Vesper

those new Gala kits are bangin'

Official, story confirmed. Willian signs in as new Olympiacos player on a free transfer.

Exclusive: Everton 'Rejected' Swap Deal Involving £210,000-a-Week Trio https://www.givemesport.com/everton-transfer-news-rejected-swap-deal-calvert-lewin-disasi-fofana-goodison-park/ Everton turned down the opportunity to recruit Chelsea outcasts Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana in a high-profile swap deal which would have seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin bring the curtain down on his Goodison Park career during the final stages of the summer transfer window, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed. Although the Toffees' season has got off to a worrying start, having been consigned to a third consecutive defeat thanks to Bournemouth overturning a two-goal deficit last weekend, boss Sean Dyche was busy ahead of last week's deadline and ended up spending more than £42million on reinforcements. Amadou Onana was the biggest name to leave Everton, thanks to completing a £50million switch to Premier League rivals Aston Villa as director of football Kevin Thelwell oversaw the Merseyside outfit's transfer business, and they were unwilling to sanction Calvert-Lewin's departure. Calvert-Lewin was firmly on Chelsea's radar during the final stages of the summer window, according to GMS sources, but Everton did not entertain agreeing terms as their domestic counterparts were pushing to include Disasi and Fofana as part of the deal which would have seen the frontman head to Stamford Bridge. The England international has entered the final months of his £100,000-per-week contract on Merseyside, meaning the Toffees are in danger of seeing him walk away as a free agent at the end of the season, and that resulted in the west Londoners being confident that they had spotted an opportunity to pounce without having to fork out a significant fee for his services. But GMS sources have been informed that Everton were not interested in doing business with Chelsea when they took a brief look at Calvert-Lewin as a striker option because there was determination from the capital club to send Disasi and Fofana in the opposite direction instead of meeting his price tag. The 27-year-old is one of the first names on the team sheet even though there are doubts over his long-term future, with him grabbing two goal contributions during the first three Premier League encounters of the campaign, and Dyche was keen to avoid being left with little time to secure a replacement. GMS recently reported that Chelsea were unwilling to pay more than £12.5million for Calvert-Lewin if a cash deal would only be considered on deadline day, with them using Federico Chiesa's move to Liverpool after entering the closing stages of his Juventus contract as a yard-stick for his valuation. GMS sources have been told that Chelsea were particularly hopeful of tempting Everton into sanctioning a deal which would see Disasi and Fofana embark on a fresh challenge at Goodison Park because they do not feature at the forefront of head coach Enzo Maresca's plans. The Italian tactician has wasted no time in making his mark at Stamford Bridge, having been appointed as Mauricio Pochettino's successor, and the duo were on the market as the Blues were keen to get their combined salaries of £110,000-per-week off their wage bill during the latter stages of the transfer window. But Everton had already brought in a fresh centre-back option in the form of Jake O'Brien - thanks to reaching a £17million agreement with Lyon in July - resulting in Disasi not being a primary target, and Fofana has struggled to show that he would be an able replacement for Calvert-Lewin as a first-choice marksman.

Napoli are still on the hook for the rest of his salary

Chelsea scouts blown away by 19 y/o from the same academy as Joao Felix https://www.footballfancast.com/Chelsea-news-scouts-blown-away-by-benfica-academy-star-joao-rego/

Even assuming Chelsea: - had the property sale in 22/23 approved at full value - found the c£100m profit from other non-mens football intra group sales in 23/24 - somehow pull in £35m for a front of shirt sponsor for this season or can recognise £35m for the Club World Cup in 24/25's accounts - win the Europa Conference but don't have significant additional incentives to pay (generating a net £30m) - otherwise get to £500m revenue for 24/25 I have them still needing around £75m of additional non-operating profit (player or other profits) AFTER this window to hit 24/25 PSR. Which given previous years, would be an achievement...

BlueCo seem to be believers in Schumpeter's creative destruction and modern endogenous growth theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_destruction Creative destruction (German: schöpferische Zerstörung) is a concept in economics that describes a process in which new innovations replace and make obsolete older innovations. The concept is usually identified with the Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, who derived it from the work of Karl Marx and popularized it as a theory of economic innovation and the business cycle. It is also sometimes known as Schumpeter's gale. In Marxian economic theory, the concept refers more broadly to the linked processes of the accumulation and annihilation of wealth under capitalism. The German sociologist Werner Sombart has been credited with the first use of these terms in his work Krieg und Kapitalismus (War and Capitalism, 1913). In the earlier work of Marx, however, the idea of creative destruction or annihilation (German: Vernichtung) implies not only that capitalism destroys and reconfigures previous economic orders, but also that it must continuously devalue existing wealth (whether through war, dereliction, or regular and periodic economic crises) in order to clear the ground for the creation of new wealth. In Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy (1942), Joseph Schumpeter developed the concept out of a careful reading of Marx's thought, arguing that the creative-destructive forces unleashed by capitalism would eventually lead to its demise as a system. Despite this, the term subsequently gained popularity within mainstream economics as a description of processes such as downsizing to increase the efficiency and dynamism of a company. The Marxian usage has, however, been retained and further developed in the work of social scientists such as David Harvey, Marshall Berman, Manuel Castells, and Daniele Archibugi. In modern economics, creative destruction is one of the central concepts in the endogenous growth theory. In Why Nations Fail, a popular book on long-term economic development, Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson argue the major reason countries stagnate and go into decline is the willingness of the ruling elites to block creative destruction, a beneficial process that promotes innovation.

Harry Redknapp: Chelsea's Roman Abramovich forced Portsmouth's owners to employ Avram Grant. And I got a player out of it https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/harry-redknapp-chelseas-roman-abramovich-forced-portsmouths-owners-to-employ-avram-grant-and-i-got-a-player-out-of-it-4765571 Harry Redknapp has revealed how Roman Abramovich told Pompey to give a job to Avram Grant. And he almost quit as Blues boss in protest over the unwanted interference by the then-Chelsea owner in June 2006. After overseeing Pompey’s remarkable Great Escape in 2005-06 to remain in the Premier League, Redknapp was summoned to Israel for a meeting with chairman Sacha Gaydamak. According to the 2008 FA Cup-winning boss in new book Played Up Pompey Four, he was informed that Abramovich, an associate of Gaydamak, had requested the Blues employed his friend Grant. Grant was out of work after spending four years as Israel boss and Redknapp claims Pompey were offered Glen Johnson on loan to sweeten the arrangement. ‘My relationship with Sacha Gaydamak over time didn’t improve. I never got to know him, he was a distant figure - and I missed Milan Mandaric. Milan was a big draw for me coming back. I loved his company, and the times we had were just incredible, Redknapp told Played Up Pompey Four. ‘After keeping Pompey in the Premier League, I travelled to Israel for a meeting with Gaydamak over dinner. He said: “Mr Redknapp, what do you think about bringing in a coach who understands tactics in football?”. ‘I replied “What do you think me, Joe Jordan and Tony Adams do?”. He responded: “Yes, but this man is very clever. He understands the diamond formation”. I said: “The diamond formation, very good. I saw an under-10s team playing like that over the park on Sunday and it was very good. It’s a good formation.” ‘When I asked who this man was, I was told Avram Grant. Well, Gaydamak was informed I didn’t want him. I didn’t need anybody else. ‘So I left this meeting, I’d only just arrived in Israel, and I was ready to go home - and I was ready to quit Pompey. Then a very close friend of mine called. I explained what was going on and he told me: “Harry, if he’s going to bring in Grant, why would you walk out? You’ve done a miracle and kept Pompey up; you shouldn’t leave over this”. ‘The next day I had another meeting with Gaydamak, who said: “Listen, if we take Avram Grant, we can take one, maybe two players on loan from Chelsea. Would you like Glen Johnson?”. Of course I would. ‘The owner continued: “Mr Abramovich will let us have Johnson if you give Avram Grant a job”. Now how does that work? The owner of Chelsea is telling Pompey who to employ. Incredible isn’t it. ‘I replied: “So why doesn’t Mr Abramovich give Avram a job?”. Gaydamak responded: “He wants him to come to England to work at Portsmouth”. It was basically give Avram a job, and we get a player like Glen Johnson on a loan for nothing. Yes, I’ve changed my mind! ‘Gaydamak added: “Even if he sits on the PlayStation all day, you can do what you want with Avram”. The owner himself was something to do with Abramovich, through business or whatever, and just wanted to please him. ‘I loved Avram, I enjoyed having him there, he was no threat to me. He was there as support. We would chat away’ he wasn’t taking training sessions or anything.’ Grant was given the title of technical director by Gaydamak in June 2006 and, shortly afterwards, Johnson arrived on a season-long loan from Chelsea. The former Maccabi Haifa boss spent a season at Fratton Park before being appointed Chelsea’s director of football in July 2007 and then, following Jose Mourinho’s departure two months later, manager. He returned to Fratton Park as director of football in October 2009 after Ali Al Faraj took over as owner, before taking over from Paul Hart as manager the following month. Grant would subsequently lead the Blues to the 2010 FA Cup final against Chelsea, although could not prevent relegation from the Premier League, and quit at the season’s end to become West Ham boss. Redknapp added: ‘Glen Johnson signed on a season-long loan in June 2006 and, from that point, we built a team with incredible players. ‘Sol Campbell had a fall-out at Arsenal and didn’t have a club, so I rang to see what the situation was and was told: “I’ve had enough of football”. He agreed to hear what I had to say and we met at a coffee shop near where he lived in London, sitting outside chatting. ‘We did the deal, and he earned a third of what he had at Arsenal. Sol wasn’t happy at the Emirates, he just wanted to play.’

Exclusive: Chelsea 'Surprised' £100,000-a-Week Star Stayed This Summer https://www.givemesport.com/Chelsea-transfer-news-surprised-carney-chukwuemeka-stayed-this-summer-stamford-bridge/ Chelsea are stunned that West Ham United target Carney Chukwuemeka has remained at Stamford Bridge as head coach Enzo Maresca and members of the hierarchy were certain that they would be able to offload him before the transfer window slammed shut last week, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed. Maresca has secured a significant boost following the closure of the transfer window, thanks to Nicolas Jackson agreeing a contract extension which will keep him at Chelsea until the summer of 2033, but he is now facing a dilemma over how to reintegrate the likes of Chukwuemeka into his plans. Blues Stunned Chukwuemeka Did Not Depart West Ham and Manchester United were among midfielder's suitors Chelsea are surprised that Chukwuemeka is still among Maresca's options as they had a series of conversations with suitors over a potential switch prior to last Friday's 11pm cut-off point, according to GMS sources, but he is still facing an uncertain future in his current surroundings. The Blues were open to sanctioning the midfielder's departure despite him still having four years remaining on his £100,000-per-week contract, which includes a £40million release clause, but none of his admirers were willing to meet the west Londoners' demands and wrap up a last-minute deal. GMS sources have been informed that West Ham were one of the interested parties locked in discussions over Chukwuemeka during the final stages of the summer transfer window, having seen the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leapfrog him in the Chelsea pecking order, but their advances came to nothing. The 20-year-old's prospects of becoming one of the first names on the team sheet have been hindered by co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali turning to Maresca to succeed Mauricio Pochettino, with him failing to make a matchday squad since the new season got underway and his last outing coming on April 15. West Ham were not the only Premier League rivals tempted to offer Chukwuemeka an escape route out of Stamford Bridge, as Manchester United also explored the possibility of finding an agreement at the eleventh hour, but he is at serious risk of falling by the wayside over the course of the coming months. GMS sources have been told that Chukwuemeka embarking on a fresh challenge when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year cannot be ruled out, with admirers potentially looking to take advantage and make a fresh move if he is forced to contend with limited game time before January. Although Chelsea parted with £20million in order to land the seven-cap England under-20 international from Aston Villa in August 2022, his hopes of making his mark under Maresca appear to have been blocked, and he will be desperately attempting to force the Italian tactician into a swift U-turn by impressing during training sessions. But being frozen out of the Blues' squad during the first half of the campaign could benefit Chukwuemeka if he is looking to move onto pastures new, instead of battling for a route into the capital club's future plans, as GMS sources have learned that interest will return during the early stages of 2025 if he is not handed first-team opportunities. All statistics courtesy of FBref and Sofascore

Premier League Team of the Month (August 2024) Position Player Club GK David Raya Arsenal DEF Rico Lewis Manchester City DEF William Saliba Arsenal DEF Cristian Romero Tottenham Hotspur DEF Antonee Robinson Fulham MID Amadou Onana Aston Villa MID Mateo Kovacic Manchester City MID Cole Palmer Chelsea FWD Bukayo Saka Arsenal FWD Erling Haaland Manchester City FWD Mohamed Salah Liverpool

Chelsea have no plans to send their player to Brazil as they believe ‘it’s not favourable for his development’. https://sportwitness.co.uk/Chelsea-deny-clubs-approach-for-blues-player-block-transfer-as-its-not-favourable/

João Rêgo Chelsea Already Eyeing Move for Benfica Star Just Days After Transfer Window Shuts https://eplindex.com/119297/report-Chelsea-already-eyeing-move-for-benfica-star-just-days-after-transfer-window-shuts.html Chelsea’s ambitious approach to the transfer market shows no signs of slowing down, as they now set their sights on Benfica’s emerging talent, Joao Rego. According to credible reports from Record.pt, the London club’s interest in the 19-year-old has peaked following his impressive performances for Benfica’s B team. Tracking Rising Stars Joao Rego, with only two senior appearances for Benfica, has nonetheless made significant strides with the club’s B team. As a versatile player who can operate as an attacking midfielder or a left winger, Rego has played 28 times for the B team, scoring two goals and providing three assists. This budding talent has caught the eye of several top European clubs, but it is Chelsea who are making “constant observations and collecting positive indicators,” about the young star’s potential. Chelsea’s Youth-Driven Strategy Under Todd Boehly’s ownership, Chelsea has committed to a strategy of investing in youth, having spent around €1.2 billion on players, predominantly those under 23. This strategy is exemplified by the acquisition of Enzo Fernandez, another former Benfica player, who joined Chelsea for a British record fee of €121 million. Fernandez’s arrival in January 2023 after a stellar World Cup performance highlights the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent capable of competing at the highest levels. Rego’s Future Prospects Despite the keen interest, Chelsea have yet to make a formal offer for Rego. The young star still has four years left on his contract with Benfica, who are expected to demand a hefty sum for his services. This situation presents a complex challenge for Chelsea, as they need to weigh the potential impact on their squad against the financial outlay required to secure such a promising player. Benfica’s Stance on Transfers Benfica, on their part, are accustomed to nurturing young talent and are unlikely to let Rego leave without a fight. The club’s track record of developing and then selling players at a premium has been a cornerstone of their strategy. As such, any negotiations for Rego are expected to be anything but straightforward. Our View – EPL Index Analysis As an intrigued Chelsea fan, the prospect of acquiring Joao Rego is an exciting one. His development at Benfica mirrors that of Enzo Fernandez before his successful transition to Stamford Bridge. The potential for Rego to make a similar impact in the Premier League cannot be underestimated. Given Chelsea’s clear intent to build a young, dynamic squad, adding a talent like Rego could significantly bolster their attacking options, especially on the left wing where creativity and flair are crucial. However, the economic implications of such a transfer during a period of heavy investment are also a concern. Chelsea has already committed considerable resources to reshaping the squad under Boehly’s direction. Fans will hope that any move for Rego is not just a speculative addition but a calculated step towards strengthening the team’s competitiveness both domestically and in Europe. This strategy of investing in youth has indeed rejuvenated the squad but has also raised expectations. As Chelsea continues to integrate young stars, the pressure will be on these players to perform. Therefore, while the excitement around Rego’s potential signing is justified, it comes with the hope that he will quickly adapt and thrive, contributing to Chelsea’s ambitions of achieving both immediate success and long-term growth.

Santos is balling out Chelsea player out on loan makes Team of The Week with strong rating https://Chelsea.news/2024/09/image-Chelsea-player-out-on-loan-makes-team-of-the-week-with-strong-rating/

From earlier today https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/cristiano-ronaldos-club-are-close-to-signing-Chelsea-player-the-blues-want-33m/ snip

I hope he gets turked by a syphilitic bear

Fair point. My dog have we become mercenary. 🤑 Still, Hermoso would have been a great free addition, a steadying influence for the youngsters.

wicked goal

I really want to know why the scouts/board thought pulling a FULHAM reject was a great move

mind-boggling how shite so much of our recruitment process is does my head in like a sledgehammer

fuck madness that we chose Tosin on a free over Hermoso on a free!!!!!

I do have to add that UOL is a an ultra dodgy Brasilian source

wtf we turned down £25m last week well we still made around £6m profit, but was really hoping for at least £15m