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

Hoddle nearly signed Bergkamp to form Dutch duo

Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle has admitted the club nearly signed Dennis Bergkamp to form a formidable Dutch partnership with Ruud Gullit.

A report by talkSPORT highlights Hoddle’s comments explaining just how close the Blues were to signing Bergkamp during the manager's three-year period at the club between 1993 and 1996.

‘We nearly got [Dennis] Bergkamp as well, you know,’ Hoddle admitted, speaking to the Alive and Kicking football podcast.

‘Over from [Inter] Milan, he was available but we didn’t have the money. I think £6.5m, £7m so you’d have thought, as I said to [chief executive] Colin Hutchinson, give Batesy [owner Kevin Bates] a ring, see if whilst we’re out here, his agent, you know…’

The Netherlands superstar instead joined fellow capital side Arsenal and became an icon at the club but Hoddle still thinks about what could have been, while remaining grateful for Gullit’s huge impact at the club.

‘Imagine if we’d bought them two then,’ Hoddle said. ‘That would have been exciting but they couldn’t raise the money at that time so we just missed out on maybe getting Dennis as well.

‘But Ruud was fabulous, it elevated Chelsea and it was exciting times.’

Blues’ hopes of signing De Ligt given an extra boost

Chelsea have been handed a boost in their reported interest in signing Netherlands and Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.

The Blues have been heavily linked to the Ajax Academy graduate, who is now a mainstay in the Juventus side.

A report by the Metro claims the release clause for the Dutchman is close to being lowered, which could potentially pave the way for Chelsea to negotiate bringing him to Stamford Bridge.

‘Chelsea are "in the lead" for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt, although any potential deal still hinges on one important factor,’ the article in the Metro claims, citing Tuttosport.

‘The player's agent, Mino Raiola, is desperately trying to negotiate a reduction in his release clause with the Italian giants.

‘The report states that Raiola wants to lower the €120m release clause in de Ligt's contract from July next year, which could interest the likes of Chelsea.’

Woodgate names Blues player as signing of the season

Jonathan Woodgate has named Chelsea player Conor Gallagher as the ‘signing of the season’ so far in the Premier League.

Gallagher is on-loan at Crystal Palace from the Blues, after impressing at West Brom last season and at Swansea and Charlton previously.

A report in the Metro states Woodgate is a huge fan of the England international, who made his senior Three Lions debut on Monday.

‘The signing of the season so far, for me, has been Conor Gallagher to Crystal Palace from Chelsea,’ said Woodgate, a report in the Metro states, speaking to Ladbrokes.

‘He’s in my dream team as well actually. I love the way he plays. I watched a lot of him at Charlton under Lee Bowyer - he’s got so much energy, he scores and creates goals. He’s a top player.

‘Patrick Vieira’s style of play really suits Gallagher. He’s come in and changed everything tactically and it’s paid off for him, not least because of the impact Gallagher has had in that team since coming in.

‘I really fancy Chelsea to win the Premier League this year, just because they barely concede. Once they get Romelu Lukaku firing on all cylinders, I reckon they’re going to be a monster team,’ he added.