Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Wednesday, September 16.
Giroud reveals he almost joined Tottenham earlier this year
Olivier Giroud has admitted he came close to a move to Tottenham earlier this year having fallen out of favour at Chelsea.
The striker spent most of the first part of last season on the bench, playing second fiddle to Tammy Abraham.
He regained his place in the side later in the campaign, but back in January Giroud was determined to seek out an exit.
“During the last three days of the transfer window, I was in the coach’s office to find a solution,” Giroud told So Foot, quoted by Goal . “I was hoping Chelsea would find a replacement for me.
“For my part, it was not the solutions that were lacking: I almost signed for Lazio, Inter. I was even so determined to leave that I even almost signed for Tottenham!”
Forgotten Chelsea player scores in friendly
Victor Moses was on the scoresheet as Chelsea’s Development Squad played out a 1-1 draw against AFC Wimbledon at Cobham on Tuesday .
The 29-year-old is back in London after a loan spell at Inter towards the end of last season.
And he made his mark in Tuesday’s friendly, converting from the penalty spot to earn his side a draw.
Fellow fringe player Danny Drinkwater was also in action as the Blues looked to give game time to those not involved in the first team.
Both Moses and Drinkwater are expected to leave the club this month before the close of the transfer window.
Blues negotiate fee for Rennes goalkeeper
Chelsea appear to be moving closer to the signing of Rennes goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy, having talked the Ligue 1 club down to an asking price of €28m.
Rennes, according to L’Equipe , originally demanded a fee of €40m and the loan of Giroud as part of the deal.
But Chelsea have talked them into a more realistic deal and a compromise appears to have been met.
It now looks likely that Mendy will be the next arrival at Stamford Bridge, and the 28-year-old is expected to compete with Kepa Arrizibalaga for a place in Frank Lampard’s starting XI.
