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Asmir Begovic becomes Chelsea’s second major signing of the summer. The Stoke ‘keeper has joined the Blues on a four year deal, following in the footsteps of Radamel Falcao who signed a year long loan deal at the start of the month.

Mark Hughes and Stoke City had hoped to keep hold of the Bosnia-Hercegovina international, who had one year left on his contract at The Britannia Stadium. However the lure of the Premier League champion’s was too much for Begovic, who goes to Stamford Bridge in full knowledge of the fact that he will be Chelsea’s second choice stopper.

Begovic said, “I have loved my time at Stoke but feel I had to take this opportunity to continue to develop and challenge myself as a player. I am very happy to be joining Chelsea. After speaking at length to the manager, I feel like I can develop here and be an important part of this team. I am looking forward to meeting up with the team on Wednesday for the pre-season tour”.

Begovic will take the number 1 shirt that was vacated when Petr Cech left the club to join their North London rivals Arsenal. Stoke, meanwhile, have signed Shay Given to replace him as their experienced number 1, with Jack Butland likely to take over between the sticks at the Potteries.

Although it is considered to be a separate deal to the one that took Begovic to Stamford Bridge, Marco van Ginkel has headed to The Britannia on a season long loan and the deal almost certainly helped to smooth the gears for the goalkeeper’s transfer.

The 22 year old Dutchman got a knee injury not long after signing for Chelsea from Vitesse Arnhem that severely limited his chances at Stamford Bridge. He spent last season on loan at Milan in order to improve his fitness, making 18 appearances for the Rossoneri.

Stoke have paid a £1 million loan fee to sign the midfielder, but the way Chelsea structure their deals means that that amount will lessen with each appearance that the youngster makes for the Potters next season.

The fee for Begovic is rumoured to be around the £8 million mark, and Jose Mourinho will be pleased to bring in such an experienced and talented goalkeeper to act as a back up to his first choice stopper Thibaut Courtois.

Mourinho is known to give his second string a fair crack of the whip during League Cup games and matches that are of less importance to Chelsea’s overall season – such as dead rubber Champion’s League games – so, though he is unlikely to be the Blues’ number 1 ‘keeper unless Courtois gets injured, Begovic can be confident of making a number of appearances for the Stamford Bridge club.

Brentford FC are set to sign a 22 year old midfielder from Chelsea for around £750,000. Josh McEachran made his debut for the Blues in 2010 when he played in a Champion’s League game against MŠK Žilina, coming on as a substitute. He made history by becoming the first player to be born after the competition started in its rebranded format to take part in it.

Having joined Chelsea’s youth academy as a 7 year old, McEachran signed a 5 year contract worth around £2 million a season on July 15th 2011. It was hoped he’d go on to become one of the club’s best homegrown talents. His opportunities have been limited over the last few years, however, with loans to Swansea City, Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan Athletic and Vitesse helping him gain experience in recent times.

McEachran made 22 appearances for Chelsea, with his final one being a brief 6 minute spell in a game against Wolves when Andre Villas-Boas was manager. He made 21 appearances at Vitesse last season and their manager Peter Bosz was keen to take him on loan again this time around, but Chelsea’s decision to sell him has removed that option.

Brentford, who finished 5th in the Championship last season, are keen to build on their good league campaign last time around. Marinus Dijkhuizen, who took over as head coach after Mark Warburton’s departure, has offered McEachran a four year contract. He will become the club’s fifth signing, and the deal is expected to be announced later this week.

Italian Club Fiorentina are considering taking legal action against Mohammed Salah after it emerged that the Chelsea winger is refusing to return to the club for a second spell on loan.

Fiorentina signed the Blues wide man on loan in January as part of the deal that saw Juan Cuadrado head to Stamford Bridge for £23.3 million. The loan was originally supposed to run up until 30 June, but the Italian club declared in January that they had the option to extend the loan deal into the 2015-2016 season, plus they had an option to buy the Egyptian if they felt he did well for them.

The problem is that the winger has decided he wants to join another club and has refused to attend pre-season training, as well as rejecting an improved contract offer from the Serie A team.

Salah came to Chelsea from Basel in January of 2014 in an £11 million move. He signed a five and a half year deal, having scored 5 goals in 29 appearances for the Swiss club. At Chelsea he wasn’t able to make quite the same impression, starting just 9 times and netting twice. He was able to get close to replicating his Basel form for the Viola, though, getting 9 goals in 26 appearances during his time in Italy.

Salah’s refusal to head back to Serie A has caused major consternation at Fiorentina, with the club releasing a statement confirming that the matter is now in the hands of their lawyers. How this one pans out remains to be seen, but whatever happens it is unlikely that the winger will still be at Stamford Bridge come the end of the season.

After what seems like weeks of rumours, Chelsea Football Club have finally confirmed the signing of Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco. The striker has signed a year long deal to play for the Blues, with the London club having an option to buy him at the end of the year.

The Colombian hit man spent the 2014-2015 season on loan at Manchester United who also had the opportunity to sign him permanently, but he under-whelmed during his time at Old Trafford, scoring just 4 goals in 29 appareances.

As part of the deal taking Falcao to Chelsea their 20 year old Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic headed in the other direction, joining Monaco for a year long loan.

Falcao was one of the most prolific strikers in the world before a knee injury curtailed his career in January of 2014. It meant he missed out on Colombia’s trip to the World Cup in the same year, and he still hasn’t managed to break back in to the international side with any degree of regularity.

He scored 72 goals over 2 seasons for FC Porto and repeated the feat when he left them in 2011 to join Atletico Madrid, netting 70 goals for the Spanish club. That led Monaco to sign him for £50 million in the summer of 2013.

Mourinho has always been a fan of the striker and declared last month that the Falcao everyone saw at Manchester United was not the real Falcao. It is hoped that, with the loss of Didier Drogba and the fact that Loic Remy hasn’t settled in well at Stamford Bridge, Falcao can provide a solid back up for Diego Costa.

Costa impressed during his debut season with Chelsea, scoring 21 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions and helping to fire the London club to the Premier League title. Yet he only made 26 appearances for the Blues, having suffered from injury himself over the course of the season. It is now hoped that Falcao can get over his own injury nightmare and return to the prolific form that saw him earn that move to Monaco all that time ago.

The player himself said, “I am very happy to be joining Chelsea. I can’t wait to start training, to help with our aim of retaining the league title and being successful in Europe”. He will see some familiar faces in the dressing room at Stamford Bridge, having previously played with Thibaut Courtois, Filipe Luis and Diego Costa at Atletico Madrid.

Mourinho will be delighted with the signing, and whilst Louis Van Gaal felt like it was too much of a gamble to pay a huge price for a player on massive wages who didn’t do an awful lot last term, if the self-proclaimed Special One can get him firing on all cylinders again then it might prove to be an astute gamble from the Portuguese manager.

The deal for Arsenal to sign Petr Cech from Chelsea has finally come to a close, with Arsenal confirming on their website that the Czech international has agreed terms with the London club.

Although Cech has seemed destined to join the Gunners for some time, the deal did seem to be in some doubt when Jose Mourinho confirmed that he’d like his former number one to stay on at Stamford Bridge or, failing that, to join a club that wasn’t a direct rival to Chelsea’s defence of the title.

His pleas fell on deaf ears, however, with Cech moving to North London on a long term contract for an undisclosed fee. Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger is delighted by the capture of the 33 year old, saying, “Petr Cech is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us. He has proven over many seasons that he is one of the outstanding keepers in the world and he will add great strength to our squad”.

Cech was quick to repay the compliment to the Frenchman, telling Arsenal’s official website, “I’m really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can’t wait to join up for pre-season. I have the same commitment to football, the same motivation and the same hunger for success as I had at the beginning of my career, and I love the challenges brought by the top quality players you face while playing in the Premier League. When Arsène Wenger spoke to me about his ambitions for this club, and how he saw me as part of this team, the decision was clear”.

Despite his decision to join one of Chelsea’s fiercest rivals it is unlikely there will be any bad blood felt from Blues fans. Cech made over 400 appearances for Chelsea during his 11 years at the club, winning every major trophy in club competition at least once. From a personal point of view he also won the Premier League’s Golden Glove on 3 separate occasions.

Internationally, Cech has been awarded the Czech Footballer Of The Year trophy 7 times and has received over 100 caps for his country. He currently sits just 4 appearances behind the all-time appearance record holder Karel Poborsky.

Starting his career with Chmel Blsany, Cech moved to Sparta Prague and then Rennes. He joined Chelsea in February 2004, having previously had a trial with the club in 2003. He came in as a fresh faced 21 year old who was prepared to do battle with Carlo Cudicini for the number one spot, with Chelsea having paid around £9 million for him. Cudicini got an elbow injury in pre-season that allowed Chelsea’s new manager, Jose Mourinho, to promote Cech into the first choice ‘keeper’s spot. He kept a clean sheet in his debut game – a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

During his time at Chelsea he won 4 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 2 Charity Shields, the Champion’s League and the Europa League. He only made 16 appearances for the Blues last season, however, and decided it was time to move on, despite having a year left on his contract.

He has now passed a medical with Arsenal and agreed personal terms and will officially sign for the club when the transfer window opens on Wednesday.

Bertrand Traore, the Burkina Faso midfielder that Chelsea signed from Association Jeunes Espoirs De Bobo-Dioulasso at the start of the January transfer window in 2014, has finally been granted a work permit to play for the Blues next season.

Despite being signed in 2014 he wasn’t able to play for Chelsea as he wasn’t granted a work permit, but the Blues reapplied this summer and were successful thanks to the Football Association’s new points based system.

Traore spent last season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, making 36 appearances in all competitions and scoring 19 times. It is thought that he will now join Chelsea’s tour of the United States.

The new points based system was introduced by the Football Association in an attempt to limit the number of non-EU players, but Traore has now been given permission to play in England by the FA.

Traore is seen as one of the brightest stars around, having played for Burkina Faso in three different African Cup of Nations tournaments – his first when he was just 15.

Chelsea’s US tour sees them go up against the New York Red Bulls, Paris St. Germain and Barcelona, amongst others. If Traore makes a good impression then he could find himself part of Chelsea’s squad for the 2015-2016 season, with Mourinho known to give his young players a run out in the League Cup, as well as the early rounds of the FA Cup.

The more likely scenario, though, will see Traore head out on loan to a Championship club in order to gain experience of life in England before he returns to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea currently have 25 players out on loan as it is a system Mourinho trusts to ensure his players get the necessary experience without endangering Chelsea’s progression in the English competitions.

Chelsea’s goalkeeper Petr Cech is reportedly close to leaving Stamford Bridge in order to join their London rivals Arsenal.

Despite Jose Mourinho’s reluctance to let Cech leave his squad for a Premier League rival, the decision seems to have been taken by those above him to allow the Czech Republic international to go to The Emirates.

The 33 year old only played 16 times for the Blues last season, despite having made over 300 appearances for Chelsea since he signed for the club from Rennes in 2004.

But Jose Mourinho brought in Thibaut Courtois last summer, and the 23 year old Belgian became Chelsea’s number one immediately upon arrival. Cech, who has 1 year left on his contract, has decided it’s time to move on whilst he’s still able to attract a top club, and it is felt that Arsenal would be the best move for him.

Cech has won virtually every major honour in the game with Chelsea, including four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three league cups, the Champion’s League and the Europa League.

It is believe that the fee for Cech will be in the region of £11 million, though the two clubs have yet to make an finite agreement. The stopper would become Arsenal’s first signing of the summer, which may lead to either David Ospina or Wojciech Szczesny leaving The Emirates. Arsenal alternated between the two goalkeepers last season as Wenger struggled to settle on a number one, but there’s no doubt that Cech would become his ‘keeper of choice should he made the move to North London.

Having flopped at Manchester United, Radamel Falcao could be forgiven for thinking that his time in the Premier League was over. But Jose Mourinho has reportedly decided to offer him a second chance by bringing him to Stamford Bridge on a lucrative loan deal.

The 29-year-old is currently in Chile, playing in the Copa America with his home nation Columbia, but a loan deal is expected to be announced soon. Falcao scored just 4 goals in 29 appearances for Manchester United, resulting in the Red Devils rejecting a chance to sign him for £43.2 million.

Falcao gained a reputation as one of the fiercest attackers in the world when he scored 72 goals in two season for Porto before following that up with another 70 goals in two seasons at Atletico Madrid, earning him a £50 million move to Monaco.

He was rocked by injury during his time at Monaco, though, and a knee problem meant he was forced to miss out on the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. It was felt during his time at Manchester United that he had never fully recovered from that injury, and that he lacked the pace and sharpness to make a real impression on the fast and furious world of the Premier League.

Chelsea are looking for an experienced striker, however, having released Didier Drogba for the second time. The 37-year-old was welcomed back as a conquering hero when he returned to Stamford Bridge in 2014, having previously hit the penalty that won the Blues the Champion’s League against Bayern Munich in 2012.

He played more games last season than he might have originally anticipated, with Diego Costa picking up numerous injuries throughout the year, but he was only ever going to be at the Bridge for one final fling. So the move for Falcao isn’t a complete surprise from the Portuguese boss.

The potential arrival of Falcao does put Loic Remy’s position at Chelsea under some scrutiny, given that the forward became third choice at Stamford Bridge last season behind Drogba and Costa. The 28-year-old is to seek assurances from Mourinho, whose instinct is to try and keep hold of the striker. Remy will want to play, however, and West Ham, Crystal Palace and Newcastle are all considering making an offer for the Frenchman.

Mourinho is keen to get a deal for Falcao signed off as soon as possible, telling DirecTV Sports, “It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United. If I can help Falcao reach his level again, I will do it”. Expect a deal to be announced soon.

The Premier League fixtures for the 2015-2016 season have been released, with Chelsea kicking off the defence of their title with a home game against Swansea on the 8th of August.

All of the fixtures are subject to change once the TV companies get involved, of course, but for new here’s a look at the fixtures for the season that Chelsea fans will be interested in.

It’s a reasonably comfortable start to the season for the Blues, with games against Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace bracketing a tricky tie away to Manchester City in the season’s second game on August 15th.

Into September and things look slightly more uncomfortable for the defending champions. They have to travel to Goodison Park for a game against Everton, before returning to Stamford Bridge for a London derby game versus Arsenal on September 19th. The month is rounded off with a trip back up North to face Newcastle at St. James’s Park.

October sees two home games in a row against Southampton and Aston Villa, followed by another London derby versus West Ham at the Boleyn Ground. The last game of October will involve the welcoming of a Steven Gerrard-less Liverpool to the Bridge, with the Reds having been the team that formed the guard of honour when Chelsea had won the title in 2015.

November sees just 3 fixtures as things stand, starting with an away trip to play Stoke before the Blues host Premier League new boys Norwich City. Then it’s yet another London derby as Chelsea head to White Hart Lane to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur.

December is, somewhat notoriously, the busiest month of the football calendar and things don’t ease up for Chelsea, with 5 fixtures as things currently stand. They kick off the Christmas period by hosting the Premier League’s other new boys Bournemouth. Then it’s a trip to the King Power Stadium to face the Leicester, the group that ended last season as the in-form team.

A week later and Chelsea host Sunderland on the 19th of December, followed by a Boxing Day fixture versus the final promoted team, Watford. December will be rounded off with a somewhat tasty match versus Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United at Old Trafford just two days after the game against The Hornets.

The new year starts off with a London derby as Chelsea travel for the return leg against Crystal Palace, then it’s West Brom arriving at the Bridge for an evening match on the 13th of January. Everton come to London for a game after that, and January is finished off with an always fun derby versus Arsenal at The Emirates.

February sees the Blues play away against Watford before hosting Manchester United then Newcastle at home. A trip to Southampton will round off the month of Valentines, with Jose Mourinho hoping he’ll be able to send some love letters home from the South Coast.

Games away to Norwich and home to Stoke come before Chelsea travel to Anfield for the return leg against Liverpool. The fixture resulted in Chelsea spoiling Liverpool’s title charge in 2014, so could this match have a say on the title once again this year? Regardless, a match at home to West Ham rounds off Chelsea’s March fixtures.

The penultimate month of the season will see Chelsea play 3 away games, starting with back to trips to Aston Villa and Swansea, followed by a home game against Manchester City. Another match that could have a significant say on where the Premier League title ends up in May. After City have been to Stamford Bridge the Blues travel to Dean Court to face Bournemouth. Then it’s back to London for a home game against London rivals Tottenham.

The title could be won by the time Chelsea are scheduled to travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on May the 7th, or it could all come down to the wire when Chelsea face Leicester on the final day of the season.

Expect matches to move around for Sky and BT, but Jose Mourinho will doubtless be quietly pleased with 5 home games in Chelsea’s opening 10 fixtures, with the away games coming against the likes of West Brom, Newcastle and West Ham.

Petr Cech is not happy playing second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper and is ready to make a decision about his future – after he plays in the Czech Republic’s Euro 2016 qualifying Group A showdown against Iceland on Friday.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal are keen on the 33-year-old Czech international, with Arsenal not entirely happy with last season’s performance from Wojciech Szczesny, and Manchester United likely to lose David De Gea to Real Madrid.

Jose Mourinho made it clear last month that he doesn’t want to lose Cech, who has made over 450 appearances for the Blues, winning 4 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, the Europa League and the Champion’s League during his time there.

Yet when Cech was quizzed whether he had played his last game for the West Londoners on their post-season tour of Australia he said, “I don’t know. I will fly back now and join the national team. Then when the season is over I will weigh up my options and decide. I won’t think about it now. When the decision is made I will tell you”.

The feeling is that Cech would rather stay in London, making Arsenal his more likely destination should he decide to leave the Blues. Yet with Louis Van Gaal likely to lose his first choice goalkeeper from the Manchester United squad, the chances are that the Dutchman will push strongly to sign one of the most successful goalkeepers of the Premier League era.

Cech said, “At the moment it’s all just speculation. I’m not even thinking about it. I’m just going back to join the national team and then I will think about it”. The speculation is rife, though, and The Independent is reporting that he would rather stay in London in order to keep his family settled and happy. The 33-year-old has 1 year left on his contract, and Chelsea are hoping to get a figure in the region of £10 million in any sale of him.