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

Chelsea ‘interested’ in Barcelona talent

According to The Mirror, the Blues are reportedly looking to agree a deal to bring rising Barcelona youngster Ilaix Moriba to Stamford Bridge.

The Guinean midfielder has caught the eye for the Catalan club in the past year, after progressing through La Masia, into Barcelona B and then into the senior side to feature in La Liga.

The report suggests that Moriba is unlikely to pen a new contract at the Camp Nou, leaving the door open for a move abroad which Chelsea seemingly his most likely destination.

‘Ilaix Moriba has reportedly reached an ‘agreement in principle’ with Chelsea over personal terms, with just the fee left to be negotiated,’ the report states.

‘The Blaugrana have been left in a difficult spot with Moriba, who made his La Liga debut earlier this year.

‘Moriba is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects to have graduated from the La Masia academy in recent years, but has just one year remaining on his deal and is seemingly unwilling to extend that further.

‘The 18-year-old has been training with the development sides at Barcelona and has been informed he will not be involved with the senior side until a new deal is agreed.’

Gallagher reveals reasons behind Palace loan

Conor Gallagher has said that the chance to work under Patrick Viera was too good to turn down and is why he opted to join Crystal Palace on loan for the season.

The Chelsea midfielder, who impressed during pre-season, was allowed to further his footballing education with Thomas Tuchel sanctioning a loan move to a Premier League club for 2021/22.

Gallagher eventually joined the Eagles on the eve of the new season and according to The Sun, he turned down Leeds and Newcastle to move to Selhurst Park.

‘I liked what the manager Patrick Vieira was saying,’ said Gallagher, in an interview with the tabloid paper.

‘I feel like it suited me very nicely and like I could express myself the best here. He wants me to do what I do best, which is basically all I want to hear.

‘He knows the type of player I am. He knows that I want to get up and down the pitch and just play with freedom. That definitely helped persuade me to join Palace.’

Redknapp praises Lukaku addition

Jamie Redknapp believes Romelu Lukaku ‘fits Chelsea’s DNA’ and is backing the striker to fire the Blues to a title challenge.

The Sky Sports pundit has been previewing Saturday’s huge clash with Liverpool at Anfield, a game he has described as the first ‘blockbuster’ of the season.

Redknapp was asked what he thought of Chelsea’s title credentials and the former England international believes with Lukaku as the focal point of our attack, we can challenge for honours.

‘It's in Chelsea's DNA to have a striker who can hold the ball up and bring people into play,’ Redknapp told Sky Sports. ‘It doesn't matter who the manager has been, every manager has liked to have that focal point.

‘They've had it with Drogba, they've had it with Costa and now they've got it with Lukaku. All of their successes have been with an out-and-out number nine like that.

‘They've got so many good players around him and, because they've won the Champions League last year, that will give them the belief that they can now win the Premier League. They will look at Lukaku as the missing piece in the jigsaw.’