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

Benrahma wants to test himself in the Premier League

According to the reports in the Standard, Brentford forward Said Benrahma says he is "flattered" by speculation linking him with a number of leading clubs but insists he is fully focused on firing Brentford into the Premier League.

Chelsea and Arsenal have both been linked with the 24-year-old in recent times, while West Ham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Leeds are also monitoring his situation.

After helping the Bees reach the Championship play-offs, where they will face Chelsea loan duo Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi of Swansea, Benrahma was quoted in the Standard as saying: ‘I was really flattered [to see myself linked with those clubs], but, at the same time, I am so focused about getting out of the Championship with Brentford that I do not pay too much attention. But it gives me confidence.

‘I don’t look at it as my destiny, but it has always been a target of mine to play in the Premier League and I really wish to play in the Premier League with Brentford.

‘It would be magnificent for Brentford to be in the Premier League because it would be the first time and we have really been working hard on it.’

Giroud aims for French record

Olivier Giroud has told Canal Plus of his hopes to break a goalscoring record held by French legend, Michel Platini.

The Chelsea frontman, who helped Les Bleus lift the World Cup in 2018, is enjoying a fine end to the season with Frank Lampard’s side and feels he has plenty left to offer both club and country going forward.

‘Of course, [playing for] the French national team is always an honour and you get there by performing well with your club,’ said Giroud in the report.

‘I have been fortunate enough to play in a Euro final and to win the World Cup. I still want to win trophies and beat records with the national team.

‘At the very least, it would be nice to hit the 100 appearances mark – I am at 87 I think. I also want to go ahead of Platini to become the second highest goalscorer in French national team history – these are goals that motivate me and keep me focused to stay in shape and at the highest level.’

Schurrle's retirement should act as media warning, says Kirchhoff

The early retirement of former Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle should force the media to rethink the expectations they force onto certain players, according to former Bayern Munich and Sunderland midfielder Jan Kirchhoff, when speaking to Goal.

The German announced his retirement from the game last week at the age of 29, following a successful career with Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, along with spells at Stamford Bridge and Fulham in the Premier League.

The high point of Schurrle's career came when he assisted Mario Gotze's winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, but both men were released from their contracts at Dortmund following the end of the 2019-20 season.

Kirchhoff, who played in England with Sunderland, believes that extensive media hype following the World Cup success ultimately led to too much pressure being placed on his shoulders.

In his exclusive column for Goal and SPOX, Kirchhoff said: ‘I can understand why he has now ended his career. Andre had an incredibly good time from a sporting and finally from a financial point of view, became world champion, English champion, DFB-Pokal winner.

‘When you have played at a certain level for so long, you have to ask yourself at some point whether you really still want to attack at another level at the expense of your family. I know these lines of thought only too well.

‘Looking back, winning the 2014 World Cup was definitely a sticking point. It is the curse of the good deed. Andre and Mario Gotze are sitting in the same boat. The goal against Argentina has raised expectations that the two will decide each game.

‘This resulting pressure, the constant headlines, this eternal 'again not good enough' is an incredibly great burden, especially for intelligent, sensitive and self-reflective people. When I read interviews with Andre or Mario, I came to the conclusion more and more that many things went wrong on a media level regarding Andre and Mario, which certainly caused frustration.’