Newcastle United appear to have already identified their first signing of the summer after it emerged that one club in Europe are already braced for a Magpies bid for their star man.

Magpies money problems could force sales

There is plenty of speculation surrounding Newcastle United's financial position heading into the summer transfer window, amid pressure to conform with the Premier League's financial fair play and avoid points deductions like those already handed out to Nottingham Forest and Everton.

Eddie Howe's side spent heavily last summer but have gone backwards on the pitch, with injuries stunting growth on Tyneside. As it stands, they sit 10th in the Premier League and are out of every other competition. An outside shot for European football next season, it may be a summer rebuild needed rather than another one of lavish spending.

That is unless they decide to cash in on one of their stars. It is something that Newcastle CEO Darren Eales has already hinted at, and could be an excellent way of continuing their growth as a football club, as unpopular as it may be with some fans.

Related PIF could sell "exceptional" Newcastle star to fund spending spree – report

It would be a tough decision for the club.

Posts ByBen Browning Mar 19, 2024

"Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It's difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we're going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players", Eales explained in January.

"It's just the nature of the beast. If you trade players on it creates more headroom. You have to keep growing that headroom, increasing commercial revenue and player trading."

European club 'expecting' Newcastle bid

This comes as German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt are now 'expecting' a bid from Tyneside for star striker Omar Marmoush this summer. That is according to Sport Bild, who add that the Bundesliga outfit 'won't stand in his way' if the Egyptian striker decides that he wants to move.

Marmoush has been a revelation so far this season, with 12 goals and 3 assists in 23 Bundesliga outings since joining from Wolfsburg on a free transfer last summer.

He has been linked with a move to Newcastle previously, but it is added that any move would likely cost between 50 and 60m euros (£42m- £51m) this summer, something that Eddie Howe's side are unlikely to be able to afford without sales and would prove an expensive replacement for Callum Wilson.

Callum Wilson 23/34 vs Omar Marmoush 23/24

Callum Wilson

Omar Marmoush

Appearances

16

21

Goals

7

10

Expected goals

7.2

7.7

Assists

1

6

Shots on target (per 90)

1.57

2.79

Aerial duels won

33.3%

51.2%

Though he has only burst onto the scene this season, his qualities have been known for a long time. Speaking when he arrived in 2021, Stuttgart's then-Sporting director Sven Mislintat explained: "Omar is a fantastic fit for us. His qualites and versatility make him a great addition to our squad."

Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoller reserved particular praise for his work rate and physical traits: "He works extremely hard and is hard to defend against. His pace makes him an awkward opponent for defenders when he runs in behind them."

That will come as music to the ears of Newcastle fans, but the move may only be possible if they part with one of their crown jewels this summer.

Chris Morris proves his worth at the death with both bat and ball in tight win

Firdose Moonda20-Nov-2019

JJ Smuts celebrates a half-century•MSL

The Nelson Mandela Bay Giants leapfrogged the Cape Town Blitz to the top of the Mzansi Super League (MSL) table with a successful chase of 187 under lights at St George’s Park. The Giants recovered from 4 for 2 after nine balls to win with four balls to spare in dramatic fashion. Chris Morris swung hard at a Sisanda Magala delivery to deep midwicket, where George Linde attempted a diving catch but dropped the ball onto the boundary rope to allow the Giants to complete a record chase at their home ground.Blitz quick out the blocksQuinton de Kock has made more of an impression on this tournament as a captain than a batsman so far but showed glimpses of his destructive potential at St George’s Park. De Kock had to wait 14 balls before he faced a delivery after his opening partner Janneman Malan kept strike early on and he wasted little time showing what he can do. After two balls to get his eye in, de Kock hit back-to-back sixes off the Giants’ best bowler Morris and then 18 runs off Junior Dala’s first over which included three fours and a six. De Kock’s first 31 runs came off 11 balls and he looked set for a fast 50 and more but fell for 39.Morris issues selectors a reminderThe Blitz’s top five all scored 20-plus but their middle and lower order fell away to ensure that the Giants kept them under 190. he Blitz lost 6 for 33 in the last 5.4 overs of their innings and it was Morris who put the squeeze on. His penultimate over cost only two runs and included the wicket of Liam Livingstone, caught at fine leg, and the run-out of Wahab Riaz, who tried to test the arm of Heino Kuhn, to further Morris’ claims on a place in the T20 World Cup squad.Reprieve for Jon-Jon Smuts, twiceA target of 187 needed a strong start which the Giants’ didn’t get and it was left to captain Jon-Jon Smuts to steady the ship and mount a challenge. He managed both but was almost thwarted in his efforts, twice. Smuts was on 16 when he was caught by Greg Mahlokwana at deep backward square leg off Wahab and was walking off the field when the umpires check for the no-ball revealed Wahab had overstepped. He added 15 runs to score and kept the scoring rate above eight an over when he swept Magala to Linde at short fine leg. Linde dived forward to take the catch but wasn’t sure if he had done it cleanly and neither were the umpires. Smuts survived again. His fifty came off 41 balls and he took the Giants to within 37 runs off a win.But not a third timeSmuts was on 73 when he slashed Wahab to backward point where Magala claimed a catch low down. Initially it seemed the umpires were looking at whether the catch was clean but replays focused on whether Wahab had overstepped again. His front foot appeared to be on the line and slid over milliseconds after he landed but the delivery was ruled as fair and Smuts had to go.Dale and Wahab who? Dale Steyn was brought back on mid-innings to break the 46-run fourth-wicket stand between Smuts and Kuhn and he did exactly that. Kuhn miscued a pull shot to midwicket where Asif Ali took the catch. That brought Marco Marais, from the farming town of Stutterheim, to the crease and reputations don’t seem to bother him. Marais cut Steyn behind point for four off the ball he faced and then uppercut Steyn over the third man boundary for six. Then, two balls after Smuts was dismissed, Marais outside-edged Wahab to third man for four before sending him straight down the ground for six to create another of those “remember the name,” moments.

Robert Sanchez is reportedly the No.1 at Chelsea despite Djordje Petrovic's bright form as the Blues eye a fresh goalkeeper in the summer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Sanchez to reclaim No. 1 spot from Petrovic
• 26-year-old deemed suitable to Enzo Maresca's style
• Blues could still look to hire a new shot-stopper

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Petrovic took over the starting role from Sanchez last season and delivered several commendable performances under former head coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, with Enzo Maresca now at the helm, the goalkeeping situation has taken a different turn.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Maresca prefers Sanchez for the role of starting goalkeeper. The 26-year-old Spaniard is believed to be more suited to Maresca’s style as he has proven his capability to play out from the back in training. While Sanchez is seen as the frontrunner, Chelsea acknowledge the need for another goalkeeper with a similar skill set to ensure a seamless transition if changes are necessary. Although Petrovic is highly rated, there are concerns about the disparity between his abilities and those of Sanchez.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea are aiming to construct a squad capable of competing across a demanding season, including next summer's Club World Cup. This requires having reliable alternatives for all positions. However, the London outfit are not seeking a high-profile No.1 goalkeeper like Mike Maignan. Instead, they are targeting a promising stopper who can initially serve as a backup but has the potential to challenge Sanchez for the starting role. Despite Spanish reports linking Chelsea with Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin, he does not align with the club’s requirements.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PETROVIC?

  The future of Petrovic remains uncertain. While there are discussions about a potential loan or sale, Chelsea are said to maintain that they are not doubting his talent. The club values Petrovic, but the immediate need is for a goalkeeper who can match Sanchez's style of play and provide reliable competition.

Chelsea are thought to be eyeing up a summer move for one Premier League player, with the Blues impressed with what they’ve seen.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues, under Todd Boehly, have splashed the cash in recent years, however, it hasn’t had the desired effect on the pitch under a number of different managers.

Mauricio Pochettino is the latest boss to struggle at Stamford Bridge, with the most recent disappointment coming in the EFL Cup final loss to Liverpool.

Chelsea eyeing move for "unique" new manager to replace Pochettino

The Blues know his club well.

By
Charlie Smith

Mar 6, 2024

The FA Cup is the last remaining chance of silverware for the Blues, who already seem to be looking to the summer for further reinforcements.

A new striker appears to be of interest, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen a target, however, Manchester United appear to be rivalling the Blues for the Nigeria international.

Meanwhile, AC Milan winger Rafael Leao is also on the club’s radar, seen as a possible replacement for Raheem Sterling, should the latter depart Stamford Bridge.

However, attacking additions aren’t the club’s only priority heading into the 2024/25 season, with further signings at the back also on the cards.

Chelsea looking at Antonee Robinson move

According to sources close to GiveMeSport, Chelsea are thought to be "seriously interested" in signing Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, with a new left-back to rival Ben Chilwell their top priority.

In fact, those at Stamford Bridge have been scouting the left-back ‘for the past year' and have been impressed by a number of aspects of his game. Chelsea like his attacking mindset and pace, whereas they also feel his defensive duties have improved and that Robinson has 'good recovery traits'.

As a result, Chelsea are weighing up a summer move and believe he should be valued at £35m, although Liverpool have also been linked alongside interest elsewhere.

Antonee Robinson's best performances 2023/24	WhoScored rating
Liverpool 4-3 Fulham	8.62/10
Fulham 3-1 AFC Bournemouth	8.28/10
Everton 1-1* Fulham	7.69/10
Fulham 5-0 West Ham	7.52/10
Crystal Palace 0-0 Fulham	7.49/10

Robinson has gone from strength to strength since joining Fulham from Wigan Athletic back in 2020 and is now valued at a career-high €20m by Transfermarkt.

The 26-year-old, who can also turn out as a left midfielder if needed, has made 140 appearances for Fulham, becoming a regular under Marco Silva, while also winning 39 caps for the USA. He was hailed by journalist Alexandre Gangue-Ruzic during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Robinson has been Fulham’s second-best performer behind Joao Palhinha during the current campaign, as per WhoScored, and came in for praise in December from Silva, who said after a defeat at Liverpool:

"What a performance from him, he was at a high, high level. I am pleased for him because some games before, he probably wasn't at his best, so it has been good to see him react."

Ange Postecoglou has certainly been backed throughout the first season of his Tottenham Hotspur tenure and that looks set to be the case once again this summer, when the Lilywhites could make their move to sign another defensive target.

Tottenham transfer news

The headlines were centred around Harry Kane and his departure to Bayern Munich last summer, but this time around, Spurs will be hoping to grab the spotlight for their incomings. With that said, the North London club have already been linked with several impressive moves, including for the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has starred in the Championship this season with Leicester City, and Joshua Zirkzee, who has enjoyed a recent rise at Bologna.

A number of moves may well depend on Spurs' ability to attract players, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season. As things stand, they sit three points behind Aston Villa with a game in hand. With 10 games to go, Postecoglou's summer ambitions hang in the balance, as he looks to finish his first season in North London on the biggest high possible.

Spurs legend sold for just £6m would be worth more than Kane in 2024 money

This erstwhile phenomenon was sold for £6m, but that would be much more in the modern market…

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 24, 2024

One move that is unlikely to depend on Champions League football, however, is one for Gleison Bremer, who Spurs were linked with earlier this season. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Spurs have now been offered the chance to sign Bremer this summer, having been contacted via intermediaries in what is a boost for Postecoglou and co.

The Juventus man is reportedly keen on a fresh start in English football after struggling to continue his rise since moving to Juventus in 2022.

Any deal won't come cheap though, with Bremer's release clause sitting in excess of £50m and with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle all offered the same chance as Spurs ahead of the summer window. So, it certainly looks likely to be a busy race for the defender's signature this summer.

"Complete" Bremer needs Juventus exit

Winning Serie A's defender of the year in 2022, Bremer more than earned his move to Juventus from Torino. But since then, he has struggled to make the same impact. Now 27 years old, the Brazilian may need a summer move to get back to his best and Spurs could represent the perfect option to do just that.

Given Micky van de Ven's injury struggles and Cristian Romero's occasional moment of madness, the Lilywhites would be wise to sign another central defender this summer and Bremer has proved that he has more than enough ability to keep up with the aforementioned duo.

Progressive Passes

90

69

126

Blocks

30

12

30

Interceptions

35

13

34

Tackles Won

34

22

32

Aerial Duels Won

81

24

53

Whilst £50m+ is a hefty deal to finance, Spurs need to keep up with the rest of the Premier League's top six, meaning they could be pursuing such deals this summer for Postecoglou. It's a move that Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig will be keeping an eye on, that's for sure, having dubbed Bremer the "complete package" back in 2021. Now, we could soon see that "complete package" in the Premier League.

Mike Dodds, despite being first viewed as a breath of fresh air after the dismal reign of Michael Beale was cut short, has failed to get Sunderland going ever since coming back in as interim boss.

If Sunderland were to pick up another crushing loss against Southampton today, it would mean the stand-in 37-year-old Black Cats manager has experienced four losses from four Championship games back in the dug-out with the Wearside outfit, sinking down the division at a worrying pace consequently.

Yet, one good result could turn around the club's fortunes completely with Dodds scrambling in his head as to what changes he could make to kickstart a positive sequence of results starting with a possible win over Russell Martin's Saints.

Pierre Ekwah could well be on the chopping block for fresh blood to get a chance to star tomorrow as a result, the ex-West Ham United youngster not at the races in his side's 1-0 loss to Leicester City mid-week.

Pierre Ekwah's performance vs Leicester in numbers

The exciting 22-year-old midfielder underwhelmed against Enzo Maresca's Foxes in truth, with the Frenchman failing to register a single shot on Mads Hermansen's goal to try to add more goals to his season tally of four.

Moreover, Ekwah wouldn't deliver a single accurate cross or complete a single dribble in the 1-0 defeat as the hosts – away from just the Sunderland number 39 in isolation – failed to ever really cut through the table-topping visitors with much purpose or drive.

2nd of September 2023 – Championship

5-0 Sunderland win

11th of February 2017 – Premier League

4-0 Saints win

26th of October 2016 – League Cup

1-0 Saints win

27th of August 2016 – Premier League

1-1 draw

5th of March 2016 – Premier League

1-1 draw

Sourced by 11v11

Dodds could be tempted to stick by Ekwah regardless of his poor showing last match considering his heroics the last time the Black Cats faced off against Southampton.

The ex-Hammers youngster bagged two goals on the day as Sunderland romped home to a 5-0 win at the Stadium of Light, the Mackems' only win against their tricky South Coast opponents from the last five meetings between the two former Premier League outfits.

Regardless, Ekwah shouldn't be retained off his poor showing against Leicester alone with Adil Aouchiche champing at the bit to come in and impress over his fellow compatriot after an impactful cameo off the bench against the Foxes.

Adil Aouchiche's performance vs Leicester in numbers

The former Paris St. Germain prospect has had a stop-start time at the Stadium of Light since swapping France for Wearside last year, but will hope he can kick on after excelling against Maresca's men when drafted on to make an impact.

Aouchiche would notch up an impressive three key passes from just 30 minutes against Leicester, constantly wanting to create openings from the second he was introduced into the contest.

The slick 5 foot 11 midfielder was unafraid to test Hermansen with shot after shot as well in contrast to a timid Ekwah who managed zero, registering five shots on the Danish goalkeeper's net to keep him on his toes when other players took a back seat.

Despite only being on the pitch briefly, Aouchiche would receive a glowing 7/10 appraisal from Roker Report journalist Andy Tomlinson at the full-time whistle – Tomlinson stating that the ex-PSG man 'really troubled' Leicester.

Once described as a "little genius" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig during his days in the France U17 ranks – where Aouchiche netted a staggering 16 goals from 25 appearances – Dodds will want to see this electric best from his slick creator carried over a full 90-minute match.

Today's game could be the best chance to see what the 21-year-old is made of from the start, a potential masterstroke switch from Dodds if the dynamic French talent can steer Sunderland to a rare win.

An investigation into his actions is expected soon

Firdose Moonda06-Dec-2019Thabang Moroe, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa, has been suspended with immediate effect – with full pay – following allegations of misconduct. An investigation into his actions, which will include an independent forensic audit, is expected to be conducted soon.Chris Nenzani, the CSA president, has been tasked with appointing an acting chief executive for the duration of Moroe’s suspension. Nenzani has been mandated to look at all options, including holding discussions with David Richardson, the former South Africa cricketer who was ICC chief executive till recently, to gauge his interest in getting involved with the CSA.ESPNcricinfo understands that former chief executive Haroon Lorgat, Moroe’s predecessor, and former acting CEO Jacques Faul, have already been approached by several provincial presidents, but neither has heard from Nenzani yet.ALSO READ: Crisis in South African cricket – full coverageMoroe’s suspension comes after five days of mounting pressure on CSA’s administration. There have been calls from several quarters for Moroe and the CSA Board to step down in the wake of a full-blown crisis spanning management, player and media relations, and financial affairs.The catalyst for the recent sequence of events was the revoking of accreditation of five journalists on Sunday during the Mzansi Super League. No reason was given for the sanction but on Monday morning, Moroe told a national radio station that the board was unhappy with the reporters’ coverage of CSA.The reports ranged from CSA’s disputes with SACA, including a court case over a proposed restructure of domestic cricket, the delay in appointing a director of cricket, which former captain Graeme Smith was being lined up for, the non-existence of a selection panel just weeks before a series against England, and CSA’s mounting expenses – and debts – including that of running the MSL.Taken together, this has left South African cricket in a state of turmoil, which will be discussed at a special sitting of the Board on Saturday, where it is hoped that clarity will be offered on key positions ahead of England’s visit.ALSO READ: ‘The CEO is out of his depth’ – Ali Bacher on CSA issuesOf particular concern is the position of director of cricket. Smith’s initial reluctance, and eventual withdrawal, was understood to be largely due to Moroe’s presence, and with Moroe suspended, Smith may be more willing to reconsider. However, there are less than three weeks before the Boxing Day Test against England, so decisions need to be taken swiftly.CSA has also interviewed former national selector Hussein Manack and suspended interim director of cricket Corrie van Zyl for the director of cricket position, and former selection convener Linda Zondi, former international Monde Zondeki, and current Jozi Stars selections convener Patrick Moroney for the role of convener of selectors.Those interviews were conducted with Moroe at the helm, and including members of the Board who have since resigned such as Dawn Makhobo, who walked away from CSA on Friday morning.A whirlwind of events this morning also revealed that CSA has suspended three other members of staff – financial manager Ziyanda Nkuta, procurement manager Lundi Maja, and administrator Dalene Nolan.Graeme Smith shares a laugh with Faf du Plessis•Getty ImagesThat brought the total number of suspended employees to seven, with van Zyl, chief operating officer Naasei Appiah, and head of sales and sponsorship Clive Eksteen sidelined last month for alleged dereliction of duty relating to a delayed payment of commercial rights fees to SACA, from last year’s MSL.Support for van Zyl, Appiah and Eksteen has been widespread, particularly from SACA, which claimed Moroe was privy to communication over the MSL payment and complicit in its delay. SACA has since said that there has been a second commercial rights violation, this time concerning a fantasy game for this year’s MSL, for which CSA had used players’ images they did not have rights to.On Wednesday, SACA said its members would consider a players’ strike in response to CSA’s lack of engagement, and while industrial action remains a possibility, it will not take place during the series against England.”SACA re-iterates however that industrial action by the players should be viewed only as a very last resort. We also wish to reassure cricket fans, and other cricket stakeholders, that SACA will not embark on industrial action with the players during the upcoming England series. We are very aware of the importance of this series to the Proteas and to England, to the many fans from both countries and to the media and commercial partners,” Tony Irish, SACA’s outgoing CEO, said in a statement.At a board meeting on Friday, SACA also called for Moroe and the CSA Board to step, an independent investigation into the crisis to be conducted, and an interim committee to be put in place to perform Board duties until a new Board is in place.”It is abundantly clear that there is no confidence, from any quarter amongst cricket stakeholders, in the CSA Board,” Irish said. “No one on the Board can say that he, or she, was unaware of what has been unfolding over at least the last year. It has all been happening, in many respects even publicly under the Board’s very nose, and in some instances with Board support.”Three independent board directors, Professor Shirley Zinn, Iqbal Khan and Mokhobo have resigned, leaving two more – Steve Cornelius and Marius Schoeman – as well as the six presidents from the affiliated provinces – Beresford Williams, Zola Thamae, Tebogo Siko, Donovan May, Jack Madiseng and Angelo Carolissen. Their futures could well be decided on Saturday.

كشف عماد فاروق، المعد النفسي السابق للنادي الأهلي، تفاصيل جديدة حول أسباب رحيله المفاجئ عن القلعة الحمراء، مؤكدًا على رفضه لأي شكل من أشكال التمييز والتقليل من قيمته المهنية.

وكان عماد فاروق قد أعلن اعتذاره عن عدم العمل في الجهاز الفني للنادي الأهلي، بعد أيام قليلة من إعلان انضمامه من قبل محمد رمضان المدير الرياضي للقلعة الحمراء.

طالع أيضًا | المعد النفسي السابق لـ الأهلي يروي كواليس ما حدث مع محمد رمضان قبل رحيله

وقال عماد فاروق في تصريحات عبر برنامج “وان تو”، عبر إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “هل تصريحاتك السابقة عن سبب رحيلك عن الأهلي تسببت لك في “دوشة”؟ (لا دوشة ولا حاجة) أنا أريد أن ينتشر العلم، هي بالنسبة لي على الأقل ليست (خناقة) أنا لا أريد أن أكون مشهورًا، أنا بالنسبة لي أكون غير مشهور عالم أحسن من مشهور جاهل”.

وتابع: “أنا سُئلت سؤالًا هل أعمل في مكان؟ قلت أنني أعمل عملًا خاصًا، ولدي منهج أطبقه إذا لم يقتنع به أحد لا توجد مشكلة، أنا لم أطلب 20 ألف دولار من الكابتن محمد رمضان، أنا قلت سأحصل على نفس الراتب الذي يتقاضاه المساعدون المتخصصون لـ مارسيل كولر، وكنت أتكلم ببساطة شديدة”.

وأضاف: “أريد أنا أعرف ما هو اتهامي، أنا متفهم سيكولوجية الجماهير، عندما تناقشت مع الكابتن محمد رمضان كان رده أنت مصري وهم أجانب، وتكلم بتمييز، وقال لي الراتب سيكون 20 ألف جنيه وسأحاول مع الكابتن الخطيب لكي يكون الراتب 50 ألفاً”.

وأردف: “قلت له كل شخص يُحدد قيمته، وسألته هل لو كان الأهلي عرض عليك راتب 50 ألفا كنت ستوافق، قال كنت سأرفض فورًا، أنا لم أرفض، أنا قلت دعنا من هذا الموضوع الرخيص، أنا سأعمل في النادي متطوعًا وسوف أشارك في الصفقات الجديدة”.

وأوضح: “كان لا بد أن أثبت قيمتي السوقية أولًا، ثم أكدت أنني سأعمل متطوعًا لأن الأهلي يستحق أن أعمل به متطوعًا، الرواتب في جميع المؤسسات مُعلنة، وأعرف كم يتقاضى الجهاز الفني، هذا ليس سرًا”.

واستكمل: “أنا لا أرى أي أحد في الدنيا (غلبان)، كلنا لنا قيمة كبيرة، كل إنسان ربنا أوجده في الحياة قيمته كبيرة جدًا، هناك بعض التخصصات تتطلب أشخاص خلف الستار، مثلًا مساعد كولر لتحليل الأداء لا يظهر في الإعلام، وأنا المفترض أن أظهر في الإعلام”.

واستمر: “لذلك كنت أقول لم يكن يجب أن أجلس مع الكابتن محمد رمضان، فقط هو أعطى انطباعا جيدا عندي، ولكن كان يجب أن أجلس مع مارسيل كولر ويتم تقييمي”.

Melbourne Renegades have made a left-field move on the eve of the Big Bash League season signing Lancashire quick Richard Gleeson to replace Usman Shinwari who was withdrawn due to international duty.Shinwari was called up for his Test debut against Sri Lanka and is now unavailable for the BBL while fellow Pakistan allrounder Faheem Ashraf has also been withdrawn from the tournament to remain in Pakistan.Gleeson, 32, has impressed over the last four seasons of the T20 Blast in England. He started his career with Northamptonshire before moving to Lancashire. He has experience overseas having played in the Bangladesh Premier League for the Rangpur Riders in 2016. He also toured West Indies with the England Lions in 2018.Gleeson will now play the first eight games of the BBL as one of the Renegades overseas players before Mohammad Nabi arrives for the second half of the tournament.”Richard bowls with genuine pace and is capable of hitting the areas that make it difficult for batsmen to score on a regular basis. His skills in the power play and at the death have resulted in him being one of the best T20 bowlers in the UK T20 Blast in recent years,” Renegades Head coach Michael Klinger said.”It’s obviously unfortunate to lose Shinwari and Ashraf on the eve of the season but sometimes that’s the nature of T20 cricket in a busy international schedule. We know things can change quickly with international players and we need to be ready to respond.Harry Gurney, who was a key part of the Renegades title last season, is now available for the entire season which means the Renegades do not need a fourth overseas player.”We’re delighted to have Harry Gurney for the whole tournament given his performances in the Big Bash last season and Nabi will also be a welcome addition when he arrives in January,” Klinger said.

Chelsea's erratic strategy in the transfer market was always going to be a risky manoeuvre, especially given the huge influx of new players arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Players such as Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo have all made a positive impact at the club since arriving despite their hefty transfer fees.

Fernandez and Caicedo both cost the club over £100m in deals that broke the English transfer record, but have proved to be money well spent under boss Mauricio Pochettino.

It would be harsh to question Todd Boehly's ambition with his spending since the takeover. However, one thing that can be questioned is the erratic nature of the spending – with many players failing to match up with the hefty fees spent on them.

One player, in particular, has failed to live up to expectations after his own big-money move to join the club, with the £75m man only featuring a handful of times because of his relentless injury problems.

Wesley Fofana's record since joining Chelsea

During his nearly two-year stint at Stamford Bridge, 23-year-old centre-back Wesley Fofana has only made 20 appearances for the club, after multiple injury struggles.

The defender made his debut in the 2-1 win against West Ham United in September 2022, before suffering a serious knee injury in his second outing against Crystal Palace.

Fofana was subsequently ruled out until February, with the Frenchman making his return during the 1-0 defeat at home to Southampton. He enjoyed a good run in the Blues side before the end of the 2022/23 campaign, before another injury setback during pre-season back in August.

Knee injury

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Knee injury

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ACL tear

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His awful run of injuries saw the defender suffer a fresh setback, as he suffered another serious blow and underwent surgery to repair his ruptured ACL.

Fofana hasn't featured at all during the 2023/24 season, with the defender still recovering from his latest injury setback which he suffered in pre-season.

Pochettino confirmed that the 23-year-old wouldn't feature for the Blues before the current campaign is over, with the former Leicester City defender aiming to return ahead of the start of the 2024/25 season in August.

Wesley Fofana's market value in 2024

After joining the club for £75m, his value has taken a nose dive given his extended period on the sidelines.

Although he joined the club with real potential, the centre-back, who was touted to be the next Virgil Van Dijk by former boss Brendan Rodgers, hasn't hit the levels expected due to injury, with the 23-year-old's market value taking a huge hit.

Fofana – who Rodgers said was "showing very similar [qualities] to what [Virgil] van Dijk was at Celtic" – is now only valued at £27m, as per Transfermarkt, a decrease of roughly 64% on the figure the club paid for him less than two years ago.

Whilst you could argue that it is harsh to blame Chelsea for his injury issues, Fofana missed a staggering 72 matches through injury during his time with Leicester, which shows that the warning signs were there.

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He's proved to be a huge "waste of money", as dubbed by Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder, with Fofana also taking home a weekly wage of £200k-per-week, which sees him rake in £10.4m every season.

Given all the stats behind his failed move, Pochettino and the board should look to offload the Frenchman, with his value and wages going a long way to help the club in their battle against FFP.