Chelsea star rejects new contract offer – wants £200,000-per-week

Chelsea star Edouard Mendy has rejected a new contract offer because he apparently wants £200,000-per-week. It seems that part of the reason for disenchantment is due to his counterpart Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mendy has a place in Blues fans’ hearts, Champions League and all. Though the incredible heights he was producing in displays have clearly diminished over the past year or so. I admire the goalkeeper as a man and as an athlete, yet you can see why Arrizabalaga has replaced him during the current campaign.

And the fact that his Spanish teammate reportedly earns twice as much him has supposedly displeased the Senegalese. Mendy has apparently declined a new six-year deal with the Blues as he wants to be paid the same wages as Arrizabalaga. While head coach Graham Potter believes the issue to be between CFC and Mendy, this situation may eventually have an affect on the squad or the goalkeeping department in general.

Premier League returns as Chelsea take on Bournemouth – but who are the Cherries’ danger men?

Bournemouth are possibly the best shout for the ‘surprise package’ of the EPL this season. And I promise you, I mean that as a genuine compliment. Surpassing Everton and Aston Villa were highlights, along with testing even better opponents than that in the meantime.

Gary O’Neil should be wholly commended for his perseverance; this level of competence can only achieved via talent and intelligent. To go from assistant, to caretaker manager and then being given the job full-time following results and performance in around only a year and a half is a wonderful achievement.

Yes, the South Coast side are only 14th in the English top-flight, but have a zestful style that entertains neutrals and regularly threatens, challenges and pushes even top teams. There are some impressive attacking talents at Vitality Stadium, such as Kieffer Moore, Philip Billing, Dominic Solanke and Jaidon Anthony. Those are the Cherries’ top goalscorers this campaign, incidentally.

The previous five competitive encounters between the two clubs have ended exactly even: two wins each, with a draw balancing the equilibrium. As Chelsea have slid to an unacceptable eighth position in the division, Potter cannot afford to lose this one against a recently promoted outfit, regardless of how decent they are. Nor can the Englishman oversee defeat to AFCB at Stamford Bridge, or displeasure will be coming from all angles and potentially turning vitriolic.