Chelsea

Chelsea have lodged a £43m offer for 26-year-old Liverpool and France centre-back Ibrahima Konate. (Defensa Central - in Spanish), external

The Blues and RB Leipzig have discussed striker Christopher Nkunku during talks about Netherlands forward Xavi Simons, 22. (Talksport), external

Chelsea are considering a move for Bayer Leverkusen and Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie, 23, following Levi Colwill's serious knee injury. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on whether Chelsea are ready for the new season.

Here's what you said:

Colin: So far, so good! I love what I've seen. Still concerned about the solidarity in defence, and I'm also concerned about our finishing. Having said that, our new boys up front all look exciting, and once they play together more they will be devastating. Very, very excited for the coming season, real contenders!

Neil: Beating PSG was a huge statement confirming their commitment to compete at the highest level, as well as boosting their confidence. Liverpool will be the team to beat in the league, although you can never write off Manchester City. I think Jackson needs to move on and a better keeper will be required, particularly if they want to challenge for the league title. Jackson missed too many chances and Chelsea lost an advantage and let opponents back in the game too often. Given the depth of the squad, and Reece James back to fitness, it should be a promising season ahead for the boys.

Dante: My concern would be maintaining the largest feasible squad we can to cover an awful lot of football for the coming season. If Chelsea want to challenge across the Premier League and Champions League, not to mention domestic cups, then we need cover for all eventualities. Some players are not going to get through another (back to back) full season without some downtime. Jackson will - if retained - find plenty of opportunity to play if he can retain motivation - he just might turn into a great player.

Phil: While we look very fast and dangerous going forward, we showed our weakness in defence against a 10-man Milan. Virtually every break or counter they looked dangerous, certainly through the middle. We will score goals but probably need a minimum of two or three to gain a victory. Of course, it is entirely possible that once a better understanding is gained and a consistency is achieved we could look better, but from Sunday's showing we look porous.

John: First time since the new owners took over I've been excited for the coming season. I don't think we will win the league and I'm slightly concerned about defence. Our midfield and attack rival any other team if not surpasses them, except maybe Liverpool. Solid third or even second, I think, and hopefully the FA Cup as it's been a while.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea striker Liam Delap says the lack of pre-season after winning the Club World Cup will not be a major issue for the squad.

The 23-year-old signed from Ipswich for £30m earlier in the summer impressed as the Blues won 4-1 against AC Milan in one of only two friendlies the club have been able to fit in after becoming world champions.

Delap scored twice on Sunday having also played in the 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday and said of the group will handle the less-than-two-week pre-season.

"It's obviously different to what we're used to," Delap said. "We've had a short break and a really short lead-up to the first game. But everyone's done the right things and it's a really good group, so I'm sure we'll be OK.

"We've all got the right mindset that it's not going to get in our way. We're going to be ready."

The two goals for Delap were important given his competition for a place with fellow new signing Joao Pedro.

The Brazil forward has five goals in five games since joining the club - including one against Milan and another against Leverkusen in the two domestic pre-season games at Stamford Bridge.

"The quality of the team is incredible," Delap added. "We've got some really, really talented people.

"The competitive side that you need in big teams to compete for the trophies is so important.

"Everyone is ready and everyone's ready to fight in each game. I've just got to try my best and they've got to try their best, and hopefully we can do it together.

"As a striker, to score goals is the aim. Every time I step on the pitch I'm hungry to score."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have offered several players to RB Leipzig for midfielder Xavi Simons, including Christopher Nkunku.

It's part of the complex negotiations with the Blues keen to offload players having also offered both Carney Chukwuemeka and Tyrique George.

Any deal between the two clubs would not be a direct swap deal and would be related but separate transfers. It remains to be seen whether the German club deem it viable.

However, the nature of the negotiations highlight Chelsea's intention to offload attackers to sign attackers in the last few weeks of the transfer window.

Sources close to Nkunku have also explained he is reluctant to join a club like Leipzig as he is aiming to play at Champions League level next season.

There is also admiration for Nkunku at Chelsea after his positive performances at the Club World Cup but he is believed to be searching for more than the bit-part role currently on offer at Stamford Bridge.

Another target is winger Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United - amid initial contract discussions. Newcastle-linked Nicolas Jackson could be allowed to leave for the right offer to make space.

If appropriate outgoing deals are not agreed then Chelsea could reintegrate the likes of Jackson into their squad despite leaving him out of the recent pre-season friendly wins against AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's 3-0 win in the final of the Club World Cup against European champions Paris St-Germain was a statement that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Manager Enzo Maresca has united a group of players who cost up to £1.4bn, according to the club's own accounts, and although the starting XIs were the youngest ever to play out a Premier League season last year, they appear to be good enough to win titles.

Among the star players are Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella but the Blues have also added Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Estevao Willian and Jorrel Hato this summer to cope with the increased workload of returning to the Champions League next season.

Internally, Chelsea have again set a top-four finish in the league as the main target, but defender Levi Colwill is among those who suggest they are ready to win the Premier League or Champions League as early as next season.

Read about the other contenders

Pre-season is completed and the countdown to the 2025-26 season is on.

It's been a typically busy summer at Stamford Bridge with a glut of new arrivals and plenty of departures.

The Blues start the season at home on Sunday - but are they ready?

Get in touch

Chelsea are in talks with RB Leipzig over a potential swap deal for Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons, 22, that could mean France forward Christopher Nkunku, 27, returning to the German club. (Guardian), external

Nicolas Jackson favours a move to Newcastle United should the Senegal striker, 24, leave Chelsea during the summer transfer window. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Newcastle will wait to resolve the future of Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25, before deciding whether to move for Chelsea striker Jackson. (PA news agency), external

Enzo Fernandez will not leave Chelsea this summer despite reports in Spain linking the Argentina midfielder, 24, with a move to Paris St-Germain. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Chelsea finished their condensed pre-season with an impressive 4-1 win over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Blues paraded their Club World Cup and Uefa Conference League trophies to fans before the match and the positive mood continued throughout the afternoon.

After beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Friday evening, the Blues were two goals up in under ten minutes against Milan through Joao Pedro and an Andrei Coubis own goal.

Coubis' misery was compounded when he received a red card minutes later for hauling down Pedro when the Brazil forward was through on goal.

Summer signing Liam Delap helped himself to a brace after the break, either side of a Youssouf Fofana consolation for the visitors.

Enzo Maresca's side open their Premier League campaign against Community Shield winners Crystal Palace next Sunday (14:00 BST).

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea have brought both their Club World Cup and Uefa Conference League trophies to parade at Stamford Bridge before the pre-season friendly with AC Milan.

A full house will see the Blues show off their trophy haul from a successful end to the previous 2024/25 season.

Reece James lead the squad in displaying their wares before kick-off and a lap of appreciation with the trophies will take place afterwards.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea remain reluctant to enter the market for a centre-back despite Levi Colwill's serious knee injury.

The Blues have targetted attackers for the end of the summer but have not yet decided to replace Colwill, 23, after he had surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament this week.

In an interview on Friday with DAZN after the 2-0 pre-season win at Stamford Bridge over Bayer Leverkusen, manager Enzo Maresca said replacing Colwill was a "priority", but the plan remains to use players from inside the squad.

Both Benoit Badiashile, currently injured but expected to be back from injury in September, and Josh Acheampong are keen to play more minutes.

Acheampong, 19, has also been attracting interest from Premier League clubs but Chelsea's stance is that he is not for sale as his stock remains very high internally. He is also now very unlikely to go out on loan.

Chelsea already have Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and new signing Jorrel Hato who can play centre-back.

Meanwhile, Renato Veiga remains available for sale and is training with the so-called 'bomb squad' - a group of players including Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell - away from the first team.

There remains a slight possibility Chelsea enter the market but it would require the sale of Chalobah - the only defender they are open to selling - with an exciting opportunity also needing to present itself on the market.

But Chalobah is not pushing to leave Stamford Bridge despite some uncertainty around his future.

Similarly, Reece James and Marc Cucurella could also play at centre-back in emergency circumstances.

In attack, Chelsea's main targets remain Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons with early talks having been made with both players.

Their arrival depends on the ability to agree fees with both clubs alongside exits for attacking duo Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku - who were left out of the squad against Leverkusen.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the news Chelsea have agreed to let striker Nicolas Jackson leave the club this summer.

Here are some of your responses:

Joe: Time to let go. Discipline and finishing are clear gaps and no evidence that they are closing. We should wait for Alexander Isak to move to Liverpool and then sell him to Newcastle for £50m at least. Strikers are a rare commodity and becoming rarer by the day. If we don't get that he can always join the bomb squad for a bit.

John: I loved watching Jackson play and will miss him if he leaves. His speed and exuberance drives opponents crazy, which is fun. That said, the two red cards at the end of the season were serious mistakes - the kind that can have consequences. After some successful incomings, I can see why the sporting directors have put him up for sale. He'll learn from this and I'm wishing him well.

Louis: I really loved him in his first season and half of last season but it's the right decision. The lack of goals in 2025 is not good enough and then the red cards at the end of the season put the final nail in the coffin. Looks like Joao Pedro and Liam Delap have more than got that position covered.

Robin: When he was good, he was very good. But he was not good enough consistently enough and his self control was too flaky too often. So, bye bye and enjoy the Gallowgate End.

Gordon: Absolutely. Promised much. Delivered little. A liability with a poor attitude.

Graham: I think Jackson has some raw talent and given time could even develop into a Drogba-like forward. He needs to start finishing off chances and he needs to improve his discipline, letting down his team-mates more than once. Given the new arrivals of Delap and Pedro, he is now under pressure and not likely to be first choice. I'd be sad to see him go but if the club can double their money for what they paid for him, I think he will leave this transfer window.

Freddie: He's had the chance to lead the line for the last two seasons and, while a solid player, Chelsea will not be challenging if they have him as top striker. I'd have preferred a loan for a season or two to polish and mature him but, with Pedro and Delap joining, he would only decline on the bench. Makes sense for the player and club, but wishing him all the best.

Shadrack: Chelsea should not sell Jackson regardless of the acquisition of Delap, Pedro and Gittens. They need an expansive squad to compete on all front this season. More so, I think Jackson is a better player than Delap.

Just 11 months since Nicolas Jackson signed a nine-year contract at Chelsea, the club confirmed on Friday they were open to offers for the Senegal striker.

It is quite the turn of events for the 24-year-old who has promised plenty but rarely delivered during his two years at the club.

With attackers Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens all signed this summer, it appears Jackson's time at Stamford Bridge is up.

So tell us, is it the right decision to let him go?

Why has it not worked out?

And how much should the club hold out for?

Tell us here

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea winger Estevao Willian offered an exciting vision into the future in his first appearance at Stamford Bridge.

It took the 18-year-old just 18 minutes to score in the 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen, when he confidently stroked in the rebound from Cole Palmer's chipped effort.

Fellow Brazilian and summer signing Joao Pedro drilled the second with almost the final kick of the game but it was Estevao's deft touches and flair that brough the most entertainment.

Regarded as potentially the best talent Brazil has produced in this generation, Estevao made life difficult for his marker Alejandro Grimaldo as he started the game on the right wing and finished in the number 10 position.

Even more exciting for fans was how he linked up with Palmer, the two left-footed attackers looking like the top kids at school and searching for each other at every moment.

Naturally, as two left footed attackers playing off the right, they sparked multiple attacks, which was impressive given the only language they share is a footballing one.

Palmer went off at half-time but Estevao continued to delight the fans, almost extending the lead in the 65th minute, drawing 'oohs and aahs' from the fans.

Fellow new signings Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato made their first Chelsea appearances while Andrey Santos played well in midfield on his first appearance at Stamford Bridge after an 18-month loan spell at Strasbourg.

Pedro, Liam Delap and Dario Essugo all featured in the Club World Cup but made their bows at Stamford Bridge on an impressive night overall for Chelsea who proved they had no hangover from the month-long Fifa tournament.

And, having scored against Chelsea for his former club Palmeiras at the Club World Cup, Estevao's performance added another chapter to his growing folklore during 76 exciting minutes.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag says Chelsea have signed a "great player" in Jorrel Hato.

On Friday evening, the 19-year-old defender made his Chelsea debut in a 2-0 win over Leverkusen - who are now coached by former Manchester United boss Ten Hag.

The Dutch centre-back broke through at Ajax the season after Ten Hag moved to Old Trafford but the boss was aware of his potential to make it at the highest level.

Asked about Hato's potential by BBC Sport, Ten Hag said: "For sure. [I told him] I bet he regrets that he missed me at Ajax because they didn't win the titles in the past couple of years!

"The moment I left, he came in but he developed and progressed so well. He was one of the best, maybe the best player in the Eredivisie. He is so young but already on a very high level.

"You always need some time, but he has a very good mentality and then he can progress really quickly. He has all the elements, all the skills in his game to prove he can be a very successful player.

"I am very sure he will succeed at Chelsea. I congratulate Chelsea for signing this great player."

Hato made his debut at left-back where he spent most of last season at Ajax but he had initially been a central defender in the Dutch top flight.

With Levi Colwill now out for the majority of the season after knee surgery, debate has begun about Hato's best position.

"He can do both, you will see," Hato said.

Fellow debutant Estevao Willian and Joao Pedro scored in a dominant win at Stamford Bridge.

Image source, Getty Images

Albania striker Armando Broja has completed a move to Burnley from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old has eight goals in 76 Premier League appearances across spells at Southampton, Everton, Fulham and Chelsea.

"I am really excited to be here as a Burnley player," Broja said. "I'm feeling good, I'm ready and I'm excited about the challenge of playing for this club.

"I can already feel the support from the fans – I can tell you all that I will be giving my all every time I pull on the famous Claret shirt."

"It's a really positive time to be joining this club ahead of the start of the new Premier League season. I can't wait to get going!

The forward is Burnley's ninth signing since returning to the Premier League.

You have been sharing your stories and photos about why you love Chelsea.

Here is a final selection of your submissions, but do make sure you scroll down this page to see all the best responses from throughout the week:

Brian: It was my friend Nick's eighth birthday and his parents bought him a Wolves kit. Magnificent all orange. He then declared his love for Wolves.

Not to be outdone, I went home to ask my dad who they were playing that Saturday. Yes, you guessed it. The Blues. Not being local to the club my dad could only take me to away games - Leeds, Huddersfield, etc.

In later life, I moved for career to Hampshire. This gave me ample opportunity to see the club and both Nick and myself have kept true to our teams.

We still chat today.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you how you feel about Levil Colwill being ruled out for the majority of the season with a serious knee injury and who Enzo Maresca turns to in his absence.

Here are some of your comments:

Tosh: Hopefully he can get back sooner rather than later. Wesley Fofana should be chomping to get on.

Stu: Losing Colwill is a massive blow. I wasn't convinced by him early last season but he grew as a leader and in confidence as the season wore on and was a big factor in our late season success. As much as I think Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo can do a job, Benoit Badiashile isn't good enough and Fofana is coming back from another long-term injury. We need to bring in a top centre-back - so Marc Guehi for me, please.

Dennis: Colwill was the pivot in defence during the Club World Cup. His presence was vital. It is a really big blow. At the moment, I can't see any of the current squad filling his boots.

Conor: Devastated for Colwill, who was finally showing he can be a great defender. However, this is not a reason for us to panic buy. We still have Fofana, Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile, Josh Acheampong, Jorrel Hato to cover.

Ash: This is a massive blow, but there is a simple solution: Halt any interest in Alejandro Garnacho (we have enough quality and depth in our attacking areas) and go all in on Marc Guehi so that he can partner with Hato/Fofana/Chalobah. We'd then have a quality defence and depth to match our attack. Without Guehi - or a quality equivalent - I can see us letting in goals and struggling.

Tom: I think it is a good chance for our new signing Jorrel Hato to step up.

Chris: It's hardly surprising considering the extension to the season that the Club World Cup brought. I hope it's not a sign of things to come for the new season as players are being over-worked.

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has had surgery on a serious knee injury and is expected to miss most of the season.

The 22-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during his first training session after the Club World Cup on Tuesday, and has since had a scan and operation.

ACL injuries typically rule players out for between six and nine months.

How do you feel about the news and what does this mean for the Blues?

Get in touch with your views here

Bayern Munich have enquired about 24-year-old Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea value at £48m, and is also a target for Newcastle United. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea striker Armando Broja is expected to complete his transfer to Burnley in the next 24 hours.

The 23-year-old has taken a few days to weigh up the move and negotiate the terms of his contract after a club-to-club agreement thought to be worth up to £20m was made over the weekend.

Broja is excited about a first permanent move away from Stamford Bridge and keen to play regular first-team football.

It will be Burnley’s third signing from Chelsea this summer. Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu joined this week and a loan move for Bashir Humphreys was made permanent for a combined £55m.