These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Chelsea linked with Ibrahima Konate

The Blues have received a boost in their reported chase of RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate.

According to German journalist and transfer expert Christian Falk, the 21-year-old has now been put on the shortlist of centre-backs that could be brought in during the summer by the Blues.

Chelsea were reportedly interested in Dayot Upamecano, who is Konate’s centre-back partner at RB Leipzig until the end of the season.

If the Blues were to sign the Frenchman in the summer, they would have to fight off interest from other English clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United.

Chelsea have been linked with a couple of high-profile centre-backs coming out of the Bundesliga, including Niklas Sule and David Alaba.

Konate, 21, currently has two years left on his deal at Leipzig and has featured 14 times for his club this season.

Simeone praises Tuchel

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has praised the impact Thomas Tuchel has made on his Chelsea side.

Speaking in his press conference, the Argentine admitted that the German coach has already improved the Blues despite only being in charge for seven games.

‘Tuchel has come to a financially very powerful club where year after year they make a huge effort to sign big players,’ he said.

‘This year they invested in talented, young footballers and as soon as the team didn’t respond as they wanted to, they made that change and brought in Tuchel.’

The German boss is set to take charge of his first Champions League fixture for the Blues as we face Atletico in Bucharest tonight in the last 16. Simeone has also been impressed with the amount of quality in this Chelsea side.

‘It’s a really big team and since Tuchel’s arrival the team has improved,’ he added. ‘Just look at what players they have: we see a Chelsea squad with three good goalkeepers, lots of good forwards, a lot of good players on the bench.

‘These are players that could start for any team in Europe. The squad they have speaks for itself.’

Gavin Peacock’s son becomes a Muay Thai fighter

Jason Peacock, son of Chelsea legend Gavin Peacock, has become a Muay Thai fighter in Canada.

The Peacock family emigrated to Canada when the former Blue stopped football punditry to become a pastor.

His son, however, has learned the trade of a very different sport from his father.

The 27-year-old has taken to Muay Thai and is succeeding in the sport despite having one hand.

‘My mum and dad have always been fantastic,’ he said in a report that was in the Daily Mail. ‘They didn’t know I was going to be born with one hand, so it came as a huge shock to them, but they never babied me, they never stopped me from trying things.

‘I grew up working things out for myself and I haven’t found any limits yet.’

Jason is currently proving all his doubters wrong as he holds an unbeaten 4-0 record. However, he does admit that he has challenges in the sport.

‘I can’t throw all the conventional shots,’ he added. ‘So, I do things differently, my range is usually different to my opponents.

‘Because I was born with one hand, I think outside the box a lot and that usually means I can help people overcome some of the things they are struggling with.’