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An elite European club has entered talks with Chelsea over signing a £50 million member of Enzo Maresca's squad, and it is believed he's tempted by the possibility of joining them before the summer deadline.

Players who could still be sold by Chelsea this summer

So far, Todd Boehly and BlueCo have given the green light to a host of players leaving Stamford Bridge, with co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Wistanley finding an array of suitors for them.

Fabrizio Romano: 6ft 3 star now agrees to join Chelsea after bid submitted

They have a long-term contract ready for him to sign at Stamford Bridge.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 25, 2024

Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr, Ian Maatsen, Omari Hutchinson, Michael Golding and Lewis Hall have all left Chelsea, with the aforementioned quartet bringing in around £89 million to help even out their financial scales after another window of lavish spending.

Boehly and co have also managed to get their wages off the club's books, which will save cash in the long-term and allow the west Londoners to reinvest that money in the salaries of future additions.

Alongside these former Chelsea men, a few more players have been tipped for the exit door this summer. Trevoh Chalobah is now prepared to leave Chelsea after being omitted from their pre-season tour, a move which has drawn criticism from both pundits and supporters.

"The Chalobah situation is an absolute shambles," said Bart Barrett, a life-long Chelsea season ticket holder, to GOAL.

"He was probably our best defender in last 10-15 games last season – no coincidence our form improved massively with him in there instead of Disasi and [Benoit] Badiashile.

"It's a joke they have signed Tosin to replace Chalobah, who is a better player and has been at Chelsea since a kid. But the only way they look at it is Tosin was free and Chalobah will go for £30m – so profit for the same squad role. It just shows a complete lack of understanding of the club."

While treatment of the 24-year-old Cobham graduate has attracted criticism, another player who supporters won't want to see leave is midfielder Conor Gallagher. The England international, who is also a product of the Chelsea academy, has been linked with a high-profile exit which would prove deeply unpopular with the fanbase.

Atletico Madrid open talks to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea

He's entered the final 12 months of his contract, meaning the west Londoners are faced with the difficult decision of either selling this window or letting him go for free next year.

There has been no news in the way of renewed terms, and that is something which clubs are looking to take advantage of. According to TEAMtalk, Atletico Madrid have opened talks with Chelsea over signing Gallagher.

Diego Simeone's side are confident they'll win the race for his services and believe he really fits their mold. TEAMtalk also state that Gallagher is attracted by the possibility of joining up with the La Liga heavyweights, but it will be interesting to see if they're willing to go anywhere near Chelsea's £50 million valuation of the player.

Called a "very underrated" player by commentator Stephen Doyle, Gallagher's exit is a transfer which could be met with uproar.

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been sacked after just 15 games in charge of the Premier League strugglers.

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• Cooper appointed in summer
• Leicester struggling for results
• Welshman sacked by the Foxes

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Less than 24 hours after Leicester's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League, Cooper has been relieved of his duties by the Foxes. The club have revealed the Welshman and his coaches Alan Tate and Steve Rands have all left the Leicestershire outfit. The search for a new manager is already underway.

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  WHAT LECIESTER CITY SAID

  The club statement reads: "Leicester City Football Club has parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect. Assistant Manager Alan Tate and First Team Coach and Analyst Steve Rands have also left the Club. Steve, Alan, and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the Club and with our best wishes for the future. Men’s First Team training will be overseen by First Team Coach Ben Dawson, supported by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the Club begins the process of appointing a new manager, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Cooper was confirmed as Leicester's new manager in June, after his predecessor Enzo Maresca – who secured them the Championship title in May – moved to Chelsea. But less than six months into his tenure, the former Nottingham Forest boss has paid for winning just three of his 15 matches in charge. The Foxes sit 16th in the Premier League, with two wins from 12 games, and are just two points above the relegation zone.

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  WHAT'S NEXT?

  Leicester will hope to find a replacement for Cooper as soon as possible, with the Foxes next in Premier League action on Saturday away to Brentford.

From Ian Wright to Harry Redknapp, to Rebekah Vardy to David Ginola, here's the football figures who appeared on the popular reality show

Reality television series is as addictive as it is horrifying to most viewers, where celebrities and high-profile figures are made to survive in an Australian jungle for several weeks in dire conditions.

Contestants are made to compete in gruesome challenges in their quest to be crowed 'King' or 'Queen' of the jungle, and over the years, a fair few figures of the football industry have been made to survive in the wild.

GOAL takes a look at former football players, managers and partners who have been participants of the show.

• Coleen Rooney

  Coleen Rooney entered the jungle for I'm A Celebrity 2024.

  Rooney, who is the wife of former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, had been heavily to the fore of the public consciousness prior to heading in thanks to the publicity of the infamous "Wagatha Christie" trial.

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  Jill Scott

  A European Championship winner with England in 2022, Jill Scott went straight into the jungle after her success with the Lionesses and was considered by many to have what it takes to be crowned 'Queen of the Jungle'.

  The first women's footballer to appear on the UK series, Scott had a vocal backing from those in the sport.

  "I just want to go in there and have fun," she told the . "It's definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. But yeah, a small part of me does feel like I'm representing the women's football world and hopefully I can do them proud."

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  Ian Wright

  The former Arsenal forward joined the series for its 2019 edition, but when speaking of his involvement following the conclusion of season, felt disappointed by the way he was portrayed and that fans weren't able to have a glimpse of his more "vulnerable" side.

  "To be totally honest, if I could take that time back I would," Wright said in 2020.

  "They let me down by not showing the whole picture of who I am.

  "I'm never far away from feeling like I could cry. I have very deep feelings that I've had to learn to deal with, but I still have my moments."

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  David Ginola

  Former Tottenham and Aston Villa star David Ginola joined the series for its 21st season, and said of his involvement: “I don't know much about the show I don't know much about the trials, I think right now that I'm not scared about anything but you need to wait for the time where you're going to face the situation where you're probably in a different mood.

  “I actually don't really think about it right now I just want to wait and see how I'm gonna feel when the things are presented. Obviously there's a few things I'm worried about but they're not important.”

It's been a busy summer for Manchester United so far, with two big signings, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, already through the door.

It feels like this could be the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Red Devils and another opportunity for Erik ten Hag to show the rest of the Premier League what he can really do.

That said, given the nature of their season last year, there is still plenty of work to be done and stars to sign in the coming weeks.

One player who looks set to be replaced is right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with recent reports already naming his successor.

Manchester United transfer news

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have now reached an agreement on personal terms with Bayern Munich full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

The good news keeps coming for United fans though, as Romano also revealed that the club has agreed to the transfer with the German side and that the player wants the move, although he'll have to wait for Wan-Bissaka's departure.

The Italian does not mention how much this deal may cost United, but a report from the Guardian on Sunday night claimed the agreed fee is thought to be between £15m and £20m.

It's not necessarily a cheap transfer, but by all accounts, it looks like good business from the Red Devils, as Mazraoui is undoubtedly an upgrade on Wan-Bissaka.

How Mazraoui compares to Wan-Bissaka

So, if the intention of United is to sign Mazraoui as a replacement for Wan-Bissaka – which seems to be the case – how does he stack up to the former Palace ace?

Well, the first thing to look at is their output, as even though they're defenders, full-backs must contribute going forward in the modern game, and in this area, it's a comfortable victory for the Moroccan international.

For example, in 29 appearances last season, totalling 1982 minutes, he provided four assists, equating to a goal involvement every 7.25 games or every 495.5 minutes.

In contrast, the Croydon-born full-back provided three assists in 30 appearances, totalling 2411 minutes, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every ten games or every 803.6 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? When we look under the hood, is it another clear victory for the "terrific" Bayern ace, as dubbed by former manager Julian Nagelsmann?

Unsurprisingly, given the Red Devils' interest, it is indeed, as the 26-year-old emerges victorious in the majority of relevant metrics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, passes and crosses into the box, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions, tackles won, successful take-ons and aerial duels, all per 90.

Now, the United ace does come out ahead for blocks and interceptions, but it's not by an unreasonable amount, and considering how he compares in practically every other metric, it's very much a consolation.

Man Utd make £50m+ offer to sign "world-class" Manuel Ugarte alternative

He would be Manchester United’s best signing in years.

By
Ben Browning

Jul 28, 2024

Ultimately, while Wan-Bissaka has been a useful player for the Red Devils over the years and is certainly good enough to play in the Premier League, Mazraoui looks to be the far superior modern-day full-back, and the fact that he's agreed to join the club should excite the fans.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have managed to keep their key assets at the club so far, but with less than a month left of the summer transfer window, might Gary O’Neil be forced to cash in on one?

Pedro Neto is attracting plenty of attention of late, with Wolves reportedly looking to accept bids of around £60m for one of their star players.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be keen on luring the winger to London, according to Fabrizio Romano, via GIVEMESPORT.

If he moves, O’Neil will need to bring in a replacement. Could he already be closing in on one?

Wolves looking to sign Croatian winger

According to reports in Croatia, via 24Sata, Wolves have made an offer of around €8m (£7m) to secure the signing of Marco Pasalic from Rijeka this summer.

With interest in Neto soaring as the window edges closer to its final weeks, there is no doubt the Old Gold will need to bring in another wide option, and it looks as though Pascalic is high on the list.

For just £7m, O’Neil is certainly not trying to break the bank, which means he could have funds to improve other areas of his team.

Marco Pasalic’s 2023/24 season in numbers

The 23-year-old shone for Rijeka last term. Across 41 games in all competitions, the Croatian gem scored nine goals while grabbing five assists. A solid return for his club.

Among his teammates, Pasalic ranked fourth for goals and assists (eight) in the Croatian top flight, along with ranking second for shots on target per game (0.8), fourth for big chances created (three) and first for successful dribbles per game (1.6), showcasing his talents across a range of attacking metrics.

In comparison, Neto posted 11 goal contributions in the Premier League, while averaging 0.6 shots on target, registering seven big chances and succeeding with 1.9 dribbles per game.

These statistics show that the pair are fairly similar when it comes to attacking output, which means Pasalic could be a perfect replacement for Neto next season.

O’Neil clearly won't want to lose a talent like the Portuguese gem, but for £60m, it would provide a vital cash injection into the club which could allow the manager to bolster several other areas of his first-team squad.

Pasalic has still to enter his peak years but, having made appearances for Borussia Dortmund during the 2022/23 campaign, he clearly has the required ability to shine in a top-five European league.

He could certainly be a surprise addition to the Old Gold this summer, but the Croatian gem has proven he knows where the back of the net is, while also being able to generate chances for others in the final third.

If O’Neil can keep the likes of Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-Chan at the club, then Wolves will most likely finish higher than 14th place next term, no doubt about that.

Dream Kilman replacement: Wolves could sign "incredible" £8.5m titan

Wolves actually agreed personal terms with this player one year ago before a deal fell through…

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 31, 2024

Christian Pulisic is reportedly set to miss the rest of 2024 after incurring a calf injury while playing for AC Milan over the weekend

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• Pulisic reportedly out with injury
• Targeting early 2025 return
• Shined for AC Milan so far this season

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Christian Pulisic is reportedly set to miss the rest of AC Milan's 2024 games due to a calf injury.

  The U.S. men's national team star underwent a scan on Monday which revealed a low-grade tear and is set to undergo more testing over the next week. Pulisic is now expected to miss Wednesday's Champions League clash with Crvena Zvezda as well as Serie A matches with Genoa, Verona and Roma. The American was forced out in the 38th minute in Milan's loss to Atalanta Friday.

  However, according to the Athletic, the hope is that he can return in time for the Supercoppa Italia on Jan. 3, when Milan will face Juventus in the semifinals in Saudi Arabia.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pulisic has been fantastic for Milan this season, having provided eight goals and six assists in 20 appearances for the club in all competitions. Milan, though, have struggled a bit, sitting seventh in Serie A 12 points adrift of league-leading Atalanta.

  The USMNT star has provided big moments this season, though, particularly in the Champions League, where he scored against Liverpool while also providing a key assist for Real Madrid. Entering Wednesday's Champions League match, Milan sit on nine points through five games, which has them five points clear of the unwanted 25th place in the new-look group stage.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  As things stand, Pulisic is Milan's leader in both goals and assists, although he's tied in the latter category with Portuguese star Rafael Leao.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MILAN?

  Fortunately for Milan, three of the four games Pulisic is expected to miss are at home, with the lone trip coming on Dec. 20 when they visit Verona. Given their spot in the standings, Milan aren't quite in must-win mode but are pretty close if they want to remain in the top four race.

Everton are thought to be making a late move to hijack one of their Premier League rivals' attempt to land a midfielder this summer, according to one report.

Sean Dyche building strong squad

Though the Toffees have lost Amadou Onana this summer, with the Belgian joining Aston Villa in a £50m deal, their squad currently looks stronger than it did last season. So far, Sean Dyche and co. have managed to sign five new players ahead of the new season kicking off this weekend, when they face Brighton at Goodison Park.

They have replaced Amadou Onana with Aston Villa youngster Tim Iroegbunam, while they have added creative flair with the loan addition of Jesper Lindstrom from Napoli.

The Toffees have also sought out extra fire-power after finishing the 23/24 season with just 42 Premier League goals, the second lowest in the division and one fewer than relegated Sheffield United. To do that, they have added former Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille in a £15m move, who struggled at Marseille and has completed a quickfire return to English football.

Gueye 2.0: Everton could forget about McTominay in move for £30m talent

The Toffees are still targeting reinforcements in the midfield department.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 15, 2024

Perhaps most importantly, Dyche's side have kept hold of Jarrad Branthwaite despite interest from Manchester United, and have bolstered their defence with the arrival of centre-back Jake O'Brien from Lyon, with the defender scoring just 10 minutes into his unofficial Toffees debut and on course to quickly become a fan favourite at Goodison Park.

They are thought to be keen on adding further reinforcements in midfield, and had earmarked Kalvin Phillips as a potential option, but now have been forced to change tack.

Everton eyeing transfer hijack

That comes with Phillips on the verge of joining Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town on loan for the upcoming campaign, which has led Everton to look elsewhere. But their eyes remain largely focused on Portman Road, with reports claiming that they are attempting a late hijack for seemingly fellow Ipswich-bound midfielder Jens Cajuste this summer.

The £25,000-a-week Napoli midfielder is expected to leave Italy this summer and had been on the verge of joining Brentford, even passing a medical with the Bees only for a move to collapse. He only arrived in Naples 12 months ago, but failed to nail down a starting berth at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium despite making 26 Serie A appearances.

Now, the Serie A ace is back on the market, and Italian journalist Gianluca di Marzio [Via Sport Witness] reports that Everton have "asked for information" on the midfielder as they weigh up an 11th hour move to sign him ahead of Ipswich.

The Toffees have already brought one player from Naples to Goodison Park this summer in Lindstrom, and the report adds that the two clubs have a "good working relationship" as a result of previous talks, which could allow them to swoop in ahead of Ipswich Town.

Carlo Ancelotti revealed how Jude Bellingham rediscovered his form, with the Real Madrid star scoring in five straight La Liga matches.

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• Ancelotti explains Bellingham's rise in form
• Has scored in five consecutive league games
• Real Madrid take on Atalanta on Wednesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham had a dream debut campaign with Real Madrid where he scored 23 goals and was the club's second-highest scorer after Vinicius Junior. The England international, however, experienced a dry spell in terms of scoring at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, but since scoring his maiden goal against Osasuna on November 9, the midfielder has found the back of the net in five consecutive league matches, his most recent strike coming in the club's 3-0 win over Girona.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  When asked about the 21-year-old's sudden rise in form, manager Ancelotti explained how a change in the dynamics of the team has fuelled the English star into becoming a goal machine of late. Along with scoring goals, the youngster has also been contributing to the team by creating goalscoring chances as he provided three assists in his last five league outings.

• WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the Italian coach said: "Not much has changed for him personally. What has changed is the dynamics of the team: now we have more movement up front, and he takes advantage of this. He’s been scoring, which is important, but his attitude has remained the same."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  The reigning Spanish and European champions will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Atalanta in a crucial Champions League fixture away from home.

Playing a brilliant one-two in the box, Aaronson tapped home to secure a 1-0 victory and all three points

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• Leeds defeat Derby 1-0
• Aaronson scores winner
• American spearheading promotion campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Leeds United defeated Derby County 1-0 on Sunday, with the securing all three points courtesy of a 79th minute winner from Brenden Aaronson. The American, assisted by Joel Piroe, slotted home in the bottom right corner of the net after a stupendous one-two play with the Dutchman inside the Derby box.

  With the result, Leeds are now unbeaten in their last six matches, with five wins.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The American has been in brilliant form in 2024-25 since returning to the club from his loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin, scoring seven goals and recording two assists. The club's second leading scorer behind Piroe, he came up clutch in an important victory on Sunday.

  Beyond the goal, Aaronson completed 88 percent of his passes, while creating two big chances based off of 45 touches on the ball.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR AARONSON AND LEEDS?

  Aaronson and Leeds have wrapped the calendar year now, and the end 2024 atop the English Championship standings. Heading into 2025, they will be pushing for promotion to the Premier League, with Aaronson spearheading their campaign.

Ipswich Town look set to add to their squad once again this summer as they agree to another deal, according to a new report.

The Tractor Boys had to wait no longer, as they got their Premier League campaign underway on Saturday as they faced Liverpool at Portman Road. It wasn’t the start Kieran McKenna would have wanted, as his side were beaten 2-0, but Ipswich will know that their chances of staying in the top flight are not going to come down to how well they do against the 'big six'.

McKenna’s side face another difficult task this weekend as they travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City in what is their first away game of the campaign.

Ipswich Town want to sign £10m player after Phillips, Szmodics and Cajuste

Ipswich Town could be about to strengthen their team once again with a new defender.

By
Brett Worthington

Aug 20, 2024

Ipswich Town transfer news

Ever since Ipswich secured their promotion to the Premier League, the club has been extremely busy shaping their squad. It has been a very busy few months for the club, as McKenna has been heavily backed in the market to make the necessary changes to his squad.

At the current count, the Tractor Boys have brought in nine new players, with those additions including Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap from Hull City and Manchester City, respectively. They have also brought Omari Hutchinson back to the club, but this time on a permanent basis, while they have also added Kalvin Phillips to their squad on a loan deal and brought the Championship’s top goalscorer, Sammie Szmodics, to the club in the last few days.

McKenna has been keen to improve all areas of the pitch for his Ipswich side, with them now having some very exciting options at both ends of the pitch. However, they may not be stopping there, as it was reported on Tuesday that Ipswich hold an interest in Burnley defender Dara O’Shea.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, relayed by The 72, Ipswich are interested in signing the defender in a deal that could be worth £10 million. The Tractor Boys do face competition from Premier League side Brentford, who have also been credited with an interest, but it appears as though McKenna is keen to strengthen his backline further.

O’Shea is said to be willing to be patient in regards to his next move, but that is said to risk the possibility of Ipswich and McKenna moving on to other defensive targets. But as well as looking to potentially improve his backline, Ipswich could be about to strengthen their forward line as well.

Ipswich agree Armando Broja deal

According to reliable journalist Stuart Watson, relayed by Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, Ipswich have agreed to a deal with Chelsea to sign striker Armando Broja.

The deal is said to be subject to a medical being completed, but if all goes well, Broja will join the Tractor Boys on a season-long loan deal, with Ipswich having an obligation to buy come the end of the campaign. That obligation to buy Broja is said to be a mandatory buy clause if Ipswich avoid relegation to the Championship, and it is a package said to be worth more than £30 million, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 22-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Premier League side Fulham, but it was a move that didn’t go all that well. The striker played eight times for the club in the top flight but failed to score in any of those appearances, with his only contribution being a single assist. Broja has earned rave reviews in the past, as he's been described by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell as being an "animal".