CHELSEA NEWS | KANTE BLOW | JORGINHO'S EXIT | WERNER & HAALAND SWAP DEAL | HAZARD'S RETURN.

 

Welcome to the latest Chelsea news update on the channel from the weekend featuring four of the biggest stories regarding N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Timo Werner, Erling Haaland, and Eden Hazard.

Chelsea have suffered a big injury setback with N’Golo Kante sent home from the France camp after sustaining a hamstring injury on international duty. The 29-year-old played the full 90 minutes of France France’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Wednesday but reported discomfort following the 2022 World Cup qualifier. He underwent tests on Thursday, which revealed a minor hamstring injury, and will now miss France’s matches against Kazakhstan and Bosnia on Sunday and Wednesday.

The French FA said in a statement that head coach Didier Deschamps had decided to send Kante back to Chelsea after consulting with medical staff. Jorginho would consider a return to Napoli if he leaves Chelsea this summer, according to his agent Jorge Santos. "There are many rumours about that because he did so well at Napoli. "It's a special moment for him. He is an important player for Chelsea now. However, he is an Italy international, and we are thinking about a return to Serie A if he leaves the Blues. "If Napoli will make an offer, we'll evaluate it. He had a great time in Naples, and he has many friends over there"

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has joked that Londoners "don't know what the sun is" after discussing his time with Napoli. Jorginho has done nothing to dispel reported interest in a return to the country, telling Canale21: "There are no words to describe how much I miss Naples. "Who wouldn't miss Naples? It's so cold in London, they don't even know what the sun is."

Thomas Tuchel has told Chelsea to send Timo Werner to Borussia Dortmund in a swap deal for Erling Haaland, according to reports. Werner has struggled to live up to expectations since joining Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the summer. So far, he has scored 10 goals from 39 appearances. That’s a respectable tally, but he did go two months without a goal earlier in the season. What’s more, only one of his five Premier League goals so far has come in 2021. Despite a promising beginning, it seems Werner’s prospects at Chelsea are already fading. Haaland has an appealing €75m release clause that will only be active in the summer of 2022. In the meantime, Dortmund can command whatever price they like. Chelsea and his other interested suitors were recently warned that it could take upwards of €150m to prise him away. But one way the Blues could reduce the asking price is by sending Werner the other way. The former Stuttgart striker previously enjoyed several productive seasons in the Bundesliga. Hence, a return to his native country could bring out his best once again.

Chelsea could complete a transfer masterpiece by bringing Eden Hazard back to Stamford Bridge this summer. Things have not gone to plan for the Belgian since his 2019 transfer to Real Madrid, which was worth as much as £103million in upfront fees with a further £20million in add-ons. Hazard has played just 25 times in the league for Real Madrid since, scoring just three times, and he has already missed more than 50 games across all competitions through injury. It's fair to say Real Madrid are not best pleased with how the transfer has worked out, particularly given the fee they paid to acquire Hazard less than two years ago. In fact, Mundo Deportivo claim Real Madrid could sell Hazard this summer in a bid to recoup at least some of the large fee they spent on the former Chelsea star. Though, it's clear Los Blancos are not going to make back anywhere near as much as they spent with the Belgian's value dropping significantly in recent months. Hazard's lack of action has seen his value tumble with CIES Football Observatory suggesting Real Madrid might have to take around £42million. Transfermarkt, meanwhile, have claimed the 30-year-old is now only worth £36million, dropping from £135million from the point of his move to the Spanish capital. Though, even at the start of this season, Hazard's value had dropped to £54million following last season's injury trouble. The drop in value will be crushing for Real Madrid, but it might present an opportunity for Chelsea, who could get Hazard back and make a profit of £61million in the process, and that doesn't even include add-ons.