Your morning Chelsea digest on Sunday, April 16.
Chelsea open to sale
Chelsea are open to selling first choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer according to reports. The Blues have seen the Spaniard return to better form this season having lost his place for two years to Edouard Mendy.
It was Frank Lampard that made that initial change after Kepa's poor form in 2019/20 threatened to derail the club's top four ambitions. Mendy was favoured throughout Tuchel's reign but a mix of injuries and poor form has seen him drop to second choice.
Kepa's struggles of late have seen him once more attract criticism but Lampard has vowed to stand by the most expensive keeper in Premier League history. The Blues boss said: "I don’t see any reasons to do anything differently at the moment, with Kepa’s performances and maturity. I’ve maybe matured as a coach as I’ve come back, he has matured as a player. I think he has been in good form and Edou has had a couple of injuries."
Read the full story here.
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Colwill update
Chelsea are planning to keep promising defender Levi Colwill over the summer and are prepared to shake off attempts from rivals to sign him. It has been reported that Manchester City are amongst the clubs keen to snap up the England Under-21 star but the Blues are hoping to tie down the Brighton loanee to a longer-term deal.
Ben Jacobs has issued an update on the 20-year-old, saying: "Levi Colwill will not leave Chelsea this summer. Club has a three year option on the contract. He will be back at the club next season. He won’t be sold or loaned. As previously reported, Chelsea view him as an elite-level prospect."
Lampard message
Frank Lampard has sent Chelsea supporters a brutally honest message ahead of the Blues' clash with Real Madrid. Speaking in a press conference, the Blues boss refused to encourage fans ahead of the tie.
"I'm not here to do that. What matters is what we deliver on the pitch," said Lampard. "I don't think what I say will make the fans come and be anything else than what they normally are on a Champions League night when Real Madrid is there and it's an opportunity to try and turn something around. I don't want to go 'please come and support us positively', I know they'll do that.
"We have to play with that energy and fight. That's the bare minimum. Of course organisation against Real Madrid, they're a top team. It's up to us, nothing is on the fans for this one, it's up to us as a squad in terms of the game on Tuesday."
Read the full story here.
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