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The Chelsea players returned for pre-season training on Saturday, July 7, so did manager Antonio Conte despite the obscurity that surrounds the club and his job.
The deal for incoming boss Maurizio Sarri has not been sorted out and the Blues are yet to announce new signings as the confusion, ambiguity and unrest among the fans, players and others involved keeps dragging on.
On that note, here are the top transfer stories of the day pertaining to Chelsea:
#1 Manchester United to launch Willian bid
Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward is ready to submit a bid for Chelsea Winger Willian, Express UK sources understand. The Brazilian has been a primary transfer target for manager Jose Mourinho as he looks to fill the gap in his vacant right wing slot.
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Willian's future has been unclear this summer as he has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Barcelona also emerged in the race for the 29-year-old's signature as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez urged manager Ernesto Valverde to bolster their attacking firepower.
Willian is tied to Chelsea for another two years but fell out of favour last campaign under Antonio Conte and played a string of matches coming off the bench. The Brazil international responded to the Barca rumours and claimed that he was unsure about his future too.
It looks highly likely that the winger is doomed for a move away from West London and the Blues could be intent on utilizing this situation in their favour and raise their asking price.
#2 Batshuayi attracts Sevilla attention
Michy Batshuayi's career at Chelsea has been topsy-turvy as he has been unable to convince manager Antonio Conte and failed to sustain a significant role in the lineup in the last couple of years.
He's one of the many players rumoured to leave Stamford Bridge this transfer window and according to Goal, Sevilla is the latest suitors interested in the Belgian striker. Despite playing the bulk of his games as a substitute, Batshuayi has scored 19 goals for Chelsea in his two-year spell.
The 24-year-old was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, where he enjoyed a successful campaign scoring seven goals in 10 Bundesliga appearances before injury wrecked his stint and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Everyone is anticipating the departure of Conte and Batshuayi's stay may rely on the hands of the new manager but presently, his future in West London looks very hazy with a move away from Chelsea apparent on the cards.
#3 Chelsea receive Fulham threat for Seri
The unresolved issues at Chelsea this summer has delayed and halted transfer activity as rival and foreign clubs have joined the hunt for their targets.
Similarly, the latest contender to emerge is Fulham, who have entered the race to capture Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, the Daily Star claims. The Ivorian has only 12 months remaining on his contract and has a £35 million release clause that will expire on July 15.
However, the signing can only be completed until the current managerial situation is settled at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea's interest in Seri remains very concrete.
The 26-year-old operates in both central and defensive midfield and is possibly eyed as a replacement for N'Golo Kante as the Blues welcomed a serious interest in the Frenchman from Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Seri was on the verge of joining Barcelona last year but the deal fell through as the terms related to the transfer fee could not be met by both clubs.
#4 Johnathan Panzo secures Monaco move
The Sun reports that highly rated Chelsea youngster has completed his move to AS Monaco in a deal that is expected to be worth £2.5 million.
The mastermind behind the negotiations has been Michael Emenalo, the former Chelsea and now Monaco technical director, who has lured Panzo to make the switch to Ligue 1. The 17-year-old was an essential figure in the Blues success last campaign as they held the U18 Premier League title and FA Youth Cup.
Similarly, he was also part of the U17 World Cup Winning England squad in 2017 and is widely regarded for his versatility in defence as he owns the ability to play both as a centre-half and a left-back.
Panzo had less than a year remaining on his Chelsea scholarship and has followed other English youngsters by making a move abroad in search of first-team opportunities.
Will Manchester United secure the signing of Willian? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
