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

Blues eye Frenchman Fofana

The Blues are reportedly interested in signing Leicester City’s centre-back Wesley Fofana and have ‘resumed talks’ with the Frenchman.

Fofana has not played so far this season due to a fractured fibula injury he picked up in a pre-season friendly and Chelsea are said to be watching how he recovers before making a move.

In a report by The Sun, citing Footmercato, Thomas Tuchel’s men are said to not be the only top European club watching the 20-year-old closely.

‘Chelsea have resumed talks with Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana ahead of a potential summer transfer,' reports say.

‘Chelsea are eyeing Fofana as a potential replacement should any of their current defenders walk out of the club and have resumed talks with the defender.

‘Chelsea would, however, face stiff competition from a host of top European clubs.

‘Manchester United and Real Madrid are also keen on the Frenchman.

‘But all interested parties will keep a close eye on how Fofana deals with returning from a big injury.’

Seven Blues rated amongst top 50 footballers in the world

Seven Chelsea players have been placed in GOAL50 – a fan vote ranking the 50 best male footballers in the world.

N’Golo Kante is the Blues player who features highest on the list, in eighth place.

'The French midfield dynamo was the driving force behind Chelsea's surprise Champions League success and turned in a man of the match-winning performance in the Blues' 1-0 win over Manchester City in Porto,’ the report on GOAL states.

Romelu Lukaku just missed out on a top 10 finish, placing 12th. ‘Chelsea re-signed their former forward after the 28-year-old had been named Serie A MVP for 2020-21 for firing Inter to a first Scudetto in 11 years before then being included in the Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament,’ the report continues.

Despite his Ballon d’Or omission, Edou Mendy also made the cut, after equalling the record of most clean sheets in a Champions League season (nine) in a superb debut season in SW6.

Midifelders Jorginho and Mason Mount are also involved, at 22nd and 31st respectively, with their performances in the Champions League final huge factors.

‘The UEFA Men's Player of the Year Jorginho silenced his critics by dictating the tempo throughout Chelsea's triumphant Champions League run before helping Italy win Euro 2020,’ the story adds.

Forwards Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic also reached the top 50, in 32nd and 42nd place respectively.

Kepa receives plaudits from ex-Premier League goalkeeper

TV pundit Shaka Hislop has praised Blues goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and has claimed he has vastly improved since Edouard Mendy joined the club.

The pair have formed a great relationship as Chelsea number one and two and, speaking on ESPN, former West Ham goalkeeper Hislop believes Kepa is learning off Mendy.

‘Kepa’s been very good since Mendy arrived,’ said the former goalkeeper, who also played for Newcastle and Reading amongst others.

‘There is a huge difference, I’m not saying that (there’s not).'

With Mendy likely to travel to the African Cup of Nations in January, Kepa is likely to return between the sticks, and Hislop believes he is a far better goalkeeper now than he was before the Senegalese man joined the Blues.

‘The Kepa since Mendy arrived is not the Kepa pre-Mendy. He has been a very good number two.’