Chelsea are in discussions with Atletico Madrid over a deal worth around £35m for 20-year-old Spanish forward Samu Omorodion. (Sky Sports), external
The Blues have agreed a £20.5m deal with Gremio to sign 16-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Mec. (Globo), external
Leicester City are leading the race to sign 21-year-old Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana on loan from Chelsea. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea are targeting a new striker signing this summer and have explored moves for both Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Atletico Madrid's Samu Omorodion.
Osimhen, 25, is ready to leave the Italian giants this summer but Napoli's initial insistence on receiving the full £113m release clause has prohibited interested parties from making a move.
The Nigeria international's wage demands are also an issue for suitors but it is hoped a complex potential swap deal involving wantaway striker Romelu Lukaku, featuring a incentivised bonuses-driven contract, could push a deal over the line before the end of August.
Antonio Conte is widely believed to be pushing for a reunion with Lukaku to reunite with the player who helped win him Serie A in 2021 at Inter Milan.
Chelsea are also keen on adding Omorodion as they pursue multiple targets simultaneously.
The 20-year-old's future, however, appears tied to multiple other deals as Atletico Madrid try to complete the signing of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher in a separate move first.
They also want to sign Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, who is valued at more than £70m, but need the funds from selling Omorodion to come close to reaching the asking price.
It remains unclear whether the Blues want to sign both players, with a squad already featuring striking options including Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu. Armando Broja is also on the books but available for sale.
It is more likely the club is moving on multiple fronts with both options deemed complex and uncertain at this early stage.
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist is expected to join Sheffield United on a season-long loan.
The 20-year-old has been given permission to travel to South Yorkshire to complete a move to Bramall Lane.
Manager Chris Wilder was key to the decision amid competition from other Championship clubs.
Gilchrist was not included in Chelsea's squad for the pre-season tour of the United States, instead training in a 'loan group' under Carlo Cudicini and Ed Brand.
The centre-back, who can also play at right back, played 17 times last season in a breakthrough season under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Image source, Getty ImagesChelsea have been drawn against either SC Braga or Servette FC in the play-off round for the group stages of the Europa Conference league.
The winner between Braga of the Portugese Primera Liga and Servette of the Swiss Super League will qualify for the Europa League.
The loser of that tie will visit Stamford Bridge on Thursday, 22 August and host Chelsea on a week later on 29 August.
The winner will progress to the group stages of the Conference League.
Image source, Getty ImagesCarlo Ancelotti won the domestic double with Chelsea in 2009-10
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 ImagesConor 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 ImagesEnzo 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 ImagesA 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 ImagesConor 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 ImagesChelsea 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 ImagesChelsea 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 ImagesChelsea 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 ImagesChelsea 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 ImagesGoals 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?
