Vesper

Man Utd, Arsenal converge on surprise midfield target with transfer fee closely mirroring clever Chelsea coup https://www.teamtalk.com/manchester-united/man-utd-arsenal-converge-surprise-midfield-target-required-fee-closely-mirroring-clever-Chelsea-coup Man Utd and Arsenal are both interested in acquiring a left-field midfield target who could cost a similar fee to that of a recent Chelsea signing, per a report. The Blues will be boosted by the arrival of David Datro Fofana on January 1. The Ivory Coast international, 19, plies his trade for Norwegian side Molde and is representative of Todd Boehly’s plan to invest in the club’s future as much as the present. Chelsea officially confirmed Fofana will arrive at Stamford Bridge when the January window opens on Sunday (via the BBC). Given Armando Broja’s ACL injury, Fofana is expected to be immediately integrated into the first-team rather than loaned out. In any case, today’s update centres around a player Fofana knows well – Molde teammate, Sivert Mannsverk. The Norway Under-21 international is unlikely to be a familiar name to many at present. However, that’s a situation that could soon change. Jeunes Footeux report Manchester United, Arsenal and Ajax are all suitably impressed with the central midfielder. As such, all three are mulling whether to make a move. Exactly when they would lodge any bids isn’t stated, though given we’re on the eve of the winter window opening, a January move would make the most sense. 20-year-old Mannsverk operates primarily in the engine room, though has made his mark in front of goal in the recent past. Indeed, he scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in Molde’s Norwegian FA Cup victory over Bodo Glimt back in May. The report adds Molde would command around €10m (approx. £8.8m) for Mannsverk’s services. Anything less and bids will be categorically rejected. A transfer fee of that size would closely mirror the fee Chelsea have agreed to pay Molde for Fofana. Clearly Norwegian football – and in particular at Molde – is proving a fertile proving ground for promising young players. Molde is also the club Erling Haaland played for between 2017-19.

AC Milan have identified Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as short-term option https://astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2023/01/ac-milan-have-identified-Chelsea-goalkeeper-edouard-mendy-as-a-short-term-option-latest-news/ According to Corriere Della Sera (h/t Football.London), Serie A champions AC Milan have identified Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as a short-term option in goal. Due to Mike Maignan’s physical setbacks, Milan are looking for a goalkeeper in the January transfer window at a low cost. The report names Mendy as one of the options. Since the arrival of Graham Potter as a Chelsea manager, Kepa Arrizabalaga has predominantly played as a number one keeper. This may allow Mendy to look for a move elsewhere in the near future. The Senegal international recently rejected a new contract offer from the Blues, which, according to him, disrespected the work he has done for the club and his status in the squad. Mendy’s form has not been good since the latter half of last season. Before that, he was one of the best goalkeepers in the world for a period of 12-18 months. So, although things are not going his way in the recent past, there is a quality goalkeeper in there who might have to move to another club to get regular game time. Whether Potter wants to keep hold of the experienced shot-stopper in the squad to fall upon when his first-choice keeper does not do well, remains to be seen. The former Rennes goalkeeper still has more than two years left in his contract at Chelsea (Transfermarkt). But, if he stays on the bench at Stamford Bridge, clubs like Milan can buy him at a cheaper price.

PSV Eindhoven are monitoring the situation of new Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana and could approach the London-based club in order to seek a loan deal for him. https://insidefutbol.com/2022/12/31/dutch-giants-keeping-tabs-on-20-year-old-Chelsea-star/589313/ The Dutch giants are looking at possible reinforcements and are assessing a number of options to add to their attack. Chelsea have completed the signing of Fofana, 20, from Norwegian club Molde for €10m, but it is unclear if he will slot straight into the first team. And according to Dutch daily the Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV Eindhoven are keeping a close eye on Fofana’s situation at Stamford Bridge. They have taken no concrete steps, but could look to sign Fofana on loan. The Ivory Coast international joined Molde in February last year and featured in 65 games for them making 34 goal contributions. He was handed his international debut by the Ivory Coast in 2019 against Niger and has won three caps so far. All eyes will be on what Chelsea boss Graham Potter chooses to do with Fofana and whether a loan might be on the table.

that list is not in exact order at all he likely is impossible to pull now so I did not bold him same for Barella

offside, ffs

3 4

2 4 lol

1 3

nil 3

Tino Livramento has long been in demand – he was destined for the top from an early age https://theathletic.com/3756527/2022/12/30/tino-livramento-southampton-potential/ Where Tino Livramento grew up is certainly different to where he lives now. The suburban din of south London has been exchanged for the serenity of Ocean Village; a high-end, yacht-filled marina on the River Itchen and traditionally home to many of Southampton’s players, board members and managers. Ralph Hasenhuttl had an apartment in the same tower block where Livramento resides and would occasionally run into him. Their car parking spaces were alongside each other, so Hasenhuttl, as he enjoyed pointing out, would know whether Livramento was at home or not. But it is not like the 20-year-old is a tearaway, anyway. At Staplewood, staff have marvelled at Livramento’s dedication in returning from the long-term anterior cruciate ligament knee injury he sustained in April. He worked in the gym throughout the summer and made his return to the grass near the start of autumn. He began training on the next pitch to the first team, completing running and sprinting drills without a ball but using plenty of cones. His return to Premier League action is moving closer. That level of dedication originated in the London Burrough of Sutton, where Livramento was raised by his Scottish mother Caroline and Portuguese father Louis, who played a key role in helping him decide on joining Southampton last year. It is early December and the World Cup remains the only thing entrenched in footballing minds. But The Athletic is in a snowy south London, on the playing fields alongside the Roundshaw estate. It is where Valentino, as his closest family still call him, started out. The playing fields where Livramento played as a youngster Roundshaw United, his first junior side, are now defunct but beyond the estate and what used to be the clubhouse lie the same playing fields. Those fields are precisely 2.34 kilometres long and would welcome hundreds of players and many junior teams each week. There is a solitary building facing out towards the fields, with multiple changing rooms inside. Above the entrance is a banner saying “home to Sutton Common Rovers”, who play in the Isthmian South Central Division but they will soon be moving to Whyteleafe Sports Centre, a 3G playing surface. And as we cast our gaze across the blanket of snow enveloping the pitches as far as the eye can see, it makes perfect sense. The Roundshaw playing fields go backwards and venture slightly uphill, with at least three full-sized pitches on every bank. A line of trees separates each incline and to the right is the Roundshaw estate, where the only person The Athletic comes into contact with is walking their dog. It used to be filled with life and noise on the weekends. Livramento played here until under-9s level, both for Roundshaw and then Epsom Eagles for a year. Incidentally, at the latter, he was coached by former Manchester City and Wales defender Ben Thatcher. There, he played at centre-back before being swiftly moved forward to end the season as his side’s top scorer. It was during that time he was spotted and scouted by Chelsea, who invited him for a trial. There, with his crossing and powerful running standing out, it made sense to mould him into a full-back. As he settled into life at Cobham, which included having two days off school per week to train, Livramento’s talents soon took him to the international stage, playing for England schoolboys. Livramento would later captain England’s under-18s against Brazil, saying it was his proudest moment in football to date. Southampton had known about Livramento for a long time. So much so that in most games Chelsea played against them, they would keep a close eye on him. Observers noted how Livramento, for such a young man, would always want to be involved in the most difficult situations on the pitch, whether that be receiving under pressure or dragging his team through adversity. Even from right-back, Chelsea would look to him to get them back into games. They knew Livramento, forged by his days on Roundshaw, would always be willing to stand up and be counted. His ability to drive forward with and without the ball was his most distinctive attribute, routinely getting to the byline and hitting crosses that were consistently accurate. As you would expect for a player his age, there was an acceptance his defending needed work, but no challenge ever seemed to faze him. Born in November 2002, Livramento was raised by his parents, along with his older brother and sister, Louis and Paloma. The family home was a little over a mile away from those grassy, often muddied, pitches. Half a mile down the road from Roundshaw is Wallington, home to Livramento. Wallington is a suburban town, with a busy main road steering through the quieter, leafy cul-de-sacs. On a good day, it is less than a five-minute drive to the playing fields. Livramento was raised in Wallington His first secondary school, Woodcote High, was just over two miles away, located in Coulsdon, Croydon — roughly a 15-minute journey by bus. “He was absolutely lovely when he was here,” Jayne Liddemore, who was Livramento’s head of year eight and nine tells The Athletic. “He was a bright, intelligent young man who I kept trying to persuade to do A-levels but he wasn’t interested. I told him he should be going to university — he’s that bright. But he only ever wanted to play football. He was always absolutely charming. He had a fantastic sense of humour.” It was here that Livramento would secretly play for Woodcote’s football team, unbeknown to Chelsea. “He was good at everything,” says Liddemore. “He didn’t have to try too hard to do well. He knew where his future was going. He didn’t necessarily see the value in education at times and could be a little bit laid back about it. He could be a bit chatty but was very rarely in trouble. I remember how all the girls would swoon over him!” “You could say that!” laughs AFC Wimbledon attacker Nathan Young-Coombes, when The Athletic asks if Livramento was, indeed, a hit with the ladies. “I’ve known Tino since we were four. We went to the same nursery. We played for Chelsea together when we were seven before going to the same high school, where we were in each other’s classes. I then lived with Tino for another two years — we’ve been best friends forever near enough. I’ve spent more time with Tino than I have with my family.” Sister Paloma was at the same school and was regarded as the louder of the Livramento siblings. “Tino keeps to himself,” says Young-Coombes. “He’s a lovable guy. I’ll doubt you’ll come across anybody that says a bad word about Tino. He’s such a nice guy. He’s probably one of the guys that you want to be around just to make yourself better.” Livramento attended Woodcote until the end of year nine As was customary with Chelsea’s promising youth talent, Livramento moved to Glyn School in year 10, which coincided with him being integrated into the club’s full-time footballing programme. Even though Livramento had kept up with his studies at Woodcote, Chelsea and Glyn share close ties. Glyn provided the club’s scholars with a full-time education programme. This consisted of seven full-time teachers working with the players for 20 hours a week at the academy. Livramento and his team-mates were taught every GCSE subject, including all the core subjects as well as business, history, French or Spanish and religious studies. The switch in education, consequently, enabled Chelsea to dictate his schedule to a greater extent. “His memory was almost photographic,” says Simon Knight, Livramento’s former PE teacher at Glyn. “His recall was phenomenal. He would come across as quite shy, but he would be taking everything in. His confidence certainly grew in the two years we had him.” “I was so upset when he had to leave,” says Liddemore. “We did everything we could to persuade him to stay in education but he was absolutely set. And Chelsea were absolutely clear he was going to make it. I had a couple of meetings with them and they told me he was going to go all the way.” Livramento in action for Chelsea at youth level (Photo: Alex Burstow/Getty Images) Despite leaving Woodcote, Livramento would return once a year to see his old teachers and friends. “He was just so down to earth,” smiles Liddemore. “I always used to get Christmas presents from him, like little boxes of chocolate. On one occasion, he got me a Chelsea shirt that he signed and addressed to me. I’ve still got that now. He used to be quite embarrassed when he gave me those presents because I think his parents used to make him bring them in. He’d walk into my office and shove it at me and walk out before I could say anything — he would be blushing furiously.” “He was in a very strong year group,” Knight says. “He was in the same class as the likes of Levi Colwill, Lewis Bate, Ben Elliott and Jamal Musiala. They went on to win pretty much everything that year.” The football pitches at Glyn School After spending the final two years completing his GCSEs (let’s just say he did not like Spanish), there became an inevitability Livramento would make it as a footballer. But competition at Chelsea is fierce and there was not a clear pathway into the first team, so a move away became an option for a player who wanted game time. Southampton were keen, given their knowledge of the player spanned several years and extensive scouting, but there was growing trepidation at the possibility of Livramento slipping through their fingers. There was understandable frustration towards the end of the 2020-21 campaign when it emerged Brighton were favourites to sign him. Everton, prior to Rafa Benitez’s arrival as manager, were also confident of agreeing a deal for the full-back after their recruitment team thought they had done the appropriate groundwork. Southampton, meanwhile, were led by chief executive Martin Semmens and had been in dialogue with Chelsea’s director Marina Granovskaia since March 2021. Staff inside Staplewood were under no doubt that, if Livramento were to sign, he would be able to hit the ground running in the Premier League, such was their total faith in him. And as far as they, Brighton and other interested parties were concerned, it was increasingly clear the teenager could make the step into first-team football and flourish. “I remember one time we played against a team that we were beating quite heavily,” recalls Young-Coombes. “They were putting in bad challenges all over the pitch and everyone was getting irate. Tino got kicked about a thousand times. But he just kept on picking himself back up and nothing fazed him. He then got the ball, dribbled past all of their team and scored. He acted as if what he had just done was normal.” After winning Chelsea’s academy player of the year at the end of that season and an agreement with Brighton falling through, Southampton became the frontrunners again and eventually managed to seal a £5million ($6.17m) deal in August, with the club only required to start paying back the fee during the summer just gone. Chelsea were hesitant to let him go and inserted a £50m ($61.74m) buy-back clause that kicks in next year. That figure is caveated by Chelsea having also installed a sell-on clause, meaning the actual buy-back price would be in the region of £38m ($46.92). Now there is great satisfaction at Southampton that they were able to sign Livramento when he was 18. His performances prior to injury were remarkable and served as the catalyst for the club’s resurgence in reputation for nurturing young players, both within the academy and buying externally. Players since, such as Romeo Lavia from Manchester City, have followed a similar path in coming to the south coast and playing regularly in the Premier League. Livramento is Southampton’s prototype; his acquisition has encouraged other talented players to move from bigger clubs. Significantly, the actual framework of Southampton’s deal to sign Livramento has continued to draw envy from higher-ranked Premier League sides, who have been surprised at how they managed to finalise those favourable terms. They have made their admiration known privately. For Livramento, the focus now is on playing where his feet are — both at Southampton and firmly on the ground. His roots remain in south London, near the family home, and despite the additional trappings of popularity, he keeps the same circle of friends and is in touch with schoolmates on social media. “He’s ahead of schedule and the knee has been feeling good,” says Young-Coombes. “He’s never fazed by anything. He could play week in week out in the Prem, have the best performance of his life and yet, tomorrow, come to my house to watch football or play golf. As a professional footballer that’s the epitome of what you need from a mentality standpoint.” “Some players think they’ve made it to the top and they’ve done everything,” team-mate Che Adams tells The Athletic. “But, in reality, they’ve done nothing. The young players (like Tino) who have come here want to push on because they’re at Southampton to better their careers and make the most out of it. He takes everything on board and wants to get better.” Livramento has been stepping up his recovery and is nearing a return to playing. It is hoped that same fearless verve, first derived and built on those Roundshaw fields and in Wallington, will soon be recaptured.

https://theathletic.com/4047676/2022/12/31/scott-parker-joins-club-bruges-as-head-coach/ Scott Parker has been appointed as the new head coach of Belgian side Club Brugge. Parker has been out of work since leaving Bournemouth earlier this season. The former England international had led Bournemouth to promotion from the Championship but left after a 9-0 loss to Liverpool. The 42-year-old is now taking over at Brugge. Parker has a solid record as a manager. Aside from his stint in charge of Bournemouth, he also oversaw promotion from the Championship as Fulham manager in 2019-20, winning the play-offs. He replaces Carl Hoefkens, who took over in the summer. Hoefkens led Brugge to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in the modern era of the competition. However, they are struggling domestically, going out of the Belgian Cup and sitting just fourth in the top flight. Parker, who played for Charlton, Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Tottenham and Fulham, will be tasked with driving his team up the table over the rest of the season.

I saw this 3 days ago Repubblica - Chelsea aim for Barella, Inter return to Frattesi: challenge Roma, valuation of 35 million https://www.fcinternews.it/in-primo-piano/i-repubblica-i-il-Chelsea-punta-barella-l-inter-ritorna-su-frattesi-sfida-alla-roma-valutazione-di-35-milioni-913179

Brighton is missing Alexis Mac Allister Moisés Caicedo Danny Welbeck Adam Webster Jakub Moder look at their bench, lol SUBSTITUTES 23 Jason Steele 49 Andrew Moran 43 Ed Turns 71 Jack Hinshelwood 29 Jan Paul van Hecke 19 Jeremy Sarmiento 28 Evan Ferguson 34 Joël Veltman 20 Julio Enciso

nil 1 Arse Saka ffs

Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal https://www.sportfacts.net/sports/2022/premier-league-brighton-hove-albion-vs-arsenal-s1/ https://www.vipleague.st/brighton-hove-albion-vs-arsenal-1-live-streaming

Stream links for all the games https://www.sportfacts.net/ We are out having a late lunch at a pub near our house.

Unless Gakpo can play in midfield – or they face Faes every game – Liverpool have a problem https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-gakpo-liverpool-midfield-leicester-faes-henderson-bellingham

FERNANDEZ PRICE TOO HIGH FOR LIVERPOOL https://www.football365.com/news/transfer-gossip-liverpool-fernandez-Chelsea-spurs-surprise-move-ronaldo-snub Liverpool have found the asking price for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez to be out of their price range, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Reds are on the lookout for the right player to help solve their issues in midfield, which were on display last night as they beat Leicester City 2-1. Numerous midfielders have been linked with a move to Anfield with Jude Bellingham understood to be their top target for the summer transfer window – but they face fierce competition from Real Madrid, Manchester City and other clubs. Romano revealed yesterday that Fernandez has said ‘yes’ to Chelsea with the Blues beginning ‘direct talks’ with Benfica over a potential January transfer. The Portuguese outfit want any interested club to activate his €120m release clause with Fernandez only arriving in the summer transfer window for €10m from River Plate. But Chelsea are willing to spend over €120m in order to avoid paying up front and Romano now claims that ‘focus will be on new midfielder’ for Liverpool but they ‘are not intentioned to pay €120m for Fernandez as of today’. On potential transfer movements, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said on Friday: “We’ve to collect money for a bit, then we can spend. That is how we work.”

MN: Sporting CP, Chelsea and €19m that weigh – Leao’s complex renewal situation https://sempremilan.com/mn-sporting-cp-Chelsea-and-e19m-that-weigh-leaos-complex-renewal-situation AC Milan must tackle the knot of Rafael Leao’s renewal in the coming weeks and there are various fronts that must be resolved, a report claims. MilanNews starts by writing that Leao’s judicial situation is complicated. The Portuguese owes Sporting CP the big sum of €19m euros as compensation for the unilateral termination of the contract exercised in 2018 after fans stormed the training complex. Other players who left Sporting under the same circumstances resolved their position by paying Sporting compensation which Lille did not do, as they contracted Leao without making contact with his former club. There was a charter signed between Lille and Leao’s agent at the time according to which the French club, when claiming Sporting, would have put money on the plate to settle and resolve the matter. This paper, however, is not in the hands of Leao and his current lawyers as the separation from his former attorney was stormy and that document – being a private agreement between the parties – remains under lock and key. Sporting CP originally asked for €45m in compensation through a Portuguese court, and then in the end the Milan court condemned him to pay €19m, which the boy began to pay through 20% of his salary. In the meantime Lille – jointly and severally liable by the TAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) – not only did not pay Sporting a singly euro, but also challenged the sentence of the TAS itself before the Swiss federal court, with a negative result. Leao filed an appeal through his Italian lawyers, with the hearing set for the spring, but the margins for overturning the first-instance ruling are very minimal. That means Leao needs as much money as possible to resolve his dispute with Sporting. How does this affect Milan? The Rossoneri are in constant contact with all of Leao’s entourage, but all they can do is formulate a contractual proposal that is as high as possible based on their own economic parameters. A possible renewal of Leao’s contract should be seen as something to temporarily protect both Milan and the player, given the club would acquire stronger bargaining power in negotiations than it would have in the summer of 2023, given that Leao’s current deal expires in 2024, while the boy could ask for more money from any suitor. Maldini and Massara will do everything to try and keep the Portuguese but they are also ready to make the most of his transfer in the summer. Chelsea are observing and are ready to launch a big bid while guaranteeing the former Lille man a salary over €10m net per season. In his heart Leao does not want to leave AC Milan and Milano as a city, though it is equally true that those €19m weigh on his head every day are something that will affect him.

if it's any consolation, in pounds it was 'only' £75m (£70m fee + £5m in add-ons) lolol smdh £250m likely or perhaps shit away (in other words, around the cost for BOTH Enzo AND Bellingham) just in transfer fees and add-ons Rom, Fofana, KK, Auba, and a £30m or so overpay for CuCu

Boiled it down to the 9 'OMFG we signed them' players atm (Nkunku would be in there to make an even 10, but we signed him already) Jude Bellingham Josko Gvardiol Enzo Fernández then Rafael Leão Victor Osimhen Dušan Vlahović Milan Skriniar Jan Oblak Nicolò Barella (Caicedo is close behind, they are the two 'closest to Kante' types atm) in terms of the 2 positions not (fullback) or barely (winger) listed above: there are no LBs or RBs at that level who are available (hell, there are only 4 of each on the planet, 9 total if your revert Kimmich back to RB) and After Leão the only acceptable buys at winger (non youth, as in both really young (teens) and also no bigger European league experience to compensate) for me would be (AND no, Mbappe is a pipedream so not listed): Moussa Diaby (lefty) Leroy Sané (lefty) Ousmane Dembélé (ambipedal) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (ambipedal) Federico Chiesa (if fully recovered) (mostly right footed but can player either wing, seems to prefer the RW) Mykhaylo Mudryk (like Leão, he is completely a right footed LW, those two are the only ones of the eight wingers listed who never play on the right, and Mudryk is the only one listed who has no Big 5 experience at all) Karim Adeyemi (lefty)

many variables, but we are not in driver's seat unless we flex NOW IF he doesn't move this January and there is no 2024 £97.5m (€110m) release clause then it comes down to summer 2023 and we may well have no CL to offer, which dooms us IF there IS a 2024 release clause, then in theory we could well have CL to offer in summer 2024 BUT so many clubs will come for him and I rate Real Madrid (by then they will be in desperate need, likely, for a CB, especially a left-footer, Alaba will be 32, and Rudiger turns 32 three months before the end of the 2024/05 season) Barca (they will likely have money by then to spend) Citeh Pool (if Klopp is still there then) Man U provided they all have CL to offer as being able to outpull us (and all can afford a £97.5m pound buy, probably even Barca by then) not sure about PSG, I would need to know more about his feelings about Ligue 1 and France in general, but obviously money would not be an issue for them by then

worst football night of my life

that depends IF West Ham get relegated

Keep up this good form into the knockout stages of the tournament, and Croatia might be indebted to Gvardiol for potentially reaching another final. On a personal level, the more excellent performances he churns out, the more likely he is to be rewarded with a move away from Leipzig. If his recent admission is anything to go by, Madrid is the location he’d love to land in. “Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, so who knows… maybe one day I can play there. I would like to, yes,” admitted Gvardiol when asked about the club’s apparently interested in his services. “Luka (Modric) doesn’t have to tell me anything about Real Madrid, there’s no need. I already know everything, I know it’s the biggest club in the world and how important it is to be linked to such a team.” That’s got to hurt if you are of a Chelsea persuasion. https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/player-quotes/biggest-club-77m-world-cup-star-says-he-wants-to-sign-for-real-madrid-after-claims-Chelsea-could-bid/