Chelsea Transfers

[robsblubot 3,542]

8 hours ago, mkh said:

No chance of Chelsea recalling these three CBs:

❌ Trevoh Chalobah from Crystal Palace

❌ Alfie Gilchrist from Sheffield United.

❌ Bashir Humphreys will be going to Burnley permanently (obligation to buy) in the summer.

(via@BobbyVincentFL)

Wasn’t Trevoh just a lot better than both disasi and Tosin? Or my mind is playing tricks? 

[mkh 305]

Torino has offered £9.6 million for Cesare Casadei, with a percentage of future resale. However, Chelsea's request is to reach a total "package" of £16.6 million with a buy-back option in their favour.

(@DiMarzio)

[LAM09 6,807]

1 hour ago, mkh said:

Torino has offered £9.6 million for Cesare Casadei, with a percentage of future resale. However, Chelsea's request is to reach a total "package" of £16.6 million with a buy-back option in their favour.

(@DiMarzio)

At least they are continuing to cover their backs with such clause on the off chance.

[NikkiCFC 8,062]

14 hours ago, mkh said:

𝙏𝙍𝘼𝙉𝙎𝙁𝙀𝙍 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎: Chelsea tempted to sign a centre-back in the wake of Wesley Fofana’s serious hamstring injury. 

[@lequipe]

- Ilya Zabarnyi

- Marc Guehi

- Tomás Araújo

- Abdukodir Khusanov

- Cristhian Mosquera

- Joel Ordóñez

✍️✅️

Not sure we'll get any. We don't have quality but we have numbers even with injuries.

Colwill, Veiga, Tosin, Disasi, Anselmino, Josh.

[chelsea_4_eva 1,162]

IF Skiniar is available for loan, we should be all over that. Experienced and non permanent, a minimal risk deal in my opinion.

[mkh 305]

Manchester City have started talks with Lens for Abdukodir Khusanov – Discussions also started on player side.

(via@FabrizioRomano)

🫥😒

Juventus Turin are expected to approach Chelsea for Renato Veiga once Danilo’s departure is finalized.

(via@Tuttosport)

[Fernando 6,489]

5 minutes ago, mkh said:

Manchester City have started talks with Lens for Abdukodir Khusanov – Discussions also started on player side.

(via@FabrizioRomano)

🫥😒

Juventus Turin are expected to approach Chelsea for Renato Veiga once Danilo’s departure is finalized.

(via@Tuttosport)

I would have love to see more of Renato. He is for me better options then having Dissadi and Badi. 

But if a good amount comes for him can't ignore that. 

If it's a lowball money not worth it to send Juventus. 

[Mário César 1,002]

well if we sold renato, we need to buy some defenders

[mkh 305]

Breaking News West Ham are interested in Dewsbury-Hall and Chukwuemeka. (@Matt_Law_DT)

[Special Juan 27,443]

Both need to go, just get the cash for them and run

[Vesper 29,068]

• https://thedailybriefing.io/i/154198329/Chelsea

• Wesley Fofana is confident of returning ahead of schedule from his injury. The Chelsea defender hopes to be back around the middle or end of March in order to help for the final few months of the season.

[Vesper 29,068]

• Alexander Isak to Arsenal latest - the Newcastle striker is reportedly set to be a “key target” for the Gunners, though his asking price is £150m

[Vesper 29,068]

Dário Essugo: Portugal’s Next Modern Midfielder

https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/dario-essugo-portugals-next-modern-midfielder/

Sporting Clube de Portugal, or simply Sporting, has enjoyed a resurgence in the last two decades, highlighted by five domestic titles under former manager Ruben Amorim, including a league championship that ended a 19-year drought. Beyond trophies, Sporting’s academy has been a cornerstone of its success, producing talents like Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma, Geny Catamo, and Geovany Quenda. Among these rising stars, one name stands out this season—not in Lisbon, but in LaLiga: Dário Essugo.

At just 19 years old, Essugo is making waves during his loan spell at Las Palmas. Despite relatively quiet loan moves, first to Chaves and now in Spain, he has caught the attention of major clubs like Leeds United and Chelsea, the latter reportedly eyeing him as a prospect for their French affiliate, Strasbourg.

Born in 2005, Essugo joined Sporting’s academy at nine and has been turning heads ever since. A career highlight came in the 2022 UEFA U-17 Championship, where he played a key role in Portugal’s run to the semifinals, even scoring a stunning long-range goal. Now, in his breakthrough season, Essugo has started 12 of Las Palmas’ 14 league matches, steadily cementing himself as a key figure in the starting lineup.

This article will explore Essugo’s potential, analyzing his strengths both in and out of possession, while also highlighting areas for improvement.

Player Profile:

Dário Essugo stands at 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) and is a right-footed defensive midfielder with the versatility to play as either a lone number six or as part of a double pivot. His heat map, shown below, highlights his primary role in deep central areas of the pitch, where is tasked with anchoring the midfield. However, Essugo also demonstrates the ability to push further up the field and operate as a number eight, adding another layer of flexibility to his game.

For a player of his age to excel in the number six role—arguably one of the most demanding and tactically sensitive positions in football—while also showing competence higher up the pitch, is a testament to his impressive talent.

In-Possession Qualities

Starting with the player’s qualities, one standout trait that immediately catches the eye—something stats can’t fully capture—is his off-ball movement when Las Palmas are in possession. Watching “El Pio-Pio,” as they’re known in Spain, it’s clear the team prefers a direct approach to the game. They frequently draw the opposition into their own defensive third before launching long balls to exploit the space created for their wide players to attack or chase.

The graph below highlights this tendency, illustrating the team’s preference for a more vertical style of football over slower, patient build-up play. transitions and link up play effectively.

 

snip

 

much more at the top link

 

[Vesper 29,068]

Wolves in talks to sign Hakim Ziyech 🤡

https://tbrfootball.com/player-Chelsea-sold-for-5-5m-skips-training-after-wolves-open-talks-to-sign-him/

A story from Sabah in Turkey now claims that Wolves have started negotiations to sign the Morocco international.

Ziyech – who Galatasaray signed in a £5.5m move from Chelsea in August 2023 – has grown frustrated in Istanbul.

The Turkish news outlet state that the 31-year-old skipped training ahead of the Super Lig clash between Galatasaray and Goztepe on Saturday, which saw Okan Buruk leave him out of the squad entirely.

Sabah now report that Ziyech’s agent has entered talks with Wolves as he aims to find his client a new club – after bridges between the Moroccan and Galatasaray start to burn away.

What Matt Doherty has previously said about Hakim Ziyech

Ziyech was once amongst the hottest properties in Europe during his time with Ajax, hence why Chelsea spent £33.3m to sign him back in February 2020.

Unfortunately, the man born in Dronten became a victim of Chelsea’s fire sales under Todd Boehly, with 24 players either sold or loaned out last summer, and 28 the year before.

Nevertheless, Ziyech still impressed during his time in the Premier League, and Matt Doherty – who could soon become his teammate at Molineux – even praised him for netting a wonder goal against his Tottenham side back in January 2022.

The Irishman said: “They managed to stick one in the top corner, which is fair enough. I guess when somebody does that, you’ve got to clap your hands to it.”

 

[mkh 305]

🔵BREAKING: Chelsea consider Trevoh Chalobah recall. (@SJohnsonSport)

[Vesper 29,068]

1 hour ago, mkh said:

🔵BREAKING: Chelsea consider Trevoh Chalobah recall. (@SJohnsonSport)

Chelsea consider Trevoh Chalobah recall from Crystal Palace amid defensive injury issues

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6041025/2025/01/06/Chelsea-trevoh-chalobah-recall-crystal-palace/

Chelsea could trigger their option to recall defender Trevoh Chalobah from his season-long loan spell at Crystal Palace this month.

Enzo Maresca’s side have limited options at centre-back following injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile. Maresca said last week that Fofana could miss the rest of the season while Badiashile has been ruled out until at least February.

Recalling Chalobah is just one option Chelsea are open to in order to address the injuries in their defence.

The Englishman has made 14 appearances in all competitions for Palace this campaign, scoring three goals and forming an effective back three with Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix at the heart of manager Oliver Glasner’s defence.

The 25-year-old missed the 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Selhurst Park on Saturday due to being ineligible to feature against his parent club.

GO DEEPER

The end has come for Chalobah at Chelsea - this was just one battle too many

Chelsea’s injury issues led to Josh Acheampong making his first Premier League start on Saturday, as the 18-year-old partnered fellow academy graduate Levi Colwill at centre-back having previously only featured at right-back for the first team this season.

Maresca said on Acheampong was Chelsea’s “best player” on his full Premier League debut.

Acheampong started the Palace game ahead of summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi, who has yet to be used at centre-back in the league this season.

Chelsea have already recalled defender Aaron Anselmino from his loan spell at Boca Juniors with Maresca saying the plan is for the 19-year-old to train with the first-team squad before making a decision on his immediate future.

Anselmino initially signed from Boca in the summer and was sent back on loan to the Argentine club for the remainder of the 2024-25 European season.

GO DEEPER

Rare training-ground time might help Enzo Maresca fix Chelsea's soft underbelly

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How Palace view the situation

Glasner appeared relaxed about Chalobah’s situation after Saturday’s game, questioning whether they needed an extra defender given how many options they have.

“I could see that there was (Axel) Disasi and Tosin (Adarabioyo) on the bench,” he said in his post-match press conference. “I don’t know if you need (more) if you play with two. I was just reading that Anselmino comes back so they have five (centre-backs).”

“I don’t know if they need eight, I don’t know what they are planning. Trevoh is doing very well for us and we are planning with him.”

Glasner did not rule out signing Chalobah permanently if the chance arose, speaking in his press conference before the game.

“A deal happens if three parties are happy with it: the two clubs and the player. If all parties want to have a deal and agree then it will happen. He’s doing really well for us and we were very consistent in our defensive line.”

Chalobah missed the first five games of the season with an abdominal injury sustained in his first training session with the club before being named on the bench for the 2-1 defeat by Everton.

Since then he has started in all but two of Palace’s Premier League games — he was an unused substitute in the 5-1 defeat by Arsenal and could not face his parent club on Saturday.

He has improved after an inconsistent start after regular minutes and becoming accustomed to Glasner’s system and his new side. Palace would miss him if he returned to Chelsea, but they feel they have sufficient options.

Summer signing Chadi Riad is on his way back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained on debut in the 4-1 win over Norwich in the Carabao Cup second round, while Chris Richards has started the last two games. If needed, Nathaniel Clyne could also cover the position.

GO DEEPER

Crystal Palace's wing-backs are key to their approach, but backups are needed

[Special Juan 27,443]

Romano saying we are discussing Marc Guehi

[cfccrost 23]

The worst of them all 💪