Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Blues propose Ugarte swap, Sterling hails Pochettino arrival, club set to sell five homegrown stars including Mount
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours from Chelsea in talkSPORT's live blog.
New Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino will have to hit the ground running once the summer window officially opens after inheriting a mess at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea finished a pitiful 12th in the Premier League - their lowest since the 1993/94 season - following a series of errors on and off the pitch.
Pochettino will be keen to bring his own players in to put his stamp on an already oversized squad but equally that may mean several high-profile stars could be on their way out.
Top stories
- Mauricio Pochettino finally confirmed as new Chelsea manager
- Chelsea are set to sell FIVE homegrown stars this summer
- Mason Mount cut an emotional figure at the end of Chelsea's final game of the season
Follow our live blog below for all the latest news from Chelsea…
Oscar has told talkSPORT that he would be open to a return to Chelsea in the future if the Blues ever showed interest in bringing him back to London.
“I am very happy here [in Shanghai]. It’s a pleasure to play for this team,” he says.
“They have given me a lot of things. They have helped not only me, but my family as well. They have given me a lot of support since I arrived here in 2017. I really enjoy playing here.
“I’m just focusing on playing more games because last year, I played just three or four games in the season because of COVID and the situation here and I stayed for some months in Brazil. This is why there was a lot of talk about me going to Flamengo.
“Of course, it’s a dream to come back to Chelsea because everyone knows the passion that I have for this club. It’s the same passion I have for Shanghai. It’s the two clubs I have played at for a long period.
“I have a lot of good memories at Chelsea and I also have a lot of good memories of Shanghai. But I’m still here and I still have dreams to play for this team.
“So, if there was something where I could come back to Europe or Chelsea, we would need to talk. For now, I’m here and I’m trying to win the title here again.”
Brighton midfielder Billy Gilmour says he still wanted to be at Chelsea last summer before swapping the Blues for the Seagulls in September.
The Scot fell out of favour with then-manager Thomas Tuchel but now looks to make the Amex midfield his own with both Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo set to leave this summer.
“After my [Norwich] loan, I still wanted to be at Chelsea, to be a part of their first-team plans but quite quickly in pre-season I knew that wasn’t going to be the case,” he said in, according to Sussex Live.
“But I didn’t want to go out on loan again, I wanted to find a home, to play for a team and be settled.
“I had other clubs interested but once I knew of Brighton’s interest, it was a pretty straightforward decision for me to make. I haven’t looked back since. Now I just want to play more games and keep progressing.”
Chelsea target Declan Rice has spoken out about his future as West Ham gear up for a Europa Conference League final.
Arsenal are thought to be leading the race to sign Rice this summer but the Blues will be hoping that they have an advantage in the race given that the England international advanced through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge before heading to east London.
And now having been quizzed if winning in Prague next week against Fiorentina would be the perfect way to end his West Ham career, Rice replied: “I’ve not really focused on any of that, to be honest.
“My main focus this season, from the World Cup onwards, has been getting us out of a relegation battle and, of course, having one eye on winning this trophy.
“Everything else is just noise and speculation. Obviously, I can’t help that, it comes with playing.
“But my main focus is playing for West Ham and winning this final. My heart’s set on that, doing it for the club, for my family, for the fans and that’s my only focus.
“I want to make them all very happy and my focus is on doing that.”
Raheem Sterling has hailed the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
According to Arab News, Sterling said: “From his time before at Tottenham, I heard a conversation about him and he’s the exact person that we need.
“He will bring leadership, he will challenge players physically and mentally.
“I feel he is going to come here and he is going to have the personality that everyone is going to respect. That’s what we need, someone in charge.”
“We have a good squad, the quality is there,’ Sterling added. “We will add some players and some will leave, I get it, but there’s no doubt in my mind we will be challenging again very soon.
“My first two years at City, it was not all beauty. We had to build step by step and that’s exactly what we have to do here at Chelsea.”
Hello and welcome to talkSPORT’s live blog for all the latest Chelsea news this summer.
Chelsea have now confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager.
talkSPORT revealed in April that the 51-year-old had agreed to become the Blues’ next boss.
However, Frank Lampard continued as interim boss until the end of a dismal season before Pochettino will assume control officially on July 1.
“I’m a big fan of Pochettino as a manager, I think he’s a very good manager, but it’s not about which individual it might be, it’s about getting the right high level of manager,” Lampard said last week.
“Pochettino’s history tells you he works at clubs of this sort of level and then letting him get to work with the players he creates a solid identity in a team that can win more games. Those things aren’t always overnight things, so we have to be careful with expectations a little bit.”
Pochettino has been handed a two-year deal, with the option of a third year.
talkSPORT also understands that the former Spurs gaffer has identified a new striker and goalkeeper to be his top priorities.
To fund that splurge Chelsea are set to sell FIVE homegrown stars this summer.
Mason Mount looks to have already played his last game for the club with Manchester United thought to be favourites to sign him whilst Liverpool and Arsenal are both interested as well.
talkSPORT understands Mount could be followed out of the Stamford Bridge exit door by England pair Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as well as Trevor Chalobah and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
