Strike

City are pressing aggressively. Timo and Lukaku on their own up front is not looking enough here.

Tuchel just said Thiago had an issue in training yesterday and would have started otherwise

Always worried about these lunchtime kickoffs. It does feel too early in the day and performances are weird sometimes (WBA last season for ex)

Yep this. Also knowing that this is his most consistent phase at the club. Many here including me was open to selling him in 2020

At 28, I'm okay giving a high wage to Rudi on a 4 year deal. Mainly since we could lose Silva next year and Azpi at some point too.

I see comments by Rio Ferdinand saying he's the best center back in the league - seems like a cunningly thought out comment to up the pressure on Chelsea to spend the money or risk losing face by letting him walk.

As much as I love Bastoni's game, I'd go for a monster type defender since we would be lacking some power and muscle with Rudi gone.

Andreas will have to wait before he becomes first choice. We are seeing one of the all time greats here still schooling much faster attackers

Alonso has been really good

I'll take this. Great win from Kova after the attack broke down

2-0 and this was in the bag

Silva has been very cool at the back today and now a goal too. He's not getting displaced by Christensen soon in the central role

Havertz and Mount are both not at it so far.

Need the pace of James down that right. Can sacrifice Andreas or Azpi

I think Jorginho Kovacic again and Saul off the bench. Saul starts the European game in midweek

In the Nathan Ake range. I am okay with that. At least gives options

At least we have salvaged a 25m buy-back clause from a dire negotiating position - hoping he has just gone to get playing time which is understandable.

He was born in Germany and has a German mother. Also, he left pre-Lampard when none of the academy boys got into the team. 🤷‍♂️

at least something not generic and with a sense of humor? Chelsea's social media game is pretty rigid

https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/aug/31/best-football-transfer-announcements-summer-2021-batman-gta-home-alone-video Some of these announcements are hilarious.

Very disappointing and generic announcement - there were so many things they could do with Better Call Saul

+ Reece if needed. Seems like club has retained Hudson-Odoi for the wingback role

Newcastle are going to sign exciting Mexican prospect Santiago Munoz although the forward will go into the Academy squad when he arrives. The 19-year-old, who played for Santos Laguna in Liga MX, was spotted by chief scout Steve Nickson and is highly rated in South America. Born in the USA, he has represented Mexico at age group level and was their star player when they finished as runners up in the Under-17 World Cup in 2019. Life stranger than fiction.

Who though? If its not Saul on loan or Rice.

One thing that explains this is Tuchel wants Declan Rice in a year