Chelsea remain a frequent fixture of the gossip columns during the wait for English football’s return.
Barring any setbacks, Chelsea are set to get back to action later this month, with a provisional Premier League return date of June 17th and a potentially delayed summer transfer window to follow.
If paper talk is to be believed, it could be a busy summer for Chelsea as Frank Lampard aims to bolster his squad for the first time as manager, having failed to do any business during January.
Here are the latest transfer rumours and gossip coming out of Stamford Bridge.
Agent confirms Coutinho’s interest in Premier League return
Philippe Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian has given new hints that the Brazilian could leave Barcelona this summer amid links to Chelsea and Premier League rivals Arsenal.
The agent has teased the possibility of a return to English football, having spent the most successful spell of his career with Liverpool before making the switch to Barcelona in January 2018.
"He has a desire to come back to the Premier League at some point," he told Sky Sports (via The Mirror).
"It may not happen this year, it may happen this year - we don't know. We really have not discussed anything for now.”
The 27-year-old is currently on loan at Bayern Munich. It had previously been reported that the Bundesliga champions wouldn’t be taking up the option to sign him permanently, but the high-profile agent has suggested talks remain ongoing.
"It's up to Bayern Munich whether or not they want to extend the loan. It's purely Bayern's decision, we have a will to stay, and we will see about next season when we get back to this 'new normal'.”
Willian’s agent denies Spurs transfer talks
Joorabchian also represents Coutinho’s Brazil team-mate Willian, and has given fresh hints to where the Chelsea winger’s future may lie, quashing speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Willian, 31, is set to see his time as Blues player come to an end this summer at the end of his contract and is currently free to discuss terms with other clubs.
There have been widespread reports that he and his family favour staying in London, but his agent has played down any suggestion that he’s in talks with Tottenham Hotspur.
"Willian wanted to sign a three-year contract and then see where his career takes him," the agent told Sky Sports."Chelsea's policy only allows two, so that's where the sticking block was. Chelsea have a policy, which we respect and understand, but Willian has a career and he has ambition. He wants to finish his playing career at a very high level.
"At the moment, he's a Chelsea player. He has a contract with Chelsea until the season is over, so I think it is disrespectful to talk about him moving to other clubs.
"We have not spoken to Tottenham, or any other club, at the moment."
Chelsea ahead of PSG in race to sign Alex Telles
French outlet Le10 Sport report that Chelsea are in pole position for the signature of Porto left-back Alex Telles.
It’s long been suggested that Frank Lampard’s Blues will enter the market for a new left-back when the transfer window opens and the highly-rated Brazilian is one of the names often linked.
He’s registered eight goals and a further five assists in Portugal’s top flight this season.
Telles, 27, has made nearly 200 appearances for the Portuguese giants since he joined from Galatasaray in 2016 and this summer could be the time for him to make the next step in his career.
Ligue 1 champions PSG are also said to be interested, but the latest report suggests they’re behind Chelsea in the pecking order.
