Liverpool handed transfer boost over Bundesliga star’s switch

There are reports that Bayern Munich has slashed their asking price for Thiago Alcantara from £36million to £27m with Liverpool set to sign the midfielder.

Bild claim the Bundesliga champions have slashed the price of the in-demand Spaniard.

Earlier this month, it was claimed Liverpool had agreed personal terms with Thiago, 29, with the only stumbling block appearing to be the fee.

The Reds – who opted against making a move for Timo Werner over his sky-high valuation – had hoped to pay just £27m up front.

Chelsea submit bid for Barcelona star

Reports in Spain claim that Chelsea have submitted a bid for Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen amid the Catalan giants desperation to keep their No 1 goalkeeper.

Cadena Ser write how the Blues have made their opening move to land the Germany international and replace Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The Sun reported that the Spaniard fears he has played his last game for Chelsea.

Ter Stegen’s current contract expires in two years time and has failed to come to an agreement with Barca to extend his deal.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach star has previously stated his desire to remain at Camp Nou, only if the Spanish giants acknowledge his importance and give him a deal that reflects this.

He wants to be included on a pay scale with the likes of Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong.

The German has recorded 234 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions, and has conceded a mere 213 goals and has 100 clean sheets.

Olivier Giroud tells Frank Lampard what he will do about Timo Werner challenge

Olivier Giroud has revealed his plan to give Chelsea new boy a challenge since he knows the German striker was signed to be in the club’s first eleven.

The former RB Leipzig joined the Blues training during the week despite his inability to feature for the London club until next seaason.

But Giroud disclosed that he’s aware of the pedigree of the of Werner, and has promised to give Frank Lampard selection headache.

The France international told that: “Werner’s arrival is an additional motivation and it was inevitable that the club recruit a striker.

“Chelsea are a great club, which spends money to strengthen the team, and I was expecting someone to come.

“With Ziyech and Werner, Chelsea will try to be more competitive. If you had told me that it was a player of my profile who was coming, I would have been worried. It is not.

“As other teams play in a compact way against us, it’s not bad to have a big, a fulcrum that can make the link.

“But I’m not naive: Werner didn’t arrive to sit on the bench. ‘I’ll do everything so that Lampard finds himself in a complex situation when it comes to making his selection.”

CAS reveals how Chelsea, Liverpool, others WROTE to stop Man City from overturning European ban

Nine Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool tried to stop Manchester City overturning their European ban.

City were slapped with a ban from all Uefa European competitions for two seasons after “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play in February.

Pep Guardiola’s side were also hit with a £27million fine.

But the Court of Arbitration for Sport controversially overturned the ban earlier this month.

CAS also reduced the fine to £9m after City’s appeal and today released a 92-page document with full details from the case.

Within the pages CAS revealed the reasons behind their decision which split opinion.

And one was that almost half the teams in the Prem had written to them to oppose City asking for a “stay of execution” on their ban.

Burnley, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs and Wolves were the other sides to come forward.

The statement read: “On March 9 2020, nine Premier League clubs filed an application for intervention…for the limited purpose of opposing any possible application by MCFC to request for a stay of execution of the Appealed Decision.”

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Kai Havertz discusses Chelsea move with Blues stars

There are reports that Kai Havertz has been sold on Chelsea’s vision under Frank Lampard by Antonio Rudiger and new signing Timo Werner.

The Blues are now hoping their German duo can convince their international teammate that a move to Stamford Bridge is the right option for him.

The Sun report that the Bayer Leverkusen star discussed a potential move to Chelsea with Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner.

Football London claim Germany internationals Rudiger and Werner have encouraged the 21-year-old to move to the Premier League.

Chelsea secured a deal for Werner earlier this summer and revealed he had spoken with Rudiger about the move.

Havertz last week met with Bayer Leverkusen to thrash out his future. It is understood he indicated a desire to move to Chelsea during talks with the club hierarchy.

The Blues are pressing ahead with their pursuit of Havertz after they secured Champions League football for next season, and the playing staff are reportedly helping push the deal through too.

Photo Credit: Twitter @ bayer04_en

Timo Werner reveals why he made his “dream” move to Chelsea

Timo Werner says the prospect of working with Frank Lampard was the “main” reason behind him joining Chelsea after watching him in the 2012 Champions League final.

The German star, 24, sealed his £53million move from RB Leipzig last month.

He has now begun training with his new team-mates, and afterwards he revealed his decision to snub some of Europe’s most elite clubs to sign for the Blues.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Werner said: “I know of the players before when they won the Champions League with (Didier) Drogba, with my new manager Frank Lampard, Petr Cech as the technical advisor.

“It is like a little dream for me but I want to become, not a same player like them, but I want to be part of a new era here so I will play to try to give my best.”

Photo Credit: Twitter @ChelseaFC

Chelsea legend linked with shock return to Premier League

Defence ace Branislav Ivanovic has been linked with a shock return to the Premier League.

The Chelsea legend made over 250 appearances in a nine-year spell at Stamford Bridge before moving to Zenit St Petersburg in 2017.

After leaving to join Russian joining Zenit St Petersburg in 2017, many Blues supporters thought they had seen the last of the veteran defender in England.

At 36, his Premier League days seemed to have been behind him but, following his release from Russia.

However, according to Serbian newspaper Novosti, Ivanovic could be back playing against Chelsea next season with the Toffees.

Ivanovic is a free agent and also has interest from Red Star Belgrade back in his native Serbian.

But the report states his negotiations with Everton are in the “final phase” as a move to Merseyside edges closer.

Ivanovic played for Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti during his time at Chelsea.

And it looks as if the opportunity of a reunion with a man he won a Prem and FA Cup Double under is too tempting to resist.

Injured Arsenal star set to miss FA Cup final against Chelsea, undergoes surgery

Shkodran Mustafi will miss the FA Cup final against Chelsea after he took to Twitter to announce he has undergone surgery on his right hamstring.

He said: “Missing out the @EmiratesFACup Final for the second time.

“The good news is that the surgery went well and that I am not the type of guy who gives up easily.

“After the disappointment I accepted the situation and I am now focused to recover to be back on the pitch.”

Chelsea star’s agent confirms he has FIVE transfer offers on table

Willian’s agent has revealed that the forward has FIVE offers on the table despite reports that the Brazilian could agree a new deal at Chelsea before the end of the week.

The star’s contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire after Saturday’s FA Cup final.

And amid links with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the 31-year-old’s representative Kia Joorabchian has revealed that there are so far five offers to choose from – including two from the Premier League.

He told talkSPORT: “I don’t think he’s done a U-turn or any kind of turn, he’s always been very much the same mode.

“We had big offers – one from MLS which required him to move on July 1 – but he’s always wanted to finish the season at Chelsea and the day after the season has finished he would decide.

“He has two concrete offers from Premier League clubs on the table, an offer from an MLS club, and two other offers from Europe. He is going to make his decision after the last game of the season.”

Atletico Madrid president responds to Chelsea move for Jan Oblak to replace Kepa

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has ruled out the possibility that Chelsea will sign the club’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Reports from the British press claimed the West London club were pursuing a move for the Slovenian shot-stopper, who is widely regarded as one of the world’s elite goalkeepers.

Oblak has a long-term deal in the Spanish capital through to 2023 with a whopping £110m release clause, which they are unlikely to negotiate upon.

“For me, Oblak, and I speak as an amateur, is the best goalkeeper in the world,” Cerezo told Spanish media outlet Marca.

“Regarding [Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut] Courtois, he is another great goalkeeper of those in the world and fortunately, both have dressed our shirt and with both we have been champions in many trophies.

“I always say that Oblak has a contract with Atlético and is the best goalkeeper in the world. It is not strange that he has offers from other great teams such as Atlético.

“We have many players, our squad is the club’s main asset.”

When pushed on the future of the goalkeeper and if any move could materialise this summer, Cerezo added as cited by Football Espana: “I say the same as I always do. Oblak has a contract here, he is an Atleti player – period.

“Oblak is a magnificent player and there is nobody better than him in this position right now.”

The reports have claimed that out-of-favour Blues shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga could be offered as part of Chelsea’s offer for Oblak, but this latest stance from Atleti appears to indicate they will not contemplate any such offer.

Photo Credit: Twitter