terryble things

It's now 6 pm.

Finally, Nat can get game time

https://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2017/07/clarke-salter-signs-new-contract.html Rare piece of good news, Clarke-Salter, the heir to Terry, no. 1284827987400, has signed a four year deal. Maybe he'll get the 6th Defensive squad berth. Maybe he'll go on loan in the next day.

ugh... we gave him what, 3 minutes in the cup 3 years ago? At least Chalobah had a bit of a chance

Barkley doesn't offer much defensively so he'd never get in the side ahead of Fabregas. He's not creative / quick enough going forward so you'd keep Pedro/Willian ahead of him. Can't see him wanting to warm the bench. I'd just keep Baker around for rotation and see how he does.

Absolutely, and Matic is worth more surely. I'd offer 20-25m for Ox and just see. Keep Matic as leverage for Sandro deal

Rumours are back in town. It might be time to take our links with the Ox seriously, what with both RLC and Chalobah out of the team. We're in desperate need of more HG talent and he can play in two positions we're lacking players: CM and RWB.

Good point it's literally just Matic, and would've been Lukaku... so no one from the academy...

The head of our academy only last week said in an article that 22 was probably too late for a player to try a be a young player breaking in, he mentioned Chalobah and Bertrand in the same breath, should've taken that as a clue.

Earlier reports suggested his current contract had a 6m release clause, so unlikely the club ever wanted to sell him—hence the last minute 60k/wk contract offer. Conte obviously couldn't promise him enough game time. It's a disaster. He'll long have a place in my heart for the shove on Aguero after the lunge on Luiz. Seemed like a big part of the dressing room too, front and centre of our new kit ads too. We've let Solanke, RLC, Abraham, Aina, Ake, Traore and Chalobah all leave the club on loan or permanently this summer. That's easily 80% of our current top prospects away from the club and over half for good. Assuming Matic leaves, as he's been training alone and MVG goes to PSV, we literally have no DM cover now.

nooo

We wouldn't have gone for Rudiger if we thought we had a chance of getting Bonucci. Milan bidding for him won't make him suddenly wanna move to London.

We keep him, we risk pushing out Baker and Chalobah and keep a perennially uninspired presence who's unhappy to the point of training alone. Even Remy and Van Ginkel are still training with the rest of the team. Matic should go. Any profit on him at his age is a coup.

I think Baba and Matic will still be sold. Ideally, Dasilva and Baker can take their places and do well when called upon. Tomori could take the last CB berth. Otherwise spot on.

I mean he's got four years left on his deal, and if they pay his wages, it'll essentially work for all parties. I guess the assumption is that it will take him some time to bed in as a premier league regular. Come 2019, he will have really proven himself or not. Not a disaster, I'm sure there will be a recall option. http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/01/ruben-loftus-cheek-given-60000-a-week-contract-after-making-12-appearances-for-chelsea-5725951/

I'd imagine he'd prefer Juve or Paris sadly. When was the last time we signed a top player in their prime from one of Europe's top top teams? From that list, I think Vidal may emerge as an option if Bakayoko deal doesn't happen.

I can't see a Conte team with James, Hazard and Fabregas all in the starting eleven. 60odd million for a player who wouldn't command a starting berth is wild.

United stealing our targets, and now Wolves—what is this?!

Townsend-RLC-Zaha + Benteke could be quite nice. Could see them doing damage to our rivals. Tactical loan me thinks. Much like letting Everton have lukaku first time round. Strengthen a mid-table side for when they take on the rest of the top six.

Fairly conclusive no then, was just curious why neither had been mentioned. :)

Is mostly a joke, but same could be said about Llorente, and Conte does like his pivots, Pelle was never one to charge up and down the pitch.

Far-fetched yeah but in the spirit of getting one back over United.. 1) What with Lukaku signing for united and there being talk of Ibra having his contract renewed + Martial being due a serious season, I'm sure Marcus Rashford will be wondering if he'll be able to keep getting more and more games at the top level... We could be the only top club in Europe without a top striker... Rashford won't get games at no.9 at united. We need more homegrown players in the squad. Rashford needs to kick on in World Cup year.. 2) Alternatively, if Ibra is returning to fitness and still has no club, why not go for him? He'd be a better Llorente than Llorente and would retire in time for Abraham's heroic return.

What about sales? That might be the more interesting question... Would've been a brave soul to say Ake & Traore before two weeks ago.

Ideal and realistic>!>!? If it has to be both those things then you nailed it, but that's just all the players we're being most heavily linked to...! How about Not caballero Kyle Walker as RWB Rudiger looks fine Lewandowski + Give baker n nat loads of game time

It's the only position (along with a striker obviously) that we definitely need to strengthen. If we can get a full Brazil international with that much experience for 20-25m, we should definitely go for it. To think Alonso cost the same with about a third of the credentials.