Andrey Santos: Chelsea will sell at the right price
The door is open. Chelsea are willing to let Andrey Santos go this summer if the offer is right (1). Manchester United have shown interest, and the midfielder's former sporting director is now at Old Trafford, which could smooth a deal. No figure has been made public, but the club are not actively pushing him out, they simply will not stand in the way if the valuation is met.
Garnacho priced at £60m, Roma want a loan
One season and out. Chelsea have set Alejandro Garnacho's exit price at around £60m after a disappointing debut campaign at Stamford Bridge (2) (4). Roma are keen but want a loan deal, something your club are reluctant to grant. Napoli are also watching. The Argentine arrived with high expectations last summer, now the club want to recoup a meaningful fee or keep him.
Hazard: Palmer and Estevao are the real deal
Eden Hazard has spoken, and he picked out two names Chelsea fans will love hearing. The Belgian legend backed Cole Palmer and Estevao as the creative heartbeat of the side, praising both in a recent interview (3). Coming from Hazard, who knows a thing or two about carrying a Chelsea attack, it carries weight.
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Lacroix chase cools as Chelsea wait on defender sales
The Maxence Lacroix pursuit has gone cold. Chelsea need to move defenders out before adding another centre-back, and until that happens the interest is on ice (5). The club remain keen on the Crystal Palace man in principle, but nothing will advance without outgoings first.
Wharton race: Chelsea now favourites
Chelsea are the frontrunners for Adam Wharton. The Crystal Palace midfielder is on Xabi Alonso's radar, and the odds on a move to the Bridge have tumbled (6). Palace chairman Steve Parish is in no rush: "The fact of the matter is he's got a long contract to run. There's no pressure on us to do it, and I don't think there's any real pressure from the player either" (6). Liverpool, Tottenham, Inter Milan, and Nottingham Forest are all watching, but Chelsea lead the pack.
Enzo contingency: Champions League-ready midfielder targeted
Should Enzo Fernandez leave, Chelsea already have eyes on a replacement. The club are tracking a midfielder ready to step into Champions League football, with the search contingent on whether the Argentine departs this window (7). No name yet, but the planning is underway.
Fan reactions
Chelsea fans are not exactly panicking, but the early fixture list is raising eyebrows. The first five Premier League games include a Monday night trip to Aston Villa and a Sunday clash with Arsenal, both on Sky Sports, and supporters are already circling the dates. See the full early-season TV schedule here.
