Sports News
Chelsea eyeing shock move for £40m EPL ace, Chelsea battle Liverpool for £80m Serie A Star

Chelsea are considering landing Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 25-year-old is seen as a player who can provide competition for Reece James on the right side of Thomas Tuchel’s defence.
According to The Sun claimed last month that Southampton have put a £40 million price tag on Walker-Peters, who has been vital at St Mary’s since joining from Spurs.
Walker-Peters began his career at Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Southampton on a permanent deal in 2020. He enjoyed a strong campaign last term, featuring 37 times for the Saints and chipping in with two goals and four assists.
His performances for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side saw him earn his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad, and has now attracted interest from Chelsea.
The Blues have missed out on several defensive targets, with Matthijs de Ligt, Presnel Kimpembe, Nathan Ake and Jules Kounde all not joining for various reasons, forcing Todd Boehly to reassess his transfer strategies.
They are locked in negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion to complete the signing of Marc Cucurella but are also looking at other defensive options.
Chelsea had identified Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries as a primary target to challenge James, but the Nerazzurri are adamant that the Dutchman is not for sale.
However, the Blues are not prepared to back down and will try to convince the Italians to sell, hoping their financial situation would change their minds about offloading him.
Walker-Peters has been discussed internally at Stamford Bridge, but whether or not they move for him depends on what happens with Dumfries.
The Englishman would prove a shrewd acquisition for the Blues as he is capable of playing on either side of the defence.
However, his valuation could prove to be a stumbling block as it is unlikely that the west Londoners would match Southampton’s asking price to acquire his services.
Tuchel has already welcomed Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly to the team but has hinted the club needs to strengthen further if they want to compete for trophies this season.
Chelsea kick-off their Premier League campaign on the road as they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday.
Chelsea battle Liverpool for £80m Serie A star
According to CMW (h/t Liverpool Echo), Chelsea have joined the race to land Italian superstar Nicolo Barella amidst interest from Liverpool.
The Blues are rebuilding under Todd Boehly and will be keen to get the new era off to a good start. Landing Barella would be a statement of sorts for the Blues.
The Inter Milan ace is already on the radar of top European clubs this summer and the Nerazzurri value the 25-year-old central midfielder highly. They are unwilling to part ways with the player for anything below £80m.
Barella joined Inter on loan initially from Cagliari in the summer of 2019 and was part of the Italian squad which won the Euro 2020 at Wembley.
He racked up three goals and 13 assists playing as a Central Midfielder over the 2021/22 league campaign. He started just one game as a defensive midfielder the whole season, against Sassuolo in Serie A. His box-to-box style of play can suit both Chelsea and Liverpool, with the former also looking for a long-term replacement for midfield mainstay Ngolo Kante.
As far as a Liverpool perspective is concerned, The Reds ideally would have Barella on board as our starting midfield is starting to age and are on the wrong side of the thirties.
Barella is currently penned down long to Inter as his contract expires only in the summer of 2026. A move to Anfield this summer could prove to be unlikely as Jurgen Klopp ruled out any more signings unless any of the other fringe midfielders move on.
With Chelsea’s brewing interests, Liverpool would hope to act soon so that a Premier League rival does not get hold of a long-term transfer target.
Sports News
Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle: Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Moises Caicedo as Palmer start with Gallagher in Midfield #NEWCHE

Mauricio Pochettino makes two changes to his Chelsea team for today’s game at Newcastle.
Benoit Badiashile comes in for his compatriot Axel Disasi in the heart of defence, while Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Moises Caicedo.
Otherwise, it is the same starting XI that began the 4-4 draw against Manchester City prior to the international break
That means Reece James, Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella join Badiashile at the back, ahead of Robert Sanchez. Enzo Fernandezand Conor Gallagher continue in midfield, with Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer supplying the width in attack, either side of Nicolas Jackson.

Caicedo and Levi Colwill, who was injured during the recent break, are among those named on the bench.
Alexander Isak returns for Newcastle after injury, but there is no Sean Longstaff.
Chelsea: Sanchez; James (c), Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Enzo, Ugochukwu, Gallagher, Palmer, Jackson, Sterling
Subs: Petrovic, Colwill, Disasi, Maatsen, Caicedo, Matos, Madueke, Mudryk, Broja
Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Lascelles (c), Schar, Trippier, Guimaraes, Miley, Almiron, Joelinton, Isak, Gordon
Subs: Dubravka, Gillespie, Karius, Dummett, Ritchie, Diallo, Murphy, Ndiweni, Parkinson
Referee Simon Hooper
Sports News
How Palmer and Reece James Have Complemented Each Other in Chelsea’s Lineup This Season

Reece James just returned to action for Chelsea this season after recovering from an injury that kept him on the sidelines for weeks but the synergy between the Chelsea Skipper and Cole Palmer has emerged as a pivotal factor in Chelsea’s recent impressive performance.
Their relationship on the pitch showcases a dynamic partnership that has been significantly impacting the team’s overall performance.
One key element of this collaboration is the strategic placement of Cole Palmer in the middle, operating behind the striker.
This positioning capitalizes on Palmer’s unique skill set, acknowledging that he may not possess the blistering pace or sheer physicality to excel in isolated one-on-one situations with defenders.
Instead, Palmer’s strength lies in his ability to receive the ball on the half-turn, exhibiting clever passes that ignite the team’s attacking prowess.
Palmer’s fluid style, characterized by his adept use of pockets and floating movements, creates a symbiotic relationship with Reece James.
James, a versatile right-back, benefits from Palmer’s strategic play by having the freedom to occupy the wing.
This tactical understanding not only maximizes Palmer’s strengths but also amplifies James’s impact on the game.
What becomes evident in this partnership is Palmer essentially playing as a number 10, operating in a role that aligns with his capabilities and enhances the team’s attacking dynamics.
By strategically placing Palmer in a central position, Chelsea leverages his playmaking abilities, allowing him to orchestrate the flow of the game and provide crucial link-up play between the midfield and the strikers.
The tactical harmony between Palmer and James is not just about individual brilliance but also about how their styles complement each other seamlessly.
Palmer’s intelligent movements and distribution empower James to venture forward with confidence, creating a fluid and dynamic attacking unit for Chelsea
Sports News
Chelsea eye double £156m transfer swoop as Todd Boehly faces Saudi Arabia questioning

Catch all the biggest Chelsea headlines, including updates on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Todd Boehly’s questionable transfers and Benoit Badiashile
Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Chelsea are interested in Napoli duo Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Here is your morning Chelsea digest on Friday, November 24.
Kvaratskhelia interest
Chelsea have reportedly joined the race to sign Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia amid ongoing uncertainty over his long-term future with the Italian champions.
According to ESPN, Chelsea have joined the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Newcastle United in holding an interest in Kvaratskhelia. Sources have told the outlet that Napoli value their star player in excess of €100million (£87million) and are hoping to fend off interest with a new and improved contract.
However, as the November international break has proven, Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations aren’t to be messed with and the Blues must get their finances in order to avoid any additional punishment. Todd Boehly has spent over £1billion on new signings since completing his takeover in 2022 and currently has a net spend of over £692million.
Kvaratskhelia isn’t the only Napoli player on Chelsea’s radar, with Victor Osimhen also on Pochettino’s list. However, the pair are worth a combined €180m (£156m) by CIES Football Observatory.
Saudi Arabia transfers questioned
Former Premier League defender Gary Neville has questioned Chelsea’s transfer dealings with Saudi Arabian clubs last summer amid the ongoing threat of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
Ahead of the 2023/24 season, three players left Stamford Bridge to join the Saudi Pro League. N’Golo Kante’s seven-year stay in west London came to an end with a move to Al-Ittihad while Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy joined Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli respectively.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, he said: “I have no problem with Saudi Arabia setting up their league and spending as much money as they wish, but I did call for some sort of investigation into the deals Chelsea were doing when they were dumping players onto Saudi Arabian teams at the start of the season.
“It felt as though, to me, it needed a little bit of a look at – you can smell that something is not right.”
Badiashile going nowhere
Chelsea supporters have nothing to worry about in regards to Benoit Badiashile amid reported interest from AC Milan and AS Roma, football.london understands.
According to Calciomercato, the two Italian clubs are keen on signing the central defender ahead of the January transfer window. Milan are without Pierre Kalulu and Marco Pellegrino due to injuries and are doing their best to replace them in the winter.
The report says that the Italian duo want to sign Badiashile on loan, but the defender will be staying at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future, football.london understands. Badiashile’s focus is on Chelsea and getting back into the first-team and he has no intention to move elsewhere at this moment in time.
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