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

Conte lauds Terry’s professionalism

Antonio Conte has told Sky Sports it was a privilege to work with John Terry at Chelsea, saying our former skipper played a big role during our Premier League-winning campaign in 2016/17 despite his lack of minutes on the pitch.

Terry played in only nine league matches for the Blues that season but his influence was still felt off the pitch and at the training ground.

‘It was a great privilege for me to be the coach of a Chelsea legend like John Terry,’ said Conte.

‘We are talking about a top man, a really good man and then a top player. He helped me a lot in my first season in and out of the pitch.

‘He was very important in the training ground, during the sessions to keep the concentration standards high.’

To thank our long-serving captain, the Italian agreed to give him a proper send-off in his final game at Stamford Bridge by taking him off in the 26th minute of the game against Sunderland.

‘He decided he wanted this because 26 was his squad number and for me it was a pleasure to give him this opportunity,’ Conte added.

‘I will never be able to thank him enough. He was very important for me and our team.’

Zola expects more to come from Loftus-Cheek

According to Goal.com, Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola expects much to come from Ruben Loftus-Cheek when he returns from the injury which has kept him on the sidelines since May last year.

Zola was an assistant coach for the Blues last season and was impressed by the 24-year-old, who had scored 10 goals and established himself as a regular starter before he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon which required surgery.

Having worked with the England international on the training ground, Zola rates him as one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League.

‘I very much liked Ruben Loftus-Cheek last year,’ said the Italian.

‘He's a player that, if he can recover his physical potential, he can be an amazing player.’

While Loftus-Cheek played the full 90 minutes in a development squad match in early March, his return to action for our senior men’s team was further delayed after the season was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Blues linked with Chiesa

The Daily Mail is suggesting Chelsea are one of the favourites to sign Italy international winger Federico Chiesa if Fiorentina decide to sell him this summer.

While Fiorentina's director general Joe Barone has said the club has no interest in selling the 22-year-old, he indicated they have been approached by other clubs including Premier League teams.

'Chiesa is a Fiorentina player,' said Barone to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

'There are clubs knocking at the door for Chiesa, some of them who speak English… We'll see, for the moment we just need to finish the season and he is very concentrated on doing well for us.'

While Barone did not name any of the interested parties, the Mail listed the Blues as one of the teams most interested in doing a deal with the Serie A club.

‘The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move this summer, with Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly the favourites for his signature,’ states the paper.

‘Arsenal and Tottenham were also believed to be interested, but recent reports have narrowed the race down to just four sides which also includes Inter Milan and Juventus.’