Vesper

Real Madrid extends Carlo Ancelotti, giving Bayern Munich a free run at Xabi Alonso Of course, Leverkusen won't like this one bit. https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/12/29/24018812/bayern-munich-xabi-alonso-real-madrid-extends-carlo-ancelotti-brazil-jurgen-klopp-liverpool-fc

Chelsea could sack Mauricio Pochettino in two weeks as pressure cranks up on Blues boss COMMENT: Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is in danger of losing his job in the next few weeks. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1854172/Chelsea-news-Mauricio-Pochettino-sack

if he never recovers form, you could make a strong case he is the biggest flop in football history in terms of players £75m and up I mean not just with us, I mean the worst career if he never regains form only other 2 close are Antony and he was around £30m less, and Sancho, who did have multiple great years before Manure wildcard would be Enzo, but I cannot see him flopping anything like those 3, so far

nil 1 Fulham Willian

Lіvеrрооl vs Fulhаm 10 January 2024 at 21:00. Browser Links 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 99% Web 959kbps 95% Aliez 1001kbps 95% Aliez 95% Aliez 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Aliez 95% Aliez 95% Aliez 2500kbps 95% Aliez 2500kbps 95% Aliez new Web 95% Voodc 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web 95% Web AceStream Links 95%

It is hard to believe Chelsea will see the best of Levi Colwill at left-back https://theathletic.com/5191501/2024/01/10/levi-colwill-left-back/ The time had come to ask Mauricio Pochettino the question that has been on many Chelsea followers’ minds: why does he keep playing Levi Colwill at left-back? Colwill looked rather uncomfortable again in the position against Middlesbrough. Chelsea lost 1-0 with the winning goal coming from a cross by Isaiah Jones after he had got the better of the 20-year-old, not for the first time, down the home side’s right flank. After the issue was raised by The Athletic in the post-match press conference, Pochettino explained: “I think we would all agree Levi is a young player that can play in different positions. Last game (against Preston) he played like a centre-back with Axel (Disasi). Today we played Thiago (Silva) with Axel (Disasi). “We were talking a lot. I think it’s for him to take experience in Premier League with Chelsea playing there. I think it will help him be a better player and in the end, it is to feel the competition. “I don’t like to compare with another player but you (can) find some similarities with different clubs who sign players that can play centre-back or play full-back. Look, for me, Levi is having a fantastic season. He is playing centre-back or full-back and is a player for the future of Chelsea. At the moment, when you don’t win, when you struggle — and we are a young team with young players — they need to learn and need to improve in the competition.” Chelsea’s head coach is right to suggest he wants Colwill to get better in the role, but it still seems a very odd thing to consistently play one of England’s finest young centre-backs elsewhere. According to football statistic website Fbref, just six of his 25 appearances this season have been as a central defender (his substitute role against Blackburn in the Carabao Cup should count as a seventh but is not accounted for on the site). There are another five listed as CB/LB, which reflected how Pochettino — particularly early in the season — would have Chelsea line up with three at the back while in possession, but switched to a four when the opponents had the ball. It was Colwill who occupied the left-hand side though in each system. Conversely, 21 of his 24 appearances on loan at Brighton last season were as a centre-back (just one outing as a left-back), while in his first loan away from Chelsea at Huddersfield in 2021-22, he operated in the middle of defence 31 times in 32 matches (the odd one out shows him operating as a CB/wing-back against Bristol City) Now this is not to say Colwill has been a disappointment on every occasion he has operated as a left full-back for Chelsea, but you can sense his unease. Defensively, his pace, not that Colwill is slow, is challenged more and his passing from deep is less assured because he is restricted by being closer to the touchline. He also cannot provide much attacking threat down the wing as his one assist this season indicates. Colwill was refreshingly honest in an interview on the club’s website when talking about all this last week and intends for it to be a short-term measure. He said: “Obviously, I’m playing in a different position — everyone knows I’m a centre-back — but I am trying to help the team and learn as much as I can to help me in the future. There have been good moments and I am happy to keep learning for the future when I return to centre-half. “In terms of one-versus-one defending, as a full-back, you’re very exposed to the winger. When you’re at centre-back, you have players around you and you can slow them down. So that has been tough. “Another thing would be where you receive the ball, as a lot of the time you receive the ball on the line. At centre-half, when I’ve got the ball, I’m in control of the situation and can break the lines and start attacks. As a full-back that’s harder because you’ve got the winger ahead of you, the centre-half next to you, or the midfielder. Those are your options.” Middlesbrough sensed Colwill’s disquiet about it from the very first minute. A clumsy back header allowed Emmanuel Latte Lath to get an early shot in at goal and had VAR been in operation, could have led to a penalty due to Disasi’s challenge on the Middlesbrough forward in the area. The incident encouraged the Middlesbrough fans and infected Chelsea with uncertainty from the outset of their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. On the half-hour mark, Colwill slipped and in his panic to make amends, pulled Jones and was booked. Shortly afterwards, the England international had a chance to play the ball down the line but before he could do so, knocked it out for a throw-in instead and was jeered by the home supporters. So when Jones got the better of him to set up Hayden Hackney, albeit Moises Caicedo has to share the blame for allowing Hackney the space to finish, it came as no great surprise. To his credit, Colwill played for an hour on a booking and kept his discipline to avoid a second, yet it was one of the only positives to take. With Ian Maatsen now in Germany to complete a loan move to Borussia Dortmund, Colwill’s chances of featuring more inside have decreased a little further, although Pochettino clearly did not trust the Netherlands Under-21 international to operate in his favoured left-back role anyway (just two of his 15 appearances under Pochettino were as a left-back). Recognised senior left-back Ben Chilwell has returned to training after a serious hamstring strain, but his injury record over the past two years does not inspire confidence he can be a first-team regular at the moment. Besides, he was played ahead of Colwill when fully fit at the beginning of the campaign. Meanwhile, another option — Marc Cucurella — is expected to be ruled out for another couple of months with an ankle injury. The other issue for Colwill is that Pochettino clearly wants to select veteran Thiago Silva on a regular basis to have some much-needed experience in a young team and prefers Disasi, more often than not, to be alongside the Brazilian. It is better for Colwill to be playing at left-back regularly than not at all. Pochettino has also shown support in another way by naming him captain on two occasions, which is a remarkable achievement in the academy graduate’s first campaign with the senior side. But it is hard to believe Chelsea will see the best of Colwill until he is playing where he feels he belongs.

Rishi Sunak says independent regulator can force Premier League to ‘fairly’ redistribute revenue https://theathletic.com/5189950/2024/01/09/rishi-sunak-independent-regulator-football/ UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has restated his commitment to bringing in an independent regulator for English football who can force the Premier League to share more of its income with the rest of the professional game. Sunak was at a “PM Connect” question-and-answer session at Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium on Monday when the League Two club’s owner Andy Holt asked if he still supported the introduction of a regulator and, if he does, will it have the power to break the “impasse” that exists between the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) on the matter of a new, more equitable financial distribution between the leagues. Sunak, who was clearly expecting the question, started by thanking Holt for hosting the event and reminding the crowd of his love for football and “lifelong” support for Southampton. This, he said, means he understands how important clubs are to their communities. Then, having acknowledged the Premier League’s status as “an incredibly important asset of our country”, Sunak told Holt — and every other EFL club owner — exactly what he wanted to hear. GO DEEPER Explained: Premier League clubs close the 'Chelsea loophole' but agree on little else “It’s important that the incredible financial success that we enjoy at the top end of football is shared throughout the football pyramid so clubs like (Accrington Stanley) can benefit from that and we can nurture the sport for generations to come,” said Sunak. “That’s why the regulator will have the powers, if needed, to impose financial redistribution settlements. “Now, my hope is that the Premier League and the EFL can come to some appropriate arrangement themselves — that would be preferable. “But, ultimately, if that’s not possible, the regulator will be able to step in and do that to ensure we have a fair distribution of resources across the football pyramid, of course promoting the Premier League but supporting football in communities like this up and down the country. It’s a sport we all love and we’ve got to protect it properly for the future.” The creation of an independent regulator for football has been on the cards ever since it was the main recommendation of a fan-led review into English football’s governance conducted by former sports minister Tracey Crouch in 2021. The government commissioned the review following financial crises at several EFL clubs, most notably Bury, and the widespread shock caused by the attempt of the Premier League’s six richest clubs to join a breakaway European Super League. GO DEEPER Premier League: Change is coming to English football - but on what scale? The government first announced its intention to implement the review’s recommendations in April 2022 but only fully committed to legislation last November, when a “football governance bill” was included in the King’s Speech at the state opening of the new session of parliament. The first reading of that bill is expected in the coming weeks and, as it has cross-party support, its passage is a formality. However, there is no such unanimity when it comes to the regulator and its powers in English football, with many Premier League clubs still opposed to its introduction and the idea that it will have “backstop powers” to impose a new financial settlement on the game. GO DEEPER Independent regulator for English football makes first appointment A debate has raged for decades about how much money should flow down English football’s pyramid structure, with the 1992 creation of the Premier League being the most significant moment in that debate as it was caused by the leading clubs’ desire to keep more of the burgeoning media rights income for themselves. British governments have traditionally stayed out of that argument, leaving it to the leagues and the game’s governing body, the Football Association (FA), to sort out, but it is the repeated failure of English football to agree on financial and governance issues that has resulted in the imminent arrival of independent regulation. A draft proposal for a new financial distribution between the leagues, the so-called “new deal for football”, has existed for months but the Premier League’s board has not been able to put it to a vote of the top flight’s shareholders, the clubs, because there is still no agreement among them on how the extra solidarity money for the EFL will be funded. This has greatly frustrated the EFL and Sunak’s comments suggest the government is not impressed, either. GO DEEPER Explained: The Premier League's 'new deal for football' and what it means for the EFL

Roony Bardghji interview: ‘I watched Messi and tried to do the same as him’ https://theathletic.com/5182878/2024/01/10/roony-bardghji-interview/ The Swedish Messi. The next Zlatan. The new Rooney. These are all labels tagged onto one of the hottest young talents in European football. But the Swedish-Syrian Roony Bardghji (pronounced ‘bard-gah-jee’), who turned 18 in November, wants to clear something up. “By the way, my name is not related to Wayne Rooney at all,” he tells The Athletic. “It was a lucky name my mum gave me.” His dad is not a Manchester United fan and younger brother Rayan was not named after another club icon, Giggs. He might have got the stunning Champions League goal to beat United but he plans on that being just the start. He doesn’t want to be a pale imitation or ‘the next’ somebody. Roony Bardghji wants to rise to the throne as the first of his name. “Well, I wish to become the best player in the world,” he says. “Of course, playing in the biggest leagues, playing for one of the biggest teams… but being the best player in the world. That’s my biggest goal. “That’s what I’m working towards every day, reaching my goal in five years… If you’re dreaming, dream big.” Growing up was not straightforward for Bardghji. His parents met in Aleppo, Syria, and he was born in Kuwait City, where his father had moved for work. Bardghji slept with a football instead of a teddy bear. When he was three, his dad hired out a local pitch for them to practise whenever they could. Three years later, in 2012, Roony, Rayan, and his mother made a 5,600-kilometre (3,500-mile) journey to the southern Swedish town Kallinge in search of a brighter future, though his dad initially had to stay behind. Bardghji says quietly, “It was difficult not having Dad there.” Football provided comfort. He and Rayan made friends through the game and learned the language in three months. At 12, he caught Tottenham Hotspur’s eye and went on trial. While there, he trained alongside Ashley Cole’s son, Jaxon, scoring three goals and providing two assists in a 6-1 win against Ipswich Town. “It was a really good experience, seeing the level and how football is outside Sweden, being at a big club like Tottenham and seeing how they work,” he says. On his 15th birthday, Bardghji celebrated by moving from Swedish giants Malmo to Danish side Copenhagen. But with Bardghji and his family still living in Sweden, it meant gruelling 15-hour days. He got used to 5.30am alarms and had to cross the Oresund Bridge to Denmark, to school, to training and then back, home at 8.30pm. He believes that relentless discipline laid the foundations for the player and person he is today. Bardghji is a nippy, jinking winger, who loves cutting in onto his stronger left foot. He’s nimble without being rapid, robust without being burly, and his agility and balance allow him to drop his shoulder and slalom around would-be tacklers. His style of play is not entirely dissimilar to Lionel Messi, whose poster was the only one he had on his wall in Kuwait. And who did he like to watch on YouTube? “It was always Messi. No one else, to be honest, when I was young. I always watched his clips and always tried to do the same on the pitch. I just love Messi.” Bardghji didn’t play any organised football until Sweden. It shows. He has the joyous spontaneity of a street footballer. That said, Bardghji is effective too: he has 10 goals for Copenhagen’s first team this season but also has the vision to provide for team-mates. Bardghji understands he is not yet the finished article. This shows in the way he’s been primarily used as an impact substitute, especially in the Champions League, in which he only started one of Copenhagen’s six group games. His physicality and defensive work are particular focuses. “You can always improve on everything. Playing more games, that’s how you get more experience, you will get a lot better with that.” But there’s no reason that shouldn’t come in time. And, of course, he has a penchant for big moments. GO DEEPER 'Every day. Every time. Always, always': Roony Bardghji's plan to be the world's best If you’re good enough, you’re old enough, supposedly — but Danish Superliga rules prevented Bardghji from making his senior debut until his 16th birthday. The week after, he became the club’s youngest-ever player and the week after that, the league’s youngest-ever goalscorer. https://www.instagram.com/p/CW3nlPNK5sx/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=43a195b7-200f-47f9-961a-2a9386ca179d Bardghji loves the Copenhagen derby, a game that The Athletic’s Sebastian Stafford-Bloor described as a “blood-and-thunder class war” that pits Copenhagen against Brondby. In October 2022, he scored a 98th-minute equaliser in front of Brondby’s Sydsiden terrace to silence the yellow-and-blue wall. In September, in the same stadium and at the same end, he came on in the 79th minute with Copenhagen 2-1 down and by the 89th minute, he had scored twice to turn the game on its head. He celebrated his first with a provocative bow to the seething Brondby fans. “I still remember the day,” Bardghji says. “It was an amazing feeling. It’s a big thing there, especially for the fans, so I was really happy.” GO DEEPER Derby Days, Copenhagen: Brondby IF vs FC Copenhagen It is unsurprising, then, that he was undaunted by facing Manchester United in the Champions League. “It was not scary. I was not nervous at all. It’s something I always dreamt of.” Copenhagen came from 2-0 down — both goals scored by Bardghji’s former under-19 team-mate Rasmus Hojlund — to 2-2, and 3-2 back to 3-3. In the 87th minute, he scored an imperious winner. He became just the 15th man to score a Champions League goal before turning 18. He talks The Athletic through it. First, he pounces on a slack pass and faces up Harry Maguire. “I was thinking just to attack the defender and dribble past him,” Bardghji explains. “He gave me the outside, so I went outside and tried to cross it.” Goalkeeper Andre Onana parries it, the shot is sliced but stays in play. Bardghji notices a pocket of space. “I was checking around and saw I was totally free, so I raised my hand to show my team-mate. “I saw the cross was a little bit short but was hoping the ball was going to land there.” Maguire heads the cross straight to where Roony is waiting. “I prepared my body for the shot… but it’s more instinct. I was just thinking about hitting the ball right, cleanly because it’s not an easy shot. I tried to keep it down… it went (in) so fast.” He has turned to celebrate before the ball even crosses the line. “I swear, I couldn’t feel anything,” he says. “I was just so happy I don’t even know what I did. You cannot describe it. The city was going crazy. The most important goal (of my career) for sure… it was a special day.” Bardghji’s self-belief can appear cocky. He has no favourite team or player and no one he is desperate to play alongside other than Messi and Rayan. He is “very confident” Copenhagen can beat champions Manchester City at home in the Champions League last 16 in February. His open frustration at not yet being called up to Sweden’s senior national team and audacious celebrations could easily paint a picture of arrogance. But it isn’t the full picture. Bardghji is a reserved character who often discusses the team rather than himself. He is quadrilingual (Swedish, Danish, Arabic and English). He wears Roony rather than Bardghji on his shirt because he thinks it is easier for people to pronounce. It is an interesting dichotomy. Bardghji’s camp wants a switch to one of the top-five European leagues, and that could happen as soon as this month’s transfer window. But there is an awareness of the importance of playing time, so a half-season loan back to Copenhagen in the event of any move would be preferable. And Roony may not be the only Bardghji you need to remember the name of: striker Rayan, 14, regularly trains with Copenhagen’s under-17 side. Roony likens him to Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero. Rayan knows the pathway upwards from following in Roony’s footsteps, and says playing together in the same team for club or country would be “the dream”. No one seems more convinced of the inevitability of Bardghji’s upward trajectory than the young man himself. When his dad speaks about his elder son, you begin to understand where Roony gets his iron willpower. “I’ve always had a huge trust and belief in him,” he says in Arabic while looking Roony in the eye. “That never wavered. “I always believed he could reach the highest level since he was a young boy. I’m extremely proud of him because I was sure he was going to make it.” From a three-year-old playing in Kuwait to United’s conqueror, Roony and Copenhagen now have a February date with the formidable City. Bardghji has a five-year plan. The wheels are already in motion.

I was only saying I rated him over Maatsen in terms of our needs. My LB targets remain the same Nuno Mendes Alphonso Davies Federico Dimarco Theo Hernández Quilindschy Hartman José Gayà Miguel Gutiérrez Pervis Estupiñán Milos Kerkez Borna Sosa

Ivan Toney would welcome Arsenal transfer but it’s looking increasingly unlikely for January https://thedailybriefing.io/i/140520356/ivan-toney-would-welcome-arsenal-transfer-but-its-looking-increasingly-unlikely-for-january Arsenal are not currently in talks for Ivan Toney even though many fans feel he’d be a perfect fit. What’s true, though, is that Toney would welcome an approach from Arsenal. There is no guarantee Arsenal, much like Chelsea, will sign a striker now as opposed to waiting until the summer. And in Toney’s case, it’s just a very expensive outlay to make anything happen. Brentford want £80m+, and some sources even indicate they would hold out for £100m before even entertaining an offer. That’s out of Arsenal’s budget for January. Toney has also said on record he feels he owes Brentford for their support during his ban for gambling breaches. So it’s more likely at this stage he stays at Brentford in January. This is also down to the fact Brentford need him to help get them further clear of the relegation zone. Remember, Bryan Mbeumo is injured and Yoane Wissa is at the African Cup of Nations with DR Congo. This will make them even more reluctant to sell Toney now. A new Toney contract at Brentford also can’t be ruled out, but the challenge is matching his desired wage. But Brentford don't feel in any rush and although it's true Toney is starting to plan for his next move, free agency in 2025 is not impossible either. Meanwhile, Arsenal are happy with Eddie Nketiah, who Mikel Arteta views as a valuable squad member. At the moment they are not entertaining selling Nketiah in January despite firm interest from Crystal Palace. Arsenal value Nketiah at around £35m, but he won’t be allowed to leave unless another striker, and one within Arsenal’s budget, can be found. I am told Nketiah will really have to push if an offer that he feels is right for him comes this month. Arsenal and Arteta’s perspective is very much that they need all the depth possible for the second-half of the season.

Chelsea set £60m asking price for Conor Gallagher, but he wants to stay https://thedailybriefing.io/i/140520356/Chelsea-set-m-asking-price-for-conor-gallagher-but-he-wants-to-stay Conor Gallagher wants to stay at Chelsea, and it’s clear Mauricio Pochettino values him highly. He’s probably been Chelsea's second-best player behind only Cole Palmer. However, Gallagher’s contract expires in summer 2025 and Chelsea's policy is to listen to offers for any player with less than two years left on their existing deal. It was the same with Mason Mount prior to his move to Manchester United. This means either Gallagher signing a new deal (and talks haven't advanced yet) or the club contemplating a sale at the right price. Chelsea are not actively offering up Gallagher just yet, but if an appealing offer emerges he could yet be sold in January. There is no magic number, because structure is equally as important, but it’s understood a guaranteed fee of around £45-50m could potentially tempt Chelsea to sell. The total package might have to reach close to £60m, though. Gallagher could block a move, as Ian Maatsen did when Chelsea accepted Burnley’s £31.5m offer last summer. But if Chelsea accept any bid, it obviously sends a message to Gallagher that he's perhaps not part of the club's long-term plans. That’s the irony in all this. Right now, Gallagher is integral. But with everyone fit, and the option to captain Reece James or Ben Chilwell, does Gallagher still get one of the two midfield starting spots on a regular basis? At this point, even Mauricio Pochettino probably doesn’t know the answer to that question with any certainty. Spurs do appreciate Gallagher, but there are no formal talks currently taking place despite reports in Italy. We will have to wait and see whether that changes over the coming weeks. Spurs tried for Gallagher last summer but didn’t want to pay more than £35m. Given Gallagher’s price has potentially another £20-25m on it, it’s hard to see a deal getting done. Chelsea are unlikely to come significantly down on price, at least not this window.

Clown

Mutu: I was forced to pay Chelsea millions, almost hit Jose Mourinho and was caught sucking the blood of a porn star https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/11885788/adrian-mutu-Chelsea-cocaine-porn-star/

fucking Maatsen turning down Burnley (a £31.5m loan with obligation-to-buy deal) meant we sold:

Chelsea scouting 25-year-old Greek centre forward who’s outscoring Mohamed Salah this season, he wants January exit Chelsea have reportedly set their sights on AZ Alkmaar’s Vangelis Pavlidis. His name may be unfamiliar to English audiences, but he’s a talented forward that is even outscoring Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah this season. https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/Chelsea-scouting-25-year-old-forward-whos-outscoring-mohamed-salah-this-season-he-wants-january-exit/

Boniface out for at least 3 months https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/leverkusens-boniface-undergo-surgery-out-months-club-2024-01-09/#:~:text=BERLIN%2C Jan 9 (Reuters),Bundesliga leaders said on Tuesday.

Chelsea goalkeeper Ted Curd has been recalled from his loan at Hashtag United. https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/curd-recalled-from-hashtag-united

Chelsea report: £80-100m Lautaro Martinez bid to be ACCEPTED, as Blues seek clinical world-class striker Chelsea can sign the superstar striker that they crave this month, with a monster bid of £86m deemed enough to take Lautaro Martinez to England https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/Chelsea-transfer-news-report-pound80-100m-lautaro-martinez-bid-to-be-accepted-as-blues-seek-clinical-world-class-striker-lautaro-martinez-inter-milan-signings-rumours-gossip-paper-talk-cfc Chelsea have been told they can end their long-awaited search for a clinical No.9 by signing Lautaro Martinez this month. The Blues splashed out £100 million on Martinez's partner from Inter Milan's last Scudetto win in 2021, Romelu Lukaku, when Thomas Tuchel thought he had the missing jigsaw piece for his puzzle that summer. The Belgian is now on loan at Roma, however, having gone back to the San Siro on loan in between. Now, Inter have indicated that Martinez is for sale for the right price, too, with Chelsea still struggling for goals a whole two-and-a-half years later, having signed the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Jackson in the interim. Transfer insider Dean Jones has written for SportsLens that World Cup-winning forward Martinez is a target for the west Londoners – and that a Premier League move would appeal to him. Over the 26-year-old has previously been linked with a host of English sides, primarily Arsenal and Tottenham, with the Nerazzurri reticent to consider offers. Jones claims that a bid of between £80 and £100 million would be enough to turn heads, however, though he admits that even that may not be enough to prevent Martinez from signing a new deal in Lombardy. "Insiders have told SportsLens that while the terms of a new contract with Inter are not complete, it is likely he commits his future to the Italian giants," he says, "But a January bid would throw such a moment into fresh uncertainty. Inter are suffering tricky financial times and have a tendency to cash in on high profile players to improve their situation." The likelihood of Martinez leaving Inter isn't currently high but that could all change in the coming weeks. Chelsea have been known to act quickly on transfers and though there isn't an obvious desire for the Argentine right now, plans could be made depending on Victor Osimhen's chances of going to Stamford Bridge. Martinez is valued at €110m by Transfermarkt.

TAA out for a month for Pool

utter madness compared to 1996 to 2021

Einstein Poch: we missed too many chances

ESPN RIPPING Boehly

yes, I get that gut feeling too and we often play well v Pool so who knows in a one-off final stranger things and all that