Liverpool have been offered the chance to seal a “sensational” swap deal involving a current Reds player and a “complete” midfielder, according to a new transfer claim.

Latest Liverpool news

On Monday, finally some positive contract news emerged, with Fabizio Romano reporting that it is a “matter of time” until Ibrahima Konate signs a new deal at Anfield. While the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are even more important to tie down, the Frenchman is an influential performer in his own right.

In terms of transfer rumours doing the rounds, Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo continues to be linked with a move to Anfield, with a new report claiming that scouts have been sent to watch him in action, viewing him as a long-term replacement for Salah out on the right wing.

The Cameroonian is far from the only option being considered as a possible successor to the legendary Reds forward, with Bournemouth wide man Antoine Semenyo believed to have caught the eye of the Premier League leaders.

One Liverpool player who has been short of form and arguably looked past his best this season is Andy Robertson, and at 30, a long-term replacement will need to be found in the near future. Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri has emerged as a standout target, with Merseysiders even potentially able to sign him on the cheap.

Liverpool offered "sensational" swap deal opportunity

According to MilanLive [via Sport Witness], Liverpool have been handed the chance to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders in a swap deal involving Federico Chiesa, likely with some cash going Milan’s way.

Described as a “sensational” opportunity, the Dutchman could join the Reds in the January transfer window, with Arne Slot potentially wanting to add depth in the middle of the park as this report claims those at Anfield are now considering whether to go through with such a “crazy” deal.

In some ways, it would be a huge surprise if Chiesa was sold midway through his first season at Liverpool, but the injury concerns that surrounded him when he arrived from Juventus have come to fruition, with the Italian sidelined currently and yet to start in the league in 2024/25.

The 27-year-old does still feel more likely to stay until at least the summer, but in Reijnders, the Reds would be signing an excellent midfielder who could add technical quality and defensive nous to Slot’s squad. The Milan man started all six matches for the Netherlands at Euro 2024, enjoying a 93.5% pass completion rate and helping his country reach the semi-finals, while Ronald Koeman has called him a “super complete midfielder with acceleration”.

At 26, Reijnders is both very experienced and still young enough to be a force in Liverpool’s midfield for plenty of years, and he could be viewed as a great alternative to Real Sociedad ace Martin Zubimendi.

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That being said, Chiesa needs to be trusted for now, and selling him would weaken the Reds’ attacking options, so the swap deal would come as a shock if it happened.

Ruben Amorim kickstarted his Manchester United tenure with a 1-1 draw away against newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road this afternoon.

Marcus Rashford handed the Red Devils the dream start, firing home after just 81 seconds following superb work down the right-hand side by Amad Diallo.

However, they were pegged back before the interval, after Omari Hutchinson’s strike from the edge of the box found the top corner via a deflection off the head of Noussair Mazraoui.

The point takes Manchester United up to 12th in the Premier League, six points off the top four, with a Champions League place still up for grabs come the end of the season.

Undoubtedly, Amorim’s new system will take time to implement, but after today’s showing, he simply must be considering dropping numerous players after their disappointing performances.

Man Utd’s below-par performers against Ipswich

Midfielder Christian Eriksen started from the off in East Anglia, being preferred to academy star Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, despite the Uruguayan’s previous stint under the new boss at Sporting CP.

The Denmark international featured for 68 minutes before being replaced by striker Joshua Zirkzee as United hunted for an equaliser during the closing stages.

However, before his withdrawal, the 32-year-old failed to impress, lacking tempo and looking sluggish throughout. He only won 50% of the duels he contested, whilst also losing possession ten times, looking wasteful with the ball at his feet.

Eriksen wasn’t the only player to disappoint in the draw, with teammate Alejandro Garnacho failing to make the impression he would have wished for in the first outing under the 39-year-old.

The Argentine featured in a wide left position, but was unable to create any opportunities within the final third, losing the ball every time he attempted a take-on and missing one big chance that could have secured all three points for the Red Devils.

The youngster was also outfought by former United talent Axel Tuanzebe, losing eight duels – the most of any player within Amorim’s starting XI.

However, the aforementioned pair weren’t the only two players to produce a disappointing display, with one other first-team member needing to be dropped as a result of his below-par showing.

The player Amorim needs to drop after Ipswich

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has been a man under scrutiny in recent months for his failure to demonstrate why the hierarchy forked out £70m for his signature in 2022.

Despite his failures under former boss Erik ten Hag, he was handed an opportunity from the off by the new manager but was unable to grab his chance with both hands.

The 32-year-old was largely bypassed in the first half at Portman Road, being dribbled past twice as the hosts looked to counterattack given their lowly possession stat of just 40%.

Minutes played

56

Touches

28

Passes completed

16/23 (70%)

Dribbled past

2

Duels won

3/5

Possession lost

7x

Interceptions made

0

Casemiro also lost possession seven times in the first 45 minutes before being replaced just after the break by Ugarte – giving the ball away once every seven minutes during his time on the pitch.

He also only registered a tally of 28 touches within his display, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Andre Onana who registered 57 during the draw against Kieran McKenna’s men.

As a result, the former Real Madrid ace was handed a measly 4/10 match rating from the Metro’s Tony Mogan – an indication of how disappointing he was throughout the encounter.

Amorim will have to be brutal during his spell at Old Trafford if he is to bring the glory days back to the North West, with numerous players potentially being axed from his squad.

Casemiro and Garnacho will be two players lucky to retain their starting roles over the coming weeks after their outings this afternoon, with both players unable to have the desired effect against the Tractor Boys.

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1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 22, 2024

ساهم المصري عمر مرموش في فوز فريقه مانشستر سيتي أمام ليستر سيتي في منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

والتقى مانشستر سيتي وليستر سيتي على ملعب “الاتحاد” ضمن مباريات الجولة الثلاثين للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وحقق مانشستر سيتي الفوز على ليستر سيتي، بهدفين دون مقابل، وسجل له جاك جريليش، وعمر مرموش.

خاض مرموش المباراة كاملة حتى النهاية وأحرز هدفًا، وحصل على تقييم 8.1 من 10 بحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور”، وهو ثانٍ أعلى تقييم بين لاعبي الفريقين، بعد زميله سافيو (8.4).

سدد مرموش 3 تسديدات على المرمى، و2 بعيدتين عن المرمى، و4 تسديدات شتتها لاعبو الخصم.

وله محاولة مراوغة ناجحة، ولمس مرموش الكرة 39 مرة، وبلغت دقة تمريراته 89%، بعدد 17 تمريرة دقيقة من أصل 19.

في التحامات الكرات الأرضية، فاز مرموش بـ 3 من أصل 5، وفاز بكرة هوائية، وفقد الاستحواذ 8 مرات، وارتكب خطأين كما تم ارتكاب خطأين ضده، ووقع في مصيدة التسلل مرة واحدة.

It might not be what fans want to hear, but as things stand, Arsenal’s season is already starting to fall apart.

Mikel Arteta’s side have won just one of their last five games – an EFL Cup tie against Championship opposition – and they are currently fourth in the Premier League and down in 12th in the Champions League.

It’s too early to declare the Gunners’ season over, but they need something significant to change in the coming months to get them back on track.

Arsenal’s previous five results

Opposition

Result

Chelsea (A)

1-1 (D)

Inter Milan (A)

1-0 (L)

Newcastle (A)

1-0 (L)

Preston (A)

3-0 (W)

Liverpool (H)

2-2 (D)

So, it’s good news that the transfer window is right around the corner, especially since they’ve been linked with a supremely gifted youngster who could well be their next Mesut Özil.

Arsenal transfer news

According to recent reports from Spain, Arsenal are incredibly keen on signing Real Madrid’s tremendously exciting youngster, Arda Güler.

The report claims that the Turkish international is not happy in the Spanish capital over his lack of game time and that, in a move similar to Martin Odegaard’s in January 2021, the Gunners are looking to exploit this unhappiness.

Now, the report has revealed that any transfer in January would likely be a loan, but once again, there is hope at the Emirates that Arteta could convince the youngster that North London is where he should stay permanently, just as he was able to convince the Norwegian three years ago.

There are a lot of moving parts in this potential deal, but given Guler’s ability and incredible potential, Arsenal must try and bring him to N5 in the new year and then see if they can get him to stay for the long term, as he could be the potential long-term heir to their former number ten, Özil.

Why Güler could be Arsenal's new Özil

So, while Güler can play as both a right-winger and attacking midfielder, it seems incredibly unlikely that he’d replace Bukayo Saka, meaning that were he to join Arsenal, he’d almost certainly do so to play in the middle of the park.

This would, in turn, see him follow in the footsteps of Odegaard and Özil, who both swapped Madrid for Islington and while they did so in different eras for the club, they both more than made their mark.

For example, the German became the Gunners’ record signing when he joined on transfer deadline day in September 2013.

Over the following seven and a half years, he made 254 appearances, scored 44 goals, provided 75 assists and won three FA Cups.

Whereas, in his three and a half years at the club, Arteta’s current captain has made 158 appearances, in which he’s scored 35 goals and provided 26 assists, although he’s yet to win anything.

So, if Güler, whom analyst Ben Mattinson claims could become “Ballon D’Or level,” does follow in their footsteps, why is he more likely to become the next Özil and not the next Odegaard?

The first reason is that, like the 2014 World Cup winner, the 19-year-old “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Dean Jones, is far more accustomed to playing in a more attacking midfield role when in the middle of the park.

In contrast, the Drammen-born star has played just under a third of his Arsenal games in central midfield, and as the number on the back of his shirt suggests, he tends to drop a little deeper in build-up and often moves out to the right in attack.

On top of that, while the 36-year-old ex-pro was born in Gelsenkirchen, he never hid his love for his Turkish roots and even spent a good amount of time playing in the country before retiring, including for Fenerbahce, which is where Los Blancos’ Turkish gem played before joining them.

Ultimately, Arsenal have enjoyed great success when it comes to signing talented midfielders from Real in the past. So they should do all they can to secure Güler’s services, especially as his positional preferences and unbelievable raw talent suggest he could become the club’s next Özil.

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The left-armer says he’s fit for the final installment of the Ashes having been the only quick to play throughout

Alex Malcolm12-Jan-2022Australia quick Mitchell Starc is adamant he doesn’t need or want to rest for the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart, especially as it will be a pink-ball Test under lights.Starc has been Australia’s leading fast bowling in the series with 15 wickets and the only one to play all four Tests so far, but he laboured a bit in Sydney on a surface that has traditionally not suited him.He took 1 for 124 from 34 overs at the SCG and had some trouble with the footmarks on the final day, wincing at times during his final spell with the second new ball as Australia pushed to bowl out England prior to stumps.However, speaking on Wednesday, Starc said he was fully fit and available to play and was not at all keen to be rested.”I hope not, it’s a pink-ball game,” Starc said. “[I’m] feeling good. Obviously, we’ve had a couple of days now to get ready for the fifth Test match.”It’s purely up to the selectors. I’m not looking for a break. It’s the last Test match of an Ashes series at home. It’s a pink-ball game too. I’d very much like to play. I guess it’s in the hands of the selectors. But I won’t be asking for rest.”Australia have a selection squeeze amongst both its batting and bowling groups. The selectors are trying to find a way to bring back Travis Head after he missed the Sydney Test due to Covid-19, while his replacement Usman Khawaja created an irresistible case to be retained thanks to brilliant twin centuries.There is a similar squeeze with the bowlers. Jhye Richardson is fully fit having missed the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches due to left shin soreness. Scott Boland came into the side in his place and has taken 14 wickets at an insane average of 8.64.Scott Boland clutches his side after slipping on release•Getty Images

Boland bowled magnificently again in Sydney but did need injections in his ribs to get through the match after he fell heavily on his side while bowling in the first innings. Scans did clear him of any serious damage but Starc was unsure how Boland had pulled up.”I don’t know. I think he went to the gym yesterday.” Starc said. “No doubt he’ll be at training and bowl today. He’s a quiet character but quite a resilient one. So no doubt he’ll be looking forward to taking part in this Test as well.”Boland was heralded as a horses for courses selection at the MCG and SCG but if the selectors were to apply the same logic in Hobart then Richardson would have a strong case to return. Richardson took a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings in Adelaide with the pink ball and averages 20.70 in day-night first-class matches, two of which have been Tests. He also took seven wickets in his only Sheffield Shield game at Bellerive Oval earlier this summer.Boland averages 22.64 in pink-ball games and is the only Australia quick to have played two pink-ball Shield games in Hobart, but he took just three wickets at 60.33 in those two matches. His overall record at Bellerive is a bizarre anomaly. He has 13 wickets at 64 in eight first-class matches there, whereas he averages under 20 at the SCG, the Gabba and Adelaide Oval, and 25 at the MCG.While the selectors ponder what pace attack to choose, Starc and his captain Pat Cummins are debating who should bat at No. 8 given Starc’s recent form with the bat.Related

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Starc has made 151 runs in the series and only been dismissed twice, making valuable contributions in each of the four Tests. He is far more credentialed with the bat from a pure run-scoring perspective than Cummins, averaging 23.60 for his career with 10 half-centuries, while Cummins averages 16.63 with just two fifties.Cummins moved ahead of Starc in the order after the 2017-18 Ashes on the basis that Cummins occupied more balls than Starc in order to hang around with the specialist batters for longer. Cummins averages 37 balls per innings compared to Starc’s 26.But in the last two series, Starc has averaged 33 balls per innings and 38.66 per dismissal having been not out in six of his 11 innings, while Cummins has averaged 35 balls per innings and 14.75 per dismissal, leading to a conversation about who should bat higher.”We have sort of started that conversation about where we were both going to bat, we both want to bat No. 9 I think,” Starc said. “He’s the captain after all. So we’ll see how that pans out this week.”Starc said his wife, Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy, has noted his improved numbers with the bat.”Alyssa has been laughing at me because she’s seen I’ve been hitting a lot more and obviously spending a bit more time in the middle,” Starc said. “She’s taking the mickey out of me about how much I’ve been batting at training. Whether that’s paying off, I guess, in a way it has been.”We’ve got Michael Di Venuto with us at the moment who’s just been fantastic. I did a lot of work with him in his first stint as the batting coach. And then since he’s come back, working with him and Andrew McDonald just on getting a clear game plan.”Technically I haven’t changed anything, probably since the World Cup in 2019. Doing a little bit of work with Ricky Ponting [in 2019] seemed to have put me in some good positions as well. It’s more about just getting some time out in training and then in the middle, but having clear plans on what I’m trying to achieve.”

le Roux stars for Ireland in their win over Canada

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2022A 12-run last-wicket partnership took UAE over the line in a tense contest against Uganda in the first Plate quarter-final in Port of Spain. Legspinner Adhitya Shetty played a crucial role in the win. First, his legspin yielded figures of 4 for 29 to bowl Uganda out for 123. Then, he made an unbeaten 11 from No. 10 to take his side over the line.Shetty was among the wickets early in the game when he got the first wicket of the day, dismissing Uganda opener Ronald Opio for 12. Nilansh Keswani struck from the other end, and the three wickets had reduced Uganda from 30 for no loss to 39 for 3. Ronald Lutaaya (25) and Uganda captain Pascal Murungi (23) then added 35 for the fourth wicket, but once Shetty broke the partnership, the rest of the wickets quickly followed. Shetty himself took two more, while Aayan Afzal Khan took two lower order wickets to set themselves a 124-run target.A 43-run opening stand for between top-scorer Kai Smith (25) and Dhruv Parashar gave UAE a solid start in the chase, but Uganda spinners Joseph Baguma (3-29) and Matthew Musinguzi (3-21) ran through the UAE batting line-up to have them reeling at 82 for 7. Aayan, the No. 9, scored a 38-ball 22 to take UAE closer to the target, but when the ninth wicket fell, the side was still nine runs away from victory. However, Shetty and Jash Giyanani (4*) held on to pip Uganda in a low-scoring thriller.In another low-scoring match, Ireland successfully defended 179 against Canada, with Philippus le Roux being the standout batter.Le Roux made an unbeaten 83 in 107 balls for Ireland, a clear outlier in the match where the second-highest score from either team was 25. His innings of 12 fours lifted Ireland to 179, after which a combined Irish bowling performance left Canada all out for a sub-100 score.Ireland seamer Reuben Wilson pegged Canada back early in the chase when he dismissed both openers cheaply. Liam Doherty then reduced Canada to 12 for 3, and by the time Nathan McGuire removed Gurnek Johal Singh, Canada were 41 for 5. Kairav Sharma displayed brief resistance in his 30-ball stay of 19 but two wickets for Jamie Forbes and Wilson’s third scalp ended Canada’s innings on 85 in the 30th over.Le Roux, the Ireland No. 5, walked in at 34 for 3 in the first innings and stayed unbeaten right till the end. He put on 33 with the captain Tim Tector for the fourth wicket, but a flurry of wickets at the other end had Ireland struggling at 90 for 7. However, a 48-run eighth-wicket stand between le Roux and Forbes (25) took Ireland closer to 140, and a 37-run ninth-wicket stand with Muzamil Sherzad (13) took Ireland to 179.

Ruben Amorim will soon get his first taste of action as Manchester United manager, with the Red Devils facing off against Ipswich Town on the road to kickstart the new Portuguese boss’ reign in the Premier League.

This is a potential banana skin, considering the Tractor Boys are just fresh off a shock away win at Tottenham Hotspur, on top of the fact Kieran McKenna’s past Man United loyalties will mean he’s keen to get one over on the brand new face in the Old Trafford hot-seat.

Beyond this opening test in Suffolk, Amorim will also already be thinking about any potential additions he could make to his squad, with the potential for him to be prioritising a new central midfielder to partner Manuel Ugarte.

Ugarte's importance under Amorim

It has been well documented now the past both Amorim and Ugarte have shared together, with the Uruguayan winning himself a big move to Paris St. Germain in the summer of 2023 after starring under the 39-year-old’s watchful eye at Sporting CP.

Of course, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether to Amorim’s native country, but the fresh face in the Theatre of Dreams dug-out will want to get even more out of the 23-year-old who was beginning to shine under the interim reign of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Ugarte stood out in the Dutchman’s final match as temporary boss, with the United number 25 winning ten duels and only misplacing four of his 51 passes as the Red Devils breezed past Leicester City 3-1 in confident fashion.

He will have to make sure his performance levels are more consistent, so Amorim continues to pick him, having struggled to get going against Chelsea in early November when only two of his 13 duels on the day were successfully won.

That could well happen under the familiar managerial methods of Amorim, with the former Sporting midfielder perhaps joined by a new face in the middle of the park who could go on to become United’s very own Rodri.

The signing who could be Man United's own Rodri

The only issue here would be getting all of United’s central midfield talents into one starting lineup, with Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo also options at his disposal that could fit into his distinctive 3-4-3 set-up.

But, it seems as if another midfielder is on his transfer wish list, with German Leon Goretzka one player taking their fancy. However, according to TEAMTalk, they fill face competition from Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.

Frustrated by his current situation in Bavaria, having not been a regular starter since Vincent Kompany’s arrival as manager, the Red Devils could swoop in to breathe life back in the 29-year-old’s career.

Said to be the eighth most similar player in Europe’s top five leagues to Rodri when comparing the two midfielders on FBRef, this could be a perfect route to go down if United finally axe Casemiro down the line, with Goretzka a smart addition judging by his eye for a goal and assist too.

Shots in total

1.73

1.63

Shot-creating actions

3.03

4.63

Passes attempted

75.42

113.39

Pass completion %

90.1%

91.5%

Progressive passes

7.52

12.00

Progressive carries

2.53

2.73

Successful take-ons

0.58

2.73

Progressive passes received

2.30

1.77

Although the Ballon d’Or winner is, of course, the better player, the wantaway Bayern star and Rodri are similar in many aspects of their respective games, with Goretzka actually bettering the Spaniard in shots averaged per match across the last year.

Goretzka has bagged 41 strikes for the Bundesliga giants, on top of picking up 46 assists, leading to shouts from football journalist Stefan Bienkowski that the 29-year-old is even “world-class.”

He could well be a great alternative to Fernandes in this regard, therefore, with Goretzka also mirroring his Spanish counterpart when looking at his impressive trophy haul at Bayern.

The 29-year-old has picked up five Bundesliga titles playing in Germany, which isn’t too dissimilar to Rodri’s four Premier League title triumphs in a row, with the addition of the 6 foot 2 star giving United a classy option who could be a statement buy for the new Amorim era.

Whatever does take place on the transfer front moving forward, United supporters will just hope Amorim settles in well initially, with lots of flashy buys already being hyped up.

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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 16, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

Em partida realizada na tarde deste sábado, o Hercílio Luz acabou levando a melhor sobre a Chapecoense, ao derrotar o Verdão por 3 a 0, no estádio Aníbal Costa.

Com o resultado, a equipe do Hercílio chegou aos 21 pontos, ficando na primeira colocação, enquanto o time da Chape, por conta do revés, acabou estacionando na 4ª colocação com seus 16 pontos.

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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

Primeiro tempo

Sem grandes emoções no começo de jogo, tanto a Chape, quanto o Hercílio não conseguiam finalizar com precisão nos primeiros 10 minutos, deixando os goleiros Matheus Aurélio e Igor tranquilos. Passado o tempo, o panorama em campo era igual, até a pausa para a hidratação dos atleta.

Até que a partir dos 35 minutos, o confronto passou a melhorar. Em uma primeira chegada, Dentinho passou para Igor, mas a bola acabou indo para fora assustando o sistema defensivo da Chape. Até que aos 42, o Leão conseguiu abrir a contagem com Dentinho, após passe de Tito, balançando as redes, fechando o placar parcial em 1 a 0.

Segundo tempo

Voltando para o segundo tempo, o técnico da equipe de Chapecó, Bolívar, resolveu então mexer em seu esquema tático inicial, promovendo três mudanças. Entretanto, mesmo com a aposta, viu o Hercílio ampliar aos 12, com Luan Ferreira.

Atrás no marcador, o técnico dos visitantes ainda fez mais algumas trocas, porém com o treinador rival, Raul Cabral, também mudando. Sendo assim, quem se deu melhor foram os mandantes. Aos 30, outra vez ele, Dentinho, aumentou ainda mais a contagem, fazendo 3 a 0.

Praticamente com o jogo resolvido, o Leão apenas administrou o resultado até os momentos finais, com seu comandante ainda substituindo para ganhar tempo, com direito a festa dos atletas ao final do jogo.

Borussia Dortmund are ready to reduce their asking price for Jamie Gittens amid interest from Premier League clubs and Bayern Munich.

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Dortmund ready to reduce Gittens' asking pricePremier League clubs and Bayern keen on signing himWinger will be sold if BVB fail to secure European footballFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Dortmund sensation Gittens is all set to be sold in the summer as the Bundesliga side have accepted they may have to significantly drop their asking price for the English winger, according to . Earlier it was reported that BVB are set to demand a fee of around €100 million (£83m/$103m), but they are now considering reducing the figure between €60m (£50m/$63m) and €70m (£58m/$73m).

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The report also adds that Dortmund might be forced to let go of Gittens in the summer due to financial constraints if they do not secure European football for next season. Niko Kovac's side have struggled for form in the 2024-25 campaign and are currently 10th in the Bundesliga after 24 matches.

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Several top European clubs have shown interest in the 20-year-old winger, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Premier League giants like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?

The German club will be back in action in the Bundesliga on Saturday when they host Augsburg, who sit 11th and are unbeaten in eight league matches.

It’s no secret that Chelsea haven’t been afraid to splash the cash since the arrival of owner Todd Boehly back in May 2022 – spending over £1.2bn on new signings in the process.

The money spent has allowed for a complete overhaul of the first-team squad, handing boss Enzo Maresca all the tools to be a success during his debut season at the helm in West London.

Various big-money attackers have arrived at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of years, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto up there with the biggest fees spent on players during the American’s reign as owner.

The Ukrainian cost the club a whopping £88.5m, with Neto setting Boehly back around £54m after his surprise summer transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, neither have yet been able to reach the level of one star who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his own time as a player with the Blues.

Eden Hazard’s time at Chelsea

Belgian winger Eden Hazard arrived at Chelsea back in the summer of 2012 as an unknown quantity to many, but quickly introduced himself to the Blues faithful, rapidly becoming a fan favourite.

He quickly caught the eye with his direct dribbling ability, breezing past many opposition players – with his eye for goal also notable during his seven years at the Bridge.

Hazard registered a total of 110 goals within his 352 appearances for the Blues, winning six major trophies during his time in England, which includes two separate Europa League triumphs in 2013 and 2019.

The one goal that could sum up his talent during his time with the Blues is his solo effort against London rivals Arsenal, picking the ball up just inside the opponent’s half before shrugging off multiple players before dinking the ‘keeper and slotting the ball home.

He would subsequently leave the club back in the summer of 2019, joining Real Madrid in a £150m deal – a move that would see his career rapidly decline with injuries plaguing his time in Spain.

However, it will never tarnish his legacy as a Chelsea player, undoubtedly going down as one of the very best players in their recent history – with no player more able to turn a game on its head like Hazard did.

Arguably, the club have struggled to replace him five years on from his departure, but they could be handed an opportunity to finally end their hunt in January with a move for one talent.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The player who could be Chelsea’s next Hazard

According to reporter Graeme Bailey, Chelsea have sent scouts to keep a close eye on Lyon winger Rayan Cherki over a potential move to Stamford Bridge.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit of the French talent, with fellow Premier League side Newcastle United also firmly in the race for his signature.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2024/25 campaign, registering two goals and three assists in his first nine outings in all competitions.

Cherki has previously been compared to Hazard, with French football expert Jonathan Johnson previously saying:

Such a comparison may seem far-fetched, but when delving into his stats from the Europa League so far this season, it’s clear he possesses serious talent which could see the Blues land another version of the Belgian.

In his three European outings this season, he’s averaged a staggering nine progressive passes per 90, along with five successful take-ons – with both figures ranking him within the top 1% of players in the competition. Hazard was one of the finest dribblers in the Premier League so the comparison begins to make sense here.

The “world-class” Cherki, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also averaged 5.8 key passes and 2.5 through balls per 90, showcasing his ability to find teammates in attacking areas, potentially benefitting the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.

Whilst it’s unknown how much any potential deal would set Maresca’s side back in January, it’s evident that he would be a superb addition that would bring added firepower in attacking areas.

His comparison to former fan-favourite Hazard would see him bring huge excitement to Stamford Bridge in the club’s hunt to return to a Champions League finish this season.

Boehly must permanently axe Chelsea flop who earns even more than Palmer

Chelsea need to sell a player who’s earning even more than Cole Palmer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 5, 2024