Remy loaned to Crystal Palace by Chelsea

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London (AFP) – France international striker Loic Remy will spend the 2016-17 season on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea, the two Premier League clubs announced on Tuesday.

Remy, 29, has been used sparingly since joining Chelsea from Queens Park Rangers in August 2014, making 46 appearances and scoring 12 goals.

The move to Selhurst Park reunites him with Palace manager Alan Pardew, who was Remy’s manager during the 2013-14 season at Newcastle United.

“This is a very good chance for me and a big opportunity,” Remy told the Palace website.

“It was very important to know Alan Pardew as he is a very good manager and I am happy to be here.”

Remy won the Premier League title and the League Cup in his first season at Chelsea.

But Chelsea’s reliance on Diego Costa meant he rarely featured last season and he would have faced extra competition from new signing Michy Batshuayi had he remained at Stamford Bridge.

The former Lyon, Nice and Marseille striker has won 31 caps for France, scoring seven goals, but has not played for his country in nearly two years.

“Loic has been a target of mine throughout this transfer window and I’m delighted the deal has been done,” Pardew said.

“I brought him to Newcastle so I know what he is capable of and I am convinced he will be a quality addition to our squad as we evolve.”

Remy was the second Chelsea striker to be loaned out on Tuesday after Patrick Bamford moved to Burnley.

He joins former Marseille and France team-mate Steve Mandanda in arriving at Palace for the new season, along with Andros Townsend, James Tomkins and Christian Benteke.

Palace are 17th in the Premier League table and yet to win after the season’s first three games.

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Chelsea Fans Set To Lose Their Sh*t As Club Zero In On Bolton Reject

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Chelsea are finally closing in on signing a defender, after a summer of disappointment in the transfer window.

Antonio Conte only has five defenders to choose from at the minute, and has been priced out of moves for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli.

But they’ve stuck with their Serie A search, and are close to announcing the signing of Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina, according to the Daily Mail.

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The former Sunderland defender will cost them though, with a £23 million fee enough to bring the Spaniard to the Premier League again.

He was part of one of the Italian league’s most feared defences last season, and chipped in with four goals as Fiorentina finished fifth.

The Viola were holding out for a £25 million fee, but the Blues have settled on a transfer that includes add-ons.

Presumably, one of those will be ‘he sticks around for a second season’ after Chelsea’s habit of getting rid of left backs after one season continued this summer, with Baba Rahman heading back to Germany after 12 months.

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Alonso’s arrival will allow Cesar Azpilicueta to move to right back, and Branislav Ivanovic to move into the central position.

Kurt Zouma is also closing in on a return to fitness after a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury, so Conte may be able to manage without another centre back coming in.

Chelsea’s lack of European football may also help them, with one game a week even manageable for the ancient knees of John Terry.

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Liverpool Join Chelsea And Arsenal In Chase For £50 Million Man

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Since taking over as Real Madrid manager in January, Zinedine Zidane has wasted no time putting his mark on the club.

The Frenchman has promoted the likes of Lucas Vasquez and Marco Asensio to the first team, and is picking them ahead of some of the more established galacticos.

One of those that have fallen out of favour at the Bernabeu is James Rodriguez, and Liverpool are the latest team being linked with the Colombian, according to Mundo Deportivo.

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Since arriving in a whopping £63 million move from Monaco in 2014, James has struggled to make himself a first team regular in Madrid, and Zidane will allow him to leave this summer, if a suitable bid is tabled.

Madrid are holding out for a fee around £51 million, which could potentially put off a lot of suitors.

Jurgen Klopp is still looking for improvements, and has inquired about the possibility of signing James, but when you consider how many attacking midfielders Liverpool already have, it’s hard to see why such a fee would be spent on another.

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Maybe the Reds are worried about losing Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in future? Who knows, but it’s clear Klopp is monitoring the 25-year-old’s situation.

Arsenal and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in him, but as we know, it’s hardly likely that the Gunners will pay out that kind of sum, and Chelsea seem more keen on the idea of bringing in another striker.

There’s less than a week to go until the transfer window slams shut, so anyone willing to shell out on James will have to do it quickly, or stick with what they’ve got.

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Chelsea Target Serie A Striker As Lukaku Chase Ends

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As you may know, Chelsea’s pursuit of Romelu Lukaku has ended in defeat.

The Belgian striker won’t be heading back to Stamford Bridge for a second crack at things, after withdrawing his transfer request earlier this week.

That means Antonio Conte is looking at other strikers to provide competition for the likes of Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi, and he’s set to raid his former club for one.

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Croatian Mario Mandzukic is Conte’s latest target, and would cost around £25 million, according to the Mirror.

That sum is a third of the fee Everton wanted for Lukaku, so would represent Chelsea taking the cheaper option – something they don’t normally do.

Although when you consider that Mandzukic is 30 and unproven in the Premier League, maybe it doesn’t seem so cheap.

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The Croatian arrived at Juventus in a surprise move last summer after a year at Atletico Madrid, and scored 10 league goals for the Old Lady last season.

However, he’s behind big money new signing Gonzalo Higuain, wonderkid Paulo Dybala and Euro 2016 penalty flop Simone Zaza in the Juventus forward department, and could be open to working with his old boss again.

Conte feels like he must add another striker to his squad as he bids to win the Premier League at the first time of asking, as only Costa and Batshuayi are available currently.

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And when you consider the rate at which Costa has been picking up yellow cards so far this season, there will be plenty of games where the Spaniard isn’t available.

Looks like the Blues are in for a busy final week in the transfer window.

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Chelsea Man Close To Exit After Season Opener?

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Antonio Conte’s Chelsea tenure got off to a good start last night, but his squad selection raised some eyebrows.

Cesc Fabregas was left on the bench throughout, with even Victor Moses getting a run out ahead of the Spaniard when Chelsea were chasing a winner – which was duly claimed by Diego Costa.

And, according to The Telegraph, that’s because Conte doesn’t see the former Barcelona man as part of his plans for the season, and has offered him to a host of top clubs around Europe.

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Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have all been notified of Fabregas’ availability, as Conte seems happy to pair new signing N’Golo Kante with Nemanja Matic in the Blues’ midfield.

Matic himself has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus – as a replacement for Paul Pogba – but Fabregas looks closer to the exit door after last night’s ommission, and could fill the void left by the world’s most expensive player in Turin.

Fabregas enjoyed a brilliant first season back at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho in 2014, but has since fallen from grace in dramatic fashion.

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He’s now 29, and doesn’t seem to fit in with Conte’s preference for energetic, combative midfielders. Kante will be a regular feature in the Chelsea midfield, and with Matic and Oscar getting picked ahead of him in the season opener, Fabregas could be set for an.

Conte himself has insisted he ‘doesn’t see any problem’ with the midfielder, but that won’t stop the rumours flying and a possible exit being talked about.

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Chelsea bid to continue solid start under Conte

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Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will pit his wits against a familiar face on Saturday as his side travel to face a Watford side coached by fellow Italian Walter Mazzarri.

Conte was recruited by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy partly because of his reputation as a determined and demanding coach, qualities he demonstrated with Italy and Juventus.

The 47-year-old’s animated reaction to Diego Costa’s late winner on Monday in their Premier League opener against West Ham United confirmed that whatever happens during his first season in charge, Conte will lead from the front as he attempts to reverse the decline of last season.

His impact has already been felt, with Costa and Eden Hazard in particular responding positively to the new man’s methods, if that first game is anything to go by.

Centre-back Gary Cahill is clear Conte’s arrival has brought changes in the wake of last season when Jose Mourinho oversaw a disastrous first half of the campaign before Guus Hiddink helped steady the ship.

“He’s added spirit, he’s added organisation and a lot of discipline,” Cahill told the club’s official website.

“Players know exactly what their role should be at each individual time they’re on the pitch.

“He wants to win. You can see how animated he is on the side of the pitch and he’s like that when we’re working. He wants to win, just like the rest of us.”

It will take more than passion, hard work and an energetic celebration or two to steer Chelsea back into title contention although given how badly a league-winning team lost its way last year to finish 10th, creating a new, winning mentality is right up there on Conte’s to-do list.

The manager, though, is also keen to strengthen the squad and hopes to add Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku before the end of this month.

Dinamo Zagreb keeper Eduardo also appears to be on his way to west London with the arrival of the Portuguese likely to trigger the departure of Asmir Begovic.

Mazzarri oversaw a creditable opening-day 1-1 draw at Southampton in his first game in charge since being installed as successor to Quique Sanchez Flores.

Like Conte, Mazzarri does not believe his squad is complete and the club is stepping up its efforts to bring in Sunderland centre-back Younes Kaboul and Juventus winger Roberto Pereyra.

Pereyra is believed to be on the brink of signing a five-year deal and the business could even be concluded in time for the Argentina international to face Chelsea.

They will be without Ben Watson, however, after the midfielder was sent off at St Mary’s just 12 minutes after appearing as a substitute.

Isaac Success, the club’s £12.5 million ($ 16.4m, 14.4m euros) signing from Granada, is again unlikely to feature while he builds up his match fitness.

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Chelsea Eye Coveted Brazilian Starlet As Conte Revamps Squad

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Antonio Conte’s Chelsea rebuilding job could be going better.

He’s been frustrated in the transfer market so far this summer, and has only managed to capture Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante and Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi.

But the Italian manager is about to raid South America to kickstart his spending spree, with Santos midfielder Thiago Maia a target in a £15 million deal.

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The 19-year-old holding midfielder is part of Brazil’s Olympic squad, and will be scouted further by Chelsea chiefs as they look for reinforcements.

They’ve already made contact about the player, so will be ahead of any rival clubs should he attract any more interest while playing in Rio.

Thanks to the weird way contracts seem to work in Brazil, the player himself is due 30% of any transfer fee, meaning he could be set for a £4.5 million settlement if he does move to London. That could probably get you a month’s rent in Chelsea…

Maia’s agent is the infamous Kia Joorabchian, who sprung to fame when he brokered the deal that took Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez to West Ham in 2006, so there may be a prolonged negotiation period.

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Conte is hoping that signing Maia will kick off a busy end to the transfer window for his side, with moves for Romelu Lukaku and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly in the pipeline.

Everton are playing hard ball with Lukaku and holding out for a whopping £75 million fee, and Napoli will make Chelsea pay top dollar for their powerful centre back.

The Blues are ready to bid £40m for the Senegal international, and should they get Lukaku as well, their total spending will be over £150m.

Looks like Conte’s rebuild isn’t coming cheap.

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La Liga Star Urges Chelsea Attacker To Join Him In Spain

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Filipe Luis is a sentimental man.

The former Chelsea left back spent a year at Stamford Bridge, before quickly realising that he loved Atletico Madrid too much to stay in London, and moved back.

And he wants his former team mate Diego Costa to follow his career path, and has urged the striker to rejoin him at the Vicente Calderon next season.

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Atleti boss Diego Simeone is keen for Costa to return to Spain and has been chasing him all summer, but any move is dependent on the Blues signing a replacement striker to lead the line next season.

That man could be Romelu Lukaku, but Everton are playing hard ball over the transfer fee, and it’s holding up the Filipe/Costa bromance reunion.

Speaking about his mate, Filipe said:

[Costa] is the player who gave me the most advice in my career, and I love him like a brother.

We both know that our mutual love for Atletico is a common theme in our relationship. I have no doubts that he would be very happy here.

He has been the best ‘9’ in the world and can be the best again depending on what he does at his club. I always want him on my team, so hopefully I can get back to playing with him.

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Looking at those quotes, it’s in the best interests of everyone involved to reunite Costa and Filipe, as it’s genuinely worrying how much the Brazilian misses his old mate.

We think Filipe needs to realise that if he was playing against Costa, he wouldn’t think twice about getting a swift elbow in the face.

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Chelsea Boss Admits Unsettled Attacker Is Probably Leaving

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Doubts over the future of Diego Costa have been rumbling on all summer.

The controversial forward didn’t have the greatest of seasons last year, and has been linked with a move back to Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone wants his former striker back at the Vicente Calderon, but no one seems to know how close a deal is.

Costa recently posted a potentially cryptic Instagram photo, and it looked like the 27-year-old (yeah seriously, he’s 27) was on his way out.

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And now, new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has added to the rumours that Costa is leaving Stamford Bridge.

Speaking after the Blues lost 3-2 to Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly in Michigan, which was watched by over 105,000 people, Conte said:

I can say that today Costa is a Chelsea player.

He didn’t play in these games because of injury and if he solves the injury and I see in training that he is in good shape it can be possible to see him in the next game against Milan.

But I can say only this. I speak only for today and today Costa is Chelsea’s player. Tomorrow if you ask me if Costa will remain with us, I don’t know.

So that’s the Chelsea boss openly saying he doesn’t know where his player’s future lies, which basically translates as he’s close to a move back to Spain.

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The quotes are especially interesting given Atletico have just signed Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla for €32m, which you’d think would seriously damage the budget for a bid for Costa.

But it looks like even that signing has not killed a potential return off, and Atletico could soon have one of their former stars back on their books this summer.

Premier League defenders can breathe a sigh of relief…

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Chelsea Fan Favourite To Be Sold After Failing To Impress Conte

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Antonio Conte’s Chelsea rebuild is in full swing, as the Italian clears some dead wood from his squad.

Diego Costa is being linked with a move back to Atletico Madrid, there are plenty of doubts over Nemanja Matic’s future, and now another Blues midfielder is set to be shown the door.

Brazilian playmaker Oscar has become a fan favourite during his time in west London, but is set to leave after Conte was less than impressed with his work rate.

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It’s an accusation that has followed Oscar for the last few years – former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho also found the talented 24-year-old lacking at times.

Conte was unimpressed with his man after Chelsea’s 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in America on Saturday, as he turned in another lethargic display.

The former Internacional midfielder has been interesting Inter Milan, and will be allowed to leave if the Italian giants can stump up the £30m asking price.

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After the game, Conte was asked if Oscar has a place in his squad, to which the Italian boss replied:

All 29 players are Chelsea’s players at the moment. After this period I speak with my club.

I agree after this tour to see all the players and then to take a decision. When we finish this period I will take the right decision for the player and for the club.

There are players who will stay and others will go. This is football. It is important to be clear with all.

My aim is to become a team on and off the pitch.

To reach our target at the end of the season.

My experience in my career as player and manager teaches me if you want to fight for the title you must be a team on and off the pitch. It’s very important.

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It’s clear that Conte sees teamwork as an important trait, and Oscar arguably doesn’t fit in with the style.

Another who has fallen short of standard is Baba Rahman, who is set to join Schalke 04 on a season long loan, just a year after joining Chelsea for £20m.

Looks like Conte doesn’t mind making big decisions quickly.

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