Chelsea Transfers

[Tomo 21,730]

If (as I'm assuming is the case at this point) Mendy leaves I hope we try and sign Keylor Navas in the summer.

He's looking every bit the player that won 3x UCL at Madrid so far in his time at Forest.

[Vesper 28,417]

some cuts from-----

🚨 Christian Falk's Fact Files - Bellingham latest, German court decision on Moukoko, Marcus Krösche to Liverpool? & more

https://caughtoffside.substack.com/p/christian-falks-fact-files-bellingham

snip

I heard that Jude Bellingham is keeping a very close eye on what Liverpool are doing at the moment. I’ve been told nobody should think he’s a player that wouldn’t go to Liverpool because of the difficult situation they’re in. It’s the other way around - he’s actually the kind of guy who would love to go to a club where he can change their fortunes. At Liverpool, he sees that the club is in need of him and that he can build something there, so that’s why the side remains an interesting option for him.

As you see in the Premier League, they’re not massively far away from the Champions League places but it’s important to note that Champions League qualification isn’t a deal-breaker for Bellingham. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt Liverpool’s chances!

Jurgen Klopp’s already mentioned in his interviews that something has to change and it’s clear, when you see the positions in need of reinforcement, Liverpool need someone like Jude Bellingham.

Everyone’s talking about Liverpool’s defence; okay, they’re not brilliant at the moment but that’s connected with the role Bellingham would potentially play in front of the backline. He’s one player who could offer a multitude of solutions and would have an instant impact at Liverpool.

He’s the captain at Dortmund and if he goes to another club he might be one of many leading talents - at Liverpool he would be a leader from the first moment.

snip

 

It’s been an interesting week for Yousouffa Moukoko. Chelsea and Newcastle United were interested in the player, though there were rumours around the latter not wanting him due to the allegations in terms of his age.

Now, a German court decided that the media is allowed to report about that. Before, there were just rumours but now journalists are allowed to ask the question ‘is he four years older?’ So this is very interesting for England because the rumours had been there.

Youssoufa Moukoko has 12 goal contributions in 26 appearances for Borussia Dortmund this term

 

In my point of view, I saw the document which says he’s four years older. It’s not been proven that it’s a true and authentic document but now we can discuss ‘is he four years older? That could be the case.’

I say that, at his current age, it’s not that important because he’s still young. If you give him a four or five-year contract he’s still the right age. Of course, it’s a question of education; how much better could he get if he’s 18 or 22, or at least 26/27 at the end of his contract? I think English clubs are keeping a closer eye on Moukoko and, in particular, this big question.

Dortmund are behind their player and, of course, were aware of the rumours. In Dortmund, however, they have to consider the fact that they could have the next great striker for the German national side (he was at the World Cup already and celebrated his 18th birthday there). We don’t have any good strikers at the moment, so it’s something to take into account.

There were always rumours about Bayern who had talks with the agent but were told ‘no’. I think it’s good for Moukoko that he’s got a new contract now and we’ll see how his development goes.

Chelsea

It doesn’t seem like Callum Hudson-Odoi has a big future in the Bundesliga. In the winter window, Chelsea had the option to bring him back to the club - that was the wish of Thomas Tuchel when he was the manager - but the side didn’t use it, so that says a lot about his education there.

Also, Leverkusen's bosses are also quite disappointed with the quality of his performances. Last weekend, he had another chance in the starting-XI against Mainz and again didn’t make the most of it. I think, all in all, he’s only managed one shot on target at Leverkusen.

We’re quite surprised in Germany about the situation given how highly-rated he was by Bayern Munich. Hasan Salihamidžić internally called him a €100m man. They wanted him very much. The good news is they ended up with Jamal Musiala instead, which was a great story for them but not so much for Leverkusen.

At the moment, if he doesn’t improve the quality of his performances, it looks like he’ll be heading back to London. If you can’t play at Leverkusen, though, it’s getting hard at Chelsea.

📰 Tottenham interested in signing on-loan Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku this summer (Fichajes, via CaughtOffside)

snip

 

Fabrizio Romano’s column: I’m not aware of any contact between Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino. Chelsea were in contact with Pochettino last year when they sacked Thomas Tuchel, but i’m not aware of any fresh contact right now.

Pochettino wants to return to management and is open to all the options.

Pochettino has been unemployed since being sacked by PSG.

snip

 

There’s a big question for RB Leipzig over their ability to get Jonathan David given the player won’t come cheap from Lille. They need a player like him, of course, and the interesting thing to note is that both Max Eberl and Marco Rose also wanted him before for Gladbach when they worked together.

They want him but they have to see if they have the money. I heard that the player is ready for the next step but then you have to pay up - I know Lille are looking for about €40-45m, so this could be a lot of money for Leipzig. But they need a player in his position.

Timo Werner is having a better time than he was at Chelsea but he’s not the same goal-getter he was in his first stint at Leipzig.

📢 RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose on Joško Gvardiol (via CaughtOffside😞 “Josko Gvardiol will be a RB Leipzig player next season. He is happy here.”

Victor Osimhen

I can say for sure that Victor Osimhen was never on Bayern Munich’s list. It’s not just whether or not he fits within the structure, he’s too expensive; if Bayern can’t pay him, no other Bundesliga club can, which is very hard for Wolfsburg.

Most people don’t know that he played a very good U17 World Cup for his country, scoring 10 goals. Arsenal, Inter Milan and Fiorentina were interested but then he went to Wolfsburg, which was a big surprise, securing him in January 2017 for €3.5m but he didn’t perform well.

They sent him on loan to Charleroi, who then bought him for €3.5m. The rest of the story is that he went to Lille for €22m, then Napoli for €75m, and now Wolfsburg would no doubt love to have him back but he’s now in the hundred plus millions of euros range.

They didn’t have the foresight at the time and now the Bundesliga is making big eyes and would love to have him back but now he’s lost forever.

 

[robsblubot 3,469]

On 25/02/2023 at 07:14, Tomo said:

If (as I'm assuming is the case at this point) Mendy leaves I hope we try and sign Keylor Navas in the summer.

He's looking every bit the player that won 3x UCL at Madrid so far in his time at Forest.

Let's hope! I don't think we can win silverware with Kepa on goal. Sorry, but I just don't think he's nearly good enough at this level. 

[Strike 7,204]

 

 

[Vesper 28,417]

Hard pass on Keylor Navas.

Not at all impressed with him anymore.

He is well past it.

[NikkiCFC 7,906]

 

[Mário César 970]

it would be hard to see as a city player but if I was him I obviously want to go to another club and fight for proper trophies 

[TheHulk 1,825]

Owners showing willingness to extend average players like Mount but not Kovacic smh.

[MoroccanBlue 5,281]

Just now, TheHulk said:

Owners showing willingness to extend average players like Mount but not Kovacic smh.

Kovacic is average. 

Other than his ability to dribble out of a press, what is he good at?

[TheHulk 1,825]

1 minute ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Kovacic is average. 

Other than his ability to dribble out of a press, what is he good at?

Mount isn't good at anything.

[TheHulk 1,825]

Only good news.

[TheHulk 1,825]

He can take him for all I care.

[MoroccanBlue 5,281]

3 minutes ago, TheHulk said:

Mount isn't good at anything.

Mount is at least available. Kovacic is MIA unless Croatia come calling. 

He's an average passer. Can't defend. Can't create chances. He's 28 yet can barely stay fit. 

Seriously. What's the point?

[Vegetable 830]

3 hours ago, Strike said:

 

 

How to demotivate players, ruin the dressing room and generate even more tension at the club 101

[NikkiCFC 7,906]

So if we continue 4231 midfielders for next season:

Enzo 

New midfielder to pair with Enzo in pivot 

Kante 

Santos 

And maybe Gallagher for 5th place just in case plus homegrown. Don't know what will happen with Zakaria. Available for 25m. 

Mount cannot play pivot and not sure he wants to be backup for Nkunku. 

If Felix continues like last 3 games would be stupid to buy him. He plays for contract next 2 months. 

[Mário César 970]

If we sell sterling, I hope the board will demand the same value that we paid last summer 

[Strike 7,204]

28 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Kovacic is average. 

Other than his ability to dribble out of a press, what is he good at?

He’s not average and a lot of players need to go before Kovacic.

[DDA 9,685]

14 minutes ago, Strike said:

He’s not average and a lot of players need to go before Kovacic.

He's offers a little too much to be labelled average overall but he is bang average at many things and isn't consistent enough but yeah, others need to go sooner.