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Chelsea are said to be eyeing a £42 million striker likened to Erling Haaland as a cheaper alternative to Victor Osimhen this summer.

Chelsea targeting prolific new forward despite PSR concerns

A lot of news has come to light recently concerning Chelsea's potential inability to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules.

Chelsea forced into green-lighting player sale at 50 per cent discount

The Blues need to balance their books this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 10, 2024

As explained by Telegraph journalist Matt Law recently, some of Chelsea's rivals even believe that they must raise £100 million through player sales by June 30, or risk being too far in the hole.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have pumped significant funds into the squad since Clearlake Capital's takeover in 2022, spending over £400 million on new signings last summer alone.

Their total outlay from the last two years exceeds £1 billion, which is an absolutely crazy sum in just 24 months. Despite their financial worries, reliable journalists like Fabrizio Romano claim Chelsea are very much still on the hunt for a new striker this summer, and could move for the likes of Victor Osimhen if it's deemed a feasible transfer.

“I think Chelsea will be there,” the transfer expert said. “The interest is still there. It is really important to understand what is happening; first of all with the FFP situation because Chelsea do not want to overpay, so it is important to know how much the package is going to be for Victor Osimhen.

Cole Palmer

16

Nicolas Jackson

9

Raheem Sterling

6

Mykhailo Mudryk

4

Conor Gallagher

3

"We already know about the release clause between €120m-€130m with Napoli so Chelsea and other clubs are waiting to see if Napoli can be flexible but usually with their president, De Laurentiis, it is usually very tough to go there and negotiate, especially for a fantastic player like Victor Osimhen.

“It will then be important to see how much Osimhen wants in terms of salary and his contract. So there are some crucial financial points to sort out before Chelsea can say ‘ok’ and go for Osimhen.”

Given the potential cost of signing the Nigerian, which doesn't even include his wage demands, it's good policy for Chelsea to have alternatives. One of them, according to 90min, is RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko.

Chelsea eyeing Sesko as cheap Osimhen alternative

As per the report, Chelsea view Sesko as a cheaper alternative to Osimhen this summer, given he'll cost around £42 million. However, they aren't alone in their admiration of the 6 foot 4 front man, as many other sides are also monitoring his situation.

The Slovenia international, who has drawn comparisons with Haaland, has bagged 20 goals in all competitions for club and country.

“Benjamin Sesko is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player," said Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell.

He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6'4") is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”

American billionaire John Textor is reportedly looking to expand his football empire by bidding to become Everton's majority owner.

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Everton takeovers repeatedly failedPalace co-owner bids for the ToffeesWould have to sell Eagles stake to buy EvertonWHAT HAPPENED?

According to The Guardian, the terms are the same as when Textor, who owns 45 per cent of Crystal Palace, made an offer on June 1 in the previous round of bidding for Everton. The report adds that the Lyon owner would have to sell his Palace shares to buy the Toffees – but he is understood to be confident his stake with the Eagles is 'sought after'.

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Everton have been in a long, fraught process in trying to sell the club. Fans are increasingly exasperated with owner Farhad Moshiri and the failed takeover attempts by The Friedkin Group and 777 Partners earlier this year. The report adds that if Textor's offer is accepted, the Botafogo owner will enter a period of exclusivity with Blue Heaven Holdings – the company that owns the club.

DID YOU KNOW?

Textor – who is the majority owner of Eagle Football Holdings which invests in Palace, Lyon and more – is also understood to have held talks with another Premier League team and one in the Championship about a possible takeover in recent weeks. Reports suggest other investors, including one from the Middle East, are interested in buying his Palace shares but that is not at an advanced stage.

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Vítor Silva/BotafogoWHAT NEXT?

It will just be a case of wait and see with Textor, Palace and Everton in regards to a takeover. The American is reportedly confident he can arrange a financing deal for Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore dock and that could allow him to delay a possible takeover until January 2025.

Ireland beat Afghanistan in a T20I after a sequence of 12 losses, having last won against them in November 2013

The Report by Hemant Brar10-Mar-2020
Ireland won the Super OverKevin O’Brien smashed Rashid Khan for a six on the last ball of the Super Over to give Ireland their first win over Afghanistan in last 13 T20Is in the third and final match of the series in Greater Noida.After Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi could manage only eight against Craig Young in the Super Over, Paul Stirling hit a four off Rashid’s second ball to reduce the equation to four required from four balls. Rashid got Stirling lbw on the next delivery and conceded just one from the next two to make it three needed from the last ball. But O’Brien sealed the game to give his side a consolation win after Afghanistan had pocketed the series by winning the first two T20Is.It was Rashid who had earlier helped Afghanistan tie the match in regular time. Afghanistan needed 16 from the final over and then 13 from the last three balls but Josh Little bowled two wides either side of a Rashid six. With five needed from last delivery, Rashid scythed the attempted wide yorker over covers to level the scores.Afghanistan, though, had only themselves to blame to be in such a situation. Gurbaz gave them another brisk start with a 29-ball 42, and at one stage, they needed 52 from 48 balls with eight wickets in hand. Then, Barry McCarthy bowled Karim Janat but it was Simi Singh who turned the game around by dismissing Nabi and Najibullah Zadran off successive balls in the 15th over.Unlike the last game, Asghar Afghan struggled for the timing and could manage only 32 off 30 balls before getting out in the final over. Rashid helped them tie the scores but couldn’t fetch them the victory in the Super Over.Earlier, Naveen-ul-Haq and debutant legspinner Qais Ahmad picked up three wickets each to restrict Ireland to 142 for 8. Naveen sent back Stirling and Andy Balbirnie in his first two overs but O’Brien and Gareth Delany added 62 in 6.5 overs to revive the innings. Ahmad broke the stand by dismissing O’Brien for 26 off 21. In the next over, Rashid dealt Ireland another blow by getting rid of Delany, who struck 37 off 29.That put the brakes on the scoring rate and despite Harry Tector’s 22-ball 31, Ireland could manage only 40 from the last seven overs. But what looked like a well below-par total at the innings break proved just enough in the end.

Everton will be looking to make it three Premier League wins in a row when they host Brentford at Goodison Park this evening.

Sean Dyche's side claimed three vital points in their hunt for survival last time out, beating local rivals Liverpool 2-0 just days after emerging victorious against fellow relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin secured the Toffees' first Merseyside derby win on home soil in nearly 14 years, moving the club eight points clear of the relegation zone with just four games left this season.

The Toffees can secure their top-flight safety this weekend if they emerge victorious and Luton Town fail to win away at Gary O'Neil's Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Despite the fantastic team display against Jürgen Klopp's side in midweek, Dyche should boldly drop one player to give his side the best opportunity of maintaining their ever-present Premier League record.

Why Doucoure could make way vs Brentford

Although midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has been impressive for the Toffees this season – scoring six goals, the joint most of any player in the Everton squad – he's failed to find the back of the net once in 2024.

During his 90-minute performance against the Reds, Doucoure only managed a 59% pass accuracy, completing just 13 out of the 22 passes he attempted that night.

The one-time Mali international also only won 50% of the duels he contested and gave possession away on nine separate occasions – an average of once every ten minutes he was on the pitch.

However, the 31-year-old did complete 100% of the dribbles he attempted against Klopp's side, but unfortunately, it might not be enough to keep his place in Dyche's starting lineup this weekend.

Doucoure was awarded a 9/10 rating by Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley, with the writer claiming he 'ran his heart out' during the victory, but Dyche may be tempted to reinstate a player with more technical ability for the clash against Thomas Frank's side.

The man to replace Doucoure against Brentford

After replacing Idrissa Gueye in the 75th minute against the Reds, Amadou Onana could have tempted the Toffees boss into starting him against the Bees this evening.

The "dominant" ace, as described by football scout Jacek Kulig, has started 21 times in the Premier League this season, scoring twice in the meetings with Crystal Palace and Burnley.

The Belgian has been brilliant defensively this season, winning 33 tackles in the league and winning 64% of the duels that he has contested.

Games started

21

Passes

775

Pass accuracy

84%

Tackles won

33

Duels won

157

Duel win percentage

64%

In possession, he's been just as impressive, completing 775 passes at a completion rate of 84% – with Onana showcasing his ability in and out of possession.

There is a reason that the 21-year-old has been linked with a big-money move from Everton this season, with his qualities not going unnoticed by multiple clubs in Europe.

However, Dyche seems to have neglected his talent in recent weeks, not starting the youngster in any of the club's last two Premier League outings.

The Toffees boss should look to recall the Belgian for the clash this evening, with Onana deserving of another opportunity to prove his talents from the start, replacing Doucoure, who despite his best efforts, hasn't been able to replicate his early season form.

Everton stand firm in new Amadou Onana update amid Barcelona swap offer

The Toffees are determined not to be sold short this summer.

ByBen Browning Apr 25, 2024

Romeo Lavia missed Chelsea's game against Wolves owing to a hamstring 'irritation', Enzo Maresca confirmed.

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Lavia has struggled for Chelsea game timeCity appearance was his third for BluesMissed Wolves game with hamstring issueWHAT HAPPENED?

Lavia was a surprise absentee from Chelsea's squad for their Premier League game against Wolves on Sunday. The 20-year-old produced a bright display in the Blues' 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend but wasn't included in the 20-man squad for the match at Molineux, leading to fears he'd picked up an injury.

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Those fears were realised when Maresca confirmed the midfielder, who has made just three appearances for Chelsea since arriving from Southampton last August, was missing with a hamstring "irritation". But thankfully for the club's supporters, it's not serious and the Italian simply didn't want to risk Lavia, with the return leg of their Europa Conference League playoff tie with Servette to come on Thursday.

WHAT MARESCA SAID

"He has a small problem with his hamstring, an irritation but nothing that is a major problem," Maresca said before the match. "It's nothing serious but one that we didn't want to risk."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Chelsea were comfortably beaten by City in their opening league game of the season, and made to sweat in the first leg of their eventual 2-0 win against Servette. But a run of more comfortable fixtures might allow Maresca's side to find their rhythm, starting with the Wolves match.

Erik ten Hag's days at Old Trafford could be numbered as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have "serious concerns" about the Manchester United boss.

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Man Utd have lost two of their three league gamesThrashed 3-0 by Liverpool last time outPatience wearing thin with Ten HagWHAT HAPPENED?

United have been beaten in two of their first three Premier League matches which brought growing doubts within the club's hierarchy about whether Ten Hag is the right man to lead the team forward, as reported by The3-0 defeat to Liverpool on home turf has further weakened Ten Hag's appeal to Ratcliffe and questions are being asked of his tactical model at Old Trafford.

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While there is recognition of the challenges Ten Hag has faced—including several key injuries and the need to integrate five new signings—patience is wearing thin. United’s poor form has highlighted tactical inconsistencies, and Ten Hag's approach has been questioned by many. With injuries hampering the squad and new arrivals needing time to settle, Ten Hag faces a difficult balancing act.

Yet, despite these challenges, the pressure to deliver immediate results has never been greater. If performances don’t improve, it is feared that the Dutchman could be removed from his position sooner rather than later. However, in public, Ten Hag received the "full backing" of Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ten Hag was backed in the transfer market by INEOS as they signed Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte. While Yoro and Ugarte are yet to play a competitive match, Ten Hag has so far failed to chalk out a blueprint to inspire the team to dominate proceedings.

The upcoming period will be a defining stretch for Ten Hag as after the international break, United face a busy schedule that will test both the depth of the squad and the manager’s ability to navigate multiple competitions. In just six weeks, United will play nine matches, including crucial Premier League fixtures and important Europa League games.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

United’s post-break schedule begins with a trip to Southampton in the league, followed by a Carabao Cup clash at home against Barnsley. The fixtures are not intimidating which will allow Ten Hag an opportunity to prove that his tactical vision can deliver results. However, any slip-up will only magnify any shortcomings which could further undermine his position and lead to discussions about his future at the club. The clock is ticking!

Leeds United would have walked off at the end of a first-leg stalemate at Norwich City pleased with the grit on display in defence, even if their attacking game was somewhat non-existent.

The likes of Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu in the heart of the Whites back four ensured the Canaries were kept at arm's length throughout, receiving various plaudits after the dust had settled at Carrow Road.

Yet, there would have been some frustration amongst the Leeds fanbase at the lack of creativity on show when the visitors from West Yorkshire attempted to bomb forward with Wilfried Gnonto notably failing to spark into life in Norfolk.

Wilfried Gnonto's performance vs Norwich in numbers

The Italian winger was hauled off by Farke on the 70-minute mark, with his performance below-par compared to the standards he's set before down the flanks for Leeds.

Helping himself to nine goals during the regular campaign, there was no danger from a Canaries perspective that he would add more strikes to his account in the lunchtime kick-off with just one effort being registered which was blocked by a yellow shirt.

Only amassing 34 touches of the ball too, with nervy Whites goalkeeper Illan Meslier even bettering this lacklustre total with 46, the ex-FC Zurich dynamo was also quiet with his accurate passes tally only coming in at 13.

Leeds Live's Beren Cross dished out a poor 5/10 rating to Gnonto post-match as a result, with Cross stating that the out-of-sorts 20-year-old 'battled well' but 'never got' into dangerous enough positions to regularly test the home side's back four.

Minutes played

70

Touches

34

Accurate passes

13/17 (76%)

Shots on target

0

Successful dribbles

1/3

Duels won

4/10

Possession lost

14x

Stats by Sofascore

Giving possession up 14 times in total at Carrow Road also, Farke could now look to drop his usually dependable ace to freshen up the attack for the second leg.

The main option to come in as the Italian's replacement looks to be Daniel James, who will hope to battle back from his recent injury issues and become a key star in Leeds progressing to Wembley this coming Thursday night if selected.

The player that could replace Gnonto

Given a very brief three-minute run-out against David Wagner's hosts on Sunday lunchtime, James could now be drafted in from the start to give the Whites more energy and drive going forward to overwhelm a tricky Norwich side back in West Yorkshire.

The tenacious Welshman managed to win two duels despite only being on the pitch a matter of moments in the first leg, eager to leave his mark on proceedings in a more obvious way in the second match-up now.

When the two teams met in the regular season at Elland Road, James ended up assisted the only goal of the game to hand Leeds a narrow 1-0 victory – the ex-Manchester United attacker beautifully picking out Patrick Bamford with a sublime cross to head home.

Bamford won't be present owing to injury, but Farke will pray James can be as effective as he was in this close encounter back in January when push comes to shove in the playoffs.

Picking up a staggering 20 goal contributions from 44 clashes before these tense contests got underway, James will have the bit between his teeth to star in the second leg having had to become a background figure as of late with his injury troubles.

Whatever happens, Farke will just want a more open affair on home soil with Leeds potentially putting on a show to then seal a huge showdown at Wembley to be just one game away from a Premier League return.

Leeds star with 99% passing was Farke's best player vs Norwich

Leeds United will be the happier of the two sides after a defensive shut-out at Norwich City.

ByKelan Sarson May 12, 2024

Warwickshire director of sport says it’s “only human nature” for players and staff to worry about jobs

Matt Roller12-May-2020Everyone working in cricket is “in the firing line” as the English game comes to terms with the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting financial fallout, according to Warwickshire’s sport director, Paul Farbrace.No professional cricket will be played in the UK until July 1 at the earliest as things stand, and while the ECB’s plans to host internationals behind closed doors were boosted on Monday as the government’s latest strategy indicated provisional support, the prospects of counties playing in front of fans this summer appear to be slim.Farbrace, who joined Warwickshire last year after five years as England’s assistant coach, told ESPNcricinfo that “there are going to be some tough decisions to make” over the coming months, as counties face up to the possibility of a full season without cricket.ALSO READ: Cautious PCB open to possibility of touring England”There’s no doubt that cricket is going to have to look very carefully and closely at itself and work out what the best way forward it,” he said. “Every single one of us is in the firing line – it doesn’t matter what position you’re in, every single club will look at its financial situation and work out what the best thing is to do.”The game is really in a tough place. The ECB have been fantastic, very consistent in their communication to clubs, and the support they’ve given financially across the board has been excellent.”But we all know that the ECB doesn’t have endless pots of money, and we all know that the game is taking a massive hit. All the time England aren’t playing, and Sky aren’t getting what they want, which is live cricket to show, there is going to be a knock-on effect across the board.”There will be 134 male players out of contract at the end of this season, while female players who were expecting to become professional this summer with one of the ECB’s 40 new contracts, supplemented by their Hundred deals, have been left without the anticipated source of income.While discussions between the PCA and various stakeholders are ongoing, it seems inevitable that counties will have to cut costs over the winter, and with opportunities to prove themselves likely to be scarce, many players could face unemployment at the end of the season. “Normally it’s black and white: you’re judged on performance, runs and wickets are your currency,” Sussex opener Luke Wells said last month. “But if we play no red-ball cricket whatsoever, what happens?”Farbrace said that it was “only human nature” for players and staff to look ahead to the prospect of end-of-year appraisals fearing the worst.”It has crossed my mind, and it’ll have crossed the mind of every director of cricket and coach in the game,” he said. “It’s a big thing. We know that they are player in the last year of their contracts who are not getting the opportunity to earn another one at this stage.”And with every passing week, and every pound that’s being lost from the game because of no cricket [being played], everybody knows more clearly that there are going to be some tough decisions to make. There’s a lot of us within the game that earn our living and pay our bills from cricket, and there could be a lot of changes going forward.”Ultimately, what we want is to come out of it with 18 first-class counties, and as many people as possible to still be in their jobs. Nobody has a crystal ball. There’s been a bit of encouragement in the last few days but we have to understand that 300 people [in the UK] still lost their lives yesterday – that’s the sobering fact.”Farbrace also fears that the game may have missed the opportunity to make the most of a watershed 2019 summer which featured a World Cup win and a dramatic Ashes series, and is desperate for sport to return even if it has to be behind closed doors.”I genuinely worry about the state of the game, and whether we can build on what was a fantastic year for English cricket. We’ve had the women and now the men with the World Cup – there was going to be a lot of money spent this year across the game. It’s important that we get that momentum going again, and we get people really feeling part of the game.”There had never been a better time to cash in and keep interest in the game going on the back of last summer. Even if England have to play behind closed doors, I don’t really mind – I think at the moment quite a few of us would watch a five-a-side game of cricket in a car park, we’re that desperate.”It’s brilliant that Sky have been showing stuff like the 2005 Ashes, but I know the result. You can only watch it for 20 minutes. The whole beauty of sport is not knowing what’s going to happen, the World Cup final, the Stokes innings at Headingley last year, the Buttler innings at Old Trafford in 2018, the narrative of Leachy in the Ashes. The sooner we have something that we don’t know the result of, the better.”We need to think about wellbeing, and sport does give you a lift – it’s the most important of the unimportant things. If it has to be behind closed doors on TV, so be it. If a few hundred people can watch it at the ground, even better. But we have to be sensible, and we’re not going to do anything that will put people in jeopardy: if we can see that it’s safe, then we obviously want to see sport played again.”

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he snapped back at a reporter following his side's 1-0 loss to Arsenal.

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Tottenham lose 1-0 at home to ArsenalPostecoglou snaps at reporter post-gameInsists he "always wins things" in second seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

Spurs fell to a disappointing North London Derby defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, leaving manager Postecoglou ruing his side's profligacy in front of goal. After the match, a journalist questioned if he still felt Tottenham would challenge for trophies this term – before responding in an irritated fashion. The former Celtic boss reiterated his statement from the build-up to the game claiming he "always" wins things in his second year in charge of a team, and chastised the reporter for asking him the same question in an awkward exchange.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU SAID

When asked if he thought Spurs could win silverware this season, he told Sky Sports: "Yes, absolutely. If I can answer the question or are you going to keep asking? I will correct myself. I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year… nothing's changed. I just sort of said it now, I don't say things unless I believe them."

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Pressure may be mounting on Postecoglou after the loss, one that saw Spurs slip to 13th in the Premier League with four points from as many games. Fans believe the Australian should be getting more out of this team but he remains confident Tottenham can end their 16-year wait for a trophy. While he has lifted silverware in his second seasons at Celtic, Yokohoma F. Marinos, and more, this is his biggest test yet in management.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Postecoglou's team will hope to pick up a much-needed victory when they host London neighbours Brentford next weekend. Before that, they travel to Coventry City in round three of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.