9.15am Chelsea news LIVE: Werner transfer ‘ends pay cut talks’, Chilwell to cost £60m, Premier League fixtures LATEST – The Sun
CHELSEA have all but agreed their first summer signing with RB Leipzig's Timo Werner set to arrive for £54m.
And they've received a valuation for one of their other top targets as Leicester name their price for Ben Chilwell.
Follow all the latest updates and transfer gossip from the Bridge below…
NICE LITTLE WERNER
Chelsea'sbid for player pay cuts looks doomed after landing £54million Timo Werner.
The Blues have not officially given up on persuading the squad to help ease cash flow problems triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
But a source said: “It would be morally wrong for a club to ask its players to take pay cuts to help with costs and then go out and spend lots of money in the transfer market. That would p*** off the entire dressing room.”
Skipper Cesar Azpilicueta initially persuaded the squad to swallow a ten per cent salary cut until September to help the club continue to pay other staff.
Now Germany striker Werner’s big-money move, set to be finalised next week, means it will now be virtually impossible to reach agreements.
The plan, originally, was for the senior players to shave a tenth off their wages and save around £10m.
HAM-SOME FINISH
Chelsea have posted footage of Tammy Abraham's goal against Villa earlier in the season.
Perhaps it was to make him feel better about sitting on the bench behind Timo Werner for all of next season?
MORNING CHELSEA FANS
Timo Werner’s £54million transfer from RB Leipzig to Chelsea is as good as done.
And the German star looks set become the club's highest earner with a deal that reportedly rises year-on-year to £170,000-a-week plus bonuses.
The striker will sign a five-year contract with wages that increase annually after Frank Lampard made it clear he is ready to meet the German's release clause, according to the Athletic.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Blues are also in talks to sign Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell.
They state that the England international wants to join the club.
Should a move for Chilwell fail to materialise, a move for Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico could come about.
In other news, Chelsea will sell Mario Pasalic to Atalanta for £13.4m.
Pasalic, 25, has spent the last two seasons on loan with the Serie A side, scoring 15 goals across 74 appearances.
Italian journalist Nicolo Schira believes a deal is in place for the Champions League quarter-finalists to make the switch permanent.
An agreement was put in place earlier in the season and it now looks as though Atalanta will complete the transfer.
And finally, Chelsea have been crowned Women’s Super League champions after the final table was determined by points-per-game.
A statement from the FA also confirmed that Aston Villa will be promoted to next season’s top-flight, with Liverpool relegated to the Championship.
MARIO KART
Chelsea will sell Mario Pasalic to Atalanta for £13.4million, according to reports.
And that cash is expected to be given to Frank Lampard to help in his pursuit of Jadon Sancho and Ben Chilwell this summer.
Pasalic, 25, has spent the last two seasons on loan with the Serie A side, scoring 15 goals across 74 appearances.
Now Italian journalist Nicolo Schira believes a deal is in place for the Champions League quarter-finalists to make the switch permanent.
An agreement was put in place earlier in the season and it now looks as though Atalanta will complete the transfer.
Pasalic signed for Chelsea from Hajduk Split in his homeland of Croatia in 2014 as part of a £3m deal.
DEAL OR NO DEAL
AVOIDING A PED-ROW
Chelsea winger Pedro is set to shun Juventus' interest in favour of a summer switch to Serie A rivals Roma this summer.
With his contract set to expire at Stamford Bridge, the 32-year-old has been linked extensively with both clubs.
But AS have reported that Pedro sees a switch to Rome as “a priority” this summer.
This backs up a story in Italian publication Il Tempo – even though Pedro is not short of potential suitors back in his native Spain.
Mundo Deportivo write that, in addition to the Italian pair, Pedro is being courted by Valencia, Real Betis and Sevilla.
BLUE MOON
WELL IN
SAN STORM
Chelsea target Jadon Sancho has hit back after being slapped with a fine for breaking lockdown rules to get a haircut.
The German Football League (DFL) released a statement on Friday confirming the punishment for the winger and Borussia Dortmund team-mate Manuel Akanji.
But Sancho quickly slammed the fine, tweeting: “Absolute Joke DFL!”
According to the DFL, the Borussia stars failed to abide by “hygiene standards” when having their barnets trimmed while under lockdown.
https://twitter.com/Sanchooo10/status/1268937366254825473
PASS THE POPCORN
BT Sport viewers will be given the option to listen to artificial crowd noise when the Premier League returns later this month.
With games being played behind closed doors, ways to increase the atmosphere have been among the many plans to liven up broadcasts in Project Restart.
Bundesliga broadcasts on the channel have not made up for the lack of supporters, leading to some viewers finding the resumed matches eerie and lacklustre.
Meanwhile the synthetic atmosphere laid on top of Australia's rugby league broadcasts have been well received.
BT will give viewers the choice to stick to the empty stadiums or listen to the artificial crowd noise via the red button.
Another feature being introduced for the Premier League's restart is a “watch together” split screen mode.
Viewers watching on the BT Sport app can link up with a friend or family member also watching on their phone or computer – providing they have a BT subscription.
MINI-DERBY
Aston Villa are set to host rivals West Brom in a behind-closed-doors friendly this Saturday as the restart of the Premier League and Championship looms closer.
According to the Daily Mail, the Baggies plan to take two teams to Villa Park and the possibility of two one-hour matches is on the cards, with a staff member set to referee the mini derby.
Villa are 19th in the table and two points from safety, but could be heading for the drop if they continue their disappointing run of form when the top-flight resumes on June 17.
They may even swap places with Slaven Bilic's men who sit second from top in the Championship.
The clash is reportedly being set up to boost competitive fitness levels while the Villans may look to test the fitness of their midfield maestro John McGinn.
JADON RAP
Chelsea target has been slapped with a fine after breaking lockdown rules to get a haircut.
Along with fellow Borussia Dortmund star Manuel Akanji, the winger has managed to avoid a ban from playing in the Bundesliga.
The German Football League (DFL) released a statement on Friday confirming the punishment.
It read: “The DFL has fined Manuel Akanji and Jadon Sancho.
“The Borussia Dortmund players had reportedly violated general hygiene and infection protection standards during home hairdressing appointments. This can be seen in photos published in the media and on social media.
“There is no question that professional footballers do have to have their hair cut. However, this currently has to be done in accordance with the medical guidelines.
“In specific cases, the club had also provided its players with a corresponding opportunity. The DFL does not provide any information about the amount of a penalty in contractual penalty proceedings.
“Players have the right to lodge a complaint within five days. The penalties are expressly not directed against the club, for which there is no 'organizational fault'.”
TIM-ES UP
Timo Werner reportedly agreed to move to Chelsea after Liverpool missed the deadline but he remains on good terms with Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp.
The Premier League giants had until June 15 before Werner's £49m release clause at RB Leipzig expired, but it is claimed that Werner personally set the Reds a separate deadline to see if they were prepared to meet the sum.
It is understood the Merseysiders became reluctant to meet Werner's buy-out sum as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc with clubs' finances.
According to The Athletic, Werner grew anxious as the June 15 date loomed closer as he didn't want a repeat of last summer when he bid farewell to RB Leipzig ahead of a move to Bayern Munich, only for the deal to fall through.
This prompted the 24-year-old to hash out a separate deadline with the Reds to see if they were truly interested enough to meet his buy-out clause.
Klopp consulted with Anfield owners Fenway Sports Group and then phoned Werner to explain they wouldn't be making a move, insisting it was purely for financial reasons.
The German ace is said have understood the reasoning and the pair remain on good terms.
FRANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS
Champions League winner Juan Mata has hailed John Terry and Frank Lampard for helping him bed in at Chelsea.
Mata first arrived in England in 2011 when he joined from Valencia, but he found life tough in a new country where he could not speak the language.
He said: “Initially I found it hard here, especially communicating with the players from here.
“At the time, (John) Terry and (Frank) Lampard were captains and helped me a lot at the start.
“I also learned that English football on the pitch and off is different from the rest, because it's physically demanding, the games are high pace, and off the pitch the behaviour of the fan and the organisation of the Premier League is fantastic.
“And over time I gradually saw that I had made a very good decision.”
UNDER PAR
Ray Parlour is stunned Manchester United have not pushed harder for Timo Werner after Chelsea agreed a fee for his signing.
He said on talkSPORT: “I’m amazed that Man United are not in for Werner.
“They’ve got money and probably do need another striker; [Marcus] Rashford can play wide if you need him to off the flank.
“I’m sure Manchester United might make a last-minute pop for Werner as well.
“I think the agent is trying to work the market now; that is how they work, putting it out there that the deal is nearly done and alerting other clubs so they have to pull their finger out.
“If we really want this player then we’ve got to up the money and up the wages’, and suddenly it could be a different factor for Chelsea.”
NICE LITTLE WERNER
Timo Werner’s £54million transfer from RB Leipzig to Chelsea is as good as done.
And the German star looks set become the club's highest earner with a deal that reportedly rises year-on-year to £170,000-a-week plus bonuses.
The striker will sign a five-year contract with wages that increase annually after Frank Lampard made it clear he is ready to meet the German's release clause, according to the Athletic.
Liverpool were heavily linked with the 24-year old but it is understood the Reds are reluctant to meet Werner's release clause as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc with clubs' finances.
The highly-rated forward, 24, has scored 31 goals in all competitions this season, taking his total Leipzig tally to 92 in just four seasons and the Blues will be paying a handsome premium in the hope he hits the net for them.
FA CUP QUARTERS CONFIRMED
Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester has been confirmed for Sunday, June 28 at 4pm and will be broadcast on BT Sport.
Here are the full fixtures:
Saturday June 27
Norwich City vs Man Utd (5.30pm) BBC
Sunday June 28
Sheffield United v Arsenal (1.00pm) BT Sport
Leicester City v Chelsea (4.00pm) BT Sport
Man City vs Newcastle (6.30pm) BBC
ALL CLEAR FOR WERNER
Chelsea have been given a clear path to sign Werner, without competition from Manchester United or Liverpool.
And that could well be down to United's “growing confidence” they can sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
Journalist Sam Pilger tweeted an update on the situation.
Either way, it leaves very few stumbling blocks for the Blues landing German hotshot Werner.
BLUES CLUES
Jude Bellingham will reportedly see out the season as a Birmingham scholar before a potential summer switch.
Manchester United have been competing with Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea to sign the teen sensation after his breakout season at St Andrews.
Long tipped to leave Blues at the end of the season, Bellingham is set to remain on his £145 weekly wage for the rest of the extended campaign.
According to the Mail, the 16-year-old and his family maintain a strong relationship with the club.
An amicable solution that benefits all parties is being discussed to ensure Birmingham are not left out of pocket when Bellingham makes his move.
The Championship club have experienced financial difficulty in recent years, with a winding-up petition dismissed in December and points deduction last season, amid debts thought to top £90million.
GET IT IN YOUR DIARY
Here are Chelsea's CONFIRMED Premier League fixtures.
We're just waiting on confirmation of the FA Cup quarter-final tie at Leicester, which is likely to be June 28.
- June 21 – Aston Villa vs Chelsea (4.15pm) Sky
- June 25 – Chelsea vs Man City (8.15pm) BT
- July 1 – West Ham vs Chelsea (8.15pm) Sky
BREAKING – FIXTURES CONFIRMED
The Premier League has cemented the fixtures for June’s matches.
Here they are the first load of games!
Wednesday 17 June
Previously postponed due to participation in the Carabao Cup Final
18:00 Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United (live on Sky Sports)
20:15 Man City vs Arsenal (Sky Sports)
Friday 19 June
18:00 Norwich vs Southampton (Sky Sports and live on Pick)
20:15 Tottenham vs Man Utd (Sky Sports)
Saturday 20 June
12:30 Watford vs Leicester (BT Sport)
15:00 Brighton vs Arsenal (BT Sport)
17:30 West Ham vs Wolves (Sky Sports)
19:45 Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace (BBC)
Sunday 21 June
14:00 Newcastle vs Sheffield Utd (Sky Sports and live on Pick)
16:15 Aston Villa vs Chelsea (Sky Sports)
19:00 Everton vs Liverpool (Sky Sports and live on Pick)*
Monday 22 June
20:00 Man City vs Burnley (Sky Sports)
BLUE WOOHOO!
Chelsea have been crowned Women’s Super League champions after the final table was determined by points-per-game.
A statement from the FA also confirmed that Aston Villa will be promoted to next season’s top-flight, with Liverpool relegated to the Championship.
The top two flights of women’s football were axed on May 25 due to the killer virus.
Manchester City and Chelsea have been awarded places in the Champions League for next season.
An official statement from the FA said: “The FA Board has reached a majority decision to decide the 2019-20 Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship on a basic points-per-game basis, with promotion and relegation determined on sporting merit,
“As a result, The FA Board has today confirmed the decision to award the 2019-20 Women’s Super League title to Chelsea Women, and to award the 2019-20 Championship title to Aston Villa Women FC.”
TIM PLAYERS
Kepa and Tammy Abraham have reacted to news that Chelsea have agreed a fee for Timo Werner.
The pair liked an Instagram post featuring Werner in a Blues kit.
BREAKING: @timowerner has reportedly agreed to join @chelseafc on a permanent transfer, according to @bbcsport ✅
A post shared by433 (@433) on
LEAKED FIXTURES
Here are some of the Blues’ leaked games and kick-off times so far.
Remember, these are unconfirmed by the Premier League.
- PL – June 21 – Aston Villa vs Chelsea (4.30pm) Sky
- PL – June 25 – Chelsea vs Man City (8.15pm) Sky
- FAC – June 28 – Leicester vs Chelsea (4.30pm) BT
- PL – July 1 – West Ham vs Chelsea (8.15pm) Sky
TUNING UP
Callum Hudson-Odoi gets a shot on goal in training… but does Kurt Zouma block it?
Source: Read Full Article
