Chelsea open talks for Danny Welbeck
Your club want a 35-year-old striker. Chelsea have opened talks with Brighton to sign Danny Welbeck (1) (3) (4) (5). Xabi Alonso wants an experienced forward and Welbeck fits the profile. The move immediately puts Emmanuel Emegha's future in doubt, the Dutch striker only just arrived but could already be on his way out (4) (5).
Delap offered to Aston Villa
Liam Delap is being shopped around. Chelsea have offered the striker to Aston Villa as the club looks to clear his wages (1). Nicolas Jackson has also drawn interest from Villa (1). Delap still wants to fight for his place, but a decent proposal and he could be gone (1).
Colwill is ready
Levi Colwill is back and he is not easing in. The centre-back says the brief taste of action at the end of last season lit something: "I'm ready to go. I think having a tiny taste gave me that extra motivation to come back to pre-season with that fire in my belly" (2). He returns from an ACL injury with Alonso now in the dugout.
Pre-season kicks off Tuesday against Western Sydney Warriors
Your first look at Alonso's Chelsea comes Tuesday. The pre-season tour opens against Western Sydney Warriors, and a new signing is already turning heads on the trip (2) (6). No word yet on whether that player gets minutes straight away.
Chelsea and Milan battle for Gerard Martín
Chelsea are in the race for Barcelona defender Gerard Martín, but AC Milan want him too (8). The 23-year-old left-back would add depth to Alonso's backline. No offer yet, just interest (8).
Fan reactions
The mood on Reddit is restless. A 35-year-old Welbeck is not the striker anyone had in mind after the £117m Rogers splash, and fans are reading the Emegha situation plainly: sign Welbeck, dump the new guy before he has kicked a ball. The Athletic report that Chelsea will listen to offers for Delap, Emegha and Marc Guiu has fans asking what exactly the striker plan is. Read the full discussion here.
