Blues set for £40m transfer boost, Lampard to have Rudiger talks

PSG interested in out of favour Chelsea midfielder

Paris Saint-Germain are exploring a potential £40million bid for Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, according to Le10 Sport.

Such a significant windfall could help the Blues in their pursuit of West Ham United’s Declan Rice. Chelsea’s big spending this summer has made a late move for Rice difficult, so the club may look to offload players on the periphery of the squad.

Bakayoko is one of them, having spent the last two seasons on loan at Milan and Monaco.

PSG sporting director Leonardo has reportedly identified the Frenchman as a target after ending interest in Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Lampard opens up on Rudiger and Hudson-Odoi futures

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has given an update on the futures of Antonio Rudiger and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Both players have been linked with an exit in the final two weeks of the transfer window, with neither in the starting XI for the opening two Premier League games of the season. And Lampard has claimed he is “open to conversations” with Rudiger and Hudson-Odoi.

“It remains to be seen,” he said. “We’re not in a period where the transfer window or market is acting like it has done in recent years in terms of how players move or what level they move at.

“Again the competitive games have just started. I’m very open to those conversations with the players as the next couple of weeks go on.

“My priority will always be making sure I maintain and keep the strongest squad I can for this club but after that of course the individual conversations will happen within that.

“I will try and make sure I go into the season once the window shuts with the squad that I feel is healthy and competitive in a healthy way.”