Chelsea has sent Ross Barkley to Aston Villa on a season-long loan.

"Capturing a player of Ross's quality is a real coup for our club, and I am certain he will thrive here and improve our team," Villa boss Dean Smith said.

Barkley failed to make the starting lineup in any of Chelsea's opening Premier League matches against Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool or West Bromwich Albion. Last season he made 13 appearances in the Premier League, scoring three and assisting four goals.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been dropped by Chelsea in favor of Willy Caballero but Frank Lampard insists he still has a future with the club.

Chelsea also bought Edouard Mendy from Rennes for approximately £20 million.

Kepa has been ridiculed for a series of high-profile mistakes.

"I certainly won't go to the point of [saying] he's played his last game for Chelsea," said Lampard.

"I think it has been a difficult time for Kepa. That's been well documented. I know it, he knows it, but we certainly shouldn't jump to that conclusion.

"Also, [something] which I felt quite strongly about in the last week, is to understand that Kepa is a young man and an awful lot of the highlight or spotlight on him has become slightly unfair.

"I have to protect him because I know he is a good lad and playing with absolute professionalism and intent to do the best he can, as all the squad have done. That's all I want to say about him now."

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Real Madrid on a loan deal for Gareth Bale.

Bale earns a basic £600,000 a week and sources close to him have said he would be unwilling to take a pay cut.

Bale spent six seasons at Spurs before his world-record sale to Real Madrid.

Manchester United are also interested in Bale.