Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Monday, August 31.
La Liga end Chelsea hopes of sensational Messi deal
Chelsea have suffered a setback in their reported pursuit of Lionel Messi.
That is because La Liga have released an official statement to confirm that they side with Barcelona in their legal dispute with the Argentine.
They claim that the player’s €700million release clause remains in place and a club paying the release clause is the only way out for the superstar leaving this summer.
The 33-year-old has a clause in his deal allowing him to leave at the end of any season, and reports last week claimed that Messi’s camp believe that it has been extended in line with the prolonged 2019/20 season.
However, the statement from La Liga says they will only allow Messi to be released from his Barcelona contract if his release clause is matched or the Camp Nou club negotiate a sale.
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Chelsea secure key advantage over United
The transfer market is in full flow as the near the mid-way point of an unprecedented transfer window.
Chelsea have been at the very centre of speculation since beating Wolves to secure Champions League football on the final day of the 2019/20 Premier League season.
Frank Lampard has made no bones about his ambitions to revamp the squad in key areas after a campaign full of many positives as well as one or two areas worth addressing over the off-season.
Much of the transfer window, especially the summer one, is about strengthening across the pitch and maintaining the quality already at a manager’s disposal. Unlike last season when the Blues lost Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, it appears unlikely that they will lose any key players this summer.
Instead, the likes of Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic are expected to be at the club for the upcoming season and be part of an exciting time at Stamford Bridge.
While Lampard can take a degree of comfort from having the crucial parts of his squad tied down to long-term deals, bringing in additional talent to supplement the current group of players isn’t made any easier.
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Kai Havertz missing from Leverkusen training
Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz missed Bayer Leverkusen's training session on Sunday, say reports in Germany.
They say he has passed a coronavirus test, as refusing to do so would have seen him removes from the Germany national side, but was absent from Leverkusen training on Sunday
This news adds even further speculation to the fire, with Havertz now seemingly set to seal a move to Stamford Bridge.
football.london understands that Chelsea are very close to finally securing a deal to land their long-term target, with the Blues having been locked in negotiations with Leverkusen for several weeks.
It is expected that Chelsea are to reach an agreement with the Bundesliga club for a fee in the region of £80million, with the rest to be paid in add-ons.
