Welcome to our football.london Chelsea media watch piece. Maybe not the first, we've definitely done transfer round-ups before, and European round-ups, so I guess in some ways it's not that new at all. Anyway, we thought we would enter the world of football in a broad and roundabout manner for you and have some fun with some of the stories and captions doing the daily rounds.
Saul signs in dramatic fashion
Saul Niguez has joined Chelsea on an initial season-long loan with an option to buy joining from Atletico Madrid, after the deal once looked at threat of breaking down.
The 26-year-old midfielder will be travelling to London imminently to complete the deal, with the Blues paying a €5 million (£xm) loan fee and the option to buy sitting at €40 million (£xm), according to Fabrizio Romano.
Saul's move to Stamford Bridge was at risk of not materialising after a lapse in communication halted the exchange of paperwork before everything was finally handed in with two minutes to spare, revealed Nizaar Kinsella.
Chelsea's new number 17
Saul will be wearing the number 17 shirt for Chelsea this season after Mateo Kovacic took the number eight at the start of the season.
The Spain international once wore the number 17 for Atletico Madrid in the early stages of his career, as he explained his reasoning behind a number he finds so special.
Saul, who wore number eight last season, said: "It’s a number I had at Atletico Madrid, it’s a number I like. I had it at Atletico. I had it in my early days."
Kepa plays role in Saul move
Saul explained the major role Kepa Arrizabalaga played in prising him to west London, in addition to the other Spanish contingent at Cobham.
The La Liga champion insisted that Kepa's presence was an important step in his decision, claiming that he would've thought twice about joining Chelsea had the Spaniard not been there.
"Kepa being at Chelsea has been an important step in my decision," said Saul, live on Twitch with Ibai Llanos, as he explained his friendship with the Blues goalkeeper that stems back to 2012 when the pair celebrated Fernando Torres' goal for Chelsea versus Barcelona in the Champions League final.
"It’s important that (Kepa) is there, I would have second thoughts if he wasn’t at Chelsea," Saul added. "[Cesar] Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso also helped me join Chelsea."
Hudson-Odoi stays at Blues
Leicester City contacted Chelsea over a permanent deal for Callum Hudson-Odoi in the dying embers of the transfer window, football.london was told.
Hudson-Odoi has been an unused substitute in each of the Blues' opening three Premier League clashes and attracted strong interest from a host of clubs.
The England international, who averaged just 50 minutes a game last season across 37 appearances in a Chelsea shirt, incurred interest from Borussia Dortmund over the weekend for a potential season-long loan, before the Foxes made contact.
Hudson-Odoi's move to Dortmund hinged on whether Thomas Tuchel would give the deal the green light, according to reports, having been given the power to decide the youngster's fate.
Redknapp tips Chelsea for title
Jame Redknapp has tipped Chelsea to win the Premier League following the signing of Saul from Atletico Madrid.
The former Premier League midfielder and England international explained that by adding a serial winner in the shape of the Spaniard to an already thriving Blues team is the recipe for success.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Redknapp said: "Do you know how I see it? I reckon, what they’re probably thinking now, [N’Golo] Kante picked up an injury didn’t he against Liverpool at the weekend, they’ve got [Mateo] Kovacic, Jorginho.
“They might be feeling a little bit light in there and they also know this might be their year, this is a big chance.
"If you can get a player like Saul into the building, good experience, good player, that would make a lot of sense to me."
He continued, tipping Chelsea to win successive Champions League titles alluding to the Blues' fantastic display versus Liverpool.
"All the players right now are Champions League winners, so that belief is in their mind that they can do it," said Redknapp.
“You looked at the way they played against Liverpool, they’ve got good defenders, they’re strong in every department. So I think they are title contenders."
