Chelsea
Barcelona playmaker prefers move to Chelsea over other Premier League clubs: report
Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho has the preference to join Chelsea despite the interest from a number of other Premier League sides, a report from Mundo Deportivo claims. The Brazil international is presently on a season-long loan at Bayern Munich, where he has managed to register an impressive tally of nine goals and eight assists from 32 appearances in all competitions. The German champions have the option to sign him permanently for £105m at the end of the season but they are expected to ignore the clause, particularly with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In recent weeks, the likes of Leicester City, Everton and Newcastle United have all been credited with an interest in Coutinho but Mundo Deportivo cites that the 27-year-old has his sights on joining F...
Herve Renard apologies for omitting Hakim Ziyech in African select XI
Getty Images Former Morocco coach Herve Renard has apologised for leaving out the name of Hakim Ziyech in a select XI of the best African players he has managed. The 51-year-old Frenchman has coached four African sides to date – Angola, Zambia, the Ivory Coast and Morocco. He found success leading the Chipolopolo and the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations success in 2012 and 2015, respectively. He also led the Atlas Lions to their first World Cup outing in 20 years at the 2018 edition in Russia where they finished last in a group containing Spain, Portugal and Iran. Renard’s XI contained Ghana’s Richard Kingson in goal, Medhi Benatia, Kolo Toure, Jonathan Mensah and Achraf Hakimi in defence. In midfield is Yaya Toure and Michael Essien in a double pivot, while it’s an attacking trio of Sia...
Arsenal could sign new central defender for just £9m: report
Arsenal are understood to be interested in signing Croatian defender Domagoj Vida from Besiktas during this summer’s transfer window, a report from Aksam claims. The north London side are looking at the prospect of adding another central defender to their squad this summer despite the fact that William Saliba will be available after his loan spell with Saint-Etienne. The likes of Axel Disasi and Kristoffer Ajer have been linked with the Gunners in recent weeks but according to Aksam, the club are said to hold a keen interest in landing the signature of Vida, who could be available for only £9m. The 31-year-old has been with the Istanbul outfit for more than two years and during this period, he has been a regular at the heart of the club’s defence, making 88 appearances in al...
Romelu Lukaku didn’t lay ‘a finger’ on Chelsea’s Champions League trophy
Romelu Lukaku admits to having not laid “a finger” on the Champions League trophy when Chelsea conquered Europe in 2012, with the Belgian still resenting Andre Villas-Boas for leaving him out of a successful squad. The potential of a powerful Belgian striker was bought into by the Blues following the appointment of the Portuguese coach who was intended to follow in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho. However Villas-Boas would last only a matter of months at Stamford Bridge, with Roberto Di Matteo eventually replacing him on an initial interim basis. Chelsea went on to claim a maiden continental crown under the Italian tactician who had become a firm fan favourite in his playing days. Lukaku, who was just a teenager and made only 12 appearances in his debut campaign, was invited to travel with ...
Michael Essien: How Jose Mourinho prevented me from joining Arsenal
Former Chelsea star, Michael Essien, has disclosed that Jose Mourinho stopped him from playing for London rival club Arsenal FC. Essien who spoke on Instagram live chat with Carol Tshabalala, stated that he almost joined Arsenal but Mourinho got to know of it and pressed him to play for him at Real Madrid instead. “I was with Chelsea in Monaco for the Super Cup and a strange number called me but I didn’t want to answer it but my cousin who was in the room with me that day told me to pick it up. “The number kept calling so I picked and as soon as I said hello and another hello came from the other end and I realised who was on the phone so I told my cousin it’s Jose Mourinho. “We started talking and he said, ‘I heard you’re on your way to Arsenal’. But I told him it’s not true. I had not hea...
Didier Drogba: How Juan Mata helped me win Champions League trophy
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has revealed how his former Blues’ teammate, Juan Mata, helped him win the 2012 UEFA Champions League. Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties in the final to win their first Champions League trophy eight years ago at the Allianz Arena. Thomas Mueller put the host in front with eight minutes left to the end of the match before Didier Drogba equalised for the Premier League giant following an assist from Mata as the encounter ended 1-1 after 120 minutes. “Eight years ago, the manager [Andre Villas-Boas] had been sacked by the club and we, the players, had a team meeting where we recognised being partly responsible for his departure,” Drogba wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night. “The captain @johnterry spoke, @franklampard @petrcech and other leaders in the ...
Agent reveals Chelsea are leading the race to sign young Barcelona defender
The agent of Xavier Mbuyamba has revealed that Chelsea have made an interesting proposal to sign the young defender from Barcelona. The 18-year-old only joined the club’s under-19 side from MVV Maastricht last summer but his potential appears to have caught the eye of elite European teams. Speaking to Voetbal International, agent Carlos Barros revealed that Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter are some of the high-profile clubs, who have enquired about his client. However, he added that the most exciting proposal has come through Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, who believe the teenager can break into their first-team in a couple of years’ time. “Almost all major clubs in Europe have asked about Xavier,” He told. “Real Madrid are also there, they are serious about their youth system, but that woul...
Chelsea star arrested on suspicion of rape
Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of rape following an alleged incident at his west London apartment. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that both they and the London Ambulance Service were called in the early hours of Sunday, May 17 to a report of an unwell woman. The statement added: “When emergency services attended, a woman reported that she was raped. She was taken to hospital.“A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of rape. He was released from custody and bailed to return on a date in mid-June. Enquiries continue.” Sunday’s alleged incident comes just weeks after Hudson-Odoi battled the coronavirus, which he was diagnosed with on March 12 . The teenager was the first Premier League player to be diagnosed with the illness, coming short...
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard faced with critical transfer decisions
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is faced with critical transfer decisions when the transfer window finally opens. There are many doubts of the futures of some of his regular first-team players such as Jorginho, Olivier Giroud, Willian and Pedro at the Stamford Bridge. orginhois wanted by Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri, the bond between the manager and Jorginho is still very intact right from their days at Napoli and Chelsea before the Italian quit Stamford Bridge for Juventus. Sarri has proposed a swap deal that involves Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic going to Chelsea and Jorginho to Juventus a proposal Jorginho would entertain in his widest dream as his affinity with his former boss remains unscratched. The Chelsea vice-captain is instrumental to Lampard set up, though Lampard is not e...
Chelsea star ‘can’t close doors to other sides’, but dismisses Tottenham links
Chelsea forward Willian says that rumours of him negotiating a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur are false. The 31-year-old’s current deal runs out this summer and he has been widely tipped to move on. The Brazilian has been strongly linked with Spurs, with manager Jose Mourinho said to be eager to reunite with the player. However, Willian says that reports he has already held talks with the former Chelsea boss are wide of the mark. “When I saw that news, I was surprised – I said ‘where did people get this from?’” he told globesporte.com. “Because I didn’t even talk to him on the phone, and I didn’t meet him either, because I didn’t leave the house. “So, this news is not really true. I didn’t meet him. Of course, I have a good friendship with him, sometimes we chat. “But really, lately I haven...
Spanish club ‘confident’ that Chelsea player will sign this summer
Ethan Ampadu could be on his way out of Chelsea on a permanent basis this summer. The midfielder has had a frustrating loan spell at RB Leipzig this term, making just seven appearances for the German club. He had previously looked to be one of Chelsea’s most promising youngsters, but has failed to establish himself at Leipzig. However, TodoFichajes has claimed that the 19-year-old’s progress has been closely followed by Sevilla and they are ready to make a move. The club’s director of football, Monchi, has been tracking Ampadu and is keen to secure his services during the next transfer window. Many pundits have argued that Ampadu’s decision to move to Germany has backfired, but the Wales international believes that viewpoint is unfair. In a recent interview with The Athletic, Ampadu said t...
Report: £60m Manchester United transfer could see Celtic get £4m windfall
According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic could get a £4 million windfall if Moussa Dembele leaves Lyon, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona interested in the striker. The report has claimed that United, Chelsea and Barcelona all are eyeing a £60 million move for the 23-year-old striker this summer. If the transfer happens, then the Hoops will get £4 million due to a sell-clause they inserted in the Frenchman’s contract when he joined Lyon from the Glasgow giants in the summer of 2018 for £20 million, according to the report. Stats According to WhoScored, Dembele scored 16 goals and provided two assists in 27 Ligue 1 matches, and played seven times in the Champions League for Lyon this season. The former Celtic star scored 15 goals and provided four assists in 33 league matches, and ...
