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Ledley King puts rivalry aside to make interesting Chelsea claim

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Tottenham legend Ledley King has put his rivalry aside to make an interesting claim about the current Chelsea team.

There’s never a dull moment at Chelsea, particularly with all the chaos under the current owners in the last couple of years, but it feels like things could be about to settle down.

Enzo Maresca picked up the reigns in the summer as the latest Blues manager, and he’s made a pretty solid start to silence some doubters.

Speaking via Sky Sports earlier this month, Moises Caicedo shared Chelsea’s target is a top four finish this season. They sat fourth in the division table over the recent international break, but now they travel to in-form Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Ledley King discusses Chelsea

Ledley King, the one-club man, is a retired defender who spent his entire club career with Spurs. We’re sure he’ll be desperate for his former side to do well this season.

However, it’s interesting to hear him speak so glowingly about rivals Chelsea. In particular, he suggests that the Blues look like a safe bet for the top four spots this year.

King said on the Seaman Says podcast: “Chelsea look quite impressive, definitely going forward they look good… Chelsea, in terms of top four, they look top four material at the moment.”

Blues attack can fire them to the Champions League

While Chelsea’s defence is still a work in progress, what we’re seeing from the attack should encourage the entire fanbase.

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So far, the Blues are scoring for fun this season, including 16 goals in seven Premier League games. The goals are coming from various different sources, too.

It’s fantastic to see that Cole Palmer hasn’t lost his golden touch in the final third, with six goals and five assists already in the league. However, the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke look so lethal as well.

We’re optimistic that this talented young group can be right in the mix for the top four. In terms of competition, there’s top sides in the division to try edge out with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Spurs.

Ledley King shares he’s a really big fan of £100k-a-week Chelsea defender

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Tottenham legend Ledley King has admitted that he’s actually a big admirer of Chelsea’s first-team defender.

The current Chelsea squad has pretty much two quality options per position, including in the defence.

We’re still waiting to see the backline find its consistency this season, though. So far, the Blues have conceded eight goals in their opening seven Premier League matches.

Interestingly, GiveMeSport claimed this week that Chelsea want to sign someone who can play both centre-back and right-back.

If Enzo Maresca’s men want to be challenging towards the top end of the table this year, surely they’ll need to tighten up a bit defensively.

Ledley King rates Levi Colwill

Ledley King, the former Spurs and England defender, has just delivered a positive verdict on Chelsea’s Levi Colwill. Interestingly, he’s rated the 21-year-old Blues centre-back for a while, and suggested he’s a candidate to start for England in the long-term.

King told Seaman Says: “I’m a fan of Colwill. I seen him a few years back playing for the Under-21s and thought he was going to be the next guy [for England]. Left-footed as well.”

Levi Colwill is only on the up

There’s no doubt in our mind that Colwill is on a very steep upwards trajectory.

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At the age of 21, Colwill has now established himself this season as a key starter in Chelsea’s defence, playing in his favoured centre-back position. He covered well at left-back last year at times for the Blues during his development, but he looks at home in the heart of the backline.

Him and Wesley Fofana are building a solid partnership at centre-half which will only keep improving. Incidentally, speaking via Chelsea’s YouTube channel recently, Noni Madueke claimed Fofana and Colwill suit playing together.

Colwill played in one of England’s two games during this month’s international break, the 2-1 defeat at home to Greece in the Nations League tie. In fairness, the £100,000-a-week central defender (Spotrac) was one of the rare Three Lions players that played fairly well for their country.

It’s very exciting that Colwill is a homegrown talent for the academy and now such an important player for the first-team side.

Gus Poyet shares who is more likely to finish in the top four – Chelsea or Tottenham

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Gus Poyet has been speaking about two of his former clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur and their chances of finishing in the top four this season.

Chelsea and Tottenham will both be challenging for the Champions League places, with the former making quite a good start to the campaign.

Enzo Maresca‘s side currently sit in fifth, just one point behind Arsenal, who are occupying the final Champions League spot.

Chelsea will try to move up the table when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Following Christopher Nkunku’s hat-trick against Barrow on Tuesday, Dean Saunders thinks Maresca could have a problem going into the game.

The Italian may now have to choose between Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, who is also in good form after his brace away at West Ham United last weekend.

Gus Poyet explains why Chelsea can finish above Tottenham this season

In the last campaign, it was Tottenham who finished above Chelsea after securing fifth place.

The Blues, meanwhile, came sixth and had to settle for the Conference League following Manchester United’s victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

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This time around, because of all of the attacking talent Chelsea have, Poyet thinks they are more likely to finish in the Champions League places than their London rivals.

“At this stage I would say Chelsea, just,” Poyet told Vavel when discussing the subject. “I think they have the more younger and talented players who can get the team into the top four.

“I think more quality in depth is going to help Chelsea and with the likes of Palmer, [Jadon] Sancho, Jackson and [Noni] Madueke picking up good form, this could be good for Chelsea. Spurs will be a threat, but Ange [Postecoglou] has to adapt his tactics to who he plays.”

Chelsea signed Sancho from United on deadline day, and the winger has already made an impact for his new club after registering two assists in his first two games.

Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has described Sancho as “intelligent”, especially when compared to other wide men.

Will Chelsea finish above Tottenham?

Chelsea really improved their attack by bringing in Sancho, Pedro Neto and Joao Felix in the summer.

They now have that on top of Palmer, Jackson, Nkunku, Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk. Tottenham also strengthened their forward line by signing Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.

Solanke impressed for the Cherries last season, scoring 19 goals in 38 Premier League appearances. However, compared to Chelsea, Tottenham just do not have the same quality. Ultimately, then, you would back Maresca’s men to finish above Spurs and perhaps inside the top four.

‘World-class’ striker reportedly wants to join Tottenham, Chelsea should be ready for a hijack

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It is quite clear that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur could both do with a new striker.

It is not the strongest area in Chelsea‘s squad right now, with the Blues finishing last season with just Nicolas Jackson in terms of natural centre-forwards in the first team.

As for Tottenham, they have not really replaced Harry Kane following his move to Bayern Munich last year.

Viktor Gyokeres remains an option for Tottenham and Chelsea, but another top centre-forward is also available.

It looks like he wants to join the former, but the latter really should consider making a move for him this summer.

Ivan Toney wants to join Tottenham

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been linked with a switch to Chelsea in recent months, but he appears to be eyeing a move to Tottenham right now.

According to talkSPORT, Toney is hoping that Spurs come forward and make an offer for his services before the transfer window closes.

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The 28-year-old was not at his best last season and missed half of it because of his eight-month suspension.

In total, Toney only made 17 appearances in the Premier League, managing just four goals along the way. Even so, Chelsea should still consider rivalling Tottenham for his signature if their London rivals decide to make a move for him this summer.

Ivan Toney a ‘world-class’ striker

Toney is still a top centre-forward, scoring 32 goals in his first two Premier League campaigns with Brentford combined.

In fact, his manager Thomas Frank has gone as far as to label the England international as a “world-class player” in a post-match interview with TNT Sports last season.

Now into the final year of his contract, the Brentford star looks very attainable as well. Ultimately, it would be a bit foolish for Chelsea to allow Toney to join Tottenham this summer when they need a striker themselves.

Tottenham keen to beat Chelsea to signing of ‘unstoppable’ attacker this summer

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Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to beat London rivals Chelsea to the signing of one winger this summer.

Chelsea and Tottenham could scuffle over Viktor Gyokeres during this transfer window. The Sporting Lisbon forward was in deadly form last season.

In total, Gyokeres scored 43 goals in 50 appearances. However, the 26-year-old is not the only player Chelsea and Tottenham could go toe-to-toe for.

More arrivals at Stamford Bridge look likely, with the former still after a winger after missing out on Michael Olise, who recently joined Bayern Munich.

To sign one wide man who they are reportedly interested in, though, it looks like they may have to see off competition from Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham and Chelsea interested in Federico Chiesa

With Chelsea still in the market for a new winger, Juventus’ Federico Chiesa is the man they could turn to.

According to Calciomercato.it, Chelsea are interested in Chiesa, who is thought to be valued at €25m (£21m).

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However, the same outlet claims that Tottenham are also keen on the Italian and that they are preparing an offer to beat their fierce London rivals to his signature.

Earlier this month, it was claimed that Chiesa would be offered to Premier League clubs. It now looks like a couple of them have bitten.

Giorgio Chiellini on Federico Chiesa

Giorgio Chiellini’s words on Chiesa should excite Chelsea supporters as their club register an interest in the former Fiorentina man.

Chiellini actually thinks Chiesa is unstoppable, saying as much in an interview at the end of last year.

Speaking to Stats Perform (via beIN SPORTS) about Chiesa, the Juventus and Italy legend said: “He’s not the type of player that links the team, like a number 10, not a player that likes to have the ball and connect passes with team-mates, but one against one, he’s unstoppable.”

Over the last year, Chiesa has ranked in the 97th percentile for progressive carries and the 84th for successful take-ons among forwards (FBref). When the Italy international is fit and at it, he can be quite a terrifying attacker.

Why Tottenham are now willing to pay more money for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher than before

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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Conor Gallagher from their London rivals Chelsea this summer.

With his contract running down, Conor Gallagher could very well be available for a transfer. Tottenham, however, face competition from Atletico Madrid for the Chelsea man’s signature.

Diego Simeone wants Gallagher at Atletico as the Argentine looks to strengthen his midfield following Saul Niguez’s loan move to Sevilla.

Atletico are unlikely to be the only problem for Tottenham, though. Gallagher’s price tag also looks like an issue for the north London club.

How much money do Chelsea want for Conor Gallagher?

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham only wanted to pay £35m for Gallagher last year. Fast forward to now, and they are willing to offer more than that it seems.

The same outlet has claimed that they are prepared to go slightly above that number this transfer window because of the 24-year-old’s form.

Even at £40m, though, it does not look like Spurs will be able to sign Gallagher. GiveMeSport’s report says Chelsea want in excess of £50m for their midfielder. There is still a chance of Gallagher signing a new contact at Chelsea, too.

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But with Gallagher’s contract set to expire next summer as things stand, you suspect clubs like Tottenham and Atletico are not going to want to pay that kind of money for the Englishman. You would have to question if the latter even have the funds to do that kind of deal.

Should Chelsea sell Conor Gallagher to Tottenham for £40m?

After the season he had, Chelsea should be looking to keep hold of Gallagher. He was such an important player for the team, making 50 appearances in all competitions.

However, his contract is running down and that is a problem. Therefore, if the England international does not sign a new one and Tottenham make a £40m bid for him, then it is an offer that should be accepted.

£40m for a midfielder who they could lose for nothing next summer is decent business. And after bringing in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, Enzo Maresca has a very similar footballer to Gallagher in his squad.

Anything less than that, though, and Chelsea should turn it down and consider retaining Gallagher regardless of what his contract situation looks like.