Time to talk Chelsea news, notes and transfer rumors. Let’s go to work. Striker Patrick Bamford has signed a three year contract extension with the Blues; bringing closure on a transfer rumor narrative that has persisted for months. He’ll join Crystal Palace on a season long loan.
— Patrick Bamford (@Patrick_Bamford) July 21, 2015
If you want to understand why Manager Jose Mourinho made his somewhat “pot calling the kettle black” comments about runaway transfer spending this summer, consider the team’s pursuit of Everton Defender John Stones. Mourinho and Toffees Manager Roberto Martinez have had a back and forth war of words lately. Martinez rejected Mourinho’s £20 million bid for Stones, and now the tabloids are running wild today with stories about Chelsea getting more assertive in their pursuit of the central defender.
It’s thought that Stones could be a long term answer as a replacement for John Terry.
The Guardian claims that Chelsea are refusing to relent in the battle to sign Stones and will make an improved bid of around £26 million while Loic Remy has been told he still has a future at Stamford Bridge. Remy wants to fight for a first team place, and snubbed a reunion with Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace.
The narrative in The Telegraph is that Chelsea remain confident of signing John Stones, but may need to pay as much as £34 million for the center back. Meanwhile Mourinho confirmed that Filipe Luis will be headed out the door soon. He could return to Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan are also rumored to be interested. It’s thought that moving Luis will open up the Blues to pursue Augsburg’s £14m-rated Ghana defender Baba Rahman.
The 21-year-old is also rumored to be a target for Arsenal, Roma, Juventus and Inter Milan.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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