Round-up: Zola returns and Bees accept Jozefzoon offer
Chelsea have confirmed Gianfranco Zola’s return to the club as Maurizio Sarri’s assistant.
Zola, 52, is regarded as one of Chelsea’s finest-ever players, having helped them win the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup, Super Cup, two FA Cups and the League Cup during his seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
Zola said: “For me it is an amazing thing. I am very willing to work hard because it is going to be a difficult challenge but I am pleased to be here, and to work hard with Maurizio to be successful.”
Sarri wants Blues stars to stay
Sarri says he would like Chelsea to keep their best players but admitted the matter could be out of his hands.
There is speculation over the futures of several Blues stars, including Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Willian and N’Golo Kante.
Speaking at his first media conference since replacing Antonio Conte as head coach at Stamford Bridge, Sarri said: “Clearly we would always want to keep all our strongest players.
“This is what any manager wants to do and what any club wants to do. But then we will have to see how the transfer market will go over the next few days.
“I want to clarify that I am more of a field manager than general manager. I don’t want to talk about the transfer market and am not that interested in it. Our task as managers is growing the players we have.”
Youngsters in Chelsea’s tour squad
Goalkeepers Marcin Bulka, Jared Thompson and Bradley Collins are among the youngsters included in Chelsea’s 25-man squad for the club’s pre-season trip to Australia.
Chelsea will play Perth Glory in a friendly on Monday – their first match under Sarri.
Chelsea squad: Marcin Bulka, Jared Thompson, Bradley Collins, David Luiz, Ethan Ampadu, Fikayo Tomori, Michael Hector, Tomas Kalas, Marcos Alonso, Emerson, Davide Zappacosta, Ola Aina, Cesc Fabregas, Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ross Barkley, Mario Pasalic, Jorginho, Kasey Palmer, Pedro, Lucas Piazon, Charly Musonda, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Alvaro Morata, Tammy Abraham.
Derby’s Jozefzoon offer accepted
Brentford have accepted an offer from Derby County for Florian Jozefzoon.
West London Sport recently revealed that the Bees had rejected a bid from Derby for the Dutch winger and that Leeds were also interested.
Leeds remain keen, but Derby appear set to sign Jozefzoon after having an improved offer accepted.
Furlong a doubt for Germany trip
Darnell Furlong is a doubt for QPR’s pre-season trip to Germany because of a knee problem.
Speaking to West London Sport, assistant manager John Eustace was quick to play down the significance of the injury after Furlong went off early in the second half of Saturday’s friendly at AFC Wimbledon.
However, Furlong is due to be assessed on Thursday morning and now seems increasingly unlikely to feature against Hoffenheim this weekend.
The defender, 22, missed almost three months of last season with a knee problem.
Meanwhile, QPR have appointed Aaron Harris, previously an academy physiotherapist at Tottenham, as the club’s new head physiotherapist.
Fulham keen on Mbabu
Fulham are interested in signing former Newcastle right-back Kevin Mbabu from Swiss club Young Boys.
The 23-year-old joined Newcastle in 2013 and made just three league appearances for the Magpies before returning to his native Switzerland.
