Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Tuesday, August 4.
Frank Lampard addresses Willian future
Frank Lampard is keen for Willian to make a decision on his future and to let the Blues boss know what the situation is.
Willian's agent Kia Joorabchian stated the Brazil international's future would be made clear after the FA Cup final, where the Blues lost against the side that Willian could line-up for next season.
It is heavily reported that Arsenal will hand Willian a three-year deal and Lampard is keen for the saga to come to an end: "I know the situation at the club’s end. I have a great relationship with Willian, but I don’t actually know what the decision is.
"If that happens over the next whatever days, as he said, then that would be good for me in either way."
Plan to close Liverpool and Man City gap
If Chelsea are going to be competing for the Premier League title once again, then Frank Lampard knows his defence is going to have to get better.
At the end of the 38 Premier League games, the Blues conceded 54 goals, the worst of any club inside the top ten places.
They conceded nine in their six Champions League group stage matches, with another three in the last 16 first leg tie against Bayern Munich.
For all their faults in front of goal at times, it was at the back where they were really hit hard and has been highlighted as arguably the biggest concern.
FA Cup final referee slated
FA Cup final referee Anthony Taylor has been criticised by former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan for his decision to send off Mateo Kovacic.
The Croatia international was issued a second yellow card for a soft foul on Granit Xhaka, which has been widely criticised, and Whelan is the latest to give a damning verdict on the decision.
"It was a joke. Both yellow cards were unnecessary and it was an extremely harsh sending off," he told Football Insider.
“Football is going to end up being a non-contact sport. Why can’t referees just let it go? He has just gone out there and ruined a cup final by sending somebody off for absolutely nothing. You still need an element of contact and aggression in the game."
