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Saturday's Chelsea transfer talk news roundup: Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Nicolas Tagliafico

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer talk for Chelsea on Saturday, July 18.

The buildup to the summer transfer window has now begun, with rumours and speculation continuing to swirl as Chelsea eye possible reinforcements.

The Blues failed to bring in a single player during the January window, despite seeing their transfer ban cut short by FIFA.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news on possible comings and goings from Stamford Bridge.

Saturday morning's Chelsea transfer talk news roundup:


Brendan Rodgers: 'Ben Chilwell is not for sale'

Ben Chilwell in action for Leicester City on June 20, 2020© Reuters

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says England defender Ben Chilwell is not for sale this summer.

Chilwell has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot injury, but Rodgers is adamant that the 23-year-old has not played his final game for the Foxes.

Chelsea have been heavily linked with a summer move for Chilwell as Blues boss Frank Lampard seeks to further strengthen his squad following the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.

"He's a Leicester City player and not a player we want to lose," Rodgers said when asked about Chilwell's future ahead of the Premier League trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

Rodgers insists Chilwell is not for sale
Rodgers insists Chilwell is not for sale (John Walton/PA)

"I'm quite relaxed on it. I'm not worried at all. We've got a fantastic squad, a squad we want to keep together.

"There's no intention to sell Ben Chilwell and there's absolutely no need to sell.

"So the message is he's not for sale – it's as simple as that."

Leicester fans maybe got a glimpse of their left-back future during the 2-0 home victory over Sheffield United on Thursday.

Luke Thomas, a 19-year-old academy graduate, made an impressive senior debut and Rodgers believes the teenager has a big future.

"This is why he has travelled in with his parents four or five times a week into the academy since he was a young boy," Rodgers said.

"The objective is to play for the first team and I was thrilled for him.

"It's so great as a coach when you know you have a talent and they go in and do as well as what you hope.

"It's the beginning of what hopefully will be a fantastic career.

"There's still so much work to do but to cope with a really good Sheffield United side with so much quality and physicality was a really good start.

"There will be bumps along the way, I've seen that with young players, but he's very level-headed and he's got real quality.

"He's a fantastic talent and there will be many more opportunities for him."

Fourth-placed Leicester head to Tottenham holding the final Champions League spot with two games remaining.

Manchester United and Leicester square off on the final day
Manchester United and Leicester square off on the final day (Martin Rickett/PA)

But their advantage over fifth-placed Manchester United is only by virtue of goal difference, and the two teams will meet at the King Power Stadium on the final day of the season on July 26.

"We can now give everything and play with freedom," Rodgers said after only their second post-lockdown win against Sheffield United confirmed the minimum of Europa League qualification.

"Our target at the beginning of the season was to get Leicester City back into Europe, and for the players to do that with two games to go is superb.

"We have the opportunity to achieve something more. If we keep the standard, we'll know we've got as good a chance as anybody."



Eden Hazard clauses to help Chelsea fund Kai Havertz deal?

Eden Hazard warms up for Real Madrid on July 10, 2020© Reuters

Two clauses in the deal that took Eden Hazard to Real Madrid last summer could reportedly help Chelsea fund a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz.

The Blues continue to be linked with Havertz, and the Germany international has allegedly signalled that he wants to join Frank Lampard's side ahead of Manchester United and Real Madrid this summer.

Chelsea have already spent big on Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, but according to Sports Ration, the London giants could be set to receive a cash windfall.

The report claims that the £91m deal that took Hazard to the Bernabeu last summer included clauses that would be triggered if Los Blancos won La Liga or qualified for next season's Champions League.

As a result of the Spanish side's title success, Lampard's team are allegedly due to receive an additional £18m on top of the £14m they have already secured from Madrid's European qualification, which could help fund a big-money deal for Havertz in the upcoming market.

Chelsea are also thought to be weighing up a summer approach for Ajax's Nicolas Tagliafico.


More transfer news from Chelsea:

Chelsea to battle Manchester City for Nicolas Tagliafico deal?
Chelsea could rival Manchester City for the signature of Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico, according to a report. Read more.

Antonio Conte 'pushing Inter Milan board for N'Golo Kante funds'
Antonio Conte is reportedly trying to encourage the Inter Milan board to provide the funds required to sign Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante. Read more.

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2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
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11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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