Vesper

shocking that Firmino, all season, still has not scored a league goal yet at Anfield

I need to watch him more, lolol he sounds like he has been on a tear for ages

Henderson and Ben Mee out for the season

Premier League | Liverpool vs Burnley http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2020/premier-league-liverpool-vs-burnley-s1/ https://www.totalsportek.com/highlights/arsenal-vs-everton-2016-match/

I think if we do not get Havertz or any other forward, we need him to stay. But that is not a popular opinion here.

I would assume Glen Johnson does though.

“Probably their best player”: Former Chelsea player urges his former club to give star a new deal https://www.caughtoffside.com/2020/07/10/probably-their-best-player-former-chelsea-player-urges-his-former-club-to-give-star-a-new-deal/

good

it is now a full stop Manure wankfest in almost all the British media it is like the Bindippers, Shitty, us, Arse, spuds, etc etc etc all have disappeared they are practically anointing them champions for the next 5 plus coming years and proclaiming OGS as a Michelangelo type genius

it was so strange as well, becuase the presenters said to start watching Gilmour as it looks like he is carrying a knock, and it could get worse, and then he kept playing

Oblak release clause is £108m so £50m cash + Kepa puts Kepa's valuation at £58m which is NEVER gonna happen especially as he has 5 years left on his contract at between £150K and £190K per week (depending on what source you believe) so that is an additional obligation of £39m to £49.4m if it is the higher then we just got Oblak for basically giving him to Atleti and paying his salary for 5 years of course Oblak¨s salary if he came will be at least what he has now it is now £18.6m per year with the exchange rate so if we signed him to 5 years, that is £93m amortised outlay just to match if he demands a 7 year deal, (he is 27 now, 28yo in January) that is £130m amortised in salary outlays over 7 years £358K per week (more than double Kepa's if he is on £150K PW, and almost double if he is on £190K PW) and those figures are NET for Oblak you can multiple by roughly 1.7 to get the gross around £610K PW gross £160m or so for 5 years, £222m for 7 years madness

that cunt Mino Raiola is the agent for so many players I like Paul Pogba Erling Haaland Matthijs de Ligt Marco Verratti Gianluigi Donnarumma Alessio Romagnoli Donyell Malen Marcus Thuram Calvin Stengs Myron Boadu Luca Pellegrini Andrea Pinamonti Alphonse Areola Diadie Samassékou Ryan Gravenberch Mitchel Bakker

main thing he has going for him is his height

Solskjaer looks and sounds like a Manchester United manager now https://theathletic.com/1920705/2020/07/10/solskjaer-manchester-united-aston-villa-greenwood-premier-league/ It has not gone unnoticed among those who study Manchester United closely that just as the team has grown increasingly comfortable with itself so has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer become completely at ease in himself. “He’s far more assured now,” says a source. Results help, of course, but the way Solskjaer has come across in his briefings with the media since football’s return goes beyond scorelines. It points to a manager with crystal clear vision, settled in his surroundings more so than at any stage since he was appointed in caretaker charge in December 2018. No longer is he the Molde manager speaking endearingly about the clause in his contract that allowed him to take up the most important role at Old Trafford for zero compensation. That special stipulation was a sign of his particular affection for the club where he achieved legendary status as a player, and also his ambition in coaching. But there was a novelty aspect that spoke to his homespun place in European football’s management pyramid. There was a shimmering echo of Charlie Bucket’s golden ticket. Solskjaer looks and sounds a million miles from that now. He is Manchester United manager, no doubt about it, bullish and aspiring towards titles. Maybe, in time, he will prove to be United’s golden ticket. As Solskjaer himself will say, nothing has been achieved yet, but his side have now gone 17 games unbeaten in all competitions, hit 100 goals for the season, and are arguably the most exciting team to watch in the Premier League at present. The 3-0 victory at Aston Villa marked the first time in Premier League history a side has won four consecutive matches by a margin of at least three goals and Anthony Martial summed up the mood by visibly bristling when seeing his number called 11 minutes from time having failed to get in on the scoring act. “I’d have been more worried if he’d wanted to come off,” deadpanned Solskjaer afterwards. It was one good line among many in another precise, purposeful performance by Solskjaer. The effect he has on events on the pitch is the most crucial element to his job, but his public statements are also relevant. A manager might be the best tactician since Rinus Michels but if his oratory misses the mark then players will switch off. Anybody listening to Solskjaer after the Villa game would do well to resist the feeling that the Norwegian knows with certainty how to bring United success. There was finesse and force. Offered up a celebratory question about United’s scoring streak across the last four Premier League games, Solskjaer shot back: “We should have won by five clear in all of them.” He said at another point: “Hopefully the goal difference won’t be the deciding factor in the end.” Perhaps 2011-12 was on his mind, the season United lost out on the title to Manchester City on goal difference. This season, United have a goal difference six worse than Leicester, who are one point ahead in fourth. Asked about Paul Pogba’s portrayal of United as a side ambitious for the title, Solskjaer said: “I’m sure Man United will mount a challenge and get back to winning the league. When’s that going to happen? That’s up to every single one here, how quickly we can make this process go. “We’re improving as a team, developing. But you have to remember we’ve come a long way in one season. So let’s take Paul’s word into the dressing room and expect and demand more of each other every single day.” Rousing stuff, and there was more when Sky Sports’ presenter Geoff Shreeves inquired how United would maintain momentum. “Don’t believe in all the hype or criticism. Do your job. Go home, recover, come to work tomorrow morning, recover again, ready for Monday, because that is going to be a very hard game against a Southampton team who probably run the most in the Premier League. And if there is one thing I don’t want to see, it’s my team being outworked.” At times in the past, Solskjaer has appeared to view media interviews as something to be endured. There could be so much straight bat it was like being at Lord’s last over before stumps up. Bad results, and therefore scrutiny on his position, were inevitably a factor. Occasionally there was a slip of the tongue, such as in January when Solskjaer cited Pogba’s “people” as determining his need for an ankle operation, rather than the club. It was an unusual situation, but it is not believed Solskjaer intended for his choice of words to sound so spiky. Now, though, Solskjaer is showing his personality and selecting moments to deliberately deliver messages. When recently he listed the names of the elite strikers United signed during his days to keep the club competitive, his intention was not only to emphasise the edge required to win trophies to his players but those who write the cheques too. That kind of conviction is necessary for improvement, and there was the same punchy sentiment from Solskjaer before the Villa game in relation to fitness regimes over lockdown. “You’re at the biggest club in the world, you do have a responsibility, you do have a privilege of keeping fit and if you don’t have the discipline over two or three months to look after yourself, that’s when I open the door and say, ‘Find yourself somewhere else’.” Solskjaer carries credibility because he has backed up his words with actions, getting rid of established stars who did not fit his vision and providing room for the likes of Mason Greenwood, whose emergence continues apace. Again, there was impressive communication here. How do you manage Greenwood’s development? “We’ll have to wait and see. I’m doing my bit to help him but he’s got to do it. He’s the one who has to turn in performances in training, in games, live his life properly. It’s all down to him. He can go as far as he wants.” Solskjaer wants his players, whatever their age, to take responsibility. He is still doing so at 47, using football’s postponement to assess how he portrays himself. It might seem a little Sigmund Freud to start analysing his body language, but there has been an unmistakable air of relaxation about his posture when sitting cross-legged in front of the camera at Carrington for those frequent Zoom press conferences. A trivial detail perhaps, but the details add up. Solskjaer is looking like a Manchester United manager. And his team are playing like one too.

Spurzzzzzzzzzz https://theathletic.com/1920120/2020/07/10/tottenham-mourinho-season-tickets-levy-bournemouth-ndombele/ Seven attacking players used over the course of the evening against the team that started the day second-bottom — and no shots on target. One hundred and four minutes played because of stoppages and never a sense that a breakthrough was close. Even the press conference drew a blank, with faltering technology forcing Jose Mourinho to leave before he’d answered a single question. Soul-destroying games take many different forms. There are the draws and defeats snatched from the jaws of victory, there are thrashings, there are big occasions that end in heartbreak. Then there are ones like Thursday night’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth. Matches so dispiriting that, by the end, you can barely bring yourself to get upset anymore. This was the culmination of months and months of decline, a disastrous season that seemingly just will not end. During much of the past 11 months, there have been mitigating circumstances. The change in management, the unlucky injuries, the players — such as Christian Eriksen and Danny Rose — who didn’t want to be at the club. Against Bournemouth, there were no excuses. Dele Alli was out, yes, but he’s struggled of late anyway. Mourinho was still able to use Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Steven Bergwijn, Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura over the course of the evening — and still they couldn’t muster a shot on target. Against Bournemouth, who started the day 19th and had lost seven of their previous eight matches. Bournemouth, whose previous Premier League clean sheet was in mid-December, and who had never denied an opponent a shot on target since winning promotion to the Premier League five years ago. Spurs should have had a first-half penalty but these are damning numbers. Tottenham’s lack of cutting edge made the game so tedious that referee Paul Tierney blew for half-time before the allotted two minutes of added time had elapsed. It felt merciful. Across the country and beyond, WhatsApp groups lit up with despairing messages about what Spurs had become just 13 months after reaching a Champions League final. Was the Mauricio Pochettino period just a weird dream? Is this really it now? Somehow, a dismal game like this feels even worse at the moment. Even though you know it will be awful, you still spend most of the day a little bit excited because, in spite of everything else that’s going on under the cloud of a pandemic, you’re getting to watch your team play in the Premier League in a few hours. Muscle memory tells you that this is something to look forward to. And then it starts. And then you remember. It’s all happening at a terrible time for Tottenham, as well. On Monday, season ticket renewals open for the 2020-21 season, with many supporters saying that they won’t be taking up the option. COVID-induced uncertainty is a factor but so is the disillusionment. There is a sense that this is a club in drift, with owners who only care about the bottom line. During a period in which everything they have done has been aimed at becoming a global attention-grabbing brand, Spurs are forcing supporters to question whether they should renew their season tickets and turn off their TVs. The shiny new stadium, the Amazon documentary and appointing Jose Mourinho… it was all supposed to take Spurs to the next level commercially. Maybe that’s why Thursday night was so dispiriting. This isn’t a brave new world. It feels like a regression to the 1990s when Spurs were similarly defined more by what happened off the pitch than any great achievements on it. Yes, a legacy of financial mismanagement that led to a points deduction has been replaced by controversies like a player storming into the crowd or a record signing that can barely get a game, but the outcome is the same: Spurs are ensconced in mid-table. They are ninth with four games of the season remaining, level on points with Burnley. A few of you are probably reading this and screaming words to the effect of “it’s Mourinho, stupid!” And yes, he is a factor. So far, his appointment has not worked. But Tottenham’s problems are bigger than that. It’s a stagnant group of players who, despite having more than enough talent to put away a team like Bournemouth easily, can’t even muster a shot on target. It’s the feeling that things are going to get worse before they get better. Rather than rebuilding from a position of strength, Tottenham suddenly look desperate and without the means to make the necessary changes. When you watch matches like last night’s against Bournemouth, and Everton before that, and Sheffield United before that, it can feel like they need a new set of full-backs, a central defender, a defensive midfielder, another winger and a back-up striker to Kane. But they will not be able to spend the kind of money that overhaul requires. Even if they did have better players, they look so devoid of a plan and motivation that it would likely still be a struggle. In spite of everything, Spurs do still have a lot to play for this season. There’s Europa League qualification, which in these financially stretched times has become extremely important, and in two days, the north London derby. If that ends in another disaster, it’s a match with the potential to be ruinous to the season ticket renewals the following day. You just hope Bournemouth was the nadir and not a sign of things to come.

A three-year deal or let him go? The Willian debate https://theathletic.com/1918898/2020/07/10/willian-chelsea-arsenal-tottenham-lampard/ It is an issue which has Chelsea fans divided: should the club do everything they can to keep Willian on a new contract? Since the season’s restart on June 17, there have been few Premier League players in better form. Indeed, after two assists in the 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday, Willian was tied with Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes for most goal involvements (either scoring or assisting) on six. For the first time since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Anzhi Makhachkala for £30 million in 2013, he has either found the net or created a chance that a team-mate successfully finished off in four consecutive league fixtures. In other words, at 31, the Brazilian is not showing any signs of decline. So why would Chelsea let him walk away as a free agent, especially with the strong possibility he will join one of their London rivals in either Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur? As has been well documented, it has not been for a lack of trying. Chelsea proposed a two-year deal — an indication of their esteem, given their general policy (which they’ve only broken once) of giving just 12-month extensions to players over 30. But the winger rejected it because he wants a three-year commitment. The only thing they have been able to agree to so far is Willian signing a short-term extension to see out the current campaign — and what a vital bit of business that is proving to be. Head coach Frank Lampard suggested at the beginning of July that the two parties remain in talks. “I haven’t given up hope on it,” he said. “The club is still in discussions with him. In the short term, we can see what he’s doing for us. It’s ongoing.” However, sources close to the player have told The Athletic that the only negotiations which have taken place in recent months were those regarding seeing out the rest of 2019-20. As far as they are concerned, nothing has changed. Willian still wants a three-year contract and that hasn’t been forthcoming. So, barring a miracle comeback from 3-0 down in their Champions League last-16 decider away to Bayern Munich, Willian’s seven-year love affair with Chelsea will be over in less than a month. How do supporters feel about this? The Athletic put it to a vote and more than 12,000 people responded in the space of just 24 hours to let their feelings be known on the matter. These results can be determined in two ways, depending on your side of the argument. On the positive side, nearly three quarters (73.7%) of the voters want Willian to remain at the club in some shape or form. Quite a mandate in his favour. On the other hand, the only option which meets Willian’s demands and ensures he stays — the three-year contract — attracted the least amount of backing, while over a quarter will be happy to cut ties with him for good. Many of those who participated left comments too, explaining that while Willian has been a very good player for the club, his current form shouldn’t affect the club’s decision this summer. It is understood Said Benrahma, a winger who is helping west London neighbours Brentford’s Championship promotion challenge, is another transfer target being considered at the moment, to go along with Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell and Declan Rice. Clearly, the 24-year-old Algeria international would be a direct replacement for Willian. Other fans explain that Chelsea could benefit financially from a multi-year agreement because it would allow them to sell Willian, just as happened with his compatriot David Luiz last summer when he joined Arsenal for £8 million only three months after announcing a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Some feel uncomfortable with him potentially joining a direct rival for free, especially when there is no guarantee that new signings would come in and hit the ground running. Chelsea certainly have other positions that need looking at more urgently than Willian’s. There is only so much money to buy them with, too, after £80 million of the budget went on acquiring Ziyech and Timo Werner. Why use up around £25 million on Benrahma, who has never played at such a high level, when you can keep using someone Lampard trusts (albeit who will cost a lot more in wages and signing-on fee)? A look at Willian’s contribution over the years shows very respectable, if not outstanding, numbers. This season is his best goalscoring return in the Premier League with nine, although three of those have been penalties. Overall, he has 11 goals and nine assists from 43 appearances, which nearly averages out as a goal or an assist every two matches. Not bad at all. When compared to the numbers that cover his entire Chelsea career of 339 appearances, 63 goals and 65 assists, it shows he is performing well above his total average. However, to put it in some perspective, Eden Hazard left for Real Madrid last year with a record of 352 appearances, 110 goals and 92 assists. One should also point out that the timing of the contribution and the calibre of opposition aren’t taken into account with these kind of statistics. What made Hazard so extraordinary was he came to the fore so often when it mattered most. Willian? Not so much. But another positive in Willian’s column is how consistently he is available for selection. He hasn’t suffered any major injury issues during his tenure. The fewest number of games he has featured in during a season was under Antonio Conte in 2016-17, when he played 41 times. The following year he bounced back with 55 appearances and a best return (so far) of 13 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. He backed that up under Maurizio Sarri last season with a Chelsea career high of 56 games, contributing eight goals and 14 assists. Lampard’s appreciation of him is clear. The only league game he has not featured in was the opening fixture at Manchester United. That ranks him second in the squad, with Mason Mount the proud owner of a 100 per cent attendance on the register. The Chelsea head coach knows what it’s like to be released by the club, having been let go himself in 2014. But unlike Willian, he was nearing the end of his career at the time with his 36th birthday a fortnight away. You get the impression he wants the situation resolved in a way that sees him keep the former Shakhtar Donetsk star. As Lampard said recently: “We want him to stay at the club. But I also appreciate the fact that this contract is a big deal for him because of his age and where he’s at. I’ve been there myself and I respect that. But the way he’s playing at the minute shows his worth to the squad and the group and it’s something that I hope we can get to. “Willian been a great servant to the club and if we can get it done, I will be happy. If not, I will certainly wish him well because I’ve got a lot of time for him as a player.” A reunion with Luiz across town at the Emirates Stadium seems the most likely scenario right now but, no matter what happens, Chelsea’s following will not share the same opinion on it.

Nick Pope turns 29 in the coming season. How much is he going to improve?

so many other options out there here is a fairly comprehensive list, almost all are 1,90m and up not saying that all of these would work btw, but these are the best targets, some of them, and I broke it down into categories ready to be starters backup/competition options young ones to watch expensive options

its like trading a car with bad brakes for one with broken steering either way an accident is coming down the road

I want a complete package, or as near to one as we can get atm Pope causes chaos in the back far too often with his poor distribution, and dog knows if Zouma is out there, and gets a bad ball, it is insta-trouble

Chelsea fans react to Lucas Digne’s latest Everton performance https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/club-news/chelsea-fans-react-to-lucas-dignes-latest-everton-performance/ Lucas Digne was once again a shining light for Everton during their latest Premier League game on Thursday evening, something which earned plenty of attention on Twitter from some Chelsea fans. The 26-year-old has been linked with the Blues this month due to the club’s search for a left-back and he had plenty of eyes on him during his latest outing. Football website ESPN has claimed that Chelsea have been eyeing the Everton defender as a possible target and that he’s viewed as an alternative to Leicester City’s £75million-rated Ben Chilwell. The report states that the Everton full-back would demand a “high fee” if he was to be prized away from Goodison Park, plus Manchester City have also been named as potential suitors. Digne completed another 90 minutes during Everton’s 1-1 league draw at home to Southampton, with the two teams stuck around the mid-table zone. The attack-minded left-back proved what an attacking force he can be, as he struck a spectacular long-range pass to assists teammate Richarlison for his side’s equaliser. It was his eighth assist of the season across all competitions, plus he yet again stood up to his defensive tasks well and remains one of the outstanding performers on Merseyside. With Chelsea reportedly keen on Digne, it was another reminder that he’s proven himself in English football across the past two seasons and he looks like someone that would be an upgrade if he moved to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s imminent new arrival Timo Werner would surely thrive off service from wide areas like the kind Digne can deliver, which is why boss Frank Lampard should be keeping an extremely close eye on him during the rest of the season. Here are some Blues fans that were majorly impressed with target Digne following his performance: btw, the video on the tweet is from the Swedish broadcast if anyone was wondering

yes, he cannot even bench the horrid Pickford for England he is very poor with his feet too

United’s spending will be measured – but they do have funds for Sancho https://theathletic.com/1914534/2020/07/09/manchester-united-transfer-window-jadon-sancho/ English football’s transfer window is set to open at the end of the month, once the Premier League finishes on July 26, and attention is beginning to turn to expected budgets, which will be affected across the board by the coronavirus crisis. Supported by steady commercial revenue, Manchester United are more incubated than most. But even they are not immune, and industry sources say United are discussing a total net outlay in the region of £50 million. United are adamant they have not set a fixed budget, because many of the financial impacts of the pandemic are still unknown and the market is in a state of flux. Insiders also predict United’s ambition to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City will ultimately see significant spending, but advertising an intention to wheel out a big pot of cash would undermine their leverage. They could also pay out the cost of transfers over the course of a number of years, thus alleviating pressure on this year’s accounts. It is clear, however, that the changing landscape has prompted tighter reins on finances. The Athletic understands United are calculating for a hit due to the pandemic of £110 million-£115 million. Chief financial officer Cliff Baty revealed on May 21, during the club’s third-quarter results, that a £28 million reduction had already been incurred, and the overall loss because of COVID-19 is projected to eventually reach four times as much. Uncertainty over when fans will be able to return to stadiums is a major consideration but should crowds come back quicker than anticipated the financial impact will be mitigated and authorities are working towards this outcome. It is uncertain what the situation means for United in the market. Any budget can, of course, be bolstered by sales and the club will listen to offers for Alexis Sanchez, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. Jesse Lingard and Diogo Dalot are two more who could be sold to raise funds and lower the wage bill. Finding buyers – or even borrowers – capable of taking on their salaries is one issue, however, and there is an element of irony here should United end up qualifying for the Champions League, because each player has a 25 per cent increase clause written into his contract. Someone earning £75,000 per week this season would be on almost £100,000 per week during the next campaign if United secure a return to Europe’s elite club competition in the next three weeks. Roma want to take Smalling permanently after his highly impressive loan spell but would struggle to meet the £25 million asking price. Other European clubs are interested. Lingard could command a similar fee, particularly if superagent Mino Raiola engineers him a move to Serie A. Should Inter look to keep Sanchez, most likely on a second loan, it could save United around £10 million a year in wages. Jones, still only 28, is also being looked at by Italian clubs after the success of Ashley Young’s move. Italy’s relatively new tax laws help explain why a number of Premier League players have moved to the country. It will be the responsibility of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and principally Matt Judge, United’s chief negotiator, to extract the most value from the club’s assets. Responding to a question on the subject of transfers, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “There’s got to be realism. The whole world has changed both financially and in the perception we’ve got on values, so every time I put the case in front of Ed, I think it’s a sensible one and a realistic one. I think I’ve proven to the club I’ve always got the club in the front of my mind. I don’t think short term or (that) personally, ‘This would fit me’. I always think long term and try to make good deals. I’m always quite careful with money — personal money as well.” Last summer, United spent £145 million on Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dan James, but the net outlay was around £70 million after Romelu Lukaku was sold to Inter. In January, Bruno Fernandes arrived for an initial £47 million — money initially allocated to this summer’s budget. An added, important consideration is that the cost of any transfer can be spread over the duration of a player’s contract. Previously, United have paid up front to get deals done, as seen in Maguire’s move from Leicester last August which triggered a fall in cash levels, but using instalments is one way of making money go further in the current climate. A £75 million signing could be accounted for across three years at £25 million each, for example. Jadon Sancho is United’s principal target. Strengthening their right wing remains the priority despite Mason Greenwood’s emergence because Solskjaer wants quality strength in depth across his frontline to ultimately challenge for the title. It is understood that a considerable amount of money has been allocated to the pursuit of Sancho, more than the reported £50 million. Borussia Dortmund are insisting their price for the 20-year-old England international will not be lowered from a guaranteed €100 million (£87 million) and have set a deadline of August 10 for a deal to be concluded. But given the window could be open until October 1, United are said to be relaxed about any implied deadlines. Talks went on for weeks with Leicester for Maguire and with Sporting Lisbon on Fernandes as fees were haggled over. Some close to the club feel swifter conclusions would have benefitted the team, however, and point to Chelsea’s acquisitions of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner as examples of decisive action. After those transfers, funded by the sale of Eden Hazard, Chelsea are understood to also be operating a measured approach to the forthcoming window, with Marina Granovskaia looking to balance signings with sales. As far as United are concerned, sources have suggested Ousmane Dembele, who has two years left on his Barcelona contract and is out of favour, could be a less expensive alternative to Sancho. United are also searching for another striker, with Odion Ighalo’s loan up in January. Lyon’s Moussa Dembele has long been tracked. “You need competition for places at Manchester United,” Solskjaer said. “If you think you’ve got a divine right to be playing every game and are doing so well that we’re not going to look for players to replace you, you’re in the wrong place. “I’ve been here myself for so many years as a striker, and Teddy Sheringham comes in, Dwight Yorke comes in, Ruud van Nistelrooy comes in, Wayne Rooney comes in. We’ve always got to look at improving, and if they don’t improve, we might have to look somewhere else to get better because we have to be better. We’re too far away from where we need to be.” Scouts have been tasked with highlighting left-footed centre-backs too, should Rojo depart. Solskjaer appeared to make United’s attention in this area of the pitch obvious by approaching Nathan Ake after the 5-2 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. (Photo: Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images) Sources say Ake is of some interest to United but a proposed £40 million cost would prove prohibitive, and there are a number of possible options. United were previously in the market for a holding midfielder but Nemanja Matic’s contract extension to 2023 has altered the situation. It is accepted Birmingham City rising star Jude Bellingham will head the same way as Erling Haaland and sign for Dortmund. That has caused some frustration. United admire Jack Grealish and have been impressed by his leadership in difficult circumstances at relegation-threatened Aston Villa. Paul Pogba’s recent renaissance has lessened the need for a creative midfielder for the starting XI, and his happiness combined with financial complications for potential suitors Real Madrid and Juventus raises the probability of him staying at Old Trafford. But Grealish would add the quality in depth Solskjaer is searching for. In United’s quarterly earnings call, Woodward said: “There are still profound challenges ahead, and for football as a whole, and it is safe to say it will not be ‘business as usual’ for some time.” He wrote in the programme notes for the Sheffield United match two weeks ago: “Off the pitch, there is no escaping the reality that the coming months are going to be difficult for everyone in football and we are no exception. However, our club’s foundations are solid and provided we stick together and manage our resources carefully, we will come through this period with our strength intact.”

Here’s what makes Kai Havertz special – and how he would improve Chelsea https://theathletic.com/1916726/2020/07/09/kai-havertz-chelsea-leverkusen-premier-league-bundesliga/ Chelsea fans are excited. The swift signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner either side of the pandemic shutdown provided an early signal of Roman Abramovich’s ambition to build another Premier League and Champions League contender, and now the stars appear to be aligning for them to make a serious run at Bayer Leverkusen sensation Kai Havertz. Over the past two Bundesliga seasons, Havertz has established himself, alongside Jadon Sancho, as one of the most coveted young footballers in the world, to the point that in any ordinary summer transfer window he would have his pick of elite European clubs. Only the financial uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Abramovich’s unwavering willingness to spend, have given Chelsea a unique chance to move to the front of a very long queue. But why exactly is Havertz so desirable, and what specifically would he bring to Chelsea if they manage to acquire him? Here, The Athletic takes a closer look at what makes him special. Havertz first came to wider prominence in the 2018-19 season, scoring 17 goals in 34 league appearances as a 19-year-old – the most prolific campaign by a teenager in Bundesliga history. Even accounting for three converted penalties, his tally of 14 goals from open play was remarkably impressive considering his youth, and the fact he didn’t even play up front for Leverkusen. Until his sacking in December 2018, Heiko Herrlich almost always deployed Havertz in the attacking midfield line, most often as the nominal No 10 in a 4-2-3-1. Unlike most conventional No 10s, however, he didn’t shoulder the creative burden in the team; that job belonged primarily to his good friend and Germany team-mate Julian Brandt, who regularly started on the left. In fact, Havertz ranked just seventh among Leverkusen’s regular contributors for key passes per 90 minutes (1.1) in 2018-19 — fewer than defender Cesar Azpilicueta (1.2) is registering for Chelsea this season. His role in the team was not to be a creator of chances, but a finisher. He averaged 2.7 shot attempts per 90 minutes, only slightly fewer than striker Kevin Volland (2.8). That role was maintained by Peter Bosz when he replaced Herrlich as coach, even as the Dutchman changed the team’s broader system to a variation of 3-4-2-1. Havertz was shifted slightly to the right, where he could cut in on his stronger left foot, but the emphasis remained on looking to threaten the opposition goal himself whenever he could. Many of Havertz’s 14 goals from open play were the result of immaculately timed runs into the penalty area from midfield positions, using his preternatural instincts for finding space and arriving at the perfect time to meet crosses from Brandt, Karim Bellarabi and Leon Bailey. Once there, his finishing was often clinical; he converted 19.5 per cent of his 87 shot attempts, and 40 per cent of his shots were on target. He developed a particularly devastating chemistry with Brandt. Here he is in a Bundesliga match away at Mainz in February 2019, calling for the ball some 40 yards from goal because he knows his team-mate will delay the cross until he reaches a shooting position in the penalty area… Brandt obliges, cutting the ball back from the left at the perfect moment. Havertz, barely breaking stride, coolly whips a first-time shot in at Florian Muller’s near post with his in-step… This example, from the second minute of a match against Eintracht Frankfurt, shows Havertz’s starting position. Brandt is about to clip the ball into the left channel for Charles Aranguiz to advance into a crossing position. The moment the first pass is played, Havertz takes his cue to dart towards the edge of the penalty area… Aranguiz’s excellent first-time cross picks out Havertz at the edge of the box, and he needs only one touch to set himself before clipping a surgically-precise finish just inside Kevin Trapp’s far post… Here, early in a home match against Fortuna Dusseldorf, Volland is sizing up his options on the right flank. Havertz, having spotted space between the right-back and centre-back in the penalty area, casually jogs into it… Volland’s in-swinging cross is good, and an unmarked Havertz only needs to stretch slightly to put the ball past a helpless Jaroslav Drobny… It’s easy to see why Havertz has been hailed by some in Germany as the new Michael Ballack, another midfielder (and a former Chelsea one at that) with the rare gift of arriving in the opposition penalty area in the right time and place to score. The best comparison from a Chelsea perspective would be their current head coach Frank Lampard, whose devotion to these types of runs made him the greatest goalscoring midfielder of his generation. But it’s also worth pointing out that neither Ballack nor Lampard managed this level of scoring production when they were teenagers. Havertz is also faster across the ground than they were in their primes; his top speed of 35.02 km/h during a match against Bayern Munich was the fastest clocked by any Bundesliga midfielder last season. This combination of speed and spatial intelligence makes Havertz a nightmare to deal with in transition situations. Here is the move that results in his first senior international goal, in a 2-2 friendly draw with Argentina in October 2019. The moment Lukas Klostermann wins the ball back just inside his own half on the right-hand side, Havertz, Brandt and Serge Gnabry start running… Klostermann slides the ball outside to Gnabry and continues his run. It is Havertz, however, who has found the clearer path to goal – a fact he points out as he approaches the penalty area… Gnabry plays the right pass on time and on target, giving Havertz a simple finish… Havertz finished the 2018-19 season with three assists. His expected assists per 90 minutes rating of 0.09 was more akin to a striker than an attacking midfielder, but there were signs of a more creative player in the numbers; his 3.4 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes ranked 20th in the Bundesliga. Europe’s top clubs had woken up to the promise of Havertz the goalscorer, but 2019-20 was about to introduce them to the full range of his talents. Brandt’s departure to Borussia Dortmund last summer forced Leverkusen to change. Even with the arrivals of Kerem Demirbay and Nadiem Amiri from Hoffenheim, it meant Havertz would need to be more of a creator in order for the team to succeed while trying to find ways to maintain his own production in front of goal. The transition was far from seamless. Havertz registered just three goals and one assist from August until the turn of the year, and his performances drew fierce criticism from those among the club’s support who believed he had allowed persistent links with many of Europe’s top clubs to derail his focus. Things began to turn with a clever dinked finish away in a 4-1 win away at Paderborn in mid-January, followed by the opening goal in a 3-0 home win over Fortuna Dusseldorf that showcased Havertz combining his intelligent movement in the final third with another weapon in his attacking arsenal: his aerial ability. Here, he darts towards the near post to meet an in-swinging Bellarabi cross… …and meets it with the kind of header that would make any striker proud. February saw Havertz’s creative instincts come to the fore. Here, in a home match against Augsburg, he appears to have run into trouble as he tries to lead a break – but he senses space to his right… He turns into it, away from pressure, and advances before playing a pinpoint diagonal pass, with his supposedly weaker right foot, for Moussa Diaby, who opens the scoring… In the next match, away at Porto in the Europa League’s last 32, he works himself into a very promising shooting position in space just outside the penalty area. But instead of taking it, he fakes the shot and slides the ball to an unmarked Lucas Alario, who promptly breaks the deadlock in what becomes a 3-1 win for Leverkusen… The following month, injuries to Volland and Alario prompted Bosz to shift Havertz into the false nine role that looks like it could be the next stage in his evolution as a star. His 10 appearances leading Leverkusen’s attack across all competitions before the DFB Pokal final against Bayern last Saturday yielded eight goals and two assists. Among them were trademark late arrivals into the box, such as this one against Cologne in June. Havertz drops deep into his own half and sprays the ball out to Wendell on the left before starting his forward run… …by the time Wendell has played Bailey into a crossing position, Havertz is unmarked precisely where he wants to be… …and when the ball is cut back to him just past the penalty spot, there is no danger of the 50-yard dash affecting his ability to find the right finish. There was also another header, this time when he spotted space at the back post midway through the first half against Werder Bremen… …Diaby’s cross floats all the way over and Havertz rises to guide the header back across goal. He gets clattered from behind as he jumps and falls awkwardly, but it doesn’t stop him scoring. Havertz’s winner away at Freiburg in May showcased his ability to play with his back to goal. Here, he receives a pass from Aranguiz and immediately flicks it around the corner to Bailey… …he then arcs his run around and past his team-mate, giving him an overlapping option as he enters the penalty area… …having received the pass, he somehow manages to poke a low shot into the far corner from a tight angle while under severe pressure from two defenders. Havertz finished the pandemic-interrupted Bundesliga season with 12 goals and six assists in 30 appearances. He might easily have matched his 2018-19 scoring tally if he had been deployed as a false nine earlier in the campaign, or if he had not hit the woodwork more times (five) than anyone else in the division. His shot attempts dipped from 2.8 per 90 minutes to 2.2, but his efficiency in front of goal improved — converting 20.3 per cent of his overall shots and 46.2 per cent of his shots on target. Six assists is a relatively modest total, but doesn’t tell the whole story. Havertz more than doubled his key passes per 90 minutes from 1.1 to 2.3, while his shot-creating actions per 90 minutes rose from 3.4 to 4.3, seventh-best in the Bundesliga. There is a strong statistical case for saying Havertz’s creative talents were undersold by the wastefulness of his team-mates; his expected assists rating for the season was 8.28 and despite all of his advanced creative numbers improving significantly in 2019-20, his average of 0.5 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes has remained stagnant over the past two years. Havertz expanded his game significantly in this latest season, and the overall impression now is of a 21-year-old who is already operating at an elite level as both a scorer and a shot creator. If the DFB Pokal final proves to be Havertz’s farewell appearance for Leverkusen, it wasn’t the triumphant swansong he would have hoped for – even if his last-minute penalty will go down as one of the finest angry consolation goals in recent memory. Bayern played up to their reputation as arguably the world’s best team and largely stifled Havertz, whose natural inclination to drift over to the right flank gave him the unenviable task of facing Alphonso Davies. What is anyone supposed to do here – cut infield towards David Alaba, Joshua Kimmich and a world of pressure, or try to beat possibly the world’s fastest footballer in a race down the line? Havertz did have his moments, though. Here, with the score still 0-0, he gets himself into a great position in front of Alaba to meet Bailey’s low drilled cross from the left, but fails to connect. And here he smartly draws Alaba across to the right with him, creating space for Bailey to try to send Amiri running through on goal. Sadly for Leverkusen, the defensive cheat code that is Davies made up the ground in the blink of an eye and snuffed out the danger. This was Havertz’s best moment of the night, executed while seemingly trapped between Kimmich and the touchline, with Kingsley Coman rushing to cut off another escape route… …a smart Cruyff turn leaves Kimmich in his wake, enabling Havertz to slip in Diaby, who supplies a low cross that Bailey blazes over. The only time Havertz manages to get a running start on Davies, Leverkusen’s cause is already lost at 3-0 down with over an hour gone… …his cross looks destined for Bailey, but Jerome Boateng stretches every sinew with a desperate lunge that clears the ball out for a corner. Leverkusen had to do a lot of defending, and Havertz’s height came in useful defending set-pieces. Here he is, rising highest to head clear a Kimmich corner at the front of the six-yard box despite an attempt by Benjamin Pavard to get there first – the kind of timing and aggression Lampard has been desperately hoping to see from his Chelsea players all season when defending corners. Havertz wouldn’t be a totally clean fit at Stamford Bridge. His desire to drift to the right might well jar with Ziyech, who does the majority of his attacking damage from similar areas. If deployed as an attacking midfielder, his inclusion could come at the expense of Mason Mount’s development or Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s comeback, and up front he would compete with Tammy Abraham and Werner. But there is a compelling body of evidence to suggest this is a rare, potentially generational attacking talent – the type you don’t agonise about the ripple effects of signing. Most of Europe’s top clubs have concluded they would love the opportunity to build their teams around Havertz for the next decade. If the opportunity is there, Chelsea should take it and worry about the rest later. REACTION: A Nervy Win Over Palace + Jorginho's Reminder & Kepa's Faults Host Matt Davies-Adams & The Athletic's Chelsea experts, Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson and Dom Fifield, reconvene following the full-time whistle in a nervy 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace as Jorginho reminded everyone of his importance in the absence of Kante... The guys also debate whether or not Kepa has a future at Chelsea, if Willian's playing for a contract and Pulisic's growing influence on games. Plus, they look ahead to the game against Sheffield United and ask if signing Declan Rice would solve the on-going problem with defending set pieces? https://theathletic.com/podcast/139-straight-outta-cobham/?episode=35

would a 4 4 2 double six work with these players in it, or am I delusional? GK ABKAW (anyone but Kepa and Willy) CB Declan Rice CB Rudiger LB Theo or Digne or Telles RB Azpi (until Reece pulls his head out of his arse) Double 6 A Kovavcic Double 6 B Mason Mount LW Pulisic RW Ziyech LCF Werner RCF Havertz in a perfect world, for that formation I would roll with GK Oblak LCB Romagnoli RCB Varane LB Theo Hernandez RB Nordi Mukiele Double 6 A Declan Rice Double 6 B Eduardo Camavinga LW Pulisic RW Ziyech LCF Werner RCF Havertz that is a potential CL and League Treble-winning side especially with our bench as well of course, with FFP it is damn near impossible to do unless we pulled of swaps with Real and AC Milan for Kante and Jorginho and absolutely liquidated alllllll the dregs and Oblak is a bridge too far even if we did all of that as his release clause is now almost £108m it has crazy pace, creative, bone crunching back 4, (the fullbacks are are both well over 6 feet tall, strong, and fast) an hard as nails defensive MF (both who have pace and ball handling skills as well, especially Camavinga), and the best GK in the world, but I think we could pull it off with another keeper as well, as long as they came good I also think we could swap out the CB¨s for some from another group of around 8 or 10 if they both (as is likely) are impossible to pull, the rest are all there for the taking IF the price is met I wish to hell Ake was 3 or 4 inches taller (he is only 1.80m and I think is more like 1.79m) and then we could pair him (as he is a left-footed CB that lamps so wants) with a monster like Nikola Milenkovic (1.95m) there IS a monster (even bigger) left footed CB, Dan-Axel Zagadou 1.96m, but I am not convinced on him yet. Someone suggested another that I have posted on but not truly pushed, who is also left footeed and great size (1.92m) Evan N'Dicka of Eintracht Frankfurt.