Chelsea are set to lock horns with their old boss Frank Lampard when they get their Premier League campaign underway at Everton on Saturday night.
Current Blues chief Thomas Tuchel has been desperately trying to strengthen his squad in the transfer market, with defensive reinforcements the top priority after the Londoners lost the services of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen earlier this summer.
Although transfer activity has been slower than expected, the Blues are finally on an even keel following Todd Boehly's takeover of the club and attention can now turn to the new domestic campaign, where Tuchel will be bidding to improve on last term's third-placed finish. Here are the latest headlines from Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel drops transfer hint
As the Blues close in on a deal reportedly worth around £60million for Brighton full-back Marc Cucurella, Tuchel has made it clear that there will be plenty more outgoings as well as incomings before the transfer window slams shut.
A host of senior players, including Ross Barkley and Michy Batshuayi, have been told that they have no future at Stamford Bridge and have not been handed squad numbers for the new Premier League campaign.
Kenedy and Billy Gilmour have also been snubbed from the list of squad numbers that was released by the Blues, while Levi Colwill, who was also not handed a number, is poised to join Brighton on a season-long loan deal as part of the Cucurella transfer.
Aubameyang stance emerges
Barcelona are ready to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Chelsea - just seven months after they rescued the Gabon star from his Arsenal hell.
Aubameyang has made a big impression at the Nou Camp after being frozen out by Mikel Arteta at the Emirates and remains a key part of Xavi Hernandez's plans at Barcelona. However, the club hierarchy would sanction an exit to free up funds after the club acquired long-term target Robert Lewandowski earlier this summer.
And that could open the door for Tuchel to swoop for the man who starred under him during his stint in charge at Borussia Dortmund.
Boehly lauds Chukwuemeka coup
Boehly has hailed Carney Chukwuemeka as one of Europe's "most exciting young players" after the 18-year-old sealed a £20m switch from Aston Villa.
The England youth star has penned a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge after failing to agree fresh terms with Villa - and Boehly has wasted no time in talking up the talented teenager.
He told the club's website : "Carney is one of the most exciting young players in Europe so we are really looking forward to seeing him in action at Stamford Bridge. We are delighted to be able to bring him to Chelsea and add such a talented young individual to our squad for the new season and beyond."
