These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Cahill linked with Aston Villa return

The Sun is reporting that Gary Cahill could be heading back to the club where he began his football career when he leaves Stamford Bridge this summer after linking him with a return to Aston Villa.

The Chelsea club captain becomes a free agent this summer and is looking to remain in the Premier League with Burnley mentioned as a possible destination.

However, Villa have emerged as a contender for the 33-year-old defender after winning promotion to the top flight through the play-offs. Villa manager Dean Smith is looking at centre-back options as Tyrone Mings and Axel Tuanzebe are set to return to Bournemouth and Manchester United after the end of their loan spells at Villa Park.

A move to Villa may appeal to Cahill as he was a youth player at the club and played his first Premier League game for them as a 20-year-old in 2006.

He would also be in line for a reunion with John Terry, his former partner in the Chelsea central defence, who is now an assistant manager at Villa.

Villa are also reportedly interested in former Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran, who worked with Smith when he was manager of Brentford. The 26-year-old is out of contract at the west London club and is another free transfer Villa are eyeing.

Drogba sends support to Cech

Didier Drogba has taken to social media to send a message of support and to applaud his former Chelsea team-mate Petr Cech after the goalkeeper played his last match in the Europa League final.

The Arsenal goalkeeper was on the wrong end of a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of his former club in Baku as he brought the curtain down on his brilliant 20-year career in which he saw so much success while playing alongside Drogba for the Blues.

‘I love you legend Petr Cech,’ Drogba posted on Instagram.

‘Most successful goalkeeper in the Premier League and pretty sure it will take long, so long before someone else beat his clean sheet record.

‘It breaks my heart to see you in tears, I know how much you wanted to win this one to finish your career on a high. Merci my hero.’

Fabregas to get a Europa League medal

The Daily Mail is reporting that Cesc Fabregas will be sent a Europa League winners' medal after watching his former side lift the trophy in Baku on Wednesday.

The Spaniard left Stamford Bridge in January to join Monaco but he played in five of our games during the group stage, assisting on a goal during the 4-0 win over PAOK and captaining the team in our 2-2 draw at Vidi.

He was at the final as a BT Sport analyst and after completing his television duties, he joined his former team-mates in the dressing room to celebrate the win and have his photo taken with the trophy.

Pirlo could have been a Chelsea player

Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo has told the Daily Mail that he could have become a Chelsea player a decade ago if not for his age.

The former playmaker spent most of his career in Serie A, winning multiple titles at AC Milan and Juventus but in an extensive interview, he said that he had two opportunities to join Premier League clubs which ultimately fell through.

'I had the chance to come (to the Premier League) with (Carlo) Ancelotti to Chelsea and with Manchester City when I went to Juventus,' said the 40-year-old.

'Chelsea said that I was very old - 30 years old! And the other time I preferred to come to Juventus.

'For sure it would have been a fantastic experience but I'm happy that I decided to stay in Italy.'