Latest news with #Ex-Chelsea
Metro
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Chelsea sent warning over £43m Man Utd and Liverpool transfer target
Chelsea have been warned they will be making a mistake if they peruse the signing of Manchester United and Liverpool traget Malick Fofana. The Lyon youngster is in high-demand after an eye-catching campaign for the Ligue 1 club who have already sold Rayan Cherki to Manchester City this summer. Fofana is likely to command a fee in the region of £43million for a player they signed from Gent in January 2024 for just £17m. Ex-Chelsea defender William Gallas, however, believes Fofana should not be a player Chelsea are focusing on buying this summer, even if rival clubs could benefit from his talent. 'Malick Fofana is a young player that is still learning and I don't think that is the right move,' Gallas told Prime Casino. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'Chelsea have a lot of forward players already and I think they need experienced defenders now. They have won the Conference League but that right centre-back position is the one I'd look at, not wingers.' The Blues are currently involved in Club World Cup action in America and it remains to be seen what impact that tournament will have on their preparations ahead of the new Premier League season. Chelsea appear to have been handed a kind start to the season after the fixtures were announced earlier this week, but Gallas is concerned games against the likes of Crystal Palace and Brighton will be far tougher in reality than on paper. He added: 'Chelsea will want to get off to a good start as they look to go and finish in the top four and be in the race to win the title, but they've got a difficult start. Sun Aug 17 – Crystal Palace (h) Sat Aug 23 – West Ham United (a) Sat Aug 30 – Fulham (h) Sat Sep 13 – Brentford (a) Sat Sep 20 – Manchester United (a) Sat Sep 27 – Brighton & Hove Albion (h) Sat Oct 4 – Liverpool (h) Sat Oct 18 – Nottingham Forest (a) Sat Oct 25 – Sunderland (h) Sat Nov 1 – Tottenham Hotspur (a) Sat Nov 8 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) Sat Nov 22 – Burnley (a) Sat Nov 29 – Arsenal (h) Wed Dec 3 – Leeds United (a) Sat Dec 6 – A.F.C. Bournemouth (a) Sat Dec 13 – Everton (h) Sat Dec 20 – Newcastle United (a) Sat Dec 27 – Aston Villa (h) Tue Dec 30 – A.F.C. Bournemouth (h) Sat Jan 3 – Manchester City (a) Wed Jan 7 – Fulham (a) Sat Jan 17 – Brentford (h) Sat Jan 24 – Crystal Palace (a) Sat Jan 31 – West Ham United (h) Sat Feb 7 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) Wed Feb 11 – Leeds United (h) Sat Feb 21 – Burnley (h) Sat Feb 28 – Arsenal (a) Wed Mar 4 – Aston Villa (a) Sat Mar 14 – Newcastle United (h) Sat Mar 21 – Everton (a) Sat Apr 11 – Manchester City (h) Sat Apr 18 – Manchester United (h) Sat Apr 25 – Brighton & Hove Albion (a) Sat May 2 – Nottingham Forest (h) Sat May 9 – Liverpool (a) Sun May 17 – Tottenham Hotspur (h) Sun May 24 – Sunderland (a) 'It might not seem that way but having four London derbies will take it out of them. Those games will be fierce and there will be a lot of pressure from both sets of fans. 'Crystal Palace, West Ham, Fulham and Brentford will all be desperate to beat them, they would've been better off having some games with less pressure on to start the season. 'Pressure will be on the players because they are must-win games, it will not be easy for Enzo Maresca.' MORE: Cole Palmer makes surprise admission as he explains shirt number change MORE: Arsenal urged to sign 'unfairly treated' £40m Man City star MORE: West Ham approached by Juventus over £30m swap deal
Metro
a day ago
- Sport
- Metro
Chelsea told to cancel Arsenal transfer deal at last minute
Chelsea have been told to pull out of their transfer deal with Arsenal and keep Kepa Arrizabalaga at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal are closing in on a £5m deal for Kepa and intend for the Spanish goalkeeper to be Mikel Arteta's No. 2 behind David Raya. Neto performed that role last season but did not inspire confidence and has now returned to boyhood club Bournemouth, who incidentally had Kepa on loan. Chelsea spent £72m on Kepa in 2018 – making him the most expensive goalkeeper in history – but are now ready to take a massive loss. Kepa struggled to justify his huge price-tag at Chelsea before losing his place in the team and then being sent out on two loan deals, first Real Madrid and then Bournemouth. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Chelsea look set to sell Kepa despite also tying to sign a new goalkeeper this summer and failing in a bid for Mike Maignan. Robert Sanchez endured a disappointing season and a host of pundits believe an upgrade is needed for Chelsea to go to the next level and win major trophies. Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes his former club could save millions in transfer fees by keeping Kepa at the club rather than bringing in a new goalkeeper. 'The goalkeeper position is a tough one for Chelsea because what they're looking for is youth,' he told Spin Genie. 'But goalkeepers, like centre-backs, don't really come into their own until they're around 25 or 26. They are two very specific positions in that regard. Robert Sanchez Filip Jorgensen Mike Penders Gaga Slonina Lucas Bergstrom Kepa Arrizabalaga 'We all look at Jordan Pickford and think he'd be brilliant. He's a fantastic shot-stopper and is okay with the ball at his feet, but he'd cost a lot of money and I don't think the goalkeeper position is where they want to spend that money. 'Look who's already on their books with Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Gabriel Slonina, Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga. 'I think the resolution to their goalkeeping problem could already be at the club. Kepa is as good as any of the goalkeepers we have mentioned and he's an option that I think is worth revisiting for Chelsea. 'I'm not sure if the ownership regime would think the same, but he's there and they're paying him. 'If he's the best option at the club, after learning a lot of things while out on loan this season, Chelsea shouldn't be looking all around the world for another goalkeeper. 'Kepa has got better with his feet and is a fantastic shot-stopper. While you can question his presence and it's a challenge Chelsea face, I don't think it's their biggest problem.' Fellow ex-Chelsea star Shaun Wright-Phillips also believes it would be a mistake to sell Kepa, especially to a direct rival. 'I'm confused. I don't understand,' Wright-Phillips told Betway when asked abut Kepa's imminent move to the Emirates Stadium. 'It's like nobody's been watching Kepa this season. He's been unbelievable. He is part of the reason why Bournemouth finished where they finished. 'The defence was outstanding, but Kepa was unbelievable, as well, I thought. 'I assumed while the season was going on that Chelsea didn't need to buy a goalkeeper because Kepa was going back anyway, but that isn't to be the case. 'You can have as good a goalkeeper as you want, but if you're still going to make the same mistakes in defence, your goalkeeper is still going to concede. More Trending 'That's just the fact of the matter. [Liverpool goalkeeper] Alisson pulls off amazing saves when he's needed. Half the time he has to pull off a save, it's not forced errors. 'So if Chelsea can get their defence like that, where they're not making him make unnecessary saves he shouldn't have to make, then I think Kepa is your man to keep. You don't need to forage around. 'Most managers now are looking for goalkeepers that are good with their feet. I think Kepa's alright with his feet, but he might not be at the level they want him to be. 'But for me, it's a real strange one.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Darwin Nunez approves transfer to next club but Liverpool set 'difficult' asking price MORE: Dortmund provide update on Chelsea transfer target Jamie Gittens after rejecting two bids MORE: Thomas Partey makes final decision on his Arsenal future
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former Chelsea star, 46, handed five-year ban from all football activity following dispute with Samuel Eto'o
The 46-year-old's feud with Eto'o stems from a dressing room row OUT THE BLUE OUT THE BLUE Former Chelsea star, 46, handed five-year ban from all football activity following dispute with Samuel Eto'o Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Chelsea star Geremi has landed a five-year ban from football - after a dispute with fellow ex-Blue Samuel Eto'o. The Cameroon international won Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 while at Stamford Bridge. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Geremi has been given a five-year ban from football Credit: Getty 3 The former Chelsea midfielder won two Premier League titles with the Blues Credit: Getty 3 The 46-year-old has been in dispute with ex-Chelsea star Samuel Eto'o Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Midfielder Geremi also played for Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Real Madrid. The 46-year-old has headed the Cameroon players' union Synafoc in recent years. But the West African country's FA, Fecafoot, has now banned him from football until 2030, as well as fining him £13,000. Ex-Chelsea, Everton, Barcelona and Inter Milan star Eto'o, 44, is president of the association. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL Box office Premier League TV games revealed as Man Utd vs Arsenal kick-off time announced Their dispute dates back to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast, when Geremi is said to have had a dressing-room row with one of Eto'o's staff. Fecafoot's ethics committee announced: "We declare Geremi Sorel Njitap, the president of Synafoc, guilty of breaking the behaviour rules of our code of ethics. "We sentence him to a ban from all forms of football activity for five years, and to a fine of ten million West African francs [£13,000]. "He has ten days to submit a written appeal." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Geremi's assistant Daniel Blaise Ngos has meanwhile been banned for two years and fined £6,500 for his part in the dispute. The midfielder won 118 caps for Cameroon, scoring 13 goals for the Indomitable Lions. Chelsea launch Club World Cup campaign with 2-0 victory over LAFC in Atlanta He helped them win Olympic gold in 2000, as well as two Africa Cups of Nations. A La Liga winner with Madrid in 2001, he also played for clubs in Paraguay, Turkey and Greece. He infamously split from wife Laure last year after DNA tests showed the two children he thought were his were fathered by her ex.
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Thomas Partey speaks out on Arsenal future after being put on free transfer list
Thomas Partey sees his Arsenal contract expire this summer and was surprisingly named on the list of players granted a free transfer by the Gunners ahead of the summer window Thomas Partey insists he is not in control of his future after being surprisingly 'released' by Arsenal. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder's contract expires this summer. Arsenal have already announced that he is among the players currently granted a free transfer by the club. But they remain in dialogue over potentially extending his stay on North London. Partey has now spoken and suggested that he is prioritising his own happiness as he attempts to come to a decision over his future, albeit his agent is taking control. Speaking to 3Sports, the Ghanaian said: 'I think the first thing is where are you happy and where do you feel at home. At the end of the day you've been in football, you've been in different teams. 'Then it's about what is your next objective what do you want to achieve next. You still have to look at all this and at the end of the day we all have a family that needs money, this is our mind. 'We are not getting younger. There are a lot of things where you have to look now with a family, where you want them to be happy. When you are young you just play anywhere. 'I'm an Arsenal fan, I can't decide anything and just have to leave it to my agent and the club. Me, I just want to enjoy football.' Mikel Arteta has already shared his thoughts on Partey, and claimed last month that he still had a crucial role to play. He said: "Yeah. In regards to Thomas, consistency-wise, it's been his best season. 'I think the way he's played, performed, his availability has been exceptional, and he's a really important player for us.' Arsenal signed Partey for £45m from Atletico Madrid back in 2020 and the now 31-year-old has gone on to make 167 appearances for the North London club in all competitions and has scored nine goals. Arsenal have already made tweaks to their midfield ahead of next season. Ex-Chelsea star Jorginho has departed the club and sealed a move to Brazilian side Flamengo. The Gunners are expected to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi as a replacement despite late interest from Real Madrid. Arteta's side are anticipated to pay more than the £51m release clause written into his deal in Spain. And once that move is completed, he will be reunited with former teammate Mikel Merino, who also made a switch to the Emirates Stadium last summer.
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Enzo Fernandez sent off for horrifying head stamp but it's good news for Chelsea
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has endured a shocking international fortnight but his Argentina woes might actually prove to be a positive for the Blues heading into next season Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez is facing an international ban after being sent off for brutally kicking an opponent in the HEAD. The midfielder started in Argentina's World Cup qualifying match against Colombia on Tuesday but lasted just 70 minutes before getting dismissed. Fernandez raised his boot too high as he attempted to challenge Kevin Castano and made contact with his opponent's face. The shocking challenge immediately drew blood, with Castano needing medical treatment. And the referee barely hesitated as he brandished a straight red card to the Chelsea man, just the second dismissal of his entire career. Fernandez, 24, will now likely face a three-match ban on the international stage. He had only just returned from a suspension having missed the first game of the international break against Peru. And while Fernandez will be disappointed to miss the next fixtures in September, his absence might actually be good news for Chelsea. Fernandez faces a hectic few months on the club front. He is set to be named in the Blues' squad for the upcoming Club World Cup in the USA. Should Enzo Maresca's side go all the way, Fernandez could potentially be in action all the way up until July 13. Fernandez will then face a short break before the 2025/26 Premier League season gets underway just over a month later on August 16, with pre-season also set to take place before then. His ban over the September internationals gives the midfielder a chance for a well-earned break. Ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has previously suggested that the Blues could be on the back foot next season due to their participation in the Club World Cup. He said: 'I think it will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there. I think it will be a very nice experience for the players who are there to play this tournament for the first time so there are mixed feelings about it. 'I decided not to worry too much because why should I? It is a given and no one knows what will be the outcome of it or the effect. We will deal with the effect when the effect comes and let's see. We have a lot of teams in the Champions League next season and European football and let's see.' Fernandez's red card was not the end of the drama in Argentina's clash with Colombia. Liverpool star Luis Diaz had given his side the lead with a brilliant solo effort ahead of Fernandez's dismissal. Lionel Messi was then surprisingly substituted at his own request only for Thiago Almada to equalise with a precise finish for the reigning world champions. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
