Your Chelsea morning digest on Wednesday, March 8.
Chelsea and Arsenal battle for Rice signature
Arsenal and Chelsea have set their sights on the same new target after both failing to sign Moises Caicedo. The 21-year-old was heavily linked with an exit from Brighton in January and, desperate to secure a move, he issued a shock statement on social media.
According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs in a column for CaughtOffside, Declan Rice is now a top target for both the Gunners and the Blues. The report states that they expect West Ham to cash-in on the midfielder if a bid of around £75million to £85m is submitted.
It's said though that whoever misses out on Rice will revisit a deal for Caicedo. But, the Ecuadorian could be difficult to acquire after he recently penned a new long-term contract at the Amex Stadium.
READ MORE: Bold transfer move pays off for Stan Kroenke and Arsenal as Chelsea face embarrassment
Newcastle mount Mount transfer race
Chelsea could quickly have a bidding war on their hands as another Premier League club joins the race to sign Mason Mount. The 24-year-old faces an increasingly uncertain future at Stamford Bridge after entering the final 18 months of his contract.
One of the priorities for the Clearlake Capital consortium, led by Todd Boehly, following their takeover last year was to tie Mount down to a new long-term deal, football.london understands. But it's believed that negotiations have proven difficult thus far, with the proposed length of contract proving to be an issue.
football.london understands that Liverpool are long-term admirers of the midfielder, while both Manchester City and Manchester United are said to be monitoring his situation. And, according to the Daily Mail, Newcastle have now also joined the race to sign Mount as Eddie Howe looks to refresh his midfield options.
It's said that the Chelsea star is one of several Premier League stars being targeted by the Magpies ahead of the summer, with Kieran Tierney, James Maddison and Youri Tielemans also on their radar.
Boehly enjoys Sterling goal
After Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock against Borussia Dortmund in the first-half at Stamford bridge, TV cameras caught Todd Boehly celebrating the goal. The American billionaire was seen high-fiving his companions while slightly shaking his head.
Boehly will have been relieved to see the Chelsea star find the net having struggled since joining from Manchester City in the summer. The Blues went on to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals and, upon the full-time whistle, he was also pictured giving his wife a kiss.
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