Socrates

Fabregas persuades Pedro to choose Chelsea over Arsenal...LOL ‘Pedro has reportedly been persuaded to join Chelsea over Arsenal by Cesc Fabregas and Jose Mourinho.’ Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2015/07/12/pedro-rejects-arsenal-for-chelsea-transfer-after-jose-mourinho-and-cesc-fabregas-step-in-5291867/#ixzz3fggNYvy3

At least we’re setting our standards a bit higher than Alex Song. Terrific player. Be amazed if we land him though.

‘Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Internacional midfielder Charles Aranguiz, according to reports.’ - Metro http://metro.co.uk/2015/07/07/chelsea-agree-shock-transfer-deal-to-sign-chile-star-charles-aranguiz-5284982/

£29m. Blimey. We did well to keep out of it. Credit to Atletico Madrid. They do a roaring trade every transfer window.

Fortunately, he's not coming to Chelsea according to Rob Beasley. As for where he's going it's anyone's guess... ‘The Barcelona board have ruled out a move for Atletico Madrid winger Arda Turan according to radio Cadena SER. ’The report claims that the provisional board has not given the authority for the transfer to go ahead but that decision could be over-ruled following the presidential election on 18 July. ‘Mundo Deportivo claimed that Turan will sign for Barcelona on a €35 million move but his agent Ahmet Bulut denied being in talks with the La Liga champions.’ http://www.turkish-football.com/barcelona-board-rule-out-signing-chelsea-target-arda-turan/?

All but confirmed... http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/01/radamel-falcao-signs-chelsea-deal

Well if Turan is joining us on Friday, someone's going to look daft:

Atletico Madrid confirm signing of Jackson Martinez for 35m euros from Porto. Does this mean they are preparing for Griezmann to leave?

Would be a really poor signing. Commits too many fouls, is easily dispossessed, poor pass completion, doesn't contribute creatively or score enough. Only thing he's got going for him is his industriousness. He's lucky to have been playing in a really good Atletico side who cover up for him. Atletico would be laughing all the way to the bank if he ends up at Stamford Bridge. Are we that desperate?

‘Chelsea ready to throw Mohamed Salah into £45m deal for Atletico ace Antoine Griezmann’ http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/586561/Antoine-Griezmann-Chelsea-transfer-news-Mohamed-Salah

His agent was not Jorge Mendes.

A good transfer window would be if we can put a stop to the Falcao deal and sell Cuadrado while we can still get some of our money back.

Seen enough of Cuadrado now to believe that signing him was a huge blunder. There's a reason no other club would go anywhere near him. He's bloody useless. To think we let De Bruyne and Schurrle go then sign Cuadrado beggars belief. I'd like to know who's sanctioning these ridiculous decisions. The Falcao nonsense just makes things worse.

Not only are we lumbered with Falcao for a year. We also somehow managed to splurge £25m on Cuadrado. Who on earth thought that was a good idea? Did anyone actually bother to see him play? Board needs to get its act together. Seriously.

Subbed for Martinez second half after a nothing game. One shot early on. Did not much else of note. Cuadrado was also poor. Saying that, Colombia have been disappointing overall and their best player James Rodriguez has been underwhelming.

Liverpool holding out for 50m for Sterling! The world has gone mad. Then again I remember when we forked out 21m for Sean Wright-Phillips.

Russian sources claiming a deal for Axel Witsel is close to agreement. http://russianfootballnews.com/exclusive-axel-witsel-close-to-agreement-with-chelsea/

Turns out Jorge Mendes represents Witsel. Now it all makes sense.

It's been a bit quiet on the Griezmann front... “Chelsea still interested in Antoine Griezmann” http://soccerlens.com/chelsea-still-interested-in-antoine-griezmann/170384/

He's at the Copa America this Summer with Cuadrado. But seeing how poor Colombia were in their opening game against the mighty Venezuela, there's a good chance both Falcao and Cuadrado will get a pre-season with us.

I said I was 'expecting' we might be in for him. But would've preferred someone else. Not sure about him for 32m personally. Just 10m more and we're in Griezmann territory.

I was expecting us to sign Benteke. But I was hoping we'd blow our budget on Griezmann and/or Icardi. Instead of faffing about with Falcao for a year.

So he's a Chelsea player for a year. Nice work by Mendes. Just hope Jose gets something in return as this deal smells fishy. Disappointing signing as I thought we were really going to push on next season instead of just replacing one over-the-hill striker with another.

Times' Duncan Castles reporting we've agreed terms with Monaco on Falcao. Let’s just hope Costa stays fit.

Well Falcao was invisible in Colombia's opening match at the Copa America. They lost 1-0 to Venezuela. Hardly had a touch. Not sure he managed a shot in 90 mins. Cuadrado played on the right. Saw plenty of the ball but didn't do much with it. Commentators said he was Colombia's best player but that's not saying much as Colombia were poor overall. Just one match, I know, but I'm even less convinced than I was before.