Blue Colored Sky

Isn't it telling that Inter replaces him with Joao Mario ? I never focused on him even though I watched good chunk of games that he apparently played in. Seems like jack of all trades type. Conte confirmed that Chalobah and RLC are staying plus Mikel just came back, someone will be permanently in the stands. And still quantity greatly eclipses quality. I would like a reliable option that can play in 4-3-3 alongside Kante and Cesc. Can he do that ? What's wrong with him that Inter wants to replace him ?

6 days and I still don't know what to expect. Signings would have to be made blazing fast. It looks improbable to sign someone every few hours when we signed 2 players since that Leicester game last season over 3 months ago. Chelsea basically signed player every 50 days, they would have to do that every 50 hours from now on. But still, fully expecting good signings to be made. Or a meltdown.

Valencia are offloading Paco + Mustafi and are apparently interest in Pedro. Chelsea need to free some wage space because wages for James are more problematic than transfer fee.

Hard to know. Not every club is Milan to reveal offers they receive. But something turned Lukaku head so he took all summer to make decision to stay. Imo Chelsea offer. Too much information from various sources plus Conte was dead certain to play 2 upfront as we've seen from pre-season.

Nah, look Lukaku only recently informed Everton that he's staying, Koeman announced it on the press-conference like a huge news. Why even do that when he's under long term contract ? He must had significant offers and the only club that was linked with him more seriously was Chelsea. The offer was real.

We signed Fernando Torres and David Luiz for over 80m€ on the last day in January 2011. I remember 4 days earlier both deals looked off. It's possible to pull off some great deals in the last few days as everything is probably agreed with the targets apart from release fee.

What ? We played in 14/15 with two midfielders and had excellent results, especially in the first part. And I think Kante is even better than then-Matic. You're making Fabregas more liability than he actually is. If there's one game we can go all out attack (and should) is Burnley. Would be a shame to drop Michy after his run and Cesc is the man to unlock that structure of Burnley defence. But I fully expect that Bats will be dropped for Matic or maybe Oscar since he hasn't played in mid-week.

I really have hard time believing in this. Let me explain. 1) Last year Chelsea were in the hunt for CB as well. Tell me how Cfc weren't after him when they were in talks with Roma about Salah. The same Roma that were actively trying to sell Romagnoli. If Chelsea rated him, they would sign him off Roma, easy deal. Did he has some stellar season that changed Chelsea opinion on him ? No. So maybe the coach has influence here ? 2) Ah, the coach. The same that was ommiting him every time in his selection ? Even Daniele Rugani who barely played had call-ups ahead of him. 3) Isn't timing a bit off here ? Why so late, so rush, offers increased at such pace ? These are competitive people that are dealing with these matters, they have everything planned and calculated, it all seems unnatural. For me it looks like a hoax, someone is leaking about those "offers". A good way to show to Napoli "Hey, you don't want our money, someone else will fancy them".

Was Matic that shit ?

RLC ahead of Nat based on what exactly ? Poster boy has it easy.

About 200 hours left. We need 3 players in. We'd have to be on some mazy run to pull it off. 2 players ? Or at least 1 ? I don't lose hope until Friday.

I wonder if this offer was made today or few weeks ago but we only have information now. Logic and my gut feeling suggests the latter.

Could be worse for Conte. He has not the worst players at his disposal. And Matic would be long gone if Conte didn't want him. Anyway, you made it this far and it's only 10 days left. Let's see if I join you in a meltdown but I'm fairly optimistic that we will have some buisness done before "11th hour approaches".

Haha and it's K2 who was caught high up on the pitch and didn't recover in time.

Bravo played yesterday for Barca even though he's agreed to join City. Lukaku scored a goal for Anderlecht the day before he signed for us iirc. Koulibaly starts for Napoli, because he's Napoli player at the moment. Nothing to read here at the moment. He either signs a new contract or be transferred, then it's definite end of this. Though I'd wish it worked that way. James doesn't play for Real. He's ours !

Agreed. I read it on Twitter and I pass it on here - best "project" player we've signed in years. Probably since KdB. And we've signed lots of them. Michy looks like he is the real deal though he cost accordingly as much. Would have been a masterstroke if he was signed from Standard 2 years ago for 6m€ but it is what it is, still looks great.

Haha and I thought it will be resolved before the start of Serie A season ! The actual football is only interruption to important things like negotiations, fees and transfers.

Begovic, Aina, Cahill, Tomori, Azpi, Kante, Chalobah, Fabregas, Willian, Moses, Bats Yes, I want to see Nat making his long overdued debut and surround him with the best enviroment to showcase his ability. Please tell me that duracell bunny N'golo Kante is able to play 2 times in a week ?

He looks so useless and dwells on the ball so much that Mikel would be proud (Nemanja chose bad tuitor for that when he has Cesc nearby). I really want to believe in ressurection but so far so bad. He takes baby steps. The time when he tackled successively most balls that he went for and released the ball forward within a second are long gone. Seems like would never exist. Just half joking in saying that he should be loaned to Sporting to his mentor Jorge Jesus to learn how to play football again.

He doesn't block Hazard position therefore he fits here perfectly. Atleti have ban for 2 years, they won't sell anybody until 2018.

Shame about Willian, was hoping that he's got dropped without context. You look at this team and it's glaring that 3 spots, Cb, Lb and Rw need upgrade. Let's see if Chelsea will be as solid with the back 7 as on Monday. With that should be straightforward win.

Marquinhos again our fallback option in the last week of August ?

True, that's why even though I believe it's possible it seems unlikely. Fixing all the issues in one go ? Incredible. Unthinkable.

https://amp.twimg.com/v/2b25abe7-0dd4-46cf-bc8b-a02d37e8c3e3 They are running exclusive story about James. That there was a meeting in Madrid with Jose Angel Sanchez, general director of Real Madrid, Jorge Mendes, James's agent and unnamed director of English club. Zidane doesn't count on James and is prepared to sell him to raise cash for Alaba (the last part is my take, not in this story, but it's open secret that Alaba is no.1 target of Real). They were discussing all sorts of things including gross and net spending, basically taxes and additional costs attached. Guys, if this club was Chelsea I will lose my shit. James at Chelsea. Now I probably won't sleep. Wouldn't anyway as I see men's shot put at the Olympics but that gets me excited.

I read that Napoli want to buy another defender alongside Maksimovic, that Lindelof guy. Di Marzio also posted that they want some defender from Hoffenheim, the left-back. Can only hope that Chelsea buy Ghoulam off them as well. But in reality Chelsea fund them 2 defenders for 1.