Chelsea looking at 3-4-1-2 line up with Lukaku up front

Thomas Tuchel often used a 3-4-1-2 formation last season with Kai Havertz and Timo Werner paired with Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku was left on the bench. The big Belgian striker has failed to adapt back into the high standard of Premier League football and is considering a return to the Italian Serie A and […]

Thomas Tuchel often used a 3-4-1-2 formation last season with Kai Havertz and Timo Werner paired with Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku was left on the bench. The big Belgian striker has failed to adapt back into the high standard of Premier League football and is considering a return to the Italian Serie A and his former club Inter Milan. He has even sacked his agent so he gets more leverage at Inter. However, Chelsea are seriously considering a bid for Lautaro Martinez who worked so effectively with Lukaku at Inter. He scored for Argentina this week when they won 3-0 against Italy. Lukaku is reported to have told Martinez to stay at Inter because he is returning to Italy but the lure of Premier League football would be very tempting to the Argentine striker. Thomas Tuchel is currently thinking of Ben Chilwell, who will be available after missing so much of 2022 through injury, and Reece James operating on the wings and feeding balls into the centre to Lukaku with Martinez and Havertz sitting just behind the big man and feeding balls up to his feet inside the penalty area. That formation would give Chelsea an edge which most teams would be hard pressed to contain. Tuchel is wrestling with a problem surrounding N’Golo Kante. “I think he is our key, key, key player; but key, key, key players need to be on the pitch” Tuchel told us. “He plays only 40 per cent of the games. So it’s maybe a miracle that we finished in third place. He is our Mo Salah, he is our Virgil Van Dijk, he is our Kevin De Bruyne. He is simply that player. He is our Neymar, he is our Kylian Mbappe, he is the guy who makes the difference. And if you have only 40 per cent it’s a huge problem.”

Mane decides to quit Liverpool

Following an FA Cup win and second in the title race despite losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid, Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have a difficult summer ahead of them. Sadio Mane has not rejected Liverpool, he simply says that after six years he must face a new challenge now he is in his 30th year. Mane and Mo Salah have one year left on their contracts, Mo will stay but Sadio will tell the Reds he wants to depart despite being offered a contract worth £250k a week. Divock Origi is going to Milan and it is a fact that Roberto Firmino is not the force he once was. Luis Diaz has performed to the highest level when called upon. Bayern Munich are at the centre of all this upheaval with Robert Lewandowski requesting a move from the German champions and Barcelona will offer him a three-year contract. Mane could be the answer as his replacement and Bayern have talked about a three-year deal but the £30million fee, I have heard, is below Liverpool’s valuation of their striker. Jurgen Klopp has to consider if new signing, Portuguese teenager Fabio Carvalho from Fulham, Diaz and Jota can fill the gap left by Mane.

Welcome to the Premier League Nottingham Forest

We welcome back to the Premier League Nottingham Forest who qualified in third place in the Championship league and join both Fulham and Bournemouth who will again be playing in the top division. Forest were the longest serving club in the Championship and came back to the top league after a break of 28 years. The club was made famous under football legend Brian Clough and they won the First Division (now called the Premier League) in 1978 and the European Cup (now the Champions League) in 1978/9 and 1979/80. The club will receive £150 from the FA and investment in new players is a priority over the summer break. The fans adopted Paul McCartney’s song Mull of Kintyre in 1977 and it became the club anthem. Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis has promised to add to the £110 million he has already spent on Forest’s push into the Premier League. Five players who helped Forest gain promotion are currently on loan and deals have to be negotiated. Manager Steve Cooper wants to keep James Garner, Villa forward Keinan David and Djed Spence the Middlesborugh wingback. Talks are already under way with Sheffield United defender Max Lowe and Watford’s Philip Zinckernagel.

Pogba packing his bags

All indications are that Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United in four weeks. He was Keen on playing in Spain but is more likely to return to Italian football at Juventus. Pogba’s disappointing time at United was highlighted by fans on social media who tweeted “Good Riddance” to the player who has caused them so much disappointment.  

Perisic links up with Conte again 

Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic travelled to Tottenham, north London this week and stayed at Hotspur Way. He then went to the ground on Tuesday and underwent a medical. Spurs have agreed a two-year deal worth £100k a week for the Croatian international. He was encouraged to join because of his loyalty to previous boss Antonio Conte. As I wrote last week, Conte has been handed considerable influence in any of Spur’s incoming players and whereas chairman Daniel Levy previously only authorized signing younger players, Perisic is 33 years of age and is highly respected by Conte. He can play as a winger, attacking midfielder and even a wing-back and would be an alternative to Ryan Sessegnon. Conte is anxious to sign his players earlier enough to take part in pre-season training. He particularly wants to work on his back three system.

Newcastle could walk tall next season

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has big ideas for the super-rich Baggies. He will certainly achieve that if he signs Frenchman Souleymane Isaak Toure from Le Havre. The 19-year-old is a massive 6ft 9ins tall and is highly rated in France. Toure would link up at the back with Dan Burn who stands at 6ft 6ins which would give Newcastle the tallest defence in the league. French club Lille want £30million for Sven Botman however Toure would only cost around £6m. Howe is trying to get all his transfer business done in the next fortnight so the club can enjoy a month off before they start July pre-season training.

Departing Cavani applaudes Ronaldo and De Gea

Departing striker Edinson Cavani said this week that for him the two standout players in Manchester United’s season have been Cristiano Renaldo and David de Gea. Ronaldo scored 24 goals in 38 appearances. He has one year left on his contract which will take him to the age of 38 which could explain why many fans I have criticised him for not using the entire pitch to help out in defence when under pressure.

Kane shows his belief in Conte

Harry Kane has done a u-turn and decided to stay with Tottenham because he believes Antonio Conte will win trophies next season. The striker almost joined Manchester City last year but says he is excited about Spur’s progress under the Italian coach and it was Conte agreeing to manage Tottenham next season that persuaded Kane to stay. He will discuss a fourth long contract when he returns for pre-season training in July just before his 29th birthday. This would enable him to have a chance of breaking legend Jimmy Greaves’ all-time scoring record for the club. Kane also wants to break Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260 goals throughout his career. Playing in the Champions League next season is another reason Kane chose to stay and Conte’s plan to reorganize the first team squad for 2022/3.