cfc88

If he does stay and play like he wants to help the club achieve something next season, then I'm happy. We all know the talent is there but most top clubs need more than one striker and he has to realise that.

Is this just a rumour as of now? Or are there legitimate sources that it's a real possibility?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21q5cd_filipe-luis-exclusive-first-interview-full_sport full interview

I think Khedira is getting seriously underrated. He isn't a goalscoring midfielder or a flair player but he brings balance to a team. Mourinho saw him as a vital player, Ancelotti did as well before he got injured, and Low had him in the first 11 for Germany despite playing in only 3 games for Madrid since his injury.

There has not really been any sources of Pogba to us, except if you consider him playing FM and being in London as 'sources'. Vidal to United seems to have picked up in Chile and Italy, and that transfer seems more likely.

Duncan Castles said we didn't take our option on him because he was did not impress, but let them believe what they want. They think that they got 80m for Suarez when the Barca president confirmed it was around 60m.

Lukaku cost £10M with 7 million more to be added as incentives, and I'm pretty sure those incentives were not fulfilled. The club has a bigger problem though, it's a £50m investment that failed miserably and occupies an unwarranted place in the squad because no other club wants him.

I don't think anyone is doubting him as a player, and maybe he can go on to become even better. But instead of walking into the dressing room and seeing a 33 year old Eto'o, Demba Ba who has a dodgy knee (who was leaving on loan), and Torres who hasn't been on form since 2010, then deciding to leave for Everton, he should have had been happy to have that lot as competition.

I don't see what realistic options the club will have if Lukaku decides to leave and Ba as well. Maybe a cheap, average striker as a back up choice? No other club in their right mind will take Torres so he's here to stay until his contract is up. So back to my original point, what are realistic choices for second choice striker? It can't be a big name like Cavani, Falcao, Benzema etc, unless Mourinho is planning to play with two forwards. I would be happy with Ba as second choice but it seems like he wants to be a starter. Even at 36 I would take Drogba over Torres because he is reliable and wouldn't fall over the ball like a 3 year old. Torres' demand to be first choice in 2012 essentially forced Drogba out of the club and forced Sturridge out 6 months later. Who knows how Drogba/Sturridge, Hazard, Oscar, and Mata would have played together? If he does come back as a short term solution then I welcome it.

If anyone's lost his edge, it's that man in your picture.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9340972/transfer-news-chelseas-romelu-lukaku-admits-he-may-have-to-leave-club These aren't the comments of someone being pushed out. It's the comments of someone who lacks self belief and wants everything handed to him.

He wasn't given the chance to play? Again, he was slowing be integrated into the team. He got 15 minutes against Hull and 25 against Villa. Then, around the same amount of minutes against Bayern. If he stayed and took his chances, he would have become a starter. All we need to do is look at Willian, Schurrle, and as others pointed out Azpilicueta. At the end of the day, Lukaku made Chelsea and Mourinho out to be the enemy in the situation and he only started to admit the truth after Mourinho got angry. Well Mourinho does have a track record in that genius area. See my first reply for Lukaku's 'hope'.

After Cavani and Falcao, I'll never believe twitter again.

What do you all think about sleeve sponsors? It seems barca have gone down that route now, which is surprising.

Final match added http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/07/blues-to-host-real-sociedad-at-the-bridge.html?WT.mc_id=social_20140710_27583896 Blues to host Real Sociedad at the Bridge Chelsea Football Club will welcome Spanish side Real Sociedad to Stamford Bridge for our final pre-season game on Tuesday 12 August, kick-off 7.45pm. The match will be our first home pre-season friendly since 2006, when we drew 1-1 against Celtic. Ticket prices start from just £15 for adults and £5 for juniors and seniors. Those supporters attending will also have the opportunity to watch our new acquisitions in action as Jose Mourinho prepares his side for our first Premier League game of the season at Burnley the following weekend. Real Sociedad, under the guidance of manager Jagoba Arrasate, will play in the 2014/15 Europa League. Ticket selling details: Today (Thursday) from 2pm until tomorrow at 5pm: Season tickets holders can purchase their own seat. Monday 14 July: Season ticket holders who have not yet purchased and members can purchase one ticket. Tuesday 15 July: Members and season ticket holders can purchase extra tickets (maximum of three tickets in total). Tuesday 15 July from 2pm: Tickets will go on general sale (maximum of four tickets per person). Tickets in the upper tiers will be priced £20 for adults and £10 for juniors and seniors. Tickets in the lower tiers will be priced £15 for adults and £5 for juniors and seniors.

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/07/blues-to-host-real-sociedad-at-the-bridge.html?WT.mc_id=social_20140710_27583896 Surely this transfer is on now! lol

Last thread on him was locked. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10958363/Chelsea-step-up-move-for-left-back-Filipe-Luis-as-replacement-for-Ashley-Cole.html From this article -- "Chelsea are also still in the market for another new forward with Ezequiel Lavezzi and Antoine Griezmann two options that have been considered." Chelsea are now being linked to him. There were rumours in January that we were in for him around the time Mata to United stories started to break but it stopped when Salah was signed. Now we're being linked again. There are rumours that he turned down a new contract extension at his club as well. So anyone watches him in La Liga regularly or watched the France matches? Is he a forward?

I hope he gets some extra locks for his house. Can't have people holding his family hostage and robbing them while he's playing CL footy.

Chelsea should never do business with them again. Atletico brought the Courtois/CL agreement out in public knowing that they will get support from UEFA and the public, they kept acting as though he's their player even though he's under contract at Chelsea, then they tried to get Costa to sign an improved contract to raise his buyout clause, and now this.

Reports from manc journos were that Evra didn't sign the deal. United had the chance to automatically renew it for one more year and they did. It seems they just did it to get a million or two for him instead of nothing.

If United sign Vidal, then Pogba might not be going anywhere.

Some pics from training and new signings (with AP watermark) http://imgur.com/a/Q0pyF

Did we ever try for Pogba when he wanted to leave United?

Good signing for them, they still don't seem to pose a threat though. Their midfield and defenders are still average.

I just hope his performance puts to rest the whole debate that his good qualities should overlook his bad qualities. Yes, he is a character and passionate but that means little on the football pitch, especially if you don't know how to control it. Signing the anthem as loud as you can and holding up your teammates jersey as if he died is admirable, but yet again, it does nothing. Showing emotion is not always a good quality. Last summer I was told by some fellow chatters on here how wrong I was, I promised to not come back on this thread, or whatever the last Luiz thread was, until we see what Mourinho does with him at the end of the season, and I'm glad I was justified. Also, a defender should be able to defend first. He can't do that. He disorganises the whole team with his runs. Neuer is a better defender than him.