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Arsenal are set to formally announce a £27 million signing when the summer window opens, with the Gunners kick-starting their transfer business immediately.

Edu's transfer plans after failed Arsenal title challenge

Sporting director Edu has vowed to keep on improving Mikel Arteta's squad over the next few weeks, coming after they faltered in their second-successive Premier League title challenge.

Edu pushes for £70m star with help of Arsenal scout who discovered Endrick

The Arsenal chief is personally driving this pursuit.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 12, 2024

Arsenal pushed eventual champions Man City right to the final day and remained firmly on their heels, eventually managing an impressive 89 points, which would've been enough to win the title in many seasons previously.

However, Pep Guardiola's side have set a very high bar, and it is up to Edu to ensure that the north Londoners maintain their place among England's top two teams and challenge City again next season.

Arsenal are aiming to bring in a new goalkeeper, with Aaron Ramsdale expected to leave the Emirates, while they could also strengthen in defence. This week, it was reported that Edu is personally pushing to sign Nottingham Forest star Murillo at the back, despite Arsenal boasting the best defensive record of any top flight side last campaign.

In midfield, Arsenal may need a replacement for Thomas Partey, so it is rumoured that they're in the market for a new central midfield star. A position which they really wish to reinforce, and one that has been dominating the headlines, is going forward.

Arteta wants to sign a young partner for Kai Havertz, but they'll have to look beyond Benjamin Sesko, as the heavily-linked Slovenian put pen to paper on a new contract at RB Leipzig and looks set to remain in Germany for the time being.

Arsenal have striker alternatives to Sesko, though, with Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee attracting Edu's attention ahead of a possible transfer tussle with AC Milan. It looks set to be a very interesting and potentially busy summer at Hale End.

It will be crucial in determining Arsenal's chances to make it third-time-lucky and finally beat City to a coveted domestic crown, having fallen just short in their last two attempts.

There is also the matter of goalkeeper David Raya, who usurped Ramsdale as Arteta's first choice shot-stopper last season.

The Spaniard is currently on loan from Brentford, but the deal includes a £27 million clause to sign him outright.

Arsenal set to announce David Raya permanent deal after window opens

As per TEAMtalk, Arsenal are set to formally announce the signing of Raya on a permanent deal after the transfer window reopens – kickstarting their summer with Edu's first piece of business.

The 28-year-old conceded just 31 goals across 41 appearances in all competitions last season, keeping 20 clean sheets in the process, with Arteta also heaping praise on Raya.

"We are lucky to have the keeper we have," Arteta told Sky Sports (via BBC) after their 3-2 north London derby win over Tottenham. "He made an individual error but after that the way he played was outstanding. He was magnificent."

Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho will not join up with the Argentina squad after a knee issue cropped up.

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• Garnacho out of Argentina squad
• Suffered a knee injury
• World champions take on Venezuela and Bolivia

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per TYC Sports, the United winger will not travel to Miami after being removed from Lionel Scaloni's squad for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Garnacho reportedly felt discomfort in his left knee which prompted the Red Devils to prevent the youngster from joining up with the national team.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 20-year-old is an integral part of Erik ten Hag's squad and has appeared in 11 matches across all competitions this season where he has scored four times and provided three assists. The Premier League giants want the youngster to take advantage of the international break and recover from the latest injury problem ahead of their upcoming league fixture.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While the United attacker will miss La Albiceleste's upcoming matches, Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister has travelled to Miami despite suffering an injury during the club's latest league fixture against Crystal Palace.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARGENTINA?

  The reigning world champions are scheduled to face Venezuela away from home on Thursday before hosting Bolivia on October 16.

As the new Arne Slot era begins at Liverpool, among the key issues in the Dutchman's in-tray will be to consider the contract status of three of the club's key figures, with Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk all with just 12 months left to run on their existing deals.

In the case of Salah, there has been a general acceptance that the Egyptian's exit is a matter of when and not if, with the wing wizard – who turns 32 next month – the subject of intense interest from Saudi Arabia over the last 12 months or so.

Meanwhile, for Alexander-Arnold, it would seemingly be a far more concerning scenario to lose the academy graduate for nothing in a years' time, with the 25-year-old on a path to becoming the "very best right-back of all time", in the words of Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

Keeping the Englishman at all costs, while perhaps begrudgingly letting Salah depart, may be the best or more likely course of action over the next 12 months, yet a resolution to Van Dijk's position is seemingly less clear – having cast doubt over his future amid Jurgen Klopp's departure.

While the former Southampton and Celtic star has since outlined that he may be part of Slot's plans moving forward, after talks with his compatriot, it would not be the worst idea to already be thinking of a succession plan – particularly with the centre-back turning 33 in July.

Managing to fill the shoes of the towering colossus will be no mean feat, although the Anfield giants appear to have their eyes on a promising successor who could represent a dream first signing for the new Reds boss.

Liverpool seeking dream first Slot signing

According to Daily Mail journalist, Kieran Gill, the Merseysiders are said to be showing an interest in Chelsea sensation, Levi Colwill, with Slot said to be "chasing a versatile left-footed defender" – a role the 21-year-old can fulfil having featured at centre-back and left-back this season.

The suggestion is that the Blues are keen to keep hold of the young Englishman – whose contract deal is set to run until 2029 – this summer, after previously fending off interest from Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion last year.

Perhaps, however, Slot and co could look to capitalise on the Stamford Bridge outfit's PSR concerns, with rumours rife that the west Londoners may be forced to cash in on fellow academy graduates Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher.

Whether Colwill could be added to that list remains to be seen, although if a suitable offer is to arrive for the elegant left-footer – who is valued at €50m (£43m) by CIES Football Observatory – then Liverpool may fancy their chances.

Levi Colwill's season in numbers

Despite making 32 appearances in his first full season in the first-team at Chelsea, it proved something of a difficult campaign for young Colwill in 2023/24, with the one-cap England international missing out on Gareth Southgate's provisional Euro 2024 squad, having not featured since March.

An unused substitute for the final four games of the season, the former Brighton loanee had been hampered by a toe injury prior to that, while also previously missing a handful of games due to a hamstring issue.

Equally, the the emerging "giant" – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – was forced to operate for much of the first half of the season at left-back under Mauricio Pochettino, despite typically operating in the heart of the defence.

That said, such versatility could well work in the one-time Huddersfield Town man's favour amid Slot's search for a flexible option, the Dutch coach having notably utilised David Hancko as both a left-sided full-back and centre-half in Rotterdam this season.

A true "Rolls-Royce" of a defender, according to Kulig, Colwill impressed in his 23 league outings when he was fit and available, averaging 3.2 tackles per game, while winning 69% of his aerial duels and 65% of his total duels, as per Sofascore.

He still has a way to go to match the levels of the man he has previously been compared to in Van Dijk – who won 76% of his total duels and 81% of his aerial duels – yet it does bode well that he was only dribbled past 0.3 times per game after typically operating as an unorthodox left-back. For comparison, Andy Robertson was dribbled past 0.7 times per game from his 23 outings.

As such, the hope will be that Colwill can prove to be the natural successor to Van Dijk at left centre-back, with the aim of forging a long-term partnership with fellow emerging English sensation, Jarell Quansah.

How Colwill could slot in at Liverpool

While Colwill's Euro 2024 hopes have been crushed – likely due to his stint out with injury – Quansah, meanwhile, still has an outside chance of making the travelling party to Germany, amid his inclusion in Southgate's 33-man training squad.

That senior call-up is just reward following what was a stunning breakthrough season for the 21-year-old under Klopp, the Warrington-born titan the subject of sizeable praise from pundit Gary Gillespie, who said "his performances have just elevated him into a different stratosphere" – in comparison to Ibrahima Konate.

Like Colwill, the 6 foot 3 ace has cut his teeth lower down the division after spending last season on loan at Bristol Rovers, prior to making 17 Premier League outings this time around, averaging 2.5 tackles per game and enjoying a standout 89% pass accuracy rate.

The natural right-footer has lined up as the right centre-back alongside Van Dijk for much of 2024, with the addition of Colwill set to provide him with a long-term partner, rather than direct competition.

Of course, no one at Anfield will be looking to force their Dutch colossus out the door any time soon, but the prospect of fashioning what could well be a decade-long partnership involving the two 21-year-olds is a mouthwatering one indeed.

Not just a potential future partnership for the Three Lions, but also on Merseyside, managing to pluck Colwill from Stamford Bridge would certainly represent a perfect first move for Slot at the start of this new era.

Liverpool make move to seal "incredible" signing who's like Bellingham

He could cost Liverpool as much as £51m this summer.

By
Joe Nuttall

May 29, 2024

Aston Villa have reportedly slapped a massive price tag on Jhon Duran, who sunk Bayern Munich in Europe, amid renewed interest from Chelsea.

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• Duran fired Villa to a win over Bayern in UCL
• Chelsea rekindle interest in the striker
• Birmingham club likely to demand over £80m

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Duran has been in exceptional form this season, with his stock continuing to rise with each passing game. The 20-year-old Colombian forward delivered a stunning display on Wednesday, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Bavarians in the Champions League, which has attracted further attention from top clubs, including the London outfit.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Villa have set Duran’s transfer fee at a minimum of £80 million ($105m), a figure that could rise to £100 million ($131m) if his performances continue to improve. Unai Emery is reluctant to let the forward leave and the club had already resisted several offers for the Colombian.

  Over the summer, Chelsea held discussions with Aston Villa over a potential deal, but those talks ultimately stalled as the Blues shifted their focus towards signing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. West Ham also showed interest in the forward, with negotiations reportedly progressing to the point where Duran believed he was on the verge of joining the London club.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the interest from Premier League rivals, Villa were able to retain Duran, thanks in part to the long-term contract he signed with the club, which runs until 2028. This gives Villa a strong hand in any future negotiations, as they are under no pressure to sell the player.

  Remarkably, Duran boasts a superior goal-to-minute ratio compared to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and has already found the back of the net four times despite having played only 28 per cent of Aston Villa’s available minutes in the Premier League.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DURAN?

  As the January transfer window approaches, speculation about Duran’s future is bound to intensify. According to insiders, a January move is not out of the question, though any club hoping to sign the Colombian international will need to meet Villa’s considerable asking price. For now, Duran remains a vital part of Unai Emery’s plans and will be back in action against Manchester United on Sunday in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s decision to sack their manager, Mauricio Pochettino, on Tuesday afternoon sent shockwaves through the footballing world. Whilst rumours of his sacking had been brewing, the Argentine had begun to pull things back for the Blues, and they started to find their best form.

In all competitions since February, Chelsea have lost just four times; twice in the Premier League, against Wolves and Arsenal, once in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, and once in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

With that being said, Todd Boehly decided to pull the plug on Pochettino’s management of Chelsea, despite his side reaching European qualification ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. The Blues were not in Europe this season, but Pochettino ensured Thursday night qualification.

The reports linking Chelsea to a new manager have already begun to intensify. One of their primary targets is thought to be Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna. The former Manchester United assistant has done a wonderful job with the Tractor Boys, earning them back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship, sealing a Premier League return next summer.

According to Darren Lewis of The Mirror, other targets include the unattached Roberto De Zerbi, Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca and Thomas Frank of Brentford. However, there could well be one more name Chelsea pursue.

Chelsea’s managerial plans for the summer

The manager in question here is Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness, who has done an incredible job as manager of the five-time German champions. Unsurprisingly, this has led to Hoeness being linked with a whole host of jobs this summer.

Indeed, Hoeness has done a wonderful job with Stuttgart this season. His side pipped former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern to second place on the final day. This came around one year on from a relegation playoff which could have sealed their fate and sent them down to the Bundesliga 2.

Fabrizio Romano explained that, after rejecting Bayern Munich, Hoeness’ “intention remains to continue at Stuttgart, so it’s not easy”, albeit while reiterating the fact that Chelsea are keen on him.

Given the pedigree Hoeness has built up this season, he could fit the bill perfectly with the Blues, and whilst it is a tough deal to do, it does not necessarily mean Chelsea will shy away from it.

How Hoeness would benefit Chelsea

Hoeness’ Stuttgart are a well-coached and compact side, who aim to keep lots of possession. As per SofaScore, they averaged 60.3% possession in the Bundesliga this season, bettered only by Bayer Leverkusen with 62%, and Bayern with 61.5%.

Stuttgart are deadly on the counterattack, utilising through balls to great effect and finding lots of joy from crosses and cutbacks. The brand of football that the 42-year-old has employed at Stuttgart is enjoyable to watch. It is clear to see why he is currently being chased by so many of Europe’s elite clubs, even if he does not wish to leave Stuttgart.

However, perhaps the most attractive reason for Chelsea to appoint Hoeness this summer is his renowned ability to improve youngsters. Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig highlighted this on X, who noted Hoeness “has the superb ability to develop young talents”, which is one of the things that makes him such a good coach.

Interestingly, Stuttgart have the joint-11th youngest squad in Europe’s big five leagues this season, according to Fbref, at 25.9 years old. What makes Hoeness’ achievements even more impressive is that, of those sides with an equal or younger average age to Stuttgart, only PSG finished higher in their respective leagues.

Chelsea actually have the youngest average squad in Europe’s big five leagues this season, with an age of 24.2 years old. Whilst this is arguably cause for concern, Hoeness’ ability at developing, and succeeding with youngsters could be a major selling point for the Blues.

As is widely known, Chelsea have a particularly inexperienced squad, and have a transfer policy of signing under-25 players, and Pochettino suggested that they needed more experienced players in the squad.

Whilst the deal seems tough to do, given Hoeness’ desire to stay at Stuttgart, bringing in a manager so adept at coaching youngsters would be a smart move for the Blues to make. Only time will tell if they do manage to appoint Hoeness, but it certainly does not seem like a bad move at this moment.

McKenna may be the name on everyone's lips, but as shown above, Hoeness certainly has his own sparkling credentials.

Chelsea in talks for “incredible” Poch heir who’d make Enzo world-class

The Chelsea manager target went unbeaten against Kieran McKenna this season.

By
Tom Lever

May 24, 2024

The midfielder quietly became an alternative Premier League icon with his collection of sublime goals for Blackburn Rovers in the noughties

'The Barclays'. While the Premier League was technically sponsored by the aforementioned bank between 2001-16, the period which is so wistfully looked back upon by fans of a certain vintage is the first decade of the 2000s.

After its initial emergence in 1992, the English top flight enjoyed a secondary boom in popularity following the turn of the millennium, as overseas television deals and a secondary influx of foreign stars gave the league a truly global appeal. It played host to a number of the game's modern icons, too, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba among those who lit up the Premier League on a weekly basis.

When fans talk about 'The Barclays', though, it is not those household names they are referring to. Instead it is the players who were largely in the background when it came to being headline-grabbing, but were seen as key cogs in the Premier League machine by die-hard fans, while still able to produce moments of magic on occasion.

These players have come to be known as the 'Barclaysmen', but what made them so beloved, and what became of them once their Barclays life was over? Here at GOAL, we will endeavour to find out with our latest series, 'Ultimate Barclaysmen'.

When you think of ultimate 'Barclaysman', one name in particular springs to mind: Blackburn Rovers legend Morten Gamst Pedersen. Quite simply, he ticks all the boxes: a back catalogue of outrageous goals, a cannon of a left foot, a mop of highlighted blonde hair, adidas Predators and a storied career with one of the Premier League's unfancied sides. A man with one of the best highlight reels around, Pedersen is an alternative icon.

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  Where he came from

  The true mark of a 'Barclaysman' is someone who emerged out of nowhere, captured the imagination in the Premier League and then faded into obscurity as soon as they left British shores, and that was certainly the case for Pedersen.

  Hailing from the small Norwegian town of Vadso, which has a population of just 6,000 and is located within the Arctic Circle, Pedersen's breakthrough came at Tromso in his homeland, where he would spend the first four years of his senior career. Something of a late bloomer, he was already 22 when Blackburn came calling in 2004.

  The £2.5 million transfer was prompted by Pedersen's fine form for the Eliteserien side, where he had scored seven times in the first half of the March-to-November season alone. He made the switch to the Premier League in August, with Blackburn and then-manager Graeme Souness still looking to replace Damien Duff, who had joined Chelsea a year earlier.

  Pedersen joined Rovers among a host of other notable Blackburn 'Barclaysmen' that summer, including the likes of Ryan Nelson, Robbie Savage and Aaron Mokoena.

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• Barclays highlights

  Pedersen's start to life in the Premier League was far from memorable as he struggled for minutes after Souness was replaced by Mark Hughes in September 2004, but that would all change in early 2005 as he forced his way into the team with three goals in as many games and effectively made himself un-droppable.

  With his smiley demeanour, blonde highlights, classy technique and traction engine of a left foot, Pedersen would go on to become a cult hero at Blackburn and one of the finest midfield players outside of the established top six at the time. Dubbed the 'Norwegian David Beckham', outrageous goals became his trademark, and in nine years at Ewood Park he put together quite the repertoire.

  The standouts among his substantial back catalogue include a thunderous volley on the run against Fulham in August 2005 and a match-winning brace against Manchester United at Old Trafford the following month, coming in the form of a direct free-kick and an emphatic finish into the roof of Edwin van der Sar's goal. That performance is widely considered to be his best in the Rovers shirt.

  He wasn't just all about spectacular goals, though – he 'had that dog in him', too. The winger developed a reputation for playacting and was capable of rubbing opponents up the wrong way, once clashing with now-Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta against Everton and even taking a punch in the gut from ex-Newcastle man Joey Barton.

  Despite playing for an often-middling Blackburn team for the best part of a decade, Pedersen made a creditable 75 goal contributions in 259 Premier League appearances for the Lancashire side, with 2006-07 his most productive season as he scored 11 times and laid on eight more.

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  'Morten is up there with Beckham'

  The main reason Pedersen is remembered so fondly by noughties football aficionados is undoubtedly his ball-striking ability, with the midfielder capable of unleashing rockets off both feet. He didn't actually start developing his famous left until the age of 15, when his father noted that there were too many right-footed players coming through in Norway.

  His reputation as one of the cleanest strikers of a ball in Premier League history is no fluke, then – coming as result of countless hours of practice on the training pitch. "We have just highlighted certain things to Morten and he has worked on it," ex-manager Hughes said in 2007. "He works extremely hard after training every day, hitting numerous balls into the net, with or without 'keepers in goal. David Beckham was one of the best set-piece experts in my time at Manchester United and Ryan Giggs before him, but I would say Morten is up there with David."

  Pedersen was something of a trailblazer – a fleet-footed technician in an era when the Premier League was all about power and physicality, before the days of David Silva and Eden Hazard, loyally plying his trade for a club the size of Blackburn for the peak years of his career. "I like to try different things," he told UEFA back in 2005. "In some parts of the game it's not the thing to do, but when you have time you can maybe try something. I like to play with the ball and give something back to the crowd. It's fun to try things but you have to be at the right place at the right time."

  He also endeared himself to Barclays followers with his cheery manner, seemingly joying every single second out on the pitch. "I always have a smile on my face, off the pitch as well," he said. "That's a part of me, a smile and a good mood."

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  Moving on

  After nine years of loyal service, Pedersen's Blackburn career arguably came to its natural conclusion back in 2013, but he didn't actually want to leave the club.

  Rovers had been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2011-12 campaign and the 31-year-old had admirably gone down with Rovers amid top-flight interest. However, despite providing seven assists in the Championship the following season without being a regular starter, he was told he could move on in August 2013.

  It was reported at the time that his preference was to stay, but he wanted regular game time and that was not forthcoming at Ewood Park. Financial constraints following their relegation also meant Blackburn needed to trim their wage bill, putting relatively high-earner Pedersen in the firing line.

  "There is no big issue. Morten is a top, top professional who wants to play football," ex-Blackburn chief executive Derek Shaw said at the time. "He has found himself out of the team and we will do anything we can to assist a move. You don't meet people as professional as Morten too often and he is a man who wants to play football."

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti personally has his eyes on an £86 million Arsenal star who is absolutely crucial for Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal set for busy summer transfer window

Sporting director Edu looks set to oversee a busy summer transfer window at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners likely to overhaul a few key areas of Arteta's squad.

Arsenal table formal bid to sign £52 million man who's "perfect" for Arteta

The Gunners are moving quickly pre-summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 15, 2024

The north Londoners' defence could look slightly different next season, as it is believed that Arsenal could replace goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale following his season relegated to the bench in favour of David Raya.

Standard Sport also state that Arsenal will look to bring in another defender. Ben White has shone at right-back under Arteta yet again this season, but it is believed they're keen to acquire a more natural full-back option on that side.

Girona defender Yan Couto has been linked with Arsenal this week, alongside Turkey international Ferdi Kadioglu before him, and it hasn't been ruled out that they bring in a new centre-back as well. Sporting Lisbon starlet Ousmane Diomande is a rumoured target for Edu in that regard, but he'll find it very hard to play his way into the first team if he does join.

The Ivory Coast ace has both Gabriel and William Saliba ahead of him in the pecking order, with the Arsenal duo forming an excellent partnership since the beginning of 2022/2023. Spending the season prior out on loan at Marseille, few expected the Frenchman to come in and be quite this pivotal.

Saliba is now an indispensable member of Arteta's starting elevens, playing every single league game this term, and many pinpoint his injury at the end of last season as a key reason why Arsenal lost the title to Man City that year.

The 23-year-old's form hasn't gone unnoticed across Europe, and it is now believed Ancelotti has taken a personal interest.

Ancelotti eyeing Real Madrid move for Saliba

According to CaughtOffside, Ancelotti is personally an admirer of Saliba and Real Madrid are eyeing a move, but they'll be disappointed. Arsenal have no intention of selling their star defender, who they value at around £86 million, and even plan to extend his contract to tie him down further.

"His attitude, the way he came in and said I’m going to prove that I’m very good and I deserve to be here," said Arteta on Saliba's excellent form over the last two years.

“Without any looking back or being shy, he was doing it the right way and giving the right reasons to think that he was going to be really good for us. He had an immediate impact. The first two training sessions that we looked at home we went: There’s huge potential here.

“He took out every question mark that we could have with him and gave us all the reasons to play him. And I think he’s been exceptional since that day.”

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor revealed she was going to text her predecessor Emma Hayes after their thumping pre-season friendly win over Feyenoord.

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• Bompastor succeeds Hayes at Chelsea
• Blues trash Feyenoord in pre-season friendly
• Ex-Lyon boss reveals text to USWNT manager

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea warmed up for the start of the new Women's Super League season with a 9-0 thrashing of Feyenoord on Saturday, while also losing Niamh Charles to injury. When it was pointed out to her that the victory eclipsed an 8-0 win against Bristol City in Hayes' last home game in charge of the Blues in May, the former Lyon boss quipped she would text her about the result.

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  WHAT SONIA BOMPASTOR SAID

  "That’s not a competition, but I am going to text her to make sure she knows about the result! I am sure she will be happy for me and for the team especially," she said, laughing.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bompastor has huge shoes to fill following Hayes' unprecedented success at Chelsea. The legendary Blues manager decided to step away from the west London outfit earlier this year to take up a role as United States women's national team manager. Now, the Frenchwoman will be tasked with delivering more trophies for Chelsea this season. While it won't be easy, her success of winning a whole heap of silverware at Lyon may put her in good steady for this big task ahead – and wins this like may help, too.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea continue their pre-season preparations on Saturday when they host Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, before beginning their WSL campaign at home to Aston Villa on Friday, September 20.

Over the last couple of years, Everton have conducted excellent business in the transfer market, turning their attention to younger talents and allowing them to develop at Goodison Park.

James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite have both arrived on Merseyside in recent seasons, making huge impacts on the club's first-team – including in the 2-0 victory over Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Wednesday night.

The latter only joined the Toffees from Carlisle United for a reported £1m back in 2020, with the youngster having to bide his time before making an impact under Sean Dyche.

However, this season he's started 31 times in the Premier League, with his performances attracting interest from fellow Premier League side Manchester United, who are rumoured to be targeting a big-money move for the 21-year-old this summer.

Despite the excellent incoming in recent seasons, the club have also conducted fantastic business in offloading multiple players who weren't up to the level required of the Premier League, including one former Toffee whose market value has plummeted.

Nikola Vlasic's stats at Everton

After joining the club in an £8m deal from Croatian side Hadjuk Split, midfielder Nikola Vlasic arrived at Goodison with high expectations following three goals in six appearances at the start of the 2017/18 season.

However, he struggled to make any meaningful impact, failing to score or assist in any of his 12 Premier League outings and only featuring for a total of 574 minutes.

Despite his poor form in the league, Vlasic impressed in the Europa League under boss Ronald Koeman, grabbing himself two goals and an assist in his six European appearances for the Toffees.

His impressive record in Europe wouldn't be enough for the Croatian to secure a regular place at Goodison, however, departing the club on a season-long loan to join Russian side CSKA Moscow for the 2018/19 campaign.

The move would see the midfielder recapture his excellent form, achieving 15 goal contributions in his 31 appearances for the club in all competitions.

After taking Russia by storm, CSKA decided to permanently buy Vlasic, departing Merseyside less than two years after arriving – but making the club a tidy profit of £6m, as the Toffees managed to secure a £14m fee for the former Hadjuk Split talent.

Nikola Vlasic's market value in 2024

Nearly five years on from his Everton departure and Vlasic has struggled to recapture his form in multiple leagues across Europe, returning to the Premier League to feature for West Ham United, before making a move to Italy in 2022.

His time at Torino has been a struggle, only managing 18 goal contributions in 70 games for the Serie A outfit, with his market value plunging as a result.

The Croatian is now only valued at £10m, as per Transfermarkt – a figure that is £2m less than current Everton youngster Nathan Patterson, who boasts a value of £12m, despite enduring a bit-part role this season after starting just nine league games.

Given Vlasic's recent form and drop in value, the club made the perfect decision to sell the now 26-year-old, with the club making a decent profit on a player who has undoubtedly failed to live up to his potential.

His time in Italy is further evidence that he simply isn't able to produce his quality on a consistent basis in any of Europe's top five leagues, with his £14m deal allowing the club to invest in the likes of Garner and Branthwaite in recent seasons.

Everton's 9/10 ace is now as undroppable as Tarkowski after Liverpool

He produced a brilliant display during the Merseyside derby.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 25, 2024

Lionel Messi is “enjoying it” at Inter Miami, says new team-mate Oscar Ustari, with the Argentine superstar not allowing “stubbornness” to set in.

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• All-time great joined the Herons in 2023
• Has won just about every major honour
• Showing no sign of slowing down at 37

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has achieved just about everything that it is possible to accomplish at the very top of his chosen profession. He has won trophies with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while capturing World Cup and Copa America crowns with his country.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The all-time great has broken countless records down the years, as the history books are rewritten, and could hang up his boots at any point safe in the knowledge that many of his exploits will never be repeated. Messi is, however, still going strong at 37 years of age.

• WHAT USTARI SAID

  He has been joined in Florida by another familiar face – one that he savoured Olympic gold medal glory alongside in 2008 – and Ustari has said of the Messi that he has been reunited with some 16 years on from their last professional engagement: “What I value most is how he always leads with the right foot forward, he’s never forgotten his roots. In the case with me, he has always been the same, so it makes me very happy that he hasn’t changed and with time he hasn’t developed that stubbornness. He has achieved everything there is to achieve and he’s earned it by working hard. I am in a stage of enjoyment with Leo and I am happy to be here and to see him also enjoying it.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Messi could be forgiven for feeling a little frustrated at present, with an unfortunate ankle injury having been picked up in the 2024 Copa America final. That knock has prevented him from rejoining the ranks at Inter Miami, but a long-awaited return to action is expected to be made in MLS action against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.