Mauricio Pochettino – CaughtOffside

Chelsea want 16-year-old wonder kid with incredible €60m release clause

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 06:23:12 +0000

With another transfer window just around the corner, it’s no surprise to see Chelsea linked with one of the world’s best young players.

Ever since the Blues were taken over by Todd Boehly they’ve been amongst the biggest movers and shakers in the market place, and rumours of their interest in a 16-year-old with a whopping €60m release clause only strengthens their position.

It appears that they could have their work cut out to land Palmeiras talent, Estevao Willian, more commonly known as Messinho, however.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Man City, Man United, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid are all circling, with the Catalan giants the clear favourites at this stage if for no other reason than the player’s own preference.

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The one issue Barcelona do have at present is a distinct lack of funds to be able to get deals done.

The framework that president, Joan Laporta, and his team are having to work to at present puts them at a serious disadvantage to any of their contemporaries and means they need to go above and beyond just to consider themselves part of the conversation.

With every other club needing to stay within the bounds of Financial Fair Play too, it represents a level playing field and, to that end, would potentially give Boehly as good a chance as anyone to be able to pitch well for the player’s services and turn his head away from Barcelona.

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Newcastle vs Chelsea team news

Connor Holden — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 20:29:43 +0000

Newcastle (7th in the Premier League) take on Chelsea (10th in the Premier League) on Saturday 25th of November, at St James’ Park, at 15:00 PM (GMT).

The last time these two sides faced, the game ended 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. A goal from Anthony Gordon for Newcastle, and an own goal from Kieran Trippier for Chelsea.

Newcastle lost their last Premier League game, losing 2-0 to Bournemouth. A brace from Dominic Solanke securing the victory and three points for Bournemouth.

Chelsea drew their last Premier League game, drawing 4-4 in an eight goal thriller against Manchester City. Goals from Erling Haaland (x2), Manuel Akanji and Rodri for City, and goals from Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer for Chelsea.

How to watch Newcastle vs Chelsea

Date: Saturday, November 25th, 2023
Kickoff: 15:00 PM (GMT)
TV Network: Not broadcast in UK
Venue: Stamford Bridge

Team News:

Newcastle will be without Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes, Matt Target and Javier Manquillo, whilst Alexander Isak, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron will undergo further fitness testing to determine their availability for the Chelsea game. Lewis Hall is also un available to play against his parent club Chelsea.

Chelsea will be without Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia, Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka, whilst Christopher Nkunku could return from injury for his first involvement since pre season.

Predicted XI:

Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Livramento, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Gordon, Isak, Almiron.

Chelsea: Sanchez, Cucurella, Colwill, Silva, James, Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher, Sterling, Jackson, Palmer.

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Chelsea boosted by re-emergence of key man vital for Pochettino

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 18:58:45 +0000

Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea are beginning to get themselves together after a slow start to their 2023/24 campaign.

Notwithstanding the recent home defeat against Brentford, the Blues have managed an epic 4-4 draw against Man City, a 2-2 against Arsenal and a 4-1 win at Tottenham to bring them up to 10th position in the Premier League, just five points behind sixth-placed Manchester United.

Given that they’ve eight injuries too – some to key players – according to Premier Injuries, it’s not the worst beginning to a campaign.

As the players start to return, theoretically, they’ll begin to move through the gears and ease themselves up the table.

There’s plenty of time to do so of course, and news that Wesley Fofana is back working on the grass at Chelsea’s Cobham training base will surely come as a real boost to the club and Pochettino.

? Chelsea announce Wesley Fofana’s back on Cobham’s grass. Working to be back with 1st team as soon as possible.

Understand Pochettino rates Fofana highly as part of his future #CFC plans. pic.twitter.com/NkzWGX1B3d

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 23, 2023

Reliable journalist and CaughtOffside columnist, Fabrizio Romano, posted the good news on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday afternoon.

Whilst it isn’t clear how long it will be before Fofana can be considered for selection again, when he does return it will be like having a new signing for the club.

As Romano notes, he is a key man for Pochettino’s future plans for Chelsea and once he’s fit and firing, it’ll be one more piece of the jigsaw in place for the Argentinian, and a step nearer the outfit that he wants to oversee.

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Exclusive: Chelsea and Arsenal showing “far more interest” in midfielder transfer than Liverpool, says expert

Mark Brus — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Chelsea and Arsenal are showing a stronger interest in the potential transfer of Corinthians wonderkid Gabriel Moscardo than Liverpool at the moment, according to Neil Jones.

Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside for his Daily Briefing column, Jones explained that Liverpool are more likely to target someone a bit more experienced, especially if they’re coming from South American football.

While Moscardo looks a hugely promising young talent, it remains to be seen if he’d be quite ready to make the step up from playing in the Brazilian league to being a first-teamer for one of the top clubs in the Premier League.

Jones suggested that Liverpool’s preference for South American talents is to see how they get on in Europe first, as was the case with signings like Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino, Alisson and others.

Moscardo looks like he could fit the bill for Chelsea, however, based on their recent policy of signing some of the best young players from all over the world, including a number that have some from Brazil.

Gabriel Moscardo in action for Corinthians

Exclusive: Fabrizio Romano expects “smart” transfer window for Chelsea this January

Mark Brus — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:01:41 +0000

Chelsea are likely to try for a smart transfer window this January, according to Fabrizio Romano as he spoke exclusively to CaughtOffside via the Debrief Podcast.

By ‘smart’, Romano means there will be a bit more order to what Chelsea are doing after what has been a busy and chaotic period for the Blues due to so much change in personnel, both on and off the pitch, in the last year or more.

More specifically, Romano said that we can probably expect Chelsea to try for a new striker, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney again named as the players on their radar, even if they won’t necessarily be easy deals to get done.

Romano still says he can’t see Osimhen leaving Napoli in January, meaning Toney could be more realistic, though negotiations have not yet started.

“I expect Chelsea to be smart – at the moment there is no news, after years of many stories about owners, directors, managers, players. This is the best way,” Romano said to Angus Scott and Ben Jacobs on today’s show.

Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney could be ideal signings for Chelsea

18-year-old replacement for Richarlison eyed by Tottenham as Chelsea wait in the wings

Jason Pettigrove — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 06:39:29 +0000

Injured at present, Richarlison is clearly still going through a tough time at Tottenham, both in a physical and mental sense.

The Brazilian is due back from his current injury on or about December 15th according to Premier Injuries, and perhaps with one eye on the future, Football Insider are reporting that Spurs are looking at an 18-year-old to come in and cover in the front line given how light Ange Postecoglou finds himself in that department.

Should Richarlison’s well-publicised mental health issues become an issue for the player again, Club Brugge’s Antonio Nusa could find himself becoming a longer-term replacement.

Tottenham will give the Brazilian all the help and support that he needs, as they’ve done so far, however, even that may not be enough for him to conquer his demons.

Should he hit the ground running during the festive period and find his footballing mojo, there’s still a good enough reason for Nusa to be considered in January given that Ivan Perisic is out for the season and Manor Solomon isn’t expected to be back on the pitch until late January at the earliest.

Chelsea and Fulham are also said to be interested by Football Insider, although the one thing that could scupper the deal for any of the London trio is that the Belgian Pro League side are said to be wanting £30m or thereabouts to allow him to move mid-season.

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Chelsea star explains why team’s “confidence is growing” under Mauricio Pochettino

Mark Brus — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 11:04:40 +0000

Chelsea right-back Reece James has given some insight into the improving mood at Stamford Bridge as they start to show signs of real progress under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine took over as Blues boss in the summer, coming in after a nightmare of a campaign in 2022/23 under Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and caretaker manager Frank Lampard.

Things didn’t get off to the best start under Pochettino either, but Chelsea are now looking more confident and this talented group of young players finally seem to be clicking a bit more.

James admits that it’s a new group and that’s made things difficult, but the feeling behind the scenes is very happy, which is helping.

“We’re still a fairly new group. The more time we spend with each other the more understanding we have. That helps us. We have come a long way,” James told Chelsea’s official website.

Reece James in action for Chelsea

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho set to raid his old club for defensive pair

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 12:20:24 +0000

The January transfer window can’t come soon enough for a number of clubs, with Chelsea expected to once again be amongst the busier teams.

Aside from any incoming business that Mauricio Pochettino might like to do, there’s a question of which players are surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

Though owner, Todd Boehly, doesn’t appear to be short of funds, allowing one or two players to leave could well help the club stay within the bounds of Financial Fair Play, and to that end, there’s a chance of deals getting across the line.

According to Calciomercato (h/t Metro), former Blues manager, Jose Mourinho, appears set to raid his old club for a pair of out-of-favour defenders.

There’s some certainty to Trevoh Chalobah leaving west London in January, and Fabrizio Romano, speaking to CaughtOffside for his Daily Briefing column, underlined that.

“At the moment for Chelsea the idea is very clear; the only player leaving in January is Trevoh Chalobah,” he said.

Sarr has barely played for the Blues since signing for them in 2020, and as Metro note, he hasn’t made any of the match day squads this season.

Therefore, a switch to Serie A is surely something that could appeal to both of them, particularly as they’d be playing for one of the most storied Italian teams in Roma.

It isn’t clear yet how much any transfer fee for either player would be, but if the Giallorossi firm up their interest, the deals would appear to suit all parties.

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Exclusive: Surprising developments in Ivan Toney saga with Arsenal and Chelsea on alert

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 08:35:30 +0000

The transfer of Ivan Toney away from Brentford appears to be a foregone conclusion, despite the fact that the Bees have supported the 27-year-old throughout his ban from football for betting irregularities.

By the time that Toney is able to return to competitive action on January 17 next year, he will have been out of the game for eight months.

It’s believed he has been training with the west Londoners and playing games behind closed doors to keep his fitness up, however, it’s likely to take a few weeks of Premier League games before he’s fully match fit once again.

Any clubs that are interested in taking the England international will need to factor that in to any potential negotiations.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea are credited with an interest in the player, though there have been some surprising developments as far as a January move is concerned.

Fabrizio Romano, speaking to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing column, noted that:

“Brentford will try any way to keep Ivan Toney in January and then sell him in the summer. It’s still not clear if this will be possible but they will try.

“I’m not aware of any precise info on release clauses and a new deal with Brentford as of today.

“As of now, there is only interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, still no concrete negotiations.”

There’s a sense of inevitability that the move will happen at some point soon, though a summer move would now appear to be the most likely scenario.

Whether that will hinder his chances of representing England at Euro 2024 won’t be clear until later in the season when Gareth Southgate assesses his options.

That surely has to be the aim for the player, as well as enjoying a great second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

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Ivan Toney contract shock will leave Arsenal and Chelsea reeling

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 07:25:59 +0000

Brentford ace, Ivan Toney, will soon be back on the football pitch after serving his ban for various betting issues.

The striker is due to play again on January 17, exactly two month’s time, and his re-appearance in the English top-flight surely can’t come soon enough for the Bees and for Toney himself.

Though it’s likely to take a while for him to rediscover his form and match fitness, his eye for goal means that the vultures have been circling even whilst he’s been sat on the sidelines.

However, Arsenal and Chelsea, two of the teams linked with a move for the 27-year-old, appear destined for initial disappointment.

That’s because, according to talkSPORT, Brentford are confident that Toney will sign a new deal with them.

Their support of the player has been unequivocal, and it appears that such faith is being repaid by the striker.

It would be a real coup for the west Londoners if they were able to keep hold of their prized asset, however, there does appear to be a caveat to any deal being signed.

According to 90Min, the player will insist on a release clause in order that he can still move before the end of his current Bees deal which is due to expire in 2025.

Any such arrangement would have to be of benefit to both parties, and would therefore not rule either Arsenal or Chelsea out of signing him in the longer term.

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