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Tag: Folarin Balogun

  • Chelsea plan a stunning move for Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe before the summer transfer window closes

    Chelsea plan a stunning move for Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe before the summer transfer window closes

    Chelsea plan a stunning move for Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe before the summer transfer window closes
    Chelsea are considering a late move for Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.

    The Blues have spent almost £1billion since being taken over by Todd Boehly last year, including £350m this summer alone.

    Despite the ten signings, Mauricio Pochettino is hoping for another attacking option as new signing Christopher Nkunku is out with a knee injury.

    As reported by the Daily Mail, Chelsea are considering a move for Arsenal academy youngster Smith Rowe, with Barcelona duo Raphinha and Ferran Torres also being considered at Stamford Bridge.

    Although the report says Chelsea’s interest in the trio has not progressed at the time of this writing, they are being discussed by Chelsea senior management with just five days to go until the summer transfer window. Smith Rowe joined the Arsenal first team in 2020 and signed a new five-year contract in 2021 amid speculation over his long-term future in north London.

    After suffering groin problems at the start of last season, the 23-year-old underwent surgery which saw him miss the first half of the 2022/23 season when Arsenal challenged Manchester City for the title.

    Returning to the team in January, he failed to start a single league game in the second half of the season. Smith Rowe has been on the bench for Arsenal’s first three games of the new season, with Fabio Vieira coming on and impressing before him in the weekend’s draw against Fulham.

    Arsenal sought to further cut their squad ahead of the deadline after Kieran Tierney sealed his loan move to Real Sociedad on Sunday. Folarin Balogun is also expected to leave on a permanent deal with Arsenal by signing a £40m deal with Monaco for the US international.

    On Friday, asked about Arsenal’s outgoing activities in the coming weeks, Arteta said: “Some movement is happening.

    “The last week will be busy, we can’t announce anything at this time.”

    West Ham had previously been interested in Smith Rowe but reports at the time indicated that Arsenal had no plans to sell the youngster.

    More news…….

    Chelsea owners sent angry message after controversial £65m deal

    Chelsea owners sent angry message after controversial £65m deal
    Chelsea news: Strasbourg fans continued their protests over BlueCo’s £65m takeover of the club in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Toulouse

    Chelsea’s takeover of Ligue 1 club Strasbourg continues to anger the club’s supporters. The company that owns Les Bleus took a first step in building a multi-club network with the takeover of the French club in June.

    BlueCo, made up of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, invested in a stake in Strasbourg at the start of the summer to acquire almost 100% of the club. BlueCo paid around £65million for their participation and the Ligue 1 outfit are in their first season under new ownership.

    Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira was appointed as head coach shortly after taking over, before Brazilian wonderkid Angelo Gabriel was loaned to the club for a season after signing from Chelsea earlier this summer.
    It’s a decision that has fans worried.
    Strasbourg Ultras expressed their dissatisfaction with Boehly & Co.’s involvement in the club by demonstrating in late June. A message appeared on the Internet saying “Boehly is not welcome”.

    Well, in Sunday’s 2-0 Ligue 1 win over Toulouse, Strasbourg fans once again made their feelings clear and protested against the multi-club model. A banner in the stands read “No to timeshare”. Which translates to “No to multi-ownership”.

    Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali was present at the Stade de la Meinau to see Strasbourg rise to fifth in the Ligue 1 table thanks to goals from Emanuel Emegha and Jean-Richer Bellegarde. Strasbourg chairman Mark Keller has previously said Le Racing won’t just be a development area for Chelsea prodigies in an effort to allay grievances among supporters.

    “It’s not the project,” he said in an interview with L \ ‘Equipe. “We had meetings with the sports management to define the objectives. We will have more resources to be more ambitious. Loïc Désiré (Strasbourg chief scout) will discuss the players we might be interested in, if any. You also have to want to come to us.

     

  • Vlahovic, Balogun, and Cherki are all mentioned in the current Chelsea news.

    Vlahovic, Balogun, and Cherki are all mentioned in the current Chelsea news.

    £66m beast makes Chelsea decision - Blues negotiate £43m man - Chelsea make £50m move on signing
    £66m beast makes Chelsea decision – Blues negotiate £43m man – Chelsea make £50m move on signing

    Here’s a recap of the top Chelsea news and gossip we think you might have missed on icfootballnews…

    Chelsea have increased their interest in Rayan Cherki and are in direct contact with the Frenchman’s representatives.

    CHELSEA have already been busy in the transfer market this summer, snapping up some players – but also allowing a number of stars to leave to raise money.

    Cherki is a man who is now on the agenda of the Chelsea board, as he meets the criteria to be one of the most exciting young players in the game, with the ability to become one of the brightest stars in the game.

    It has been claimed Lyon are unwilling to sell – but that hasn’t stopped media reports that Chelsea have been in touch over a potential deal for the talented star.

    WHAT IS THE LATEST –

    Football.london understands the French club have not said they are not for sale, but with the financial difficulties plaguing at the moment, they will try to squeeze every penny they can out of Chelsea if they make an offer. An offer is currently under consideration and representatives of Chelsea and Cherki have been trying for a few days to reach an agreement on personal terms.

    French football expert Jonathan Johnson has recently hinted that they may be forced to sell some of their top talent this summer.

    WHAT DID HE SAY –

    “Rayan Cherki might be someone to watch. There were reports linking him to CHELSEA. Breaking through a bit earlier than Barcola, he’s another promising young player who’s been making waves for some time. He’s someone who is firmly in the focus of Europe’s top clubs, as we saw when PSG tried to sign him last year.

    “I think Cherki is someone to watch as I wouldn’t be surprised if other big clubs replace him as well.”

    “Lyon is generally not lacking in talent that could interest all of Europe. If I had to choose two players likely to leave Lyon this summer, I would probably put Cherki and Castello Lukeba ahead of Barcola then, but it depends on the most attractive offers Lyon face during these financial difficulties.

    Once these problems are solved, I think it will be more difficult to sell Lyon. So it really depends on which club will be the first to come up with an attractive offer for Lyon.

    BALOGUN DECISION TAKEN –

    Chelsea are now looking to sign Folarin Balogun from Arsenal – who, interestingly, has the same agent as Romeo Lavia.
    CHELSEA have reportedly decided to sign Arsenal star Folarin Balogun for £50m this summer.

    With just a few days left in the transfer window and Chelsea working hard to sign a new striker – Balogun is a man they are seriously interested in. The striker impressed in Ligue 1 last season, scoring an impressive 22 goals for French side Reims – and many believed he would get a chance from Mikel Arteta.

    However, that is not the case, as the Spanish manager cannot guarantee him the regular playing time he wants, and is reportedly desperate for a move from the Emirates, and Chelsea are in deal talks.

    WHAT IS THE LATEST –

    Gunners want £50m to part ways with Balogun but Chelsea don’t think he’s worth that much, BBC report says

    After initial talks with the Gunners over a fee, the Stamford Bridge club ended interest in him.

    At Monaco, the offer for the 22-year-old has already been rejected, while Inter are trying to negotiate a loan package with the right to buy.

    IS BALOGUN WORTH £50 MILLION? The youngster is certainly a talent and the kind of player the Chelsea board have been dying to sign in recent weeks – but he’s not worth £50m yet and anyone would be mad to pay that .

    He scored an impressive 22 goals for Reims last season, but Mikel Arteta has worked with him all summer and if he thinks he’s not good enough for the club, other clubs should keep one eye open.

    CHELSEA need a striker ready to make a difference – not a player who might struggle in the Premier League.

    So, if the reports are true and Chelsea have opted against signing the youngster, they need to hurry up and land a striker who can have repercussions for the club.

    VLAHOVIC DECISION –

    £66m beast makes Chelsea decision - Blues negotiate £43m man - Chelsea make £50m move on signing
    Chelsea have discussed signing Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic this summer and he has made the decision to leave the Italians. CHELSEA have already agreed numerous transfer deals this summer – with some top players leaving and big names moving to Stamford Bridge.

    But their transfer deal is up and running and a new centre-forward is set to join London – especially as the club really struggled to score weekly goals last season.

    And Vlahovic – who joined Juventus last summer – is a player who will leave the Italians this summer after missing out on the Champions League.

    WHAT IS THE LATEST  –

    Juventus are keen to strike a deal with Chelsea involving Romelu Lukaku but are expected to sell Dusan Vlahovic in particular to fund a transfer.

    As things stand, Vlahovic doesn’t want to leave. Chelsea are yet to return to the negotiating table over a possible swap deal.

    It is understood that funds could be raised through the sale of Moise Kean. However, if Juventus lost Kean, they would likely look to sign Alvaro Morata as his replacement – not Lukaku.

    WOULD HE BE A GOOD SIGNING FOR CHELSEA?

    Vlahovic is a brilliant striker who has what it takes to be a big star at CHELSEA and if they manage to get a deal done he would be a real statement for the Blues board. Chelsea’s attack is very exciting and should score a few goals – but they still need to add a good striker to that attack – and Vlahovic could be that man.

    But if he doesn’t want to leave the Italians, Chelsea will have to go ahead and try to sign someone as the transfer window is just days away from closing.

     

  • Chelsea are now ready to shell out £30m for the ‘rare’ striker as he has the same agent as Romeo Lavia.

    Chelsea are now ready to shell out £30m for the ‘rare’ striker as he has the same agent as Romeo Lavia.

    Chelsea are now looking to sign Folarin Balogun from Arsenal – who, interestingly, has the same agent as Romeo Lavia.
    Chelsea are now looking to sign Folarin Balogun from Arsenal – who, interestingly, has the same agent as Romeo Lavia.

    That’s according to the Telegraph.

    So what is the situation between Chelsea and Folarin Balogun? We’ll take a look…

    What’s the story?

    According to Football Transfers, Chelsea have agreed personal terms with the American striker. Balogun rose through the ranks of Mauricio Pochettino’s radar after scoring 22 goals in 39 loan appearances at Reims last season.

    Football Transfers have added that Chelsea are ready to shell out £30m for the United States international – although this is £20m less than Arsenal’s asking price of £50m.

    However, Chelsea could now be helped by Balogun sharing an agent with Lavia.

    The Blues were only recently in talks with the Belgium international’s representatives – likely the Elite Project Group – when they signed the midfielder from Southampton in a £58m deal.

    As such, the lines of communication should remain open to discuss a move from Balogun, as a relationship has now emerged between Chelsea and Elite Project Group following successful negotiations with Lavia. Balogun would be a great asset to Lavia at Chelsea

    While things are a little frustrating for Chelsea fans at the moment, Todd Boehly is building a team that could truly become one of the best in Europe in just a few years.

    The Chelsea squad is full of talented youngsters with world-class potential, such as Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Lavia.

    Balogun is also a player who could become one of the best in a few years, and the Hale End graduate – whom Mikel Arteta has called a “rare” striker – would be a fantastic addition to Chelsea if a £30m deal can be done.

    Make sure you keep an eye on this situation as Balogun is looking to leave Arsenal to play regular first team football.

    More news…….

    Chelsea’s stance on bringing in a new striker has been confirmed by Mauricio Pochettino.

    Chelsea's stance on bringing in a new striker has been confirmed by Mauricio Pochettino.
    Chelsea have lost Christopher Nkunku to a knee injury
    Armando Broja remains out after undergoing ACL surgery earlier this year
    Nicolas Jackson has yet to score in the Premier League

    Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that the Blues are still looking for a new striker before the transfer window closes.

    The Blues made a key addition to their attacking line this summer in Christopher Nkunku, but lost the former RB Leipzig star, who scored 23 goals and nine assists in all competitions last season, to a knee injury during the summer.

    To make matters worse, Chelsea are left without injured academy graduate Armando Broja, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in December and is still working his way back.

    Nicolas Jackson, another summer signing, has taken charge so far but is still awaiting his first Premier League goal, with 20-year-old Mason Burstow the only alternative.

    With Chelsea’s scoring woes once again in full swing in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham United, Pochettino took the opportunity post-match to admit the club are still looking for another striker. “It’s a difficult situation because we had two strikers in Nkunku and Broja, but they are injured,” Pochettino told talkSPORT.

    “It’s not easy to find the right profile at the moment. We are working on it and working to see if we can add players in this area. But it is a task that is not easy for the club. Admittedly, they are working very hard to add players. “If that’s not possible, we’ll have to wait until Nkunku and Broja are ready and we’ll have help from Mason [Burstow].

    “I don’t think the problem is that we need another striker. The chances we’ve created we need to be more lucid. It’s not just the forwards who need to be lucid in front of goal.”

    90min understands that Pochettino will be given the choice of a shock return for Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian was left out of pre-season to go elsewhere but with limited options, Chelsea are willing to reinstate Lukaku, but would only do so with their manager’s blessing. It is currently believed that Pochettino is not interested.

     

  • Just now, Chelsea held negotiations to bring in a “special” £50 million attacker.

    Just now, Chelsea held negotiations to bring in a “special” £50 million attacker.

    Just now, Chelsea held negotiations to bring in a "special" £50 million attacker.
    Recently, Chelsea and Arsenal discussed a potential summer transfer for Folarin Balogun.

    According to a report from The Daily Mail, that is the case.

    They assert that talks between Chelsea and Arsenal regarding the acquisition of attacker Folarin Balogun took place on Friday.

    In the race to sign the 22-year-old striker, who the Gunners value at £50 million, the Blues are reportedly up against Fulham and Monaco.

    The article also states that Fulham will not offer more than £35 million for the American international.

    Balogun may have met with Chelsea yesterday, but rumors of a potential transfer out of the Emirates Stadium have been circulating all transfer window.

    Balogun has publicly stated his desire to leave Arsenal before the summer transfer window closes in a few weeks, according to a recent report from Sky Sports. They added that other prospective buyers for him include Monaco and Inter Milan.

    He appears to be blocked at Arsenal from breaking into the Gunners lineup, so he is desperate for a long-term move elsewhere to play regularly.

    Balogun is such a promising young talent, and Gunners manager Mikel Arteta called him “something special” (Arsenal’s official website).

    Last year, he spent the entire season on loan at French top-flight club Reims, where he scored 22 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.

    However, we’re not sure Chelsea should spend £50 million on another promising young player.

    Two young and ambitious No. 9s who want to lead the line are currently on the Blues’ roster: Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja. We would prefer a well-known striker with a long history of scoring frequently if Mauricio Pochettino insisted on using another striker.

    More news…….

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

    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.

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