The new Premier League season is now not far away. In less than two weeks Chelsea will be kicking off their Premier League campaign when they face top six rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday 11th August (4:30pm).
Despite their transfer ban, Chelsea fans will be seeing both new and old faces during the season opener. Frank Lampard has returned as manager, and will be looking to bed in some young players into the first team squad over the coming season, with Mason Mount impressing during pre-season.
Christian Pulisic will also be looking to add something to the squad after the USA international joined up with his new teammates for the first time.
Lampard will be looking to make the most of the squad over the next season, as preparations for the new campaign continue to ramp up.
As the club continue its preparations, here are the latest stories doing the rounds for the past 24 hours.
Wilfried Zaha interest
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has been one of the names that has not been far from the headlines during the transfer window.
The 26-year-old has attracted interest from both Arsenal and Everton this summer, with both clubs reported to have made bids for the Ivory Coast international.
Chelsea, despite their transfer ban, are now the latest club to be linked with a move for the wantaway wide man. According to the Telegraph the Blues are looking at signing Wilfried Zaha when the transfer ban comes to an end.
It seems as though both Arsenal and Everton could have moved onto other targets, with the imminent signings of Nicolas Pepe and Moise Kean, but could Chelsea really steal a march on their Premier League rivals?
Take a look at how they could here.
Barkley on Hazard's exit
Chelsea were involved in the early stages of the transfer window, but perhaps not in the way that Blues fans would have expected, or hoped earlier last season.
Eden Hazard made the move to Real Madrid for £130m, leaving Chelsea with a gap in their playing squad that would be nigh on impossible to fill even if they weren't in the midst of a transfer ban.
There has been much debate on ho the Blues will cope without their talisman this season, and Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has given an insight into the plan.
"You have to fill in. Everyone in the squad understands that he was a great player, but he is gone," Barkley said after the 4-3 win at Reading on Sunday.
"He has new challenges now and we have to replace his goals and create the chances. We have that much quality in the squad we will all step up to the plate."
Read what else the England man had to say here.
Pre-season latest
With the transfer window not taking on as much significance for Chelsea this season, one advantage is that new head coach Frank Lampard is able to concentrate fully on pre-season.
A 4-3 victory over Championship side Reading on Sunday gave the Blues their third straight pre-season victory heading into the new campaign. Fixtures against Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Monchengladbach remain before the season kicks into gear.
Lampard will be learning new things about his squad and himself with every game, with pre-season giving the new man time to implement his style and ideas onto the players.
Take a look here for the winners and losers from the victory over the Royals .
