“The only conversation I had was that I’d play in the Club World Cup for Chelsea, and after that, we’ll see what happens,” he told the Daily Mail, as cited by The Standard.

Chelsea have lit the blue touchpaper of the transfer market by securing Ipswich Town’s star striker Liam Delap for $40m, beating rivals Manchester United and Newcastle to his signature.

The Club World Cup in the United States, which will feature Lionel Messi, has priority over internationals and reflects the importance of the Fifa event, as historically precedence has been the other...

"To get the opportunity to play that kind of competition is a big chance for the boys," Giroud said. "We need to grab the opportunity."