9pm Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Zouma wanted back at Everton, Kante staying, Barkley scores late penalty, Drinkwater loan – The Sun
FRANK LAMPARD is running the rule over his Chelsea players with the season starting in just days.
And the Blues – who are under a transfer ban – will be keen to keep hold of their players ahead of this week's transfer deadline on Thursday.
Follow ALL of the latest Blues news, updates and gossip below…
CHELSEA right-back Davide Zappacosta is keen on a return to Italy before the window shuts.
The ex-Torino star, 27, cannot get a decent first-team run and knows Reece James, 19, is also breaking through.
The Blues would rather he stayed until James is clear of injury — to give them cover for Cesar Azpilicueta.
But a major bid from one of the bigger Serie A clubs could see the end of Zappacosta’s two-year stay in London.
KANTE not a certainty to be fit to face Manchester United next week, says Lampard.
After the clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach yesterday, the Chelsea manager told reporters: “Who knows if he’ll be ready for next week or not, but we’ll work hard for that.
The Englishman went on to say: “We also have to be a bit careful as he’s played so many games over the past three seasons and we don’t want to rush him back if it’s going to be a negative. We’ll do our best to get him back.”
CHELSEA close the door on Kurt Zouma as Everton move on to Manchester United targets instead.
According to the Daily Mail, Marco Silva has identified three Red Devils centre-backs as potential options to bolster his defence.
This is after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reportedly made Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo available for signing to other clubs.
Considering Frank Lampard has made it clear he wants to keep Zouma at Stamford Bridge, and Silva has identified new centre-backs as options, suggests the Blues are going to keep the French defender at the club this summer.
BRIGHTON want to sign Chelsea's Danny Drinkwater.
The Seagulls' manager Graham Potter wants to sign the former England international on loan according to the Daily Mail.
After signing for the Blues for £35million in 2017, Drinkwater didn't feature at all for the club last season, and the five-time Premier League champions want him off their wage bill.
He currently earns around £100,000 per week.
DIMITAR BERBATOV predicts Chelsea top finish in the top four next season.
The 38-year-old told the Mirror: “I think Spurs and then Chelsea [3rd and 4th respectively]. I say Chelsea because I saw them play under Frank Lampard and I like his philosophy a lot.”
But the ex-Manchester United star still thinks Manchester City and Liverpool are ahead of the rest, and will finish as “the top two”.
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