Chelsea

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Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti feels the Blues have made "really good signings".

Ancelotti coached Chelsea from 2009 to 2011, winning the domestic double in 2010.

New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who is the fourth manager under owner Todd Boehly in just two seasons, will oversee his first season in the Premier League this month.

As of 30 June 2023 - after the first full year under the ownership of Boehly's Clearlake Capital consortium - the cost of the squad was over £1bn, with a large number of young players recruited on long-term deals.

"It's changed a lot. They invested a lot," Ancelotti said.

"They have a good squad, good players, young. They have a young manager. They need to be a little bit patient, the owners, to take experience, to grow. But the signings that they have [made] are really good."

Ancelotti also spoke on Kepa Arrizabalaga, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid: "Kepa did really well last season. We were really happy to have him here, but I don't know what’s going to happen this season.

"We love him. We love him."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's friendly game between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Smee: Dreadful defending and poor passing out from the back against a team that was determined to press. Verdict: Not good enough at this stage and does not bode well for the start of the season.

Jeff: Maresca insists it is a learning process, but if we keep giving away soft goals all the time then our learning will continue in the Championship. We have the best left-back in the country but he plays Gusto there out of position?

Steve: We are so poor at the back that James never crossed the halfway line. Passing out from the back is going to destroy us as the players are not good enough to do that. We still need a striker and have done for the last several years.

George: I am sick and tired of this playing out from the back approach. It is always risky as it allows to teams to press you. It makes you predictable, so why not mix it up and use the long ball out of defence occasionally. Switch the attacking options to help retain possession. Sell Fernandez and keep Gallagher.

Man City fans

Steve: Oscar Bobb has had a brilliant pre-season, as well as quite a few young players. Haaland has done what he does best and scored goals This squad has only had just a few first team players available so they have played well. The support in USA shows how far City have come.

Chris: A great result for the final game and considering the players that are missing this is awesome! Overall some excellent performances on tour from the academy youngsters. The future’s looking bright.

Paul: A good pre-season for all the players trying to break through, including Grealish who needs to be consistent and aggressive. I hope McAtee stays and I think Phillips will show his versatility with another loan. Bobb has grown into a starter giving us flexibility and strength on the wing. I am excited for the start of the season.

Big Lee: Jack Grealish will prove why he cost £100m this season thanks to Gareth Southgate!

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Conor Gallagher is now expected to fly and complete his medical and contract signing at Atletico Madrid, which would end his 18-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had offered a two-year deal with an option for an extra year, but it was deemed unfavourable by Gallagher due to both the length of the contract and the inferior squad role offered.

A natural divide had emerged between Gallagher and Chelsea as he was believed to be a poor fit for new manager Enzo Maresca's possession-based style of play and would not be a regular starter under the Italian.

Chelsea could move for Celtic's Danish midfielder Matt O'Riley, 23, if England midfielder Conor Gallagher, 24, joins Atletico Madrid. (Sky Sports), external

Gallagher is currently keeping his options open and remains in talks with Chelsea over the possibility of a new deal. (Mail), external

Borussia Dortmund lead Chelsea and Aston Villa in the race to sign Hoffenheim's 21-year-old Germany forward Maximilian Beier. (Sky Germany), external

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

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter, in Columbus

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca says Chelsea played well despite conceding four goals to mistakes in the defeat to Manchester City.

An Erling Haaland hat-trick and Oscar Bobbs's strike came through misplaced passes, with the first two goals coming within the first five minutes.

However, the Blues clawed two second half goals back through substitutes Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke and Maresca insists his team are showing pre-season progress while on tour of the United States.

"A very strange game, to be honest, because we planned the game and I think the plan was good in terms of the way we wanted to attack and defend," Maresca said at the Ohio Stadium.

"In the first-half, apart from the first five minutes when we conceded two goals, the team was good. But it is a strange game because you plan the game in one way, then you concede two goals and it changes the dynamic.

"We need to learn that when you concede one, you cannot concede one and then after two minutes another one. This is something that I just said to the players; we need to learn. When we concede one, we need to become stronger so we don't concede another one.

"We do not like to lose games but my main focus for me is to see things, different things, and to try to be ready for the official games at the beginning of the season."

Image source, Getty Images

A hat-trick from Erling Haaland helped Manchester City to a 4-2 pre-season win over Chelsea in Columbus.

What did you learn from this game, Chelsea and City fans?

Blues fans, let us know your thoughts, external

What did you make of the performance, City supporters?, external

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Conor Gallagher is set for further talks with Chelsea as Atletico Madrid set an end of the weekend deadline to accept their contract offer.

The 24-year-old midfielder must decide his future after a bid worth around £33m was accepted on Wednesday.

The Blues want to keep the situation amicable as they leave their two year contract with an option for a further season on the table.

They recognise Gallagher’s service as an academy player, but are keen to avoid losing him for free with just one year left on his current deal.

Gallagher believes the terms aren’t favourable but would be open to a better deal.

Chelsea also remain concerned Gallagher won’t fit their new possession-based approach under new manager Enzo Maresca and are reluctant to offer a longer deal or a bigger squad role.

Further talks are set to take place to clarify the situation amid reports Gallagher will be ‘banished’ from first team training like fellow academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah, who is also available for sale.

However, Maresca explained earlier this week that the England international simply wasn’t due with his squad in America having reached the Euro 2024 final.

There is increasing concern at Atletico Madrid that Gallagher will turn down their offer and look to salvage his future at Chelsea or leave on a free transfer next summer.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has revealed he is still not 100 per cent fit despite a positive start to pre-season.

The France international has scored in each of Chelsea's first three pre-season matches and has earned praise from his manager. But when asked about his fitness, Nkunku appeared cautious about making any statements that his issues were now behind him.

He said: "I know I am not 100 per cent now, but I am working towards it and I hope soon I will be fit.

"I am feeling better since last year. I just want to do a good pre-season and be ready for the league.

"Top scorer [in pre-season] is just a detail. I just want to be fit and find my level."

Nkunku, who has predominantly played in midfield but also on the wing, adds he is happy to stay a versatile option for new manager Enzo Maresca: "For the moment, I don't have a favoured position. We are still in pre-season.

"We just want to work and accept the idea of the coach."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have explained to Conor Gallagher that he would not be a regular starter under Enzo Maresca with the Italian's possession-based approach.

The 24-year-old midfielder is believed to have told the Blues that he wanted to be a starter when negotiating a new contract in June, which he turned down because it was only a two-year-deal with an option for a further season.

The short length of the contract was deemed in the best interest of both parties when offered as Gallagher was not judged to be an ideal fit for Maresca's new approach.

It is believed the club offered Gallagher other contracts at various points down the years.

The England international will now decide whether to join Atletico Madrid or risk staying at Chelsea in a squad role after a bid of around £33m was accepted on Wednesday.

He has less than one year left on his current deal and could leave on a free transfer next summer.

Tottenham remain admirers but are not expected to challenge the Spanish club for his signature this month. Newcastle, West Ham and Everton also previously showed an interest in Gallagher.

Gallagher would stay at Chelsea on the right terms - the homegrown midfielder loves the club and believes he could make it work under new manager Maresca.

Chelsea have offered him three new deals to date and each came after bids from Premier League rivals, with the last coming after Aston Villa tried to sign him for £45m when he was reluctant to be part of a swap deal.

There are concerns Gallagher could be dropped from the first-team squad like Trevoh Chalobah, but he will not be part of the US tour simply as he was given an extended holiday after Euro 2024.

Image source, Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has joined French club Strasbourg on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of the last campaign with the Ligue 1 side, making 11 appearances and scoring one goal.

Santos is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Blues since signing in January 2023 from Vasco de Gama, who he returned to on loan during the same season, and then spent the first half of 2023-24 with Nottingham Forest before being recalled.

Strasbourg is the sister club of Chelsea, being owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's parent company BlueCo.

The Brazil international had featured in Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States, but will now leave the squad to continue his development in France.

Aston Villa have reached a deal with Chelsea for Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, but the 31-year-old wants to join Antonio Conte's Napoli. (Il Mattino, in Italian - subscription needed), external

Nottingham Forest are not looking to cash in on 24-year-old English midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, despite interest from Newcastle, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea. (HITC), external

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

We asked for your thoughts after Chelsea recorded their first pre-season win with a 3-0 victory over Club America in Atlanta.

Here are some of your responses:

Nick: Impressive, encouraging, performances by Nkunku, Lavia - both returning from injury - and Guiu. A good training game, all part of the learning process. Nothing to get over excited about, in the same way we shouldn't get despondent over previous poor pre-season results.

Matthew: Nkunku was impressive, I hope he stay fit this season. But, overall I'm still sceptical about our defence.

Jeremy: Not that a pre-season result matters but it was lovely to have the win. Great to see fitness, understanding of tactics, and all the things you expect to improve in a pre-season. Club America are a decent team and into their normal season already so it was a good test.

Rod: I felt we were sharper in attack but still looked vulnerable at the back. We need to work on that before the season starts.

Ben: When Chelsea got it right and played out from the back successfully, I thought there's something really good there. Confidence in doing so needs to be continuously pushed into the players. Lavia particularly showed great skill and vision to get us out of a few holes. My worry is simply when it doesn't work we looked incredibly vulnerable.

Tom: Last night's game doesn’t even begin to paint over the cracks that are currently there and against stronger opposition, Chelsea would have struggled. Average players now playing for an average team!

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca spoke to the media after the Blues' 3-0 win over Club America in Atlanta.

He said: "From Wrexham to Celtic to today, we continue to improve. This is the most important thing.

"We struggled against Wrexham for many reasons, we struggled against Celtic for many reasons but there were many important things which we improved [against Celtic]. We continued that line, which is the most important thing.

"What we do in training has to happen in the game. Against Wrexham, we prepared something and it happened. Against Celtic, the same and again today, the same thing. That is the most important thing."

On Enzo Fernandez, who made his first appearance of pre-season for Chelsea: "You can see that he is a bit behind. In terms of his physical conditioning, he was a bit slow. He had one or two sessions with us so 45 minutes was just a chance to give him another session.

"We also use [these games] like a training session and for Enzo, today was a very good training session."

Image source, Getty Images

Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu and Noni Madueke handed Chelsea their first victory under Enzo Maresca.

What did you learn from this game, Blues fans?

Let us know your thoughts on the match here, external

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, The Secret Scout (handout)

Ghanaian youngster Fatawu Ganiwu is currently on trial in Chelsea's academy.

The 16-year-old midfielder played in an Under-18s match against Sheffield United yesterday and is training with the age group, while also linking up with the Under-21s.

Ganiwu is one of many trialists to come in from Africa, as Nigerian striker Hafez Umar Ibrahim also came in last month.

Improvements are being made to Chelsea's global scouting network under co-director of recruitment Joe Shields.

Ganiwu is yet to be offered a deal from his trial. He has already trained with RB Salzburg and he could opt to try out at another European club.

Image source, Getty Images

Napoli's Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has dreamed of playing in England from the day he arrived in Italy, according to Naples based journalist Vincenzo Credendino.

"Since the first day his agent and relatives have always told us that his dream is to go to the Premier League," Credendino told BBC Sport.

The 25-year-old has been regularly linked with moves away from the Italian giants, particularly after scoring 26 goals in the 2022-23 Serie A season to help Napoli win their first title in 33 years.

Last season, despite interruptions through injury and playing in the Africa Cup of Nations, he still netted 15 goals in 25 league games.

It has been reported that Chelsea have been put off by the price tag and wage demands from Napoli and the player, while Arsenal have most recently been linked with the striker.

However, Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku is a player that could replace Osimhen at Napoli, now managed by former Blues boss Antonio Conte and Credendino believing both Lukaku and Napoli are wanting the deal to happen.

Lukaku joined Chelsea for a club-record £97.5m in the summer of 2021 but has spent the last two years out on loan in Italy at Inter Milan and Roma.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Players like Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund are already suffering from hamstring injuries two weeks before the season even starts - and they say the modern preparation regimes are better, safer and more scientific!

They probably are better. At least the players do not have to go through some of the borderline sadistic routines that previous generations did. Back then, after a decent length of summer break, pre-season meant working incredibly hard over a short period of time to get yourself back in top condition fast.

Sprinting up and down gigantic sand dunes against the clock until many players were physically sick was de rigueur, alongside other road runs and track work.

Here is the weird part: I used to look forward to that, the way a class swot looks forward to exams. Being smaller, lighter and a committed long-distance runner all my young life, even before I became a pro footballer, it was, if not exactly a piece of cake, then certainly much easier for me than most of the rest of the team.

I have asked many modern managers what they would prefer to do in a perfect world during their pre-season. The most common answer is "just about anything other than what we are forced to do now!"

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Chelsea are in talks over 31-year-old Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku permanently joining Napoli, while 25-year-old Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen could move in the opposite direction on loan. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Lukaku has already agreed to take a pay cut and sign a three-year contract with the Serie A club. (Ben Jacobs), external

Chelsea and Aston Villa have submitted offers for 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Germany forward Maximilian Beier. (Sky Germany), external

Finally, the Blues have also agreed a £16.7m deal with Genk for 18-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders. (HLN - in Dutch), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column