7am Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Avram Grant could return, Upamecano LATEST, Caicedo to Brighton, Simakan link

CHELSEA will face Luton Town at home in the FA Cup fourth round after hammering Morecambe 4-0.

On the transfer front, we've the very latest on interest in Moises Caicedo and Dayot Upamecano.

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  • Marc Mayo

    NO RUSH WITH ROSS

    Chelsea will demand a big fee if Aston Villa try and make Ross Barkley's loan move permanent.

    The midfielder has enjoyed a rejuvenating spell in the Midlands but is till under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2023.

    According to Birmingham Mail, the Blues are under no pressure to sell and Dean Smith is eyeing David Brooks of Bournemouth as a potential alternative in the summer.

  • Joshua Jones

    GOOD MORNING BLUES FANS

    Chelsea will face Luton Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

    And if they manage to go through, they’ll face either Barnsley or Norwich.

    Chelsea have reportedly placed Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl on a shortlist of potential Frank Lampard replacements.

    The Mail reports Hasenhuttl is the star name on a provisional shortlist drawn up as the pressure mounts on the current Blues boss amid the club’s slump in form.

    But Saints’ Austrian manager is not likely to leave St Mary’s midway through the season – so has been earmarked as one for the future if he keeps impressing on the south coast.

    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is toying with the idea of bringing Avram Grant back to the club in some capacity, according to TEAMtalk.

    Grant is believed to be close with Abramovich and he could be brought in to help boss Lampard due to his wealth of football knowledge.

    Chelsea target Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to pen a new deal at AC Milan, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

    AC Milan sport director Frederic Massara told DAZN: “We’re confident to reach an agreement with Donnarumma and Calhanoglu in order to extend their contracts in the next weeks”

    Tiemoue Bakayoko could finally be on his way out of Chelsea, according to reports.

    The 26-year-old had an awful one-season spell at the club before being sent out on loan to the likes of AC Milan, former club Monaco, and now Napoli.

    Bakayoko’s agent has spoken about the possibility at staying at Napoli.

    As reported by Simone Guadagno, Bakayoko’s agent said: “Redemption at Napoli?

    “Too soon to talk about it, there are still so many things to see.

    “Neither the club nor the player spoke to each other. Staying in Naples would be a good chance.

    “We will see at the end of the season. However, Napoli has priority over his future for June.”

  • Joshua Mbu

    STAT ATTACK

    Tammy Abraham has scored six goals for Chelsea in the Premier League, outscoring new boy Timo Werner.

    Summer signing Ben Chilwell has provided from left-back, picking up four assists.

    Kante is top of tackles won, as expected! But he's also top of fouls conceded.

  • Joshua Mbu

    CUP RUN

    Chelsea will be looking to win the FA Cup this season after losing in last years final against Arsenal.

  • Joshua Mbu

    AV THAT

    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is toying with the idea of bringing Avram Grant back to the club in some capacity, according to TEAMtalk.

    The 65-year-old is believed to be talking to a number of clubs in the Middle East.

    Grant managed Chelsea back in 2007/08 when they finished runners-up in the Premier League, League Cup and the Champions League.

    The former Blues boss also had his say over the weekend on the current Frank Lampard debate.

    In an Instagram post, Grant said: "What I can say to Frank and the others at the club is be patient, and more than this do whatever is necessary to do that for sure.

    “Two things – never lose it even when things are going well, don’t lose your fighting spirit at the highest level.

    "And second, don’t lose what you have here [points at head], you need to think right and look for solutions.

    “If you do that then everything will be okay because the quality is there and there is a potential like there was, during my time [at Chelsea].”

    Grant is believed to be close with Abramovich and he could be brought in to help boss Lampard due to his wealth of football knowledge.

  • Joshua Mbu

    DON NO GO

    Chelsea target Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to pen a new deal at AC Milan, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

    AC Milan sport director Frederic Massara told DAZN: “We’re confident to reach an agreement with Donnarumma and Calhanoglu in order to extend their contracts in the next weeks”

    The 21-year-old has made 226 appearances at Milan, with his debut coming at the tender age of 16.

    The Blues may have to look elsewhere.

  • Joshua Mbu

    ON THE MOVE

    According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea will have to wait until the summer to land RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano.

    The Frenchman is regarded as one of the best young defenders in the world and has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.

    RB Leipzig are not open to selling one of their prized assets in the January Transfer window.

    The player has a release clause of £37million.

  • Joshua Mbu

    DRAW COMPLETE

    Chelsea will take on Luton Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and if they managed to win they'll go on to face either Barnsley or Norwich in the fifth round.

  • Joshua Mbu

    FA CUP

    Chelsea will take on Luton Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup!

    The fifth round draw is underway.

  • Joshua Mbu

    TOP W-EARNERS

    Kai Havertz is Chelsea's top earner, followed by fellow national team team-mate Timo Werner and fellow summer arrival Ben Chilwell.

  • Joshua Mbu

    HAPPY GILMOUR

    Chelsea legend Alan Hudson has urged Frank Lampard to hand Billy Gilmour a ‘long run’ in the starting lineup.

    Gilmour had a brilliant game against Morecambe in the FA Cup completing the full 90 minutes.

    Speaking to CaughtOffside, Hudson said: "Billy Gilmour has a big future, a fine player in midfield – but the problem is although he is a fine footballer, Frank has a big problem in who he leaves out if Billy is the answer?

    “Playing against Morecambe is different from Manchester City, as you know, but this young man looks to be going places.

    “The problem with Chelsea is they have five midfield players who are much the same, I certainly can’t tell the difference, in my day there was Hollins, the grafter, Hudson, the creator and Cooke, the entertainer, easy to work out.

    “I think Billy should now be given a long run in the team and build the midfield around him and Kante – two players who are more consistent and reliable.”

  • Joshua Mbu

    GOAL OF THE MONTH

    Surely it has to be Giroud?

  • Joshua Mbu

    BAK OUT

     Tiemoue Bakayoko could finally be on his way out ofChelsea, according to reports.

    The 26-year-old had an awful one-season spell at the club before being sent out on loan to the likes of AC Milan, former club Monaco, and now Napoli.

    Bakayoko's agent has spoken about the possibility at staying at Napoli.

    As reported by Simone Guadagno, Bakayoko’s agent said: “Redemption at Napoli?

    “Too soon to talk about it, there are still so many things to see.

    “Neither the club nor the player spoke to each other. Staying in Naples would be a good chance.

    “We will see at the end of the season. However, Napoli has priority over his future for June.”

  • Joshua Mbu

    BIG MONEY BLUES

    Kepa is Chelsea's most expensive signing of all time, followed by summer arrival Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen.

  • Richard Forrester

    WRECK IT, RALPH

    Chelsea have reportedly placed Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl on a shortlist of potential Frank Lampard replacements.

    The Mail reports Hasenhuttl is the star name on a provisional shortlist drawn up as the pressure mounts on the Blues boss amid the club's slump in form.

    But Saints' Austrian manager is not likely to leave St Mary's midway through the season – so has been earkmarked as one for the future if he keeps impressing on the South Coast.

    Chelsea are understood to be giving Lampard more time to turn things around at Stamford Bridge after slipping to ninth in the Premier League.

    The Blues changed their trigger-happy ways after firing now Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti just 12 months after he landed a domestic trophy double.

  • Richard Forrester

    PRESSURE IS ON

    Chris Wilder has moved ahead of Frank Lampard in the Premier League sack race.

    The Blades are rock-bottom of the division with two points having failed to register a single victory in 17 outings.

    The Yorkshireman, who was nominated for the 2019-20 Manager of the Season award, has seen his odds improve slightly.

    Wilder is now odds-on 8/15 from 1/3 after Saturday's 3-2 FA Cup victory over League One Bristol Rovers.

    There's been money for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who had drifted out to 9/2 but is now the second most likely sacking at 10/3.

    *Odds courtesy of Paddy Power

  • Richard Forrester

    DATE IN THE DIARY

    A fixture change for Chelsea fans…

    The club's clash with Fulham has been pushed back a day from Friday to Saturday with a 5.30pm kick-off.

    That is because Fulham are now playing Spurs on Wednesday in the already postponed fixture.

    The match will still be shown on Sky Sports.

  • Richard Forrester

    RICE TRY, UNITED

    Declan Rice has reportedly told his friends he does not want to leave London for Manchester – ruling out a move to United.

    The West Ham midfielder has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford ever since breaking into the Hammers first team.

    More recently, he has been subject to heavy interest from Chelsea, the club he was released from as a 14-year-old.

    And according to The Mirror, the Blues have been handed a boost with Rice favouring a stay in the capital despite the admirable links to United.

    A source told the paper: “Dec has been flattered by interest in him but he doesn't see himself moving to Manchester.

    "It's obvious where he'd like his next move to be.”

  • Richard Forrester

    BLUES OUTBREAK

    Chelsea have been forced to shut their famous academy because of a coronavirus outbreak.

    The training centre which produced players like Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham and Reece James in recent years will be closed all week for a deep clean.

    There have been a number of positive test results and some players and staff must now isolate for ten days.

    The outbreak does not affect the Men’s Senior or Ladies’ teams as they operate in separate Covid ‘bubbles’ despite being based at Chelsea’s Surrey training complex.

    The youth team centre will be closed for the rest of the week and development squad and under-23 games against West Ham and Brighton this week have been postponed.

    Players and staff at the academy will also have to undergo another round of testing.

  • Richard Forrester

    UP AND GO

    Chelsea are reportedly chasing highly-rated RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano.

    The powerful star has a £40million release clause this summer and is attracting plenty of interest

    According to the Mail, Chelsea are ready to join the race to sign the France international.

    The 22-year-old centre-back has been earning rave reviews for his performances for RB Leipzig.

    Upamecano was rewarded with a new contract last season but his current deal allows him to leave for around £40m at the end of the season due to a release clause.

  • Richard Forrester

    DONN GO

    Chelsea's pursuit of Gianluigi Donnarumma has suffered a blow as AC Milan have opened talks with the goalkeeper over a new contract.

    The Blues are reportedly interested in signing the Italy international – who is out of contract at the end of the season – and are said to have made contact with him.

    But Milan are desperate to keep the 21-year-old at the San Siro and have begun talks with him over a bumper new deal.

    Their director of sport, Frederic Massara, told DAZN: "We’re confident to reach an agreement with Donnarumma and Calhanoglu in order to extend their contracts in the next weeks."

    Despite Donnarumma being out of contract at the end of the season, Milan have been in no rush to tie him down to a new deal.

  • Richard Forrester

    BEING FRANK

    Frank Lampard is the most trolled manager in the Premier League, according to incredible new stats.

    With Chelsea slumped at ninth in the table after 17 matches, the 42-year-old has received the brunt of the abuse.

    RantCasino.com have analysed thousands of posts to find out which manager is trolled the most on Twitter.

    Unsurprisingly, Blues boss Lampard has topped the pile following his team’s shocking spell of form.

    Out of 864 tweets that mentioned the manager’s name, a whopping 42 per cent (365) were negative.

  • Richard Forrester

    PAINT THE TOWN RED

    Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has admitted that he still hasn't had a drink with Jurgen Klopp following their infamous touchline row.

    Blues chief Lamps and his Liverpool counterpart were involved in a heated exchange during a Premier League clash at Anfield last July.

    The ex-England midfielder, 42, lost his cool with Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders after the referee awarded the Reds a free-kick which led to their second goal in the 5-3 thriller.

    Lampard repeatedly swore at Klopp and his backroom staff, at one point telling the German to 'f*** off' and 'sit down'.

    He said: “These days there’s so much to do after a match – press conferences, television.

    “By the time you’ve finished, the other manager’s on a plane on the way home.

    “Some of the old school managers still make time for a glass of wine after the match. I always like it. It’s nice having a normal chat.

    “I never managed a drink with Klopp though."

  • Richard Forrester

    BLUE HOPE

    Chelsea boss Frank Lampard insists Timo Werner and Kai Havertz ‘will come good’ – but admits Billy Gilmour and Callum Hudson-Odoi are knocking on the door.

    Big money buy Werner had gone 12 games without a goal while Havertz has struggled for form since his own huge transfer arrival last summer.

    But both men took advantage of their opportunity to impress as they got on the scoresheet as the Blues thumped Morecambe 4-0 in the FA Cup yesterday.

    And afterwards Lampard was quick to urge their doubters to give them time to settle.

    He told talkSPORT: “The people that question them should look at other top players that have come at a young age to this country.

    “Eden Hazard being a great example. He came here and became one of our greatest players ever.

    “It’s not an easy transition to this league. It’s a hard league and I think people that question them should give them time because they are great lads and we signed them for now and the future.

    “I understand the questions as it’s the world we live in. They will prove to be big players for the club.”

  • Richard Forrester

    FIK OF IT

    Frank Lampard has admitted the club are looking to loan out Fikayo Tomori.

    The central defender has barely featured this season despite his breakthrough season last campaign.

    Tomori even started on the bench against Morecambe and was introduced for the final ten minutes.

    Lampard said of his future: "The situation with Fikayo is open about the moment.

    "There is a possibility he could be going on loan to get games somewhere else.

    "So that would have to be the solution for him and the club. That was part of my thinking of not starting him today."

    Leeds currently look the most likely destination while Newcastle have also been linked.

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