Chelsea Transfers

[ZAPHOD2319 4,822]

What two players do you think will join in January. Not who you want, but who you think Lampard will get?

[Atomiswave 6,119]

7 minutes ago, ZAPHOD2319 said:

What two players do you think will join in January. Not who you want, but who you think Lampard will get?

I dont believe we will get anyone of note in Jan....next summer though we will go to war again, but this time around more clubs will also go to war. Eric and Rice would def make us more complete.

[Jase 43,479]

Matt Law with some transfer updates for January...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/12/22/chelsea-hopeful-ben-chilwell-wont-long-left-back-doubt-christmas/

Chilwell’s injury is unlikely to change the fact that Chelsea would listen to offers, either a loan or a permanent deal, for Alonso during a January transfer window in which the club will prioritise trying to streamline Lampard’s squad.

With West Ham adamant they will not allow Lampard’s top target Declan Rice to leave mid-season, it appears Chelsea will be more focussed on potential exits next month.

The Blues spent £220 million on new signings during the summer window and a move for Rice was shelved while they tried to raise more funds and create space in Lampard’s squad, which is imbalanced by the fact he has five central defenders and three left-backs who all expect to be challenging for a regular place.

Other than Alonso, central defender Fikayo Tomori was not on the expanded bench against West Ham, who had made a last-minute bid to try to sign the central defender on loan during the last window.

Since turning down a switch to West Ham, Tomori has found himself the odd man out among the central defenders after Antonio Rudiger worked his way back into Lampard’s squad.

Chelsea would have to listen to a bid for Rudiger if it were forthcoming, but it is rated far more likely that Tomori will leave the club on loan in January with Newcastle United, Leeds United and at least one large European club interested in him.

Lampard will decide in January whether or not Billy Gilmour can go out on loan to try to force his way into Scotland’s squad for next summer’s European Championships.

Gilmour is highly rated by Lampard, who is also sympathetic of the fact that Scotland have not qualified for a major tournament for 22 years. 

Chelsea players have been hugely impressed by Gilmour in training and he may well get another chance to shine before Lampard makes up his mind on his short-term future.

Jorginho was substituted against West Ham following a poor performance and, as he did last season, Gilmour may leap-frog the Italy international in Lampard’s pecking order although Mateo Kovacic could be ahead of them both following his good substitutes’ appearance on Monday night.

[NikkiCFC 8,366]

6 hours ago, Jason said:

Think Haaland might stay at Dortmund for another season, assuming they finish in the Top 4, and should not also forget that Haaland's agent is Mino Raiola. Don't think the club like dealing with him very much. 

I agree. We had reports that Haaland will likely leave in 2022.

So what do we do if we want to wait for him? Do we go with just Timo and Tammy next season? Olie is out of contract and I imagine it will be really hard to find 3rd striker for just one season.

I think Giroud should get one year contract extension. Not sure he would accept it? But he likes London and may retire from int. football after Euro so why not?

 

[King Kante 1,643]

16 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

I agree. We had reports that Haaland will likely leave in 2022.

So what do we do if we want to wait for him? Do we go with just Timo and Tammy next season? Olie is out of contract and I imagine it will be really hard to find 3rd striker for just one season.

I think Giroud should get one year contract extension. Not sure he would accept it? But he likes London and may retire from int. football after Euro so why not?

 

If Håland is a realistic target i.e. he is indicating he wants to come here, then I think this makes sense. Werner, Tammy and Giroud would be fine. However, if Giroud leaves we may need to get someone else. 

[King Kante 1,643]

Just thinking about January and I cannot see a big move i.e. Rice or Håland or something crazy. However, I wouldn't be surprised by a RWF who comes in as a rotation option. What would people think of Thauvin? He only has six months left on his contract, is 27 and has been really consistent since moving back to France. I reckon something like £10m would get him. 

[Strike 7,522]

Chelsea linked to Moises Caicedo by Daily Fail

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1 hour ago, Strike said:

Chelsea linked to Moises Caicedo by Daily Fail

post Brexit rules

how will he get a work permit?

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Chelsea Join Manchester City in Pursuit of Erling Håland

https://www.90min.com/posts/chelsea-manchester-city-borussia-dortmund-erling-haaland-transfer

 

probably bullshit

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[mkh 616]

Chelsea will actively seek to move on seven players, with the list comprised of:

• Ross Barkley
• Marcos Alonso
• Antonio Rudiger
• Andreas Christensen
• Jorginho
• Danny Drinkwater
• Victor Moses

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/13549017/chelsea-transfers-erling-haaland-declan-rice/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebarweb

According to Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, Marcos Alonso a return to his home country is on the cards with La Liga table-toppers Atletico Madrid proposing a loan deal for the full-back.

https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/chelsea-transfer-news-marcos-alonso-19516495

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Lampard's status as an icon across European football has been underlined by Haaland in the past.

In quick-fire Q&A with ESPN, Haaland was previously asked who the one player he’d want to have played with that’s retired and replied: "Frank Lampard."

Could the Norwegian be soon granted the opportunity to work under his idol?

https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/erling-haaland-chelsea-transfer-lampard-19520589

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Man Utd transfer target Moises Caicedo 'leaves for England' with Chelsea beaten to deal

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1376543/Man-Utd-transfer-target-Moises-Caicedo-leaves-for-England-Chelsea-beaten-deal-news-gossip

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Five European wonderkids Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal should have on radars

Express Sport takes a look at five wonderkids the Premier League big boys should be looking at ahead of 2021.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1376169/European-wonderkids-Man-Utd-Liverpool-Chelsea-Arsenal-Eduardo-Camavinga

With a new year, brings new talent and the biggest clubs in European football will already be setting their sights on finding the next Erling Braut Haaland. The Norwegian has been a revelation since he burst onto the scene with RB Salzburg in 2019 and his incredible rise to stardom saw him crowned this year's Golden Boy award. Express Sport takes a look at five players who could follow in Haaland's footsteps in the second half of the campaign as we enter 2021. Here are five wonderkids the Premier League's biggest clubs should be keeping an eye on.

 

Eduardo Camavinga - Rennes

The Rennes midfielder is already regarded as one of the biggest talents in France.

He has already scored for his country after forcing his way into Didier Deschamps' midfield ahead of the European Championships.

Camavinga is an excellent dribbler who loves to go from box-to-box and have an impact on the game at both ends.

The 18-year-old is a star in the making and if any Premier League club was to sign him, they would potentially have a top midfielder at their disposal for the next 15 years.

The Rennes man thrives in tight spaces and can help turn defence into attack with his nifty footwork and creativity. He looks destined for greatness.

 

Edmond Tapsoba - Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen's recruitment team deserve all the plaudits for snapping up Tapsoba from Vitoria Guimaraes earlier this year.

He is already a staple at the BayArena and has just been awarded a new bumper contract.

That's because Leverkusen are keen to protect his value and know they have acquired a world-class prospect.

The 21-year-old centre-back is a natural reader of the game, who enjoys bringing the ball out from the back.

Not only that but Tapsoba enjoys playing as a sweeper and getting his team-mates out of trouble.

Ryan Gravenberch - Ajax

The latest young player off the incredible Ajax conveyor belt.

Liverpool will be well aware of his quality given that he played against the Reds at Anfield in the Champions League.

The 6ft 2' box-to-box midfielder loves to drive with the ball and shoot from range.

He has already invited comparisons to Paul Pogba for his long passing and the way he travels with the ball.

Gravenberch has already made a huge impact at Ajax and is a regular in the side, meaning they have their work cut out if they want to keep him.

The Dutchman looks the perfect fit for the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

 

Youssoufa Moukoko - Borussia Dortmund (Born: November 20, 2004 so he cannot come here until January or Summer 2023, due to Brexit)

If Borussia Dortmund lose Haaland in the future, they already have his replacement in the form of their academy star Moukoko.

The 16-year-old netted on his first Bundesliga start last weekend against Union Berlin and it was easy to see why much has been made of his rise to prominence.

Moukoko has scored bags of goals at youth level for Dortmund and now he looks set to replicate his prolific form at senior level.

If he makes a habit of scoring goals for the first-team at 16, you can expect the Premier League's biggest clubs to take note of his progression.

 

Jamal Musiala - Bayern Munich

Musiala is a player Chelsea may already be regretting letting go.

He has already scored three times for Bayern Munich since being handed his Bundesliga earlier this year, including a fine strike in the recent 3-3 draw with RB Leipzig.

The attacking midfielder moved to the Allianz Arena in 2019 following his departure from west London.

There's no doubt he would be part of Frank Lampard's plans if the Chelsea boss had been employed at Stamford Bridge earlier.

Now he looks set to become the latest English youngster to shine in Germany and now it could cost megabucks to bring him to the Premier League.

 

[Pizy 18,984]

Haaland has Manchester bidding war written all over him for me. Both will be extremely desperate for a talismanic #9 and both will be willing to offer astronomical wages that I doubt we would touch like £350-400k a week. City need a long term Aguero replacement and United have only 34 year old Cavani who they won't want to depend on as their main man for next year.

After last summer I think our next 2-3 transfer windows will be extremely subdued. Only making moderately priced buys to replenish our squad depth once the likes of Alonso etc are sold. Definitely don't expect any incomings next month.

Can see this being a Liverpool sort of situation where after they splashed out on mega expensive players they then went to smaller teams and bought young players with lots of promise for much cheaper and started developing them. Or we'll just promote our own youngsters instead.

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2 hours ago, Pizy said:

Haaland has Manchester bidding war written all over him for me. Both will be extremely desperate for a talismanic #9 and both will be willing to offer astronomical wages that I doubt we would touch like £350-400k a week. City need a long term Aguero replacement and United have only 34 year old Cavani who they won't want to depend on as their main man for next year.

After last summer I think our next 2-3 transfer windows will be extremely subdued. Only making moderately priced buys to replenish our squad depth once the likes of Alonso etc are sold. Definitely don't expect any incomings next month.

Can see this being a Liverpool sort of situation where after they splashed out on mega expensive players they then went to smaller teams and bought young players with lots of promise for much cheaper and started developing them. Or we'll just promote our own youngsters instead.

we will buy Rice, either this January (unlikely) or this coming summer (extremely likely)

beyond that, nothing is certain at all

Håland and a WC CB at Manure would be a disaster for us

I do not think they can also swing Sancho as well, unless Dortmund come WAY down in price

same for Grealish

Håland at Shitty would be a disaster for us, especially if the actually do bring in Messi

Manure looks well on their way to sorting themselves out (and I still think they eventually sack Ole and bring in a top 5 manager) especially if they land some truly huge fish (I still think they sell Pogba to fund more players coming in, besides the liquidation of the few dregs they actually have left)

Pep is going nowhere, and Pool will be monsters until Klopp leaves (and maybe after), and I so fear them snatching up Gravenberch

 

that leaves one CL spot over the next 3 or 4 years for us, Spuds, Leicester, and whatever pop-up teams happen (I think Arse will take years to recover) to fight over

there is no other league on the planet remotely as strong as the EPL is

and for sure you will sea more teams snatched up by multi-billionaires in the next 5 or so years

 

 

 

 

 

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Jack Grealish, the emergence of a superstar

https://theathletic.com/2272269/2020/12/25/grealish-jack-aston-villa-transfer/

It’s August 2017 and Jack Grealish is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after a freak kidney injury in the final pre-season game of the summer.

He’s down in the dumps, obviously. Aston Villa’s Championship campaign gets underway in just a few days but he won’t be a part of it for many months to come.

Team-mate Mile Jedinak visits his hospital bedside with a few encouraging words of support. “You’ll be back, mate, bigger and stronger than ever before,” he says, convinced that this is merely a bump in the road.

Yet with a sombre expression, Grealish struggles to process the words and can only see the immediate short-term future, which admittedly looks bleak.

Still, Jedinak continues to reassure him. In time, Grealish has learned that the Australian’s words carry significant weight. You stop and listen when he talks because, just like on this occasion, he tends to know what he’s talking about.

In this dark hour, Jedinak knew Grealish would be hurting, but equally knew he was set for big things. Jedinak told Grealish privately that he had all the tools to become a Premier League star and that time was on his side.

Three years on and Jedinak — the only player to visit Grealish in hospital that day, his biggest believer, his biggest fan — will be smiling knowing that the 25-year-old is now club captain, close to 200 appearances for his boyhood team and continuing to light up the Premier League weekly.

Grealish will reach that special milestone if he plays in the Boxing Day clash with Crystal Palace, screened live on BBC, in what is yet another chance to strengthen his growing reputation as one of the most exciting attackers in European football.

That statement alone suggests that the boy from Solihull didn’t do too badly in the end. He did come back better than ever after recovering from that injury, as his team-mate so positively predicted. To put things into perspective, it was a conversation this summer — before Grealish signed a five-year contract to become the club’s highest-ever-paid player — that further cemented his rapid rise.

When he was linked with a move to some of the top clubs in the country, a member of his inner circle took umbrage to a suggestion that he would become a bench-warmer if he moved to, say, Manchester City or Manchester United.

The close associate reminded the doubter that just three years earlier, Grealish was sitting on the bench for Villa and unable to get into Steve Bruce’s starting line-up at the back end of 2016-17. Then came the freak injury, sustained when Watford’s Tom Cleverley landed awkwardly on him during a challenge and a subsequent three-month spell on the sidelines followed.

At that stage, his career was at a crossroads, but write Grealish off at your peril.

The point those close to him like to make is that he’s stepped up to every other challenge that has been set, so why couldn’t he do the same if he ever ends up leaving Villa, especially when he’s earned the right to be linked with the best clubs in the world?

Ex-Villa boss Tim Sherwood has never doubted Grealish’s qualities and gave him the platform to showcase his skills when he was in charge five years ago.

“When I got there, whenever he was fit, he would play,” Sherwood tells The Athletic. “He’s top class and has got something different. You don’t come across players like that very often, but with Jack, he’s special.”

Sherwood also recalls how Grealish was chronically “undervalued” when he became manager.

“When I was talking to Villa about taking over, they mentioned they had Christian Benteke, Fabian Delph, Tom Cleverley, Ron Vlaar and all that. I was saying to them, ‘Yeah and you’ve got Jack Grealish’. They were like, ‘Yeah but he’s just a kid’. I said, ‘Don’t worry about “just a kid”‘. The ‘kid’ is a special player. I’ve known him for a lot of years.”

Sherwood actually told Harry Redknapp to sign Grealish for Tottenham Hotspur as a 16-year-old.

“I said, ‘We need to do a swap for this kid at Villa’, who were struggling at the time,” Sherwood continues. “I thought they could do with a few of our players who weren’t playing (and I told Redknapp) that this kid is special; top drawer, unbelievable.”

Grealish was highlighted as a future star at Villa, but there were others high up the list, too. Callum Robinson, now at West Bromwich Albion, also featured for Villa on the day his close friend made his debut at Manchester City as a substitute in 2014.

However, Jordan Graham, now at Gillingham, was “always the one to watch” according to former Villa youth team coach Ben Petty, yet he never played a minute.

Grealish is also the lone survivor from the all-conquering side that beat Chelsea in the 2013 final of the NextGen Series, a European youth tournament that acted as a precursor to the UEFA Youth League. Jordan Lyden, now at Swindon Town, was part of that squad. The two were close and socialised after training as teenagers.

“I’ve played with Jack from the age of nine,” the former captain of Villa’s under-23s team tells The Athletic. “I stay in touch with him and he still sorts out tickets for me. I’ve seen over the years how much a quality football he has turned into. Even now, he has developed so much to take on the captain’s armband. If you had asked me when we were 18, I wouldn’t have said that about Jack. I would have told you he would go on to become a top player, but not the captain. It just shows you how much he’s developed in terms of leadership and other qualities. He will go on to bigger and better things as well.”

For a period between 2015 and 2017, there was a danger of Grealish dining out on that sensational FA Cup semi-final performance against Liverpool for too long. Sherwood’s replacement, Remi Garde, didn’t have much respect for Grealish and the feeling towards the manager was mutual.

He also needed a couple of seasons to really find himself as a player capable of turning it on when it mattered. Perhaps his stunning display at Wembley made people forget that this was still a youngster developing into a first-team regular.

Juan Pablo Angel recalls a visit to Villa’s training ground in May 2019. He was guided around by Grealish, who had pulled it all together and matured into the club’s leading light.

The pair laughed and joked as Grealish reminded the striker how he used to jump for joy alongside his family as Villa Park season ticket holders during the Colombian’s spell in England. Angel told The Athletic how he was warmed by the skipper’s kind words and down-to-earth ways. He watched him rip it up in training but then also turn on the charm during an engaging conversation behind the scenes

“I had to learn my way into Aston Villa and earn the support,” Angel says of his time at the club from 2001 to 2007. “I had to understand what the club meant for the community and how huge it was in terms of support around the world and the history of the club.

“I ended up loving the city, loving the club, and understanding the culture but it wasn’t something I was born with. Jack has all that. The majority of his family are Aston Villa so he feels a commitment and the responsibility in himself to not just play for the club but to be the captain and do it well. He is a local boy who grew up loving Villa and his sentiment for the club and the community is huge.

“You hope he stays at the club a little longer. If he does what he is capable of, and does it consistently, then an even bigger club will come for him.”

As manager Dean Smith points out, it’s inevitable that until Villa start to become a serious force in the Premier League, they always run the risk of losing their star man.

“If we don’t keep progressing and become a club that’s challenging in Europe, then we probably won’t meet Jack’s ambitions and there will be a time when Jack looks elsewhere,” he told Stadium Astro recently.

A clear sign of how far Grealish has come in such a short space of time was evident in the recent game between Belgium and England.

Everyone watching noticed that Grealish swapped shirts with Kevin De Bruyne but what the cameras didn’t capture was that it was the Manchester City playmaker making a beeline for his midfield counterpart and initiating the post-match conversation.

De Bruyne praised Grealish for his performance on the night, a big compliment for any player who has shared a pitch with the superstar. Yet such comments have become the norm.

Several high-profile pundits message him privately to praise his work and offer advice. Ian Wright and Jamie Redknapp are big supporters, Jamie Carragher recently compared him to Eden Hazard. Gary Neville also suggested that if a coach can’t get the best out of the attacker, then it’s their fault, not his.

It seems everyone wants a piece of Villa’s No 10. Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan went from branding him an “idiot” for a lockdown breach in March to calling for Arsenal to “break the bank” to sign him for £100 million. Grealish has this impact on people who don’t fully appreciate just how good he is until he ends up destroying the team he comes up against.

Of course, he’s far from perfect. Smith has warned Grealish of his responsibilities on a few occasions this season after off-field incidents partially clouded his performances. He was fined £82,000 and banned from driving for nine months for that lockdown breach, when he reversed his car into two others.

The late Ray Wilkins once told him that he had to “live like a monk” to achieve his full potential but that’s clearly not in his nature.

What has been washed away with his brilliance, though, is any on-field criticism.

Last season, Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness said that he was “yet to be convinced” by Grealish as he pulled him up for holding on to the ball for too long and “not seeing the picture quickly enough”.

The graphic below, created with data from Villa’s first 10 games of the season, shows clearly how he has become more purposeful and direct by swapping touches in his own half for more in the opposition box.

It’s safe to assume that, injury-permitting, he’s likely to hit double figures for goals and assists this season.

Grealish listens to constructive criticism and studies his game forensically and despite outperforming players in his position in the Premier League this season, he also still believes he has more to give.

Some regular spectators have run out of words to describe his playing style but, Sherwood, a man always capable of encapsulating the mood with a catchy soundbite, had no trouble adding a little more flesh to the bone.

“He’s like a Mensa footballer. His footballing IQ is ridiculously high,” he says. “It’s the audacity to manipulate the ball, and dribble it, the size of his legs, his direction, the game awareness. He has an appreciation of others around him.

“When we needed something to happen, I was like, ‘Well, let’s just find the best way to get the ball to Jack’. He could play for anyone, Jack Grealish. Anyone.”

As Grealish closes in on 20 years at the club and 200 first-team appearances, it’s pleasing to see him representing the colours that have played such a big part in his life. It hasn’t always been easy but as Jedinak said, time was always on his side.

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Who is Chelsea's Marina Granovskaia?

 

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The Mastermind Behind Chelsea's Transfer Strategy

 

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Chelsea eye Bundesliga wonderkid as an alternative to this PL star

https://astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2020/12/25/chelse-earmark-jude-bellingham-as-an-alternative-declan-rice/

Chelsea will pursue Jude Bellingham if they fail to land Declan Rice

According to the Express, Chelsea will pursue Jude Bellingham if they fail to land West Ham star Declan Rice.

The Blues have been linked with a move for the Hammers star for some time now. While he too is keen to return to the Bridge, a deal in January is unlikely.