CHELSEA are preparing for their showdown with Man City tonight.
Frank Lampard has been talking about the Blues' transfer plans for the summer, which already include Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Follow all the latest transfer updates and gossip from West London below…
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AGENTS RAKE IT IN
Premier League clubs paid out a whopping £263million on agent fees during 2019/20.
Chelsea are in fourth place after forking out just over £26.1m, while Arsenal are in seventh with £13.5m.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is keen to complete a major overhaul of his squad at Stamford Bridge.
He has signed Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and are reportedly closing in on Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz.
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MORE ON PEDRO
Chelsea winger Pedro will join Roma at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old Spaniard has agreed to stay for the rest of the extended Premier League season.
But he will then be heading off to Serie A to join Paulo Fonseca's side, according to Sky Sports.
Pedro has played just 18 times this season – with only nine of those in the Premier League – and scored twice.
Willian, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi are all ahead of him in the pecking order under Frank Lampard when fit and available, with Ajax star Hakim Ziyech joining next season.
Pedro joined the Barca academy aged 17 and went on to play 321 matches for the first team, scoring 99 goals, before signing at Chelsea in 2015.
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PEDRO STATS
Here are the Spaniard's numbers this season.
Games Played 9
Minutes Played 656
Goals 1
Assists 1
Shots, on Target 9
Shots, off Target 4
Passes 310
Passes Successful 258
Passes Opp Half 201
Dribbles Completed 12
Dribbles Success Rate 54.55%
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TRANSFER ROMAS
Sky Sports News are reporting that Pedro has agreed a deal to join Roma at the end of the season.
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WILL POWER
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has confirmed the club are in talks to extend Willian's stay at the club beyond the end of the season.
Speaking to the media ahead of Chelsea's home tie against Manchester City, Lampard said: “Yeah we are still talking with the players, and Willian in particular we are talking with him.
“I always felt confident they [Willian and Pedro] would remain, they've been fantastic professionals for the club, and servants in all senses.
“And when you have that level of professionalism within you, I think it's a sign that they wanted to stay and see out the season at least.
“So we'll carry on talking and see.
“But I think everybody's focus now is on these next games, these individuals themselves and us as a club.”
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INFLUENCERS
Chelsea fans reckon Kai Havertz is heading to Stamford Bridge this summer… because Timo Werner follows him on Instagram.
The pair do, in fairness, play for Germany together.
But Blues fans want the club to go all in for the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker as well.
Frank Lampard denied the Blues had made a bid for Havertz.
He said: “He's obviously a top player but we're certainly not going to comment on other players of other teams and it cannot be our focus. No bids have gone in.”
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MATCH ODDS
- Chelsea to win – 13/4
- Draw at the Bridge – 14/5
- Man City victory – 3/4
- Over 2.5 goals – 3/5
*Odds from Ladbrokes
PRE-MATCH STATS
- Chelsea have alternated between defeat and victory in their last four Premier League home games against Man City, winning this exact fixture 2-0 last season.
- Man City have won six of their last nine Premier League meetings with Chelsea (L3), as many as they had in their previous 34 against them (W6 D7 L21).
- Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League meetings with Man City, though it was in this exact fixture last season (2-0).
WELL DONE 'HEEM
Frank Lampard reckons Raheem Sterling picked the wrong target in his crusade for more black managers.
Chelsea boss Lampard praised the outspoken Manchester City winger for his work combating racism and helping the Black Lives Matter campaign.
Lampard said: “Raheem has been brave speaking about issues in the last two years and deserves huge credit for that.
“In the case of managers, I think Raheem got it slightly wrong from my point of view. It felt like a very casual comparison.
“If you compare opportunities and pathways of individual managers, you can compare myself, Steven, Sol, who did an incredible job at Macclesfield and is doing a job at Southend that any of us would find very difficult to do.
“With Raheem, I think the individual comparison when you don’t have the detail of each person’s pathway isn’t quite right.
“And again I will level that out because I want to say Raheem as a person and player and what he has stood up for in the last two years has been fantastic.”
GOOD MORNING CHELSEA FANS
Frank Lampard says that Chelsea have NOT made a bid for Kai Havertz, despite reports claiming his side have.
The Chelsea boss said: “He's obviously a top player but we're certainly not going to comment on other players of other teams and it cannot be our focus. No bids have gone in.
“We have the games that we need to complete before the window opens so that's something we'll broach when it comes round.
“At the minute our only focus can be on the games in hand.”
But Chelsea are said to have joined Arsenal in the race for RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano, according to reports.
The Gunners have been chasing the highly-rated 21-year-old since last summer and it appears likely that he will be departing the German side at the end of the season.
The Frenchman has a £50million release clause in his Leipzig contract that expires next summer.
But while Arsenal seemed in pole position for some time, the Blues could step in and swoop Upamecano from under their noses as they recently did with Timo Werner and Liverpool, according to The Athletic.
The West Londoners are said to have a good relationship with Leipzig – as a result of Werner's £53m transfer they recently agreed – and could use that to nab Upamecano.
And Jorginho's agent has played down reports that the Italian International could be set to leave Chelsea this summer.
Joao Santos told Calciomercato: “His price-tag has certainly gone up over the last two years, as he has done well in London and become a regular for Italy.
“He is now the vice-captain at Chelsea and has amassed a great deal of experience playing in the Champions League and Europa League.
“I think it’s very unlikely an offer will come in for Jorginho, because nobody can afford to make that kind of investment in the market right now.
“Because of the pandemic, nobody knows when we can return to normal or even play with fans in the stadium, so that’s a big problem for the transfer market.”
STERLING EFFORT
Frank Lampard reckons Raheem Sterling picked the wrong target in his crusade for more black managers.
Chelsea boss Lampard praised the outspoken Manchester City winger for his work combating racism and helping the Black Lives Matter campaign.
He said: “Raheem has been brave speaking about issues in the last two years and deserves huge credit for that.
“In the case of managers, I think Raheem got it slightly wrong from my point of view. It felt like a very casual comparison.
“If you compare opportunities and pathways of individual managers, you can compare myself, Steven, Sol, who did an incredible job at Macclesfield and is doing a job at Southend that any of us would find very difficult to do.
“With Raheem, I think the individual comparison when you don’t have the detail of each person’s pathway isn’t quite right. And again I will level that out because I want to say Raheem as a person and player and what he has stood up for in the last two years has been fantastic.
“So it is very hard to make that comparison from the outside. Those opportunities have to be equal for everybody.
“But within that are the details of how hard you have worked.
“I certainly worked from the start of my career to try to get this opportunity.”
WRERNING LIGHT
Eagle-eyed Chelsea fans have noticed that Timo Werner has followed Kai Havertz on Instagram after he was confirmed as a Blues player.
CHILLED THEIR INTEREST
Chelsea pursuing alternatives to Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell.
The Athletic claim the Foxes are said to be holding out for a £70million fee for the England star, with the Blues only prepared to pay a much lower amount.
Frank Lampard has since began looking elsewhere, and has made an inquiry to Bayern Munich about the availability of David Alaba.
FEELING BLUE
Frank Lampard has confirmed that Chelsea are set to be without Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson-Odoi for the clash against Manchester City.
He said: “We’re all the same as we were for Aston Villa.
“Fikayo Tomori is still probably about a week away from training properly with us.
“Callum Hudson-Odoi is still searching for fitness. He’s fit but not match fit yet.”
COUT AND PASTE
Barcelona are reportedly set to offer Arsenal target Philippe Coutinho to rivals Spurs in exchange for Tanguy Ndombele.
The Independent claim the Brazilian is one of two players alongside Nelson Semedo that Barca are prepared to part ways with to raise money.
Ndombele – who became Tottenham's record signing when he arrived in an initial £55million deal last summer – reportedly wants to leave the club.
The Frenchman is yet to play a minute for Jose Mourinho's side in their two games following the resumption of the Premier League.
PHIL ME IN
Philippe Coutinho has been put up for sale this summer as Barcelona look to raise as much as possible before June 30, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Brazilian has linked with a move back to the Premier League to join either Chelsea or Arsenal after falling out of favour at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona are expected to have limited transfer funds available due to the coronavirus pandemic. but remain keen on a summer spree for Lautaro Martinez and Neymar.
BLUE IS THE COLOUR
Frank Lampard has shared his delight at Willian and Pedro both agreeing short-term extensions at Chelsea.
He said: “I’m pleased, negotiations were relatively easy, because both sides wanted the same thing, the two players wanted to make sure they could see the season out with us.
“At this point we need them in the squad they are both important players for us, so I’m happy.
“I try and have a good relationship with them on and off the pitch, and the board do that as well. The conversations have been relatively easy – and when I say that, I mean both club and players want the same thing.
“At the same time you have to understand their part and they have to understand ours. It was pretty simple because we have a good relationship with them. That’s the way it works and hopefully we can carry on going forward in all senses.”
VICTO-RY
Chelsea loan star Victor Moses has revealed that he chose to join Inter Milan to continue working under former Blues boss Antonio Conte.
The Nigerian told the Nerazzurri's Matchday programme: “He’s a great man and coach, I know his methods well.
“He wants the best from his players and that’s the main reason I'm here because I’ve worked with him and I know what he wants: he just wants us to go out there, work hard and have fun while putting our idea of football into practice.
“Obviously that’s what I want to do, to win with him, this team and fantastic club. I already knew Lukaku, Young and Eriksen. They’re all fantastic guys and we’re all rowing in the same direction.
“Inter is a huge club with incredible fans.”
JORGIN-NO
Jorginho's agent has played down reports that the Italian International could be set to leave Chelsea this summer.
Joao Santos told Calciomercato: “His price-tag has certainly gone up over the last two years, as he has done well in London and become a regular for Italy.
“He is now the vice-captain at Chelsea and has amassed a great deal of experience playing in the Champions League and Europa League. I think it’s very unlikely an offer will come in for Jorginho, because nobody can afford to make that kind of investment in the market right now.
“Because of the pandemic, nobody knows when we can return to normal or even play with fans in the stadium, so that’s a big problem for the transfer market.”
MOUR MOANS
According to reports, Jose Mourinho has fallen out with record £65million signing Tanguy Ndombele at Spurs and will refuse to play for him.
The pair are alleged to have had a massive bust-up at training on Monday, and are said to have clashed repeatedly since the Portuguese became Tottenham boss in November.
Mourinho has denied the claim, but if it is true the French midfielder is one of a number of stars who have argued with 'The Special One.'
Here SunSport details the players Jose fell out with at Stamford Bridge including Arjen Robben, Kevin De Bruyne and David Luiz.
MASMERIZING
Mason Mount has bought Vitesse Arnhem season tickets for Dutch health workers who cannot afford them.
The Chelsea star has been hailed by his former side after stepping in to fund season tickets for health workers in the Netherlands battling coronavirus.
Mount spent a season at Vitesse in the 2017/18 season and became a huge hit.
He was named the club’s Player of the Year after 13 goals and 10 assists in the Eredivisie.
UTD OR BUST
Chelsea have been dealt a blow by the news that Manchester United have emerged as Jadon Sancho's only option this summer.
German publication Bild have revealed the Bundesliga giants have finally settled on a £117million price for their in-demand winger.
And it seems only Man Utd have the funds available this summer to launch a move for Sancho – who is said to be keen on a move back to England.
MOVING ON UP
Chelsea have joined Arsenal in the race for RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano, according to reports.
Frank Lampard is keen to bring in defenders this summer and looks set to move for the £50million rated centre-back.
The Gunners have been chasing the highly-rated 21-year-old since last summer and it appears likely that he will be departing the German side at the end of the season.
The Frenchman has a £50million release clause in his Leipzig contract that expires next summer.
But while Arsenal seemed in pole position for some time, the Blues could step in and swoop Upamecano from under their noses as they recently did with Timo Werner and Liverpool, according to The Athletic.
The West Londoners are said to have a good relationship with Leipzig – as a result of Werner's £53m transfer they recently agreed – and could use that to nab Upamecano.
CHAPTER AND VERTZ
Frank Lampard says that Chelsea have NOT made a bid for Kai Havertz, despite reports claiming the Blues have.
The Chelsea boss said: “He's obviously a top player but we're certainly not going to comment on other players of other teams and it cannot be our focus. No bids have gone in.
“We have the games that we need to complete before the window opens so that's something we'll broach when it comes round.
“At the minute our only focus can be on the games in hand.”
HUGE FUTURE
Pep Guardiola has shared his thoughts on Frank Lampard ahead of their meeting tomorrow.
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