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Chelsea news LIVE: Transfer ban lifted, Chilwell and Zaha interest, Barca ace meeting held
Chelsea news LIVE: Express Sport have rounded up all the latest transfer rumours and gossip surrounding the Blues ahead of the January window.
Chelsea: Frank Lampard discusses transfer ban being reduced
Chelsea news LIVE - December 6
- Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich hands Frank Lampard £150m transfer kitty as two deals eyed
Chelsea have Jadon Sancho transfer belief because of two players to displeasure of Man Utd
Chelsea chief holds transfer talks with Barcelona ace Ousmane Dembele's agent
Chelsea decide on first signing after transfer ban lifted to delight of Frank Lampard
Blues dig at City
"Fifa chose to treat Chelsea entirely differently to Manchester City for reasons that make absolutely no sense," read a Chelsea statement.
"The approach taken by Fifa to this case has been deeply unsatisfactory.
"Chelsea respects the importance of the work undertaken by Fifa in relation to the protection of minors and has fully cooperated with Fifa throughout its investigation," added Chelsea.
"However, if Fifa continues to impose inconsistent and unequal sanctions on clubs then it will not only undermine the very purpose of the regulations, but it will also bring into doubt the game's confidence in Fifa being able to appropriately regulate this important area."
Ready to spend big?
Lampard had his say earlier on Chelsea’s transfer ban lift.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport halved the ban which Chelsea had slapped on them by FIFA in the summer, meaning they can make signings in January.
“As we go forward of course if I feel there are positions we can strengthen then we will obviously look at that, as all big clubs do,” he said.
“That's why people expected less of us this season because lots of clubs around us and below us were spending £100million and we didn't have that chance, and we lost Hazard and two number nines.
“Now the picture's slightly changed and it's important that we get it right moving forward.”
Injury updates
"Tammy Abraham is good, he hasn’t done much in between games," Lampard confirmed.
"We will make sure of that in the morning but at the moment he is good."
Barkley will also be available to face his former club but it’s still too soon for German Antonio Ruddier.
Rudiger had a really good week of training," Lampard added.
"We had to get him match fitness type of training, which he has gone through this week. Tomorrow will come too soon, but he has had a great week and is on the verge."
Giroud exit plan
Chelsea aren't confident of being able to flog Olivier Giroud in the January transfer window as clubs will want to pick him up for free in the summer, according to The Sun.
Giroud, however, wants to move in January, just six months after signing a one-year contract extension in the summer.
The Frenchman has made just two Premier League starts this season and is behind Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi in the striking pecking order.
Chelsea's FIFA transfer ban was lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday, meaning that they will be able to make signings themselves in January.
Chilwell No. 1 target
Chelsea are extremely happy with their FIFA transfer ban being lifted - and according to The Athletic, the club are already planning their first transfer - Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell.
Chilwell, however, is not likely to be available in the winter window, and Leicester are going to want a big fee for the Foxes left-back.
Chelsea do need a starting left-back, though, as Lampard isn’t yet sold on either Marcos Alonso or Emerson Palmieri as long-term options at Stamford Bridge.
Leicester are second in the league and will find it extremely difficult to coax Chilwell away from the King Power, but the Englishman may be buoyed by Lampard’s shrewd style of management in west London.
£150million budget
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is looking to hand manager Frank Lampard £150million to play with in the January transfer window.
Chelsea had their transfer ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday, meaning they will be allowed to make singings in January, having not done so in the summer.
And according to the Daily Telegraph, Abramovich will make sure that Lampard is handsomely treated with a hefty transfer budget to spend as soon as the winter window opens.
It’s thought that Chelsea have mapped out a number of targets for Lampard to sift thought in January, with Leicester defender Ben Chilwell right at the top of the list.
Chelsea are also said to be keen on Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho and Barca man Ousmane Dembele.
JUST IN: Chelsea transfer ban lifted as Frank Lampard gets boost ahead of January window
Sancho confidence
Chelsea are thought to be confident in their pursuit for Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho, according to the Athletic.
Sancho has been punished by Dortmund boss Lucien Favre on multiple occasions and the former Manchester City man is said to be fed up of the way he’s been treated.
The Athletic say that Chelsea are buoyed by connections they have to Sancho - in the form of Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Sancho was a Chelsea supporter as a kid and is reportedly after a move away from Dortmund, who are lagging behind in the Bundesliga this year.
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Dembele meeting
Chelsea are interested in bringing Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele to west London following the news that their FIFA transfer ban has been lifted.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport halved Chelsea’s ban, meaning they can make signings in January, after not doing any transfer business in the summer just gone.
And according to Italian football;l journalist Nicolo Shira, the Blues are already after their first signing under manager Frank Lampard.
Schira tweeted: “#Chelsea is interested in Ousmane #Dembelè. Last week his agent has talked with Marina Granovskaia.”
Dembele hasn’t had the easiest of times since his move to Barca from Borussia Dortmund as the Frenchman has had to overcome numerous injury problems.