Superblue

I agree we have to take a stance and not pay over the odds. I would love Hulk here, I seriously rate him and think he would thrive at a bigger club and in a stronger environment. He is in his prime years now, as opposed to a player like Hazard who we all expect to get even better. I think £30m will be a decent price for him. Anything over and we'd be potentially overpaying. My only worry is if we play hardball, AVB sells Modric and comes in to buy Moutinho, hence leaving Porto flush and not in desperate need to sell Hulk. Moses and Schurlle are very good prospects, but we have already brought three in Hazard, Marin and De Bruyne. Buying a player with a bit more maturity and experience will balance the squad out IMO.

I agree with this. He isn't natural on the right side but he is more than comfortable and I think he would be a player that would thrive in a free role within the three attacking midfielders. He works very hard aswell, and it is always nice to have a German in the squad! I hope that any forward being brought in would be to allow Lukaku to go out on loan and get a full season or two of games under his belt, preferably in the Prem, rather than selling Sturridge.

I think Muller is a very real possibility if we were pursuing him. He's no longer an automatic first choice at Bayern but he still oozes real class and quality.

I think he was given a raw deal straight away as the fans viewed him as the replacement for Robben when he has a completely different style. Under Hiddink and the first 18 months of Ancelotti he was very good and i like to try and remember him for that as he was an important part of the double campaign (and a beast for my fantasy team that year!) rather than the bit part role and average performances during the last 18 months.

^^ This. He can play right side aswell which we're lacking in. The more expensive Schurlle becomes the better we would be placed to bid for Muller. I think Bayern would sell for £20-25m.

Apparently Essien has looked very sharp in training - could a full pre season get him back to a level sonewhere near pre injuries?

What does that mean, receive 75% before the deal is concluded?! What if the deal fell through?

Rio's gone a little quiet don't you think?! Mouthy manc prick! Looking forward to the Ferdinand's visiting the Bridge this season!

I'm almost certain that the FA will try to charge him because of both the media pressure and to save face for stripping him of the england captaincy and the fall out with capello that followed. However anything that does come from this i think chelsea will strongly contest and make it difficult for the FA to charge him when he's been cleared in court.

Chelsea will fight it like crazy!

I don't think anyone thinks him racist, just debating what if he is found guilty.

Is that a good sign? Sounds to me he's being 'hung out to dry'!

Yeah i can see terry losing the captaincy aswell. Although he is likely to get a 12 game ban minimum. By then the worst would have blown over. Still hoping he's found innocent.

Nobody remembers the shit footballers so he needs to find something else to give him his 5 minutes of fame.

As long as his IQ is higher than 7 he is at least more intelligent than wayne rooney

Definately. Anybody who turns down Spurs is very smart.

Is KDB taking a squad number and particularly one so low an indication that he won't go out on loan? Considering benayoun lost his squad number last summer and then got moved on...

I just don't see him coming in and starting right off the bat. IF he is our last attacking buy I see next season in the big games our 'strongest' line up something like mikel and lampard in the pivot; ramires, hazard and mata in front and torres as striker. I think he could well be groomed as lampards successor but that will take time. Next season he'll get gametime in the 'three attacking midfielders' to become accustomed to the league and from there the club can decide his best position and give him opportunities to force his way in to becoming first choice.

Does anybody know when his number will be confirmed? Assuming it will be 17 but not yet definite and i want him on the back of my new away shirt.

A combined total of 20 in goals and assists next season will be a very solid base to build upon.

I think the term to be used is 'non-homegrown', as I'm sure hargreaves doesn't qualify.

Exactly terry's defence have put the court in a position where they cannot show double standards on the accuracy and validity of the evidences provided.

Not really. If they rely on the lip reader then they also have to consider cole's evidence. If they discard the lip reading, then it helps terry.

A couple of links over the last day or two have cropped up with Azpilicueta so the rumours regarding this possibly breaking down may be true.

Can you elaborate?