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

Hazard nearly joined Spurs: Redknapp

Harry Redknapp has said Eden Hazard would have become a Tottenham Hotspur player if Chelsea had not won the Champions League in 2012, TalkSport reports.

The Belgian scored six goals against Spurs during his time with the Blues before he joined Real Madrid in 2019. His goals included a crucial strike in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in May 2016 which ended their chances of winning the Premier League.

However, Redknapp said things could have been very different if we had not emerged victorious in Munich four years earlier.

‘I lost Eden Hazard, he wanted to come to Tottenham but he said he would only come if we got Champions League football,’ said the former Spurs manager to Sky Sports.

‘We finished fourth that year, Chelsea finished sixth, they won the Champions League and we didn’t make it.

‘He ended up going to Chelsea.’

Giroud not eyeing Henry’s record yet

Olivier Giroud has played down his chances of breaking Thierry Henry's all-time scoring record for France after he moved into second place on Wednesday, goal.com reports.

The Chelsea striker moved ahead of Michel Platini when he scored twice in a 7-1 friendly win against Ukraine to take his international goal tally to 42 on his 100th appearance for his country.

But while the 34-year-old was delighted to surpass Platini’s mark, he is unsure whether he can reach Henry’s record of 51.

‘Huge pride, it's a great honour, I'm very happy that it turned out that way,’ he said to TF1.

‘It was going to be emotional. I'm very happy for the team, we showed great things.

‘I think we have to set goals but it's a bit early to tell [if I can reach the record]. We'll see when I get to 46 or 47 goals.’

For Giroud, the moment was made more special as he did it in front of Ukraine head coach and former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko.

‘He was one of my favourite players if not my favourite when I was a teenager,’ he added.

‘I greeted him after the game. He's used to coming to Chelsea every now and then and I asked him for his signed shirt because I'm a huge fan. It also means a lot to me.’

Sarr delighted to join Porto on loan

Malang Sarr has told Porto’s official website he is excited by the opportunity to play for the Portuguese champions after completing his season-long loan move from Chelsea.

‘Porto is the best club in Portugal, it is a very big club with talented players and a history that, for me, is very important,’ said the 21-year-old, who was signed by the Blues after he left French side Nice at the end of his contract.

‘I am very excited. It was an opportunity I was looking for, so I am grateful and happy to be here. I feel prepared to start helping the team to achieve its goals.

‘I am a team player, I am only interested in the team and my colleagues. I know that Porto is an ambitious club and I also came for that.

‘I'm looking forward to competitiveness, big games, the Champions League and helping the club and the team to win another league title.’