Strike

Buy-back clause and I will stomach this. He is their record signing and I think he will have a good season with them.

I don't think so. When Cole's form tailed off, he should have made the jump up. Azpilicueta is brilliant anywhere you play him. Everyone remembers he played the CL Final but in the run-up to the final, he was putting in good performances at Left Back.Not spectacular but definitely the potential was there Since leaving, he has been one of the best left backs in the league in the last two seasons. Only Rose has been better

Bertrand - When Cole's form tailed off, and Jose played Azpilicueta there, it could have been Bertrand getting a run at Left Back. When Lukaku was initially loaned to WBA, there was Torres and Ba at the club but yeah, Lukaku threw his toys out the pram. I know, players have huge expectations of their role in the team but before sending out on loan, transfer, it would be good to give them the opportunity, especially when they have the potential of a KDB or a Sturridge. Three of the four were rightly frustrated I feel and a lot of it was down to Mourinho so I am hoping Conte changes that.

Earn 40m and give a limited player to a rival. Two birds, one stone

In any market, Van Dijk at 70m is daft, especially when there are 6 defenders at the club - few of whom are better/as good as him

I agree with RLC and Zouma getting chances and Courtois and Eden's quality was evident when they were 20 itself. But consider KdB, Bertrand, Lukaku, Sturridge, Not all world class but certainly top talents the club didn't handle well. The club should have a plan or a policy to integrate youngsters, like this season, I hope Christensen is given a chance to establish himself and Virgil or whoever is not bought for 60 million.

If true, this is another promising youngster not given a chance at the club. The buy-back clause does nothing to appease me. I would rather see him given a chance to play LCB ahead of Cahill. I think he is good enough for the LCB position. He has the technique, calmness and the athleticism for the position and is left footed. He proved himself in the Premier League at Watford and then Bournemouth before sitting on the Chelsea bench for the second half of this season. He stepped up in the FA Cup Semi-final when he was picked. Should the club really go out and splash 60million on Virgil van Dijk when there is Nathan and Christensen waiting to break in?

Real Madrid is not the only blueprint for success. Barca, Bayern? When you say step up quickly, you mean play on the level of Courtois, Zouma, Hazard, at that age because those are the young players who got a lengthy run in the team. What if the club had shown patience with Bertrand, Sturridge, KDB, Romeu, Matic, Lukaku? The chopping and changing of managers didn't help but now that Conte is starting his second season at the club, I think it is time to start integrating young players. Chelsea have one of the best youth setups but somewhere along the way there is a communication gap. I keep reading Ake, Christensen are talking to Emenalo and not Conte. That tells me there is no long term plan to take the young players up to the first team squad I feel Conte should just be given full control over this matter and this season we should see Ake, Christensen, Chalobah, Baker added to the squad.

I think there is a point where you simply have to give chances and stick with youngsters for a while. It is how young players are integrated into the first team in first teams all over the world. This "young lads have to step up and quick" mentality is only at Chelsea and few other clubs

NO NO NO DON'T BUY. When do we ever give a chance to our own? Ake and Christensen?

Two years ago, didn't the club have reservations with the 27m fee to sign Luke Shaw? That is still the highest fee ever paid for a Left Back and now, the rumoured fee is close to twice that amount

Club record bid for a Left Wing Back and barely anyone is raising an eyebrow. The future is here

Ake and Christensen should be considered for the LCB position. They are on the level of defenders we have been linked with - Koulibaly, van Dijk, Manolas - and adding a defender into the mix disturbs the integration of Christensen, Ake or even both into the first team. Azpi, Luiz, Ake, Christensen, Cahill with youngsters as emergency cover Tomori (?) Omeruo (?) Kalas (?) Aina (?)

Imagine Hazard with Sandro overlapping on the left hand side

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10917284/chelsea-insist-antonio-conte-is-happy-despite-exit-reports Conte committed to Chelsea: Sky

This shows how fans clutch at straws to have a dig at the board

"Chelsea have no doubts Conte to be in charge next season" http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-transfer-news-club-downplays-reports-of-a-bustup-with-antonio-conte-over-transfers-a3566416.html

Yes but I think this particular story is fake. The source Duncan Castles has made similar claims about Conte and Chelsea in the past but the reasons mentioned for leaving doesn't quite add up.

A report on Gazetta della sporto started it and then di Marzio's website posted it (Note: without taking credit of a by-line). All reports have few things in common. Club is unwilling to spend this summer when there is Nike deal, Oscar sale, Cuadrado sale, small squad with European competition coming up? Conte is unhappy over lack of transfers two weeks into the transfer window, with two and a half months left? Wants control over coaching appointments? Didn't he bring a sizable number of staff over when he joined? No reason to believe any of this, I think, But what do I know? I am not a journo with a Twitter following. That would be Duncan Castles and di Marzio who are stirring this up today

Okay, that's a tough start with Arsenal in the Charity Shield to begin with. Need to get the new signings in early

Caballero as backup is cool but Eduardo (a non HG player) as third choice can be avoided

Even the end had to be suitably dramatic for Diego Costa. He was a good #9, a terrific fighter but far from irreplaceable. Another typically cold decision from Conte. I like this summer already

Big Rom is on the move again and I hope it's not Chelsea for a ridiculous fee

With Terry gone, that leaves the club with six home-grown players: Begovic, Ake, Cahill, Fabregas, Moses, Chalobah There was no cover for the wing-back position this season and when Alonso or Moses were out, the team had to be reshaped with Azpilicueta covering both sides. A quality option for either wing back role would be great and Walker, Bertrand are good enough imo.

Courtois Azpilicueta Luiz Cahill Moses Matic Kante Alonso Pedro Hazard Costa As good as Fabregas has been lately, I'd give the nod to Matic over him in the cup final and bring Fabregas on, if we need a goal or have to slow down the tempo