One should always be wary of reading too much into friendlies but it's clear that some clubs - and players - are in better shape than others ahead of the big kick-off...
Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher have heavily questioned Chelsea's transfer strategy after the club surprisingly signed veterans Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck. Manager Xabi Alonso has shifted the club's transfer focus, but the pundits are extremely sceptical about the real impact of the ageing duo.
Como head coach Cesc Fabregas is looking to further exploit his connections at Stamford Bridge by launching a move for another Chelsea star. Having already secured the signing of Trevoh Chalobah from his former club, the Spanish icon has now set his sights on out-of-favour forward Liam Delap.
For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is once again proving to be busy, with some huge names making big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.
Coventry boss Frank Lampard is reportedly plotting an ambitious raid on his former club Chelsea as the Sky Blues prepare for life back in the Premier League. After previously identifying Mykhailo Mudryk as a transfer target, the Stamford Bridge legend has now set his sights on highly-rated defender Josh Acheampong for the final weeks of the summer transfer window.
Fenerbahce have released a blistering official statement to deny any interest in Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens, accusing media outlets of attempting to manipulate the club. The Turkish giants took the unprecedented step of labelling recent transfer reports as "artificially created agendas" as the Super Lig window approaches its conclusion.