تحدث أحمد فتوح، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، عن احتمالية انتقاله إلى صفوف الأهلي، ورحيل أحمد سيد زيزو عن الأبيض.
وقال فتوح في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “هذه طبيعتي ولن أتغيّر، أنا عنيد وعصبي جدًا، طارق السيد دائمًا ينصحني بالزواج، لكنني أؤجل هذا الأمر حاليًا، أشعر أنه قد يجلب لي النكد، لذلك أحب الجلوس وحدي، أشعر أنني عصبي في كرة القدم، ولا أريد أن يكون هناك أمران يثيران عصبيتي”.
وتابع: “في السابق كنت أسهر، لكن بعد المشكلة التي حدثت، توقفت، وحتى عندما كنت أسهر، لم أكن أتأخر عن التدريبات”.
وواصل: “كيف يقال إن بيراميدز أخذ مكان الزمالك؟ كيف ذلك ونحن نعاني هذا الموسم فقط. كلام غير صحيح”.
طالع.. خاص.. الزمالك يُقرر الاستغناء عن لاعبه بنهاية الموسم
واستكمل: “أحب زيزو على المستوى الشخصي، لكنه أدرى بحياته، لم أسأله يومًا عن قراره، ولن أسأله، كنا قريبين منذ عامين، وكنا نخرج معًا، لكن هذا الموسم نحن زملاء فقط في النادي ولا نخرج سويًا، هو لاعب ممتاز وأنا حزين لأنه رحل، الجماهير وصفوه بالخائن بسبب حبهم الكبير له، لكن كلاعب كرة أنا أضع نفسي مكانه، فلا يصح أن أصفه بالخيانة”.
واستطرد: “لا يمكن أن أنتقل إلى الأهلي، المهم هو لمن وقعت في النهاية، كل من قال غير ذلك كاذب، كانت هناك مفاوضات من الأهلي، لكنني لم أستكملها، لأنني كنت أريد البقاء في الزمالك ولم يكن الأهلي فقط، بل أيضًا زد وبيراميدز وأندية في السعودية، إلا أنني كنت بحاجة إلى المال لأنني كنت مديونًا، ولا أظن أنني سأترك الزمالك”.
ورد على سؤال هل 100 مليون جنيه قد تدفعك للانتقال إلى الأهلي؟: “لا، يمكنني الحصول على هذا المبلغ وأنا في الزمالك إذا كانوا يريدونني، سيدفعون، فهم دائمًا يشترونني”.
Reliable journalist Simon Phillips has shared BlueCo’s transfer “priority”, which they could fulfill as early as January, with Chelsea looking at signing a £75 million England international for Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea seal 4-3 comeback at Tottenham but Maresca plays down title talk
The west Londoners are looking more and more imperious as the weeks go by, with their 4-3 comeback at Tottenham bringing them to five straight wins in all competitions as Chelsea also maintain their unbeaten record since October.
Real Madrid now want to sign £130k-p/w Chelsea star instead of Reece James
He would likely be Chelsea’s record sale if he left.
1
By
Ben Browning
Dec 9, 2024
Two slips from Marc Cucurella, who promptly threw away his boots, handed Spurs a two-goal lead early in the first half – with Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski both pouncing on the Spaniard’s costly errors.
However, Ange Postecoglou’s joy was short-lived, as summer signing Jadon Sancho grabbed one back just minutes later to remind the home side that this wasn’t going to be an easy afternoon by any stretch of the imagination.
Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures
Date
Brentford (home)
December 15
Everton (away)
December 22
Fulham (home)
December 26
Ipswich Town (away)
December 30
Crystal Palace (away)
January 4
Following the second-half restart, with Chelsea dominating play, they were rewarded for their efforts when Cole Palmer levelled the scores through a spot-kick just past the hour mark.
At 2-2, it didn’t take long for them to complete their comeback, with Enzo Fernandez’s striking a sweet half-volley beyond the outreached Fraser Forster – sparking jubilant celebrations in the Chelsea away end.
Palmer was then handed another penalty to all but seal an impressive three points for Chelsea – which he took in extremely confident fashion – dinking a cheeky panenka beyond Forster who stepped the wrong way.
Son Heung-min’s 96th minute strike was too little, too late for Spurs, with Chelsea sealing a 4-3 victory on enemy turf and bringing them to within four points of Premier League frontrunners Liverpool.
Maresca has been continuously asked about the club’s prospects of a potential title win this season, but the Italian has refuted all suggestions they could challenge, and did so once again after their win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“After the game, my message to the players is to be focused in the day‑by‑day, our sessions, the next game on Thursday and then Sunday,” said Maresca after Chelsea’s 4-3 win at Tottenham.
“The main focus has to be to enjoy the day off and when we come back train well, go for the game. The fans can dream because from the outside it is quite clear and inside the reality is we are not ready. The important thing is we improve day by day.”
Transfer "priority" shared as Chelsea look at signing Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite
Their near-perfect form, especially in the attacking third, prompts debate over how Chelsea can strengthen their squad without upsetting the applecart.
Phillips, writing via his Substack, says signing a centre-back is one of their “priority” transfer missions, and it could potentially be the “main priority”, despite Chelsea’s widely reported interest in a new striker.
It is believed BlueCo may even seriously consider one for as early as January, with uncertainty surrounding the likes of Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, who Chelsea would’ve apparently sold in the summer.
Of the targets on their radar, England international and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is shortlisted as a viable option.
The Toffees centre-back commands a price tag of around £75 million, so he’ll be no easy signing to pull off, but Phillips writes that Chelsea are looking at signing Branthwaite in their pursuit of a new central defender.
The towering 6-foot-4 22-year-old has played around seven Premier League games this season, missing out on some minutes, but did start 35 league games last term as a real mainstay under Sean Dyche.
James Vince hammered the highest individual score by a Hampshire player in T20 cricket as the Hawks pulled off a 14-run Vitality Blast victory over Somerset at Taunton.The visiting skipper smashed 129 not out, off 62 balls, with 10 sixes and nine fours, well supported by 19-year-old Tom Prest, who made a career-best 62, to help Hampshire to their biggest total in the competition, 208 for five, after losing the toss.After a brief stoppage for rain, Somerset replied with 193 for nine, Rilee Rossouw top-scoring with 55 off 28 balls and Tom Banton contributing 54 from 38 deliveries. Chris Wood claimed two for 26.The result left Somerset still second in the South Group table, while Hampshire moved into the top five.Vince’s amazing assault bettered the unbeaten 124 made for Hampshire by Michael Lumb in a T20 game against Essex at Southampton back in 2009.The monumental innings was even more praiseworthy for the fact that he lost opening partner Ben McDermott to the third ball of the game, caught top-edging a pull shot off Tom Lammonby.Somerset restricted the Hawks to 45 for one off the powerplay and would still have been happy with the situation at the halfway point of Hampshire’s innings when they were 83 for one.But by then Vince had cleared the ropes three times and Prest once. Both batsmen reached their half-centuries in the 13th over, Vince first off 36 balls quickly followed by the impressive Prest off 38.The next over saw Lewis Gregory concede 31 runs, Vince completing it with three successive sixes after Prest had claimed a maximum off the second delivery.Prest then departed, having faced 46 balls and hit two sixes and six fours, edging a wide ball from Jack Brooks through to wicketkeeper Banton.But by then Vince was scoring so quickly it barely mattered. He reached his fourth Blast ton with two fours and a two off the first three balls of the 18th over, his second fifty having come off just 15 deliveries.Ross Whiteley, Joe Weatherley and James Fuller fell cheaply. But when Vince launched the last ball of the innings from Peter Siddle over mid-wicket for his tenth six it completed an unforgettable innings.By the end of their powerplay, Somerset had reached 45 without loss. Both openers then began to accelerate, Will Smeed taking his tally of sixes to four before falling for 43 to a fine one-handed catch by wicketkeeper McDermott off Fuller.Rossouw hit his first two balls for four and six as the hosts progressed to 104 by the end of the tenth over, Banton going well on 38.Dropped on 43 by Prest at deep mid-wicket off Fuller, he moved to a 34-ball fifty with an audacious reverse sweep off Ellis, which cleared the stands.When Wood bowled Banton behind his legs, Somerset needed 78 from 45 balls. That had been reduced to 42 off 23 when Tom Abell was caught attempting a ramp shot off Wheal.The home side surprisingly sent in George Bartlett for his first Blast appearance of the season and he could make only two before being bowled by Wood.Momentum was lost as Wood, Wheal and Ellis combined effectively with the ball at the death.Rossouw moved to his sixth fifty in 11 South Group games off 25 balls. But when he went to the first ball of the 19th over, caught in the deep off a Liam Dawson full toss, Somerset’s race was run and a clatter of wickets saw them fall well short.
Liverpool are believed to be eyeing a prolific international striker as a replacement for Darwin Nunez at the end of the season, according to a fresh update.
Liverpool transfer news
The Reds are likely to have a quiet January transfer window, with Arne Slot seemingly content with the squad at his disposal, but that hasn’t stopped players from being linked with moves to Anfield.
Finding a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah is going to be an almost impossible job, given the Egyptian’s world-class brilliance, and Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has been mentioned as an option, as well as Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. Newcastle United are also thought to be interested in the pair, though.
Liverpool’s midfield may have excelled this season, but they are still reportedly keen on signing Nottingham Forest ace Morgan Gibbs-White, as they look to provide even more competition for the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott in attacking areas.
In terms of players who could leave in the near future, Federico Chiesa has been backed to seal a quickfire Anfield exit, having only arrived from Juventus last summer. Things haven’t worked out for the Italian yet this season, but that said, seeing him depart this month would still be a surprise, weakening the Reds’ squad in the process.
Liverpool keen on signing "magical" striker
According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are eyeing the signing of Lille star Jonathan David this summer, seeing him as a replacement for Nunez.
The current Reds striker is reportedly on AC Milan’s radar ahead of a potential switch at the end of the season, and the Merseysiders seemingly view David as both an upgrade and a “long-term investment”, with Slot a fan of his versatility and goal-scoring ability.
David could be a fantastic signing by Liverpool, considering he is arguably one of Europe’s most potent attacking players currently, shining for both club and country and is on course to be available for free in the summer.
The 24-year-old has scored a highly impressive 31 goals in 59 caps at international level for Canada, while this season, he has netted 11 times in 12 Ligue 1 starts. Not only that, but he has also been lauded for the “magical” campaign he is enjoying by Alexandre Gangue-Ruzic.
With Nunez now in his third season at Liverpool and still flattering to deceive, there are genuine doubts over whether he will ever be good enough for this Reds side under Slot, in terms of his finishing and general all-round game.
Appearances
15
Starts
12
Minutes played
1180
Goals
11
Assists
1
Shots per game
2.3
Key passes per game
0.5
Man of the Match awards
3
In David, they could have a perfect upgrade, with the Canadian potentially keen on testing himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world, so a cheap transfer could be ideal for all parties.
Chelsea have reportedly turned a £128 million profit and complied with profit and sustainability rules after selling the women's team to themselves.
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Chelsea sell women's team to themselvesBlues turn a £128m pre-tax profitComplying with Premier League's PSR rulesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
On Monday, Chelsea announced they had made a pre-tax profit of £128.4m ($165.8m) for the financial year ending June 30, 2024, after the 'repositioning of Chelsea Football Club Women Ltd'. The Guardian states that has seen them avoid a breach of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Chelsea sold their women's team to parent company BlueCo 22 Midco Ltd last year, and it is believed they are valued at upwards of £150m ($193.7m), which may have been the difference in the Blues not breaking any rules. However, The Times states they are likely to be in breach of UEFA's financial rules Europe's governing body does not allow clubs to register income from selling assets to sister companies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Chelsea added that overall revenue in the year fell to £468.5m ($605m) due to the men's team not competing in the Champions League. However, the growth in commercial revenue to £225.3m ($291m) was fueled by an 'increase in player loan income and strong sales of non-matchday activities, including stadium tours and merchandise sales'.
AFPWHAT NEXT?
Many football fans will be keeping a watchful eye on when Chelsea release their full accounts for 2023/24 as this statement from the club doesn't show the whole picture. The Blues may have complied with Premier League rules but will have to wait and see if UEFA decide to take any action.
The Premier League-bound Frenchman looks poised for greatness after a stunning breakthrough in 2024-25
According to , Real Madrid, Tottenham and RB Leipzig all wanted to sign Eli Junior Kroupi in the winter transfer window. However, it was Bournemouth who won the race for the 18-year-old's signature on deadline day, striking a £10 million ($13m) deal with Ligue 2 side Lorient.
Bournemouth chairman Bill Foley also purchased a 33 percent stake in Lorient at the start of January through his Black Knight Football and Entertainment LLC organisation and, in the end, that's what gave the Cherries the edge in negotiations for Kroupi. The teenage forward is staying at the Stade du Moustoir for the remainder of the season, but in the summer he will complete his move to the Vitality Stadium and begin his journey in the Premier League.
Kroupi has already been given big billing by Bournemouth technical director Simon Francis, who said in the club's official transfer announcement: "We're very excited to sign somebody with such potential. He's shown a high level of natural technical ability and awareness for a player so young, and the speed in which he has adapted to senior football has been very encouraging."
Francis wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. Kroupi has been the standout player for Bournemouth's sister club in their bid to secure an immediate return to the French top flight, with his quality and confidence shining through against even the most well-drilled opponents. Lorient have unearthed a real gem, and GOAL is here to explain exactly why Bournemouth fans are so excited about his impending arrival on the South Coast…
Where it all began
Bournemouth's newest signing is the son of former Lorient forward 'Eli' Zahi Verges Napoles Kroupi, who helped the club win the Coupe de France and was also part of the AS Nancy squad that lifted the Coupe de la Ligue back in 2005-06. Eli Junior was born at the end of that season, and soon developed the same passion for football as his father growing up in the French region of Brittany.
Kroupi joined Lorient's academy at the age of six, and quickly rose through their ranks, eventually breaking into the reserves in the 2021-22 campaign. The talented youngster hit nine goals in 18 games for Lorient's B team, and matched that tally the following season, piquing the interest of then-Lorient senior manager Regis Le Bris.
In a surprise move, Le Bris handed Kroupi his first-team debut on the final day of the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season, as he stepped off the bench for seven minutes in a 2-1 win over Strasbourg. Kroupi beat ex-Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi's record as the youngest player in the club's history in the process at the tender age of 16 years and 345 days.
On the back of that achievement, another dream moment came Kroupi's way in the form of a call-up to France's U17 squad for the European Championship, but in a cruel twist of fate, he was forced to withdraw due to injury, and missed out on their run to the final. That blow only strengthened Kroupi's resolve, though, and he reported for pre-season back at Lorient with a point to prove.
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The big break
Le Bris continued to give Kroupi opportunities in 2023-24, and was richly rewarded for his faith in the teenage attacker. Kroupi broke Andre Ayew's record as Lorient's youngest goalscorer of all time when he found the net in a 5-3 defeat to Nantes on September 23, 2023, and two weeks later he scored twice in a 3-3 draw away at Lyon – making him the youngest player to hit a brace in Ligue 1 since 1974.
Kroupi's first goal was a thing of beauty, too, as he picked the ball up 25 yards from goal before effortlessly sidestepping a defender and curling the ball into the top corner of the net. Only truly special footballers are capable of scoring goals like that, and Kroupi's overall performance left a massive impression on Tiemoue Bakayoko, who had joined Lorient on a free transfer after leaving Chelsea in the summer.
“He’s a phenomenon," Bakayoko told the official Ligue 1 website. "He reminds me a little of Kylian Mbappe in terms of the maturity of his game." Le Bris also waxed lyrical over the Lorient academy graduate, adding: "Playing football is pure joy for him. If he can continue enjoying himself this way, which I think he will, there is a bright future for him ahead, and for us too. As well as being an undeniably talented footballer, he has attracted attention and people are gravitating around him but he is focused on enjoying his football. That makes all the difference and it's a credit to him!"
Kroupi would go on to finish the season with five goals and three assists from 31 appearances in all competitions, but his impressive performances were not enough to save Lorient from relegation to Ligue 2. Le Bris subsequently left the club to take on a new challenge in England with Sunderland, with former Ajaccio boss Olivier Pantaloni swiftly drafted in as his replacement.
AFP
How it's going
Kroupi did not get much time off over the summer because he was part of the France squad that made it to the U19 European Championship final. The youngster played the full 90 minutes in the showpiece event against Spain, but Les Blues ultimately fell to a painful 2-0 loss after playing the last portion of the match with ten men due to a red card to Yoni Gomis.
The tournament was another valuable learning experience for Kroupi, though, and he hit the ground running with Lorient at the start of the 2024-25 campaign. Kroupi scored seven goals in his first 10 Ligue 2 appearances, including a superb brace in a 4-2 home win over FC Annecy, leaving Pantaloni in no doubt about his potential.
"He's a player with a lot of quality. Strikers often express themselves best when they're full of confidence, and he gives us that confidence back," the Lorient head coach told a post-match press conference. "He has to stay true to himself, listen to what's asked of him so he doesn't distort his game. He's someone who has his head on his shoulders, who's clear-headed. He feels good in the group and is greatly appreciated. He's still a kid who loves the game, but I think he's aware that, above all, efficiency is essential for a striker."
A dead leg halted Kroupi's momentum as he sat out Lorient's next five games, but he gradually built up his sharpness again after returning to the pitch, recording three goal contributions in seven league outings across December and January. A move to the Premier League was then arranged for Kroupi, much to the delight of Bournemouth boss Adoni Iraola.
"He is ahead of the normal trajectory of a player," Iraola said. "I think he's performing very well, he has been very successful with Lorient and the national team. I'm very happy." Kroupi could have taken his foot off the gas after confirmation of the deal with Bournemouth and cruised to the end of his contract, but instead, he's gone on to beat Emmanuel Adebayor's record as the youngest player to score 11 or more goals in Ligue 2, and put Lorient on the cusp of promotion at the top of the table. Winning the first title of his career would be the perfect way for Kroupi to depart his boyhood club, and they have every chance of getting over the line if he maintains his prolific strike-rate.
AFP
Biggest strengths
Described as "unflappable" by Lorient captain Laurent Abergel, Kroupi is a versatile player who can operate anywhere across the frontline. He is at his most effective as a false nine or second striker, though, because he loves to receive the ball on the turn and look for quick passing interchanges to unlock defences.
Kroupi possesses a very high footballing IQ for such a young player, which is reflected in his movement off the ball and decision-making on it. He's also a brilliant finisher who very rarely misses the target when he gets a sight of goal, as defences across Ligue 2 have found out to their peril this season.
Despite his relatively small stature, Kroupi is a real threat in the air, too, with the natural spring and timing to outfox his taller markers. As if all that wasn't enough, Kroupi is also capable of beating anyone for pace over 10 yards, and has quick feet to match, making him a nightmare to try and stop in full flow.
Lancashire chase derailed in gutsy final over from Scrimshaw despite David’s 42 not out
ECB Reporters Network24-Jun-2022George Scrimshaw bowled a superb final over to give Derbyshire Falcons a five run victory over Lancashire Lightning in the Vitality Blast game at Derby.The fast bowler had gone for 48 from his first three overs but conceded only five off his last as the North Group leaders came up short on 183 for 5, chasing 189.Tim David smashed an unbeaten 42 off 23 balls but could only watch from the other end as Scrimshaw kept the Falcons quarter-final hopes alive.Shan Masood with 75 from 50 balls and Wayne Madsen, 70 off 30, drove the Falcons to 188 for 8 but Steven Croft’s 47 from 29 balls put the Lightning on course until Scrimshaw had the final word.After the Lightning elected to bowl, the Falcons were restricted to 44 from the powerplay for the loss of Luis Reece who sent a return catch to Tom Hartley off the fifth ball of the innings.The ball crossed the ropes only four times during the first six overs, four of those overthrows, and Hayden Kerr’s attempt to break the shackles two overs later ended in the hands of cover.That brought together Madsen and Masood who accelerated with a mixture of orthodoxy and improvisation.Masood lofted Luke Wells down the ground before Madsen scooped Tom Hartley over the wicketkeeper for four and then drove the left-armer to the cover boundary.Masood hammered Danny Lamb back over his head for four on his way to his fifth 50 of the competition, a record for Derbyshire, and Madsen powered to his half-century off only 23 balls.He pulled Wells over midwicket for the first six of the innings as 19 came from the 14th over and Masood tore into Lamb in the 16th, driving and pulling the seamer for two sixes before lifting a full toss to mid off.But Madsen was striking the ball with power and precision, taking 18 off four balls from Richard Gleeson before he was lbw to the next.The pair had plundered 64 from four overs but the Lightning recovered well with Luke Wood and Gleeson conceding only 20 from the last three overs.Even so, it left the Lightning with a tough chase and they lost Phil Salt in the third over when he was superbly caught by Leus du Plooy diving at deep square leg.Wells pulled Mark Watt for two sixes in the next over and Croft dispatched Scrimshaw for another six with 19 coming off the fifth.The powerplay ended with the Lightning 64 for 1 and Scrimshaw came in for more punishment in his second over with Croft pulling him for six before Wells called for a new bat and promptly struck two fours.Croft was dropped on 33 at short fine leg off Alex Hughes but du Plooy took another good catch to remove Wells who pulled the off-spinner to deep midwicket.The Lightning needed 91 off 10 overs but the Falcons were stemming the run flow and Dane Vilas was caught behind cutting Matt McKiernan in the 12th over.Croft launched Hughes over long on for six but was brilliantly caught at backward point off Watt in the 14th over.David responded by pulling and driving McKiernan for two sixes and another six off Scrimshaw left the Lightning needing 33 off 24 balls.Kerr and Watt conceded only 10 off the next two overs and although Rob Jones pulled Kerr for four, the Lightning needed 11 off six balls.Scrimshaw delivered when it mattered, trapping Jones lbw with his fifth ball before Lamb missed a wild swing at the last to end another T20 thriller.
Arsenal scouts are now obsessed with a “fantastic” young midfielder after his impressive performances this season, according to a report.
Arsenal still within reach of Liverpool
Although Liverpool are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of the Premier League title, securing a 5-0 victory at West Ham United yesterday, a nine-point gap is by no means insurmountable for Arsenal in the second half of the season.
However, Mikel Arteta may have to bring in some reinforcements this winter in order to give his side the best possible chance of catching Arne Slot’s men, and the manager is believed to be keen on signing a new striker.
Randal Kolo Muani is on Arteta’s list of targets, with the Frenchman’s future at Paris Saint-Germain still uncertain, while a move for Galatasaray loanee Victor Osimhen is also being plotted, although a deal will not come cheap, with a £66m fee being touted.
Signing a new striker appears to be a priority for the Gunners, given the number of targets that have been identified, but Arteta still continues to cast his eye on players in other positions, who could make a more long-term contribution to the club.
Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Brentford (a)
January 1st
Brighton (a)
January 4th
Tottenham Hotspur (h)
January 15th
Aston Villa (h)
January 18th
Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
January 25th
One such player is Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Arsenal scouts said to be wowed by the Lille midfielder and ‘enamoured’ with his talent, having put in some very impressive performances so far this season. There may be stiff competition for Bouaddi’s signature, however, as he is on the radar of a number of top European clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
In 2023, the youngster broke a record by becoming the youngest player ever to play in a European club competition game, making his debut at 16 years and 3 days old. As the starlet does not turn 18 until October, a move to England is not possible in January, but he could leave Lille at the end of the season.
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ByBen Browning Dec 30, 2024 One for the future
The young Frenchman has added to his Champions League experience this season, making five appearances in the competition, no mean feat considering he is still just 17 years old. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has given an overview of the maestro’s abilities, saying he is a “midfield controller”, while also likening him to Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan and describing him as “fantastic”.
Lille's AyyoubBouaddicelebrates with teammates after the match
Bouaddi is very much one for the future and it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal make a move for him at the end of the season, but Arteta’s more pressing concern will be strengthening his squad this January. With Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka now out injured, Arteta may have to strengthen his attacking options heading into the second half of the season, if his side are to have any chance of catching Liverpool.
Since Chelsea’s new owners took over in 2022, one thing that has been at the forefront of their business is bringing down the wage bill and applying a much more structured approach within that department. This has been done to great effect in their few years in charge.
In the 2022/23 season, the Blues had seven earners making over £200k- per-week, not including players out on loan such as Romelu Lukaku, who also had huge wages. Their total gross wages per week were at around £4.3m at that point in time.
Reece James
£250,000
Ben Chilwell
£200,000
Wesley Fofana
£200,000
Christopher Nkunku
£195,000
Enzo Fernández
£180,000
Marc Cucurella
£175,000
Raheem Sterling
£162,500
Pedro Neto
£160,000
Moises Caicedo
£150,000
Cole Palmer
£130,000
Fast-forward to the 2024/25 season, Chelsea have managed to slash that to £3,297,500 per week, taking over £1m off of their weekly wage bill. This is whilst taking into consideration that players like Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling (out on loan) are still at the club, despite the directors’ efforts to move them on in the summer.
Whilst some of the clubs’ top players such as Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer are earning £150k and below per week, the Chelsea directors will be looking to ship out the last few high earners that do not start for the club, and that could continue with some exits this month.
Players who could leave Chelsea this month
Two main players who are high earners at the club but need to be moved on are Sterling and Chilwell. Whilst Sterling is currently on loan with Arsenal, he is unlikely to be recalled, therefore his future will be assessed and dealt with in the summer.
However, Chilwell is one who could leave the club this month, having only played once this season for the Blues, coming from the bench against Barrow in the EFL Cup for a 45-minute cameo. The 28-year-old still has plenty of suitors, such as West Ham United but his high wages could prove to be a stumbling block.
Barrow's Dean Campbell in action with Chelsea's BenChilwell
Another Chelsea star who could be on their way out this month is Axel Disasi, who was only signed in the summer 2023 window, joining the club from Monaco for a fee of around £38.8m. Since arriving, the 26-year-old has made 60 appearances for the club, scoring five times, providing two assists and totalling 4,961 minutes played.
The Frenchman was a regular starter for Mauricio Pochettino but has found himself on the bench under new manager, Enzo Maresca, with a difference in style not really suiting the defender. Last campaign, Chelsea would defend their own box more often and the centre-backs had less on-ball responsibility when building out from the back.
Under Maresca, Chelsea shape up in a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3, shifting into a 3-2-5 on the ball, with the back three having the responsibility to circulate possession and find line-breaking passes into the midfield and forward players. They are also expected to defend higher up in a man-to-man fashion, further away from their own box, which doesn’t suit Disasi’s playing style.
One last player that could leave this month is Carney Chukwuemeka, who was also signed under the new ownership in their first window in charge, joining from Aston Villa for a fee of around £20m. The 21-year-old has only managed only five appearances so far this season.
Chelsea's Carney Chukwuemeka in action
The talent levels of Chukwuemeka are clear, which is why a loan could be the best move in order for him to show that with consistent minutes before Chelsea make their final decision on whether to sell him permanently or give him more of a chance in the first-team.
But, there’s one more who simply needs to leave Stamford Bridge for the good of his own career…
Why Christopher Nkunku should leave Chelsea
One of the main links that has been emerging in the past week is around Nkunku’s future at the club, who is now being linked with a move to Bayern Munich. The player is said to be keen on a move to Germany, as he is looking to play more minutes.
The 27-year-old has been slammed for “moaning” by Jamie O’Hara this season, being left out of the starting XI in the place of Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer. Despite Nkunku’s impressive goal record, scoring 13 goals already this campaign in 28 appearances, many of his contributions have come in the UEFA Conference League, largely seen as weaker opposition, which has inflated his output.
Goals
0.87
0.53
Assists
0.29
0.23
xG
0.95
0.63
xAG
0.26
0.15
Progressive Carries
2.18
2.22
Progressive Passes
3.45
1.40
Shots Total
3.19
3.33
Goals/Shot
0.23
0.16
Key Passes
1.61
1.11
Shot-Creating Actions
4.14
3.16
Aerial Duels Won
1.03
0.58
The £52m forward has found himself playing as a back-up striker in Maresca’s system, being kept out of his favoured attacking midfield position by Palmer and Joao Felix. When comparing Nkunku (as a striker to Jackson, you can see both want to contribute in build-up, dropping deep to link play.
This has often meant that when Maresca feels the need to change the rhythm of the game with substitutions, he is unable to do so as both of his striker options offer similar attributes to the team. With Nkunku being a back-up in both areas, it would be considered smart business to move him on and replace him with another striker, one that offers something different to the squad personnel.
One player that has been mentioned in the Nkunku to Bayern Munich deal is Mathys Tel, but much like Jackson, he offers similar traits in regards to contributing in all phases. One other name that could offer slightly more box presence and more of a bully profile, is Liam Delap, but moving Nkunku on will be a big part of any business Chelsea can do at the top end of the pitch this window.
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There’s no escaping it now: this season has been dreadful for Tottenham Hotspur.
In fact, the one thing preventing it from being a full-blown disaster is the fact that the club have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to.
However, when it comes to their Premier League form, Ange Posetcoglou’s side have been dire, and while some blame must fall at the feet of the manager, he has been dealt a lousy hand in the form of an injury crisis at the back.
So, recent reports linking the club with someone who could solve the manager’s biggest problem and serve as an upgrade on Radu Dragusin should excite fans.
Tottenham Hotspur transfer news
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of around 11 sides interested in Paris Saint-Germain defender Milan Skriniar.
Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims that Napoli, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, and Atlético Madrid are all keen on the experienced defender.
However, while this level of outside interest is far from ideal for the North Londoners, the good news is that he may not cost an arm and a leg to sign, as the story has revealed that PSG will make him available for around €35m – £29m – next month, and could be willing to go as low as €25m – £21m – in negotiations.
In all, it could be an incredibly complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Skriniar’s ability and experience, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he’d be an upgrade on Dragusin and help solve Ange’s biggest problem.
How Skriniar compares to Dragusin
So, of all the issues Postecoglou has faced at Spurs this season, the defensive injury crisis has been the most significant.
Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies have all missed a sizable portion of the season thus far, which has meant that 18-year-old Archie Gray and the error-prone Dragusin have had to form a makeshift and rather flimsy centre-back partnership, and now it looks like the latter will be out for a little while as well.
So, in signing a new defender, the club will be addressing, and hopefully solving, the Australian’s most significant pressing this season.
Moreover, if the centre-back they sign ends up being Skriniar, then that would also see Dragusin fall further down the pecking order, as while he’s had some decent performances, he’s also had too many dire ones.
For example, he picked up a red card on his European debut for the side, gifted Victor Osimhen a goal against Galatasaray and looked utterly clueless against Rangers.
However, the “incredible” PSG gem, as dubbed by journalist Jerry Mancini, would be a brilliant addition to the squad in his own right and not just as an upgrade on the Romanian.
For example, he has bags and bags of experience, making 246 appearances for Inter Milan and winning the league in Italy and France while also making 77 appearances for Slovakia.
Inter Milan
246
MSK Zilina
93
Sampdoria
38
PSG
37
FC ViOn
7
Moreover, on top of being a 6 foot 2 titan who certainly wouldn’t be bullied in the Premier League, he’s no slouch with the ball at his feet, as FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, places him in the top 1% of centre-backs for passes attempted and passes completed, per 90.
Ultimately, Spurs are in desperate need of new defenders, as not only are their starting centre-backs seemingly injury-prone, but their replacements aren’t good enough.
Therefore, the North Londoners should do all they can to sign Skriniar next month, as he’d be the perfect solution to this problem.
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