Chelsea Round-Up: Talks with England international; legend set for return; £18million bid rejected

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Tuttomercato Web and Metro are among the sources quoting Tuttosport as stating that Chelsea held secret talks with England number one Joe Hart ahead of the transfer window closing in January. With speculation surrounding the future of Thibaut Courtois, it is understood that Hart is being sounded out as a potential replacement.

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The Torino loanee will now have to wait until the end of the season with none of the parties in a rush to complete a deal before the deadline passed this week, but a summer deal could still be a possibility.

Brazilian source Globo believe that Didier Drogba has turned down a big-money move to Brazilian side Corinthians as he is targeting a return to Stamford Bridge to take up a coaching role within Antonio Conte’s set-up behind the scenes. The news comes after the 38-year-old left Montreal Impact in the MLS.

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Drogba is just the latest former Chelsea hero to be linked with a coaching role at the club, following in the footsteps of Frank Lampard, but that role is yet to materialise despite the announcement of his retirement yesterday. Whether Drogba is truely set for a third stint in London will be discovered over the coming weeks.

Eddie Howe has confirmed that their attempts to bring Nathan Ake back to Bournemouth on deadline day were rebuffed by the Blues as he revealed:

“We had discussions with Chelsea. We made an enquiry about bringing him back on loan or permanently. They were denied.”

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Ake was recalled from a loan spell on the south coast earlier last month but has barely featured since his return, with his only start to date coming in the FA Cup victory over Brentford last weekend when he played in an unusual left wing back role.

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