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Wesley Fofana: Chelsea And Leicester City Finally Agree A Deal For The Central Defender
Wesley Fofana, a 21-year-old center back for Leicester City, has finally reached an agreement with Chelsea. Since Thomas Tuchel’s interest in Fofana became public, the French international has sought to team up with him at Stamford Bridge. According to The Sun, a bid has already been accepted. Chelsea will shell out £70 million in addition to a hefty increase in prospective add-ons.
The fourth attempt to get the Foxes’ defender, who had asked for a transfer and was training with the Under-21s, came with a price tag that might surpass what Manchester United paid to acquire Harry Maguire in 2019. For the past two days, Leicester have been preparing a replacement to allow the transaction to go through.
The Blues are scheduled to play Fofana’s Leicester City team this weekend, but the Frenchman won’t be there because Brendan Rodgers didn’t think he was mentally prepared. He was left out of the lineup last weekend against Southampton, and the manager said he wouldn’t play at the Stamford Bridge either.
The pivotal breakthrough has now been made just before the Premier League game. The former Saint-Etienne player, who cost the Foxes over £35 million back in 2020, will bring in a hefty profit for Rodgers’ team with his transfer to London. After bringing in Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli this summer, Fofana will be the Blues’ second senior center-back acquisition.
Following the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, the Blues have been frantically trying to sign another central defender this summer. Despite being mostly a wing-back, Marc Cucurella has joined Thomas Tuchel’s defensive unit.
After unsuccessful attempts to sign Jules Kounde and Matthijs de Ligt, among others, interest in Fofana turned up. The 21-year-old has performed well for Leicester over the past few seasons, but the Foxes are reluctant to let him go, and Leicester are unwilling to let Fofana leave for less than £80 million. However, Brendan Rogers was eager for a quick settlement because his side was slipping near the bottom of the Premier League standings.
After learning that the Blues were interested, Fofana hoped to finalize his move to Stamford Bridge this summer. The defender was transferred to the under-23s squad while the controversy was ongoing and has not been practicing with the Leicester first team recently. Additionally, the athlete put in a transfer request and made social media hints that he wanted to join Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel has also been outspoken about how he thinks his team has to bring in a number of new players before the transfer window ends, so he will undoubtedly be pleased that a deal for Fofana has been agreed after weeks of discussions. The player and the club are about to agree on a six-year contract.
With the addition of Fofana, the Blues’ summer spending has already surpassed a startling $245 million, and they will now continue to pursue further signings.
After a £14 million + Marcos Alonso deal was turned down, negotiations for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Barcelona proceeded yesterday night. After two offers totaling up to £45 million were turned down, interest in Everton winger Anthony Gordon is still alive.
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MNU VS CHE: 4-2-3-1 Pochettino strongest possible IX that could help Chelsea defeat Man Utd
Today’s Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford is sure to be exciting. There isn’t a distinct favorite for this forthcoming matchup because both teams have shown inconsistent play this season.
Manchester United hopes to win against Chelsea after suffering an awful defeat to Newcastle United. Chelsea, on the other hand, is hoping to keep up their current winning streak in the Premier League by thrashing Manchester United in their next game.
4-2-3-1 Pochettino predicted starting IX
Goalkeeper: The Spanish international Robert Sanchez is expected to start in goal
Defenders: Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva, and Reece James make up Chelsea’s defense. Reece James is anticipated to start the next game, Despite his red card suspension that kept him out of the match against Brighton.
Midfielders: Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandes are midfielders. As Conor Gallagher is out due to suspension, Cole Palmer will fill in at offensive midfield, with Enzo Fernandes and Moises Caicedo handling additional roles in central and defensive midfield.
Forward: Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja, and Mykhailo Mudryk are the forwards. Nicolas Jackson, who has been struggling, is replaced by Armando Broja, with Raheem Sterling on the right wing and Mykhailo Mudryk in his standard left wing position.
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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
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
MNU VS CHE: 4-2-3-1 Pochettino strongest possible IX that could help Chelsea defeat Man Utd
Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Newcastle: Lesley Ugochukwu replaces Moises Caicedo as Palmer start with Gallagher in Midfield #NEWCHE
How Palmer and Reece James Have Complemented Each Other in Chelsea’s Lineup This Season
Chelsea eye double £156m transfer swoop as Todd Boehly faces Saudi Arabia questioning
