Good afternoon everyone and welcome today’s Chelsea press conference coverage.
The Blues are back in action this weekend in Buckinghamshire as they take on Milton Keynes Dons in the FA Cup.
Guus Hiddink is due sit down with the media at 1.15pm this afternoon to preview the fourth-round clash but there will be plenty more on the agenda than just Karl Robinson’s side.
We’ll have all of the latest gossip on Alexandre Pato, Matt Miazga and more as we hurtle towards transfer deadline day.
January Transfer Window
Key Events
Key points from Hiddink
Well there we have it folks, an enlightening 15 or so minutes with the Chelsea boss at Cobham.
He’s moving onto the written section of the press conference now so our broadcast here must end.
But let’s have a quick recap of the treasure trove of information we’ve just learned.
- Matt Miazga is signing and will be a squad player when his deal is finalised and the manager will assess his qualities in training
- Alexandre Pato is in London and will be joining on loan but the move to Chelsea has been held up by paperwork
- It is too early for Hiddink to make a call on the long-term future of John Terry but he is happy with the captain’s displays
- Bertrand Traore is in the squad for Sunday’s game despite all of the talk surrounding a potential transfer ban for the Blues
- Loic Remy is injured and Chelsea are going to wait and see whether he moves on before the transfer deadline
- The FA Cup remains a priority and is one of three objectives Hiddink still has remaining
FA Cup is an objective for Guus
Hiddink won the FA Cup during his first stint as Chelsea interim boss.
This weekend sees him face MK Dons as the Bucks side stand in the way of his route to Wembley again.
And the Dutchman sees the trophy as one of three key objectives for Chelsea this season.
Pato move not a gamble
It’s not a gamble because coming on loan let’s us see if he can adapt to the demands.
We’ll give him all of the help we can.
If you buy players who must make the next step then it’s more of a risk.
We’ll see if the club is happy with him in the upcoming months.
He cannot be fully fit yet.
Traore in MK Dons squad
Chelsea are facing a possible transfer ban over a deal involving Bertrand Traore.
The Burkina Faso star will be in the squad to face MK Dons though.
Pato will be given time to settle
A Brazilian journalist has just compared Pato to Romario.
It’s a claim that Hiddink doesn’t think is valid yet but he does rate the incoming striker.
Hiddink says: “If you see the record of Romario, that was a long time ago.
“If you compare the records he still has a long way to go.
“We give him all the time in the world to settle to the very demanding league and then it’s up to him to make this gap smaller.
“He was a promising younster (in Milan) and it was nice to see a stylish players.
“After that he did not have a big step in Europe, he went to Brazilian, and now he can make a brave step in England.
“We will help him to get fit.”
Hiddink waiting on Remy
Hiddink has been asked again about Remy.
The Dutchman dodged the last question about the Frenchman by saying he was injured.
However, this time he gives a little bit more away and says the injury will have no impact on whether he moves or not.
“We’ll see in the next hours what happens,” says Hiddink.
Cahill still loving it at Chelsea
More questions about Cahill.
Hiddink: “He was very open and very clear he wants to stay in this club.
“He’s very happy here but of course not playing gives a bit of frustration.
“There was no hint from his side that he could leave.”
Matt Miazga on his way
We’re not rushing but he will be one of the squad members for the future.
Young guy, stepping up to the national team.
You can see what players are capable of in training.
Pato, it’s good to have him on loan so you can see what he can bring.
He (Miazgo) is a promising player.
Paperwork holds up Pato deal
Hiddink has been speaking about transfers, confirming there is a delay in a move for Pato.
But he hopes to have him on the pitch in Chelsea colours soon.
He said: “Pato is in London. He was well spotted.
“There are no secrets. He’s now in the process of paperwork.
“We won’t rush it and soon he can go on the pitch.”
Loic Remy is also being linked with a move away but Hiddink says he’s injured.
Chelsea want to keep Cahill
There are rumblings that Gary Cahill could want to leave Chelsea.
He is reportedly worried about his spot at Euro 2016 but Hiddink has spoken to him to reassure him he’s a key player at Chelsea.
Hiddink: “I talked to him a few days ago about the situation, which I like to do always with key players.
“He’s of big importance and will be.”
Looks like he’ll be staying then!
Terry and Costa are key
Diego Costa has been bang in form and that’s pleasing for Hiddink.
Hiddink: “I don’t know what he did in the previous 20-plus games but I’m very pleased with him now.
“I pleased with his efficency. We are perhaps depending on him too much but he’s a key figure for us.
“He’s very nice to everyone here outside the pitch. He’s of huge importance.”
Hiddink adds of John Terry’s future: “Regarding his future in relation to Chelsea. We have to wait and see.”
Hiddink is here
Guus Hiddink is here.
Transfer deadline day is looming and Chelsea are expected to conclude deals for Alexandre Pato and American international defender Matt Miazga before Monday night’s cut-off point.
Hiddink will be bringing us right up to date with all the comings and goings in west London and team news with Diego Costa expected to shrug off a niggle to continue in attack against MK Dons.
Stay tuned for more.
Ramires waves goodbye
It’s not just players coming in at Stamford Bridge and a popular face this week left the club.
Chelsea have confirmed the sale of Ramires to Chinese side Jiangsu Suning.
The Brazilian leaves for a fee in the region of £25million and that fee represents a tidy profit on the £17million the west Londoners paid Benfica to sign the player in 2010.
Ramires, who we revealed was close to an exit earlier this week , only signed a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge in October but has fallen down the pecking order under Guus Hiddink.
He was left out of the squad for Sunday’s win at Arsenal in the London derby and had seven Premier League appearances to his name this term.
Ramires leaves having helped the Blues win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Europa League during his time with the club.
In total, the tireless workorse made 251 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 34 goals, and will be bossed by former Blues defender Dan Petrescu in the Far East.
Samba star under the microscope
Alexandre Pato looks set to sign for Chelsea - but are they getting a player with bags of potential, or one who peaked too soon?
Well, his FIFA ratings seem to suggest that he might be a star on the decline - and they’re always right, aren’t they?
Back in the days of FIFA10, Pato was riding high with an overall rating of 87 according to FIFA community site Futhead.com.
It’s not too hard to see why either.
He scored an average of 0.5 and 0.4 goals per game for the Rossoneri in the two seasons prior to FIFA10’s release. He was also occasionally dubbed the new Kaka/Ronaldinho/Zico, as is customary with young and talented Brazilian forwards.
In 2011-12 Pato’s performances started to wane, scoring just four goals in 18 appearances, an average of 0.2 a game for Milan. In 2012-13 he scored twice in seven appearances before moving back to Brazil with Corinthians for a reported £12m.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Chelsea target Alexandre Pato.
Pato move hits a snag
Alexandre Pato has also passed a Chelsea medical but his move from Corinthians appears to have hit a late snag.
Pato landed at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday and spoke of the move being a dream and how Chelsea was his new home.
According to Sky Sports, the former AC Milan striker has agreed terms but the clubs are still negotiating over a loan fee and that development has held up the completion of the deal.
Chelsea will pay the whole of the Brazilian’s 30,000-a-week wages but it is the initial payment to his parent club which is proving a stumbling block, although it is not expected to scupper the move.
MLS starlet swapping the Big Apple for the Bridge
New York Red Bulls centre-back Matt Miazga is expected to complete his Chelsea transfer later today.
The 20-year-old MLS star underwent a medical last night and is now set to tie up the loose ends of his £3.5million switch from the States.
Miazga turned down the offer of a new contract in the Big Apple before Christmas and is available at a knockdown price as he enters the final 12 months of his deal at the Red Bull Arena.
A senior US international, Miazga also holds Polish nationality, meaning he won’t need a work permit to move to the Premier League.
Papy Djilobodji’s departure for Werder Bremen frees up a space in Guus Hiddink’s first-team squad and Miazga is likely to remain with the Blues for the remainder of the campaign.
Welcome folks
Welcome today’s LIVE Chelsea press conference coverage.
The Blues are back in action this weekend in Buckinghamshire as they take on Milton Keynes Dons in the FA Cup.
Things are starting to look a lot better at Stamford Bridge under Guus Hiddink and he is looking to win football’s oldest knockout competition for the second time as Blues boss.
He is due to sit down with the media at 1.15pm this afternoon to preview the fourth-round clash but there will be plenty more on the agenda than just Karl Robinson’s side.
Transfer deadline day is looming and Chelsea are expected to conclude deals for Alexandre Pato and American international defender Matt Miazga before Monday night’s cut-off point.
Hiddink will be bringing us right up to date with all the comings and goings in west London and team news with Diego Costa expected to shrug off a niggle to continue in attack.
Stay tuned for more as we await the arrival of the Dutchman at Cobham.