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In the aftermath of West Ham United's 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth, goalscorer Jarrod Bowen said that his side is "in a real good moment".

United now face a daunting trip to Anfield in the fourth round but have started the Julen Lopetegui era with promise, losing to Aston Villa in a hard-fought opener before defeating Crystal Palace in south London.

Bowen's scrappy, contentious winner is adding depth to a side working toward the fluency and form of European competition contenders.

However, Lopetegui and his coterie are aware that the transfer window is not yet closed – despite having spent over £120m already – and could look to strengthen with one, or perhaps even two, signings.

West Ham transfer news

Rumours around Tammy Abraham's possible transfer to West Ham have zipped around over the past several months, but Fabrizio Romano has debunked such claims, with the Roma striker headed toward Milan.

However, the transfer guru has also provided a more positive recent update for the west Londoners, claiming that Jhon Duran could still leave Aston Villa before Friday's deadline.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano confirmed in the positive when quizzed on whether the fiery Colombian could be one to keep an eye on, acknowledging long-standing interest from Chelsea and West Ham, saying they had been keen 'for weeks'.

West Ham and Villa could not agree on financial terms in July and thus the move was scuppered, but Unai Emery's outfit's £40m demand suggests that several departures would be needed if a last-gasp transfer was to be completed.

Why Jhon Duran would be perfect for West Ham

It was in the script. West Ham lost to Villa on the opening Premier League weekend despite Lucas Paqueta restoring parity before the break. The match-winner? Duran of course, having come within a whisker of moving to the London Stadium only one month earlier.

It was only fitting: Duran is a ferocious and unflappable forward, still only 20 years old but demonstrating excellent shooting qualities that could yet harden into something with the tag of world-class.

As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored (0.89) and the top 9% for total shots taken (3.90) per 90.

He's been described as a "nightmare for defenders" by Villa captain John McGinn and it's clear to see why. The South American sensation is fast on the rise; West Ham know all about his quality, for better and for worse, and he must be signed.

Just imagine him & Jarrod Bowen

Duran isn't exactly surrounded by a poor mix of forwards at Villa Park, but he might just find his most dynamic partner yet in Hammers captain Bowen.

1.

Jarrod Bowen

44

20

2.

Mohammed Kudus

45

14

3.

Tomas Soucek

52

10

4.

Lucas Paqueta

53

8

5.

Michail Antonio

32

7

5.

James Ward-Prowse

51

7

Sure, the England international is one of the finest strikers around, having scored twice across three matches so far this season after hitting 20 strikes last year, but he's also a multi-skilled player and could be the perfect accompanying member to bring Duran's skillset to the fore.

Indeed, the right-sided forward, 27, has placed six key passes across the opening two Premier League matches of the season, with his ball-playing ability leading pundit Joe Cole to hail him as "one of the most in-form players in the league" one year ago.

While West Ham have a long way to go under Lopetegui's wing, with Bowen performing as the offensive linchpin, the side's goals can be realised and a route can be identified back into continental competition.

Now imagine sticking Duran at the head of the ship. With his penetrative movements and an endless tank of energy, we could witness the start of something special, should this fantastic finish to the window be completed.

In the race: West Ham weighing up move for "Rolls-Royce" Soler alternative

This 35-cap England star could be a shrewd addition to the team…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 28, 2024

da cassino online： Chelsea once again find themselves at the centre of the headlines even as the transfer window approaches its final hours, having reportedly reached an agreement over personal terms as they work to do a last-minute deal.

Chelsea transfer news

da realsbet： The Blues are looking to end their summer as it started by welcoming incomings for Enzo Maresca's side. It was always likely to be a busy day at Stamford Bridge, of course, as Todd Boehly and others look to rediscover the balance in Maresca's squad by offloading several frozen out players and replacing them with fresh faces.

Related Chelsea can forget Osimhen & Toney with last-gasp move for £25m "monster"

The Blues’ transfer window is going to the eleventh hour…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 30, 2024

That includes Raheem Sterling, who is one of many to have been left training away from the first-team and told to leave the London club if he wants any form of game time this season. Maresca recently told the press via Fabrizio Romano: “All the players who in this moment are training apart will NOT get any minutes in case they stay. My advice to Sterling? He knows exactly what he has to do. It’s not just Raheem, all of them."

Even as they look to thin out a packed squad, however, there's still arrivals on the cards, including a direct replacement for Sterling. According to Romano, Chelsea have now agreed personal terms with Jadon Sancho, who earns a reported £250k-a-week at Manchester United, and are now awaiting Manchester United's verdict on their two loan bids offering differing structured deals.

Sancho, like Sterling, is unlikely to receive the minutes that he's after with his current employers, opening the door for a late exit. Whether that exit is to Chelsea remains to be seen, however.

Now or never for "gifted" Sancho in the Premier League

When Sancho finally made his way to Manchester United after a lengthy transfer saga in 2021, resulting in a deal worth a hefty £73m, he was one of the best wingers around. All signs pointed towards an excellent piece of business by all involved at Old Trafford. Yet, three years later and a falling out with Ten Hag in between, Sancho finds himself heading for the exit door with more of a whimper than a roar.

Having shown glimpses of his best when on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season, however, there's still every chance that Chelsea land the bargain of the summer if they secure a loan, plus an option or obligation to buy, for Sancho.

Described as "gifted" by former Dortmund boss Edin Terzic during that loan spell in the last campaign, there's a player still in there waiting to burst into life in the Premier League. But it's now or never for Sancho, who wouldn't exactly be arriving in an environment known for helping new signings find success.

Nonetheless, a move to Stamford Bridge is one that Sancho seemingly wants after reportedly agreeing personal terms with Chelsea.

Trying to catch one of his final innings in the game became a matter of urgency, of getting to say a proper goodbye

Daniel Brettig27-Jul-2013From the moment of his international retirement in Perth last year, I’d always planned to see Ricky Ponting bat in the flesh one final time. I wasn’t sure where or when this would be, but it would certainly happen, either for Tasmania, Hobart Hurricanes or Surrey: plenty of matches remained. A BBL date in Sydney took place with Ponting absent injured, cutting out one chance. A Sheffield Shield final elapsed without the opportunity to visit in person as it clashed with an India Test, dashing another. Slowly, the window was narrowed.Early on in my visit to England for the Ashes, Ponting announced that he would draw his career to a close before the start of the next Australian season, adding further urgency to the commitment. Not to worry, I thought, there were ample games to go. But the demands of the Ashes precluded a visit to see him play for Surrey, including his last first-class innings of an unbeaten 169, and as the Caribbean Premier League ticked near, the chance of being there for that final glimpse diminished.But all the while I had in mind two T20 fixtures at Lord’s and The Oval in the last week of July, as I’m sure many others did. In the circumstances, it seemed like the right way to bid Ponting farewell. He was not taking part in the Ashes, sure, and at that moment most members of the Australian team he had represented for 16 years would not be in London but in Sussex, slogging through a tour match and trying to conjure some inspiration for the next three Tests against England.So at the height of the English summer, in front of packed crowds, Ponting would sign off with a flourish and a last volley of strokes. He would walk to the wicket accompanied by rich applause, and perhaps the odd bit of well-lagered abuse from those wishing to revisit the verbal barbs of 2005 or 2009. A marking of the guard, a glance around the field, and a resumption of that familiar crouch at the batting crease would follow.One last time I would see bowlers strain that little extra amount to find a way past Ponting’s bat. A redoubled effort in the presence of batting greatness, a chance to tell the grandchildren that they had got the man out, even if at the age of 38, in a racy format far removed from the five-day game where he made his name. One last time fielders would tense for opportunities, perhaps at slip from an early nick, perhaps later on at midwicket or mid-on from a slightly miscued pull shot. And the fielders in the ring would think themselves a chance of sneaking a run-out, per Pratt, per Flintoff.Whatever chances Ponting would offer, he would also provide a reminder of what made him so rare a batting talent. Maybe it would be with straight drives off the front foot, of the kind he delighted in scorching past the ankles of a fast bowler. Perhaps it would be with the squarer punches off the back, played with a level of certainty and consistency that few batsmen of any era have managed. Almost certainly it would feature a few rasping pull shots, of the kind that for so long turned the bouncer, a pace bowler’s most common intimidatory resource, into the friendliest ball Ponting could possibly receive.

Before and after the match, it would have been possible to glimpse the drive that made Ponting such an exemplar of how to pursue victories. His nets and warm-ups would be precise and demanding, never once mailed in from an absent mind

When it came time for Surrey to take the field, Ponting would then offer one final masterclass in the versatility, agility and unstinting alertness of perhaps the finest all-round fielder Australia has produced. Impassable on both sides, with a knack for hitting the stumps and an even better one for catching almost everything that went near him, it was in the field that Ponting never once lost his best touch, even if the sharpness of his batting began to trail off in later years. Rod Marsh was known to exclaim “just look at him” during a Shield match last summer, when comparing Ponting with those Australian cricketers destined to follow but never better him.Before and after the match, it would have been possible to glimpse the drive that made Ponting such an exemplar of how to pursue victories. His nets and warm-ups would be precise and demanding, never once mailed in from an absent mind. No one has played in more victorious Test matches than Ponting, and as the game drifts further towards a T20-lined future, no one is likely to pass him. His desire to win always outstripped his desire for personal gain. It is one of many qualities so evident in Ponting that Australian cricket is in dire need of rediscovering.As the Surrey allrounder Gareth Batty observed recently in the of Ponting’s last day as a first-class cricketer: “Many players would have been happy to have done what Ricky did in his final innings, regardless of the result of the game. But he still came into the changing room after the game pretty downbeat that we never got an opportunity to win. He genuinely meant it, too. In my opinion, he’s the best Australian batsman of his generation, one of the top two or three in the world at that time, yet still his sole focus was: ‘We need to win a game of cricket. That’s the only thing that matters.’ When you see that will to win from a player, it’s phenomenal.”That downbeat expression would be visible from the Oval balcony on the night I came to see him. A groin strain ruled him out of this match against Kent, as it had the visit to Lord’s and Middlesex the previous night. All those final memories of Ponting had to be remembered from other days, not cherished on this one. As the evening crept on, it dawned on me that Ponting’s final innings in England took place eight days ago, at The Oval. He made 3 for Surrey in a loss to Hampshire. I wasn’t there, and nor were many who had hoped to see him bat one last time. Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

It's not been the busiest of summers for Arsenal so far this year, with just the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori so far in terms of new first-team players.

That said, it appears that the signing of Mikel Merino is a matter of days away from being completed, and in the last week or so, several top-class strikers linked with the club, such as Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

However, in the last couple of days, another name has consistently been touted for a move to the Emirates: Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke.

The Englishman might not have the same level of excitement around his name as the other number nines on the market at the moment, but he's Premier League-proven, a good age, and seemingly available.

He'd likely be a success leading the line for an increasingly dangerous Arsenal, although he could have a fight on his hands for the starting role with another attacker at the club who is worth considerably more.

The latest on Solanke to Arsenal

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are now interested in Bournemouth's Solanke this summer, alongside several other clubs, including North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

There appears to be some discrepancy in how much the former Chelsea ace would cost, but based on the report, his contract has a release clause worth £65m.

This would represent a significant investment from the Gunners, but based on his form last season and the fact that they missed out on the title by just two points, it would probably be worth it.

For example, in his 42 appearances for the Cherries across 2023/24, the Basingstoke-born dynamo scored 21 goals and provided four assists, which converts to a goal involvement on average every 1.68 games and would have made him the second most productive player at Arsenal.

However, even after such an impressive campaign for the South Coast side, Solanke is worth considerably less than one of Arteta's key men.

The valuation of Kai Havertz in 2024

Yes, the key man in question is last summer's £65m man, Kai Havertz, who is valued at a whopping €98M by Football Transfers. This converts to about £84m, or at least £19m more than Solanke, and while it's significant, it might be justified.

The German international began life at the Emirates in a midfield role, and in all honesty, he was rather ineffective for a large part of last season until he was moved up top, that is.

Following his change from left eight to starting nine, the former Chelsea ace became one of the most important players in Arteta's squad, alongside Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. He was one of the first names on the teamsheet during a period when the North Londoners were tearing teams apart.

He ended the campaign with 14 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances, but his numbers look a lot more impressive when you consider the games in which he started as the team's out-and-out striker.

In those 18 matches, the "magnificent" ace, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, scored eight goals and provided seven assists, which equates to a goal involvement on average every 1.20 games, and is actually more impressive than Solanke's average.

Appearances

42

51

18

Goals

21

14

8

Assists

4

7

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

0.41

0.83

Now, the question over the German's head is whether he could keep that rate of return up for an entire season, but it would make for an interesting dynamic to see him compete with the Bournemouth man in 2024/25.

Ultimately, signing Solanke would likely be a smart idea for Arsenal, as more firepower is always a good thing, but he'd have to really impress to permanently dislodge Havertz from the starting lineup and surpass his mammoth value.

Arsenal prepare bid for world-class Merino upgrade in blockbuster swap deal

The incredible talent would be an exceptional addition to the Gunners’ squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 5, 2024

تحدث رافينها، لاعب فريق برشلونة، عن تأهلهم إلى دور ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد فوزهم مساء اليوم الثلاثاء على بنفيكا.

واستضاف ملعب “مونتجويك” مباراة الفريقين في إياب دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2024/25.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رجل مباراة برشلونة وبنفيكا في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وحقق برشلونة فوزًا بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، ليتأهل إلى الدور المقبل، خاصة مع انتصاره في الذهاب بهدف دون رد.

وسجل رافينها هدفين في مباراة اليوم، مثلما أحرز هدفًا في مباراة الذهاب.

وقال رافينها، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “كانت مباراة رائعة، خاصة في الشوط الأول، كنا نعلم أننا سنقدم أداءً رائعًا، كنا في حالة تركيز، قدمنا شوطًا أول رائعًا للفوز”.

وأضاف: “نحن مرشحون للفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا؟ حسنًا، أعتقد أننا مرشحون للفوز بكل شيء”.

وسجل رافينها 5 أهداف في 3 مباريات ضد بنفيكا هذا الموسم، وهو ما يمثل رقمًا مميزًا، حيث قال: “بالنسبة لي فإن أهم شيء هو ما تمكنا من تحقيقه كفريق”.

وعن تألق لامين يامال اليوم، حيث صنع هدفًا وسجل آخر، قال: “إنه الأصغر، نحن نعلم كل ما يمكنه تقديمه، إنه لاعب مذهل يتمتع بجودة هائلة وعلينا فقط أن نفوز معه، هدفه رائع بالفعل”.

وفيما يخص وفاة طبيب برشلونة كارليس مينيارو، قبل أيام، قال: “ما حدث أعطانا القوة لدخول المباراة أمام بنفيكا بحماس”.

A career-best night with both bat and ball from Mitchell Marsh ensured Australia got off the mark in the series as Mitchell Starc stymied Andre Russell at the death to clinch a four-run victory over West Indies.After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Marsh propelled Australia to 189 for 6 with 75 off 44 balls, his third half-century in four innings this series. Defending the total, Marsh followed it up with 3 for 24 including a prized trio of scalps – Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons and stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran – to stunt momentum in the West Indies chase.Needing 11 off the final over and with Russell on strike, after Riley Meredith had been taken for four sixes by Fabian Allen in the 19th, Starc came around the stumps and bowled four leg stump yorkers that Russell could not get under to elevate and – with only the tail left in at the non-striker’s end – resulted in turned down singles on each occasion. On the fifth ball, Russell flubbed a knee-high full toss well short of the rope at deep midwicket before a boundary on the final ball made a cosmetic adjustment to the final margin. It also meant Pooran’s perfect record as captain to start the series was no more.Marsh continues hot batting formOne of the few bright lights in this series for the visitors, Marsh has continued to impress in his audition for the No. 3 role ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year. Entering in the second over after the fall of Matthew Wade, Marsh lit up the scoreboard with a Vine-esque loop of inside out lofted drives over extra cover.He brought up his third half-century of the series off just 24 balls with another such shot for six off Allen in the ninth over. Having dominated the early stages of his century partnership with Aaron Finch, who had been missed on 2 when an edge went between keeper and slip, rain disrupted Marsh’s momentum when the players were taken off the field shortly after Marsh’s half-century at the end of the ninth over. When play resumed, Finch seized control of the stand to clatter five boundaries in the space of nine balls across the 10th and 11th overs to bring up his own 34-ball half-century, ending a run of bad form in the first three matches of the series.

Watch cricket on ESPN+

West Indies v Australia is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the match.

Hayden Walsh Jr sparks fightback with the ballBy the time the innings finished, the Hayden Walsh Jr’s series-leading wicket tally stood at 11 after adding another three to bring them back into the game. He dismissed Finch with a googly to break the Marsh partnership at 114 after the Australia captain missed a heave across the line. Walsh Jr put himself on a hat-trick when he took a straightforward return catch next ball after Alex Carey played through too early on a leg stump half-volley to produce a leading edge back to the bowler.He rounded off his haul a few overs later with perhaps his best work of the night. Finding some turn with the legbreak, Ashton Turner overstretched prodding forward and Pooran made up for a sloppy fumble on a straightforward stumping two nights earlier to complete a sharp dismissal on this occasion.Marsh’s bowling best thwarts West Indies victory chargeSimmons got the chase off to a fiery reply alongside Evin Lewis as the pair added 62 off the first 28 balls. Simmons got momentum moving in the second over off Meredith with a six and two fours through the leg side before Lewis had yet to face a ball. Lewis joined the party in the fourth over against Dan Christian by thumping two fours followed by two sixes over mid-on and backward square.After Lewis fell to an ambitious shot backing away to Adam Zampa in the fifth, Simmons continued his supreme touch, shuffling across his stumps to flick a pair of boundaries over fine leg off the medium pace of Meredith in the seventh over. A single to start the eighth brought up a 28-ball half-century before Marsh struck for the first time, inducing a catch from Gayle to long-on.Simmons was still humming but Andre Fletcher and Pooran stuttered after arriving in the middle overs. After Zampa bowled Fletcher in the 11th, Marsh returned for a double-strike in a magnificent 16th over in which he conceded just one run. He removed Pooran for 16, caught skying to long-off, before Simmons pulled the next ball flat to Moises Henriques for a sterling catch sliding along the rope at deep midwicket for 72.Marsh’s work with bat and ball on the night looked like it might go to waste at the end of the 19th when Allen smoked four sixes off the penultimate over bowled by Meredith. But Meredith struck back on the final ball getting Allen to edge a wide delivery behind leaving 11 for Russell to get off Starc in the last. In the end, vintage yorker accuracy from Starc allowed the visitors to prevail.

MatériaMais Notícias

da brwin： O sinal de alerta foi ligado no Guarani. Na noite da última quarta-feira, o Bugre voltou a jogar no Brinco de Ouro da Princesa e foi superado pelo Botafogo-SP por 2 a 0.

– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B

O resultado negativo não impediu que o técnico Daniel Paulista fosse realista e colocou qual é a missão de momento do time no torneio estadual.

‘Temos que trabalhar mais e falar menos. Procurar se concentrar mais. Repetimos a equipe do jogo contra o Santos, em que fomos bem. Infelizmente, a noite foi decepcionante. Tecnicamente e taticamente a equipe não se encontrou. O primeiro gol que sofremos, logo no início, em uma falha coletiva, abalou muito. A partir daquele momento a equipe não conseguiu mais se encontrar. Nosso momento é de briga contra o rebaixamento. Para que as coisas possam mudar mais na frente, a gente precisa pontuar’, afirmou.

Na classificação geral do Campeonato Paulista, o Guarani está na 15ª colocação, com 4 pontos disputados.

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Robbie White falls eight short of maiden first-class ton as game remains in balance

ECB Reporters' Network30-Apr-2021James Hildreth became the fourth-highest first-class run-maker in Somerset’s history on the second day of the LV=County Championship match with Middlesex at the Cooper Associates County Ground. The 36-year-old batter went past Bill Alley’s tally of 16,644 while contributing 39 to his side’s first innings total of 178 for 4 and now lies behind only Harold Gimblett, Marcus Trescothick and Peter Wight.Earlier, Middlesex had moved from an overnight 308 for 6 to 357 all out, Robbie White falling for 92 and Josh Davey claiming three of the wickets in the space of an over.Related

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Hill hundred leaves Gloucestershire with mountain to climb

There were two victims each for Steve Finn and Tim Murtagh when Somerset replied before an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 80 between George Bartlett and first-class debutant Lewis Goldsworthy left honours pretty even.The day began with White, unbeaten on 70, and Luke Hollman adding 24 before Craig Overton uprooted Hollman’s off stump with his score on 16. White had moved to 81 and the total to 338 for 7 off 108 overs when rain interrupted play at 11.50am. The action resumed at 1.20pm with two incident-packed overs.White took two fours and a three off the first of them, bowled by Tom Abell to put his side within a single of a fourth batting point. But his hopes of a maiden first-class century were dashed when he edged Davey’s first ball of the following over to Hildreth at first slip.The crestfallen White dragged himself off, having faced 224 deliveries and hit 13 fours. Two balls later Finn fell lbw, having survived an equally confident appeal first up, and Somerset had their third bowling point. With one run still needed for a fourth batting point, Murtagh swung two boundaries to third-man, before being caught there to give Davey a third wicket.Somerset’s reply had reached 8 without loss when a lighter shower brought a 15-minute interruption. Then both openers fell quickly as Tom Lammonby edged a catch behind off Finn and Tom Banton was pinned lbw by Murtagh.Hildreth looked in good touch as he and Abell took the score to 86 for 2 at tea, the latter surviving two slip chances in the same Tom Helm over, Max Holden and White the guilty fielders.Hildreth had overtaken Darren Stevens as the leading run-maker among players still operating in the domestic game when fencing at the first delivery after tea from Murtagh and being caught behind. Abell then chipped a full ball from Finn to midwicket and departed for 41. With the floodlights on, Bartlett, on 13, was dropped by Sam Robson at second slip off Martin Andersson.Drizzle and light issues brought a further break at 120 for 4. A 6pm resumption of 15 overs saw Bartlett progress serenely to 43 and 20-year-old Cornishman Goldsworthy move stylishly to 34, an innings rich with promise.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has no interest in talking about Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe amid their ongoing legal battle.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Kylian Mbappe and PSG's relations fractured
• Al-Khelaifi asked about project without Real Madrid star
• PSG chief responds bluntly against questions

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe had been a major star for Paris Saint-Germain having joined Les Parisiens from Monaco in 2017 until this summer. However, since his move to Real Madrid as a free agent, relations have fractured massively between the France captain and the 12-time Ligue 1 champions. One of the reasons has been the legal dispute between them over unpaid wages and bonuses from the 2023-24 season reportedly amounting to €55 million (£46m/$60.1m).

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  PSG's project under Al-Khelaifi and Luis Enrique has arguably lost a lot of its glimmer since Mbappe's departure, as the club failed to make a marquee signing to replace the 25-year-old. During the European Club Association (ECA) Congress, Al-Khelaifi was questioned about the direction PSG were going in without Mbappe, but the Qatari-national had a very cold response to follow.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT AL-KHELAIFI SAID

  Speaking to the media at the ECA Congress, Al-Khelaifi said: "I don't like to talk about players who are not part of my team, I prefer to focus on those who are."

• WHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

  In the absence of Mbappe, PSG have lost their way a little in Ligue 1. They went into the October international break two points behind table-topping Monaco and return to action next weekend at home to Strasbourg.

Chelsea are now “crazy” about signing RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, but they will have to do battle for his signature with one of their Premier League rivals.

Courtesy of a 2-0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, the Blues have now moved up to second in the Premier League table, but Gary Neville believes they are still some way off being genuine contenders for the title.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “They’ve got a lot of young players, spent a fortune, it’s probably not happening as quickly as they want,(and) I don’t think they’re anywhere near a team that can win the league to be honest. When I look at them, they look well short in a number of areas.”

As pointed out by Neville, the Blues have relied on youngsters a lot in the BlueCo era, breaking the record for the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League last season.

However, the west Londoners are yet to alter their recruitment policy, and they have now joined the race for another young midfielder.

Chelsea "crazy" about signing Assan Ouedraogo

In a new update from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, it has been revealed that Chelsea are one of the Premier League clubs “crazy” about signing RB Leipzig midfielder Ouedraogo, alongside Man United.

Both English sides are now scouting the 19-year-old, who remains under contract at the Bundesliga club until 2029, and his main ambition is to secure a place in Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad.

The central midfielder remains under contract until 2029, and there is no release clause, meaning it is unclear how much the Blues will have to pay for the youngster, who is being targeted for next summer.

The German starlet may stand a chance of going to the World Cup next year, considering he impressed on his debut for his country, scoring in a 6-0 victory against Slovakia in the recent international break.

Not only that, but the Leipzig star would be a versatile option for Julian Nagelsmann, given that he is capable of playing in five positions, namely on both wings, central midfield, attacking midfield and even centre-forward.

The former Schalke man is off to an impressive start to the season in the Bundesliga, chipping in with three goals and three assists in 11 outings, and he has performed very well on some key attacking metrics over the past year.

Assan Ouedraogo’s key statistics (past year)

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.48 (99th percentile)

Assists

0.48 (99th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.58 (94th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.77 (99th percentile)

As such, Ouedraogo could be an excellent addition for Chelsea next summer, and they should continue to monitor his development between now and the end of the season.

Chelsea also targeting one of the Premier League's "best" midfielders The new Caicedo: Chelsea want to sign "one of the best CMs in the league"

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a Premier League star who is valued at up to £120m.

ByDan Emery Nov 17, 2025