Fofana: Chelsea need stability
Wesley Fofana put the problem plainly. "I think everyone knows we need stability" (2). Years of turnover, now a first full season under Xabi Alonso. The defender wants a settled period after all the change.
Enzo Fernandez: today is the day
Friday 5pm, that is the deadline. Chelsea want £120m for Enzo Fernandez and will listen to nothing less (1) (3). City supposedly have a €120m offer on the table (8). Sky Sports' James Savundra spelled out the math: "If they do get big money for Rodri, you match up £70m with £50m and that gets you to £120m" (1). If no bid lands by 5pm, Chelsea insist they will not consider a January sale (3). Reporting of a £102.5m City bid is wrong. No bids received yet.
Badiashile to Napoli, player yet to say yes
Chelsea and Napoli have a deal for Benoit Badiashile: loan with a €27m option to buy (4) (5). Romano has his here we go out. One catch: the player has not given his approval yet.
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Seven back before Real Sociedad
Chelsea got a seven-player boost before Saturday's final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge (9). Alonso's squad looks fuller for the last tune-up before Fulham.
Zubimendi pricetag set
Arsenal value Martin Zubimendi at €90m, with Chelsea and Real Madrid watching (6). That is the number if anyone wants to move for him.
Quick hits
Intermediaries have pitched Myles Lewis-Skelly to Chelsea, but neither the Arsenal teenager nor his club wants a transfer (11). Former Chelsea winger Diego Moreira is closing in on RB Leipzig from Strasbourg (12). Chelsea also confirmed a £16.3m signing and reached agreement on a future summer move, with no details out yet (10).
Fan reactions
The Badiashile news split into two threads almost immediately, one citing €3m loan fee with €1m bonuses and a €27m option, another a £2.5m fee with a £23m buy option. Fans flagged that the deal eats an international loan spot, with a note that Kendry Paez could be recalled from River Plate. On Enzo, supporters leaned on Dom Smith's reporting that no bids have been received and a January sale is off the table if 5pm passes. Read the Enzo thread
