Chelsea

Chelsea host Palace in opener, published at09:03 16 June

Chelsea will host Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the 2021-22 Premier League season.

The match is to take place on the weekend of 14-15 August.

Chelsea, who lifted the Champions League in May, beat Palace 4-0 in the corresponding fixture last season.

Chelsea's full fixture list

Crystal Palace's full fixture list

All the reaction to Wednesday's fixture announcement

Kante takes talent to 'maximum level' - Fabregas, published at16:25 15 June

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N’Golo Kante's drive to take his talent to the "maximum level" sets him apart from other players, says his former Chelsea team-mate Cesc Fabregas.

Kante is expected to play a key role for France at Euro 2020, with their opening game of the tournament against Germany taking place on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old, capped 46 times, helped his country win the World Cup in 2018.

“He’s got that engine that nobody has in football, he takes care of it and takes advantage of it, which is very, very important,” Fabregas told the Daily Euros podcast.

“He knows exactly what he is, who he is and the energy he brings to the table is fantastic.”

Listen to more from Fabregas (from 38’39) and the full episode of Daily Euros on BBC Sounds

Transfer news: Trio linked with Spanish teenager, published at12:38 4 June

Barcelona are ready to sell Spanish midfielder Ilaix Moriba, 18, amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)

Olivier Giroud, 34, is set to choose AC Milan when his Stamford Bridge contract with expires. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)

Fiorentina are interested in signing the Blues' French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, 26, on loan this summer. (Fabrizio Romano on Twitter)

Read more transfer news in Friday's full gossip column

Chelsea trio in final England Euros squad, published at18:04 1 June

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Mason Mount have been included in England's 26-man squad for the European Championship.

There has been debate around the right-backs available to manager Gareth Southgate, but James, who has six caps, is one of four named in his final squad.

Chilwell has made 14 international appearances, while Mount has scored four goals in 16 games for his country.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, defenders Ben Godfrey and Ben White, midfielders Jesse Lingard and James Ward-Prowse, and striker Ollie Watkins were the players to be cut from the provisional 33-man list.

Follow all the reaction to the England squad announcement

Pick your England starting line-up

Mount up for Premier League award, published at16:06 1 June

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Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has been nominated for the Premier League's player of the season award.

The 22-year-old, who started the Champions League final victory over Manchester City, is up against City's Kevin de Bruyne and Ruben Dias in the eight-man shortlist.

Mount, who scored six goals in 36 league appearances, helped Chelsea claim a top-four spot on the final day of the domestic campaign.

Read more and see the full list of nominees

Transfer news: Blues to battle Man Utd for £70m Varane, published at13:22 1 June

Chelsea and Manchester United are both willing to meet Real Madrid's £70m asking price for 28-year-old France defender Raphael Varane, and both will double his wages. (Defensa Central - in Spanish)

Winning the Champions League triggered an automatic extension clause in Blues manager Thomas Tuchel's contract. (The Athletic - subscription required)

Meanwhile, AC Milan want to sign Chelsea's France striker Olivier Giroud, 34, when his contract expires at the end of June. (Goal)

Want more transfer rumours? Read Tuesday's full gossip column