Vesper

Lampard’s bloated Chelsea squad will test his man-management skills https://theathletic.com/2118608/2020/10/07/chelsea-bloated-squad/ Two weeks ago, as Chelsea prepared to host Barnsley in the third round of the Carabao Cup, Frank Lampard acknowledged that the club’s spectacular spending had left plenty of unfinished business. “There are decisions for me to make, for the club to make and for the players themselves to make,” he said. “I have an idea of the number of players I want in the squad, so we have healthy competition but not many players feeling like they’re out of squads and not getting the minutes they want.” Whatever number Lampard had in his head, you can be confident it wasn’t 31; that’s how many faces you see when you scroll through the men’s senior squad page on Chelsea’s official website. The list includes Baba Rahman, Victor Moses, Jake Clarke-Salter, Danny Drinkwater and Charly Musonda, who aren’t even in the first-team training bubble at Cobham. Homes may yet be found for some of them before the EFL transfer deadline on October 16. More problematically, however, the list also includes Marcos Alonso, Emerson Palmieri and Antonio Rudiger — established first-team players on significant wages that Lampard has made clear are peripheral to his plans. Monday’s transfer deadline did not provide much in the way of resolution. Ruben Loftus-Cheek eased the midfield logjam by joining Fulham on loan after Chelsea had agreed to break with club policy by covering a portion of his wages for the duration of the deal, in recognition of his urgent need to play regular football. In other loan negotiations, Marina Granovskaia was not so accommodating; Juventus and Inter decided the finances didn’t make sense to take Emerson and Alonso respectively, while all parties involved were uncomfortable with the idea of Rudiger joining bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Understandably, Chelsea don’t want to set the precedent of paying their surplus players to play for other teams, or to compromise on the loan fees that have proved a valuable source of revenue in recent years. Nor were they the only top Premier League club to have significant trouble offloading unwanted high-earners in a market distorted by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Look across the traditional “big six” and the list of sales in that bracket consists of Chris Smalling to Roma and Dejan Lovren to Zenit Saint Petersburg. The only offer of a significant transfer windfall that Chelsea received in this window was an unwelcome one, as Bayern Munich renewed their public pursuit of Callum Hudson-Odoi. But even the European champions’ latest proposal only consisted of an option, not an obligation, to make the 19-year-old’s loan switch a permanent move. In any case, he was never among the names Lampard was inclined to let go. Granovskaia never sells cheap, and her unwavering commitment to this principle has served Chelsea extremely well over the past decade. But her reluctance to loan cheap — even in the exceptional conditions of this market — has left Lampard with a squad situation that is at best tedious to navigate and at worst hazardous. The continued presence of Alonso and Emerson has left Chelsea with three senior left-backs and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, a right-back, might actually be second-choice to Ben Chilwell for the position. Rudiger’s determination to fight for his place, coupled with Fikayo Tomori’s decision to turn down an 11th-hour loan offer from West Ham United, means Lampard has five first-team centre-backs vying for what will, in most games, be two starting spots. The lack of interest around Europe in rehabilitating Kepa Arrizabalaga’s battered reputation also guarantees Chelsea will have three established goalkeepers at least until January. Every manager wants squad depth, and Lampard will particularly appreciate the variety of options at his disposal after a 2019-20 campaign in which injuries crippled Chelsea at times. With the fixture schedule more congested than ever as football looks to make up time lost due to the pandemic shutdown, every club is likely to suffer more squad disruption. COVID-19 positives are going to add to the danger of conventional injuries. But even accounting for the unique challenges of football’s new reality, Lampard simply doesn’t have enough minutes to offer all of these players who, at least in their own minds, are all worthy of significant roles. Chelsea are already out of the Carabao Cup and, given the raised expectations generated by the club’s huge recruitment drive, Premier League and Champions League games are unlikely to provide many opportunities for wholesale change to whatever the manager settles upon as his trusted best XI. Rudiger has a long way to go to force his way into that particular side. It would have been much easier in a political sense for Lampard to let Tomori join Everton on loan weeks ago, but he is adamant that the academy graduate is simply a better player and therefore more useful to him. Having been omitted from every squad since the opening day of the season — a season leading into a European Championship he is desperate to play in — Rudiger is well aware of where he stands in the manager’s thinking. Yet he remains. Kepa’s outlook is arguably even bleaker. Lampard no longer needs to pick Willy Caballero to underline his loss of trust in Chelsea’s record signing. The goalkeeper performance bar was set so low in 2019-20 that things will need to go seriously wrong with Edouard Mendy on the pitch for him to lose his place. “It’s maybe not the dream situation,” the Spaniard said this week. “We have to experience things like this. I am confident to turn the situation around. When I have the opportunity to play I will try to do the best possible.” Dressing room resentment at selection decisions is nothing new. No head coach is universally popular with his squad. The group always includes players the manager consistently disappoints or, worse, freezes out. Lampard managed his squad skilfully last season to empower and establish a vibrant group of talented academy graduates without alienating Chelsea’s more senior professionals. That successful balancing act indicates he is capable of meeting this challenge too, particularly since January 1 is less than three months away. But between building on the good aspects of last season and bedding in a raft of expensive new signings while attempting to build a coherent team that wins at a higher rate on the pitch, it is a challenge he could have done without. Chelsea’s first-team squad Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Willy Caballero, Edouard Mendy, Nathan Baxter. Defenders: Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Fikayo Tomori, Kurt Zouma, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Emerson Palmieri, Jake Clarke-Salter, Baba Rahman, Victor Moses. Midfielders: Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Billy Gilmour, Kai Havertz, Danny Drinkwater. Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Olivier Giroud, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Charly Musonda. remove the red, it's 25 players

‘He understands space’ – why Arteta picked Partey to be Arsenal’s ‘cinco’ https://theathletic.com/2119422/2020/10/07/thomas-partey-arsenal-cinco/ It was in a series of clandestine meetings in Madrid, held throughout the course of the 2018-19 season, that Thomas Partey spoke with Arsenal representatives about how he envisaged his role in the team. The head of international scouting at the time, Francis Cagigao, was spearheading Arsenal’s charm offensive. Over lunch, Partey spoke at length about his style of play, his preferred positions. He said his preference is to operate as one of a pair of deep-lying midfielders, but he can also play at the base alone. He talked admiringly of Granit Xhaka, and admitted he could envisage playing in tandem with the Switzerland international. But there was something else. Partey had a conviction that there he had more to offer, that he could get better. The structural rigour that Diego Simeone imposed on his Atletico team left little room for self-expression. The overriding impression Arsenal received was that of a player who believed moving to England could unlock new dimensions in his game. The club have landed themselves a player with convincing credentials, a midfielder with Champions League pedigree. But even at a mature 27, Partey is not coming to London to rest on his laurels. He has joined Arsenal because he believes he can improve. Partey was born in Ghana, but his professional development has been dictated by Argentine football lore. It is clear even from the number he wore for his final few seasons in Madrid. The significance of the No 10 shirt in Argentinian football is legendary — it is the number worn by iconic attackers such as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Juan Roman Riquelme. There is, however, another number that holds a similarly sacred status: the No 5. In Argentina, the “No 5” has become shorthand for describing the team’s most defensive-minded midfielder. Occasionally, Argentinians will describe a typical No 5 as a “pacman” — shuttling side to side, chewing up the turf and eating up loose balls. At World Cups, the number has been sported by Fernando Redondo, Matias Almeyda and Esteban Cambiasso. Javier Mascherano wore No 14, but he remained unquestionably a “cinco”. At its best, exponents of the role combine defensive acumen with intelligent build-up. “When I think of the ‘cinco’, I like the type of player who assumes responsibility, who always offers for the ball, the one who manages the tempo of a team,” Redondo once explained. “It’s a very important position, you have to have a player who knows how to play, who reads the game, who has the precision to break the opponent’s press.” Simeone, who won 106 caps for Argentina, was himself a No 5 — he once described his style of midfield play as akin to a man “holding a knife between his teeth”. It is the No 5 shirt that Simeone bestowed on Partey at Atletico — the same number he would have inherited at Arsenal, were it not for incumbent Sokratis failing to secure a deadline day move. Partey wearing the No 5, representative of a position Simeone described as akin to a man “holding a knife between his teeth” (Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) It is arguably more than just a number — it’s indicative of how Simeone sought to mould Partey. In the early loans at Mallorca and Almeria in which he first caught Arsenal’s eye, the Ghanaian played a variety of roles — box-to-box midfielder, right winger, even No 10. It was when he returned to Atletico that Simeone began to shape him into the holding midfield player he required. Steadily, Partey absorbed Simeone’s tactical blueprint. In Madrid, they have observed that positional sense can be taught if a player has a willingness and aptitude to learn. “Partey is someone who brings you massive defensive stability,” says one Premier League scout. “Not particularly because he’s big, not because he’s strong, not because he’s especially quick — he can do that stuff, but it’s because of how he understands space.” It took Partey time to win Simeone’s trust, but when Atletico club captain Gabi departed in the summer of 2018, the Ghanaian began to settle into his central midfield role. The scouting reports that came back to Arsenal described a player who was dominant in duels and efficient in possession. Despite standing over 6ft tall, it wasn’t his aerial ability that stood out — it was his ability to go into contact with another player, shoulder to shoulder, and emerge with possession. He is lean, but surprisingly powerful too. Technically, he is as clean as you would expect for a player honed in the Spanish academy system. He has not been, under Simeone, a penetrative passer — under instruction, he has looked to play short and medium-range passes to circulate possession to more creative players. A consummate team player, Partey arrives with a game underpinned by strict tactical discipline. Arteta has spent the best part of a year attempting to school this Arsenal squad in the importance of structure, spacing and phases of play. Partey arrives having already undergone a taxing football education. It is a language in which he is already fluent. As the transfer window entered its final weekend, Arsenal were focused on finding a “cinco” of their own — or, in European numbering convention, a “No 6”. With Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi both departing on loan, Arteta’s only senior options in the role were Xhaka, Dani Ceballos and Mohamed Elneny. Arsenal were interested in Chelsea’s Jorginho, but the Italian international was not for sale. Partey was a more expensive option — and perhaps a little older than Arsenal would consider ideal. The scouting department had also filed glowing reports of Lille’s 21-year-old Boubakary Soumare, with the substantial caveat offered that he remained raw. Ultimately, a decision was made by the Arsenal executive committee, including manager Arteta, that the club were happy to acquire a player already in the peak of his career, with a wealth of experience at the highest level, as opposed to gambling more on a younger, cheaper and less well-rounded option. Able to play as the sole defensive midfielder or with a partner, Partey unlocks more midfield shapes for manager Mikel Arteta to use in future. He ticks all the boxes of Arteta’s specifications for a screening No 6. Partey is now the primary option for that position — more mobile than Ceballos and Xhaka, and more physically and technically gifted than either Elneny or Joe Willock. Despite Arteta’s current preference for a 3-4-3, The Athletic understands Arsenal’s technical staff still envision the team ultimately developing into a 4-3-3 system, akin to the one adopted by Liverpool and Manchester City. Arsenal don’t have the quality No 8s that those two teams boast — a move for Lyon’s Houssem Aouar ultimately proved fruitless — but having Partey in place is at least a start. He can provide the security and strength through the spine that could enable Arteta to move away from the back three. Perhaps he can offer more than that. There is a sense that Simeone kept Partey on a very tight leash. When he breaks forward, he offers considerable threat. He possesses a ferocious long-range shot off his right boot. At international level, he has occasionally operated as a second striker, and has an impressive record of 10 goals from 27 Ghana caps. Arsenal are unlikely to push Partey into the final third — they have bought him as a defensive midfielder. However, with a little more freedom, he could help Arsenal build the play more effectively. His passing has the potential to be more expansive. His dribbling is an effective weapon in transition — only four central midfielders in La Liga had a higher dribble success rate last season (Arthur, Iddrisu Baba, Hector Herrera and Geoffrey Kondogbia). His ability to break through the lines could help Arsenal spring into attack. Arteta is building a team, piece by piece. Signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract felt like an important component piece, and the acquisition of coveted centre-half Gabriel also looks like smart business. A spine is emerging. In Partey, he has his chosen holding midfield player — and Arsenal have their “cinco”.

Next Generation 2020: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs We pick the best young players at each club born between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004, an age band known as first-year scholars. Check the progress of class of 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2020/oct/07/next-generation-2020-20-of-the-best-talents-at-premier-league-clubs Charlie Patino ClubArsenal PositionMidfielder Born17 October 2003 Those who watch Patino regularly are in no doubt: he is a generational talent with every chance of going the distance. His potential was signposted when, aged 11, he moved from Luton to Arsenal but associates speak of a preternaturally mature individual who looks perfectly equipped to handle any rise to stardom. A willowy central midfielder with a diamond of a left foot, he has consistently dominated games at age-group level both domestically and for England. Inevitable comparisons to Jack Wilshere have arisen but some believe Patino, who can dictate from deep or play further forwards, more resembles Phil Foden in style. Mikel Arteta is a fan and Patino trained with the first team as recently as September. A quick step up to under-23 level by the end of the season is anticipated. Nick Ames Ben Chrisene ClubAston Villa PositionMidfielder Born12 January 2004 Joined Villa in the summer for an undisclosed fee from Exeter City, where he had been since the age of 11. He beat Ethan Ampadau’s record to become Exeter’s youngest ever player in the senior team when he appeared against Coventry in the Carabao Cup at the age of 15 years, seven months and one day and went on to play in the League Two victory over Cambridge United in January, the day before his 16th birthday. The England Under-16 international was linked with moves to Liverpool and even Bayern Munich before joining Villa. “We are delighted to have secured Ben’s signature,” said Villa’s academy manager Mark Harrison. Paul Doyle Markus Ifill ClubBrighton PositionAttacking midfielder Born2 November 2003 Signed from Swindon at the turn of the year, Ifill is an electric and wiry winger, comfortable on either flank. The first-year scholar’s pace is arguably his best asset but his crossing and shooting are equally key attributes. He still has lots to work on but is regarded as an exciting prospect, who ticked every box in terms of fitting into the club's front-foot style, while his work ethic and attitude also struck academy staff. Was aged 15 when he was named among the Swindon substitutes against Northampton in League Two last August. Part of Brighton's under-18s, but the club believe he can blossom into a first-team player. Ben Fisher Michael Mellon ClubBurnley PositionForward Born5 December 2003 If the name Michael Mellon seems familiar it is because dad Micky has been manager of Tranmere Rovers and Fleetwood in his time and even spent a couple of seasons in the Burnley midfield before hanging up his boots. Mellon Jr is a striker who has already represented Scotland at under-17 level, and after arriving from Manchester United is making his own name in the Burnley under-18 ranks. Even as a 15-year-old he played and impressed in the CEE Cup tournament in Prague last summer, scoring a goal and winning a man of the match award. Paul Wilson Charlie Webster ClubChelsea PositionMidfielder Born31 January 2004 The midfielder showcased his talent when he was named player of the tournament at the Kevin de Bruyne Cup, an international under-15 tournament held annually in Belgium, last year. Capable of playing in a deep role or further forward, Webster is one of the best youngsters in Chelsea’s academy and has attracted covetous glances from Borussia Dortmund recently. Dortmund lead the way when it comes to taking rising English stars to Germany and are bound to be waiting with an offer if Webster ever feels like trying his luck in the Bundesliga. However Chelsea do not want to lose the England youth international, who joined them as an under-10, and intend to tie him down on a professional contract when he turns 17 next year. They are confident that Webster is in a good position. The pathway from academy to first team has opened up since Frank Lampard’s appointment as manager. Jacob Steinberg Watch Charlie Webster in action, with the pass that brings a penalty he converts in the 2019 Kevin de Bruyne Cup final Jadan Raymond ClubCrystal Palace PositionMidfielder Born15 October 2003 Palace’s attempts to persuade the England under-17 international to remain in south London eventually bore fruit, with Raymond signing a two-year scholarship in July despite interest from Leeds and elsewhere. It is now hoped that the midfielder can lead a new generation of homegrown players after the club’s academy was granted Category One status, with work on upgrading the facility in Beckenham having already begun. Predominantly left-footed, Raymond has also represented Wales at youth level but scored the winning penalty for England in the Syrenka Cup final last year. Ed Aarons Reece Welch ClubEverton PositionDefender Born19 September 2003 The Huddersfield-born defender strikes an imposing figure at 6ft 4in and his progress was recently rewarded with the first professional contract of his career; a three-year deal signed just days after his 17th birthday underlining Everton's confidence in his future. Capped by England at under-16 and under-17 level, Welch is a composed, skilful central defender whose appetite to learn and work on the defensive side of his game has impressed the club's coaching staff. The centre-back has been with Everton since the age of eight and is currently part of Paul Tait's under-18s side. Andy Hunter Watch Reece Welch in action, heading in the second from a corner Advertisement Stefan Parkes ClubFulham PositionDefender Born28 March 2004 Parkes just edges out Xavier Benjamin, another talented defender. The 16-year-old left-back has thrived since joining Fulham from Brentford. The north Londoner has captained England’s under-15s and featured for Fulham’s under-18 side last season, only for injury to hamper his progress. Parkes, who is capable of slotting into central defence, is expected to push on after returning to full fitness. "He’s very calm on the ball, quick and intelligent,” Dan Thomas, a Fulham academy coach, says. “He captained at times for the under-16s with Xavier and shows strong leadership qualities. He’s another good prospect.” Jacob Steinberg Charlie Allen ClubLeeds United PositionAttacking midfielder/forward Born22 November 2003 Talk about a prodigy. The versatile Northern Irishman became the youngest player to make his debut for Linfield's first XI at the age of 15 years five months. While still a schoolboy he made seven further senior appearances for the Belfast team last season and also featured in their Champions League squad. Although he is a new first-year academy scholar, Leeds have already given Allen a squad number – 70. Two-footed, blessed with adhesive close control, impressive vision, passing range and finishing ability, he is a Northern Ireland under-18 international. Jim Magilton, his international elite performance director, was not surprised several Premier League clubs wanted Allen. "Charlie is one of those kids you can play anywhere and he'll probably still be the best player on the pitch," said Magilton. "He can play right back, central midfield, on either wing, at No10 or at centre forward." Louise Taylor Kian Pennant ClubLeicester City PositionForward Born14 April 2004 The nephew of the former Arsenal and Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant, Kian has been at Leicester since he was nine. Very fast and a smart finisher, he has been capped by England at under-16 and under-17 level, scoring twice for the under-16s in a 3-1 win over Spain in February. Now a first-year scholar at Leicester, he has often played for the club’s under-18s alongside his highly-rated older brother, Terell, who scored for Leicester’s development squad in the EFL Cup this season. Paul Doyle James Balagizi ClubLiverpool PositionAttacking midfielder Born20 September 2003 The excitement that surrounds Balagizi at Liverpool equals the frustration Manchester City feel about him. He is another layer to the animosity between the Premier League's leading sides. A tall, powerful and clever player with quick feet and an eye for goal, he moved to Manchester from the Democratic Republic of Congo as a young child and was a highly-rated prospect in City's academy before being prised away by Liverpool aged 11. He made his debut for the under-18s at 15, scoring twice, and has already featured for the under-21s. An England under-17 international, he can operate at centre forward, behind the striker and this season has been deployed on the left of a midfield three. Liverpool secured him on a first professional contract days after his 17th birthday. Andy Hunter Luke Mbete-Tabu ClubManchester City PositionDefender Born18 September 2003 The London-born 17-year-old is a left-sided centre-back who joined City as an under-12 and is characterised by the club website as a “leader”. Mbete-Tabu has already featured for the under-21s in in the EFL Trophy, and the under-23s in Premier League 2, having represented England at under-16 level. He is an imposing presence who was part of last season’s triumphant Under-18s Premier League Cup side that trounced Stoke City 6-0 in the final, his ball-playing ability illustrated by a crossfield pass that initiated the fifth for captain, Cole Palmer. Jamie Jackson Watch Luke Mbete-Tabu in action (the No5 spraying a crossfield pass to the right wing in the build-up to the fifth) Marc Jurado ClubManchester United PositionDefender Born13 April 2004 From the Barcelona school comes a 16-year-old who joined in August after turning down a three-year deal in Catalonia in favour of a reported £1.5m move to England. A pacy, dynamic defender who loves to rove forward, on leaving Barça Jurado said: “A new dream is coming.” Gerard Piqué is the last footballer signed by United from the Spanish club – in 2004 – and Jurado’s dream will be to emulate the garlanded defender - though at Old Trafford not the Camp Nou, where the now 33-year-old returned in 2008. Jamie Jackson Advertisement Michael Ndiweni ClubNewcastle United PositionMidfielder Born2 December 2003 Eligible to play for both England and Zimbabwe, Ndiweni possesses a very decent right foot and an outstanding character. The latter was emphasised last winter when he won a "local hero" award presented by the city's Evening Chronicle after not only standing up to peer group racism but dealing it with, according to the citation, exemplary "maturity, dignity, understanding and compassion" involving a sympathetic form of conflict resolution. The midfielder, also potentially capable of deployment in defence, is from Throckley, a Tyne Valley village to the west of Newcastle, and is the latest in a long line of boys from the city's St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic school to join the St James' Park academy. He has grown up in a Newcastle-supporting family and his father coaches youth football in the Tyne Valley. Louise Taylor Antwoine Hackford ClubSheffield United PositionStriker Born20 March 2004 From the Arbourthorne suburb of Sheffield, the rapid striker is an England youth international and signed scholarship terms with the Blades this year. He is so highly rated by Chris Wilder that he has already trained with United’s first team, went on the Premier League’s side’s summer tour to Scotland and played in several of their pre-season friendlies. Paul Doyle Goran Babic ClubSouthampton PositionMidfielder Born7 October 2003 According to one Southampton academy insider, Babic would “kick his mother if she was playing”. This time last year, the stocky Serbia youth international was considered more as a No 10 given his comfort in possession but he has since taken on greater defensive responsibility, marking him out as a No 8. Babic loves a tackle and, above all, he loves to win. There are shades of James Ward-Prowse about him in the set-piece execution and the way that he picks up the ball and drives at the opposition box. Signed from Brentford in 2016, he has started the season in fine form at under-18 level. David Hytner Alfie Devine ClubTottenham Hotspur PositionMidfielder Born1 August 2004 The England youth midfielder – noted for his imposing box-to-box style – signed a long-term contract at Wigan on 6 June and looked set to make his way in the professional game there. He had shown comfort as a 15-year-old in the club’s under-18 team and even played for the under-23s, as well as training with the first team. Then everything changed. Wigan entered administration, they needed cash quickly and they sold Devine to Spurs for £300,000. He got minutes for José Mourinho’s first team in pre-season and already looks too good for the under-18s. Had been released by Liverpool at 11, where he played as a striker. Son of the former St Helens rugby league player Sean. David Hytner Rico Richards ClubWest Bromwich Albion PositionForward Born27 September 2003 Richards is West Brom born and bred but, when he signed his first professional contract in August, it represented a significant coup for the club given some of Europe's elite were circling. The England under-17 international operates as a withdrawn striker but can also play on the flank as an outside forward. He has a creative eye in terms of finding others but is equally capable of carving openings for himself. Richards, who lives three miles from the training ground, has been at the club since the age of seven. Is a key part of the under-18s as he builds fitness but in January he was named among the substitutes at Charlton in the FA Cup after impressing Slaven Bilic in an inter-squad friendly; he went from school to playing 45 minutes alongside Charlie Austin before showering, having lunch and returning to class. Ben Fisher Jamal Baptiste ClubWest Ham United PositionDefender Born11 November 2003 There is plenty of buzz at West Ham about the young centre-back, who became the second youngest player to feature for the under-23 side when he made his debut at that level in a victory over Valencia B last year. Baptiste, who was also playing for the under-18s when he was still an under-14, was only 15 when he played against the Spanish side and the England youth international has continued to progress since that game, impressing his coaches with his strength, versatility and ability on the ball. “He’s training with the first team at the moment so I think he’s definitely a massive prospect,” Carlton Cole, who is working in the academy, said in August. “He’s going to be the next Anton Ferdinand hopefully or the next Rio.” Jacob Steinberg

Wednesday October 7 2020 Matt Law's Chelsea briefing Frank Lampard will be glad to put Bayern advances for midfielder to bed - for now at least By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent Despite interest from Bayern Munich, Hudson-Odoi remains a Chelsea player “Thanks for putting me on the spot” was Frank Lampard’s response when asked last Saturday night whether or not he could give a definitive answer on Callum Hudson-Odoi’s future. Lampard would have known at that point that Bayern Munich had made another loan offer for Hudson-Odoi, which Chelsea turned down, and, ultimately, the 19-year-old stayed at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea could be forgiven for growing tired of doubts emerging over Hudson-Odoi’s future in virtually every transfer window, given the faith and financial investment they have already put in him. And Lampard certainly will not want to be put on the spot and made to justify his decisions regarding the talented winger every time the transfer window is open. Hudson-Odoi had started the Crystal Palace game and played well, albeit not brilliantly, in a dominant display. He has already made five appearances in total this season and yet there remains a narrative around the player that he is not receiving the opportunities he deserves. It is difficult to think of another 19-year-old who has received better backing and investment than Hudson-Odoi, who has already made 66 first-team appearances for Chelsea and who was given a contract worth around £120,000-a-week when Bayern Munich first came knocking in January 2019. Hudson-Odoi is also at a club that is closely watched by the England management and he has won three senior international caps, which is two more than Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish at the time of writing. Lampard was credited with playing a huge part in convincing Hudson-Odoi to sign his new contract last summer and so the head coach should now be trusted with how best to handle his development. It is not the player’s fault that Bayern retain an interest in him and continue to make approaches, but it is rare for a club of that size to make any sort of offer for a player without receiving some sort of encouragement from somewhere. This column will not be making guesses or allegations over who might have been offering Bayern some encouragement, but last season’s lockdown breach would suggest Hudson-Odoi may need to think carefully about who he is taking his advice from. Of course, the biggest challenges for Hudson-Odoi may well lie around the corner with Christian Pulisic returning to fitness and Hakim Ziyech on the road to recovery, but he should relish the opportunity to compete with some of Europe’s best players. And if he does spend time on the substitutes’ bench, then he should use it as an opportunity to learn, rather than hoping that Bayern might come in for a third time. Because at some stage Chelsea and Lampard will grow tired of being put on the spot about Hudson-Odoi. The week at Chelsea Transfer news: Loftus-Cheek heads to Fulham, Rudiger stays Comment: As Chelsea and others spent big this summer, has Covid really changed anything? Consistency calling: Chelsea need to address Jekyll and Hyde performances in matches Analysis: Mendy is an upgrade on Kepa when it comes to shot-stopping, but his short passing will be tested Sign up

I hope they both kick some ass!

lol, he was first team all EPL in Conte's first season, but he has worn out his welcome and he never was suited for a pure fullback role go have another whinge over me calling him shitlonso and for a triple crank n' cry site search Batshit and go scold everyone who has ever used that sick of reading this tosh onto ignore you go only the 3rd one here ever congrats

his play and actions since then (and I always prefaced it with his simply being better than Emerson, a very low bar, plus he really is only decent as a wingback, not a trad fullback) have shown that he is not reliable, nor a team player, and you are a known troll, so your opinion is a priori invalid anyway, so jog on m8 talking around me, in the the 3rd person, and not addressing me directly is classic passive-aggressiveness, a troll move, like I said

is this you? asking for a friend https://www.redcafe.net/threads/transfer-tweets-2020-21-check-the-op-for-blacklisted-sources-before-posting.456544/post-26188925

The reason why Chelsea star refused a move to Tottenham Hotspur https://astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2020/10/07/revealed-why-chelsea-star-rudiger-chose-to-reject-tottenham-move/ According to The Athletic (h/t The Daily Mail), Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger chose against joining Tottenham Hotspur as he did not want to have a falling out with the supporters. The German ace has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea this season. He has not played a single minute and does not appear to be in Frank Lampard’s plans. With Thiago Silva’s signing effectively making Rudiger the club’s fifth-choice centre-back, he was expected to leave the club on loan. One of the clubs keen on him were arch-rivals Tottenham. Now managed by former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, positive talks were held between Rudiger and the Portuguese tactician. While Chelsea were ready to part ways with the German, the player himself chose against it. According to the report, he was worried about the fallout with the fans if he joined one of the club’s biggest rivals. The 27-year-old will now stay at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place in the squad. A number of Europe’s big guns were linked with a move for Rudiger. The likes of PSG, AC Milan, Roma and Barcelona were all touted to make a move but failed to land the player. With his future now at the Bridge, Rudiger can hopefully replicate the form that we all know he is capable of.

we all know I am hardcore on ageing players (Thiago being an exception, a VERY rare one), BUT that is once they are over 30yo (mainly 3 things, loss of pace, injuries coming far too often, and also a huge drop in value) BUT it is laughable that some on twitter are saying Rudiger is an old player and in total decline (beginning of March the bloke was still 26!) rofmaoooooo

Bayern they only spent a net £37m, and that is not counting the loan money they are getting, nor the bonus payments the bindippers will surely owe them for Thiago they may try and move Alaba this winter rather than let him go one a free in summer even if they keep him, Boateng is on his last legs as being an even close to top player and they only have two other CBs (other than a kid who was 17yo four months ago), both of whom are coming off huge injuries (and Lucas Hernandez has been a bit of flop, especially for the insane €80m they paid for him, PLUS he is now forced to LB, as Alphonso has to play winger due to the Sane new knee injury and Coman also with a new injury) and they got well over £100m for winning the CL, plus will get a shedload more for winning the FWCC they were almost like victimpool last season, with the poor depth now, although they did do 4 re-enforcing buys (granted most are meh plyers) GK (fine) Manuel Neuer Alexander Nübel CB David Alaba Niklas Süle Jérôme Boateng (33yo next summer) Tanguy Nianzou Jun 7, 2002 (18) LB Alphonso Davies (playing winger atm) Lucas Hernández forced here due to Davies at winger and the fact is, that atm, Alaba is a better CB than he is RB Benjamin Pavard (can play CB, but with no Sarr, that means Kimmich here, which is great, but then the OLY remotely defensive MF they have is the brand new Rocha Bouna Sarr 28yo (soon 29, in 3 months) new buy , but he is now injured and meh anyway DMF Joshua Kimmich Marc Roca <<< rare thing, an actually good desperation buy CMF Leon Goretzka Corentin Tolisso AMF Jamal Musiala Feb 26, 2003 (17) LW Leroy Sané injured Kingsley Coman injured RW Serge Gnabry Douglas Costa SS Thomas Müller CF Robert Lewandowski Joshua Zirkzee 19yo Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting dregs now, imagine if you took away those 4 new (none came until the last several days) players! so no Roca, Costa, Sarr and Choupo-Mouting and also it truly looked like Alaba was leaving as well the people giving me stick (especially the crazy abuse in some stream chats, although the actual Bayern people always said 'she is completely right') for long ago calling out their extraordinarily lack of depth coming down the tunnel at that time (I started as soon as the CL ended) truly look foolish

Lampard must find way to get the best out of Jorginho, says Zola https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/club-news/lampard-must-find-way-to-get-the-best-out-of-jorginho-says-zola/ Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has urged Frank Lampard to reassess how he uses “difference-maker” Jorginho in his system. Jorginho has seen a resurgence this season having lost his spot in Lampard’s starting line-up when the Premier League resumed last season after lockdown. The 28-year-old looked right at home alongside N’Golo Kante in the double-pivot midfield Lampard employed in Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. And Zola believes Jorginho needs to play in the right role and system to thrive, implying Lampard may have given him too much “defensive responsibility”. He told Sky Sports: “With Jorginho, it depends on what type of football you want to play. “If you want to play possession where you have the ball all the time and you play a lot of passes, there are not many as good as him around. “If you ask Jorginho to cover 50 metres of the pitch in width and get all the balls back, it’s going to be difficult.” Zola, who also had Jorginho under his wing as Chelsea assistant manager in the 2018-19 season, argued that Jorginho needs protection from his teammate to reach his full potential in midfield. “Jorginho is not a player that has a lot of physicality and mobility but he is very intelligent and is always in the right place,” Zola added. “If you have someone who can help him, he can make a big difference. It’s just about getting the best out of him.” In Lampard’s defence, however, it might be unrealistic to expect his deepest midfielder to be freed from defensive duties. The fact Chelsea conceded the most goals from counter-attacks in the Premier League last season highlights how vulnerable the side has been with Jorginho being the last man in front of the defence most of the time. Lampard’s new 4-2-3-1 system could be an attempt to solve that issue, along with the obvious plan to use Kai Havertz as a number 10.

yet another in the so-long-here-his-pic-is-an-adidas-kit crew

last time I checked 90% of Chels fanbase calls Man U Manure but I will put you in the 10% as for Marcos, most of the time I use Alonso, but I chose to cash in my 'every so often' Shitlonso this week, lolol and we should have sold them off before, at least one contracts are winding down, players ageing quickly lots of players we are stuck with, not just those 2 we are going to get the old treatment when we go to sell next summer

we should hire the gunnersaurus bloke paint him blue and have him run around naked with a big I got fucked in the ARSE! sign

David Squires on … anarchy in the Premier League and extinct dinosaurs Our cartoonist on epic thrashings for Liverpool and Manchester United, the soaring goal-rate and the end of Gunnersaurus https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2020/oct/06/david-squires-on-anarchy-in-the-premier-league-and-extinct-dinosaurs

what a fucking joke twin asshats at LB who should have both been loaned or sold ages ago still on the roster and fucking Manure signs Alex Telles for £13.5m, which is 3 and half times less of what we turned down for just Shitlonso in 2018 the 2nd half of this window was a disaster once again Marina gets the old Italian salami planted right in the arse with multiple players she doesn't know how to deal with Italian men

How Arsenal ‘went big’ to sign Partey in a deal two years in the making https://theathletic.com/2116973/2020/10/05/thomas-partey-arsenal-atletico/ Since Arsenal’s interest in Thomas Partey first intensified in 2018, the Ghanaian midfielder has made a habit of regularly tuning into their games from his home in Madrid. He has watched the undulations of the last two years with interest, always hoping the club he was intent on joining would one day come back for him. On transfer deadline day, Arsenal finally made good on their promise. A message to the Partey camp on Monday morning indicated the club were willing to meet his €50 million release clause. Atletico Madrid, unwilling to let Partey go, have sought to increase the value of the clause several times over the past few seasons. By the time they were aware of Arsenal’s deadline-day operation, the player had been all but snatched away, the whole deal done in Spain. It was La Liga who informed Atletico that Partey’s clause had been triggered, rather than Arsenal themselves. Atletico were left furious at the lack of notice, with one senior source describing Arsenal’s approach as “incredible” and feel the relationship between the two clubs is irreparable. The discourteous approach is reminiscent of when Arsenal approached Mikel Arteta without first contacting Manchester City. With the clock ticking down, Arsenal will plead that deadline day is no time for courtesy — it is a time to be bold, and this signing is certainly a bold move. Arsenal’s interest in Partey stems back to 2014, when he was stationed on loan with Almeria. At that time, he played as an adventurous midfielder, rather than as a holding player. It was former Arsenal scout Francis Cagigao who first identified him as a good fit for Arsene Wenger’s team, before later proposing his signing to Sven Mislintat and Unai Emery. Emery, who knew the player well from his time in La Liga, was already an admirer of Partey’s combination of power, technique and intelligence. When Arsenal hosted Napoli in April 2019, Partey’s representatives were present at the Emirates Stadium. Talks with high-level officials were held at the club’s Highbury House and Partey’s demands were made plain: a salary over €250,000 per week with a signing-on fee of €2.5 million, plus the associated agents’ commission. Along with the €50 million buyout clause, which had to be deposited in a single instalment, it made for an expensive deal. Despite Emery’s admiration for the player, he made clear to the club’s executive committee that his priority was the addition of a winger. That led to Arsenal focusing on the expensive pursuit of Wilfried Zaha and ultimately Nicolas Pepe, rendering Partey unaffordable. Instead, Raul Sanllehi thrashed out a deal to sign Dani Ceballos on loan. Arsenal’s interest, however, did not end there. Over the course of the following season, Arsenal officials continued to watch Partey and maintain contact with the player’s representatives. It is a tight camp: although he remains close to his own family, Partey left his home in Odumase Krobo, Ghana, at just 10 years old to pursue a professional career. After playing with a second-division youth team in Ghana, he eventually travelled to Madrid as an 18-year-old trialist. It was there that agent Jose Jimenez of JJ Sports took him under his wing, with sources subsequently describing Jimenez and his son as Partey’s “second family”. Over the last two years, Arsenal scouts had watched Partey on more than 20 separate occasions. When Cagigao presented the dossier of recommendations for the summer 2020 transfer window, Partey was at the very top of their list. It’s notable that in the summer that Arsenal chose to dispense with the vast majority of their network of scouts, their two biggest signings — Partey and centre-half Gabriel — both arrived after recommendations from that department. Arsenal entered the window knowing their midfield would require significant strengthening. Initially, they set out to acquire players who would provide options at “No 10, No 8 and No 6”. The signing of Willian and a second loan spell for Ceballos went some way towards meeting that goal, but Arsenal continued to consider moves for Partey and Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar. When Atletico made it clear they would only contemplate allowing Partey to leave if the release clause was triggered, Arsenal set that deal to one side. They began to explore the potential transfer of Aouar — a player admired by Arteta since his time working alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. As recently as last week, Arsenal were confident they were capable of securing the deal. Technical director Edu instigated talks with compatriot and Lyon sporting director Juninho Pernambucano. That may, in part, have been Arsenal’s undoing. It is president Jean-Michel Aulas who is the key decision-maker at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais. One source privy to Lyon’s internal politics characterised Edu and Juninho’s conversations as “like two kids trying to learn to ride a tricycle” — to do a deal with Lyon, you must get in front of Aulas. Arsenal’s subsequent offers fell considerably short of Lyon’s demand for more than €50 million. Aulas set clear deadlines for the negotiations, but an agreement was not forthcoming. With the player also having second thoughts after overtures from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid about a potential transfer in 2021, the prospect of any deal collapsed. As the transfer window entered its final weekend, Edu and Arteta’s focus shifted back to acquiring someone capable of operating at the base of midfield — the elusive No 6. With Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira both headed for the exit, Arsenal were in danger of leaving themselves with just Granit Xhaka, Ceballos and Mohamed Elneny as senior options in that area. Edu and Arteta landed on Chelsea’s Jorginho as a suitable target — another player prized by Arteta during his time at the Etihad. The hope was that if Chelsea’s long-standing interest in Declan Rice solidified, the Brazilian might be deemed surplus to requirements. Chelsea, however, did not aggressively pursue Rice, and consequently informed Arsenal that Jorginho was not for sale. And so back to Partey. Arsenal sources indicate it was not a case of Partey over Aouar — it was a case of what remained possible in this window. Although deadline day deals are often associated with panic, Arsenal have sought to bring a calm, methodical approach to the market. Those familiar with Arsenal’s transfer strategy have expressed surprise that the club have ultimately opted to proceed with the most expensive deal on their potential list. It is understood that, once salary is accounted for, the total deal for Partey could cost in the region of €100 million. Having already acquired Gabriel and Willian, staff had been operating under the impression the club needed to sell several players to fund further spending. For Arsenal, this window was always intended to be as much about selling as buying. That side of things has proved more difficult. In a depressed market, Arsenal have struggled to find takers for the likes of Sokratis, Sead Kolasinac, Shkodran Mustafi and Guendouzi, although the latter eventually joined Hertha Berlin on loan. Wolverhampton Wanderers were interested in purchasing Ainsley Maitland-Niles, though not at a price Arsenal deemed acceptable. Although there were multiple suitors for Torreira, the player’s determination to join Atletico Madrid meant Arsenal eventually agreed to a loan deal. With the midfielder under Arsenal contract until 2023, they hope a positive spell in La Liga could enable them to attract an attractive price next summer. Arsenal fans will doubtless have cast envious eyes at Liverpool who, in Rhian Brewster, sold a striker without a Premier League appearance to his name for £23.5 million. Brewster’s nationality and the champions’ celebrated status almost certainly contribute to that hefty price tag, but nevertheless, Liverpool are a club that consistently sell well. As well as obvious instances like Coutinho’s transfer to Barcelona, they also received £15 million for Jordon Ibe, £19 million for Dominic Solanke and £12.5 million for Danny Ward. Earlier this summer, Wolves paid £13.5 million for defender Ki-Jana Hoever. Although Arsenal tend to hold on to players for too long, allowing their value to diminish, Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards has a great instinct for when to sell. It can appear ruthless, but the financial benefit is unquestionable. Arsenal, meanwhile, have struggled to offload their high-earning fringe players — the intransigence of Mesut Ozil, insistent he will see out the final year of his contract, is a case in point. Arsenal aren’t alone in this — Chelsea have experienced similar issues when it comes to shifting offcuts. The economic crisis has made extracting fees from European clubs more difficult than ever. The one squad player Arsenal were able to sell for a respectable fee was substitute goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who joined Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £20 million. After his impressive run in the team during Bernd Leno’s absence, Martinez was determined not to return his role as a perennial back-up. Arteta and goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, however, were united in regarding Leno as the definitive No 1. Arsenal intended to replace Martinez with Brentford’s David Raya but the Championship club were unwilling to sell. That led to Arsenal moving for 25-year-old Iceland international Runar Alex Runarsson, another former Cana protege. Arsenal’s interest in Raya, however, remains: although the Spaniard recently signed a new contract seemingly committing him to Brentford until 2024, sources have told The Athletic that the deal includes a minimum fee release clause that comes into action in the summer of 2021. Part of Raya’s appeal is that having come through Blackburn Rovers’ academy, he qualifies as a homegrown player. Following the closure of the domestic transfer window on October 16, Arsenal will have to register their 25-man squad with the Premier League, in which they are permitted to have no more than 17 non-homegrown players. With the closure of the European window, Arsenal currently have 19 senior professionals in that bracket. It seems Arteta will soon face a formal decision on whom to exclude. The struggle to move players on means there remains a slightly flabby, imbalanced look to sections of the Arsenal squad. There’s a surfeit of central defenders and arguably still space for another creative midfielder. The overhaul is unfinished. Perhaps that should come as no great surprise, given the scale of the job at hand. Arsenal also lost head of football and chief negotiator Sanllehi just weeks into the window, placing an enormous and unexpected burden on Edu and contract specialist Huss Fahmy. As one Arsenal staff member at Arsenal put it in the midst of the transfer madness, “Edu’s head is on fire from all the negotiations”. Arsenal’s leadership team of Edu, Arteta and new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham have endured a period of significant instability and still managed to execute something like the plan. Arsenal, like all Premier League clubs, have also been contending with the economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic. The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust estimate that COVID-19 is likely to take Arsenal from a situation where they would have reported a small profit of £4 million for this current season to one of recording a financial loss of over £40 million for 2019-20. If stadiums are empty for the remainder of 2020-21, the AST believes Arsenal could record a loss of a further £80 million — without accounting for that investment in Partey. Set against that backdrop, the work Arsenal have done this summer is impressive. In Gabriel, they have signed a coveted centre-half who is already adapting well to English football. Willian has brought experience and versatility. Bringing Ceballos back on loan from Madrid was no certainty, but Arsenal beat Real Betis to the punch. The merit of converting loan deals for Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares into permanent signings will be debated, but until both players have made a greater impression on the Arsenal first-team, it is difficult to assess their true quality. There will be no arguments, however, about the significance of signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new deal. Arsenal stretched the limits of their creaking wage budget to tie him into a three-year contract, the terms of which mean he has the potential to become the club’s highest earner. On top of that, they tied down the promising duo of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to long-term contracts. That outlay demonstrated backing for Arteta, and an optimism about what the next few seasons could bring. The same is true for the signing of Partey. At 27, he is five years older than Arsenal’s other major target, Aouar. However, Arteta has already shown a preference for experience in pivotal positions. In Partey, Arteta believes he is getting a player who is already the finished article. That should enable him to have an instant impact — Fernandinho was already 28 when he arrived at Manchester City, and has proved enormous value. Arsenal want to push on now. This is not the first time in recent history Arsenal have finished the summer window on a high. The celebrations that greeted transfer deadline day a year ago now serve as a cautionary reminder that spending does not guarantee success. However, Arsenal appear to have emerged from adversity with a more complete squad. The club have sensed an opportunity — stumbling rivals, a team with newfound momentum, a manager on the rise — and have seized it. Arsenal have gone for it.

Transfer window verdict: how every Premier League club fared https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/06/transfer-window-verdict-how-every-premier-league-club-fared Who got what they wanted and who finished frustrated? Our guide to every top-flight team’s dealings Arsenal Arsenal know how to leave it late but in adding Thomas Partey to Willian and Gabriel Magalhães they completed a window that will rightly delight Mikel Arteta. The unwanted Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira have been shifted, on loan at least, although their embarrassment of centre-backs remains far from ideal. Signing Houssem Aouar as well would have put them in dreamland but that may be revisited next year. Nick Ames Key ins Willian (Chelsea, free), Pablo Marí (Flamengo, £14m), Cédric Soares (Southampton, free), Gabriel Magalhães (Lille, £27m), Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid, loan extended), Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson (Dijon, £1.8m), Thomas Partey (Atlético Madrid, £45m) Key outs Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Roma, free), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, £20m), Matteo Guendouzi (Hertha Berlin, loan), Lucas Torreira (Atlético Madrid, loan) Aston Villa Dean Smith has built on the solid defensive foundations he laid towards the end of last season, adding an excellent goalkeeper and exciting attackers, as Liverpool found out on Sunday. If the newcomers sustain their high performances and the team are spared the kind of injuries that sabotaged them last season, Villa could be heading for a top-half finish. Paul Doyle Key ins Matty Cash (Nottingham Forest, £16m), Ollie Watkins (Brentford, £28m), Emiliano Martínez (Arsenal, £20m), Bertrand Traoré (Lyon, £17m), Ross Barkley (Chelsea, loan) Key outs James Chester (Stoke, free), Borja Bastón (Leganés, free), Scott Hogan (Birmingham, £3m), Mbwana Samatta (Fenerbahce, loan) Brighton Aside from late moves for the young Polish duo Jakub Moder and Michal Karbownik, who have been loaned back to their clubs, it was a quiet end to the window for Graham Potter’s side. Brighton bought the Swiss striker Andi Zeqiri last week but perhaps their best business was to persuade the defender Ben White to sign a new contract. Ed Aarons Key ins Adam Lallana (Liverpool, free), Joel Veltman (Ajax, £900,000), Lars Dendoncker (Brugge, undisclosed), Jan Paul van Hecke (NAC Breda, £1.8m), Andi Zeqiri (Lausanne, £4m), Jakub Moder (Lech Poznan, undisclosed), Michal Karbownik (Legia Warsaw, undisclosed) Key outs Anthony Knockaert (Fulham, £15m), Leon Balogun (Rangers, free), Martín Montoya (Real Betis, £1.8m), Aaron Mooy (Shanghai SIPG, £4m), Glenn Murray (Watford, loan), Shane Duffy (Celtic, loan), Dale Stephens (Burnley, £1m), Jan Paul van Hecke (Heerenveen, loan), Jakub Moder (Lech Poznan, loan), Michal Karbownik (Legia Warsaw, loan) Burnley Keeping James Tarkowski amid firm interest from West Ham and Leicester was Burnley’s best move of an otherwise flat and troubling window. Sean Dyche admitted his squad were a few players short regardless of current injury problems, which have contributed to a winless start to the Premier League season, but there would be no late reinforcements. Andy Hunter Key ins Will Norris (Wolves, undisclosed), Dale Stephens (Brighton, £1m) Key outs Aaron Lennon (released), Joe Hart (Tottenham, free), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle, free), Ben Gibson (Norwich, loan) Chelsea Frank Lampard received huge backing. Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner have strengthened the attack and Édouard Mendy, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva are capable of improving Chelsea’s defensive record. A worry, though, is that Chelsea’s squad looks a little bloated after Marcos Alonso, Emerson Palmieri and Antonio Rüdiger were unable to secure moves. Jacob Steinberg Key ins Hakim Ziyech (Ajax, £33.6m), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig, £47.5m), Ben Chilwell (Leicester, £50m), Malang Sarr (Nice, free), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain, free), Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen, £72m), Édouard Mendy (Rennes, £22m) Key outs Mario Pasalic (Atalanta, £13.5m), Álvaro Morata (Atlético Madrid, £59.2m), Willian (Arsenal, free), Pedro (Roma, free), Ethan Ampadu (Sheffield United, loan), Michy Batshuayi (Crystal Palace, loan), Conor Gallagher (West Brom, loan), Davide Zappacosta (Genoa, loan), Ross Barkley (Aston Villa, loan), Tiemoué Bakayoko (Napoli, loan), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Fulham, loan) Crystal Palace The lack of late activity surrounding Wilfried Zaha ensured Palace kept their powder dry on deadline day despite monitoring Celtic’s Odsonne Édouard and Saïd Benrahma of Brentford. Late interest in Zaha from Atlético Madrid or Everton failed to materialise, with the Ivorian to remain at Selhurst Park for at least another three months. EA Key ins Nathan Ferguson (West Brom, free), Eberechi Eze (QPR, £16m), Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea, loan) Key outs Alexander Sørloth (RB Leipzig, £20m) Everton The Premier League table provides an early but accurate gauge of Everton’s business, with the pulling power and heightened ambition of Carlo Ancelotti delivering the most fruitful window of the Farhad Moshiri era. Midfield, so bereft last season, was rebuilt, central defence was reinforced and a goalkeeper eventually arrived following an arduous search. AH Key ins Niels Nkounkou (Marseille, £240,000), Allan (Napoli, £22.5m), James Rodríguez (Real Madrid, £20m), Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford, £20m), Ben Godfrey (Norwich, £20m), Robin Olsen (Roma, loan) Key outs Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax, free), Morgan Schneiderlin (Nice, £2m), Oumar Niasse (released), Moise Kean (PSG, loan), Theo Walcott (Southampton, loan) Fulham Tony Khan made good on the promise he made after Fulham’s humbling by Aston Villa last week. Scott Parker wanted centre-backs and Fulham’s head of recruitment delivered on deadline day, landing Lyon’s Joachim Andersen and Manchester City’s Tosin Adarabioyo. The club also added a touch of class in midfield, loaning Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea. JS Key ins Anthony Knockaert (Brighton, £15m), Antonee Robinson (Wigan, £1.9m), Mario Lemina (Southampton, loan), Harrison Reed (Southampton, £6m), Alphonse Areola (PSG, loan), Kenny Tete (Lyon, £3m), Ola Aina (Torino, loan), Ademola Lookman (RB Leipzig, loan), Joachim Andersen (Lyon, loan), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea, loan), Tosin Adarabioyo (Manchester City, £1.5m) Key outs Alfie Mawson (Bristol City, loan), Steven Sessegnon (Bristol City, loan), Marcus Bettinelli (Middlesbrough, loan), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest, loan) Leeds United Marcelo Bielsa is a famously discerning shopper and he has added quality while increasing competition for places. While Rodrigo adds to the attacking options and the left-footed Raphinha can operate on either wing, Robin Koch and Diego Llorente have reinforced central defence. Ideally Bielsa wanted a midfielder capable of introducing another tactical dimension and he may yet arrive from the Championship – Norwich’s Todd Cantwell anyone? Louise Taylor Key ins Hélder Costa (Wolves, £16m), Illan Meslier (Lorient, £5m), Jack Harrison (Manchester City, loan extended), Rodrigo (Valencia, £30m), Robin Koch (Freiburg, £12.9m), Diego Llorente (Real Sociedad, £23m), Raphinha (Rennes, £17m) Key outs None Leicester Brendan Rodgers wanted five players; he got three. Timothy Castagne has already shown his worth as a wing-back, making the sale of Ben Chilwell look like good business. Wesley Fofana boosts options in central defence and the winger Cengiz Under may prove more effective than Ayoze Pérez and Demarai Gray have been. A central midfielder would also have been welcome. PD Key ins Timothy Castagne (Atalanta, £21.5m), Cengiz Under (Roma, loan), Wesley Fofana (Saint-Étienne, £36.5m) Key outs Ben Chilwell (Chelsea, £50m), Fousseni Diabaté (Trabzonspor, £2.7m), Adrien Silva (Sampdoria, free), Rachid Ghezzal (Besiktas, loan) Liverpool Jürgen Klopp cautioned it would be hard to improve the Premier League champions in normal circumstances, harder still with a pandemic impacting on finances, but Liverpool succeeded in the end with Thiago Alcântara embellishing midfield and the surprise signing of Diogo Jota strengthening their attacking options. Not adding central defensive cover looks risky, however. AH Key ins Kostas Tsimikas (Olympiakos, £11.8m), Thiago Alcântara (Bayern Munich, £27m), Diogo Jota (Wolves, £41m) Key outs Dejan Lovren (Zenit, £10.9m), Nathaniel Clyne (released), Adam Lallana (Brighton, free), Ki-Jana Hoever (Wolves, £9m), Loris Karius (Union Berlin, loan), Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United, £23.5m) Manchester City Pep Guardiola’s signature signing is the £64.3m centre-back Rúben Dias and with fellow central defender Nathan Aké’s arrival for £41m the manager will hope he has finally addressed a defence that has been vulnerable. The winger Ferran Torres was acquired, too, for £21m but Guardiola was unable to add the left-back he believes is needed. Still, the total spend is more than £125m which should be sufficient, really, for City to seriously compete. Jamie Jackson Key ins Ferran Torres (Valencia, £21m), Nathan Aké (Bournemouth, £41m), Scott Carson (Derby, loan extended), Rúben Dias (Benfica, £64.3m) Key outs Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich, £40.9m), Jack Harrison (Leeds, loan extended), Claudio Bravo (Real Betis, free), Angeliño (RB Leipzig, loan extended), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, £13.6m), Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham, £1.5m) Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjær landed three major signings: midfielder Donny van de Beek and left-back Alex Telles for about a total £50m, plus Edinson Cavani on a free. Of these only Telles may be a first choice and there is anticlimax after a window-long pursuit for Jadon Sancho came to nothing, with no right winger acquired. Is the manager’s strongest XI stronger? Maybe but by how much is yet to be shown. JJ Key ins Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, loan extended), Donny van de Beek (Ajax, £34.7m), Alex Telles (Porto, £13.6m), Amad Diallo Traoré (Atalanta, £18.2m), Edinson Cavani (PSG, free), Facundo Pellistri (Atlético Peñarol, £10m) Key outs Alexis Sánchez (Inter, free), Angel Gomes (Lille, free), Tahith Chong (Werder Bremen, loan), Andreas Pereira (Lazio, loan), Diogo Dalot (Milan, loan), Chris Smalling (Roma, £13.5m) Newcastle United For once, Newcastle did their shopping early. Callum Wilson has already started scoring the goals the team lacked last season, Ryan Fraser is a talented winger, Jamal Lewis a promising left-back and Jeff Hendrick a useful midfielder. There are, however, concerns that Steve Bruce could have done with another striker and central defender. LT Key ins Jeff Hendrick (Burnley, free), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth, £20m), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth, free), Jamal Lewis (Norwich, £15m) Key outs Jack Colback (Nottingham Forest, free), Florian Lejeune (Alavés, loan), Yoshinori Muto (Eibar, loan) Sheffield United The Blades are stronger than they were, even if results have not yet shown that, but much will depend on Rhian Brewster, the 20-year-old brought in for a record fee to add sharpness to their attack. The goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale should mean Dean Henderson is not missed too badly, while Ethan Ampadu, Jayden Bogle and Max Lowe provide much-needed defensive cover. PD Key ins Wes Foderingham (Rangers, free), Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth, £18.5m), Jayden Bogle (Derby, £7m), Max Lowe (Derby, £4m), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea, loan), Oliver Burke (West Brom, swap), Rhian Brewster (Liverpool, £23.5m) Key outs Dean Henderson (Manchester United, loan ended), Callum Robinson (West Brom, swap), Ravel Morrison (Den Haag, free) Southampton Much of the focus inevitably surrounded Theo Walcott’s loan return but perhaps the best work was the clutch of deadline-day outgoings, with high earners Guido Carrillo, Sofiane Boufal and Wesley Hoedt following Mario Lemina out. Ralph Hasenhüttl would have liked cover at full-back – they inquired about Brandon Williams – but the permanent arrival of Kyle Walker-Peters looks shrewd and there is hope Ibrahima Diallo will beef up midfield. Ben Fisher Key ins Kyle Walker-Peters (Tottenham, £12m), Mohamed Salisu (Real Valladolid, £10.9m), Ibrahima Diallo (Brest, £12m), Theo Walcott (Everton, loan) Key outs Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic, loan extended), Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham, £15m), Cédric Soares (Arsenal, free), Mario Lemina (Fulham, loan), Harrison Reed (Fulham, £6m), Maya Yoshida (Sampdoria, free), Wesley Hoedt (Lazio, loan), Guido Carrillo (Elche, free), Sofiane Boufal (Angers, free) Tottenham Hotspur José Mourinho has the knack of teasing funds out of chairmen and he has excelled himself this summer, getting new full-backs, the defensive midfielder he so badly wanted, a back-up striker and, drum roll, Gareth Bale. The bonus centre-half had not arrived by Monday night’s deadline but this has been a refit to get the fans excited. David Hytner Key ins Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton, £15m), Joe Hart (Burnley, free), Matt Doherty (Wolves, £14.7m), Sergio Reguilón (Real Madrid, £27.5m), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid, loan), Carlos Vinícius (Benfica, loan) Key outs Victor Wanyama (Montreal Impact, free), Michel Vorm (released), Troy Parrott (Millwall, loan), Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton, £12m), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica, free), Juan Foyth (Villarreal, loan), Ryan Sessegnon (Hoffenheim, loan) West Bromwich Albion Slaven Bilic acknowledged his squad required an injection of quality but the prolonged chase for a bona fide striker will run into next week. A modest budget by Premier League standards makes a deal for Huddersfield’s Karlan Grant, thought to be Albion’s top target, tricky but out-of-favour forwards Charlie Austin and Kenneth Zohore could depart. Matheus Pereira, Grady Diangana and Filip Krovinovic, all influential in winning promotion, returned but Albion remain light at both ends. BF Key ins Matheus Pereira (Sporting, £9m), Cédric Kipré (Wigan, £1m), Grady Diangana (West Ham, £18m), David Button (Brighton, £1m), Callum Robinson (Sheffield United, swap), Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit, free), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea, loan), Filip Krovinovic (Benfica, loan) Key outs Nathan Ferguson (Crystal Palace, free), Chris Brunt (Bristol City, free), Oliver Burke (Sheffield United, swap) West Ham United West Ham promised that the £18m received for Grady Diangana from West Brom would allow David Moyes to sign some defenders. So far they have brought in only Vladimir Coufal, a right-back, for £5.4m. They failed with bids for several centre-backs – but they do have until 16 October to sign one from the Championship. JS Key ins Tomas Soucek (Slavia Prague, £19.1m), Vladimir Coufal (Slavia Prague, £5m) Key outs Carlos Sánchez (released), Pablo Zabaleta (released), Albian Ajeti (Celtic, £4.5m), Jeremy Ngakia (Watford, free), Jordan Hugill (Norwich, £5m), Roberto (Real Valladolid, free), Grady Diangana (West Brom, £18m), Jack Wilshere (released), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht, £800,000) Wolverhampton Wanderers Nuno Espírito Santo said he wanted this to be a season of change, with Wolves evolving into a team that dominate matches. They have sold two important players – Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota – and have lost Jonny Castro to injury but they kept Raúl Jiménez and Adama Traoré and have brought in several players with big potential, notably Fabio Silva and Vitinha. PD Key ins Fabio Silva (Porto, £35m), Marcal (Lyon, £1.8m), Vitinha (Porto, loan), Ki-Jana Hoever (Liverpool, £9m), Nelson Semedo (Barcelona, £27.6m), Rayan Aït Nouri (Angers, loan) Key outs Hélder Costa (Leeds, £16m), Matt Doherty (Tottenham, £14.7m), Diogo Jota (Liverpool, £41m), Rúben Vinagre (Olympiakos, loan)

he was poor at Ajax on loan, they could have bought him cheap and hard passed

lol, I would love to see Zouma do this to Harry Kane backstory there, Ramsey broke up with that player's (Golden Tate) sister once she got preggers and Tate and him were fighting all game, lol, yank football is so gangster

Six (it's more than 6) Chelsea players could still leave club this month after disastrous Deadline Day Frank Lampard has been left with a headache after the Premier League side failed shift surplus stars in the transfer window, with deadline day moves falling through https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-deadline-day-transfer-news-22799719 Six Chelsea players could still leave the club this month after the Premier League side failed to shift their surplus players on transfer deadline day. Frank Lampard needed to trim his squad on the final day of a transfer window which has seen the Stamford Bridge side spend close to £250million on new recruits. But Antonio Rudiger, Fikayo Tomori, Marcos Alonso and Emerson are all still at Chelsea after proposed moves fell through on Monday. That leaves manager Lampard with five centre-backs and three left-backs to manage as he deals with a glut of defenders in his senior squad. But while Premier League outfits can no longer trade with each other or with clubs abroad following Monday's deadline, the transfer window is still open for deals with EFL teams. Players can move between top-flight clubs and those in the lower divisions until October 16, either on loan or on permanent deals. Left-back Baba Rahman, midfielders Danny Drinkwater and Marco van Ginkel, winger Victor Moses, goalkeeper Nathan Baxter and centre-back Jake Clarke-Salter could all possibly leave on loan before then, according to Goal. Moves for any of those players would help ease the congestion in Lampard's squad after Chelsea failed to move on the three senior defenders who are no longer in his plans. Rudiger was briefly a target for Roma when their deal for Chris Smalling looked like falling through, but ultimately they landed the Manchester United man. The centre-back was also believed to be on the radar of both AC Milan and Inter, but neither team came forward, while talks with PSG came to nothing. He was also reportedly being considered by Barcelona, but their move for Manchester City's Eric Garcia collapsed too late for them to swoop for the Germany international. West Ham and Tottenham were also linked with the defender, but he opted not to join one of Chelsea's Premier League rivals. Chelsea had rejected moves from Everton and Rennes for Tomori earlier in the window, but looked to find him on a loan move on deadline day. At one point he looked set to join West Ham, but the central defender rejected the move late on. Alonso looked set for the exit door after falling out with Lampard last week. Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, now Inter Milan boss, is reported to have switched his interest from Emerson to Alonso, but the latter was ultimately deemed too expensive. Juventus were interested in signing Emerson, but ran out of time to sign the left-back after focusing their efforts on landing Federico Chiesa from Fiorentina. Chelsea rejected an approach from Bayern Munich to take Callum Hudson-Odoi on loan, even though an option to buy for £70m was included. And there was no move for West Ham for Declan Rice, who has been high on Lampard's radar. The west London side did manage to shift some of their surplus stars on loan during the transfer window, with Ross Barkley joining Aston Villa and Ruben Loftus-Cheek going to Fulham, while Malang Sarr will join Porto.

partial squad breakdown (I am going off T-Markt for some very iffy players who appear to still be here) GK good move for Mendy, but not happy we failed to get Kepa out on loan CB overload Antonio Rüdiger Kurt Zouma Andreas Christensen Malang Sarr (I cannot find the confirmation on his Porto loan) Fikayo Tomori Thiago Silva LB overload Ben Chilwell Emerson Marcos Alonso Abdul Rahman Baba (he appears to not have been loaned out, hopefully this is an error) Malang Sarr (can play LB) CMF no depth (unless you count Kante, and even with him, still light) Mateo Kovacic Billy Gilmour Injured still Danny Drinkwater <<<????????? Mount may be uses more here I guess no clue if we loaned Moses either

yes, Lamps went ballistic on Alonso in front of the whole team because he went and sat in the bus as soon as he was pulled and they got ito it the next day too insane that we failed to even get either Emerson or him out on loan and it looks like we still have Sarr too and ow have so few wingers and CMF's plus lack a proper DMF (Partey to Arse is killing me, at least they failed on Aouar) Partey was the last piece to the puzzle this season (as Rice is outrageously overpriced and Zakaria cannot leave till next summer) he would have been a huge game-changer we really screwed the pooch the last third of the window with the failed sales, failed loans, and then no DMF (and literally the best one actually available going to one of our most hated rivals, a team who deffo will be in the top 4 battle)

Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger will be staying at Stamford Bridge, reports Raphael Honigstein. The Athletic has learned that the German defender had very positive talks with Jose Mourinho, and that Chelsea were in principle prepared to let him go to Tottenham on loan. While initially open to the move, it is understood that Rudiger felt wary of the potential fall out from supporters for playing for one of Chelsea’s biggest rivals. The 27-year-old decided that he would be better served attempting to fight his way back into the Chelsea starting XI via a twelve-month stint abroad instead. Approaches by AC Milan, Roma and Barcelona came to nothing due to financial constraints at all three clubs but Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel was very keen to bring in the former Stuttgart centre-back. The PSG hierarchy felt they couldn’t sanction the deal, however, having failed to recoup significant sums via player sales. Tuchel already voiced his frustration with the French champions’ relative lack of spending this window a few days ago. Missing out on Rudiger will have done nothing to improve his mood.