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Chelsea are seriously weighing up the prospect of player exchanges, to both trim their bloated squad and reinforce Enzo Maresca’s own options.

Related £90m star very open to joining Chelsea with Nicolas Jackson swap possible

The Senegalese faces an uncertain future.

Posts 3 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

Fresh off their impressive Club World Cup campaign in the USA, where they won six of their seven matches en route to a statement 3-0 win over PSG in the final, BlueCo continue their attempts to reshape the side ahead of a vital Premier League season.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea are under some pressure from UEFA to sell players after being fined for breaching FFP rules recently (Kaveh Solhekol), but Maresca is believed to personally want more attacking options as well (Simon Phillips).

As a solution to Chelsea’s need for player sales, and their desire to bring in more signings after a trio of deals for Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, it is reported that ‘unofficial swap deals’ are being pondered at Stamford Bridge.

“The Blues are still weighing up a number of new targets in attack and other areas,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips on Substack this week.

“Unofficial swap deals are something Chelsea and other clubs have done a lot of lately to help balance the books of both clubs and keep within PSR rules. They make sense really and help both clubs and help deals get done. They aren’t swap deals as such, more like favour for a favour separate deals.

“Chelsea are still weighing up some opportunities for this. And although my top source is still hearing nothing at all on Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea, something that has been backed up by Fabrizio Romano this week who says there has been no bid or even talks between Chelsea and United for Garnacho as of now, our source does also say that the only way it would happen is part of a ‘swap’ deal.”

Interestingly, Phillips also reported in the aforementioned Substack update that a player who could leave Cobham, in exchange for someone like Garnacho, is versatile attacker Christopher Nkunku.

The Frenchman still faces an uncertain future, despite impressing at the CWC, and has been told that he’ll only have a squad role next season.

Meanwhile, Joao Felix is widely expected to leave and has held talks over a return to boyhood club Benfica (Standard Sport).

Chelsea offer João Félix and Christopher Nkunku in exchange for Rodrygo

Now, as per Spanish news website Real Madrid Confidential, Chelsea are continuing to express an interest in £207,000-per-week Los Blancos forward Rodrygo.

Reports earlier this week claimed that Maresca’s side were plotting to use Nicolas Jackson in a potential swap for the Brazil international, and now RMC claim that Chelsea have proposed Nkunku and Felix in exchange for Rodrygo.

The 24-year-old is yet to make a final decision about leaving Real this summer, after scarcely being used by new manager Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup, but it appears west London is emerging as a serious potential landing spot amid links to Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.

Rodrygo bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham calling him the most “underrated” player in their squad.

Pep Guardiola is pushing Manchester City to offer one of his current players in exchange for a Real Madrid star, according to a recent report.

Cherki looking to create his own Man City legacy

The Blues have been very busy in the early part of this transfer window, bringing in four new players. They have added Marcus Bettinelli to their squad as another goalkeeper option, along with Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon.

City have seen Kevin de Bruyne leave the club and join Napoli this summer, and therefore, signing someone with Cherki’s creativity was crucial. However, the French attacking midfielder has stressed he is “not De Bruyne”, and he is keen to “write my own story” at the Etihad.

“I’m not Kevin De Bruyne; he is the legend. I’m here to help the team and to write my own story. I hope to win all the time with the team.

“When you see Rodri, he won the Ballon d’Or here – it’s clear that with Manchester City it’s possible, and I am here for this.

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“When I spoke with Pep, he wanted me – he was very, very clear. Pep told me, ‘when you have the ball, you are free’, which is very good for me because it’s my first quality to help the team.

“The system, the club, the city is very good. I want to win, and I think Manchester City wants to win it all.”

Pep wants Rodrygo to join Man City overhaul

Cherki may not be the last of the new attackers arriving at the Etihad in this transfer window, as according to a report from Spain, Pep wants Man City to offer Jack Grealish to Real Madrid in exchange for Rodrygo.

Grealish has been left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, as his time at the club appears to be coming to an end. Guardiola is keen for the Englishman to get another big move and sees him as someone who can help bring Rodrygo’s price down, which currently stands at £84 million.

However, this report does state that Real Madrid are not interested in signing Grealish, and Xabi Alonso has already made it clear to the Brazilian forward that he is a key part of his plans going forward.

Rodrygo’s 24/25 league stats compared to Jack Grealish
	Rodrygo	Grealish
Apps	30	20
Starts	22	7
Goals	6	1
xG	4.0	1.1
Goals per 90	0.28	0.12
Assists	6	1
xAG	3.0	1.8
Assists per 90	0.23	0.12
Progressive carries	113	69

Grealish, who earns £300,000 a week at City, is already wanted by teams such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa, with the Magpies said to be the ones leading the race to secure his transfer.

Last season, Grealish played just 20 times in the Premier League, scoring one goal and registering one assist in the process. Meanwhile, Rodrygo, who has been dubbed a “magician” by Statman Dave, scored six goals as well as assisting a further six in 30 La Liga games.

The representative of a “complete player” is actively pushing for his client to join Chelsea, according to reports, with a deal also being worked on behind-the-scenes.

Chelsea eye new defender for Enzo Maresca this summer

While their qualification for the Champions League is set to have a big impact on their summer plans, that hasn’t stopped BlueCo from laying the groundwork for potential transfers.

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Chelsea are competing in the Club World Cup this summer as well, and will have the chance to sign new players before the tournament kicks off, thanks to a special edition window, which will be open from June 1st to June 10th.

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

The first window is therefore just weeks away from opening, and Chelsea are reliably believed to be eyeing a centre-back as one of the main priorities on their agenda.

They’ve already been linked with a host of new defenders, including Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Burnley ace Maxine Esteve, but one name who keeps being mentioned is Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen.

The Spain international is set to be one of the Premier League’s most sought-after defensive targets this summer, amid reports of a £50 million release clause written into his contract following a very impressive debut campaign in the English top flight.

Ali Barat pushing Dean Huijsen to join Chelsea

Chelsea have held productive talks with Huijsen’s camp in recent weeks, according to journalist Simon Phillips, and the reporter now claims that his agent, Ali Barat, is determined for him to seal a west London move.

Phillips claims Barat is pushing for Huijsen to join Chelsea as he actively works on a deal, even if the player’s father, Don, would prefer it if he joined Liverpool.

“Agent Ali Barat is working on the deal and is pushing Huijsen towards Chelsea,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“The player’s father has so far been keen for him to join Liverpool. The player has always said that he won’t make a decision until the season ends, but Chelsea continue to work on it, as do Liverpool.”

The 20-year-old has been outstanding this term, and is now an undroppable member of Andoni Iraola’s starting eleven, prompting members of the media to call Huijsen a perfect modern-day defender.

“He is so cool, so composed, so chill, as he said,” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.

“He just makes the game look so easy and so effortless. For a 20-year-old to be playing at this level and doing what he is, that’s why he’s coveted by pretty much everyone in Europe.

“If you’re creating a footballer, the modern-day centre-back, you’ve got a bit of the influence from the Netherlands, the influence from Spain, where they come out with the ball and all the great defenders they’ve had.

“And then you’ve got that Italian mark on it as well so the journey, the mixture that he’s got, is pretty perfect, and now he’s found himself in the Premier League. The elements are good, everything is right for him. You have to get all the right ingredients to be a top player.

“He’s a complete player, this young man.”

Looking ahead towards the summer, Newcastle United are reportedly set for talks with Juventus sporting director Cristiano Guintoli over bringing a midfield star back to the Premier League.

When Newcastle could seal UCL qualification

Whilst the transfer window is on its way, the Magpies’ main focus should currently be transfixed on Champions League qualification. With their fate in their own hands too, Eddie Howe’s side could confirm their place in the next two games if results go their way.

If Newcastle manage to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion and then Chelsea next weekend all whilst the Blues suffer defeat against Liverpool in between, then they will have their Champions League place secured.

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The alternative, meanwhile, relies on Aston Villa to lose their next two games against Fulham and Bournemouth whilst Newcastle pick up six points from six, allowing them to seal their place in the top five. Of course, at this stage it is merely a game of predictions, but the Magpies – no matter what – are responsible for their own destiny in the coming weeks.

Liverpool (C)

82

34

Arsenal

67

34

Newcastle United

62

34

Man City

61

34

Chelsea

60

34

Nottingham Forest

60

33

Aston Villa

57

34

Having his say on the Champions League race, Howe recently told reporters: “It will go down to the wire. The important thing today was that we bounced back from last week. We have been very consistent, and now we have four huge games.

“They do [feel like a cup final]. With four games to go, you’re ticking down. We have put ourselves back into a strong position, but we know it can change quickly.”

Should those at St James’ Park seal their European place then all eyes will, of course, instantly go to the summer transfer window where one particular midfielder could be waiting.

Newcastle set for Douglas Luiz talks

According to TVPlay as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now set for talks with Cristiano Guintoli over signing Douglas Luiz this summer. The Juventus sporting director reportedly wants to learn more about the Magpies’ interest in the Brazilian whilst also discussing a potential swap deal involving Sandro Tonali.

Luiz has endured a frustrating spell in Italy and is almost certain for a Premier League return just one year on from his Aston Villa departure, with both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest interested.

Whether those at St James’ Park are big enough admirers of Luiz that they part ways with the talented Tonali remains to be seen, however. When compared in the Premier League, it’s clear that the choice would be a difficult one to make.

Starts

35

24

Tackles Won

38

29

Progressive Carries

60

33

Ball Recoveries

184

162

Given just how much Luiz has struggled at Juventus, Newcastle could even be in a position to chase his signature whilst keeping hold of Tonali. A player dubbed “strong” by Villa sporting director Monchi even amid his struggles earlier this season, Luiz will be desperate to get back to his best.

Leeds United are said to be interested in completing the signing of a “brilliant” Celtic player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Leeds eyeing signings amid title push

The Whites have secured promotion back to the Premier League, following a scintillating run of form in the Championship that included a 4-0 win at home to Bristol City on Monday evening.

Daniel Farke’s Leeds side know that victory away to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday will seal the title, too, with their superior goal difference over Burnley meaning the Clarets’ result at home to Millwall will ultimately be meaningless.

Amid all the promotion positivity at Elland Road, the club continue to work on new signings for when the Whites are back in the top flight, with Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone mentioned as a potential upgrade to Illan Meslier and Manor Solomon expected to join permanently.

Bournemouth full-back Max Aarons is another rumoured target for Leeds ahead of next season, with the Englishman spending the second half of the current campaign on loan at Valencia, and possibly not having a long-term future with the Cherries.

Leeds keen on signing "brilliant" attacker

According to an update from The Boot Room‘s Graeme Bailey, Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda is a summer target for Leeds, as they look to strengthen in the final third. He is valued at £25m.

It is claimed that the Whites have “watched” the Japanese star in action, but they are far from alone in that respect, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brentford, Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham all getting a mention.

Maeda would be an interesting option for Leeds, possessing blistering pace and end product, having scored 62 goals in 154 appearances for Celtic, as well as registering 27 assists. The 27-year-old is also a five-time league champion, winning four Scottish Premiership titles with the Hoops and one with Matsumoto Yamaga in his homeland, and Brendan Rodgers is a big admirer.

“He’s been absolutely brilliant wherever he’s played, however he’s played, he’s had an amazing season. He earns every penny and we feel as a club he deserves more. He doesn’t give away much, other than saying he’s very happy.”

The step up from the Scottish Premiership to the Premier League is huge, so there would be a risk element in Leeds making a move for Maeda, but the level of interest in him from some of the biggest clubs in the country suggests many believe he is good enough to make the jump.

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Still only 27, the 23-cap and four-goal Japan international is at a great age to come in and be a key man for several years – he also knows Ao Tanaka well from international duty and he could help him settle – so it is a deal the Whites should look to strike.

For two successive T20Is against India, the feeble middle order undid the good work from Nissanka, Mendis and Perera in the top order

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Jul-2024You’re watching a spaceship launch, and you can sense everyone is a little tense. Huge resources have been poured into this operation. Numbers have been crunched, models have been run, variables have been accounted for, or so you hope. But, generally speaking, the last few spaceship launches have not gone well. This could be another disaster.But wow! Okay. Maybe this time it’s different. The tower arms disengage without a hitch. The thrusters fire. The coolants flood in. The ship takes off, and there is no little elation. It looks like it’s headed where it needs to go. It cuts a mighty path into the sky, shooting through the troposphere, up towards the clouds.There are smiles. Cheers. High fives. It’s working. Until… oh… oh no. The thrusters putter out. Where once the engines produced triumphant roars, there are now only “pfffts”. The ship slows, stops in mid-air, then begins to tumble back downwards. You can barely stand to watch, but also can’t tear your eyes away. It enters the ocean with a plop, never to be seen again.Related

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India seal series after Sri Lanka suffer slide of 7 for 31

This, essentially, is what it’s been like to watch Sri Lanka innings over the past two nights. Between Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Kusal Perera, they’ve propelled Sri Lanka to scorelines such as 77 for 1 after 9 overs, or 140 for 1 after 14. Both are positions from which many teams will push for scores of more than 200.But we know what happens here. The nosedive in the first match was truly spectacular, nine wickets falling for 30 runs. The second was almost worse, because with the first one so fresh in the mind, this felt like digging up a fresh wound. In Sunday’s match, Sri Lanka lost seven wickets for 31, having fought their way to 130 for 2 after 15 overs.Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka put on a 54-run stand for the second wicket, but Sri Lanka couldn’t finish strong•AFP/Getty ImagesPartly the problem is that Charith Asalanka, one of their more consistent batters, has failed twice at No. 5. While Asalanka may be excused (he’s getting used to leadership and all, let’s throw him a bone), but a lack of firepower from Nos. 6, 7, and 8 is a long-standing problem for Sri Lanka’s men in T20Is. Since 2019, they’ve collectively struck at 122.96 in those positions. This is ninth-worst among the top-ten ranked T20I nations.For the last several years, Sri Lanka have looked to Dasun Shanaka to produce those rapid, late runs, but given he strikes at 119 at No. 6 (after 48 innings), and 110 at No. 7, we may be getting to the end of his tenure in the T20I side. Wanindu Hasaranga – who makes it into the XI on the strength of his bowling alone – isn’t much better. When batting at Nos. 6. 7 or 8, he strikes at 128.21.It’s not as if Sri Lanka lack firepower entirely – they have so many riches at the top of the order that Avishka Fernando has not made the XI yet this series. Avishka had actually been the third-highest run-scorer in the just-concluded LPL 2024, striking at 162.60.But all their big-hitting batters want to bat in the top five. Which makes sense in a team that loses more often than it wins against quality opposition. Batters want the leeway to have slow starts to their innings, before catching up later in team environments where places are consistently under strain. You’d rather hit a 55 off 40 than a 16 not out off 9 – the player who produced the latter likely viewed as more expendable than the player who hit the fifty, by most selectors.

“It’s the experienced players who have to play lower down the order, but at the same time you’ve got to give them a bit of security to play there for a while even if they are unsuccessful for a bit. We have given that security in the past, too.”Batting coach Thilina Kandamby on Sri Lanka’s middle order woes

Sri Lanka’s batting coach Thilina Kandamby said he was aware of this problem.”I was also a middle order batter, and I know what the pressure is like in those positions,” he said. “I had also wanted to go up the order. But because there were batters already in the top order, I couldn’t bat there.”I agree that it’s the experienced players who have to play lower down the order, but at the same time you’ve got to give them a bit of security to play there for a while even if they are unsuccessful for a bit. We have given that security in the past, too. We have to create a plan to maybe push the more experienced players into those positions, even in the LPL.”Sri Lanka have some options now. They could ask Avishka to replace Shanaka at No. 6. They could perhaps have Dinesh Chandimal (who is in the squad after a great LPL at the top of the innings), try his hand one last time down the order.But there are no great finishers even in Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket right now. Hasaranga’s batting at the international level has not been sufficiently consistent either.The move may be to shove some top order batters down the order, and hope their big-hitting against the newer ball translates. Because with this current middle order, it feels like every time Sri Lanka do manage to get off the ground, which is rare enough in itself, they are still doomed to come plummeting down before they get anywhere good.

After 11 years with Brisbane Heat, and a solid debut in the T20 Blast for Northants, the batter is looking forward to a “great new adventure” with Adelaide Strikers

Matt Roller31-Oct-2022Chris Lynn’s 11-year relationship with the Big Bash League has been symbiotic. He is the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorer and his rise to prominence relied on the BBL, just as the BBL’s growth owed so much to him. But earlier this year, it looked as though their relationship was about to end acrimoniously.”Yeah, absolutely,” Lynn confirms, when asked if there had ever been a realistic chance that he would miss the 2022-23 BBL. He had an offer from the table from Adelaide Strikers after leaving Brisbane Heat, but had also signed a lucrative contract as a marquee player for Gulf Giants in the inaugural ILT20 in the UAE, which starts in mid-January, before the end of the BBL season.Related

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But after crisis talks, a compromise was struck: Lynn was granted a No-Objection Certificate by Cricket Australia and will play 11 out of Adelaide’s 14 regular-season games before arriving in the UAE around one week late. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Cricket Australia about the outcome,” Lynn says. “Every party wins. Common sense ultimately prevailed.”I get to play cricket in Australia and also overseas. Ideally you want to be playing a full fixture list, but at the end of the day, I’m happy and Cricket Australia is happy. It’s a game of cricket, and one player doesn’t make a tournament. We want to try and keep it [the BBL] as strong as possible but different players are at different stages in their careers and at the end of the day, you have to look after number one.”At 32, he faces a new challenge after trading one shade of blue for another. “I knew deep down that I needed a change, and they probably got wind of that as well,” Lynn explains. “I knew it was the right decision, but communication got a little bit messy and that’s when ‘he said, she said’ conversations happen and it can get a little bit ugly.”He admits he was “disappointed” not to have been offered a contract, but was determined to maintain healthy relations with Heat and Queensland management with an eye on his post-playing career. “You can easily mouth off in the press but what are you going to gain from that? If an opportunity does come up in the future, I don’t want to have burned that bridge by making some immature comments.In his first T20 Blast season, Lynn scored four fifties and two hundreds for Northamptonshire•Getty Images”I’m Brisbane born and bred. It hurts there and then, but I’m a big man and it’s a game of cricket. I’m so cool with my decision now and I’m actually really excited to move. I’m sleeping well at night, that’s the main thing. Adelaide is going to be a great new adventure and I’m looking forward to scoring plenty of runs – and hopefully against Brisbane.”Lynn will warm up for the BBL season with a two-week stint captaining Team Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi T10, his first professional appearance since a successful T20 Blast stint with Northamptonshire, for whom he aggregated 516 runs in ten innings, with two unbeaten hundreds. “The squad lists have got stronger each year,” he says. “Every player in the world wants to play in this tournament.”I’ve been training for a couple of weeks now and my body feels in the best nick it has in probably three or four years. I want to get the respect of the Adelaide players and support staff – and the fans as well – when I get down there by hitting the ground running. Every year you get older and wiser but your body does get a little bit slower – that’s why I’ve been training my backside off to get to where I want to.”Lynn has spent the last few months in Brisbane and the T20 World Cup has granted him the opportunity to catch up with some old friends, coaches and team-mates as they have passed through. Despite his stellar T20 record, Lynn never played in the tournament himself, but is tipping Tim David to have a big tournament: “He’s the face of power-hitting now,” he says.He has recently become a father, and is hoping that a strong run of form over the next four months can allow him and his young family to travel the world together. “It gives you a different perspective,” Lynn says. “The two years of Covid were an absolute nightmare. I’m not going to cry poor because I still got to work, but you do get a bit lonely at times and think ‘why the hell am I still playing?'”This year was the first time I’ve missed the IPL in about ten years. If you score runs, you get to pick and choose when you play. That’s my motivation to do really well. If you don’t score runs, are you going to get picked up at the next auction or draft? If you score runs, you get a lot more say in where you want to play. You can really call your own shots.”How long does he intend to keep playing? “The body is in good nick, so I’m hopeful I’ve still got a couple more years left,” Lynn says, “but I’m never one to squeeze that juice until there’s nothing left. I’ve got three months of solid cricket coming up, then I’m over at Northants where I’ve already signed again. And if you look too far down the track, you miss the fun bit along the way.”

‘We were not able to create those chances,’ Harmanpreet Kaur said after the match

Annesha Ghosh in Melbourne09-Mar-2020Spinners’ dream run endsThrough their undefeated run in the league stage, India’s bowlers, especially their spinners, did the heavy lifting. The slowness of all the surfaces through the group games – at the Sydney Showground Stadium, the WACA, and the Junction Oval in Melbourne – aided India’s four-pronged spin-heavy attack.”It has all panned out really well. It’s just a joke going around that this World Cup is made in such a way that it’s helping us; starting from the wickets to everything,” Veda Krishnamurthy had said on Thursday in Sydney after India made the final via a washout.The MCG turf in the final was on the quicker side, and with conducive bounce, it made for a flat deck that Australia used to notch up their highest total, 154, batting first in a T20 World Cup final across men’s or women’s cricket in just 17.1 overs. Their 184 for 4 became the highest total in a T20 world tournament final.Each of India’s four frontline spinners conceded at least 7.25 runs per over, and the treatment from a rampaging Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney meant Shikha Pandey, India’s only quick bowler in the XI – a combination they stuck with since their second group game – was carted at 13 an over.The big guns never came good with the batTeenager Shafali Verma’s tally of 163 from the five innings in the World Cup was the most from the Indian side. The combined returns of their key cogs in the top five – Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues – was 164 in the 14 innings between them. In the final, opener Mandhana fell for 11 while Rodrigues’ up-and-down campaign culminated in a duck.Kaur’s horror run with the bat, meanwhile, reflected in her scores of 4, 15, 1, 8 and 2. Any hopes of a form revival in a big-match scenario, an apt setting for Kaur’s hundreds in recent world tournaments, were dashed when she holed out to deep square leg off left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, with India slumping to 30 for 4 in the final over of the powerplay.ALSO READ: ‘I told her she should be proud’ – India hurt but hopefulThe Indian players wear a dejected look•AFP via Getty ImagesCatches win… World Cup finalsVerma dropped Healy on 9 – a straightforward, flat, waist-high chance shelled at cover. Mooney, the highest run-scorer for Australia heading into the final, was on 8 off six when left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad spilled a return catch low to the ground. Healy went on to hammer a 39-ball 75; Mooney finished atop the tournament run-charts with a 54-ball 78.”When you lose half chances, and then it’s hard for a bowler to get that confidence back,” Kaur said after the match. “Then, I guess it’s easy for a batter too because, when they get a chance, then they are just batting freely. They don’t have any pressure.”India sacked their previous fielding coach, Biju George, ahead of the tour of the West Indies in November last year. The work put in by George’s successor Subhadeep Ghosh had held India in good stead heading into the final. Was it the nerves of playing a big match in front of a record crowd, then, that drew errors out of the Indian fielders who had fared relatively better than many of their opponents in the group games?”I don’t think we were fielding under pressure,” Kaur explained. “But unfortunately, we were not able to create those chances because that was very crucial because they both were in great form. You cannot drop the catches. After that, I think they batted very well.”Fit India movementMandhana, who cut out a few fours by throwing herself around in the circle and near the boundary, underscored India have work to do in another key area: fitness.”It’s been a clear indication that we lack in fielding and fitness, that one thing was a major difference between both the teams,” Mandhana said. “We definitely felt that through the tournament but today we didn’t field [up to the mark]. [We] not only dropped the chances, in general throughout the match.”That’s two things [we need to work on]. In batting and bowling, we’ve got the skills; we’re slowly getting into the power-hitting zone. These are two things we need to implement and hopefully, it will help us lift the ICC trophy.”

أعلن نادي برشلونة عبر موقعه الرسمي عن تجديد عقد أحد لاعبيه بعد تقديمه أداء متميزاً في بداية هذا الموسم تحت قيادة هانز فليك.

وتوصل برشلونة لاتفاق لتجديد عقد لاعبه إريك جارسيا مكافأة لما قدمه مع النادي، وكان خوان لابورتا قد أكد صحة التقارير حول ذلك أمس.

وأعلن نادي برشلونة منذ قليل، أن عقد إريك جارسيا الجديد مع برشلونة سيمتد حتى 30 يونيو 2031، وستتم مراسم التوقيع على العقد الجديد يوم الخميس القادم 11 ديسمبر.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ريال مدريد يستعد للتصعيد ضد برشلونة أمام فيفا

وقد أنهى برشلونة اتفاقه مع إريك جارسيا بعد أسابيع من المفاوضات بين ديكو المدير الرياضي وإيفان دي لا بينيا وكيل أعمال اللاعب.

ويعد إريك جارسيا هو اللاعب الوحيد الذي شارك في جميع مباريات هذا الموسم، وكان عقده القديم ينتهي في 2026 ومثل تجديده أولوية للمدرب الألماني هانز فليك والذي منحه ثقة كبيرة ولذلك أصبح مهماً لدى الإدارة الرياضية لبرشلونة، وسيحصل اللاعب على زيادة جديدة في راتبه.

It feels like Chelsea’s momentum is starting to build this season.

Enzo Maresca’s side had a few poor results earlier in the campaign, but have just come off a week that saw them demolish Barcelona in the Champions League.

Then, a few days later, they held Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw, despite being a man down for over half the game.

One of Chelsea’s best players in this uptick in form has been Marc Cucurella, but if reports are to be believed, he could soon have some extra competition for his place in the team.

Chelsea target Cucurella rival

With the winter transfer window now so close, Chelsea have unsurprisingly been linked with a huge number of players.

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For example, the West Londoners have been one of several sides linked with an audacious move for Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız, and if that wasn’t exciting enough, Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga has also been touted for a £70m move to Stamford Bridge.

However, while these two players would most certainly improve Maresca’s squad, if not his starting lineup, they cannot really be described as competition for Cucurella, unlike Castello Lukeba.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the French defender.

Alongside the Blues, the report claims Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all keen on the 22-year-old, but the good news is that it is the West Londoners who are leading the race at the moment.

Interestingly, while he has a release clause worth up to €90m in his contract, which is about £79m, the report has revealed that RB Leipzig may be willing to let him leave for around €60m, which is just £53m.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but with how talented Lukeba is, one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he could provide more competition for Cucurella.

How Lukeba compares to Cucurella

Now, the first thing to say is that it feels incredibly unlikely that any defender would come into this Chelsea side in January and immediately displace Cucurella.

After all, the Spaniard is one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment.

However, all great teams need serious competition in all areas of the pitch, and by signing Lukeba, Maresca would be ensuring that he has that at left-back and extra cover at centre-back.

Yes, the Frenchman has spent most of his career playing in the centre of a defence, but he has got some experience out on the left, and players like Jorrel Hato, Jurrien Timber and even Riccardo Calafiori all prove that centre-backs can transition to become more of a full-back.

Moreover, respected analyst-turned-Como scout Ben Mattinson has even described the 22-year-old as a “perfect LB/LCB hybrid for the modern game.”

Mattinon goes on to describe the Frenchman as “defensively exceptional,” pointing out his “outstanding timing of last man tackles” as one of the reasons why.

However, he’s not just a lockdown defender, as u23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as someone who “excels on the ball” and has “that line breaking ability” so many managers want from their full-backs and centre-backs.

With all that said, his most significant advantage over Cucurella, and the reason he could seriously challenge him for game time, is his defensive solidity, and the numbers back that up.

According to FBref, the Leipzig star outperforms the Blues ace in most defensive metrics, including ball recoveries, aerial duels won, blocks, interceptions and clearances.

Lukeba vs Cucurella

Statistics per 90

Lukeba

Cucurella

Blocks

1.91

1.42

Interceptions

1.45

1.00

Clearances

5.82

3.33

Aerial Duels Won

1.18

1.00

Ball Recoveries

5.73

3.83

All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Season

Ultimately, Cucurella’s place in Chelsea’s starting lineup is guaranteed at the moment, but were Maresca to get his hands on Lukeba, he could have some serious competition.

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