Crystal Palace are looking to sign Chelsea ace Olivier Giroud in the January transfer window. The French international is said to be frustrated with how things are working out for him at Stamford Bridge. His lack of action under Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is pushing the former Arsenal and France international to make a dash to the other side.
Chelsea have rejected a £20 million bid from Crystal Palace for Reece James. The Blues deemed their highly rated academy graduate as an important player that will have a vital role in the future.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has said that he is under the impression that Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi wants to be part of the Eagles’ squad next season.
Chelsea ensured they would finish a below-par 2018 with three points as they squeezed past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, beating them 1-0.
Chelsea survived Crystal Palace’s comeback as a brace from Alvaro Morata and a Pedro goal meant Andros Townsend’s second-half equaliser had little impact.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was one of the breakthrough success stories of the Premier League last season. In an attempt to get more experience, the 22-year-old joined Palace on loan during the summer of 2017 from Chelsea. Not many would have anticipated the success that was to follow, but the youngster played a starring role in keeping the Eagles in the top flight and ended up also earning a place in the 23-man England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Former England and current Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has backed youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek to become a “top player” at international level.
Saturday’s late kick-off could have been a banana skin for Chelsea as Crystal Palace made the trip to Stamford Bridge. However, the Blues didn’t allow that to happen with a narrow 2-1 win, thanks to Willian’s opener and a Martin Kelly own goal. Patrick van Aanholt scored in the dying minutes but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
Chelsea succumbed to their third defeat of the season as Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace picked up a deserved home win and their first Premier League points of the campaign.