Lacroix signs until 2032
Maxence Lacroix is a Chelsea player. The club confirmed the French centre-back has joined from Crystal Palace, with German reports putting the fee at around €61m (4) (14). He has signed a contract through to 2032.
Lacroix did not hold back. "Best club in the world," he said after completing the move (5). Alonso wanted him, and the deal got done.
João Pedro bags nine-minute hat-trick
Your team put six past Western Sydney Wanderers in a wild pre-season friendly. Chelsea 6–4 the final score (9).
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João Pedro scored three in nine minutes, a hat-trick that flipped the game on its head. Alonso called him "very hungry" afterwards (9). A chaotic night, but the attack clicked when it mattered.
Welbeck deal done, Merson has doubts
Danny Welbeck has completed his move to Chelsea (2). Paul Merson, though, is not fully sold. "He needs to play," Merson said, questioning whether Welbeck gets enough minutes under Alonso (10).
Fair question. The squad is deep.
Alonso raids Villa for set-piece coach
Xabi Alonso is not done taking from Aston Villa. After signing Morgan Rogers, he is now bringing set-piece coach Austin MacPhee to Stamford Bridge (3).
Keith Wyness, the former Villa executive, was blunt: "It's come from Alonso, I'm pretty sure. If you look at Villa and McPhee, the record is incredible, and that's no coincidence" (3).
Andrey Santos sold to United for £48m
Manchester United have bought Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m (11). United see Aurélien Tchouaméni as their next midfield target after also activating Youri Tielemans' release clause (11).
Jackson interest growing, Delap wanted too
Nicolas Jackson has suitors. Multiple clubs are preparing offers, and that suits Chelsea just fine (7).
Liam Delap is also attracting attention. Three Premier League clubs are monitoring him, per Friday's gossip round-up (12).
20-goal Scottish striker on the radar
Chelsea and Manchester City have both made contact with a Scottish striker who scored 20 goals this season. The forward is interested in discussing a move (6).
Tottenham up next
Pre-season rolls on. Chelsea face Tottenham next, with Alonso expected to continue shaping his squad ahead of the new campaign (13).
Fan-reaktioner
The mood among Chelsea fans is cautiously upbeat. Moisés Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson joining the squad in Sydney got a warm reception, while the clip of Kazakh fans celebrating 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev's first pre-season goal struck a chord (3). Less comfortable reading: a new Home Office report flagged Chelsea matches as recording the highest frequency of homophobic incidents in the Premier League, a topic fans are discussing soberly. Read the full thread here
