Chelsea’s friendly against Drogheda United called off at the last minute over coronavirus scare

CHELSEA’S friendly with Drogheda United was called off at the last minute on Thursday evening due to a Covid-19 scare over a Blues’ player. The Champions League winners rocked the Irish top-flight side with the news shortly before the behind-closed-doors clash in Dublin. The Athletic say a Chelsea star tested positive for Covid-19 as Thomas […]

CHELSEA’S friendly with Drogheda United was called off at the last minute on Thursday evening due to a Covid-19 scare over a Blues’ player.

The Champions League winners rocked the Irish top-flight side with the news shortly before the behind-closed-doors clash in Dublin.

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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel saw their game against Drogheda in Dublin called off shortly before the scheduled kick-off[/caption]

The Athletic say a Chelsea star tested positive for Covid-19 as Thomas Tuchel’s men spend their third day at their training camp just outside the Irish capital.

And it’s the latest coronavirus setback for Premier League clubs ahead of the new season.

Arsenal shut their London Colney training ground last week for a deep clean before the Gunners’ USA tour was cancelled.

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Manchester City are both being linked with Barcelona whizkid Ilaix Moriba.

The Spanish midfielder, 18, has been removed from Ronald Koeman‘s first-team squad until his contract situation is resolved.

Moriba’s contract runs until 2020 and he is thought to be unhappy at Barca’s tough stance – alerting Prem giants.

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But the Blues have lost a starlet of their own in England youth international Lewis Bate.

The £1.5million midfield prodigy, also 18, opted for Leeds, despite reported interest from Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton.

It’s thought Bate was worried about a possible lack of first-team chances at Stamford Bridge.

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Three Lions’ striker Tammy Abraham could follow Bate out of Chelsea.

Arsenal are the frontrunners for the 23-year-old, ahead of Tottenham and the Hammers.

Abraham is tipped for a season’s loan, ahead of a £40m permanent switch next summer.

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