Chelsea Transfers

[Special Juan 28,122]

Depending on how long he is going to be out depends if we move in the market.

If he is out for two months from season start we must go for someone.

And the worry is, the injury wasn't the result of a challenge

[CucurellatheCat 14]

3 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Depending on how long he is going to be out depends if we move in the market.

If he is out for two months from season start we must go for someone.

This is why bash is annoying, we have hato who can cover but we have desperately needed a fit CB for ages to avoid this exact situation and bash is a sick note

Could this be a sign of wear on the squad after the amount of games they played last season, I'm not sure, wonder if fofana is actually fully recovered or 1 slip and hes back to a sick note in all

Guehi is ideal, i personally think he's one of the best in the league and hes ex chels 

 

Listening to maresca, it sounds like colwell has properly injured himself could be acl or something

 

mare 

[Nero 1,869]

This Colwill news... fuck, fuck, fuuuuuuuck.

I knew something like this would happen. Everything was going too well.

[Vesper 30,106]

1 minute ago, Special Juan said:

Depending on how long he is going to be out depends if we move in the market.

If he is out for two months from season start we must go for someone.

the best left-footed CBs out there who are even remotely avaialble (some are well-nigh impossible pulls atm)

  
Alessandro Bastoni 
Murillo 
Piero Hincapié 
Alessandro Buongiorno 
Gonçalo Inácio 
Castello Lukeba 
Evan Ndicka 
Jakub Kiwior
Konstantinos Koulierakis 
 

big drop off after those

Veiga makes 10 on the list of good lefty CBs out there who are remotely available, but of course he is ours atm

IF Colwill is out for a long time and IF we fail on all 5 of the bolded ones, I would probably just keep Veiga

[Special Juan 28,122]

Yeah Veiga and Hato as cover ideally, as long as spending on a CB doesn't stop us for going at Simons

Prefer if it puts the Garnacho deal in jeopardy if anything 

[mkh 572]

11 minutes ago, Vesper said:

the best left-footed CBs out there who are even remotely avaialble (some are well-nigh impossible pulls atm)

  
Alessandro Bastoni 
Murillo 
Piero Hincapié 
Alessandro Buongiorno 
Gonçalo Inácio 
Castello Lukeba 
Evan Ndicka 
Jakub Kiwior
Konstantinos Koulierakis 
 

big drop off after those

Veiga makes 10 on the list of good lefty CBs out there who are remotely available, but of course he is ours atm

IF Colwill is out for a long time and IF we fail on all 5 of the bolded ones, I would probably just keep Veiga

I could imagine Chelsea signing either Hincapie or Inacio and no longer needing a goalkeeper for Guehi on the right.

I'm concerned about the quality of our center backs without Colwill.

Forget Veiga, he's not coming back into the team.

He's already training in a separate group and has fallen out with Enzo.M!!!

[mkh 572]

Maresca says Chelsea could go into the market if Colwill injury is bad : 

“We’ll see, for Levi for the way we play, he’s so important”

[Pizy 18,864]

I’d be surprised if we go into the market for a new CB unless he’s out for several months. Buying an expensive CB only for Colwill to be back in a few weeks would create quite the headache. On the other hand, Badiashile also happens to be injured for all we know and we sent Sarr back to Strasbourg so it’s a real problem area all of a sudden. Throwing Hato in at LCB right away is a huge risk.

What an unfortunate and unexpected mess all of a sudden before the season even starts. 

[CucurellatheCat 14]

Just now, Pizy said:

I’d be surprised if we go into the market for a new CB unless he’s out for several months. Buying an expensive CB only for Colwill to be back in a few weeks would create quite the headache. On the other hand, Badiashile also happens to be injured for all we know and we sent Sarr back to Strasbourg so it’s a real problem area all of a sudden. Throwing Hato in at LCB right away is a huge risk.

What an unfortunate and unexpected mess all of a sudden before the season even starts. 

Maresca presser he seems to me to indicate colwells done an acl or something and talks about going into the market

People saying about we need a left footer in there, I think guehi is the best choice by far even though hes a righty and hes available for £50m or less

[CucurellatheCat 14]

Apparently Guehi can play both feet with ease

"Marc Guehi is right-footed, although he is known for his comfort and skill using his left foot, particularly when playing on the left side of the backline."

 

winner winner chicky dinner

[Pizy 18,864]

17 minutes ago, CucurellatheCat said:

Maresca presser he seems to me to indicate colwells done an acl or something and talks about going into the market

People saying about we need a left footer in there, I think guehi is the best choice by far even though hes a righty and hes available for £50m or less

He said something like “Colwill felt something at the end of the session.” My mind immediately went to hamstring.

[CucurellatheCat 14]

Just now, Pizy said:

He said something like “Colwill felt something at the end of the session.” My mind immediately went to hamstring.

Enzo Maresca has revealed that Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill picked up an injury in training this week which could force them into the transfer market. 

Colwill excelled for Chelsea last season, playing 42 times and being a key part of their possession-based style. 

Chelsea returned for pre-season training on Monday in which Colwill picked up an issue. 

"We had a problem the last two days with Levi Colwill that we don't know how long he's going to be out," said Maresca on Thursday ahead of their first pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen

"Hopefully not too long but for sure it's a problem for us.

"It was the first session on Monday. Just in the last minutes of the session, he felt something."

[Vesper 30,106]

Marc Guéhi style of play analysis

https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/marc-guehi-style-of-play-analysis/

Marc Guéhi has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in English football. His form for Crystal Palace contributed to a historic FA Cup triumph in 2025, while making him a regular in the England team. It has also seen him linked with a potential big-money move to clubs including Liverpool and Newcastle United.

Born in Ivory Coast in 2000, he moved to England at the age of one, and was in Chelsea’s academy by the time he was eight. Capped by England at every age level, he captained their Under-17s to a European Championship final in 2017, before winning the Under-17 World Cup later that year.

After making two EFL Cup appearances for the Chelsea first team, he broke through at senior level while on loan with Swansea City in the Championship. Crystal Palace saw his potential and signed him for a reported £18m in 2021, and by March 2022 he had earned his first senior England cap. Within two years he was a mainstay of the England team that reached the Euro 2024 final, which he followed by lifting the FA Cup in 2025 as club captain of Palace.

Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed his game…

Technical analysis

Marc Guéhi is a right-footed centre-back who has played in a back four and back line of three. One of his strengths is blocking attacking actions when he is 1v1, particularly shots and crosses close to goal. In doing so he makes himself big and imposing, protecting the line to goal. He also times his blocks well; he doesn’t lift his foot too high (below), which limits the chances of a low shot or cross squeezing underneath.

Guéhi also blocks while not overstretching or overreaching with his action, which means he is rarely off balance. With his controlled approach he limits the chance of the ball being played through his legs. This is useful against crafty attackers who look to shift and shoot, or cross through the legs of a defender at the moment they fully engage with the ball.

Guéhi can also drop and block low to the ground, especially against driven efforts, which minimises awkward deflections. Although this can appear slightly unconventional, it often proves effective. One downside to slide tackling, however, is that ending fully on the floor can leave him unable to respond quickly enough with his next defensive action.

In a more set position he blocks passes well, courtesy of his positioning. He can also intercept passes through anticipation, accelerating to steal the ball as he moves away from his original defensive position. He can adjust and shift his body to intercept passes close by, before connecting with teammates.

Aerial duels and cover

The 6ft Guéhi competes well during contact in the air. He can intelligently pin and lock down opponents with well-timed holds, bumps and nudges. This means that if he doesn’t win the initial contact, he can still significantly affect it. He is also clever at disrupting the jump of his direct opponent during the flight of the ball, using contact from behind to limit how early or powerfully his opponent can jump. That means any potential height disadvantage for him isn’t much of an issue. Indeed, because of this he can sometimes win headers without the need to jump.

When he fully commits and jumps as high as possible, he has a great leap. This means that he isn’t as exposed by his relatively (compared to other centre-backs) smaller frame. As with all good defensive headers of the ball, where possible he tries to find a teammate (below) rather than simply clearing anywhere.

As well as jumping high, he can also compete for the ball in the air in multiple directions. He has the power and timing to recover back to his own goal, but still face forward and so track the flight of the ball. Even when dealing with an oncoming attacker, he can still win the first contact securely and confidently. This is one of the toughest moments to win an aerial duel, but is an area in which Guéhi competes well.

He also provides good cover and support as the second defender, around and underneath, for anything flicked on or missed. His impressive physical profile means he can usually match the runs of his direct opponent, and he has the pace to compete with athletic attackers.

In possession

Guéhi is adaptable with the ball. He can break lines by playing through, or punch passes around blocks to progress in wide areas. He can also hit longer passes with accuracy and precision. His longer passes over the top and switches of play across the pitch have proven useful during build-up, or when attacking higher (below). Ultimately, he has the impressive passing range that is necessary for a top-level modern centre-back.

As with Kalidou Koulibaly and Virgil van Dijk, Guéhi prefers to play on the left side of central defence, despite being right-footed. This often means he opens the pitch up more, because he will take touches back towards the centre on his stronger right foot. This has been evident when he has played in a back three and back four – his longer passes and switches of play become a way of progressing the ball. However, his pass type is often dictated by the formation he is playing in, along with the support and positioning of his teammates. That is, he can only switch play to the opposite side if someone is there, ready to receive, as with longer balls in behind.

He has shown variety in his longer passes and switches, however, such as dropping the ball into teammates with enough backspin for them to pin opponents. On other occasions, when the distance into a central teammate is a bit shorter, he has used a scooped technique. He can also hit longer passes or switch play to teammates receiving on the move, such as driving lower balls across the pitch. He has steadily improved with his left foot, too, lifting balls down the line or away from danger. This is useful when he can’t get on his right side, or an opposing press has locked him that way.

Centre-back in a back three

After Oliver Glasner’s appointment as Crystal Palace head coach, Guéhi became a key part of a back five. He began as the middle centre-back, but soon established himself on the left side. Under Glasner in the 2024/25 Premier League season, Crystal Palace often utilised mid- and low blocks, ranking fourth for total defensive duels and aerial duels. Palace also had three players in the league’s top 10 for most interceptions, including Guéhi.

Playing on the left of Palace’s three centre-backs, Guéhi helped protect the centre alongside the likes of Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards. He had an obvious focus on the left inside channel, covering inside left wing-back Tyrick Mitchell. Operating as one of the wider centre-backs in a back five, Guéhi also had to cover the wide areas and defend channel balls, as well as switches across the pitch and any wide attacking combinations. Whenever Mitchell jumped out to press, for example, Guéhi was required to cover and protect, adapting his game depending on his direct opponent.

When Guéhi has engaged a winger remaining wide to receive, he has needed to be nimble enough to deal with typically fast, twisty and agile opponents who prefer to dribble and carry the ball (below). This means more duelling on the ground, as well as more tracking and jockeying to delay attacks. When a centre-forward has moved wider to compete around Guéhi, the defender has often needed to intercept, stepping in front and stopping service. On other occasions he has been required to compete in aerial duels, dealing with diagonal passes and long balls. Whatever has been necessary, Guéhi has shown adaptability in his defending as a wide centre-back.

In possession, Glasner’s Palace have often had a narrow attacking unit, with two central attackers, Eberechi Eze and Ismaïla Sarr, supporting a single number nine – mostly Jean-Philippe Mateta. Guéhi has then had central teammates he can find ahead of the double pivot. As such, he has broken lines with incisive central passing, as well as playing more through balls than he did under previous managers. With the wing-backs in wide areas, switches and longer passes across the pitch have also been available for Guéhi to demonstrate his passing range, especially from left to right.

Centre-back in a back four

Before Glasner’s arrival at Palace, Guéhi was used mostly as a left-sided centre-back in a back four. In that role he spent more time defending the central spaces, in the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations of previous managers, Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson. That included a responsibility for engaging against dropping centre-forwards (below), competing directly in duels from straighter passes through the centre. He has also defended into midfield when playing in Glasner’s back three, but that has been as support to a double pivot.

In Palace’s back four, Guéhi operated as a covering defender, mostly alongside Joachim Andersen – especially with the latter competing for more aerial duels than Guéhi in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. This meant Guéhi had to call on his interception and blocking abilities. He also needed to read the game to predict and defend the second phase, while tracking and blocking opposing runs around this.

With the ball, in a back four Guéhi frequently switched play and hit longer passes. That was because he had teammates – including Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha – who wanted to attack 1v1 in wide areas as often as possible. In addition, Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward at right-back provided switching options as they supported the winger on their side.

Whatever the system, Guéhi has shown fantastic versatility and adaptability with his game, in and out of possession. In doing so he has served Crystal Palace and England well, earning plaudits and silverware along the way, with the promise of more to come.

[CucurellatheCat 14]

Just now, Vesper said:

Marc Guéhi style of play analysis

https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/marc-guehi-style-of-play-analysis/

Marc Guéhi has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in English football. His form for Crystal Palace contributed to a historic FA Cup triumph in 2025, while making him a regular in the England team. It has also seen him linked with a potential big-money move to clubs including Liverpool and Newcastle United.

 

Born in Ivory Coast in 2000, he moved to England at the age of one, and was in Chelsea’s academy by the time he was eight. Capped by England at every age level, he captained their Under-17s to a European Championship final in 2017, before winning the Under-17 World Cup later that year.

After making two EFL Cup appearances for the Chelsea first team, he broke through at senior level while on loan with Swansea City in the Championship. Crystal Palace saw his potential and signed him for a reported £18m in 2021, and by March 2022 he had earned his first senior England cap. Within two years he was a mainstay of the England team that reached the Euro 2024 final, which he followed by lifting the FA Cup in 2025 as club captain of Palace.

Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed his game…

Technical analysis

Marc Guéhi is a right-footed centre-back who has played in a back four and back line of three. One of his strengths is blocking attacking actions when he is 1v1, particularly shots and crosses close to goal. In doing so he makes himself big and imposing, protecting the line to goal. He also times his blocks well; he doesn’t lift his foot too high (below), which limits the chances of a low shot or cross squeezing underneath.

Guéhi also blocks while not overstretching or overreaching with his action, which means he is rarely off balance. With his controlled approach he limits the chance of the ball being played through his legs. This is useful against crafty attackers who look to shift and shoot, or cross through the legs of a defender at the moment they fully engage with the ball.

Guéhi can also drop and block low to the ground, especially against driven efforts, which minimises awkward deflections. Although this can appear slightly unconventional, it often proves effective. One downside to slide tackling, however, is that ending fully on the floor can leave him unable to respond quickly enough with his next defensive action.

In a more set position he blocks passes well, courtesy of his positioning. He can also intercept passes through anticipation, accelerating to steal the ball as he moves away from his original defensive position. He can adjust and shift his body to intercept passes close by, before connecting with teammates.

Aerial duels and cover

The 6ft Guéhi competes well during contact in the air. He can intelligently pin and lock down opponents with well-timed holds, bumps and nudges. This means that if he doesn’t win the initial contact, he can still significantly affect it. He is also clever at disrupting the jump of his direct opponent during the flight of the ball, using contact from behind to limit how early or powerfully his opponent can jump. That means any potential height disadvantage for him isn’t much of an issue. Indeed, because of this he can sometimes win headers without the need to jump.

When he fully commits and jumps as high as possible, he has a great leap. This means that he isn’t as exposed by his relatively (compared to other centre-backs) smaller frame. As with all good defensive headers of the ball, where possible he tries to find a teammate (below) rather than simply clearing anywhere.

As well as jumping high, he can also compete for the ball in the air in multiple directions. He has the power and timing to recover back to his own goal, but still face forward and so track the flight of the ball. Even when dealing with an oncoming attacker, he can still win the first contact securely and confidently. This is one of the toughest moments to win an aerial duel, but is an area in which Guéhi competes well.

He also provides good cover and support as the second defender, around and underneath, for anything flicked on or missed. His impressive physical profile means he can usually match the runs of his direct opponent, and he has the pace to compete with athletic attackers.

In possession

Guéhi is adaptable with the ball. He can break lines by playing through, or punch passes around blocks to progress in wide areas. He can also hit longer passes with accuracy and precision. His longer passes over the top and switches of play across the pitch have proven useful during build-up, or when attacking higher (below). Ultimately, he has the impressive passing range that is necessary for a top-level modern centre-back.

As with Kalidou Koulibaly and Virgil van Dijk, Guéhi prefers to play on the left side of central defence, despite being right-footed. This often means he opens the pitch up more, because he will take touches back towards the centre on his stronger right foot. This has been evident when he has played in a back three and back four – his longer passes and switches of play become a way of progressing the ball. However, his pass type is often dictated by the formation he is playing in, along with the support and positioning of his teammates. That is, he can only switch play to the opposite side if someone is there, ready to receive, as with longer balls in behind.

He has shown variety in his longer passes and switches, however, such as dropping the ball into teammates with enough backspin for them to pin opponents. On other occasions, when the distance into a central teammate is a bit shorter, he has used a scooped technique. He can also hit longer passes or switch play to teammates receiving on the move, such as driving lower balls across the pitch. He has steadily improved with his left foot, too, lifting balls down the line or away from danger. This is useful when he can’t get on his right side, or an opposing press has locked him that way.

Centre-back in a back three

After Oliver Glasner’s appointment as Crystal Palace head coach, Guéhi became a key part of a back five. He began as the middle centre-back, but soon established himself on the left side. Under Glasner in the 2024/25 Premier League season, Crystal Palace often utilised mid- and low blocks, ranking fourth for total defensive duels and aerial duels. Palace also had three players in the league’s top 10 for most interceptions, including Guéhi.

Playing on the left of Palace’s three centre-backs, Guéhi helped protect the centre alongside the likes of Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards. He had an obvious focus on the left inside channel, covering inside left wing-back Tyrick Mitchell. Operating as one of the wider centre-backs in a back five, Guéhi also had to cover the wide areas and defend channel balls, as well as switches across the pitch and any wide attacking combinations. Whenever Mitchell jumped out to press, for example, Guéhi was required to cover and protect, adapting his game depending on his direct opponent.

When Guéhi has engaged a winger remaining wide to receive, he has needed to be nimble enough to deal with typically fast, twisty and agile opponents who prefer to dribble and carry the ball (below). This means more duelling on the ground, as well as more tracking and jockeying to delay attacks. When a centre-forward has moved wider to compete around Guéhi, the defender has often needed to intercept, stepping in front and stopping service. On other occasions he has been required to compete in aerial duels, dealing with diagonal passes and long balls. Whatever has been necessary, Guéhi has shown adaptability in his defending as a wide centre-back.

In possession, Glasner’s Palace have often had a narrow attacking unit, with two central attackers, Eberechi Eze and Ismaïla Sarr, supporting a single number nine – mostly Jean-Philippe Mateta. Guéhi has then had central teammates he can find ahead of the double pivot. As such, he has broken lines with incisive central passing, as well as playing more through balls than he did under previous managers. With the wing-backs in wide areas, switches and longer passes across the pitch have also been available for Guéhi to demonstrate his passing range, especially from left to right.

Centre-back in a back four

Before Glasner’s arrival at Palace, Guéhi was used mostly as a left-sided centre-back in a back four. In that role he spent more time defending the central spaces, in the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations of previous managers, Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson. That included a responsibility for engaging against dropping centre-forwards (below), competing directly in duels from straighter passes through the centre. He has also defended into midfield when playing in Glasner’s back three, but that has been as support to a double pivot.

In Palace’s back four, Guéhi operated as a covering defender, mostly alongside Joachim Andersen – especially with the latter competing for more aerial duels than Guéhi in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. This meant Guéhi had to call on his interception and blocking abilities. He also needed to read the game to predict and defend the second phase, while tracking and blocking opposing runs around this.

With the ball, in a back four Guéhi frequently switched play and hit longer passes. That was because he had teammates – including Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha – who wanted to attack 1v1 in wide areas as often as possible. In addition, Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward at right-back provided switching options as they supported the winger on their side.

Whatever the system, Guéhi has shown fantastic versatility and adaptability with his game, in and out of possession. In doing so he has served Crystal Palace and England well, earning plaudits and silverware along the way, with the promise of more to come.

Youre a wizard lol 

[Vesper 30,106]

Is Fermin Lopez a realistic target for Manchester United and Chelsea - and is he worth it?

Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez continues to be linked with a move away from Camp Nou, with Chelsea and Manchester United two of the sides that have been linked to him. Could he leave this summer?

https://thedailybriefing.io/p/is-fermin-lopez-a-realistic-target

The final stretch of the summer is just around the bend, and as the sun beats down on the Iberian peninsula, the cool breeze of a fresh season lingers in the air. It’s been hot and still in both Barcelona and Madrid for several weeks, but that does not mean to say that the two giants residing in their cities have all of their ducks in a row.

For Barcelona, that means registration trouble. With ten days to go before their La Liga opener, new signings Joan Garcia, Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji, as well as those handed new contracts such as Gerard Martin and Wojciech Szczesny, are not able to play. That in essence is why a selection of Europe’s finest players without guaranteed starting spots, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez continue to be presented by the local press as iced cupcakes in the bakery window.

Where could Fermin Lopez go?

Dealing more specifically with Lopez, Caught Offside have reported that Manchester United and Chelsea remain interested in a move for him. It is not exactly surprising that the Premier League is the most likely destination for a player blessed with large reserves of technique and tenacity, but also at €60m, Lopez is not going to break any banks in London.

Saudi Arabia have also shown some interest in Lopez too, but it would be no surprise if a few more top clubs emerged as contenders were Fermin to be on the move. The price tag that keeps getting mentioned is €60m (£52.3m) - if Fermin were a de facto starter, and were Barcelona not so short on salary limit space, a higher fee wouldn’t really be surprising.

Could Fermin leave and why are there so many stories about him leaving Barcelona?

The usual equation when you’re dealing with a transfer story is that you have three parties involved from the selling side: the club, the player and the management. With Barcelona, being unique in their model, there are a variety of powerful voices in the inner offices, and each has tendrils that connect to the local media.

The first thing to say is that an exit requires a dramatic U-turn from Lopez before the door is unlocked, let alone opened. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has been melted by Fermin’s heart and work-rate, and is delighted to keep him. The reason the stories continue to appear are a combination of Barcelona’s finances, and the very echoey room in which the Barcelona board do their talking.

As detailed by the Caught Offside report, the board are split, and there are those who believe cashing in on Lopez, with the position well covered by Dani Olmo and Gavi, would be the smart move. Were it not for their registration issues, they probably wouldn’t be considering an exit though.

Why is there so much interest in Fermin Lopez - and why is his price tag so high?

Every football player is constantly a victim and a victor of timing. Fermin is fortunate he was in preseason at the right time, with Xavi Hernandez in charge, and Barcelona short of resources. He is also slightly unlucky that he plays in the position both at club and country which is arguably deeper than any other in Europe. Had the Blaugrana had more funds last summer, they probably would have signed Nico Williams instead of Dani Olmo, and Fermin would have had a much clearer route to a starting spot.

In his specific case, Fermin is also victim of his own paradox. Growing up, Barcelona, of all clubs, harboured concerns about his size (is there a more ridiculous trope in the game?). At 19, he was sent on loan to Linares in Spain’s third tier. Far removed from the midfields caressing the ball around the pitch with technical perfection, the image Spain at times projects, that division is a bumpy route through foul play and punctuated by players willing to give hotshot talents some perspective.

Image via Europa Press

Lopez returned after 12 goals and four assists in 37 games, but more than that, with a sinewy toughness that has defined his game since. Almost rabid in pursuit of the ball, Fermin is far rougher around the edges than your classic playmaker, and stands out for his quality off the ball as much as on it. On it, he has howitzer strike, and desire to get into the box. Fermin is every bit as scrappy as Gavi, and scurries around with an extra yard of pace when he goes hunting for the ball.

Those qualities mean that Lopez probably doesn’t receive some of the fawning afforded to his much more majestic peers, but that coarse edge makes him a rarer skillset in his position. His relentless nature and nose for goal make him more unpredictable than more academic talents.

Money-wise, the sums definitely add up. Most of the world’s best forwards these days intend to receive the ball to feet, and ideally with time to look up. Fermin thinks about the ball being with a teammate or in the back of the net within the next two or three touches, a contrast that complements most top teams, and certainly Barcelona.