Chelsea Transfers

[Vesper 30,589]

3 hours ago, mkh said:

🔵Chelsea and Manchester City have both joined the hunt for Bayern Munich centre-back, Dayot Upamecano.

(@GraemeBailey)

he wants at least £270K PW in salary/add-ons for 5 years plus a £25m or more signing bonus (as he would come on a free)

that is at least £95.2m in toto

or

to look at it how we do

that is over £19m per season spread out over 5 years

plus he turns 28yo in around 10 months

and yes, he has rebounded (so far) this year, but he had back to back meh seasons before this

and finally he is a right-footed RCB, when we desperately need a lefty as Colwill will be coming off a massive injury and Badi, our only other lefty true CB, is shite (Hato is more of a LB than a CB)

assuming we are not transfer banned, I still do not see us going for him

[Vesper 30,589]

Sporting will not drop down from Ousmane Diomande's 80m euro (£70.3m) release clause this summer

also, he is a CB for Cote d'Ivoire, so he will miss a lot of games (our EPL games) playing for them over the years IF we did buy him

[Vesper 30,589]

Oskar Pietuszewski

another teen we are scouting hard

lol

 

 

[Vesper 30,589]

ffs

Mamadou Sarr (our newest CB, he comes in summer from Strasbourg) sub off perhaps injured 

may be a tendon issue

 

[Vesper 30,589]

Exclusive: Sunderland block Noah Sadiki transfer amid Chelsea interest

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-sunderland-block-noah-sadiki-transfer-amid-Chelsea-interest/

Sunderland are set to block any possibility of Noah Sadiki leaving in January amid interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, sources have told Football Insider.

The 20-year-old has made an impressive start in the Premier League after his arrival in the summer, and the Black Cats are not willing to entertain a sale in January under any circumstances.

Chelsea and Manchester United both want to sign Sadiki in January, with the Blues having even made contact in recent months, but sources say that the Wearsiders will do “everything in their power” to keep hold of him for as long as possible.

Sadiki joined Sunderland for a fee of £15million in the summer, and it’s understood that they would only entertain a future sale for a “huge profit,” although that isn’t remotely part of their plans right now.

Noah Sadiki to miss up to seven Sunderland games for AFCON

Sadiki’s performances for Sunderland so far this term have attracted plenty of attention across the Premier League, and he has already made his £15m fee look like a bargain.

The Black Cats star has started in every single league game in 2025-26, and has been a huge reason why his team are flying as high as eighth at the moment on their return to the top-flight.

However, Regis Le Bris is now set to face a prolonged period without his star midfielder, as Sadiki is one of several Sunderland stars who is set to miss the next few games for the latest AFCON tournament.

Sadiki has been selected as part of DR Congo’s squad for the upcoming tournament, which begins on 21 December and ends on 18 January.

The midfielder is due to join up with his international teammates this week, and should his country make an unlikely push to the final of the tournament, then he could potentially miss as many as seven games for Sunderland.

Sunderland’s five other AFCON-bound stars

AFCON will cause headaches for almost all Premier League managers, but Le Bris and Sunderland are set to be one of the teams that are most affected.

The newly-promoted outfit are set to lose six players during the tournament, and they may return at staggered intervals, depending on how their nations perform.

Joining Sadiki at the tournament are left-backs Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku, representing Mozambique and DR Congo respectively.

There have also been call-ups for Habib Diarra (Senegal) and Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), while Burkina Faso’s Bertrand Traore completes the set for Sunderland.

Le Bris will have to find a way of working without that group of stars, otherwise, his team’s strong start to the season could hit the rocks somewhat in the coming weeks.

[mkh 650]

Juventus Turin see Andrey Santos as a realistic and appealing option should a deal for Emile Hojbjerg fail to materialise.

(@Tuttojuve)

[Special Juan 28,369]

1 hour ago, mkh said:

Juventus Turin see Andrey Santos as a realistic and appealing option should a deal for Emile Hojbjerg fail to materialise.

(@Tuttojuve)

Penny pinching bastards Juve, I expect them to offer around 10M

[nyikolajevics 2,760]

3 hours ago, mkh said:

Juventus Turin see Andrey Santos as a realistic and appealing option should a deal for Emile Hojbjerg fail to materialise.

(@Tuttojuve)

With Lavia and Essugo missing all the time it's not really time to let him go this January, but for a good bid I wouldn't object.. He is not offering too much for current team.

[Vesper 30,589]

Most physically robust outfield players

https://football-observatory.com/WeeklyPost526

The 526th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the most physically robust outfield players in terms of minutes played in official matches (club and national team) over the past year. Paraguayan international Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro) tops the list, ahead of Belgium's Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge) and Argentina's Nicolás Otamendi (SL Benfica).

Among players born in 2004 or later, the top three are Dutchman Wouter Goes (AZ Alkmaar), Ecuadorian Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge) and Belgian Matte Smets (KRC Genk). Their ability to play matches at a high frequency will be a major asset for their careers. Colombia is the most represented country in the top 50 (seven players), reflecting both the tight schedule of the Colombian league and the physical strength of their players.

The Post also presents the distribution of minutes according to the type of competition (club national, club international and national teams), as well as the rankings for the last two, three, four and five years. The following players top the tables for each of these periods: Nicolás Otamendi (two years), Bruno Fernandes (three years), Gustavo Gómez (both four and five years).

Players with the most minutes played in recent years

Official matches until 12/12/2025
Type of competitions: [CD] clubs, domestic competitions / [CI] clubs, international competitions / [NT] national teams

[mkh 650]

Chelsea will sign at least one new midfielder in 2026 to help cover for injuries to Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo.

(@Matt_Law_DT)

😵MORE: Joe Shields is currently leaning towards pursuing Kobbie Mainoo over Adam Wharton as things stand. Chelsea's concrete interest in both talented English midfielders remains strong amid ongoing squad planning.

Other than at least 1 midfielder, Chelsea could sign a new centre back in the summer, depending on exits and Colwill’s return form. Chelsea have already spent the entirety of 2025 boosting the attack, which will be further aided by Quenda and Emegha. 

Edited Wednesday at 16:03 by mkh

[Pizy 19,040]

wtf is this obsession with Mainoo? He looked really promising when he suddenly burst into the scene but has been completely irrelevant for ages now and can’t get a game in a horrible United midfield.

If we seriously chose him over Wharton I’m going to lose my mind. Mainoo isn’t better than any of Santos, Essugo, or Lavia. I’d rather take our chances with constantly injured Lavia than throw Man United another bag of cash for a midfielder that doesn’t even play for them.

[Fernando 6,675]

29 minutes ago, Pizy said:

wtf is this obsession with Mainoo? He looked really promising when he suddenly burst into the scene but has been completely irrelevant for ages now and can’t get a game in a horrible United midfield.

If we seriously chose him over Wharton I’m going to lose my mind. Mainoo isn’t better than any of Santos, Essugo, or Lavia. I’d rather take our chances with constantly injured Lavia than throw Man United another bag of cash for a midfielder that doesn’t even play for them.

But Garnacho everyone was hating and he is doing good. 

Admittely I prefer Wharton or Elliot over him. 

But it is what it is. 

[Vesper 30,589]

Chelsea signing Quenda due in London for surgery

https://www.tribalfootball.com/article/soccer-premier-league-Chelsea-signing-quenda-due-in-london-for-surgery-cbcabfff-fb72-437d-ad89-8c0a13b16117

Chelsea wing-back Geovany Quenda is facing surgery in London.

Signed over the summer from Sporting CP, Quenda is spending the season on-loan with the Lisbon giants.

The teen is due to undergo foot surgery this weekend in London.

Record says Quenda has been carrying a metatarsal fracture suffered last month against Estrela Amadora.

He is expected to be sidelined for two months as he recovers from the operation.

[Vytis33 1,333]

 

[mkh 650]

Chelsea have reportedly made an offer of €8 million for Djylian N’Guessan, the highly rated 17-year-old striker from AS Saint-Étienne (Ligue 2).

However, Saint-Étienne have already rejected the opening bid.

(Bernard Lions | @lequipe)

[Vesper 30,589]

25 minutes ago, mkh said:

Chelsea have reportedly made an offer of €8 million for Djylian N’Guessan, the highly rated 17-year-old striker from AS Saint-Étienne (Ligue 2).

However, Saint-Étienne have already rejected the opening bid.

(Bernard Lions | @lequipe)

He turns 18yo (born August 30, 2008) the day before the summer 2026 transfer window closes on August 31, 2026, so he could have come here (and been loaned out, obviously)

Djylian N’Guessan (Saint-Étienne) – Scout Report

https://targetscouting.com/2025/07/25/djylian-nguessan-saintetienne-scout-report/ (from July 2025)

Djylian N’Guessan is a 16-year-old French/Algerian striker who currently plays for St Etienne and was part of the French U17 side that recently lost to Portugal in the final of the UEFA U17 European Championship in Albania. He scored four goals for his country and had a total of eight shots on target during the tournament.

At 5’11”, N’Guessan may still have some physical development to come, but he already shows good strength in 1v1 duels, both on the ground and in the air. Although he lost more aerial duels, this was largely due to facing stronger opponents, such as Germany and Portugal. N’Guessan has a good spring when attacking headers, and he doesn’t shy away from physical contact. He will sometimes drop deep, pulling defenders out of position, which creates space for teammates. He links play well with intelligent first-time passes into feet. The player is quick and explosive. He is happy to drop in, link up, then sprint into the penalty area, often arriving around the 12-yard line to wait for cutbacks. These short bursts of pace are a common feature of his game. He is very athletic and instinctive. N’Guessan also shows good upper-body strength to hold off defenders or opponents tracking his runs. However, one concern is his stamina. In high-intensity matches, he can become tired and sluggish as the game progresses. With consistent strength and conditioning as he reaches 17 and beyond, I expect his stamina will improve over the next five years.

In possession, N’Guessan operated mostly centrally (as a false 9), but he would also drift wide to the left and cut in to shoot with his favored right foot. He has a great first touch and is comfortable playing first-time passes to teammates making advanced runs. He displays excellent close control and composure when dribbling in tight spaces and is confident in the channels, often taking on full-backs or central defenders. His shooting tends to be very accurate, and he usually looks to place his shots. He is comfortable both facing play and with his back to goal. His ability to bring the ball down with his chest and then find a teammate with a short pass is excellent. His short passing is precise and intentional. The way he positions his body and maintains balance in possession is impressive. N’Guessan demonstrates good technique in congested areas to find teammates and consistently shows the ability to play on the shoulder or drop into deeper pockets. In the box, he is sharp and composed but sometimes tries to do too much when a simple shot would suffice.

Out of possession (as seen against Germany), France alternated between a 4-5-1 mid-block and a 4-4-2, with N’Guessan the most advanced player in both formations. As a lone striker or false 9, he presses aggressively, forcing mistakes and helping reclaim possession high up the pitch. He shows good intelligence and positional awareness. However, as matches progress, he tends to tire and becomes less willing to press or close down passing lanes. As a striker in a front two, he sometimes seems unsure whether he or his partner should press or hold position, which leads to frustration. He tends to lose focus when fatigued.

N’Guessan has a very bright future ahead of him. He is already showing excellent potential and is a tremendous young athlete. Certain aspects of his game—particularly stamina over 90 minutes and concentration levels—need improvement. Another season with St Etienne in Ligue 2 would be ideal for his development, although a return to Ligue 1 wouldn’t be surprising. A move to a Bundesliga club (e.g., Mainz or Werder Bremen) could offer an even better platform for his growth.

[TheHulk 2,596]

On 17/12/2025 at 19:39, Vytis33 said:

 

Another reason why we need to get rid of Maresca, didn't give him a single chance to show his worth.

Edited 16 hours ago by TheHulk

[Vesper 30,589]

Maignan was a shitshow tonight in the Italian SuperCup

Napoli beats AC Milan 2 nil in Saudi Arabia

[Vesper 30,589]

Transfer Rumour of the Day: Alessandro Bastoni to Chelsea?

A wild one

https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/transfer-rumour-of-the-day-alessandro

 

Chelsea are being linked with a move for Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni, in what has made our transfer rumour of the day article.

Granted, I don’t do these every day, and sometimes I don’t even do them every week. But even still, we’ll call them what we call them!

I imagine that any Chelsea move for Bastoni would be a popular one, but what is being reported here?

Chelsea are apparently keen on a 2026 deal for Alessandro Bastoni, and so is Tottenham Hotspur co-sporting director Fabio Paratici, according to an Italian report.

Bastoni is one of the best defenders in the world and is a key player for Inter Milan and the Italy national team. The 26-year-old has won Serie A twice with Inter and was named the best defender in Serie A for the 2024/25 campaign, just as he was bestowed with the accolade in the 2023/24 season.

FC Inter News has reported that Bastoni is the centre-back that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca would love to bring to Stamford Bridge.

The Inter Milan-centric news outlet has claimed that Maresca is ‘crazy about him’, and so is Paratici, who would love Tottenham to sign the Italian star.

The report, though, has noted that Bastoni has already ‘rejected the advances of Chelsea and Tottenham’, with the defender having turned down the chance to join Al Hilal or Al Qadsiah in the summer of 2025 as well.

Not only is Bastoni not willing to join Chelsea (or Tottenham), but the defender is also planning to hold talks with Inter in the coming months.

FC Inter News has noted that ‘initial discussions regarding an extension of his current contract, which expires in June 2028, are likely to begin in the coming months with his agent, Tullio Tinti’.

Bastoni is ‘deeply attached’ to Inter, having been on the books of the Nerazzurri since 2017 and ‘wants’ to stay at the club for the long run.

So, that’s that then I guess! Just a distant dream! Interesting though, that Chelsea have tried for him, IF this story is true of course. I have no idea on what this source is like. But anyway, it was fun whilst it lasted! 😂

[Vesper 30,589]

Liverpool transfer target Antoine Semenyo is ready to join Man United next year

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2025/12/18/blow-for-liverpool-target-keen-man-united/

Antoine Semenyo is emerging as one of the most sought-after names ahead of the January transfer window, with the Bournemouth forward reportedly keen on a move to Manchester United.

According to journalist Miguel Delaney, the 25-year-old Ghana international has made Man United his preferred destination amid mounting interest from several Premier League clubs.

Semenyo’s rise at Bournemouth has been one of the stories of the season. Since establishing himself as a key figure at the Vitality Stadium, he has impressed with his goal scoring quality and his pace in the wide attacking positions.

The attacker scored his most recent goal in the Premier League against Man United at Old Trafford in a match which ended as a 4-4 draw.

With seven goals in the league this season, Semenyo has become a player who has impressed the top clubs in the Premier League, including Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Antoine Semenyo is keen on Man United move

However, the player is keen on a move to Old Trafford to become a part of the attack that boasts players like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, all the players signed last summer by United.

Comfortable operating on either wing or through the middle, Semenyo has become a central component of Bournemouth’s attacking threat, attracting sustained attention from clubs at the top end of the table.

United are believed to be particularly confident about their chances, especially given the player’s reported desire to make the move to Old Trafford.

A key factor in the saga is Semenyo’s contract situation. The forward has a £65 million release clause that becomes active from 1 January, allowing interested clubs to bypass lengthy negotiations with Bournemouth.

While that figure represents a significant outlay, it is viewed within the market as a fair valuation for a proven Premier League attacker entering his prime years.

Bournemouth, for their part, are aware that once the clause is triggered, they will have little control over the outcome.

Semenyo would be the ideal signing for Red Devils

From United’s perspective, Semenyo fits several of the club’s current recruitment priorities. Under Ruben Amorim, United are looking to inject more athleticism, intensity, and directness into their attack.

His ability to press aggressively, carry the ball at speed, and contribute defensively makes him an attractive option for a system that demands high energy from wide players.

Man United would be prepared to move quickly if rival clubs formalise their interest in January.

While no official bid has yet been submitted, there is growing belief within the club that they can position themselves strongly should a bidding war emerge.

Semenyo’s willingness to join United could prove decisive in a crowded race.