Chelsea Transfers

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Saturday December 5 2020 Matt Law's Chelsea briefing

Success of expensive left-back will help convince club to support Lampard in future transfer windows By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent Ben Chilwell could be key to Frank Lampard’s hopes of landing his long-term midfield target Declan Rice. Rice remains at the top of Lampard’s Chelsea wish-list, although a January move looks unlikely given West Ham United’s strong start to the season. Chelsea did not end up making a bid for Rice in the summer transfer window after West Ham put an £80 million price tag on the England midfielder’s head. That price is unlikely to drop and there remains significant caution within Chelsea over spending such a large fee on a player the club let go as a 14-year-old. There was similar reticence from some quarters over paying £50million for a left-back in Ben Chilwell but Lampard rejected all the potential alternatives. Lampard believed that Chilwell would offer Chelsea value for money by giving them a long-term solution to a problem that had re-emerged almost every season and that looks to be a wise move. Given that he personally pushed so hard for the signing of Chilwell for such a high price, the success or failure of the 23-year-old was always going to be an important factor for Lampard moving forwards. So it is particularly significant that Chilwell has started his Chelsea career so encouragingly and appears to have finally solved the club’s problem over trying to properly replace Ashley Cole. Should Chilwell continue his excellent form, then Lampard will be in a much stronger position to urge the Chelsea board to spend big on Rice. Lampard was prepared to sign Thomas Partey as a cheaper alternative to Rice, but he eventually joined Arsenal. And it now seems likely that Lampard, as he did with Chilwell, will push against any suggestions to go for a cheaper option to Rice and try to convince Chelsea that he too can make a big impact at Stamford Bridge. N’Golo Kante has rediscovered his best form, but the France international will celebrate his 30th birthday next year and there must be some concern that his incredible stamina cannot last forever. Jorginho is also in his late 20s and it still seems likely the Italy international will at some stage return to Serie A, particularly if former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri returns to work. Chelsea do not have a natural defensive midfielder coming through their ranks who would be ready to step straight into the first team, meaning Lampard will push hard again for Rice and hope Chilwell’s good form convinces the board to trust his judgement once again.

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Bayern Munich contract rebel’s agent hoping to strike January agreement with Chelsea

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2020/12/02/david-alabas-agent-hoping-to-strike-chelsea-agreement/

The latest edition of Fabrizio Romano’s ‘Here We Go Podcast‘ featured Bild reporter Christian Falk – and there’s some interesting nuggets of information for Chelsea fans.

Christian Falk tends to be one of the most reputable journalists in the game when it comes to all things Bayern Munich. You get the feeling that Bild, being the number one news outlet in the German game, get briefed directly by the Bavarian giants.

That’s why his comments on Fabrizio Romano’s ‘Here We Go Podcast’ will provide plenty of excitement for Chelsea fans. He’s fuelled speculation linking Bayern Munich contract rebel David Alaba with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Speaking on the ‘Here We Go Podcast’, Falk claimed that Alaba’s agent, Pini Zahavi, is looking forward to holding discussions with the Blues when January comes around, with his intention to strike an agreement with them to sign Alaba from Bayern.

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I disagree with some of this (especially for us, as I showed above) but I am posting it for information's sake

Fabregas is a red herring. Brexit transfer rules won’t damage the Premier League

https://theathletic.com/2239555/2020/12/04/brexit-fabregas-transfer-rules/

 

Nicklas Bendtner still recalls the sudden sense of shock and unease. He was halfway up an escalator at Copenhagen Airport with a one-way ticket to London in his hand when he turned around to wave goodbye to his parents and saw they were both in tears. At 16 years old, he wasn’t prepared for that.

He had spent the previous days, weeks and months counting down to this moment, when he would be free to chase his dream — to go to London, to join Arsenal, to conquer the Premier League. And now, however fleetingly, he felt what he called “a shade of sadness of some kind, that a good chapter in my life was ending”. And he knew that, even if he was certain this was the right thing to do, his parents were having doubts. “Is sending their boy away really the right thing to do?”

In the summer of 2004, Bendtner was sure it was. He was heading for the big time at Arsenal. On top of that, he was going to get rich. He might not earn much at first — £290 a month in the first year, £390 a month in the second — but then there was the promise of a £100,000 lump sum when he turned 18, at which point the club would also offer him his first professional contract. Even he did not imagine that this deal, when it came just after his 18th birthday, would see him take home £35,000 a month after tax.

You are probably familiar with Bendtner’s story . He went on to score 47 goals at Arsenal and 30 for Denmark, but his career soon fell into decline and, now 33, unsure whether he has retired or not, he accepts he is known as a victim of English football’s “too much too soon” culture — the celebrity lifestyle, the riotous nights out in the West End, an infamous night when he was briefly £400,000 down in a casino — rather than as an inspiration for the many other youngsters who have left their homeland and their families at 16, seeking fame and pretty much guaranteed to earn a fortune when they sign for a Premier League club.

There is a reason why, when the Premier League, EFL, FA and Home Office finally came to an agreement this week over new entry requirements for overseas players in this post-Brexit world, Bendtner’s former team-mate Cesc Fabregas was referenced in every media report. Fabregas made his Arsenal debut barely a month after arriving from Barcelona at 16. At 17 he was a regular starter. By 21 he was captain and firmly established as one of the league’s outstanding players. By the time he returned to Barcelona at 24, feeling he was destined to go full-circle, few in Catalonia doubted the highly unpopular decision he had made eight years earlier.

Fabregas is an outlier, though. Among the dozens upon dozens of boys who have been lured from overseas to sign for Premier League clubs before their 18th birthday, the number of success stories is disconcertingly small. “Of the many players who have left Holland at an early age, I would say only Tim Krul, Nathan Ake and Patrick van Aanholt,” Art Langeler, the Dutch FA’s director of football development, tells The Athletic. “And it took a lot of time for them to work really well in England. Most of the time, the boys who go over to England aren’t getting any real chances. I always think it’s better to develop in Holland, make 100 appearances in the Dutch league and then move to a bigger league after that.”

Like Virgil van Dijk, then. Or his Liverpool team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum. Or the foursome of Matthijs de Ligt, Frankie de Jong, Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech, who helped Ajax reach the Champions League semi-final last year and have now moved on to Juventus, Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea respectively. Or Stefan de Vrij, now at Internazionale, or even Memphis Depay, who struggled after joining Manchester United at 21 (still too early in the view of many in Holland) but has thrived at Lyon.

So many highly-rated youngsters have left Dutch academies to chase the dream in the Premier League over the past couple of decades. From Ajax to Manchester United alone, there has been Gyliano van Velzen, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Millen Baars and Tahith Chong. Fosu-Mensah, 22, made an early breakthrough under Louis van Gaal but has long since drifted to the fringes of the squad; Chong (below), 21, made a handful of appearances early in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure but fell from the picture last season and is now on loan at Werder Bremen. Van Velzen, 26, was released after three years at Old Trafford and, after spending last season at Crawley Town and Aldershot, is now back in the Dutch second tier with Telstar. Baars, 20, was released after two years and is now in AZ Alkmaar’s second team.

Of the 14 Dutch players who have appeared in the Premier League this season, Ake and Van Aanholt did so via the Premier League academy route — joining Chelsea at 16 and ultimately progressing to Manchester City (via Bournemouth) and Crystal Palace respectively. So did Ki-Jana Hoever, who went from Ajax to Liverpool at 16 before being sold on to Wolverhampton Wanderers at 18. Hoever is widely regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in European football, but that was already the case at 16, which is why Liverpool fought so hard to sign him in the first place. It is too early to say whether leaving Ajax so early was the right decision for his long-term progression.

“Moving to England at 16 is a good opportunity to get experience of living and playing in another country and to earn lot of money,” Langeler says. “It works as a kind of life insurance because you’re made for life, even if you break your leg. But if you ask me as a youth developer, I would say it is a bit of a strange step to go there at such a young age. Not a lot of players who go to England at 16 succeed.”

They have been making this argument in Holland for years — often far less diplomatically than Langeler here. In 2011, when a 16-year-old Karim Rekik left Feyenoord for Manchester City, Eric Gudde, the Dutch club’s general manager, called the transfer “stupid for all involved”, saying, “In most cases these moves do not work out, especially for the boy himself. When they are just 16, it all seems great, but if you look at the statistics the majority end in huge disappointment for the player. It’s hard and it’s not just about being a good player. They’re so young and the stats are clear — most of these kids are developed badly. Then they came back (to Holland) and they have actually lost progress. The fact that Holland develops (young players) better than England should be a reason for the English clubs to leave them here.”

Rekik is actually one of those rare success stories, as is Jeffrey Bruma, who also left Feyenoord at 16, in his case for Chelsea. Both made only a handful of appearances before being sold on, but they have had solid careers in top European leagues — Bruma is now at Wolfsburg, Rekik at Sevilla. Angeler cites both of them as rare exceptions to the rule, along with Ake and Van Aanholt.

These successes are far outweighed by failures, though. And these are players who were tipped for even greater things than they have achieved. All four of them had higher reputations at youth level than Van Dijk, for example, as indeed did Fosu-Mensah. Van Dijk did not play for his country until under-19 level, by which time he was playing first-team football for Groningen.

The point Langeler makes is that all players have different pathways, but also that those pathways are far less clear in the Premier League than they are elsewhere. “You can’t predict at 15/16 that they’re going to be a star,” he says. “At 17/18 Frenkie de Jong was still struggling at Willem II. Then he made big steps at Ajax and is now at Barcelona. If you stay in the Dutch league, then the club is so focused on your development. I think that’s the way to do it, though I can fully understand why some players and their families want to move to England at the first chance.”

It is not just a Dutch grievance. If anything, youngsters from Holland have found it easier than most to adapt to life in England. For every Fabregas, there are dozens more highly-rated Spanish youngsters who have moved to England at the age of 16, only to stagnate in those late-teenage years that were so crucial to their development.

Barcelona lost Fabregas and Gerard Pique in the same summer of 2004 due to loopholes in their contracts. They ended up re-signing both — Fabregas at 24 having thrived at Arsenal, Pique at 21 having concluded that heading home was the best move both professionally and on a personal level — and they have tried to do likewise with Bellerin. They have even tried to re-sign Eric Garcia, 19, barely three years after he left them for Manchester City, even though, like Pique at Manchester United, he has found it hard to establish himself at first-team level.

If nothing else, this should tell us that Barcelona, so committed to preserving a Catalan soul to their team, forgive — and don’t forget — those who are lured elsewhere at a young age. Rather than anger, there is sadness when La Masia graduates go elsewhere and struggle. Fran Merida has had a good career in La Liga but Jon Toral (below) and Julio Pleguezuelo are now at Birmingham City and FC Twente respectively, which, while more than respectable, were not the hoped-for destinations for when they were at Barcelona or when they left for Arsenal, where the promise of first-team football did not materialise.

Then there is Dani Pacheco, who joined Liverpool from Barcelona amid great fanfare in 2009. He went on to star at the European Under-19 Championship finals a year later but barely got a look-in at Anfield and is now without a club at the age of 29. Gai Assulin left Barcelona for Manchester City but didn’t come close to the first team and is now, at 29, playing in Romania for Politehnica Iasi. There is more optimism over Sergi Canos, 23, who, having made a solitary appearance for Liverpool, has re-emerged impressively at Brentford.

Twenty-two Spanish players have appeared in the Premier League this season. But only three (Bellerin, Garcia and the Brighton reserve goalkeeper Robert Sanchez) have done so via the “Fabregas route” among the dozens upon dozens of Spanish youngsters who have left for English clubs before their 18th birthday.

Twenty-six French players have appeared in the Premier League this season. The only one to do so via that route (let’s call it the “Anelka route” this time) is Paul Pogba, who left Le Havre for Manchester United at 16, moved on to Juventus at 19, having barely kicked a ball at Old Trafford, and then returned in a world-record transfer four years later. Some might say those first three years in Manchester made him the player he is (or the player he was in 2016) but, again, it probably underestimates the potential that brought him to the club’s attention in the first place.

Yes, there are exceptions — and one that never gets mentioned is Gylfi Sigurdsson, who left his Icelandic club Breidablik at 16 to join Reading before moving on to Hoffenheim, Tottenham, Swansea and Everton. But 17 years after Arsenal signed Fabregas from Barcelona, 23 years after they signed Nicolas Anelka from Paris Saint-Germain, there is hardly an abundance of evidence to suggest that joining a Premier League club at 16 is good for your career. It is good for your bank balance, certainly, as Langeler points out, and most certainly for your agent’s, but the overseas players who survive and thrive in the Premier League are very rarely those who come over at a young age.

Kevin De Bruyne left Genk for Chelsea at 20 and quickly concluded that it was not the right environment for him. He was single-minded enough to force his way out to Wolfsburg, where he flourished before returning to England, with Manchester City at the age of 24. We will never know how his career would have mapped out had he joined Chelsea at 16, but it is fair to imagine it would have involved a lot of loans and a lot of frustration.

In the post-Brexit world, as of January 1, it will no longer be possible for English clubs to sign overseas players under the age of 18. This is widely regarded as a bad thing. But a bad thing for whom? For the Premier League? In the eyes of many, yes, but these clubs, while excellent at identifying and recruiting young talent, have — with the exception of Arsenal in the mid-to-late 2000s — not exactly excelled when it has come to helping that potential to flourish, which is probably why we, even now, we find ourselves talking about the impact on “the likes of Fabregas”.

Langeler, playing devil’s advocate, cites Ake, Van Aanholt, Bruma and Rekik as others who have built good careers even having not made the grade at the big Premier League clubs they joined as teenagers, but he remains convinced it is the wrong career path for a young Dutch footballer. And while, like most of Holland, he finds it hard to fathom why the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016, he is not exactly shedding tears about the consequences for football. “And maybe Brexit can be a good thing for the English players too if there aren’t so many kids coming into their academies,” he says.

Well, that’s a different question and one that will take years for any of us to be able to answer with any confidence. Some feel that homegrown talent has been stifled due to the influx of overseas players at all age groups but particularly at academy level. Others feel that the arrival of top-class talent from France, Germany, Holland and Spain has dramatically raised the quality and the intensity of the Premier League “finishing school”. It seems likely that both of these things are true. It is just a shame that so few homegrown players, while local or imported, make it to first-team level at most Premier League clubs.

Let’s take Brexit out of the conversation for a moment. Let’s imagine that, rather than the result of a vote that continues to divide the country more than four years on, the new restrictions on signing young players from overseas had been introduced for different reasons: to protect young players and to allow them to develop in their own environment, at their local club, rather than being enticed by the financial incentives offered to them via agents looking to make a fast buck.

This is precisely what Michel Platini pushed for during his time as UEFA president. He wanted international transfers banned for those under the age of 18 — “not to create an obstacle to the free movement of labour”, he said, but as “an urgent matter relating to helping youngsters in danger.” He referred to “a phenomenon whereby children aged 12 or 13 are torn away from their environment and culture to join a business in return for payment”. Even pre-Brexit, British clubs were not allowed to sign players until the age of 16, but Platini felt the age limit should be 18, by which time players and indeed clubs might be able to make such judgments with a clearer perspective.

There was a time when just about everything Platini said or did was interpreted as an attack on the Premier League. There was considerable schadenfreude among some clubs when he lost the UEFA presidency in disgrace and was banned from football. A wonderful footballer in his pomp, he had some terrible ideas as an administrator. But as a principle, was a restriction on the international transfer of young players such a bad one?

Whatever else he might be, Platini was an idealist. He pined for a world in which the best players were still spread among many clubs, across many leagues, rather than being lured to one of the biggest English, French, German, Italian or Spanish clubs before they were out of their teens. As a Frenchman who had the best years of his career at Juventus, he was far from opposed to testing yourself in other countries. He just objected to the ethical aspect and also felt, from a football perspective, that it would be a desirable if, for example, an outstanding player from Amsterdam had two or three years in the Ajax first team, maybe more, before being sold on for a multi-million-pound sum — rather than leaving for a Premier League club at 16, for a small compensation payment, with all of the riches and all of the uncertainty that such a career path might involve.

Again, is that such a bad principle? Or do we imagine, despite years of evidence to the contrary, that a big Premier League club is a better place for a 16-year-old to develop than Ajax, Lyon, Schalke,  Stuttgart or even Barcelona? Yes these new post-Brexit laws will stop Premier League clubs picking up the best prospects in Europe for a pittance, but some of them have stockpiled players so indiscriminately over the years, hedging their bets in the hope that one or two might make the first team (and the rest can be sold for profit) that the practice has long felt unedifying. For far too long, certain Premier League clubs have traded teenagers as assets rather than regarding them as players and human beings to develop and plan a future with.

And now we have come to the end of that — not because of a UEFA president who was commonly accused of being anti-English but because of a political movement that was anti-European. It has conjured up certain alarmist suggestions of what the post-Brexit football landscape might look like: a Premier League that will be more Kevin Drinkell than Kevin De Bruyne, more Terry Hurlock than Thierry Henry, much shaking of heads and gnashing of teeth as we sit, socially distanced, eating our chlorinated chicken pies.

In reality, the difference to the quality of the Premier League is likely to be almost imperceptible. There are many reasons some people dread the possible consequences of Brexit but the impact on football is not among them. It is not one of those industries that cannot operate without overseas workers doing the jobs that the domestic workforce cannot or will not do. It is an industry where the biggest budget attracts the best talent. The biggest budgets are in the Premier League and so too, for the foreseeable future, will be a great proportion of the best talent.

English football, though, is an industry which at times has imported talent — particularly young talent — indiscriminately in the worst sense of the word. A more regulated approach should bring just a little more balance to the European transfer market and to the game in a wider sense, allowing players to develop in their own countries for a year or two rather than rushing to leave for clubs where in many cases the only reward is financial.

Bendtner can recall every contract he signed. He is less sure whether he can remember every car he bought. He wouldn’t change his experiences for the world but he cannot say with any certainty that joining Arsenal at 16 was the best move for his long-term development. It probably wasn’t. But at least he got an opportunity at Arsenal. At least he scored goals in the Premier League. At least he is well-known in England — and not only for the wrong reasons. For so many, moving to England at 16 has marked the beginning of the end of their top-class football career. Those sunlit uplands they were told about just never materialised.

 

 

 

[ulvhedin 526]

Wonder if Ziyech injury will be serious (2-3 months) whether we will be looking to bring some winger as depth? Anyone watching Sarr in Watford, how is he looking this season?

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my newest, most up to date sell/let go list (only way I see selling AC and Rudiger is if we are go all out for José Giménez  or Marquinhos this coming summer, and I think we get a full, WC 2021-22 season out of Thiago, so not vexed if we keep them, or keep one and then make the big move in 2022 summer window) Alaba is lurking out there too, and he prefers CB, although he is perfect to allow us to dump the two dregs LB's we have, PLUS we have Malang Sarr as well, and I think he has great upside)

in bold are the most important to dump

total intake from the bolded should be around £180-200m or so
    
Kepa   
Willy Caballero
Marcos Alonso   
Emerson   
Abdul Rahman Baba  
Jorginho  
Danny Drinkwater 
Charly Musonda Jr.
Jamal Blackman    
Michy Batshuayi    
Ross Barkley    
Davide Zappacosta  
Tiemoué Bakayoko  
Victor Moses    
Kenedy   
Matt Miazga    
Nathan  
Lewis Baker  
Danilo Pantic 
Marco van Ginkel    
Izzy Brown 
Lucas Piazon
 

 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

[R2D2 368]

37 minutes ago, Blues Forever said:

Think Gimenez admitted to supporting the club when he grew up, wouldn't mind him but the price tag would be ridiculous so probably skip.

[NikkiCFC 8,366]

We have many examples where defenders look better for Simeone than somewhere else. Miranda, Godin, Luis... Even Thomas now as DM. Maybe if we lower his clause it would be good. Also if he has next season Silva alongside that would be massive for him to learn from the Master.

[Jase 43,479]

We have two wingers out injured. Anyone fancy the free agent that is Hulk right now? 

[killer1257 3,282]

We have many examples where defenders look better for Simeone than somewhere else. Miranda, Godin, Luis... Even Thomas now as DM. Maybe if we lower his clause it would be good. Also if he has next season Silva alongside that would be massive for him to learn from the Master.

I don't think Gimenez needs anyone to teach him more things. He already had insane masters to learn from

 

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, killer1257 said:

I don't think Gimenez needs anyone to teach him more thinks. He already had insane masters to learn from

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk
 

I wish Thiago could go full Agent Silva and pull in Marquinhos

Gimenez and Marquinhos are the only two WC CB's remotely available

and both will be cray cray expensive

but, like I showed, IF we can dump the main dregs, its £180m to £200m more in the kitty  (and that is NOT counting AC or Rudiger, and one or both would surely be sold if we bring in a WC CB) and a shedload of salary off the books

massive question is how will the market be in January and especially the summer of 2021

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Sebastian Walukiewicz

https://www.transfermarkt.com/sebastian-walukiewicz/profil/spieler/345458

 

Sebastian Walukiewicz: Things to Know About the Emerging Polish Defender

https://www.90min.com/posts/sebastian-walukiewicz-things-to-know-about-the-emerging-polish-defender-transfer

Manchester United and Chelsea are among a number of clubs across Europe keeping an eye on Polish defender Sebastian Walukiewicz, who is currently plying his club trade at Cagliari.

Lazio, Inter, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are others on the list of suitors of the Pole, who made his international debut in October.

90min revealed the interest in the 20-year-old earlier this week.

Here’s a look at various things fans need to know about this emerging talent.

 

1. Meteoric Rise

Walukiewicz was only 18 when Cagliari bought him in January 2019. He spent the remainder of that campaign in Poland, helping Pogon Szczecin to a mid-table Ekstraklasa finish, and made the switch to Italy that summer.

The youngster was initially part of the first-team squad without playing more than occasionally. He spent much of the early campaign on the bench, unsurprising given his age and lack of experience – his league debut even ended in a 4-0 thrashing by Juventus.

But Walukiewicz fought his way into the Cagliari XI permanently when the suspended season resumed in June. They had gone 12 Serie A games without a win prior to his first real run in the side and were without a clean sheet since November. And although the slide down the table continued, results did improve overall and the 20-year-old has kept his place in 2020/21, starting every game so far.

International recognition came when he made his senior international debut for Poland this month.

 

2. On the Radar for Years

Even though it was Cagliari who took the plunge and signed Walukiewicz in 2019, reports towards the end of 2018 suggested that a number of top clubs were already aware of him then.

Arsenal were believed to have had scouts watch the defender at that time, while Liverpool and Barcelona were said to have also been keeping an eye on him. Southampton, a club with a strong record of developing young talent, were linked as well.

 

3. Long-Term Contract

Cagliari hold the immediate power when it comes to Walukiewicz’s future. He is under contract until 2023, a deal which includes the option of being further extended by a year.

Although a sale is ultimately inevitable for a club of their standing, they are not under pressure to accept a low-ball approach from potential suitors.

 

4. ‘Majestic in the Air’

‘Majestic in the air’ is how Cagliari described Walukiewicz when they announced the completion of his transfer from Pogon Szczecin in January 2019.

Despite the trend for clubs to play possession-based football out from defence, aerial prowess remains one of the key attributes any elite defender must have. No club with an aerially commanding centre-back should be too vulnerable to set-pieces.

 

5. Stature & Style of Play

Standing at around 6’2, Walukiewicz is a similar height to Rio Ferdinand or Giorgio Chiellini and a couple of inches shorter than Virgil van Dijk.

His aerial prowess has already been covered, but Walukiewicz is also considered to be confident with the ball at his feet, which is another major tick as top clubs search for all-round defensive talents. Being able to bring the ball out of defence to start attacks is another valued skill.

His passing accuracy in Serie A this season is just shy of 90%, while he performed two dribbles in action for Poland against Italy this month and averaged close to one dribble per game in Serie A last season.

Stats via WhoScored

 

Report: Chelsea set to join battle to sign Polish international centre back

https://www.chelsea-news.co/2020/12/report-chelsea-set-join-battle-sign-polish-international-centre-back/

 

[King Kante 1,643]

I know it is a pipe dream but I would really like De Ligt. 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

1 hour ago, King Kante said:

I know it is a pipe dream but I would really like De Ligt. 

Would be more expensive than Gimenez, according to the reports De Ligt has €150m release clause in 2022.

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Ornstein: Szoboszlai clauses, Hudson-Odoi staying, Cavani case details

https://theathletic.com/2241976/2020/12/07/ornstein-szoboszlai-fans-manchester-liverpool-nfl/

Few players have been more heavily linked with a move in the next transfer window than Dominik Szoboszlai and when the market opens on January 2, his future is expected to be swiftly resolved.

Among the most promising, coveted and talked-about young talents in world football, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder is tipped to leave Red Bull Salzburg after two-and-a-half years with the Austrian side.

Reports have asserted that Salzburg’s sister club RB Leipzig are leading the race, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur also claimed to be in the frame.

Szoboszlai is being considered by Arsenal as they look to enhance their creativity and goalscoring capabilities, but he is one of several options and it remains to be seen if they will enter the battle.

His Salzburg contract, which expires in 2022, includes a €25 million release clause and although that is enticingly low, The Athletic has learned of some details which might not make it achievable for all interested parties.

Contrary to suggestions that the fee can be financed by way of instalments, it is actually understood to require full payment in one go and within two weeks of the clause being triggered.

There is then thought to be a 20 per cent sell-on mechanism which, unusually, applies to the entire fee of a future transfer and not just the profit. So, for example, if he arrives for €25 million and leaves for €100 million, Salzburg get 20 per cent of €100 million rather than 20 per cent of the €75 million difference.

While that may not be ideal in the eyes of Szoboszlai’s admirers, most will view it as a minor inconvenience for a player of such quality, who comes relatively cheap and has high resale value.

The reason it is anticipated the situation will develop rapidly is, according to sources, a stipulation that Szoboszlai must give notice by December 15 of his wish to depart Salzburg and that bids must be lodged by December 31. It is unclear if the Hungary international has expressed this desire or if offers have been received.

In the unforeseen event of Szoboszlai still being at Salzburg in the summer, the same arrangement is believed to kick in again, with notice having to be given by June 30 and bids lodged by July 15.

Szoboszlai joined Salzburg from Liefering in January 2018 and has scored 25 goals in 79 appearances, including four goals (as well as five assists) in 10 Bundesliga games this season.

Competing in the Champions League has propelled him into the wider consciousness and on Wednesday, there will be no shortage of focus on the playmaker when Salzburg host Atletico Madrid in their final match of the group stage knowing victory will seal a place in the last 16.

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QPR player to thank for Liverpool signing Kelleher

Liverpool have an unlikely figure to thank for the fact they can turn to talented young goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the absence of No 1 Alisson, explains James Pearce.

The 22-year-old followed up his impressive Champions League bow against Ajax by keeping a clean sheet on his  Premier League debut against Wolves at Anfield, with the novelty of him playing still catching someone off guard after the second “e” from his surname was left off his shirt in the first half.

Cork-born Kelleher, who has jumped ahead of Adrian in the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp, was going for a trial at Manchester United back in 2015 when then Liverpool academy defender Conor Masterson, who currently plays for Queens Park Rangers, urged coaching staff to also take a look at him. The pair had played together for the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Academy scout Matt Newbury got involved and Kelleher was invited to spend some time at the Kirkby academy. Then 17, he impressed with how assured he was with the ball at his feet but the feeling was that physically he still had a lot of developing to do. The Athletic understands that what convinced Liverpool to take a punt on him was that he could be signed from Ringmahon Rangers for just £30,000. If the fee had been much higher they would considered it too big a risk.

It proved to be a shrewd investment with Kelleher making rapid progress since making the leap from the academy to the first-team set-up.  Liverpool considered loaning him out this season with Den Haag in Holland prepared to offer him the regular senior action he craved.

However, with Kamil Grabara having already gone on loan to Aarhus in Denmark, the decision was taken to keep both Kelleher and Adrian as back-up to Alisson.

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Chelsea will not let Hudson-Odoi leave

Chelsea will ignore any offers to loan or buy Callum Hudson-Odoi when the transfer window opens next month, my colleague Simon Johnson explains.

Hudson-Odoi was left out of the Chelsea squad that beat Leeds 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The winger was also not included in the 18 for Tottenham’s visit to Stamford Bridge the previous Sunday.

This means he has played just 14 league minutes over the past five weeks (he came on as a substitute at Newcastle on November 21) and started just one game in the competition since the season began.

It has been reported that the winger is now considering leaving in the new year for more regular first-team football. He still has ambitions of making it back into the England squad for the European Championship next summer.

However, The Athletic has been told that Chelsea do not want to let Hudson-Odoi go because not only is he still a player of huge potential, it would leave coach Frank Lampard with a lack of options to play out wide in the title race.

Chelsea currently have Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, who has played on the left-hand side on a regular basis, as the other main choices to operate on the flanks. Mason Mount and Kai Havertz can also play there but that is only considered to be a last resort as the duo are better operating centrally.

The club had already decided Hudson-Odoi was not going anywhere before Ziyech limped off against Leeds with a hamstring injury. The Morocco international has been undergoing tests to discover the severity of the problem but is expected to sit out the next few games at the very least. The incident has only strengthened Chelsea’s resolve to hang on to Hudson-Odoi.

Bayern Munich failed in a bid to sign Hudson-Odoi on a season-long loan with an option to buy in October. It was the second time they have tried to acquire the England international, who rejected the Bundesliga club to sign a five-year contract with Chelsea in 2019. Chelsea will ignore a third approach if they make one.

Lampard has named the 20-year-old in the first XI for three of their Champions League group matches and he is expected to feature once more against Krasnodar on Tuesday night. The Chelsea manager insisted last week that he wouldn’t pick Hudson-Odoi just to stave off the threat of Bayern’s interest.

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Players will be allowed to leave bubbles for Christmas — though clubs did look at preventing it

The government’s recent announcement that families across the UK will be able to gather in three-household groups of any size over Christmas sparked conversation at a number of Premier League clubs, whose players are living in closely-monitored first-team bubbles.

The Athletic understands that — barring any unlikely contractual changes — footballers will not be prevented from seeing their families during the festive period, with employers conscious that this could impinge on their basic human rights.

Top-flight sides are naturally aware of the risks posed by gathering with two other households, especially given the busy festive schedule and last week’s postponement of Newcastle United’s match at Aston Villa. Any player who contracts COVID-19 has to self-isolate for 10 days, in line with government guidelines, before undergoing a recovery period, meaning positive tests could see players absent for a number of fixtures.

Given those high stakes, multiple clubs have discussed the possibility of players signing new contracts that would prevent people from entering their household over Christmas. However, those exploratory conversations led to a consensus that contractual changes were unrealistic considering how quickly the COVID-19 situation is changing. It was accepted that ordering players not to gather with their families when it is legal to do so would breach their civil liberties and be unenforceable.

Instead, clubs will concentrate on continuing to offer education and advice. Most clubs send emails to their squads every time there is a change in government rules and regulations around COVID-19, while the latest news updates are often reiterated in team meetings.

For this year at least, there are unlikely to be any amusing photos of Premier League footballers gathered together in fancy dress at bars and restaurants. Traditional Christmas parties are off the menu, with the punishing schedule meaning they would have been difficult to organise irrespective of the COVID-19 situation.

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Cavani’s written evidence to try to avoid ban

Edinson Cavani is at risk of a three-game ban from the FA for his use of the word “negrito” in an Instagram post, but Manchester United are attempting to offset such punishment by providing “cultural context”, explains Laurie Whitwell.

One aspect to be put forward is that the term has been used by Cavani and his close circle as a specific nickname for the friend in question, with written evidence available. In the offending message the Uruguayan striker was expressing thanks, giving an indication as to his meaning.

The Reuters news agency last week reported on the “surprise” in Cavani’s homeland of the FA investigation and quoted linguist Amparo Fernandez as arguing the case was an example of attempts to “globalise meanings”. Fernandez said that in parts of Latin America it is often used affectionately and United are putting forward this argument to English football’s governing body.

Nevertheless, United and Cavani accept different interpretations apply in the UK and both club and player apologised for his use of the word. They will accept whatever action the FA take.

The FA are yet to decide whether to charge Cavani with discriminatory or racist language but if found guilty the minimum sanction would be three games after a rule change over the summer.

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Y-word returns in week Premier League sign antisemitism pledge

It took just three minutes for the 2,000 home supporters to mark their long-awaited return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a chant of “Yid Army!”.

The return of the chant, as reported by Luke Brown, was predictable and yet its use by Tottenham supporters — who claim to have reclaimed the term from its racist usage by opposing fans — is only becoming more contentious. And in light of both the Premier League and Tottenham announcing last week that they have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, the chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council has told The Athletic that this is a significant opportunity for the club to reconsider its supporters’ use of the Y-word.

“In light of the Black Lives Matter movement — which has created a benchmark by which race issues are addressed within sport — and in the light of the adoption of the IHRA definition, you cannot think of a better time for Spurs to be able to turn to their fans and say: ‘We think it is now time to stop using this word’,” said Jonathan Goldstein, who spoke with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy over the club’s decision to adopt the definition.

“I am really delighted that (Tottenham) have adopted the IHRA definition. I have spoken to Daniel about it and I know that he has enthusiastically adopted it. And so I feel that now is the time to go into the next stage.”

The IHRA definition was adopted by the Premier League as a way to better inform clubs and supporters about behaviour or comments that can be considered antisemitic. However, The Athletic understands Tottenham have no immediate plans to reconsider their existing stance on the word, which means chants like those heard during the north London derby yesterday could be commonplace for some time.

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Clubs accounts likely to be messy

Premier League clubs are bracing themselves for even bigger losses than they expected for the 2019-20 season, which was affected by COVID-19.

The accounting year for the majority of them ends on June 30, 13 days after the season recommenced following the pandemic lockdown in March.

Auditors have already advised at least one club that broadcast revenue for the 67 matches played beyond June 30 can only be applied to the current campaign for accounting purposes.

“The numbers are going to look even more horrendous,” says a club executive. “Our losses were already going to be severe, then COVID-19 came along, and now this 30th of June thing. It’s not going to be pretty.”

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Villa to hold on to in-demand youth players

Aston Villa’s pledge to transform their academy into one of the most productive in the country means that the majority of their under-23 side will remain at the club past the next transfer window.

There is already increased interest from a number of lower-league sides looking to take some of Villa’s attacking players on loan in January, with both England Under-19 forward Jaden Philogene-Bidace, 18, and England Under-18 star Louie Barry, 17, attracting interest.

The pair have scored nine goals between them in eight games for Villa’s under-23 side this season but are expected to continue their development at Bodymoor Heath rather than moving elsewhere at this stage.

Republic of Ireland teenager Tyreik Wright, 19, may be granted a temporary move away though after the club decided against letting him leave in the last two windows.

One youngster who won’t be going anywhere just yet is Carney Chukwuemeka, the midfielder who has just turned 17. Last year, CEO Christian Purslow described him as the best English midfielder of his age and Villa were able to tie him down to a professional contract despite interest from Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham.

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Man City hopeful of fans back for Boxing Day

Manchester City are preparing to welcome fans back to the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day, as long as the government ease COVID restrictions on December 16, explains Sam Lee.

There is hope that Greater Manchester will be placed in Tier 2, which would allow 2,000 supporters back. City will test a contactless e-ticketing system ahead of the upcoming home matches against Marseille on Wednesday and West Brom a week later by supplying QR codes to match-day staff.

Plans are in place to seat supporters in the lower tier, with most in the east stand and others in the south and north stands. City’s first home game following the potential easing of restrictions is against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.

Manchester United are aiming to have fans back at Old Trafford for the visit of Leeds on December 20 and took the unusual step of publicising plans on Friday to make clear their preparedness.

It is thought the announcement is also part of wider attempts by the Premier League to lobby the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the issue.

[Vesper 30,260]

La Liga star Jose Gimenez drops Chelsea hint

Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez has dropped a hint on social media that he fancies a move to Chelsea.

Gimenez was linked with a move to Chelsea by tranfer speculation specialist Fabrizio Romano on the Here We Go podcast earlier this year.

The 25-year-old has starred for Diego Simeone's side for several seasons and is regarded as one of the most promising centre-backs in European football.

And he has now indicated that he could be tempted to Stamford Bridge, after liking an Twitter post which joked: “Day 44 of tweeting Jose Maria Gimenez until @ChelseaFC signs him.”

 

[NikkiCFC 8,366]

Cant see him ending here nor I think we need him.

[Jase 43,479]

33 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Cant see him ending here nor I think we need him.

It seems like all the noise so far is coming only from Alaba's camp...

 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,822]

Alaba is currently at 165 to 170K euros a week depending on the source you believe. Is he going to expect more?

[Blues Forever 1,232]

11 minutes ago, ZAPHOD2319 said:

Alaba is currently at 165 to 170K euros a week depending on the source you believe. Is he going to expect more?

Yes, according to Bild he want bigger salary around €20m/yr.