Chelsea's January transfer targets: Romelu Lukaku, Angel Di Maria linked with Stamford Bridge move

Chelsea go into October's international break seventh in the Premier League table having already suffered defeats to both Arsenal and Liverpool.

Antonio Conte spent more than £100m in the summer on N'Golo Kante, Michy Batshuayi, Marcos Alonso and the returning David Luiz - but who else might be on their radar as they bid to turn themselves back into title contenders?
With the help of our friends at Football Whispers, whose unique algorithm tracks the likelihood of deals being done, here are seven transfer targets for Chelsea in the January window.
1.
Thorgan Hazard
Current club: Borussia Monchengladbach
Position: Attacking midfielder
2.
Leonardo Bonucci
Current club: Juventus
Position: Central defender
Linked by: Sportmediaset 
3.
Ben Davies
Current club: Tottenham
Position: Left-back
4.
Alessio Romagnoli
Current club: AC Milan
Position: Centre-back
5.
Antoine Griezmann 
Current club: Atletico Madrid
Position: Forward
6.Angel Di Maria 
Current club: PSG
Position: Forward
7.
Romelu Lukaku
Current club: Everton
Position: Forward

Club Brugge 0-3 Leicester: Leicester cruise to first Champions League win

Leicester City cruised to a debut victory in the Champions League as they beat Club Brugge 3-0 at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday night. 

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri made two changes from Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, handing a debut to club-record signing Islam Slimani, but it was a familiar face in Marc Albrighton who gave the champions of England a dream start in Bruges.
The former Aston Villa midfielder ghosted in unmarked at the back post inside five minutes to volley home Luis Hernandez's long throw before Riyad Mahrez doubled Leicester's lead just shy of the half-hour mark with a sublime free-kick from the edge of the box.

Mahrez then helped himself to a second from the penalty spot 16 minutes after the break, converting after Jamie Vardy had been upended in the box by Brugge goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle to ensure Leicester took all three points back to the East Midlands.

Jose Mourinho tried to sign Paul Pogba for Chelsea in 2015, says agent Mino Raiola

Jose Mourinho tried to sign Paul Pogba for Chelsea in 2015, the player's agent Mino Raiola has revealed.

France star Pogba signed for Mourinho at Manchester United in a world-record £89m deal this summer and Raiola believes United's gain is every other top club's loss.
Real Madrid also wanted Pogba but were soon priced out of the move along with "five or six other clubs" according to Pogba's representative.

Raiola said: "Mourinho already wanted to bring him to Chelsea last summer, but it was not the right time.
"Zidane wanted him at Real Madrid, but five or six other clubs were after him too. Manchester United now are stronger thanks to Pogba, but Real Madrid are not."
Pogba was part of the France team that lost in the Euro 2016 final to Portugal, as reports of United and Real Madrid's interest and a possible departure from Juventus intensified.

But Raiola insists he did not speak to his player about a potential transfer during the tournament in France.
"I never spoke to Pogba about the transfer market when he was taking part in Euro 2016, then he went on vacation because he was very disappointed by the final," he said.
"So I went to meet him in Miami to get him up to speed. He explained to us what he wanted. Manchester is his home."

Chelsea's £30m bid for Alessio Romagnoli rejected by AC Milan

                                Alessio Romagnoli made 34 appearances for AC Milan last season

Chelsea have seen a £30m bid for centre-back Alessio Romagnoli rejected by AC Milan, according to Sky in Italy.

It is understood the Serie A club do not want to sell the 21-year-old Italy U21 international in this window.
Romagnoli joined Milan for £21m last summer from Roma, making 34 starts in the Italian top-flight last season, and the country's press have even compared him to some of the great Milan defenders such as Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva.

Mario Mandzukic tops Chelsea's list after Romelu Lukaku interest ends

Romelu Lukaku has opted to stay with Everton, so Chelsea will move on to the next target it seems with less than two weeks left to get business done.

Their winning start to the Premier League season has come with a common theme: Two strikers paired together as the Blues searched for a win. Therefore the acquisition of another striker appears vital with only Loic Remy left behind Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi.

The People suggests that Conte can raid his former club Juventus for a fraction of the fee it would have cost to prise Lukaku away from Everton, with Mario Mandzukic targeted in a £25 million move to bolster their front line.

Chelsea negotiating James Rodriguez's €70m departure from Real Madrid

Chelsea are in negotiations over the €70 million purchase of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid, according to Sport. However, there are disagreements between key figures within the European champions' hierarchy about whether they should sell the Colombia international.

Diego Costa took just 19 minutes to fall foul of new Premier League laws

When the Premier League announced they would be cracking down on dissent during the 2016/17 season, most football fans thought two things.
1. Thank goodness footballers who are disrespectful towards referees will now ACTUALLY be punished with a yellow card.
2. Well, that's Diego Costa up a certain flavour of creek without a paddle.
At times, Chelsea's 'combustible' striker appears to spend more time moaning at referees than attempting to score goals. Whether he feels he's been fouled/abused/breathed on, the 'fiery' Spaniard tends to have some grievance with the officials - and he's not afraid to voice it.