Your morning digest of the latest Chelsea headlines with football.london on Thursday, September 6th.
Boehly makes contract call
Graham Potter is running out of matches and time to make a decision when it comes to N'Golo Kante. The new manager is yet to see his star midfielder play but must think about how Chelsea progress with the Frenchman.
Kante is out of contract next summer and can start negotiations over a free deal in January. Chelsea play 14 times between now and then, but Kante still isn't ready for action.
It is now reported that Boehly has made the final call on Kante, and it will be taken out of Potter's hands. As a businessman and someone looking to improve the efficiency of Chelsea, offering a new long-term deal to a 31-year-old on large wages isn't something that seems to make sense.
READ MORE: Potter handed triple boost, Bruno involvement: Things spotted in Chelsea training ahead of Milan
Chelsea hold interest in West Ham's Declan Rice, who remains a top target, whilst they also want to pursue a deal for Jude Bellingham. Edson Alvarez and Ibrahim Sangare are players they have looked at in the past and may revisit as a means of replacing Kante.
Read the full story here.
Cole claim
Joe Cole is hoping that Chelsea gives Graham Potter time at the club and has said that even Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn't be able to make immediate changes at the club.
Cole told the Sun: "When you come to Chelsea, you have to win games and trophies. The club has been built on that in the last 20 years. The fans are used to big games and going to cup finals, so Potter can't just disregard that. It will always be in the background.
"But with so much newness around the club, they seem to have gone away from that immediate success plan that Chelsea are normally associated with. This appointment says to me that Chelsea are looking long-term, and it is an intelligent move because the likes of Manchester City are so far ahead.
"You could employ Sir Alex and Brian Clough, all the all-time greats of management together, and they still wouldn't make an immediate impact in chipping away at City, competing for trophies with them."
Read the full story here.
Fofana injured vs AC Milan
Wesley Fofana hobbled off injured in the first half of Chelsea's Champions League group stage clash with AC Milan. The 21-year-old defender, who opened the scoring for the Blues at Stamford Bridge, was brought off for Trevoh Chalobah.
Ironically, the Blues' summer signing was caught in an altercation with transfer target Rafael Leao. The Portugal international was chasing down the Frenchman before he fell to the floor, clutching his knee.
Fofana soldiered on for a few moments before eventually falling to the ground, signalling to be brought off. The centre-back's exit was met with applause from the home support following his effort earlier in the tie, which put Chelsea ahead.
He has an unfortunate history of injuries. Before penning a deal at Stamford Bridge, he suffered a major fibula fracture injury that kept him out of action for seven months.
Read the full story here.
READ NEXT:
Predicted Chelsea team vs AC Milan – Mendy decision taken, Cucurella returns in defence
Every word Graham Potter said on Chelsea vs AC Milan, Nkunku, Ronaldo, Leao, Mendy, Kante, more
Olivier Giroud makes Chelsea vs AC Milan prediction as the Graham Potter effect explained
Kai Havertz issue, Edouard Mendy decision: Graham Potter's Chelsea XI vs AC Milan
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
