Chelsea kick off against Leeds later today with six new summer additions added to the same squad that won 3-0 at Elland Road last season.
The Blues are in the midst of a busy transfer period with two and a bit weeks remaining of the summer transfer window. The £13m acquisition of Cesare Casadei means that on top of all the new signings made in the academy, Todd Boehly has dished out nearly £190m on new recruits for the first-team set-up.
“No, the opposite of frustrated after last week’s match. I’m very happy, very confident after last week’s performance because I saw a good team, a very good team performance, an excellent match," manager Thomas Tuchel said in his pre-match press conference. "As I told you, we work together on reinforcements but it’s never easy and it’s not like we can just wish for something and it will happen."
READ MORE: Jamie Redknapp makes £123m Wesley Fofana and William Saliba Chelsea-Arsenal comparison
He's not done there though. Talks and interest continue in relation to Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Frenkie de Jong and Anthony Gordon.
Harry Maguire's name has even entered the fray with all so much still possible from now till September 1. With this taken into account, football.london rounds up the latest rumours on Sunday.
Jamie Redknapp on 'thoroughbred' Fofana
Saturday was a busy day in relation to the future of the Frenchman. It was known on Friday that Brendan Rodgers had dropped him from the squad but his explanation pre-match was interesting.
On top of this, the 21-year-old's emotionless reaction to James Maddison's opening goal painted a thousand words. football.london knows that two bids have been made in the region of £60million and £70million but no third but had gone in.
However, Redknapp may have confirmed that Chelsea have indeed made the third bid close to Leicester's valuation as he made a William Saliba comparison - or he may simply have got confused over the fee already offered.
"When you’ve got Fofana looking like he’s going to Chelsea, they’ve offered £80m and they were a defensive partnership - I think at St Etienne where they both did really well," he said on Sky Sports' coverage of the Saturday Night Football.
"The two of them are just such thoroughbreds they read the game so well, classy on the ball. Going away has helped him grow as a player and the Premier League is so unforgiving but he’s learned, strong and such a mature player."
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang meeting held
Two Barcelona directors have held a key meeting with the agents of the 33-year-old to try and formalise an exit strategy.
football.london understands that Chelsea are 'very confident' in agreeing a £22m deal for the former Arsenal man but Barca want £4m more.
As the deal moves closer, a certain action has demonstrated the progression being made on the deal. Gerard Romero has reported: 'Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff continued to advance Auba’s departure at a dinner in Barcelona with the striker's agents last night, Auba’s agents arrived from London and met with the sports management to close the exit to Chelsea.'
Harry Maguire 'unlikely' on two conditions
Harry Maguire has been linked in some quarters with a Manchester United exit but that appears complicated this summer and is therefore unlikely to happen due to two reasons, as Chelsea make their final Wesley Fofana decision.
football.london understands that two bids have been knocked back so far for the Frenchman with the latest being around the £70m mark but if no deal is to be agreed, alternatives like a Maguire could come into the fray.
The Guardian have reported that United view their captain as 'not for sale'. They did indicate though that the Blues will follow up their initial enquiry if Fofana is eventually fully priced out.
What could make this late and shock transfer complicated is two things. The first being that Christian Pulisic, who was viewed as being part of a player-plus-cash swap deal, seemingly has his eyes elsewhere as the USMNT international wants Champions League football. The second is due to the fact that ten Hag will need depth in the defence with Eric Bailly set to be off on loan to Ligue 1 and Marseille.
Ivan Toney linked
He has finally been linked!
Could this be a sign that the Aubameyang deal could be in danger?
The Brentford man did net yet again in the Bees' latest Premier League clash which ended in a 3-2 loss in the West London derby to Fulham.
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