Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Wednesday, July 7.
Ferdinand hails Rice
Amid reports linking West Ham United and England midfielder Declan Rice with a summer move to Chelsea, former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has delivered a glowing assessment of his talents.
The Blues, alongside Manchester United, are keen on signing the Hammers starlet to bolster their respective midfield options ahead of the new Premier League season.
Valued at around £100million by the Hammers, Rice has come in for special praise from Ferdinand following his outstanding contributions for England at Euro 2020.
Ferdinand, discussing if he would like to see Rice join United, said: “Do we need somebody like Declan Rice, who is flying at the moment? Who, in an England shirt, has taken it to other levels now.
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“We all knew that he was a good player at West Ham, but what Declan Rice is doing in the England team right now, for his age, is madness.
“Then it comes down to whether or not Man United have got the funds to go and get him from West Ham. What are they going to ask for, West Ham?”
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Tuchel handed Silva headache
Whilst all of the international focus from a Chelsea perspective has been on the likes of Andreas Christensen for Denmark, Mason Mount for England and Kai Havertz for Germany in the last few weeks at Euro 2020, it may have gone unnoticed that Thiago Silva has captained Brazil to the final of Copa America.
They booked their place in the final of the tournament on Monday after getting the better of Peru, meaning they will face either Argentina or Colombia in the final this coming Sunday.
Whilst it is terrific to see Silva, a player of 36-years-old, still playing for his country, captaining them and leading them to a final, it will cause a slight problem for Blues head coach Thomas Tuchel.
That is because the German faces the prospect of being without one of his most trusted central-defenders for much of pre-season, with him poised to enjoy a well-earned break after the Copa America final, before reporting back for pre-season training at Cobham.
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United move first in Camavinga race
According to a report by French publication Le Parisien, Manchester United are ready to make the first move in the race to sign highly-rated Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga by tabling a €30million (£25.6m) bid for his services.
The summer window is officially open and now the Blues can look to build on European glory and bolster the squad to push for Premier League supremacy.
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The highly-rated 18-year-old is out of contract at the Ligue 1 club next season and could be sold this summer to avoid the French club running the risk of losing him for nothing more than a tribunal fee next year.
Camavinga has also recently been linked with a move to Chelsea in the last few days, meaning it will be interesting to see whether or not they react to United’s move.
Rennes are keen to retain Camavinga’s services, but he is not prepared to put pen to paper on the new contract offered to him.