Strike

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

Remember everything about the day. What a night.

I would be very disappointed if we sign James. I am still holding out hope for a Sanchez, Griezmann level of attacker

Begovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Ake, Azpilicueta, Kante, Chalobah, Kenedy, Willian, Batshuayi, Hazard

04-05 - The first and the best when I had just begun watching. 95 points. 16-17 - The Conte revival story was a lot of fun actually, in the year Pep Mourinho Klopp and Wenger were in the same league. After 3-0 at Arsenal, who would have thought? 05-06 - More of the same with Essien added to the midfield. 09-10 - Don Carlo's squad. Anelka, Malouda Drogba and Lampard going forward. 103 goals. 7-2, 7-1, 7-0, 8-0. 14-15 - The first half was exciting. Super football from Fabregas Oscar Hazard Costa. Won the League Cup too. The season kind of tailed off after the 5-3 at White Hart Lane and Jose parking it home for the rest of the season.

Apart from the cross, he was unreal in defending the Rondon counter when Luiz got beaten. Our best defender this season for me

2 more wins and we set the record for most wins in a single season. Play JT Ake Batshuayi Willian from the start