Tag: Chelsea

  • Chelsea signs Ben Chilwell for £50m

    Chelsea have signed England left-back Ben Chilwell from Leicester for a fee in the region of £50m on a five-year deal.

    Chelsea beat Leicester to a Champions League place on the final day of the 2019/20 Premier League season – pushing the Foxes into the Europa League – and have now convinced them to part with one of their prized assets.

    “I am delighted to be joining Chelsea at this very exciting time for the club. I’m looking forward to being a part of this young, dynamic squad led by Frank Lampard as we challenge for honours next season,” Chilwell told the club’s website.

    “I can’t wait to get started and hopefully it won’t be long before we’re playing in front of the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge.”

    Chilwell joins new Stamford Bridge arrivals Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, who have already signed from Ajax and RB Leipzig, respectively.

    Chelsea are also in talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz and former Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva, who is set to undergo a medical on Thursday, as they look to build on a fourth-placed Premier League finish and an appearance in the FA Cup final in Lampard’s first season in charge.

    The Blues will also have to allow players to leave this summer, with left-back Emerson Palmieri vulnerable due to Chilwell’s imminent arrival. Inter Milan are reportedly interested in the Brazil-born Italy international.

  • Manchester United win 2-0 at Chelsea to close up on EPL top four

    Manchester United win 2-0 at Chelsea to close up on EPL top four

    Headed goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire earned Manchester United a 2-0 win at Chelsea on Monday.

    The win put them back in the hunt for a top four 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) finish.

    In a high tempo, if often scrappy game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United side made the most of their chances.

    But Chelsea, whose form at home has been suspect all season, squandered a string of opportunities.

    A fine glancing header from Anthony Martial just before half-time from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross put the visitors ahead.

    It was Manchester United’s first Premier League goal in four games.

    Defender Harry Maguire made it two in the 66th minute, losing marker Antonio Rudiger to head home from a corner kick by Manchester United’s new Portuguese signing Bruno Fernandes.

    Chelsea had two goals ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

    Kurt Zouma scored from a corner kick in the 54th minute but there was a push in the area.

    Substitute striker Olivier Giroud’s headed effort in the 77th minute was cancelled when he was adjudged marginally offside.

    The loss left Chelsea fourth, a point clear of resurgent rivals Tottenham Hotspur led by their ex-coach Jose Mourinho and who they host on Saturday.

    Manchester United, another of Mourinho’s old clubs, rose to seventh, three points behind Chelsea.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Ziyech set for Chelsea move, confirms Ajax boss Ten Hag

    Ziyech set for Chelsea move, confirms Ajax boss Ten Hag

    Ziyech came off the bench during Wednesday’s 3-0 KNVB Beker victory at Vitesse and Ten Hag provided an update on the 26-year-old Morocco international.

    “Ziyech to Chelsea? A transfer was coming, we expected it to happen,” Ten Hag told Fox Sports post-game. “I actually already expected this one or two years earlier. And each time it was: ‘Wow, he stayed again’. “We are just happy that we will still have him until the end of the season.” Ziyech has been directly involved in 166 goals since his Eredivisie debut in 2012-13, contributing 79 goals and 87 assists. Since joining Ajax from Twente in 2016, Ziyech has scored 38 league goals and 48 across all competitions. ALSO READ: Thrilling Akwa United, Dakkada derby ends In 2-2 draw Ziyech’s sensational tally of 51 Eredivisie assists from the beginning of the 2016-17 campaign is 16 better than the 35 of Steven Berghuis, the next highest during that period, while his 421 chances created since September 2016 is a whopping 134 more than his nearest rival. Ten Hag added: “I am not surprised by the news about Ziyech. I know that our players are very popular with the big clubs in Europe. That is just great. “I have known for a long time what Hakim wants. He has a picture in mind. He knows exactly which clubs he finds interesting and which ones are not. “Chelsea are a fantastic club. When it is final, I am very happy for Hakim, and I am very proud of him.”

  • EPL: 10 Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs transfers that could still happen

    EPL: 10 Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs transfers that could still happen

    There have been just 22 new signings across 12 Premier League clubs so far during the January transfer window.

    But, with the final week now in full swing, things are hotting up ahead of the 11pm deadline on Friday, Skysports reports.

    Paul Pogba – Manchester United to Real Madrid

    One transfer saga that will rumble onto next summer surrounds the future of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

    Speaking to Sky Sports , the player’s agent Mino Raiola said the player will make a decision on whether he will leave Old Trafford at the end of the campaign.

    “I don’t say anything for sure,” he said. “Today he is not happy because he is not playing. He is recovering. Paul if he does not play he is not happy.

    “But I saw him go back to United when people did not think he would go back. People tend to forget that. People tend to imagine that United was the only club that he could have signed for. He chose United.

    “Everybody knows the ambition from both parts is not being met the last years. Let’s be honest, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. So we need to see in the summer if Paul is still in the plans of United and if United is still in the plans of Paul.”

    Christian Eriksen – Tottenham to Inter Milan

    The first to surely get over the line, as early as Monday.

    Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen is close to joining Inter Milan, with a medical scheduled for today. The 27-year-old is expected to complete a £16.8m move to Italy which could see him earn up to £320,000 per week.

    Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta said, “You all know that we are negotiating with Tottenham.

    “I am optimistic and I hope everything can be concluded quickly because the market closes on Friday and we hope to conclude the negotiations in the next few days.”

    The performance of Giovani Lo Celso during Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday would suggest that Jose Mourinho has a ready-made replacement.

    Lo Celso is currently on loan from Spanish side Real Betis but Spurs can secure a permanent deal this month for £27m or £34m at the end of the season.

    “I think the boy is earning the decision [to sign him],” Mourinho told reporters at St Mary’s.

    Bruno Fernandes – Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United

    Manchester United are still after Bruno Fernandes.

    He’s a world-class attacking midfielder and we’ve been told this week that he’s the best player in Portugal having been the Portuguese Player of the Year twice in a row.

    A lot of people think he’s exactly what they’re looking for. The only problem is United aren’t offering Sporting enough. Sporting want £52m but United are offering £42m.

    This came after the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, threw the deal into serious doubt when speaking to Sky Sports on a visit to England

    “I don’t know,” he said when asked by Sky Sports if a fee was close to being agreed. “If he doesn’t leave now, he will leave for sure in the summer because Sporting have already spoken with other clubs. Something will happen but I am not sure if now or at the end of the season.”

    We still await a breakthrough in negotiations.

    Boubakary Soumare – Lille to Chelsea

    Another player that United have been linked without throughout the window is Lille’s Soumare, but they face competition from Chelsea.

    The French U21 international, described by team-mates at Lille as “Paul Pogba without the baggage”, has been earmarked to leave the Ligue 1 club this week.

    Lille boss Christophe Galtier says he is unsure on the future of his player, saying last week: “I don’t know about Soumare. Nobody told me something about this situation. I don’t know if this could be his last game [against Paris Saint-Germain].”

    With that game now out of the way, the moment of truth is arriving.

    Islam Slimani – Leicester to Manchester United

    Will Manchester United sign a striker? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted United need “quality” signings to help his mentally fatigued young squad after the 2-0 home defeat to Burnley last week – the fifth loss since December 22.

    The scramble has turned desperate – Odion Ighalo and Islam Slimani are two of a number of players United have looked at as they try to bring in a striker on loan following the long-term injury to Marcus Rashford.

    It would be the biggest shock of the window, but time is running out for United to get a striker over the line.

    Solskjaer has insisted the club are still working on reinforcements in a “difficult” market – and signing one of the two could prove to be a fall-back option if a stellar name cannot be lured to the club on a short-term deal.

    Edinson Cavani – PSG to Atletico Madrid

    Edinson Cavani was left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for their match against Lille on Sunday night – with manager Thomas Tuchel admitting it was due speculation surrounding the forward’s future

    The Uruguay international has been tracked by Chelsea, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, and the Uruguayan is said to have his heart set on joining the latter club.

    Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett on United’s link with the striker, “If you look at the facts, he fits exactly their profile.

    “United have done this in the past. Look at Radamel Falcao, look at Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    “They go for world-class strikers with huge reputations that are coming to the latter ends of their careers, and they’ve been very successful for United, on the whole. It’s kind of in United’s DNA.

    “Cavani is 32 and his contract expires at the end of the season with PSG. He hasn’t started a game for PSG since November 9 and all of that points to the fact he’s available.”

    Mykola Matviyenko – Shakhtar Donetsk to Arsenal

    Flamengo defender Pablo Mari arrived at Heathrow over the weekend alongside Arsenal’s technical director Edu, but Mikel Arteta does not look like he is finished with his January transfer business.

    With Arsenal set to complete the first signing of the Arteta era, might a second defensive reinforcement follow suit?

    The Gunners look to be finally adding some solidity to a leaky backline – having been frustrated in their pursuit this month of Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake and Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng.

    They will have to pay £30m if they are to buy Ukrainian defender Mykola Matviyenko from Shakhtar Donetsk.

    The player’s agent, Yuriy Danchenko, says the clubs are in talks about a deal for the 23-year-old, who has 18 months left on his contract. Watch this space.

    Moussa Dembele – Lyon to Chelsea

    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard made his priorities for the final week of this January transfer window very clear ahead of his side’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Hull.

    He said, “The impetus to bring in a striker or players who can get on the end of the chances we’re creating is there.

    “I think we have to be really honest about that. We had more than 20 shots in both games against Arsenal and Newcastle so we have to find solutions. We’ve lost points because of these situations.”

    Lyon striker Moussa Dembele was watched by scouts this week but the French club are desperate to hold onto him.

    The Frenchman has made no secret of his desire to one day return to England to play in the Premier League, where he has previously made just three appearances as a youngster with Fulham.

    A switch back to the capital may be more appealing for the 23-year-old than a move to United, given the lure of Champions League football.

    Krzysztof Piatek – AC Milan to Tottenham

    Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho says the club need a striker and are “doing everything possible” to sign one during the January transfer window – but time is running out.

    Spurs laboured to victory over Norwich having fired blanks at Watford, underlining the need to ease the burden on Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son in the absence of Harry Kane.

    Piatek is struggling for game time with AC Milan, and the Poland striker’s father said last week that his son was “too good to be left on the bench”, stirring up speculation that he could be about to leave the San Siro.

    With the European Championships this summer, the 24-year-old is desperate for regular first-team football, and while several Premier League clubs including Everton, West Ham and Newcastle have expressed an interest, it would cost £25m to prise him away from Milan.

    Olivier Giroud – Chelsea to Inter Milan

    World Cup winner Giroud is not part of Chelsea’s plans and has one foot out of the door at Stamford Bridge.

    Lampard has said, “There’s been contact with other clubs, and if and when that’s agreed, I’ll let you know, but it’s not yet so he’s still our player.”

    It would be remarkable if the striker were to remain at the club beyond this window, given his importance to the French national team ahead of next summer’s championships.

    At 33, he will want to head into that tournament match fit, and it appeared earlier this month that a move to Inter Milan was a done deal. Antonio Conte was said to be desperate to get Giroud to the San Siro having been the man who signed him from Arsenal for Chelsea in January 2018.

    A fee hasn’t been agreed between the two clubs, which led Inter to turn their attentions to former Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente as part of a swap deal with Roma involving Matteo Politano.

    But a twist emerged at the end of last week with Sky in Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that the Llorente loan to Inter is off, which will lead to the resumption of negotiations between Inter and Chelsea over Giroud.

  • Arteta, Lampard evasive on transfers ahead of Arsenal-Chelsea derby

    Arteta, Lampard evasive on transfers ahead of Arsenal-Chelsea derby

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta kept his transfer cards close to his chest on Monday, saying the club was not close to signing new players in the January transfer window.

    The north London side has been linked with Paris St-Germain (PSG) left-back Layvin Kurzawa in the past week.

    But Arteta said there was “a possibility” that the club could go without signing anyone in this window.

    “Things have not moved at all since the weekend.

    “There is nothing new to say about any deals or players. When we have more info, we will let you know.

    “The players we want to bring in have to be players who are going to help us and make a difference in the squad.

    “It is not for the sake of just bringing in players,” Arteta told reporters when asked about potential transfers.

    Arsenal, 10th, have won only one Premier League game in six since Arteta took charge while four draws have seen the north London side fall further away from the top four.

    But the Spaniard is positive his squad is slowly imbibing his philosophy.

    “A lot of things have happened and it feels longer than a month.

    “Yes, a lot of things changed, a lot of positives in terms of reactions and the things they are taking on board.

    “In terms of results it could have been a little bit different. I think we have been very unlucky and other aspects have influenced that.The feedback I am getting is very positive.

    “When we don’t win they know the reasons why,” Arteta added ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Chelsea.

    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, meanwhile, said there was “nothing imminent” with respect to bringing in new players this month.

    But he did not brush aside rumours linking PSG striker Edinson Cavani with the London outfit.

    The French side’s sporting director, Leonardo Araujo, revealed on Sunday that Cavani, who lost his place in the starting line-up to Mauro Icardi, had asked to leave the Ligue 1 club.

    “He is a great player. I played against him and I always loved his mentality and his attitude.

    “His goal-scoring record speaks for itself.

    “I am not absolutely aware of what the situation is. So, we will see.

    “He is an experienced player, but so are many other players out there.

    “We are young as a squad. So, the idea of bringing in experience is not something I am looking away from. Sometimes the younger players need a bit of help,” Lampard said.(Reuters/NAN)