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Tag: Chelsea

  • Chelsea’s Willian superb strike leaves Newcastle in relegation zone

    Chelsea’s Willian superb strike leaves Newcastle in relegation zone

    Chelsea moved one point behind third-placed Tottenham with a victory over a Newcastle side who are now in the relegation zone.

    Pedro gave the Blues an eighth-minute lead when he collected David Luiz’s ball over the top, took a touch, then shot past Martin Dubravka.

    But Newcastle equalised through Ciaran Clark’s powerful header when he got between Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz from Matt Ritchie’s corner.

    Willian won it for Chelsea in the second half with a fine curling finish after being played in by Eden Hazard.

    The result leaves Maurizio Sarri’s side fourth, six points clear of Arsenal, who they face at Emirates Stadium in their next game on 19 January.

    BBC

  • Transfer news: Cesc Fabregas joins Ligue 1 side Monaco

    Transfer news: Cesc Fabregas joins Ligue 1 side Monaco

    Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas has joined Ligue 1 side Monaco from English Premier League side Chelsea, the two clubs said on Friday.

    “Cesc Fabregas has today completed a permanent transfer to Monaco,” Chelsea said on their website, just as Ligue 1 Monaco tweeted a video of Fabregas with a voice-over saying “now it’s time”.

    The midfielder’s switch to the Ligue 1 club brings the curtain down on his four-and-a-half- year Chelsea career, a period in which he won four major trophies.

    These are two English Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup, during a period when the Spaniard made 198 appearances for Chelsea and scored 22 goals.

    “We thank Cesc for his wonderful service and wish him the very best of luck for the next chapter in what has been a fantastic career,’’ Chelsea FC wrote.

    Fabregas arrived at Stamford Bridge as a 2012 European Championship and 2010 World Cup winner with Spain.

    The midfielder departs England with the second-highest number of assists in Premier League history, 111, after recently making his 350th appearance in the competition during the game against Southampton.

    He was also the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League assists, achieving the feat in just 293 matches.

    Fabregas signed in the summer of 2014 as Jose Mourinho sought to add a creative presence in midfield.

    This was after the departure of club legend Frank Lampard at the end of the previous season.

    Fabregas is now joining up with Thierry Henry, a former teammate and current manager of the municipality club, who was the Spaniard’s captain at Arsenal.

    He had joined Chelsea from Arsenal, having moved to England from La Masia, FC Barcelona’s youth academy, at age 16 in September 2003.

  • Transfer news: No January exit for Willian, says Sarri

    Transfer news: No January exit for Willian, says Sarri

    Maurizio Sarri says Willian will not be allowed to leave Chelsea in January following reports Barcelona are ready to reignite their interest in the player.

    Barcelona tried to sign Willian last summer, making three bids for the Brazil international, with their final offer worth more than £55m rejected in July.

    According to Sky Sports, Barcelona have proposed a deal that would see William depart for the Nou Camp with Malcolm coming the other way,but Sarri says it is “impossible” for Willian to leave Stamford Bridge this month.

    Asked about Barcelona’s reported interest in Willian, Sarri said: “I didn’t receive anything yesterday. I have no idea.

    “You have to contact the club and ask about the market, because if you ask me about the market, you put me in trouble because I don’t know how to answer. As you know, Willian for us is very important.

    “I think he can do better, he can do better because of his potential but he is really very important to us, so I think it is impossible to lose him in January.”

    One player who seems set to leave Chelsea this month is midfielder Cesc Fabregas, whose proposed move to Monaco is on hold until Chelsea can bring in a replacement.

  • Higuain close to Chelsea deal as agent arrives London

    Gonzalo Higuain’s agent has reportedly travelled to London, as a proposed move to Chelsea edges closer, The Standard reports.

    The Argentine striker is Blues boss Maurizio Sarri’s top target, as he looks to solve his side’s goalscoring woes.

    Higuain is currently on loan at AC Milan, but wants to cut the deal short to reunite with former Napoli boss, Sarri at Stamford Bridge.

    The player’s brother, Nicolas is also his representative and was spotted in London on Thursday, amid speculation over the switch.

    He has made the trip to learn more about Chelsea’s interest in the 31-year-old.

  • January transfer: Victor Moses to join another London club

    January transfer: Victor Moses to join another London club

    Premier League club, Fulham have won the race ahead of Cardiff City and Crystal Palace to sign Chelsea winger, Victor Moses.

    According to Love Sport Radio, Moses is on the verge of joining Fulham this January transfer window.

    The British station reports that the announcement is expected to be made before the end of the this week.

    Moses has fallen out of favour at Chelsea since the Blues manager, Maurizio Sarri took over from fellow Italian compatriot, Antonio Conte early this season.

    The ex-Nigerian international has barely featured for Sarri’s side so far this campaign.

    The 28-year-old has failed to impress Sarri at the West London club and that has led to speculation about his future at Stamford Bridge.

    Moses will hope to play for Chelsea when they tackle Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.

  • English referees can’t use VAR, need to study the system – Sarri

    English referees can’t use VAR, need to study the system – Sarri

    Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri believes “English referees are not able to use VAR” after the system awarded Harry Kane the penalty that cost his team Carabao Cup semi-final first leg loss to Tottenham.

    The only goal of the Wembley game came from the spot after referee Michael Oliver consulted the video assistant referee to check if Kane was onside before he was fouled by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    The VAR camera suggested Kane was onside, but Chelsea showed a screenshot of their own system after the game that suggested he was offside.

    After a 93-second wait, Oliver gave the penalty and Kane scored his 160th goal for Tottenham.

    “A few minutes ago I watched the video from our camera. It was offside. Our camera was in line with Harry Kane”, Sarri told Sky Sports.

    “I don’t think English referees are able to use the system.

    The Italian also noted that the English referees need to study the VAR system very well before usage.

    “If you are not sure with the system, as a player you have to follow the ball and at the end of the action decide. But the linesman stopped and didn’t follow the ball – for our defenders it was offside. I don’t know about the goalkeeper but sure the defenders were affected.

    “I think they have to study the system.

    “It’s very strange in the Premier League there isn’t VAR and in the Carabao Cup there is the system. It’s very strange for us, the players and referees.”

    The Premier League is set to introduce the system from next season.

  • Transfer gossips: Gonzalo Higuain close to Chelsea move

    Chelsea are closing in on the signing of AC Milan and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, 31. (Marca)

    Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has placed a £225m price tag on Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, 26, amid interest from Real Madrid. (AS – in Spanish)

    Tottenham’s former Spain striker Fernando Llorente, 33, has been offered the chance to return to Athletic Bilbao. (Mirror)

    Athletic Bilbao chief Rafael Alkorta has confirmed he wants to bring Manchester United and Spain midfielder Ander Herrera, 29, back to the club. Herrera left the Spanish side in 2014. (Cadena Ser, via Mail)

    But Herrera may be set to stay at Old Trafford after United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly convinced him to remain at the club. (Sun)

    Manchester United have accepted they will have to wait until the summer to sign Napoli and Senegal centre-back ​Kalidou Koulibaly, 27. (ESPN)

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says talks are taking place about extending 32-year-old Belgian central defender Vincent Kompany’s contract, which expires at the end of the season. (Star)

    Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been approached over the possibility of coaching the Qatar national team. (France Football)

    Inter Milan are prepared to sell Croatia forward Ivan Perisic, 29, to Manchester United in order to raise funds to sign Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, 33. (Tuttosport, via Calciomercato)

    Inter and Argentina striker Mauro Icardi, 25, is at the top of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s wish-list for the January transfer window. (Mirror)

    Bayern Munich have increased their offer for Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi to £35m, with the 18-year-old having reiterated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge this month. (Guardian)

    Chelsea want to sign AC Milan and Portugal striker Andre Silva – who is on loan at Sevilla – but the deal hinges on the Blues’ Spain striker Alvaro Morata replacing him at the Spanish club. (Sun)

    Everton are monitoring Porto and Algeria midfielder Yacine Brahimi and had a scout at Monday’s 3-1 win over Nacional, in which the 28-year-old scored twice. (Mirror)

    Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart, 31, is a target for Preston who want the former England international on loan. (Sun)

    Crystal Palace want to take Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham on loan after the 21-year-old, currently on loan at Aston Villa, turned down the chance to join Wolves. (Mirror)

    Southampton are keen on signing Everton forward Ademola Lookman, 21. (Star – via HITC)

    Fulham gave England defender Gary Cahill, 33, Nigeria winger Victor Moses and England midfielder Danny Drinkwater, both 28, a training ground tour in an attempt to lure them away from Chelsea. (Love Sport Radio)

    Liverpool defender Rafael Camacho, 18, is set to leave Anfield – just days after being handed his senior debut – with Sporting Lisbon close to agreeing a deal for the right-back. (Talksport)

    Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez, 25, is keen on a move to Arsenal in January. (Mirror)

    Spurs are set to hold talks with out-of-favour Dutch striker Vincent Janssen and will consider letting the 24-year-old striker leave in the January transfer window. (Mail)

    Arsenal are considering making former midfielder Edu their new director of football. The Brazilian retired in 2010. (Standard)

    Barcelona are open to the idea of selling Brazilian winger Malcom, 21, despite only signing him in the summer. (Mundo Deportivo)

     

  • EPL: Hazard too good for Chelsea – Jenas

    Eden Hazard is “too good” for Chelsea and has “outgrown” the club, says BBC Sport pundit Jermaine Jenas.

    The former Tottenham midfielder described Hazard as “unplayable” during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat by Spurs at Wembley in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

    The Belgium midfielder, whose contract expires in June 2020, has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid.

    And Jenas believes Hazard, 28, must now move from Chelsea to take the next step in his career.

    “I thought he was unplayable at times,” said Jenas, on BBC Radio 5 live’s Football Daily podcast.

    “I actually said [in commentary] that I think he is too good for Chelsea.

    “Chelsea are obviously a top, top side but I think he has outgrown them. I think he has outgrown his position within that team.

    “He needs to move on. He is above a level of everybody else that is around him.”

    Hazard has won two Premier League titles in seven seasons at Chelsea, as well as the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup.

    The Belgium playmaker also helped his country reach the World Cup semi-finals in Russia last year, where he won the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second best player behind Croatia’s Luka Modric.

  • Transfer news: Chelsea target La Liga top striker as Morata’s replacement

    Chelsea have identified Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema as Alvaro Morata’s replacement at Stamford Bridge.

    Chelsea had been told to replace Morata this January transfer window.

    Morata has struggled at Stamford Bridge since joining Chelsea from Real Madrid last summer.

    The Spaniard has been linked with a move to AC Milan, and the Blues manager, Maurizio Sarri is eager to bring in a new attacker following striker, Olivier Giroud’s injury.

    However, according to The Mirror, Chelsea are keen on a move for Benzema this month.

    Benzema has scored seven goals and assisted three times in his 18 La Liga appearances so far this campaign for Madrid.

  • Scoring double can help Morata free his mind – Cudicini

    Chelsea assistant coach Carlo Cudicini said Alvaro Morata’s goals in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday would “free his mind” after a lean spell for the Spanish striker.

    Morata struck twice in the second half of the FA Cup third round tie and also missed an open goal as the Cup holders eased into the fourth round.

    They were his first goals in domestic competition for two months.

    The 26-year-old former Real Madrid striker’s troubles in front of goal have raised speculation that Chelsea might try and sign a striker in the transfer window.

    But Cudicini said Morata is still valued by the club and thinks he can start scoring on a regular basis once his confidence levels recover.

    “I think Alvaro played an important part in today’s performance. He was very good in terms of working for the team, offensively but mainly defensively,” Cudicini told reporters.

    “It was very important for him to score two goals, which can only be good for his confidence.

    “We are all pleased with his performance but we were even more disturbed when he didn’t score in previous games. So, we were hopeful it will be good for his morale that he scored, and hopefully he will be more free in his mind.

    “For a striker it’s difficult when you go through a spell, when you don’t score many goals. So, his body language was a bit down, but in training he was working very hard.

    “We all knew that sooner or later he would be able to turn the corner and start scoring goals. Thankfully he did it today.”

    Cesc Fabregas left the pitch in tears at the end of the game.

    He was captain for the day, in what was expected to be his last game for the club before a likely move to Monaco.

    The former Arsenal and FC Barcelona player missed a penalty kick that would have provided a perfect send-off.

    Cudicini refused to say whether or not Fabregas had definitely played his last game in a Chelsea shirt.

    But he paid a glowing tribute to the 31-year-old midfielder who has racked up more than 500 appearances in English football.

    “What can I say about Cesc? Five hundred games. For a player who is unique in his position, he has unbelievable vision and awareness of where his team mates are on the pitch,” Cudicini said.

    “He’s one of the few who has the ability to play that ball for the runs behind the defensive line. So precise and with the right timing. I think he’s one of a kind.

    “He’s been fantastic for teams before us and the contribution he’s given to this club and this team has been amazing. Cesc is a top player.”