Rio Ferdinand raises Erling Haaland to Man City transfer concern set by Pep Guardiola

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland has a £75million release clause that becomes active this season.

Rio Ferdinand has argued that Erling Haaland might think twice about signing for Manchester City next summer after Pep Guardiola 'announced his departure'.

Having started his sixth season at the Etihad Stadium, the Spaniard has drummed up question marks over his City future on the back of an appearance at a XP Investimentos event.

The 50-year-old was quoted as saying 'I must take a break' after his current contract expires in 2023.

Guardiola offered a swift u-turn on that comment during his latest pre-match press conference, but those initial quotes have certainly cast doubt on what the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager plans to do moving forward in his coaching career.

Having allowed Sergio Aguero to leave the club this summer, the Spaniard and figures responsible for transfers at the Etihad Stadium have, meanwhile, been linked with would-be replacements.

However, those pursuits for Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have come up short - but a swoop for Borussia Dortmund sensation Haaland remains on the cards.

As the clock ticks down to the 11pm transfer deadline tonight, the Norway striker will remain in Germany, though a release clause reported to be worth around £75million becomes active next summer.

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Chelsea already have their own Cristiano Ronaldo to boost Premier League title hopes

Cristiano Ronaldo finalised a sensational return to Manchester United from Juventus on deadline day.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel should not be too worried about Manchester United bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford this summer. The mercurial 36-year-old rejoined the Red Devils on a two-year contract on deadline day and looks set to lead the line for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side this season.

Ronaldo established himself as a club legend during his first stint at Old Trafford and will be expected to provide the goals for United once again upon returning.

The 20-time Premier League champions will be buoyed by the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's presence in the dressing room as they go in search of a renewed title challenge over the coming months.

United will be up against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea for this season's domestic crown in another closely-fought battle for glory.

However, the Blues are the only team to have joined the Red Devils in bringing back one of their former players to address some unfinished business.

Romelu Lukaku sealed a remarkable return to Chelsea last month in a club-record deal worth £97.5million, with the Belgian set to serve as the final piece in the jigsaw for the Blues.

Chelsea desperately lacked an out-and-out marksman last season, with Kai Havertz often being forced to adapt to a striking role towards the back end of the campaign.

Timo Werner struggled to hit the ground running after his move from RB Leipzig last summer, while Tammy Abraham was frozen out by Tuchel despite finishing the season as Chelsea's joint-top scorer in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Lukaku emerged as one of the planet's most feared attackers under Antonio Conte's guidance at Inter, finding the net on 30 occasions as the Nerazzurri stormed to the Serie A title at a canter.

The addition of Lukaku has seen the Blues bag themselves a proven world-class goalscorer, and the qualities he will bring to the team will be similar to those provided by Ronaldo at United.

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Saul Niguez’s Chelsea Move Held Up At Atletico Madrid’s End

Saul Niguez’s loan move to Chelsea is being held up due to pending paperwork at Atletico Madrid’s end, according to Sky Sports News.

Chelsea have an agreement in place with Atletico Madrid to sign the 26-year-old midfielder on loan on deadline day.

 

The Blues have agreed to pay a loan fee of €5m and have agreed to a €35m option to buy figure as well as part of the agreement.

But with the transfer window shut, Chelsea are yet to confirm the deal and it has been claimed that it is still being held up due to pending paperwork.

 

Atletico Madrid are yet to sort out all the paperwork for Chelsea to sign the midfielder on loan this summer.

But Chelsea and Atletico Madrid will get another hour to sort out all the loose ends for the deal to go through for Saul to move to England on loan.

 

The Spaniard wants the move and Chelsea and his representatives have been racing against time to get the deal over the line.

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OPINIONJules Kounde decision proves Chelsea have learned from their mistake in the transfer window

Chelsea chose not to push for a £65m deal to sign Jules Kounde on transfer deadline day and the decision not to should be seen as good news.

On this day in 2017, Chelsea in a panic secured the services of Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta. It is a window that will go down in folklore for all the wrong reasons.

It was a window defined by transfer blunders, rushed acquisitions and missed targets that has led to a trail of collateral damage the club are still feeling the effects of in 2021. The window bled into a miserable season in which the Blues finished outside the top four.

But as the transfer deadline approaches four years on, and with any deal for Jules Kounde having collapsed, Chelsea may be learning the lessons of previous transfer errors and that can only be a good thing.

"Transfer periods can be mood breakers," Blues boss Thomas Tuchel said earlier this year.

"Do we have some ideas how to improve the squad? Yes, but will we fight about it? No. We will discuss it and first of all we will finish this season. I embrace the simplicity. I hope I can continue to live like this because it is pure fun."

It's understandable why supporters want to see all transfer deals go through once interest has been reported. We cannot deny the excitement that is generated by a new signing and Chelsea have the licence to spend vast amounts each window. Most of the time they do flex their financial muscles. Though having a licence to spend is also having a licence not to.

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OPINIONJules Kounde decision proves Chelsea have learned from their mistake in the transfer window

Chelsea chose not to push for a £65m deal to sign Jules Kounde on transfer deadline day and the decision not to should be seen as good news.

On this day in 2017, Chelsea in a panic secured the services of Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta. It is a window that will go down in folklore for all the wrong reasons.

It was a window defined by transfer blunders, rushed acquisitions and missed targets that has led to a trail of collateral damage the club are still feeling the effects of in 2021. The window bled into a miserable season in which the Blues finished outside the top four.

But as the transfer deadline approaches four years on, and with any deal for Jules Kounde having collapsed, Chelsea may be learning the lessons of previous transfer errors and that can only be a good thing.

"Transfer periods can be mood breakers," Blues boss Thomas Tuchel said earlier this year.

"Do we have some ideas how to improve the squad? Yes, but will we fight about it? No. We will discuss it and first of all we will finish this season. I embrace the simplicity. I hope I can continue to live like this because it is pure fun."

It's understandable why supporters want to see all transfer deals go through once interest has been reported. We cannot deny the excitement that is generated by a new signing and Chelsea have the licence to spend vast amounts each window. Most of the time they do flex their financial muscles. Though having a licence to spend is also having a licence not to.

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Thomas Tuchel would gain the one thing his Chelsea squad lacks with Saul Niguez transfer

Chelsea are still working on a deal to sign Saul Niguez before this evening's deadline and it appears Atletico Madrid are already planning for life without the Spain midfielder.

“I am very happy because at Atletico we are a family," Saul Niguez said in the summer of 2017. "There is no better place to be."

The words were heartfelt, genuine. However, Saul's actions spoke far louder as, despite interest from heavyweight clubs across Europe, the then 22-year-old opted to sign a new long-term contract with Atletico Madrid.

This wasn't the standard five-year deal, though. It was a far bigger commitment. Saul opted to sign with Atletico until 2026. He would be tied to the La Liga giants for the next nine years of his career.

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"Saul is an example for all the kids in our academy," the club's former sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero told reporters. "An example of giving, teamwork, solitary on the field, and impressive quality

He is an all-around player, with great aerial power, an amazing long-range shot, a tireless worker, a young player with lots of experience... We should feel happy for the agreement we reached because he is such a great player and there are no limits to his growth."

Saul was a mainstay in the Atleti side over the next three years, although not in a set role. The Spain international would fill in where needed: wing-back, left-back, left midfield, right midfield, as a six or an eight, or even further forward on the odd occasion.

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That versatility harmed Saul's game time last term. Diego Simeone settled on a side in which Marcos Llorente, Koke and Thomas Lemar were given prominent midfield roles. The 26-year-old started only 22 games in all competitions for Los Rojiblancos as a result

He is very important for Atletico because he can play as a full-back, right-wing, midfielder. He gives us a lot of options to be able to count on him. He is a player who, in that version and playing how the coach needs him to, performs very well."

Simeone was then offered the opportunity to quash the speculation over Saul's future. The Argentine coach didn't take it.

He said: “If he has to leave, [I'll] give him a big hug, wish him the best with the boys who gave us life and to continue being friends, as always."

So, Chelsea. The Blues are in need of a fourth central midfielder and are hoping to complete a loan move for Saul before the transfer window closes at 11pm this evening.

On the face of it, why would Atletico let Saul go, especially if there is no obligation on the part of Chelsea to make the deal permanent? Well, there are circumstances to consider.

The first is obvious: Saul is not happy and wants to push through a move to Stamford Bridge. There is also the fact he is one of the club's highest earners and that Atleti are hoping to push through a move for Antoine Greizmann.

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Chelsea blasted over Jules Kounde transfer tactics by Sevilla chief Monchi

Jules Kounde has been a long-time target for Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, but with just hours of the window remaining, a deal is looking increasingly unlikely.

Sevilla’s director of football Monchi has offered a withering assessment of Chelsea ’s pursuit of Jules Kounde.

The central defender has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, with the hope that a deal can be agreed before the deadline at 11pm on Tuesday.

Thomas Tuchel is keen to bring in another centre-back and has earmarked Kounde as his top target.

The Chelsea boss is facing a difficult situation in the heart of his defence following Kurt Zouma’s exit and the fact Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen all have just one year remaining on their deals.

There is still a chance that the Blues could advance in their negotiations before the window closes, but Monchi’s latest update doesn’t make it seem likely.

The Sevilla chief explained: "The only written, formal offer from Chelsea came last Wednesday, around 5pm. We weren't satisfied with the offer, and it was linked to Chelsea selling a player.

We responded with a counter-offer that had an expiry date, which was Friday. Since Friday, until now, there has been no contact whatsoever with Chelsea.”

Kounde was left out of Sevilla’s 1-1 draw with Elche and Monchi admitted that was down to the transfer speculation, although the Premier League club have yet to re-establish contact over the weekend.

He continued: "We haven't spoken with Chelsea since Friday night. We all decided that it was best Jules didn't travel to Elche.

"It's normal for players to be affected by news of any kind. Last year he had interest from City and now Chelsea this year.

"Koundé's clause never went up to €90million. It has always been €80million."

Speaking last week, Chelsea boss Tuchel revealed that negotiations were ongoing in regards to further additions, with Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Bettinelli the only senior signings during the window.

"We're hoping. We still have some ideas and we're trying,” Tuchel said on Friday. “Not all decisions are taken regarding also to our squad, some negotiations are going on and we're aware of all the situations.

"Hoping in the sense of needing something to make the coach happy or be competitive, absolutely not.

I am happy with the squad as it is and I have a lot of confidence that we will be competitive at a high level.

"All eyes are open and we're aware of all situations. You never know in football but at the moment, we're focused on the game tomorrow.

“Then there are not many takes to take big decisions. But we're all good so far".

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Real Madrid make late move to scupper Chelsea's chances of Thomas Tuchel's dream £60m deal

The Blues could be set to miss out on Jules Kounde if Real Madrid can lure him to the Spanish capital.

Chelsea could be set to miss out on Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, according to reports from Spain.

The Blues have identified the 22-year-old as their main defensive target before tonight's 11pm deadline, but a move to west London appears to be unlikely because of Sevilla recently increasing their valuation of the France defender to around £60million.

Now, according to Spanish outlet Onda Cero,via the Express, Real Madrid could be about to hand Chelsea a blow by jumping in to make a move for Kounde before the transfer deadline.

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With Los Blancos losing both Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos to Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, this summer, Carlo Ancelotti is understood to be determined to strengthen his backline.

Kounde, who massively impressed for Sevilla last season, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid before, but Chelsea seemed to be the more likely destination for the Frenchman.

However, if Real Madrid did make a move for Kounde before 11pm hits, then the France star could be persuaded to move to the Spanish capital.

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Sevilla director Monchi recently hit out at Chelsea for their attempts to sign the La Liga club's star defender.

“There are possibilities that he could leave between now and 00.00, the same as his teammates have because of his clause,” Orgullo de Nervion report him saying.

“Yes, there has been interest from a club that the player liked, which was Chelsea.

“The first formal offer we received was on Wednesday, with an amount that did not satisfy our requirements and conditional on Chelsea selling a player.

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Man City player ‘no longer’ wants move away from club – Turned down offer to stay within City Group

Earlier on Tuesday, we covered a story from France claiming that Philippe Sandler was heading from Manchester City to ESTAC Troyes.

The idea here would have been to move the Dutch defender on from the Etihad but keep him within the City Football Group, but that hasn’t gone to plan.

That’s because Sandler himself has turned down the move to the Ligue 1 side, according to French journalist Santi Aouna.

Taking to Twitter, he explained the player ‘no longer wants to come to Troyes’, meaning the club ‘are now looking for another avenue’.

That will be a bit of a blow to Manchester City, as the defender, managed by Mino Raiola, is out of contract next season.

This move would have allowed to keep him within reach at all times, and now, barring him renewing, they could face the prospect of losing him altogether.

Sandler spent last season at Manchester City without playing a game, and had previously been on loan to Anderlecht for the 2019-20 season.

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Euro Paper Talk: Impressive Chelsea deadline day swoop nears as Pochettino involved in twist; Big Everton reveal tipped

Chelsea are now closer than first thought to a deal for a key midfield target, while Everton are tipped to make a big late reveal – both in all the latest Euro Paper Talk.

CHELSEA CLOSE TO SAUL TRANSFER

Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez is ‘closer than ever’ to a move to Chelsea after Diego Simeone found a new replacement, according to a report.

Despite not bringing in as many players as the likes of Manchester United, the Blues have recruited where necessary. Indeed, striker Romelu Lukaku’s £97.5million move from Inter has already begun to pay dividends. However, boss Thomas Tuchel also reportedly wants a new midfielder before the deadline.

While he has looked at Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni, Atletico’s Spain international Saul has proved the longer-term target.

Recent reports claimed that Chelsea are eyeing a loan deal, but felt unhappy with Atletico’s demand of a £34million purchase clause next summer.

There is also the matter of who Atletico would bring in – aside from Rodrigo de Paul – if they let Saul go. According to AS, Atletico boss Diego Simeone wants to sign Pablo Sarabia from Paris Saint-Germain.

The report claims that Saul’s fellow Spain international ‘does not enter’ into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans at the Parc des Princes and is keen on a move to Madrid.

What’s more, the deal to take Saul to Chelsea is now ‘closer than ever’, according to the Spanish newspaper.

Saul signed a nine-year contract with Atletico in 2017 but has become frustrated with his role in proceedings. While he still features regularly, Simeone sees him as a utility player in several positions.

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Chris Sutton disagrees with Rio Ferdinand about Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku after Liverpool draw

The Blues striker has enjoyed a fine start to life at Chelsea, but Chris Sutton and Rio Ferdinand disagree on one area of his game that needs improving.

Romelu Lukaku has enjoyed a fine start to life back at Chelsea following his £97.5million transfer from Inter Milan.

The Blues completed a club-record deal to sign the Belgium international earlier this month and he has looked in great form in his opening two matches back in the west London club's shirt.

The 28-year-old striker marked his second Chelsea debut with an early goal away at Arsenal, after showcasing his hold-up ability in the build-up to the close-range finish.

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Lukaku also starred in the Blues' 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday evening, in a game where the visitors were forced onto the back foot for the second-half after Reece James' red card on the stroke of half-time.

In the 90 minutes at Anfield, Lukaku was called upon to hold the ball up while his Chelsea team-mates ran up the pitch to support him.

Now, Chris Sutton has heaped praise on Lukaku's "sensational" hold-up play, when speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

Sutton said: "Lukaku was brought in to get goals at Chelsea, but his hold up play is sensational, and they nearly nicked it at the end [at Anfield] with [Mateo] Kovacic having that chance.

"With Lukaku, they had that ability to get the team up the pitch, which is really important."

Sutton's verdict, however, is completely different to Rio Ferdinand's, who recently suggested that the Belgian needed to work on that specific part of his game.

"But when you play the ball into him in and around the box, my man’s touch is like glue.

"He bullies people, he was like a sixth former playing against first years, that’s what he made the Arsenal centre-backs look like, they didn’t know how to deal with him."

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Barcelona Unsuccessful In Securing Deal For Raheem Sterling

 Barcelona were reportedly scuppered in their efforts to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, owing to their failure to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to a Barcelona podcast Siempre Positivo, Barcelona were interested in signing Raheem Sterling in the summer transfer window, only to be unsuccessful in their chase of the English forward, as Manchester City were unable to sign Cristiano Ronawindo.

Raheem Sterling joined Manchester City from Liverpool in a controversial move in the summer of 2015. Over the last six years, the 26-year-old has made massive strides in his career, coming a long way from the player he was at Anfield. However, while he has become one of the best players on show in the Premier League, his situation at Manchester City has been a tad-bit precarious.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola has rotated Sterling heavily in the past year or so, which paved the way for rumours that he was seeking a summer exit from the Etihad after featuring 295 times while also chipping in with 115 goals and 87 assists. And there has been no shortage of interest in the English forward either, with Barcelona, in particular, courting him in the ongoing transfer window.

The interest from Barcelona makes sense despite the fact that they have bolstered their attack with Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero. With Ousmane Dembele’s injury woes not easing up and Francisco Trincao joining Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, there is an opening for a wide attacking option.

mention, Barcelona have also lost the services of Lionel Messi, although they have targeted strikers since his departure, having been linked with Mario Mandzukic, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, among others lately. Sterling, though, could have been a more versatile and favourable option to sign.

Not to mention However, Barcelona have been scuppered in pursuit of the 26-year-old forward after Manchester City failed to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now headed back to Manchester United. The inability to land the veteran Portuguese forward means Manchester City cannot afford to offload Sterling.

As a result, Barcelona have been forced to call off their pursuit of Sterling, as per Siempre Positivo. What now remains to be seen is if the Blaugrana turn their attention towards some other forward in the final hours of the summer transfer window or if they choose to keep Koeman’s attacking options limited to the current count

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Three Chelsea deadline day alternatives to Jules Kounde who Marina Granovskaia may sign

Chelsea's pursuit of Jules Kounde appears to have come to an end after Sevilla refused to lower the price-tag pinned to the talented defender. With less than 48 hours to play with until the window slams shut, transfer chief Marina Granovskaia must quickly consider alternatives if Thomas Tuchel is to get his wish of another centre-back.

After weeks of interest in Kounde, Sevilla have laid all their cards on the table with an extortionate valuation that Chelsea are not prepared to match

It seems as though Chelsea picked the wrong fight, with the Spanish side similarly shunning Manchester City last summer when they made a respectable £50m bid. 

Thomas Tuchel's need for a new centre-back is not desperate, although Kurt Zouma's departure to West Ham has made another defensive body preferable. 

With little time to work with, Express Sport looks at three alternatives for Marina Granovskaia to consider before the end of the window: 

An approach from Tottenham was accepted by the Yellow Submarine, although the player turned his nose up at the prospect of moving to north London. 

Chelsea, however, are the Champions League holders, so if they could match Spurs' £43 million bid then the deal could progress fairly quickly. 

Standing at 6ft 4ins and having amassed 14 caps for the Spanish national team, the Blues would be getting their hands on a serious talent. 

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Lukaku and Chelsea mean business this season – just ask Virgil van Dijk

It was billed by The Telegraph as the ‘showdown that’ll kickstart the Premier League season into life’. 

Liverpool against Chelsea is an extremely modern rivalry and both teams took 100% starts into their match at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

And most observers were eagerly awaiting the confrontation between the league’s best centre-back and one of the league’s best strikers.

Romelu Lukaku was welcomed back to Stamford Bridge with open arms following his £97.5million move from Inter Milan. Chelsea lacked firepower last season, with Timo Werner becoming the first footballer in history to play a whole season with a pair of toasters on his feet. Lukaku wasn’t just a vanity signing – he was a necessity.

And the Belgium international got off the mark on his second debut for the club with a tidy finish against the league’s current basketcase (Arsenal, to you and me folks). But the prospect of facing Virgil van Dijk was a different kettle of fish altogether.

On the face of it, it was a confrontation that Van Dijk won. By the hour mark, Lukaku had managed just 18 touches – fewer than any other starter – and this included both goalkeepers and Van Dijk himself.

That’s what sensible people would say. The type of people who never have cereal for their evening meal and who own a funky coloured tie to wear on dress-down Fridays.

But the real quiz? That was always going to be their first 50:50 challenge, where the two heavyweights metaphorically donned their armour, climbed on their horse and charged at each other with jousting sticks in hand.

Van Dijk thought he’d sufficiently got himself goalside, but reckoned without Lukaku muscling him out of possession and bundling him to the floor. 1-0 Romelu.

The packed Anfield stands were treated to two matches in one – the first half was a blockbuster of the highest quality, with incident and chances galore.

But, after the sending-off of Reece James, Chelsea dug in to ensure they didn’t leave empty-handed and gave the second-half a certain arthouse quality.

Lukaku may not have scored, but his willingness to stand up to the league’s most prominent centre-back is a healthy indication that he means business.

And it was his and Chelsea’s performance, rather than the easy wins they’d accumulated previously, that shows they’ll surely be title contenders this season.

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Club set to sign ‘strong’ 19-year-old Chelsea talent on permanent deal, medical today

Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow are reportedly set to sign Chelsea talent Tino Anjorin on a permanent basis.

According to The Sun, the Blues are prepared to let another one of their academy graduates depart this summer

It is understood that Anjorin may complete a move to Moscow before the transfer deadline shuts tomorrow.

The report explains that the deal is set to be worth around £25million, however, Chelsea are asking for a £25million buy-back clause. 

In addition, the 19-year-old has been undergoing a medical today in London.

Anjorin, who signed at Chelsea with the Under-9s age group, may be set to depart Cobham after a decade. 

The attacking midfielder has been around the first-team squad, making five senior appearances at Stamford Bridge. Thomas Tuchel described him as “strong”, “confident” and “creative” earlier this month. 

It looks like he’ll be pursuing first-team action elsewhere, though.

Tino Anjorin deal looks brilliant with £25m clause

It’s unclear on how long Chelsea’s buy-back clause on Anjorin lasts for, but if it’s for a few years then this piece of transfer business looks superb from the club.

There is no doubt the Englishman is a rising talent with a lot of potential, which is why it’s understandable if people want him to stay in West London.

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Man Utd transfer chief John Murtough only signed Cristiano Ronaldo ‘because of Man City’

Manchester United raced into action to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford on Friday.

Manchester United director John Murtough was not planning to launch a move for Cristiano Ronaldo before Manchester City's interest in the 36-year-old became clear last week, according to reports. The Red Devils have agreed terms with Juventus to land Ronaldo ahead of Tuesday evening's transfer deadline.

The mercurial forward, who reportedly passed a medical in Portugal earlier this week, is expected to sign a two-year contract with United.

His impending arrival looks set to provide the club with an out-and-out goalscorer to assist the likes of Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood in carrying the attacking burden this season.

Ronaldo could also be deployed in the wide role he occupied during his first spell at Old Trafford, with Daniel James said to be in talks over a permanent move to Leeds United.

Although United's hopes of winning this season's Premier League title have received an instantaneous boost thanks to Ronaldo, the idea of a move was not on Murtough's mind until very recently.

The Red Devils only acted because they could not bear the thought of Ronaldo turning out for City, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Pep Guardiola's side explored the possibility of signing the six-time Ballon D'Or winger before withdrawing their interest on Friday, allowing their cross-city rivals to swoop.

The report claims that United were initially happy with their options in attack, with Cavani tied down to a one-year deal and long-term target Jadon Sancho joining the club from Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer.

However, Murtough and the club's hierarchy raced into action on Friday to prevent City from bringing Ronaldo to the Etihad Stadium.

A number of current and former United players got in touch with the Portugal star to swing the move in their favour, including Bruno Fernandes, Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand.

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Mikel Arteta's transfer promise up in smoke as Willian 'tears up' Arsenal contract

Willian joined Arsenal with Mikel Arteta looking to win the Champions League within three years - now the Brazilian is set to depart for nothing with that shared dream up in smoke

The signing of Willian from Chelsea was considered something of a coup for Arsenal last summer.

The Brazilian was still wanted at Stamford Bridge on a one-year deal and other clubs were keen on his signature.

But with the promise of a three-year contract and big wages, Mikel Arteta was able to fend off rivals to secure the experienced playmaker.

It was not just the financial rewards on offer which helped convince Willian to put pen to paper - it was also the vision being mapped out by Arteta.

Speaking shortly after signing for Arsenal, Willian underlined how the Spaniard was able to tempt him to the Emirates - by claiming they could win the Champions League together in just three years.

“It was that he first wanted to qualify for the Champions League and win it by the time I left. That was what I wanted to hear.

“I was at Chelsea for seven years and won everything except the Champions League

Just over a year later, Arteta’s promise to Willian is up in smoke, with the club failing to qualify for any European competition and the Brazilian heading for an early exit.

According to multiple reports, Willian has agreed to tear up his contract, saving the Gunners millions as he prepares to depart for Corinthians in his homeland on a free transfer.

The signing of Willian will go down in Arsenal’s history for all the wrong reasons as one which promised much but delivered little - much like Arteta in his early stages at the helm.

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Manchester City: Romano drops worrying transfer update

Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano has dropped a worrying update on Manchester City’s transfer plans ahead of the window closing on Tuesday evening.

Despite losing legendary striker Sergio Aguero earlier this year, City are yet to sign a striker to replace the Argentinian and have failed in their pursuits of Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ferran Torres has played up front in each of City’s three Premier League games thus far and whilst he has impressed, scoring twice in the 5-0 win against Arsenal, it would perhaps be unfair to rely on a 21-year-old who has played the majority of his career on the wing to be the main striker for the season.

However, it seems as if City are out of options after their two recent setbacks and with time running out, a new striker seems unlikely, as Romano wrote in a column for BenchWarmers:

“Manchester City could remain with the current squad after having missed out on Cristiano Ronaldo and especially Harry Kane, the real big goal of the club for months and months.”

Will City struggle without new signings?

Whilst it is easy to argue that City don’t need a forward after winning both of their last two games 5-0, they were playing relegation candidates in Norwich City and an Arsenal side now sitting bottom of the table. Therefore, it would perhaps be better to judge where City are at when they face Leicester City and Chelsea away from home next month.

Although they won the title last season despite regularly playing without a natural striker in their side, they were exposed in their final few games of the season, most predominantly by Chelsea, and were easy to defend against when sending crosses into the box for the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.

Therefore, fans may well be worried with this update from Romano. It was already bad enough to miss out on Kane but to then fail to seal a deal for one of the greatest of all time in Ronaldo, only confounded their misery in the market.

If they don’t sign a new striker between now and the deadline then they may struggle to adapt their game against tougher opponents or in situations where they need a goal as they showed in the latter stages of last season. As a result, fans will surely be worried by their prospects when teams around them have strengthened so well.

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Arsenal star tipped to make Barcelona move for €15 million

Alexandre Lacazette has been tipped to move to Barcelona before this transfer window closes for around €15 million.

The Frenchman has been on the cusp of leaving Arsenal for much of this summer.

He has entered the final 10 months of his current deal with the Gunners and they have no intention of giving him a new one.

They will happily cash in on him now instead of allowing him to leave them for free at the end of this season.

Lacazette filled in well for the Gunners when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was absent in some of their matches last season.

A covid-19 infection delayed his start to this campaign and he still looks way off his best in the minutes he has played so far.

Transfermarketweb says Barcelona wants a new striker and they have made him a target.

The Spanish club has lost Lionel Messi and they also cannot call on Sergio Aguero who has been nursing an injury since he joined them.

Lacazette will give them a good attacking option and they could move to secure him before the transfer window closes in the next day or so.

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Romelu Lukaku and N’Golo Kante arrive for International duty

Well, we are into another long old international break with two weeks before Chelsea play again.

It’s a weird international break to be honest, after clubs only recently got back from the Euros, but it is happening and we have to make the best of it and begin our prayers that no Chelsea player gets any injuries.

We will still get to watch some of our boys in action of course, but one player we will hope comes through unscathed is N’Golo Kante, who we are surprised is even there after going off injured against Liverpool on Saturday.

Here he is arriving for international duty from France, as well as Romelu Lukaku for Belgium!

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Chelsea tell agent of intention to make ‘one last attempt’ – Player wants Blues to push after putting pressure on club

Jules Koundé has been heavily linked to Chelsea and Julen Lopetegui left the centre-back out of his squad for Sevilla’s clash against Elche over the weekend.

The Blues reportedly made a €50m offer last Thursday, but it was deemed ‘insufficient for almost everyone’ at Sevilla.

That’s according to Diario de Sevilla, who add the minority within the La Liga side’s board, with ‘strong executive power’, were willing to ‘give the green light’ for the 22-year-old’s sale.

The defender has put pressure on Sevilla to get a move away from the club and he’s ‘now eager for Chelsea to match the pressure’ he put on the Spanish side. However, there has been no signs from the Champions League winners so far.

Within Sevilla, they are convinced the best option for the France international is to stay for one more season, if the Blues don’t return with an improved offer.

Today’s edition of ABC Sevilla has a report on the player, titled: ‘Between Koundé’s nerves and Sevilla’s position’.

They state: ‘The summer soap opera, with Koundé as the main actor, must be resolved in the next few hours, according to what Chelsea has sent to the defender’s representative. At least, that is the intention of the English club, sure to make one last attempt to hire the French player’.

It’s said Kurt Zouma’s €35m sale to West Ham United would give Thomas Tuchel’s side the ‘chance to make one last push’ to sign Koundé.

Chelsea, who were under pressure from the player, considered the €50m fee should be

enough to take him out of Sevilla, but it wasn’t taken into account by Lopetegui’s side.

Koundé’s agent Jonathan Kebe is looking for various formulas to take his client to London, but Sevilla informed him yesterday they will not lower their demands for the Frenchman.

In other words, if Chelsea don’t make an offer high enough to please Sevilla, Koundé will continue where he is.

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Man City plan statues for three more club greats after Sergio Aguero

M.E.N Sport can exclusively reveal that the club are planning to honour Franny Lee, Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell.

Manchester City are set to honour Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Franny Lee with statues outside the Etihad Stadium.

The club unveiled lasting tributes to Vincent Kompany and David Silva at the ground on Saturday, with award-winning sculptor Andy Scott capturing their significance to supporters and contributions to the team's success over the last decade with five-metre-high steel statues by the East Stand. Work is already underway to add Sergio Aguero to that collection, with the project expected to be finished by next summer.

M.E.N Sport can also reveal that club legends Bell, Summerbee and Lee will also be immortalised outside the ground. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, club chairman, is understood to want to recognise the efforts of the trio who are so fondly remembered from the entertaining and successful City teams of the 1960s and 1970s under Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison.

Bell, widely recognised as the best player in City's history, already has a stand named after him at the ground. He passed away in January after a short illness. Summerbee still watches the team home and away as part of his role as a club ambassador, while Lee - who also had a less successful spell as club chairman in the 1990s - now follows the club from his home in Portugal.

It is expected that a new sculptor will take on the project to reflect the different era that the players belong to, with no date in place yet as to when it will be finished.

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Man City must retain a good relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes

Jorge Mendes represents some of Man City's biggest stars so the Cristiano Ronaldo saga must not leave a bitter taste.

After the long pursuit of Harry Kane ended, Manchester City turned their focus to five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

A truly dramatic few hours saw Ronaldo make a fairytale return to Manchester United on Friday, City having been favourites for his signature earlier in the day after being offered the 36-year-old's serviced by agent Jorge Mendes last week.

Whether we like it or not, agents are an integral part of football. Despite the endless examples of clubs and high-profile intermediaries having a tainted relationship after a deal falls through, City must maintain a healthy working relationship with Mendes.

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The Portuguese super-agent does not only represent former City target Ronaldo, but some of his other high-profile clients are key members of Pep Guradiola's squad.

According to Transfermarkt, four of the top five most valuable clients on Mendes' roster play at the Etihad Stadium.

Ruben Dias (market value - £67.5million), Bernardo Silva (£63m), Ederson (£45m) and Joao Cancelo (£49.5m) are all represented by his Gestifute agency.

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This begins to explain the necessity of City upholding a strong and positive relationship with Mendes because, as we all know, agents hold a strong hand when it comes to players' futures.

Bernardo Silva has been linked with a move away from City this summer, a matter that will have been an obvious priority item in Mendes' in-tray. Then there are the other Gestifute players who could conceivably be transfer targets in the months and years ahead.

As Guardiola has said, it is increasingly unlikely City will manage to sign a striker before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

If the vacancy remains this time next year, Andre Silva could be a candidate. The Portugal centre-forward's haul of 29 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt last season paved the way for a switch to RB Leipzig.

Who is Silva's agent? Yes, you guessed it- Jorge Mendes.

With Fernandinho potentially entering his final season at City and the influential Ilkay Gundogan turning 31 in October, Guardiola could be in the market for midfield reinforcements in 2022. Let's face it, he usually is.

Players such Ruben Neves, the highly-rated Wolves anchor man, and Renato Sanches, who has got his career back on track with Ligue 1 champions Lille after a wretched stint at Bayern Munich, could be of interest to City. Their pedigree is beyond question. Both players are also represented by Mendes.

City might emerge from this transfer window without a recognised striker, failing to address their priority position. Recognising the importance of their Mendes relationship and banishing any potential ill-feeling from the Ronaldo saga must be an off-field priority.

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No goals after New Year's Day! Remembering the misery of Man City's 10-goal season at home

Man City have 10 Premier League goals after two home games. In 2006/07 they could only manage that many all season.

Ferran Torres stooped to head home Riyad Mahrez's cross and it was another one for the books - the latest huge Manchester City win.

Saturday's 5-0 victory against Arsenal followed up a victory by the same scoreline over Norwich City seven days earlier.

It meant Pep Guardiola’s men became only the third Premier League team in history to score 10 or more goals in their opening two home games, after Manchester United and a more fit-for-purpose Arsenal managed the feat in 2011-12 and 2010-11 respectively.

That particular figure - 10 league goals at home - will raise a wry smile for City fans of a certain age.

Once upon a time, that was all they could muster over the course of an entire top-flight campaign.

The 2006/07 season was a very different time indeed at Eastlands. Stuart Pearce was forced to wheel and deal in the transfer market having errantly spent the farm on Greece forward Georgios Samaras the January prior.

Andy Cole and Antoine Sibierski left and were replaced by returning club hero Paul Dickov and Italy striker Bernardo Corradi. Along with Samaras and Darius Vassell, they would provide the attacking threat.

"As I striker I will work hard and help the team to make a lot of goals,” said Corradi after he joined from Valencia for an undisclosed fee - remarks that would come to look ludicrously optimistic in hindsight for a player who was sent off in as many City matches as he scored in.

Corradi’s first red card came during an opening day defeat to reigning champions Chelsea, a fate somehow escaped by Ben Thatcher when he hurtled violently into Pedro Mendes during City’s home opener against Portsmouth.

That was the first of six 0-0 draws at home. Retrospectively, left-back Thatcher was handed an eight-game ban and was not seen again until the end of October.

City rebounded initially and a Joey Barton penalty saw them beat Arsenal in their second home match of the season. The parallels between then and the modern-day begin and end right there.

False dawns for Samaras and Corradi

To give Pearce's side their due, things did not instantly look as bleak as they became.

Samaras’ brace sunk a West Ham side featuring Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, while captain Richard Dunne scored the only goal to see off Middlesbrough - results in the home calendar that sandwiched another of the 0-0s against Sheffield United, where a young Joe Hart made a surprise debut.

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Thomas Tuchel Explains Why Chelsea Star Is Yet To Play A Game This Season

Thomas Tuchel has revealed why defender Ben Chilwell is yet to play for Chelsea in the underway 2021-22 season.

Chilwell, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2020, last appeared for The Blues in the final of Champions League 2020-21, which Tuchel's side won by beating Manchester City. Even though Chilwell was drafted into England's squad for the Euros 2020, he failed to make an appearance for the Three Lions, who eventually lost to Italy in the final. 

Tuchel has preferred Marcos Alonso as the left-back ahead of Chilwell so far in the season for Chelsea.

"For Ben Chilwell, it's very easy. He came back with the latest group [after the Euros and holiday]. When he arrived Marcos Alonso had five weeks in his legs from pre-season. He played the first competitive matches after a fantastic pre-season. He was simply way more ready physically which was natural because of the training session and his fantastic games. He played the Super Cup final and three Premier League games. Also, we only have three substitutions allowed and this is a huge problem," Tuchel was quoted by Goal, as saying in a recent interview.

Chelsea produced a great show of defense as they held Liverpool FC at a 1-1 draw at Anfield in their latest Premier League meeting.

Chilly needed his time in training to adapt to the intensity. He is ready now but now wasn't the time to push him into the cold water. It is a bit sad because you have more tactical opportunities if you have five changes. I don't understand the arguments of the little teams that they have a disadvantage in this case. I was also a coach of a little team and I would have loved to have five players available. I would have made them run 16km against the top teams. I think it is a huge disadvantage in general in Europe but why do I complain?" added Tuchel, who was named the UEFA Manager of the Year 2020-21. 

With the international break underway, Chilwell would not be seen playing for England. He was not even picked in Gareth Southgate's squad. The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker are among the full-back options for England ahead of their World Cup qualifiers matches Hungary, Andorra and Poland.

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