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22-year-old Argentine ‘will be bought by Chelsea’, confirms journalist

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By:Saikat

Chelsea are interested in signing the South American defender Mateo Del Blanco at the end of the season.

According to reports, Chelsea are interested in the 22-year-old left-back and have been monitoring his performance for Union de Santa Fe for some time.

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Chelsea eyeing Mateo Del Blanco

Del Blanco can operate as a full back as well as a wing back. He has impressed with his performances at both ends of the pitch, and he could prove to be a quality, long-term investment for the club. Chelsea have shown a willingness to invest in talented young players in recent windows, and it seems that they want to add more quality to the pool of young talent already at the club.

The opportunity to join a Premier League club will be exciting for the young defender. It would be a huge step up in his career, and he would get to test himself in England. Chelsea is among the biggest clubs in the world, and Blanco will find it difficult to turn them down.

The player is reportedly valued at €4 million, and he would be a very affordable acquisition for Chelsea. It will be interesting to see if the Blues follow up on their interest with an official offer to get the deal done.

17 assists this season: Chelsea eye €45m attacking teen sensation as Euro giants circle

Chelsea plan for Del Blanco revealed

According to journalist Renzo Pantich, Chelsea are hoping to sign the player and send him on loan to Strasbourg so that he can continue his development with regular football. If he manages to impress in France, he will be given the opportunity to succeed in future. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. The journalist claims the player ‘will be bought by Chelsea‘ in the summer.

Chelsea have the financial muscle to get the deal across the line, and Union are unlikely to be able to stop him from leaving if the Blues are serious about getting the deal done.

“He made it really clear”: Rosenior’s big admission on Chelsea star’s future after private talks

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17 assists this season: Chelsea eye €45m attacking teen sensation as Euro giants circle

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By:Saikat

Chelsea are looking to improve the attacking unit with the signing of Konstantinos Karetsas at the end of the season.

The 18-year-old attacker has caught the attention of clubs like Real Madrid and PSG with his performances for KRC Genk. Karetsas has also been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal.

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Konstantinos Karetsas has done well

The player has three goals and 17 assists to his name this season, and the Greek international could prove to be an excellent long-term investment for Chelsea. He can operate as an attacking midfielder as well as on the flanks.

Chelsea could use more creativity in the final third, and Karetsas could add a new dimension to their attacking unit. He will add pace, flair and unpredictability to the team as well. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea comes forward with an offer to secure his signature. Clubs like Real Madrid and PSG are also monitoring his development, and they have the financial means to sign him.

Karetsas asking price revealed

According to a report from HLN, the player will cost around €45 million in the summer. Chelsea have the financial muscle to afford him, and it remains to be seen whether they are prepared to pay the asking price for the talented attacker. The demand might seem steep for an unproven talent like him, but Karetsas could justify the investment in the future.

He would be a long-term asset for Chelsea, and they might be able to groom him and help him fulfil his potential in future.

The opportunity to move to the Premier League will be exciting for the youngster. It would be a huge step in his career, and regular football in England could bring out the best in him. However, he must seek gametime assurance before moving to the Premier League. Sitting on the bench at a big club could be detrimental to his development.

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“He made it really clear”: Rosenior’s big admission on Chelsea star’s future after private talks

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By:Saikat

Enzo Fernandez has been linked with a move away from Chelsea, and clubs like Real Madrid are keen on him.

However, the 25-year-old is a key player for the Blues, and they do not want to lose him. Manager Liam Rosenior has held a private meeting with the player regarding the player’s comments and the team’s form in recent weeks. He has revealed that the player is committed to Chelsea, and his recent comments regarding his future were taken out of context.

Fernandez recently claimed that he will assess his future after the World Cup, which fuelled speculations that he could leave Chelsea.

Rosenior told reporters (h/t GOAL): “Yeah, I think I had a great conversation with Enzo at length this morning before training, not just about his comments, just how he was feeling, how as a team we can improve. He’s one of the captains of the club. What I would say is that he made it really, really clear to me how happy he is here at this club, how much he wants to win, how passionate he is for us to be successful. And he also said that in translation and in emotion, things get misconstrued in what he said. So for me, he’s fully committed to this group, he’s fully committed to winning here at this football club.”

It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can keep him at the club beyond this season. He is one of the best players at the club, and he is one of the leaders of the dressing room. Losing him would be a blow for them, and they cannot afford to let players like him leave the club if they want to fight for major trophies. They will look to bridge the gap with elite clubs next season, and they need to hold onto their best players.

The post “He made it really clear”: Rosenior’s big admission on Chelsea star’s future after private talks appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Newcastle United showing strong interest in double Chelsea transfer raid

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By:Mark Brus

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in both Chelsea strikers Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson, according to TEAMtalk.

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The Magpies could do with strengthening up front after a disappointing season in which they have failed to replicate the success of their previous campaign.

Newcastle won the Carabao Cup final and qualified for the Champions League last term, but have suffered since selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

So far, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa haven’t performed well at Newcastle, so bringing in someone like Jackson or Delap could be a good move.

Still, some NUFC supporters might also be slightly underwhelmed, as both players have largely flopped at Chelsea.

Could Liam Delap revive his career at Newcastle?

Delap is still only in his first season at Chelsea, but he’s clearly found it a big step up from his time at former club Ipswich Town.

The 23-year-old scored 12 goals in 37 games for Ipswich last season, standing out as a top performer even if the club ended up getting relegated.

This season, Delap has managed just one league goal in 21 appearances for the Blues, and it could lead to speedy exit.

Newcastle might bank on Delap getting back to his best, but it would certainly be a gamble, and even if he has some potential, he’s currently a long way from being someone who could replace a world class forward like Isak…

Liam Delap TOTAL SCORE: 8/25
Transfer fee **
Performance –
Achievements –
Career phase ***
Squad need ***

As you can see, Delap gets a low score with our Transfer Fit rating system (find out more about how it works here), suggesting that whatever his price would be, it would likely be well above what he’s truly worth.

Newcastle clearly need a striker and Delap is young enough that he could still turn his career around, but there’s not really enough there to suggest he’s at the level Eddie Howe’s side really need.

Could Nicolas Jackson do a job for Newcastle?

Jackson, meanwhile, has a slightly better scoring record at the highest level, even if he wasn’t quite up to Chelsea standards.

The Senegal international has also been pretty underwhelming on loan at Bayern Munich, but in fairness to him he’s struggled for playing time due to being behind Harry Kane in the pecking order.

Here’s how we scored him for Newcastle – slightly above Delap. Do you agree with our verdict? Let us know in the comments!

Nicolas Jackson TOTAL SCORE: 12/25
Transfer fee **
Performance **
Achievements **
Career phase ***
Squad need ***

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“He has to deliver” – Fabrizio Romano discusses risk of Chelsea sacking Liam Rosenior

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By:Mark Brus

Fabrizio Romano has reported on Liam Rosenior’s job safety at Chelsea, with the Blues not looking likely to sack the manager any time soon.

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Chelsea are known for changing managers pretty frequently, having already gone through Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Enzo Maresca as permanent appointments under this ownership.

Rosenior hasn’t had the most convincing start since replacing Maresca back in January, and Romano admits the 41-year-old has to deliver at Stamford Bridge, just like any manager.

But it seems he’s not in immediate danger, with Romano acknowledging that it’s harder to take a big job like Chelsea without the benefits of a full pre-season to prepare.

Fabrizio Romano on Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea future

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano responded to uncertainty around Rosenior after Chelsea’s humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

He said: “Obviously it was disappointing to see Chelsea going out of the Champions League like that. Paris Saint-Germain scored eight goals on aggregate against Chelsea in the Champions League. (It) was especially the Stanford Bridge one poor performance and so obviously many people (are) asking and trying to understand the situation around Liam Rosenior

“But at the moment despite all the questions I’m getting the answer I have is that Chelsea keep believing in their manager. Obviously we all know this is a results-based industry. So let’s see how it’s going to continue in the next months, but at the moment Chelsea show total commitment to the project they started with Rosenior.

“He arrived in January and it’s not the same when you arrive during the summer preseason start to do the market with the ideas of the coach as well.”

He added: “So the idea is to support Rosenior, is to trust Rosenior. Then again, he has to deliver as every single coach in the world. That’s the point.”

Is Liam Rosenior the right manager for Chelsea?

Rosenior impressed at Strasbourg, so his appointment made a lot of sense for CFC due to the two clubs both being part of BlueCo.

At the same time, however, coming from Ligue 1 to one of the top Premier League clubs is a very different level of challenge.

Liam Rosenior Wins Draws Losses Win %
Strasbourg 31 15 17 49.2%
Chelsea 10 2 6 55.6%

Rosenior has shown promise, but this big job perhaps came a bit soon for him as he remains relatively inexperienced.

Chelsea will no doubt hope he can continue to develop and learn, just as many of the young players in this squad are doing.

But we’ll have to see how patient the club’s fans are with that kind of approach if it doesn’t deliver success soon.

The post “He has to deliver” – Fabrizio Romano discusses risk of Chelsea sacking Liam Rosenior appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Bid prepared: Chelsea set to make first formal offer for €50m “raw talent”

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea are reportedly preparing their first formal transfer offer for FC Koln winger Said El Mala, potentially worth around €50m.

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The Blues are ready to pay big for El Mala and show their faith in the exciting young talent, who has also been eyed up by other top clubs in recent times.

Still, it seems Chelsea are keen to move to the front of the queue for El Mala’s signature by trying their luck with a €50m bid, according to Fichajes.

With nine goals and three assists this season, the 19-year-old has made a big impact and looks ready to make the step up to the next level.

Chelsea could do with Said El Mala transfer to give them something different in attack

It’s not been the best season at Stamford Bridge, so there could be room for further changes to Chelsea’s attacking options.

Jamie Gittens is one summer signing who’s been particularly disappointing, but many CFC fans will also have expected more from the likes of Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho.

Even Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian has gone off the boil after starting brightly, so there’s surely room for El Mala to come in and become a key player for Liam Rosenior’s side.

Said El Mala to Chelsea Transfer Fit rating

See below as we put El Mala through our Transfer Fit rating (read how it works here) and got the following score…

Said El Mala TOTAL SCORE: 19/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ****
Achievements ***
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

19/25 is a high score, with El Mala really ticking the boxes in terms of a pretty low transfer fee, good recent form, an age bracket that suggests his best is yet to come, and the fact that he improves a weak area of Chelsea’s squad.

It will be interesting to see if the west London giants can indeed get this deal done, but one imagines there’ll be plenty of interest in the Germany Under-21 international this summer, so probably a few more twists and turns in this saga yet.

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England squad: Surprise Premier League duo called up by Tuchel ahead of World Cup

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By:Mark Brus

Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad has been confirmed this morning, with James Garner and Dominic Calvert-Lewin named as two surprise inclusions.

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According to the Athletic, the Everton midfielder and Leeds United striker have been selected to be given a chance in the latest international break as we get closer and closer to the 2026 World Cup.

The report also noted that big names from Manchester United were set be involved, such as Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo.

Information about the official squad was leaked earlier this morning, prior to being officially confirmed at 10am.

England squad in full

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

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Update: West Ham learn Axel Disasi price tag for summer

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By:Mark Brus

West Ham United have reportedly learned that it will cost them as much as £38m to sign Axel Disasi permanently this summer.

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The French central defender has shone for the Hammers since joining on loan from Chelsea, but it seems the Blues are still keen to make big money from his sale.

Disasi joined Chelsea from Monaco for around £38m a few years ago, and it’s a bit surprising to see that the west London giants still value him in that price range.

This is despite Disasi mostly being pretty underwhelming during his time at Stamford Bridge, though he has improved since his loan move to the London Stadium.

What next for Axel Disasi?

Disasi has previously also had a loan spell at Aston Villa, while there was some interest from clubs like Napoli and Roma prior to his move to West Ham.

It’s now reported that Chelsea and West Ham will have talks over the 28-year-old, but it remains to be seen when that will happen.

WHUFC will undoubtedly try to get Disasi’s price tag down, but one imagines it will still be a while before they can formalise their summer transfer plans anyway.

West Ham are currently battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, so staying up will surely be crucial for them in pursuit of their top targets.

Disasi has previously expressed his happiness at West Ham but it’s hard to imagine he’d be happy to stay there if they were playing in the Championship.

Chelsea will also likely feel that plenty of other clubs could be able to offer decent money for Disasi even if a move to West Ham doesn’t work out.

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Chelsea and Man Utd set for intense duel over €100m Premier League hotshot

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By:Saikat

Chelsea are interested in signing the Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old has been excellent for the Premier League club, and he deserves to compete at the highest level. The England international is also a target for clubs like Manchester City and Real Madrid. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can win the race for his signature.

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Chelsea want Elliot Anderson

They want to sign him as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez. The South American has been linked with a move away from Chelsea, and they will need to replace him properly. However, Fernandez is a creative central midfielder, whereas Anderson is a defensive midfielder. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea decides to bring in a creative midfielder as well. They will need to replace the goal and creativity from Fernandez if he decides to move on.

The player could cost around €100 million in the summer, and Manchester United are closely monitoring his situation, as per reports from Spain.

Can Chelsea win the Anderson race?

However, Chelsea are confident they can offer him a leading role, and it remains to be seen whether they can convince the player to join the club. On the other hand, losing Fernandez would be a blow for them. The Argentina international is a top-quality player and one of the first names on the team sheet at Chelsea.

Real Madrid are hoping to secure his signature, and it remains to be seen whether they can get the deal done. Convincing the player to move might not be too difficult for the Spanish club. Fernandez has proven himself in England, and he could be open to trying out a new challenge now.

Anderson has also been linked with the two Manchester clubs.

The post Chelsea and Man Utd set for intense duel over €100m Premier League hotshot appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Tottenham well placed to land 23-year-old German after Chelsea setback

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By:Saikat

Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old player has previously admitted he is a “huge Premier League fan” and would love to play in England. According to reports from Fussball Daten, the player could cost around €25 million in the summer.

Atubolu has also been linked with Manchester United.

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Tottenham keen on Noah Atubolu

The report claims that clubs like Tottenham Hotspur are interested in securing his signature. It will be interesting to see if the north London club decides to make a move for him. Chelsea were keen on the players as well, but they have been handed a transfer ban.

It is no secret that Tottenham need a quality goalkeeper in the summer. Guglielmo Vicario has been criticised for his inconsistencies, and Tottenham needs an upgrade. The Bundesliga goalkeeper could prove to be an excellent addition for them. The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be exciting for Atubolu, and he will look to make his mark in English football.

Spurs have an advantage in the Atubolu race

Tottenham are fighting for survival in the Premier League, and they need to improve the team in the summer. They need to plug the squad’s weaknesses, and a quality goalkeeper could make a big difference. It remains to be seen whether they can win the race for his signature.

Chelsea’s transfer ban will certainly be a huge boost for the north London outfit. They will fancy their chances of winning the race for Atubolu.

The player has previously admitted that he used to watch Chelsea often as a kid, and it is fair to assume that the Blues could have been the favourites to sign him if not for their current transfer predicament. Meanwhile, West Ham United are monitoring his situation as well. It will be interesting to see if they come forward with an offer to sign the player.

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Chelsea preparing £400k-a-week offer to scupper Real Madrid transfer plan

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By:Saikat

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is a target for clubs like Real Madrid and PSG.

The 25-year-old has been exceptional in the Premier League, and it is no surprise that the big clubs are keen on him. He would be open to joining Real Madrid in the summer, and a move to PSG would be attractive for him as well.

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Chelsea plot new deal for Enzo Fernandez

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have no plans to let the player leave in the summer and are prepared to offer him a bumper contract to convince him to stay. They would be willing to push past £400,000 per week, including bonuses, in order to keep the World Cup winner. It will be interesting to see if they can convince Fernandez to stay at the club.

There is no doubt that he’s one of the best players in his position in the world right now. He is still quite young, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. He has all the attributes to develop into a world-class midfielder.

Fernandez is an elite player

Chelsea cannot afford to lose a player of his quality if they are serious about fighting for trophies. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Real Madrid need a midfield controller who will add creativity and composure to the team. The Chelsea star would be ideal for them.

Similarly, PG are monitoring his situation as well. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and they recently won the UEFA Champions League and the League title. It remains to be seen whether the Chelsea star is prepared to take on a new challenge in the summer. The Blues are going through a period of transition, and they are not quite at the level required to fight for major trophies.

The post Chelsea preparing £400k-a-week offer to scupper Real Madrid transfer plan appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Sources: Chelsea “prepared” for Enzo Fernandez exit, three transfer targets to replace him revealed

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea have already begun work on replacing unsettled midfield star Enzo Fernandez ahead of this summer.

Sources in the industry have told me this afternoon that Chelsea chiefs are carrying out extensive work on three main targets for that position, and others could soon come into the equation too.

This story was first published on the Daily Briefing – click here to subscribe to read exclusive transfer news ad-free!

As reported earlier this season, one name Chelsea really like is Elliot Anderson, though there’s an awareness that Manchester City and Manchester United may already be further ahead in the running at the moment.

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As I also mentioned in that report, there are some sources close to Chelsea who’ve felt for some time that a Fernandez exit shouldn’t be ruled out, and it seems the Argentine’s future is now more uncertain than ever.

Enzo Fernandez to leave Chelsea?

Fernandez himself has fuelled speculation over his future with his comments after the defeat to PSG, and we’ve since heard talk that his chances of leaving Stamford Bridge could be as high as 99%.

Speaking to a few more well-placed sources, who’ve asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, it seems there have been doubts about Fernandez for some time.

Looking at the 25-year-old’s contributions on the pitch, it’s fair to say that, despite some moments of quality, he’s not quite been consistent enough to justify the big fee CFC paid for him.

“Chelsea ideally don’t want to sell, but they’re also realistic about Enzo’s situation ahead of this summer,” one source told me. “It’s been a topic of discussion for some time, so they’ll be prepared.”

Chelsea to invest in young midfield talent

As is the way under this Chelsea ownership, the club will once again look at elite young talents in midfield if it comes to having to replace Fernandez.

Anderson is high up on Chelsea’s list, as confirmed by multiple sources, but keep an eye as well on AZ Alkmaar sensation Kees Smit, and Wolves teenager Mateus Mane.

As already mentioned, Anderson has been heavily pursued by the two Manchester clubs and would cost £100m or more, so that’s far from a straightforward deal for Chelsea.

Still, I’m told that plenty of people inside the club are actually optimistic that the squad would be in “much better shape” if they were able to bring in Anderson as a potential upgrade on Fernandez.

Smit and Mane are a bit less experienced and more raw, but are still well-liked by Chelsea’s recruitment team, with the Blues possibly open to signing one of them along with a slightly more proven name (but still ideally in the under-24 age bracket).

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Chelsea hero ready to force exit as Man City begin strategic move for £130m transfer

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By:Saikat

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.

The 25-year-old has been outstanding for Chelsea since joining the club, and he is on the radar of clubs like Real Madrid, PSG and Manchester City. According to reports from Spain, the player is feeling restless at the London club, and he’s prepared to force an exit in the summer.

Manchester City have already begun strategic moves to sign the South American, and it will be interesting to see if they are prepared to pay a premium. Pep Guardiola rates the player highly, and he believes that Fernandez would be a quality addition in the middle of the park.

Manchester City need more creativity in the middle of the park, and the 2022 World Cup winner could make a big difference. He will add control, creativity, drive and goals to the team. He is still a young player with a lot of potential, and he could improve further.

Chelsea values the player at around €150 million, and it remains to be seen whether Manchester City is prepared to break the Bank for him.

Fernandez is well settled in the Premier League, and he could make an immediate impact at Manchester City if he joins the club. The opportunity to join Real Madrid could be quite exciting as well. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and South American players tend to prefer a move to La Liga. He has already shown his quality in England, and he might now prefer a new challenge. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

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€150m phenomenon could be on the move, Chelsea and Man United lead transfer race

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By:Saikat

Jude Bellingham has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid at the end of the season, and he could be on his way to the Premier League.

According to reports from Spain, the player is very highly rated across Europe and clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in securing his signature. The England international has not been at his best in recent months, and it will be interesting to see if Real Madrid is willing to sanction his departure. Chelsea and Manchester United are leading the race for his signature, and the player could cost around €150 million.

Both clubs need more quality in the middle of the park, and there is no doubt that Bellingham would be an excellent addition. He will add control, creativity and goals to the team. The opportunity to move to England could be exciting for him as well. He has been linked with a move to the Premier League consistently over the last few years.

Meanwhile, the asking price is quite significant, and the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United will need to improve other areas of their squad as well. It will be interesting to see if they are willing to break the Bank for him.

It would be a Premier League record transfer, but the player has the potential to transform either team. He is a world-class player and still quite young. He will only improve with coaching and experience. Bellingham is designed to be a superstar, and he could make a big difference for both teams.

Having said that, Real Madrid needs more quality in the middle of the park, and it would be quite surprising if they allowed one of the best young midfielders in the world to leave the club. Bellingham has 44 goals and 32 assists in 128 appearances for Real Madrid.

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Many Chelsea players “fed up” and consulting agents over transfer options

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By:Mark Brus

A lot of Chelsea players are reportedly “fed up” and some have even spoken to their agents about potentially leaving Stamford Bridge, according to Simon Phillips.

Although no specific names are mentioned in the report, it makes sense that a decent chunk of Chelsea’s players are not entirely happy with how things are going right now.

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The Blues were thrashed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League over two legs, losing 8-2 on aggregate to exit the competition at the last-16 stage.

Liam Rosenior recently replaced Enzo Maresca as manager and has had a mixed start, but generally looks a little out of his depth in such a big job this early in his coaching career.

Chelsea players unsettled

Phillips cites sources in his piece saying “a lot of the players are confused, fed up, ready to clock out and not get injured for the World Cup, with some asking agents to get moves already”.

This seems far from ideal for Chelsea as they really need to turn things around between now and the end of the season, as there’s still plenty to play for.

Rosenior’s side can still qualify for next season’s Champions League if they finish strongly in the Premier League, while they have a relatively easy-looking path to the FA Cup semi-finals as they take on Port Vale in the next round in April.

Who could be leaving Chelsea?

Ultimately, CFC won’t just allow key players on long-term contracts to leave, but there’ll perhaps be one or two who’ll be looking for a way out.

One big name that does seem to be facing uncertainty is Enzo Fernandez, with another Simon Phillips report stating there could be a really high chance of him leaving Chelsea this summer.

Big names like Manchester City and Real Madrid were mentioned as potential suitors, but one imagines the west London giants would demand huge money for the Argentina international.

The post Many Chelsea players “fed up” and consulting agents over transfer options appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Sources: Arsenal among clubs who “love” this “near-flawless” wonderkid

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal are among the clubs interested in an ambitious potential transfer for Barcelona wonderkid central defender Pau Cubarsi.

As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, it’s important to start by saying that Barcelona are obviously very keen to keep their star centre-back, who at 19 years of age is already one of the best in Europe in his position.

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Cubarsi is protected by a €500m release clause in his Barca contract, which runs until 2029, so this would not be an easy deal for suitors to do this summer, even if eyes are very much on his situation as no new deal in the next year or two could change things dramatically.

Arsenal, City, Chelsea & Bayern eyeing Pau Cubarsi

I’m told that the four main clubs eyeing Cubarsi are Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich.

“While it’s not necessarily a realistic one for the moment, there’s a lot of love for Cubarsi at Arsenal, City, Chelsea, and Bayern,” one source with close ties to the agents industry told me.

“I can’t name names, but a recruitment official from one of those clubs praised Cubarsi for his ‘near-flawless decision-making’ and ‘intelligence beyond his years’.”

It’s understood that there has not yet been any formal or informal contact between clubs and Cubarsi or his representatives, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they could soon try to establish a connection there.

If there’s any indication at all that Cubarsi stalls over a new contract, then that could be the moment for clubs to get involved and make him aware of their interest.

Barcelona’s plan for Pau Cubarsi

Still, sources close to Barcelona insist that there is no concern over Cubarsi’s situation, and plans to improve his contract soon.

It is also understood that the Catalan giants will likely end up offering him the captain’s armband in the coming years to highlight even more just how important he is to the team.

This is Cubarsi’s third season as a first-team regular at the Nou Camp, while he also has ten caps for the senior Spanish national team.

In short, everything is very much in place for Cubarsi with his current club, and there’s no current sign of him exploring other options, but as ever with these things, the situation could always change at any moment and there’ll be big clubs ready to pounce if they do.

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Talks planned: Chelsea & London rivals set to discuss transfer deal

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea and West Ham United are reportedly planning to hold talks over a permanent transfer deal for Axel Disasi to move to the London Stadium.

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The French centre-back is currently performing well on loan with the Hammers, and it seems unlikely that there’ll be a first-team role for him back at Stamford Bridge any time soon.

According to Football Insider, this now means Chelsea and West Ham are set for discussions over making Disasi’s move permanent, though it’s not necessarily going to be straightforward.

The report suggests that one issue could be Chelsea’s asking price, as they’ll want to make back as much as possible of the £38m they spent signing Disasi from Monaco.

West Ham would surely struggle to afford that, and it doesn’t really look like good value for money anyway, even if the 28-year-old has done well during his time with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

West Ham need survival to secure Axel Disasi transfer

Unsurprisingly, it also seems that West Ham surviving in the Premier League will be key to them keeping hold of Disasi, according to Football Insider.

Disasi likely won’t be keen on playing in the Championship, and he’d surely have other offers to consider if WHUFC were to end up getting relegated.

Disasi previously also had a loan spell with Aston Villa, and there’d surely be a lot of clubs out there who’d be interested in him.

West Ham have shown some improvement in form recently, so might still be able to turn their season around and escape the bottom three.

If they do so, they’ll need a really positive transfer window, and keeping hold of Disasi makes sense as one of their priorities.

The post Talks planned: Chelsea & London rivals set to discuss transfer deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle eye €70m move for explosive 15-G/A striker

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By:Saikat

Newcastle United, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all keeping tabs on Christian Kofane ahead of a potential transfer this summer.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane is attracting a lot of interest from across Europe following his sensational rise. While he has a long-term contract at the German club, they might still struggle to keep hold of him.

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Premier League trio are after Christian Kofane

According to a report from SportsBoom, Newcastle United, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all keen on acquiring the services of the 18-year-old Cameroonian striker. Other top clubs from across Europe are after his signature, which could lead to a bidding war.

Kofane joined the Bundesliga giants from Albacete for just €5 million. The fee certainly seems like a massive bargain, as his value has skyrocketed since moving to Germany. The teenager has been involved in 38 games in all competitions and has contributed towards 15 goals (7 goals, 8 assists).

While he has had limited game time, Kofane has made quite an impact, and now every top club is after him. Scouts from the biggest clubs in Europe consider him an elite-level attacking prospect.

There could be a bidding war for Kofane

Newcastle seem to have already set aside a budget for him, as they look to sign a striker with a strong physical presence. They believe he will seamlessly adapt to the demands of the Premier League.

Arsenal are also monitoring him, considering him an ideal fit for Mikel Arteta’s team. Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to establish direct contact with the German club, as they look to make him a part of their project.

While all three English clubs are keen on his signature, other clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona could make things difficult for them. With his contract running until 2029, Bayer Leverkusen want a minimum of €60–€70 million for the teenager. They are hoping for a bidding war, as it would further increase the price.

The post Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle eye €70m move for explosive 15-G/A striker appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Chelsea make decision on Liam Rosenior transfer demand after UCL exit

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By:Saikat

Liam Rosenior has requested that Chelsea sign more experienced players following their Champions League exit.

Chelsea’s quest for the Champions League title ended on Tuesday night as defending champions PSG knocked them out in the round of 16. Luis Enrique’s team didn’t just defeat the Blues; they hammered the London club both home and away.

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Chelsea turn down Liam Rosenior request

Following their dreadful performance against the French giants, manager Liam Rosenior requested that the club bring in more experienced players. But according to a report from SportsBoom, Chelsea’s hierarchy are set to ignore the 41-year-old’s plea.

While the manager wants more experienced heads, the club will continue to stick with their policy of betting on young stars with massive potential. They prefer experimenting with potential rather than bringing in proven players.

Rosenior won’t get his way at Chelsea

Rosenior certainly accepts the club’s transfer policy under the BlueCo, which is why he agreed to become their manager mid-season following the sacking of Ezno Maresca. He was already aware of what he was getting into.

However, following the humiliation at the hands of PSG, the 41-year-old feels the need to have a few more experienced campaigners in his squad. The Ligue 1 outfit completely exposed them. It was quite clear that a lack of experience on big European nights had played a part in their downfall.

As a result, Rosenior is pushing the club to sign proven players. He feels their inconsistency could be rectified by signing experienced heads, but the club doesn’t share his view. They will not accept his request and will stand by their guns.

The post Chelsea make decision on Liam Rosenior transfer demand after UCL exit appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“Deal nearly done” – Chelsea closing in on midfielder signing amid Enzo Fernandez exit talk

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a transfer deal for Strasbourg defensive midfielder Valentin Barco already.

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There’s still a few months before the summer transfer window, but the Blues seem to be advancing on the signing of Barco from fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

Posting on X today, the reporter stated that this deal was nearly done due to smooth negotiations between the two clubs, who obviously have a good relationship due to both being part of the BlueCo group led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali…

? #ChelseaFC ??
Chelsea are closing in on Valentin Barco, who has shone at Strasbourg.

? Shared ownership ? makes the move smoother.

? Talks ? at advanced stage, deal nearly done. pic.twitter.com/2PkTl4R1Y4

— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) March 18, 2026

It seems Chelsea fans can start to get excited about this one as a deal could be done quickly, and this story comes just a few days after Fichajes also linked the 21-year-old with the west London giants.

Valentin Barco to Chelsea to replace Enzo Fernandez?

A lot could change between now and the summer, but perhaps Barco is being targeted to replace Enzo Fernandez amid question-marks over his future at Stamford Bridge.

According to Simon Phillips, five clubs are eyeing up Fernandez and one source even suggests there’s a 99% chance that the Argentina international will leave CFC this summer.

When analysing the Barco to Chelsea transfer recently, we scored it as just 13/25 with our Transfer Fit rating system, but we can now bump that score up a bit…

Valentin Barco TOTAL SCORE: 17/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ****
Achievements **
Career phase ****
Squad need ****

We would now rate this at 17/25, adding points because Fernandez’s departure would increase Chelsea’s ‘squad need’ for the player, while smooth negotiations also suggest they’ll be getting this promising young talent for a favourable price.

Find out more about how we calculate our Transfer Fit ratings here!

Chelsea have previously used their relationship with Strasbourg to hire Liam Rosenior as manager, while Emanuel Emegha will join the Blues from the Ligue 1 club next season.

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Source gives Chelsea star 99% chance of leaving this summer: Five transfer suitors named

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea central midfielder Enzo Fernandez is reportedly attracting interest from as many as five clubs ahead of this summer.

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And according to Simon Phillips via Substack, there are sources who expect there’s a 99% chance of Fernandez leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of this season.

The five clubs mentioned in the report are Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Al Hilal, and Al Nassr.

It seems Fernandez could ask to leave Chelsea despite being under contract on a long-term deal, with the Argentina international seemingly unsettled and open to a new challenge.

Is the time right for Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez to part ways?

Fernandez hasn’t quite lived up to expectations at Chelsea, and perhaps it would also be fair to say that the club won’t have lived up to the kind of project he thought he was joining.

The 25-year-old arrived from Benfica in a big-money move in January 2023, looking like one of the most exciting talents in world football.

It also seemed at that time like Chelsea’s new owners were building something really ambitious as they focused on elite young players for a long-term project.

By now, however, the likes of Fernandez were probably expecting CFC to be closer to really competing for the biggest trophies.

The nature of Chelsea’s Champions League exit will surely be a big concern, though, with PSG really thrashing them over both legs.

Perhaps Fernandez would now do well to consider another project, while Chelsea might also justifiably feel that they could do something a bit different in midfield.

For all of Fernandez’s qualities, he hasn’t really been consistent enough and perhaps a big offer could be tempting so the Blues can add to their budget and invest in a few positions this summer.

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