The Chels

Simon Johnson, one of the more reliable and clued-up journalists, says he won't be sold. http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelseas-abdul-baba-rahman-nears-schalke-loan-but-antonio-conte-will-not-sell-andreas-christensen-a3308756.html

I'm so desperate for this not to happen that I am willing to believe Everton "ITKs" on their forum who say Lukaku will stay and sign a new contract

A left-footed player at LB... What is this nonsense?! Sorry it's forbidden here.

In this case I'm glad we didn't put one in, but why does the club care so little for buy-back clauses? Anyway one of the best transfers in Mourinho's second spell here was IMO the sale of Lukaku. Let us not reverse this one.

If someone told me we'd be signing a player for (at least) £60m at the start of the transfer window, I'd be pretty damn excited. But Lukaku? How disappointing. Please no.

Buh-bye Baba. I hope you enjoy playing in a team without an apparent mandate (or curse) on playing inverted FBs.

A video on Costa yesterday (in Spanish): http://www.cuatro.com/deportes/futbol/Costa-sincera-futuro-Sergio-Ramos_2_2220255038.html A fan asks him if we'll see him in Madrid and he wags his finger. Through the art of lipreading Ramos appears to say to him: "Why aren't you leaving? They're not letting you? Oh Gameiro's come."

Have you seen the latest quotes from Conte? It does look that way.

Yeah that "back injury" is starting to sound like BS. Unfortunately it looks increasingly likely that we intend to replace Costa with Lukaku. Can Atleti actually afford Costa after signing Gameiro though?

The DM are also reporting this story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3716262/Chelsea-confident-Romelu-Lukaku-return-Antonio-Conte-steps-60m-hunt-Everton-striker.html

Save us Kante.

He could have played Azpi and Luis here though but rarely did. We must be cursed.

Even Mourinho is playing with proper FBs again

Yes I've noticed the same thing. Overlaps are non-existent so far.

I'm speaking tongue-in-cheek but seriously, we need technically good defenders.

The most technically adept defender we have?

Baba's technique and ability to bypass the press NEEDED.

These players struggle under any semblance of pressure. Yikes.

How often does Willian go down holding his face when he loses the ball?

Let's hope so!

That rotation though.

That worst-case scenario probably entails another season of Ivanovic though. Damn it. If only The Individual hadn't sold Filipe...

Apparently they do. Sky Germany also now reporting it. @Blue-in-me-Veins I don't see anything in your post? Edit: I see it now

It's time to accept it, folks. Another season of Ivanovic at RB, Azpi at LB. Wahey!