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Romeo Lavia reveals his THREE reasons for picking Chelsea and turning down Liverpool as his £58m transfer is announced…

Ex-Southampton star says ‘history’ is one of them!

Chelsea’s new signing Romeo Lavia has revealed the three reasons that convinced him to join the West London giants.

Keen to boost their midfield options this summer, the Blues completed the signing of Lavia for £58m on Friday morning, just days after the signing of Moises Caicedo.

The Belgium international has signed a seven-year contract with the West London giants after completing a medical on Thursday, Mail Sport has revealed.

Interest in the former Southampton star continued throughout the transfer window and at one point it looked like he might sign for Liverpool.

The Reds were in hot pursuit of the 19-year-old and made more offers to the Saints, only for Chelsea to pounce and reach an agreement with the club.

Introducing a new Blue! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/vdHynMOMti

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 18, 2023

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Southampton star Romeo Lavia in a deal worth £58m

Mauricio Pochettino’s side sealed the Belgian international despite interest from Liverpool

The Belgian star will wear number 45 for Chelsea, the same as for Southampton

And in his first interview after signing for Chelsea, Lavia revealed the “three factors” that convinced him to join the Blues.

“I think the project and the club’s ambitions were key factors, but also the story behind it, so those three factors influenced my decision,” he said.

Liverpool have a glittering history, boasting 19 league titles to Chelsea’s six.

However, since the start of 2010, Chelsea have won 11 titles to Liverpool’s seven and for the Belgian star this makes them a more attractive option. Lavia also spoke on the club’s website, after sealing his move, where he said: “I’m really happy to be joining Chelsea and being a part of this exciting project.” It’s a great football club with a great history and I’m really excited to start.

“I can’t wait to meet all my new teammates and build chemistry together to accomplish great things together.”

The 19-year-old will wear the Blues’ number 45 shirt, the same number he wore during his year at Southampton.

Before the official announcement on Friday morning, the Belgian international also wrote an emotional message to his fans to say goodbye to the club.

“To the Saints fans. As I greet you, I want to thank you for everything you have given me during my time here,” he said.

“I immediately felt the love of all of you, even if we didn’t reach our common goals.

I will never forget the faith shown to me by the club and Saints around the world and I hope I have been able to repay the trust you have placed in me.

“I would like to give a special thanks to all my teammates and all the staff within the club, whether closely involved or not, for embracing me since the day I walked across Staplewood Campus and for all the day to day work and help behind the screens that make me a better person, athlete and footballer.

Good luck this season and I look forward to seeing the club return to the Premier League where it belongs soon! Thanks Saints. romeo.\’

As Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday, the deal includes a further £5m in add-ons, with Chelsea’s spending under United States owner Todd Boehly now poised to cross the £1bn mark.

Lavia joined Southampton from Manchester City last season after impressing during his academy training years with the reigning Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola has rejected the buy-back option included in his contract with the south coast club, but will recover the 20% resale fee from the Chelsea deal.

Lavia – the Belgian international – enjoyed success in England’s top flight last season, making 29 Premier League appearances, but was unable to help Saints stay clear of the relegation zone.

His decision to turn down Liverpool means Klopp will now look for alternatives during the remaining days of the transfer window.

And the Reds wasted no time in doing so, Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday night when they made a surprise £16million offer for Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo, 30.

Endo, the fierce Japanese captain, is well known to Liverpool sporting director Jorge Schmadtke and can also play as a centre-back. He is to undergo a medical examination in Merseyside.

Gravenberch, 21, is open to leaving as he wants to play more regularly. Bayern have so far resisted a sale, but they are overburdened with midfielders and are under pressure to claw back cash following the £100m signing of Harry Kane.

Liverpool have also asked about Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat and Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure as they consider midfield goals after failing to sign Caicedo and Lavia.

August 18, 2023
The club have now told Pochettino they can buy a ‘fast’ striker for £40m, Chelsea are a favorite destination

Nottingham Forest have now told Chelsea they can sign Brennan Johnson for £40m as Mauricio Pochettino is set to buy a new striker.

The Independent reports.

So what’s the latest on Chelsea’s Brennan Johnson target? We see…

What’s the story?

Well, the Blues are now eyeing the Wales international after seeing a deal for Michael Olise fall apart dramatically. The France Under-21 international has surprisingly signed a new contract with Crystal Palace, despite Fabrizio Romano saying he has agreed to join Chelsea.

Despite that setback, Pochettino still wants to sign a new striker and has identified Johnson as a valid alternative.

The Independent believes Brentford are also keen to sign the Welshman, who has been described as “quickly” by Wales boss Rob Page.

However, Nottingham Forest are against the sale of Johnson to another Premier League midfielder, so Chelsea would be seen as prime targets.

The 22-year-old is on Chelsea’s radar following an excellent debut season in the Premier League last season, scoring eight goals in 38 appearances as Nottingham Forest avoided relegation. Chelsea target Brennan Johnson is not Michael Olise

It will be interesting to see Chelsea go to Johnson after losing Olise because they are two different types of players.

Yes, the duo can operate both on the right wing and centrally, so they have one thing in common.

However, Olise is a left-footed winger who likes to slot in with his stronger left foot, while Johnson is a right-handed forward who operates more centrally and has a very different style of play.

He suggests that Pochettino has opted to rely on Noni Madueke on the right wing, and Johnson is seen as someone who will challenge Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja more in the centre.

Make sure you keep an eye on this situation as Chelsea could soon make an offer for Johnson.

More news……..

Chelsea will soon complete their third acquisition in two days, according to Fabrizio Romano.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea will soon make Michael Olise their next significant acquisition.

He claimed that the Blues had activated the release clause regarding signing him this summer on YouTube.

With their recent flurry of signings, Chelsea has really gotten going in the transfer market, and they are now looking to add Olise’s name to their impressive roster.

After a protracted summer of negotiations, they were able to officially announce earlier this week that Moises Caicedo from Brighton had been signed.

Romeo Lavia’s transfer to Stamford Bridge is reportedly set to be completed by a medical today, which would round out that midfield addition.

Now, though, it appears that they want to improve their attacking options, paying special attention to creativity.

Olise headed to Chelsea.

According to Romano, Chelsea is now eager to finalize a deal to sign Olise away from Crystal Palace.

“I have heard for days that the clause has been removed,” he said. No. Both Chelsea and City took notice of it. Now that the player and his camp have indicated their willingness to join Chelsea, Chelsea has made the decision to move forward.

In a few days, Olise will become Chelsea’s third signing after the deal with the player’s agents is finalized and the deal’s structure is prepared. We’re about to start working on this.

Due to their continued high spending in yet another transfer window, it is likely that Chelsea will be almost done for the summer after this deal.

In the waning weeks of the season, a wave of outgoings is more likely to hit the market.

August 18, 2023
Chelsea have just made a £43million move after losing Olise, idolizing Aubameyang

Chelsea have just stepped up talks with Lyon over a deal for Bradley Barcola after losing Michael Olise.

So, what about Chelsea and Bradley Barcola?

What’s the story?

Well that makes a lot of sense for Chelsea. Like Olise, Barcola usually operates on the right flank, where he slices inside and wreaks havoc, while like Crystal Palace No7, he is also a France Under-21 international.

Foot Mercato understands that Chelsea have now stepped up their hunt for the 20-year-old after Olise signed a new contract at Selhurst Park and talks between Lyon and the Blues are ongoing.

The French side have entertaining talks with Chelsea and presented Barcola with a €50m (£43m) prize money.

That’s just £8m more than Chelsea were willing to spend on Olise after his £35m release clause kicked in. So, all things considered, it looks like Lyon No.26 have always been the desired alternative to the Crystal Palace wonderkid.

Already a regular under Laurent Blanc at Lyon despite his age, Barcola played all 90 minutes of the Ligue 1 opener as Todd Boehly’s Strasbourg recorded a 2-1 victory. Chelsea would sign a huge talent in Bradley Barcola

If Chelsea can get this deal done, we’re sure many fans will forget the Olise drama very quickly.

The Lyon-born prodigy is a remarkable striker who, despite his somewhat lanky and massive build, is incredibly capable of controlling the ball and flying over his opponents.

In terms of style of play, Barcola admitted to loving Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has just left Chelsea for Marseille.

The French prodigy told Onze Mondial: “My examples are Cristiano Ronaldo and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. I have almost the same game as him and above all the same style. I love watching Aubameyang videos. Its burst of speed and the quality of the finish impress me.

Keep an eye on this situation as Chelsea are looking to sign another French Under-21 international after Olise turned down the Blues.

More news……

Opinion: After being ignored for years, Chelsea have a midfield to be reckoned with

Once Chelsea confirm the signing of Romeo Lavia, they will have assembled one of the best midfielders in world football in two transfer windows.

This area of the pitch has been neglected by the club for years. Chelsea haven’t had a proper defensive midfielder since Nemanja Matic and he left our club in 2017.

Since then we’ve had some decent midfielders (some very good), but overall our midfield was nowhere near good enough, unbalanced and lacking the right profiles to compete in the Premier League.

If you want to win consistently and be a consistent force in world football, you have to make sure you have the perfect team engine, which is the midfield. And this starts from the base, with a defensive midfielder.

Chelsea now with Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia on standby, they have absolutely everything in midfield now and it’s a fantastic moment and a fantastic feeling for us Blues fans.

Enzo single-handedly led our midfield and team last season when we had a horrible year in football, but now he finally has the help he needs and deserves.

Caicedo and Lavia will provide the defensive stability and awareness we’ve needed for so long, as well as the athleticism and physicality. Both players know how to defend, close the distance, intercept and tackle: all things that we have lacked a lot. Then Enzo will be free for them to do what he does best and that is to create and shoot.

Enzo actually has a really good shot with him and knows how to find the net, but last season he was so blocked we never saw him. He also has great vision and an eye for passing, and he’s now being given the freedom to do all of that.

It’s literally a dream come true for Chelsea fans and it still feels like that, a big dream! But it’s not a dream, Chelsea now have a VERY good and capable midfield with the perfect complementary profiles for each other. What a future they have, and they’re all young, so it’s a future we should see thrive and improve and have for many years to come!

August 18, 2023
Liverpool to move for Johan Bakayoko if Mohamed Salah departure surfaces upon speculation

Liverpool are reportedly considering a move for PSV Eindhoven striker Johan Bakayoko should Mohamed Salah leave the club in the near future.

Salah appeared to end speculation over his future by signing a new contract at Anfield until 2025 last year, but links to a move elsewhere are resurfacing.

It was understood that Paris Saint-Germain were considering an approach for the Egyptian earlier this summer, but the French champions signed Marco Asensio and Ousmane Dembele instead.

With PSG out of the game, Saudi Arabia is now seen as the only realistic destination for Salah should he end his career at Liverpool and Saudi Pro League marketing chief Hafez Al-Medlej has confirmed that the teams in the region were interested in the 31-years-old.

Salah is said to have greenlighted an approach, and while his agent has dismissed rumors of an exit, there is hope in the region that the winger will become a Saudi Pro League player within a few years.

Even without the ex-Chelsea player, Liverpool are well stocked up front with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, while Ben Doak has also shown signs of promise in recent months.

However, Football Insider says PSV and Belgian starlet Bakayoko are seen as a possible successor to Salah, although PSG and Napoli are also impressed with his development.

Bakayoko represented Anderlecht and Club Brugge in their youth academy before joining PSV in 2019. The 20-year-old made 41 appearances for the first team, scoring seven goals and netting seven more.

In the 2022-23 season, Bakayoko became a key player for PSV under Ruud van Nistelrooy, recording seven goals and five assists in 33 games, mostly from a right-wing position. Born in 2003, the forward helped PSV win two KNVB Beker crowns and two Dutch Super Cups, while recently providing two assists in their 4-1 third round win over Sturm Graz.

Bakayoko, a four-time Belgium international, made his Red Devils debut at Domenico Tedesco in March, scoring an assist in his debut against Sweden before scoring his first senior goal in a Euro qualifier 2024 against Estonia in June.

However, Liverpool may have to pay a premium to sign Bakayoko as he only renewed his contract with PSV six months ago and those terms don’t expire until the summer of 2026.

However, with Salah still in the Anfield squad, Liverpool are not prioritizing attacking reinforcements at this stage and are instead working on finalizing a deal for Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo.

The 30-year-old Japan international is due to undergo his medical on Thursday and will join the Reds for a transfer fee of €19m (£16.2m) after shadowing Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield. Liverpool opted for Endo after Chelsea successfully took over the shares of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, who both opted to join the Blues over Jurgen Klopp’s side.

More news…….

‘HE DOESN’T WANT TO PLAY THERE’: LIVERPOOL INFORMED £35M STAR DOESN’T WANT TO PLAY DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD

Darren Bent says Alexis Mac Allister “doesn’t want to fill” the role of defensive midfielder for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

When Liverpool drew 1-1 with Chelsea on Sunday, the away team played the most attacking midfield they have fielded in a long time.

Both summer signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have started, with Bent sharing that, of either team, it’s the Reds who “can do the most with a defensive midfielder,” he told Premier League Productions (14/ 08/23 at 14.05 o’clock).

His name was now Fabinho, but unexpectedly Saudi Arabia’s ever-expanding Pro League knocked on his door and he walked away.

And although the Brazilian international’s form fell off a cliff last season, it has left a hole in the middle of the park. Mac Allister, who has been signed for £35m (Guardian), has the aggression, ball-winning ability and energy to play that deeper role, but like Brighton he needs Moises Caicedo at his side , but is now at Chelsea after snubbing Liverpool.

“This seems to be the trendy part of camp now,” Bent said. “If you look at Caicedo. 100 million pounds, he’s crazy.

“If you watch the match (Chelsea v Liverpool). Both teams could use a defensive midfielder. Maybe Liverpool because I don’t think Alexis Mac Allister wants to play there.”

Outside the Premier League

Transactions between Premier League clubs produce only one result: the selling club demands £100m for their player.

That’s the name of the game now, because your worldly Caicedo, Declan Rice, and Enzo Fernandes set that bar.

Unless there is a cap imposed by those in power, these prices will only increase.

August 18, 2023
Player agrees to sign three-year deal for Liverpool – report

Liverpool will confirm the signing of Japanese international Wataru Endo from German club Stuttgart.

According to today’s version of The Mirror (news image below), the Reds completed the £15.5million signing last night but must rush to sign the player by midday Today.

British media have mentioned that the Merseysiders need to seal the transfer within the next five hours to ensure Endo is qualified for tomorrow’s Premier League game against Bournemouth.

Personal terms have already been agreed and it is reported that Endo will sign a three-year contract at Anfield.

Recall that the Asian midfielder will be 31 next February and it is surprising that he is given a three-year contract. The versatile star is primarily a defensive midfielder but can play effectively in the creative position of central midfield and also as a centre-back if needed.

He contributed directly to more than 10 goals for Stuttgart last season, but Liverpool need him mainly as a killjoy, having already signed two creative midfielders in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Mac Allister started in the DM position in the opening Premier League match against Chelsea but the number 10 prefers to play further down the pitch.

It will be interesting to see if Endo, if registered in time, gets to start against the Cherries on Saturday. Ideally, Thiago Alcantara should be in sixth place tomorrow. What do you think?

Wataru Endo arrives for a Liverpool medical and is expected to join the team on Saturday.

Currently in Merseyside, Wataru Endo is finalizing his transfer from Stuttgart to Liverpool.

This Is Anfield has learned that the representative of Japan has traveled to England for a medical and to sign a contract before completing a transfer that will likely cost around €19 million.

Endo will be registered in time to join the team that plays Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday, assuming that process goes smoothly.

According to Premier League regulations, his signing had to be done by Friday at 12 p.m. for him to be eligible to play this weekend.

Jurgen Klopp is expected to take a cautious approach when evaluating his new midfielder, so it is unlikely that he will be given the start against the Cherries.

Alexis Mac Allister, who excelled in the holding position during the opening-day draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, should now be free to assume that position once more.

Endo has played in nearly 100 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart over the last three seasons, giving him a wealth of experience in the top flight.

Additionally, he has 50 Japan caps, and earlier this year, he was named captain of his nation.

The 30-year-old has previously been open about his desire to play in the Premier League, stating to Kicker in 2022 that he “still has the goal of England in his mind.

As he continued, “Above all, I would like to play in the Champions League, I’ll say that quite openly.
“, he mentioned his desire to compete in Europe’s premier competition.

More news……….

Carlos Baleba is a target for Liverpool, according to rumors.

If you can’t get Moises Caicedo then maybe get the man Brighton want to sign to replace Moises Caicedo.

Having just sold Moises Caicedo to Chelsea in a £115m deal that still has Liverpool fans gritting their teeth, Brighton have chosen 19-year-old Lille’s Carlos Baleba as the man to replace their late defensive midfielder .

For some Liverpool fans, this begs a seemingly simple question: if Liverpool can’t have Caicedo, why don’t they just go and sign Baleba, aka Brighton’s supposed replacement for him, instead. Now, it seems the rumor mills agree.

At least according to The Mail and a smattering of even less popular outlets today, that’s precisely what Liverpool are at least considering, although it’s worth pointing out upfront that Baleba is a 19-year-old with 22 total senior caps. If fans rightly thought Southampton’s Roméo Lavia was unwilling to be a week-to-week regular for a club with silver lining ambitions, well, Baleba is far behind Lavia in his growth.

However, if Liverpool were to sign a more experienced player for the starting role, there could be a case for spending £15m to sign the young up-and-comer, although this would only make sense if Stefan Bajcetic is seen as more than an eight.

Baleba is not ready for a starting role at Liverpool at the moment. It’s far from certain that he’s ready for that in Brighton as well. However, it’s easy to imagine a world in which he will be a regular starter for a top English club in two or three years’ time.

August 18, 2023
Liverpool prepares a move for a Premier League player that Jurgen Klopp desired five years ago.

Liverpool has had a difficult time in the transfer window after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia despite having bids for both players accepted.

To address Liverpool’s current midfield crisis, Jurgen Klopp might be about to travel into the past.

The summer transfer market has given the manager of Anfield a week of pure frustration. Following the acceptance of a £111 million bid for Brighton star Moises Caicedo, the club appeared to be on the verge of breaking their own transfer record. However, the Ecuadorian later rejected the move.

The player eventually signed with Chelsea after they decided to match Liverpool’s offer, forcing Klopp to focus on Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. But in a case of déjà vu, the player once more declined to move to Merseyside when the Reds’ fourth £60 million offer was finally accepted.

Once more, Chelsea made a move, and the 19-year-old was about to follow Caicedo to Stamford Bridge. And as a result, Klopp and FSG are forced to shift their focus to other targets.

And the club is acquainted with one in particular. According to FootMercato, Mario Lemina, who joined Wolves in January after moving there from Nice, has caught Liverpool’s attention.

After joining the Midlands club in the middle of the 2022–23 season, the Gabon star made 17 Premier League starts and was essential to their eventual Premier League survival. The French media outlet reported that three of the league’s “big five,” including Liverpool, are interested in him after he shone in the 1-0 loss at Manchester United on Monday.

According to the report, Saudi Arabia is also interested, and Wolves has already sold his former midfield teammate Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal this summer. This summer, Wanderers demonstrated their willingness to cooperate with business partners by offloading a number of players in order to adhere to profitability and sustainability standards.

When the Gabonese player was thriving at Southampton after moving there from Juventus for a club record £15.4 million in 2018, Klopp was on the verge of making a move for him. Three years prior, when Brendan Rodgers was still the manager of Marseille, there had also been rumors of a transfer.

Despite the rumors, the Reds never actually made a bid for Lemima. However, given the obvious gap in his current midfield lineup caused by the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, the 25-cap international might be seen as a solution.

But he won’t be the only one arriving. Wataru Endo, the captain of Stuttgart, is already close to a £15.4 million transfer to Liverpool, and inquiries have been made about Fiorentina playmaker Sofyan Amrabat.

More news……

Liverpool set ‘shortlist’ for transfer of six midfield players after Romeo Lavia failure

West Ham were linked with a move for him earlier this summer, but he competed for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse instead. Fulham have reportedly put a price tag of over £60m on Palhinha and whether Liverpool are willing to pay that fee remains to be seen.

Another one of their options is also expected to be expensive. Crystal Palace star Cheick Doucoure has been considered, but the Eagles are asking around £70m for the former Lens midfielder.

There are several other candidates who could potentially move to Anfield before the end of the transfer window, who had been under consideration previously. Kalvin Phillips has been admired by Klopp in the past and the Reds have been urged to re-examine a transfer for the Man City man. Sofyan Amrabat is also linked with a move from Fiorentina to Merseyside. Liverpool have their hands full to secure his services and bitter rivals Manchester United are also hot on their heels.

The Reds are also neck and neck with United over the signing of Khephren Thuram. Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move to the Nice midfielder, although the Red Devils have reportedly been eyeing this in recent weeks with a close eye on Jean-Claire Todibo.

A final option could potentially be Brazilian prodigy Andre van Fluminese. The Reds are keen on a deal for the midfielder but his current employers don’t want to lose him this summer, instead wanting a deal in January.

Speaking about his team’s need for a new midfielder ahead of Chelsea, Klopp said: “It’s no surprise that we’re looking for that position. It’s clear and it would be great if we could do something, but for now we can do a lot of things.

“We can also play a double six or a double pivot and Stefan [Bajcetic] comes back. He played that position exceptionally well, so we have options, we have Curtis [Jones], we can adjust the system and we have options. But yeah, it would be absolutely amazing if we could.

August 18, 2023
Wataru Endo arrives for a Liverpool medical and is expected to join the team on Saturday.

Currently in Merseyside, Wataru Endo is finalizing his transfer from Stuttgart to Liverpool.

This Is Anfield has learned that the representative of Japan has traveled to England for a medical and to sign a contract before completing a transfer that will likely cost around €19 million.

Endo will be registered in time to join the team that plays Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday, assuming that process goes smoothly.

According to Premier League regulations, his signing had to be done by Friday at 12 p.m. for him to be eligible to play this weekend.

Jurgen Klopp is expected to take a cautious approach when evaluating his new midfielder, so it is unlikely that he will be given the start against the Cherries.

Alexis Mac Allister, who excelled in the holding position during the opening-day draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, should now be free to assume that position once more.

Endo has played in nearly 100 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart over the last three seasons, giving him a wealth of experience in the top flight.

Additionally, he has 50 Japan caps, and earlier this year, he was named captain of his nation.

The 30-year-old has previously been open about his desire to play in the Premier League, stating to Kicker in 2022 that he “still has the goal of England in his mind.

As he continued, “Above all, I would like to play in the Champions League, I’ll say that quite openly.
“, he mentioned his desire to compete in Europe’s premier competition.

More news…..

Normally, Liverpool’s transfer business is smooth, since Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia chose Chelsea over Liverpool, the pressure is REALLY on Liverpool to resolve the “mess” and provide Klopp with a midfielder.

The decision by Moises Caicedo to join Chelsea rather than Liverpool was a setback.

Romeo Lavia, another midfield target, seems to be on a similar path.

Success in the transfer market has been one of the defining characteristics of Liverpool under John W Henry.

Liverpool has experienced more wins than losses since then after learning from early errors like Mario Balotelli.

Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson were wise acquisitions that helped Jurgen Klopp assemble a squad capable of dominating every major competition.

However, after a disastrous week for Liverpool’s transfer managers, that carefully built reputation is in jeopardy of collapsing.

It would be extremely embarrassing if they lost out on their next target, Romeo Lavia, in the same way they lost Moises Caicedo to Chelsea.

Klopp is always eager to present a unified front at Anfield, but he is aware that whether or not his team mounts a title challenge this season may depend on whether or not they can find a top-tier holding midfielder to sign.

Normally sympathetic to Liverpool’s position, club legend Jamie Carragher hasn’t held back at seeing his team outperformed by Chelsea’s brash owner Todd Boehly.

He calls how things have been handled at Anfield “an absolute mess and a joke.”.

One might have hoped for a smoother transition after the midfielders Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Milner were all lost in a single strike.

Yes, the Argentine World Cup winner was forced into a defensive role in Chelsea’s opening match and wasn’t his usual self. However, Dominik Szoboszlai of Hungary also recently moved from Brighton and joined Alexis Mac Allister.

Liverpool are currently facing some challenges. People are aware of their desperation,’ Carragher continued.

The sequence of events is strange. Jude Bellingham was praised by Klopp in January, but Liverpool decided they couldn’t compete financially in the summer, and the player joined Real Madrid.

Despite this, they suddenly made a British record bid of £111 million for Caicedo at Brighton after pursuing Lavia from Southampton all summer without being able to match the £60 million asking price.

Caicedo had always intended to sign with Chelsea; the club’s director of international talent, Paul Winstanley, previously worked at Brighton and was instrumental in helping Caicedo land his first club in England.

It was a high-risk move that hasn’t yet paid off if Liverpool believed that their intervention would increase the Caicedo price and eliminate Chelsea’s interest in Lavia.

Although Liverpool finally agreed to Southampton’s terms regarding a transfer fee, word has it that Lavia would also prefer to join Chelsea, whose spending ambitions know no bounds.

The youngster might have been troubled by Liverpool suddenly turning their attention to Caicedo, though the London location angle could be one factor.

Whatever occurs after that, it’s not how Liverpool prefers to conduct business.

The Liverpool team’s employees will be highlighted in the background.

Michael Edwards, a renowned sporting director, left in 2022. Julian Ward, who took over for him later that year, made the announcement that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2022–23 campaign.

Billy Hogan, the Chief Executive of the club’s owners FSG, has been under a lot of pressure and responsibility as a result.

The early signings of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in the window gave the impression that things would continue as before.

Then, Fabinho and Henderson left as a result of the Saudi intervention, leaving a huge gap at the midfield’s base. It hasn’t been filled yet, one week into the season.

Questions will be raised until it is, and it will be difficult to refute Carragher’s claim that the situation is a “mess.”.

August 18, 2023
Chelsea is keeping an eye on the 19-year-old international from Spain.

Chelsea, a powerhouse in the Premier League, continues to monitor Barcelona midfielder Gavi.

According to a report in the Spanish magazine SPORT, the 19-year-old midfielder may not play as much this season as Xavi Hernandez has a lot of options at his disposal.

At Barcelona’s disposal are players like Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Ilkay Gündogan, and Oriol Romeo. Gavi is not likely to play in every game, and his playing time will probably be restricted.

It remains to be seen how the situation plays out, but the 19-year-old is determined to play.

According to the report, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain might try to profit from the circumstance.

Since the takeover, the Blues have been excessively active in the transfer market and have invested a sizable amount of money in a number of talented players. Gavi would be a great addition for them if they were looking for a creative midfielder to add to their team.

As one of the best young players in the world, the 19-year-old possesses all the skills necessary to become a playmaker of the highest caliber.

In a similar vein, PSG is also interested in the youngster, and Luis Enrique, the club’s recently appointed manager, is a fan.

Gavi wants to stick with the Spanish team and be successful there. Barcelona also does not intend to authorize his departure any time soon. It appears that teams like Chelsea and PSG may have to wait for the time being.

Gavi, who was selected as the best young player in the world in 2022, helped Barcelona last season by providing three goals and seven assists across all competitions.

More news……..

After a significant £35 million transfer breakthrough, Chelsea is expected to sign Michael Olise.

Michael Olise, 21, is now expected to move to Stamford Bridge in a £35 million deal, marking a significant advancement in Chelsea’s pursuit of the Crystal Palace attacker.

A deal to bring Michael Olise from Crystal Palace to Chelsea is anticipated to be finalized. London has a grasp of it.

The 21-year-old’s £35 million release clause in his contract at Selhurst Park has been activated by the Blues, according to a report by Fabrice Hawkins in France. Over the past week, Chelsea has spoken verbally about personal terms with Olise and his entourage in order to reach an agreement.

Football has learned from sources that Olise’s potential signing has been greatly influenced by Joe Shields, co-director of recruitment and talent at Chelsea. london. Shields has recently played a significant role in talks to transfer Romeo Lavia from Southampton to Chelsea.

However, Olise is currently unable to play because of a hamstring injury he sustained in June while representing France Under-21. It may not be until the end of September or even the beginning of October before the former Reading winger returns to action.

In July, Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson said, “We’ve known since the injury that it’s going to take a while for him to get fit again. The injury was severe and needed surgery. The recovery process will take a little longer even though he is well into his rehabilitation.

“At the moment, all we can do is hope that his rehabilitation will go smoothly and that we can get him back as soon as possible. But we can be sure that we won’t be seeing him for a while. “.

Chelsea has been searching the transfer market for a right winger who can also play as a No. 10. This was the situation prior to Christopher Nkunku’s four-month knee injury absence, but this setback has made the club even more motivated to take action.

Both Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and Mohammed Kudus, a star for Ajax, were possibilities. However, it appears that Olise, who is now anticipated to complete his move to Stamford Bridge in the coming days, is Chelsea’s man.

August 18, 2023
Jörg Schmadtke makes ‘surprising move’ as Liverpool bid for 30-year-old Japanese midfielder

Liverpool have reportedly made a surprise offer for Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endō.

The Reds have reportedly approached the Japan international in search of a new defensive midfielder.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have failed in their bid to bring Moises Caicedo to Anfield. Although Brighton accepted a £110million offer, Caicedo opted for a move to Chelsea instead.

The London side are also likely to sign Romeo Lavia, who Liverpool also had an offer for after Southampton gave the green light.

Now Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Liverpool have their eyes on Endo – with sporting director Jog Schmadtke taking the lead on the transfer. Endo, 30, has spent the last four years at Stuttgart and has scored 15 goals in 133 appearances.

He also helped Japan qualify for the 2022 World Cup Round of 16 in Qatar. Romano wrote on Twitter: “Liverpool make a formal offer to sign Japanese midfielder Wataru Endō on a permanent basis. Negotiations with Stuttgard are ongoing – the player sees this move as the biggest opportunity of his career. Surprising move by the Liverpool manager Schmadtke”.

More news…..

Normally, Liverpool’s transfer business is smooth, since Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia chose Chelsea over Liverpool, the pressure is REALLY on Liverpool to resolve the “mess” and provide Klopp with a midfielder.

The decision by Moises Caicedo to join Chelsea rather than Liverpool was a setback.

Romeo Lavia, another midfield target, seems to be on a similar path.

Success in the transfer market has been one of the defining characteristics of Liverpool under John W Henry.

Liverpool has experienced more wins than losses since then after learning from early errors like Mario Balotelli.

Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson were wise acquisitions that helped Jurgen Klopp assemble a squad capable of dominating every major competition.

However, after a disastrous week for Liverpool’s transfer managers, that carefully built reputation is in jeopardy of collapsing.

It would be extremely embarrassing if they lost out on their next target, Romeo Lavia, in the same way they lost Moises Caicedo to Chelsea.

Klopp is always eager to present a unified front at Anfield, but he is aware that whether or not his team mounts a title challenge this season may depend on whether or not they can find a top-tier holding midfielder to sign.

Normally sympathetic to Liverpool’s position, club legend Jamie Carragher hasn’t held back at seeing his team outperformed by Chelsea’s brash owner Todd Boehly.

He calls how things have been handled at Anfield “an absolute mess and a joke.”.

One might have hoped for a smoother transition after the midfielders Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Milner were all lost in a single strike.

Yes, the Argentine World Cup winner was forced into a defensive role in Chelsea’s opening match and wasn’t his usual self. However, Dominik Szoboszlai of Hungary also recently moved from Brighton and joined Alexis Mac Allister.

Liverpool are currently facing some challenges. People are aware of their desperation,’ Carragher continued.

The sequence of events is strange. Jude Bellingham was praised by Klopp in January, but Liverpool decided they couldn’t compete financially in the summer, and the player joined Real Madrid.

Despite this, they suddenly made a British record bid of £111 million for Caicedo at Brighton after pursuing Lavia from Southampton all summer without being able to match the £60 million asking price.

Caicedo had always intended to sign with Chelsea; the club’s director of international talent, Paul Winstanley, previously worked at Brighton and was instrumental in helping Caicedo land his first club in England.

It was a high-risk move that hasn’t yet paid off if Liverpool believed that their intervention would increase the Caicedo price and eliminate Chelsea’s interest in Lavia.

Although Liverpool finally agreed to Southampton’s terms regarding a transfer fee, word has it that Lavia would also prefer to join Chelsea, whose spending ambitions know no bounds.

The youngster might have been troubled by Liverpool suddenly turning their attention to Caicedo, though the London location angle could be one factor.

Whatever occurs after that, it’s not how Liverpool prefers to conduct business.

The Liverpool team’s employees will be highlighted in the background.

Michael Edwards, a renowned sporting director, left in 2022. Julian Ward, who took over for him later that year, made the announcement that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2022–23 campaign.

Billy Hogan, the Chief Executive of the club’s owners FSG, has been under a lot of pressure and responsibility as a result.

The early signings of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in the window gave the impression that things would continue as before.

Then, Fabinho and Henderson left as a result of the Saudi intervention, leaving a huge gap at the midfield’s base. It hasn’t been filled yet, one week into the season.

Questions will be raised until it is, and it will be difficult to refute Carragher’s claim that the situation is a “mess.”.

August 17, 2023
After Michael Olise declined the move, Chelsea shifted their attention to a £45 million transfer target.

Todd Boehly, the manager of Chelsea, appears to already have a new transfer target in mind despite being forced to abandon his pursuit of Crystal Palace star Michael Olise after he agreed to a new contract.

Michael Olise was quickly replaced by Brennan Johnson, who is now the target of Chelsea’s attention.

The Blues were interested in the French winger for Crystal Palace and were hopeful of signing him after triggering a £35 million release clause in his Selhurst Park contract. However, the transfer has since fallen through, and Olise has now signed a new contract with Palace.

It’s the best possible news we could have, Eagles manager Roy Hodgson said of the U-turn. I had been worried because it’s always worrying when a team of Chelsea’s caliber shows interest in a player and people will suggest that a move to them might be the best option.

I always hoped that wouldn’t be the case and that Michael would understand that, even at such a young age, his future here is very bright and that we can help him advance to another level very quickly.

“I am thrilled for the club, and I must congratulate Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman on the fantastic job they have done in persuading him that, despite pressure from the outside, “this is your place and this is where we think you will progress in the right way and develop in the right way,”. “.

Chelsea have opened talks to sign Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson

And since it now appears unlikely that Chelsea will sign Olise anytime soon, they have already switched to another target. Johnson, a forward for Forest, has reportedly been added to their shortlist, according to The Guardian.

Early negotiations between the two clubs have reportedly already begun, laying the foundation for a potential deal. Although a part-exchange deal that would involve players moving to the City Ground has been discussed, it is said that the Midlands club values the Welsh international at about £45m.

For Forest, Johnson has excelled recently. His 17 goals and nine assists helped Steve Cooper’s team gain promotion to the Premier League, and his eight more goals helped the Reds avoid relegation last season.

The new contract, which he only recently signed in the Midlands, has three years left to run. This summer, Forest seems to have already turned down romantic advances from him.

Aston Villa, West Ham, and Brentford have all been mentioned as potential destinations for the forward. In contrast, the Hammers could use a replacement for Lucas Paqueta in the event that he successfully completes his transfer to Manchester City. The latter are hoping to add more reinforcements to their attacking unit.

Forest’s season began with a 2-1 loss to Arsenal on the opening weekend. Johnson was selected for the starting lineup but was substituted late for Anthony Elanga, a summer signing.

August 17, 2023