers. Of course, we discussed this extensively last year. Chelsea gave a fantastic presentation. There is a unique football atmosphere there.
“You immediately sit with the first-team players during lunch, and the club has outlined a very ambitious plan for Xavier. They really think that in one to two years, he can be in the first team.
“Frank Lampard has, of course, already proven that he is not afraid to play with young players. Being in the starting line-up at Chelsea at the age of twenty would, of course, be great.”
Mbuyamba is yet to make a senior appearance for Barcelona after featuring 11 times in the second tier of Dutch football in 2018/19.
