Lewis Hamilton CONFIRMS Chelsea takeover bid, Real Madrid ‘expect to complete Rudiger transfer’ – latest updates
LEWIS HAMILTON has confirmed that he is part of Sir Martin Broughton's consortium who are bidding to buy Chelsea.
But the Stevenage-born F1 icon also admitted that he is an ARSENAL fan, thanks to the influence of his sister.
Hamilton commented: "When I was young, I used to play football as a kid around the corner and I really wanted to fit in. I was the only kid of colour there.
"All the kids supported someone different and I remember switching between these teams and when I'd get home my sister would basically beat me, saying you have to support Arsenal!
"At five, six years old I supported Arsenal but my uncle Terry is a big Blues fan, so I've been to so many games with him to watch Chelsea and Arsenal play."
Meanwhile Real Madrid are said to be confident of signing out of contract Antonio Rudiger after the Blues centre-back reportedly dropped his wage demands.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the takeover in our live blog...
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Antonio Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic are both out of Chelsea’s tough clash with West Ham.
Rudiger is suffering with a groin problem, while Kovacic has ligament damage.
Thomas Tuchel confirmed: “For Sunday’s match, not back. Both of them not back. Also, no other injuries.”
Elsewhere, Juventus are reportedly hunting summer deals for THREE Chelsea stars.
Gazzetta claims Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho and Marcos Alonso are all wanted by Max Allegri.
Rudiger looks set to leave on a free transfer in July, while ageing Alonso and Jorginho are out of contract in 2023.
In other news, Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he is a big fan of both Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams after the pair joined Sir Martin Broughton’s Chelsea bid.
Tuchel said: “I just heard it, I just got a briefing and heard that they are part of it (Broughton’s bid).
“I can tell you not more but I am a big admirer of both of them.”
Hamilton revealed that he’s got big plans for Chelsea if Broughton’s bid is successful.
The Brit declared: “Firstly, we are trying to acquire a team and move it forwards. This is a team, it’s all about the community.
“That’s what really makes a football team, it’s the people in and around it.
“They’ve been quite leading in their work in diversity and inclusivity and becoming more diverse and progressive.
“So it’s not that we’re associating ourselves with previous owners, our goal is to continue some of the work that they’ve already done and have even more of an impact and engage more with the community.”
And finally, Tuchel can’t get his head round Chelsea’s poor home form recently.
Tuchel said: “It’s unusual and I don’t know what it is.
“If it was just the one thing, we would switch dressing rooms or take another hotel.
“But that would maybe be more superstition than anything else.
“I have no solution but it’s also not the level that we want to produce in home games. It’s a bit fragile at the moment.”
Moyes gets praised by Tuchel
David Moyes is doing an incredible job at West Ham.
That's the opinion of Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who reckons the Hammers have become dangerous under Moyes.
Speaking ahead of the Blues' match against the Hammers, he said: "“I think he (David Moyes) is doing an incredible job in a very popular club and very emotional club, a team together.
“A group with a coach that is enjoyable to watch. We follow the Europa League games, and I follow a lot of their games because it is nice to watch with a full investment physically.
“There is a lot to take care of. A lot of physicality and commitment to stand up against them. Full credit to them, the game will be tough.”
Chelsea fan explains Azpilicueta bust-up
The Chelsea fan who became embroiled in a pitchside dust-up with Blues skipper Cesar Azpilicueta has revealed he wanted to ask his captain where the fight had gone.
Simon Kerr, a logistics manager, told SunSport: “I know I wasn’t aggressive or abusive - and you can ask the three people I was standing next to in the crowd and the stewards who were there.
“I didn’t berate him at all or shout. All I did was extend my arms asking what had happened and why we hadn’t shown any fight in London derby.
“You could see he was angry but I don’t think he understood what I was saying, which is why I beckoned him across.
“I’ve read a load of nonsense about me swearing at him and him swearing at me - and that simply didn’t happen."
Ziyech in World Cup blow
Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech will miss out on going to the World Cup with Morroco.
Morroco's manager, Vahid Halilhodzic, is fed up with Ziyech and said: “The player who refuses to train, who refuses to play.
";Who fakes injuries, for me it’s a finished story,."
Chelsea team of season shock
Not one Chelsea player is on the EA Sports Premier League Team of the season nominee list.
Fans will decide on who makes the cut with the team to be announced and released in-game on May 6 at 6pm.
But the only Blues representative on the list is Crystal Palace loanee Conor Gallagher.
Drogba's Ivory Coast hopes dashed
Didier Drogba's hopes of becoming the new head of Ivory Coast football look set to be dashed on Saturday - despite widespread backing by fans.
But while Drogba has the support of the African confederation Caf, as well as influential backing from Fifa’s high command and fan groups, he is the outsider in today’s vote.
Drogba was criticised by his two rivals, Sory Diabate and Idriss Diallo, for missing a final televised debate on Wednesday.
Both Diabate and Diallo are current FIF executives.
Drogba, who has an ambitious programme for the development of the game in his homeland, has received backing from fans and the likes of Yaya Toure.
But with the election decided by the votes of 76 clubs and five “interest groups”, it seems that the delegates are preparing to ignore the popular will of supporters and back one of the in-house candidates.
Arsenal urged to sign Rice
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has urged the club to break the bank and bring West Ham star Declan Rice to the Emirates.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport via , Frimpong said: “I would like to have Declan Rice.
“He’s a very good player, improved a lot and shown a lot of maturity for his age. He’s done really well for West Ham, I’m a huge fan of his.
“A midfield of him and Partey would be a very strong midfield partnership. I’d also like another left-back to compete with [Kieran] Tierney.
“I feel like we’re really struggling in that department at the moment.
“I’d also want us to sign a striker – there aren’t any that come to mind that are realistic signings at the minute, but that’s one position we really need to strengthen.”
Chelsea loss predicted
Mark Lawrenson reckons Chelsea will lose to West Ham this weekend.
“Chelsea were extremely vulnerable at the back against Arsenal on Wednesday, which was strange to see.
“Afterwards, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel blamed the pitch for some awkward bounces, but I don’t buy that. That might have been an excuse in the 1970s or 1980s because surfaces could be terrible then – but not now.
“West Ham have got a big game to look forward to next Thursday, with their Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, but they will benefit from having a rare midweek off before this game.
“David Moyes’ side had started to look a little bit leggy but the rest will do them good. They have already taken points off Chelsea this season when they beat them at London Stadium in December, and I think they will have some joy here too.”
Rudiger 'keen' on Juve transfer
Antonio Rudiger has got his eyes set on a move to Juventus if things don't work out with Chelsea.
Rudiger's Chelsea contract ends this summer and the club are yet to reach his wage demands.
And Sports Witness claims the German would prefer a switch to Juve if the Blues don't cough up the cash to keep him at Stamford Bridge.
However, PSG and Real Madrid are also hot on Rudiger's heels, the report states.
Hamilton reveals Chelsea plans
Lewis Hamilton has unveiled his plans for Chelsea - should his takeover bid be successful.
"Firstly, we are trying to acquire a team and move it forwards. This is a team, it's all about the community.
"That's what really makes a football team, it's the people in and around it.
"They've been quite leading in their work in diversity and inclusivity and becoming more diverse and progressive.
"So it's not that we're associating ourselves with previous owners, our goal is to continue some of the work that they've already done and have even more of an impact and engage more with the community."
More from Merson
Paul Merson believes Chelsea's players downed tools against Arsenal and some of them will be given the boot this summer.
Merson told the Daily Star: "But Roman Abramovich isn't around any more while they wait to get taken over - and Tuchel won them the Champions League.
"He is a great manager and I like him. He is frustrated. I think his players let him down against Arsenal.
"His fringe players came in and played as if they were thinking: "Why am I only playing in this one and not the bigger games?" instead of: "I'll show you.
"This is my chance, I'm going to take it. Some of those players won't be at the club for long after that, trust me."
Merson on Thomas Tuchel
Paul Merson reckons Thomas Tuchel's lucky to still have a job after some of the revelations he's made this season.
And Merson claims ex-Blues boss Frank Lampard would've been sacked earlier if he had made the same gaffes as Tuchel.
He said to the Daily Star: "Lesser managers than Thomas Tuchel would have been sacked by Chelsea for saying some of the things he has this season.
"First, he said the tie was over when they lost at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League - and that he didn't know what to do about it."
Declan Rice rejects contract offer
Declan Rice has reportedly rejected a third contract offer from West Ham.
And the England midfielder is open to a transfer away from the London Stadium, according to The Guardian.
The news will be welcomed by Prem giants Chelsea and Man United who are both keen on Rice.
Tuchel's lost for words
Thomas Tuchel can't get his head round Chelsea's poor home form recently.
Tuchel said: "It's unusual and I don't know what it is.
"If it was just the one thing, we would switch dressing rooms or take another hotel.
"But that would maybe be more superstition than anything else.
"I have no solution but it's also not the level that we want to produce in home games. It's a bit fragile at the moment."
Lukaku was given warning
Romelu Lukaku was warned not to leave Inter Milan for Chelsea because he was seen as a king at the San Siro.
The warning was issued by former Inter Milan star Radja Nainggolan.
Nainggolan told BeIN Sport: "I told him he was wrong to leave Inter, he was the king there.
"He was perhaps the best striker in the world. But he couldn’t say no to the club of his heart.”
Tuchel on Hamilton's Chelsea bid
Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he is a big fan of both Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams after the pair joined Sir Martin Broughton's Chelsea bid.
Tuchel said: "I just heard it, I just got a briefing and heard that they are part of it (Broughton’s bid).
";I can tell you not more but I am a big admirer of both of them."
Juventus line up three Blues
Juventus are reportedly hunting summer deals for THREE Chelsea stars.
Gazzetta claims Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho and Marcos Alonso are all wanted by Max Allegri.
Rudiger looks set to leave on a free transfer in July, while ageing Alonso and Jorginho are out of contract in 2023.
Rudiger and Kovacic still missing
Antonio Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic are both out of Chelsea's tough clash with West Ham.
Rudiger is suffering with a groin problem, while Kovacic has ligament damage.
Thomas Tuchel confirmed: “For Sunday’s match, not back. Both of them not back. Also, no other injuries.”
Gallas questions record Lukaku signing
William Gallas admits he’s at a loss to explain why Chelsea paid a record £97.5million fee to re-sign Romelu Lukaku.
He told : “I don't understand how a player like him has lost his confidence. He doesn't score goals.
“When he plays, he doesn't play well. I'm not talking about the transfer and the money, I'm talking about the player and his performance.
“He should do better and he doesn't perform. For me he doesn't need time to adapt to Premier League football. I don’t understand why Chelsea bought him.”
Tuchel shouldn’t be blaming pitch
William Gallas has laughed off Thomas Tuchel’s claims that Chelsea’s PITCH was to blame for the 4-2 defeat to Arsenal.
Gallas told : "If the pitch wasn’t good, it wasn’t good for both teams. Come on, don’t make that excuse. You just have to say, ‘okay, we lost 4-2, we didn't play well’.
“Arsenal were better than Chelsea, so don't try to find any excuses because that excuse, as I said, about the pitch, it was for both teams.
“Maybe Tuchel needs to try to be a little bit more realistic and maybe the system with three at the back wasn’t good against Arsenal.”
Gilmour set for Rangers return
Billy Gilmour could be heading back to Rangers this summer.
90min claim the Scots are keen on re-signing the young midfielder as a replacement for Steven Davis.
Gilmour came up through the Gers' ranks before his move to Chelsea.
But he is unlikely to feature for the Blues next term after a poor spell at Norwich.
Nainggolan’s Chelsea warning to Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku's national teammate Radja Nainggolan has told the striker: You've made a huge mistake going back to Chelsea.
Nainggolan said: "I told Romelu that he has made a bad decision in leaving Inter. There he was the king, and perhaps the best striker in the world.
"But he was unable to say no to the club he loved. This is the third time that he has gone to Chelsea - and the third time that it hasn't worked for him.
"He says that the team was built around him, but that the system hasn't worked. So the coach [Tuchel] has opted for other, smaller players who run around a lot.
“And the results have come as a consequence. Had he stayed at Inter, with a team built around him, he would have remained among the world's best strikers for another four or five years."
Rudiger set for Real switch
Real Madrid are confident they will land Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger after he lowered his wage demands.
Marca claims Real are set to win the race for the German defender following negotiations over his finances.
Rudiger is now prepared to accept a wage in line with Real’s budget.
It’s reckoned Rudiger’s arrival would see David Alaba move to left-back, making Real’s defence even more watertight.
Hamilton excited about Chelsea takeover
Lewis Hamilton has spoken about his involvement with tennis legend Serena Williams in Sir Martin Broughton’s £2.5billion Chelsea takeover.
The self-confessed Arsenal fan said: “Ultimately, I'm a sporting fan - it's the biggest sport in the world and Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world and most successful.
"When I heard about this I thought, 'Wow'. This is one of the greatest opportunities to be a part of, so great.
"She (Williams) is a phenomenal athlete and woman. We spoke about it and she asked me my thoughts and I told her I'd be a part of it, and she was excited to join.
"We were contacted and Sir Martin took time to speak to me on the phone and explain his and his team's goals if they were to win the bid, which was incredibly exciting and it very much aligned with my values."
