Socrates

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2565/exclusive/2016/08/29/26981402/chelsea-closing-in-on-inters-brozovic?ICID=HP_BN_1

I hope this is nonsense. I'd hate to think we're wasting our (and Real's) time with childish proposals. James Rodriguez is not Pato FFS.

I think people are just annoyed because he hasn't been identified by the Press as a target before therefore it's assumed we're scrabbling about to sign anyone. FWIW he looks a decent option to me for 17m. Alonso can play left centre-back in a 352, is pacey and has PL experience. I don't see how the Press's favorite Ricardo Rodriguez is a clearly better option. If this allows Azpi to move to the right and Ivanovic to sit the season out, then what’s the problem?

Interesting. Thanks for posting though they were written before United signed Bailly so presumably aren't interested in him anymore. Seeing as how Napoli are refusing to sell Koulibaly we might as well put in a bid for Maksimovic as he looks like a decent option.

We're getting close to Djilibodgi and Pato time. I wonder who Emenalo has lined up this year.

Yes, it’s happening: Pelé set for Stamford Bridge, Chelsea in talks with Brazilian club over wide ranging deal http://sportwitness.co.uk/pele-set-stamford-bridge-chelsea-talks-brazilian-club-wide-ranging-deal/?

Apparently, Valencia are willing to sell Mustafi to Arsenal... in order to buy Pedro from us. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-told-shkodran-mustafi-cost-8679579 If we were really interested in Mustafi...

Hope there's something to this story. James Rodriguez would be a definite upgrade on Pedro and Willian. This boy is fast, he can cross, he can shoot, his assist record is good, plus he can score goals. Which none of our attacking midfielders save for Hazard seem capable of. In the present market, 60m sounds like a gamble worth taking.

Did we even put in an offer for Lukaku? My feeling is still the same. We were silly to let him leave. We'd be silly to buy him back. Time to move on to bigger and better things.

I don't know. Maybe they think it was all the manager's fault.

Well if it takes a defeat to Watford to force the Board to finally do something then so be it.

Well that was coming.

Poor first half. Watford looked comfortable. They just have to contain Hazard and the rest is easy. No changes. Conte hoping a few wise words will do the trick.

Hmmm... 60m on James Rodriguez looks like it could be money well spent.

More likely we'll end up with Jay Rodriguez.

Linked to James Rodriguez and Ricardo Rodriguez. Michael Emenalo must have reached the ‘R’s on his spreadsheet.

Really not sure what it means when a fee of 60m is thrown about. These headline transfer fees sound crazy but my guess is that the fee would be 40m plus bonus payments bringing it up to 50-60m. Even that 40m won't likely be paid upfront but in instalments. Still a lot of money — but missing out on your transfer targets can be equally expensive as we found out last year.

Don't think we can play Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic in the starting line up these days. Just asking for trouble. We should've had a new defence bedded in over preseason. This could get ugly unless the Board sorts it out fast. We can't risk a whole month of this nonsense.

Defence is all over the place again. Should've been a priority before the start of the season. What a mess.

Blimey. Oscar really messed that up.

Too many touches from Costa there.

Ivanovic with a defensive header there. Did well to get it over the bar. Shame it was the wrong end.

Sad to see Papy go. Here are the highlights from his Chelsea career:

Farewell Papy. Another Chelsea legend gone. He'll always be welcome back at the Bridge.

Just tuned in for the second half. What the hell is going on? Clueless...