CHELSEA are out of action until at least May but it could be longer with coronavirus suspending the Premier League season.
Blues boss Frank Lampard is trying to keep positive despite the bad situation, while Pedro gives an update on life under lockdown back in Spain.
Elsewhere, we have the latest transfer rumours with Lautaro Martinez is wanted by Chelsea, while Stamford Bridge outfit looking to beat Premier League rivals to Gabriel Magalhaes and Jude Bellingham.
Follow all the latest updates and Chelsea gossip below…
BERNA-BYE
Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Real Madrid over Achraf Hakimi, 21, to bolster their shaky defence.
Blues boss Frank Lampard has identified the 21-year-old as a defender he can add to strengthen his options at the back.
Hakimi can operate on either side of the defence but is usually deployed at right-back.
He has thrived while on loan at Borussia Dortmund and as reported by The Mirror the Blues have enquired after the Morocco international.
The loan deal between Zinedine Zidane’s side and Dortmund does not include an option to purchase at the end of the campaign and that has put the 21-year-old on the radar of a number of clubs.
FEELING BLUE
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set to stay with the Bundesliga holders despite not being offered a new contract.
Neuer, 34, is out of contract next summer and has yet to extend his deal, giving Chelsea hope of replacing Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Blues are keen to replace the Spaniard after an underwhelming season but Neuer has no plans on leaving the Allianz Arena.
The German stopper, who joined from Schalke in 2011, has seven Bundesliga titles and a Champions League winner medal to his name.
According to Goal, Neuer does not want to play abroad, leaving Chelsea having to look elsewhere in their search for a new keeper.
HEY JUDE
Chelsea are planning to beat Manchester United in the race to sign £30million-rated Jude Bellingham from Birmingham City.
The Blues are ready to step up their interest in the 16-year-old wonderkid and according to the Daily Mail, they are ready to meet the valuation.
Bellingham has caught the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs after his breakthrough this season, with Borussia Dortmund and United keen to sign the youngster, who is on £145-per-week.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is an admirer of Bellingham and is keen to get a deal done, but is set to face tough competition from Frank Lampard.
WORD GAME
Premier League clubs have been banned from using “null” and “void” as the season edges closer to being cancelled.
According to the Daily Mail, the league have instructed clubs to use the word ‘curtailed’ instead when discussing the possibility of the season being ended.
This instruction will provide more legal protection against broadcasters seeking a rebate on the current £3billion television deal.
Coronavirus has hit the sporting schedule hard, with the Premier League suspending all matches until April 30 at the earliest.
It appears unlikely that the league will resume on that date, with the UK currently on lockdown in order to control the spread of the virus.
FOUR REAL?
The Premier League may not restart until July… and then could all be finished behind closed doors within four weeks, according to reports.
All professional football in England is currently postponed until the end of April due to the coronavirus.
But as the pandemic continues to have devastating consequences across the country, it looks increasingly likely that the suspension will be pushed back further.
Now, according to Football London, there is a suggestion that it may not return for another four months.
And even when it does get back underway, the Premier League and EFL may try and wrap up all the games within “four to six weeks” with no fans in attendance.
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