Chelsea’s new look for the coming season

Chelsea will be interesting to watch this season with Enzo Maresca’s Blues much strengthened from last year. Maresca made 419 changes to his starting lineups last season, which is more than any other elite European club. After the current transfer period, he has seven centre-backs in his squad. He wanted to give Levi Colwell cover, […]

Chelsea will be interesting to watch this season with Enzo Maresca’s Blues much strengthened from last year. Maresca made 419 changes to his starting lineups last season, which is more than any other elite European club. After the current transfer period, he has seven centre-backs in his squad. He wanted to give Levi Colwell cover, plus competition, and team regular, Marc Cucurella; and has signed Jorrel Hato, who played mainly at Ajax last season. Although only 18 years of age, he can play on both left and right.

The young Dutchman has joined for £37 million and signed a seven-year deal. Amazingly, he captained Ajax when he was only 17 and has made 111 appearances for the club. He has six international caps.

Chelsea will take some of their new squad signings into their first home game against Crystal Palace, which include Hato, Joao Pedro (£60 million), Jamie Gittens (£51.1 million), Liam Delap (£30 million), Estevao Willian (£29.1 million) and Dario Essugo (£18.5 million). Mamadou Sarr (£12 million) and Kendry Paez (£17.3 million) are going out on loan to Strasbourg.

Chelsea have now spent £250 million during the transfer window, which is second only to Liverpool, who have invested £295.5 million.

 

Jackson versus Watkins: Who is the best?

Do you think Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson is an upgrade on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins? Villa coach, Unai Emery does and has told his club that Jackson is a better bet for the coming season based on his knowledge of the player when he helped to build the Senegal international’s career at Spanish club, Villarreal.

Emery believes Jackson can do much better than his performances for Chelsea and there is motivation for the striker to move clubs because of the arrival of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro at Stamford Bridge, which has demoted Jackson down to third choice. It is also possible that Xavi Simons will come in from RB Leipzig, which would make Jackson’s situation even worse. He will struggle for minutes at Stamford Bridge, whereas Emery would likely spend one-on-one time with him and promote him into the Villa forward line very quickly.

Chelsea would want £80 million for Jackson, who is on an eight-year contract, but that is likely too high for Villa and the other interested club, Newcastle.

 

Amorim points the way forward in United’s trophy win?

Bruno Fernandes rejected a transfer to Saudi Pro League club, Al-Nassr and stepped onto the field as Manchester United captain in a pre-season match against Everton, which ended 2-2.

This is interesting because Bruno scored and was man of the match despite being critical of his teammates for not trying hard enough and demanding that the club bring in more top quality recruits. It doesn’t make him a favourite in the dressing room at present, but he does have a point and he also knows that if Ruben Amorim doesn’t get off to a flying start this coming season, he could be shown the exit door and Fernandes does not want that for his fellow Portugese colleague. It is a tough challenge when Arsenal are your opponents next weekend.

New signing, Bryan Mbeumo was on the pitch for 45 minutes and helped the Red Devils secure the Premier League Summer Series, beating West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton to take home the trophy.

United’s starting team, which points the way that Coach Ruben Amorim is thinking for the opening Premier League game against Arsenal on August 17 was Bayindir, Amad, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Fernandes, Cunha and Mbeumo.

 

Newcastle pinpoint FC Porto striker

Newcastle have admitted they might not land Benjamin Sesko and FC Porto striker, Samu Aghehowa is being tracked as a replacement for the striker. The Spaniard is valued at £70 million, which Newcastle could afford.

Manchester United were determined to land Sesko, they are his preferred club and I am told he has agreed personal terms. Newcastle are going to be weaker up front if no further deals are done. Players they wanted to sign have chosen to go elsewhere instead of St James’ Park. Liam Delap and Joao Pedro chose Chelsea and they wanted to sign both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumbo, but both have gone to Man Utd.

Liverpool beat Newcastle to the signature of Hugo Ekitike, all of which has left Coach Eddie Howe frustrated and looking at his recruitment team. They do have the UCL next season, but besides Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale, they are short of new quality. And there is of course the difficult ongoing Alexander Isak situation.

 

Isak chooses to train in Spain

The Alexander Isak saga goes on…Eddie Howe was subdued when asked what was happening with his Newcastle striker. The Swedish international linked up with his teammates after missing the club’s Far East tour.

Interestingly and what was keeping Howe quiet was Isak’s decision to travel to Spain recently and train at Real Sociedad’s ground instead of working with his Newcastle’s fitness team at home in Benton. Backroom staff who did not travel east are perfectly qualified to take training sessions. Isak took along his own personal fitness team to Spain. The amazing thing is that Eddie Howe said he knew where Isak was because he had read it in the media!

Liverpool tabled a bid in excess of £100 million, which Newcastle turned down.

A statement sent out from Anfield noted that they would not be going back with a higher bid. However, I doubt this is over yet. Isak has made no secret of wanting to leave the northeast of England and swap it for the northwest and Liverpool. He could put in for a transfer, but that is always a last resort and something that tends to alienate players from their teammates and club officials.

 

Forest seize a chance to bring in Douglas Luiz

Since his transfer from Aston Villa to Juventus a year ago, things have not gone to plan for the midfielder, Douglas Luiz.

The Brazilian has suffered a difficult time with injuries and inconsistent performances; he took part in only 27 games across all competitions. Last week, he missed a training session and is going to be fined by the club and put up for sale.

Enter Nottingham Forest…the ambitious midland’s club has opened up discussions with Juve about signing Luiz, but there are two problems. First, they have to convince him to join one of the ambitious but less glamorous clubs in the Premier League. Second, they have to negotiate a price they can afford.

Luiz has said he is open to a move, but only Forest have made an approach. Because of the financial restrictions, Forest are looking at a possible loan, which could become permanent at the end of next season. They are able to offer Luiz European football next season for the first time in 30 years, which will be attractive to him; and I am hearing they would offer him £5 million a year in a contract deal until 2030.