Wesley Fofana Sparks Chelsea Exit Rumours
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has fueled speculation over his future after deleting all Chelsea-related content from his official Instagram account, just days after Enzo Maresca's comments about the Frenchman's role in the squad.
The Blues kicked off their Premier League season with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace, where Fofana was named on the bench but did not feature. Ahead of the match, Maresca made it clear that he intends to reintegrate the 24-year-old gradually following his long injury layoff.
'Wes was on the bench but was just on the bench to be with us and the plan was for him not to get any minutes,' Maresca explained. 'Now hopefully for the next one, we can use Wes for some minutes.'
Despite this reassurance, Fofana's social media activity has raised doubts about his future at Stamford Bridge. Since joining from Leicester City for £70 million in 2022, his time at Chelsea has been plagued by serious injuries, limiting him to just 34 appearances across all competitions.
French outlet reports suggest Marseille have emerged as a potential destination, with discussions around an initial loan move that could include an obligation to buy. The Ligue 1 side, who secured Champions League qualification, hold personal significance for Fofana, who has previously spoken about his admiration for the club.
'Olympique Marseille... we'll see one day,' Fofana said last year. 'I still have a contract until 2029, we'll see. Marseille is my city, my club, I am an OM supporter.'
With the transfer deadline approaching, Fofana's drastic Instagram move has cast fresh uncertainty over whether his Chelsea chapter is nearing an early end.
read more
Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16
World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider
Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico
Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify
Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup
Sports
Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup
Sports
Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title
Sports
Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek
Sports
Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest
Videos & Features
Story behind Trending Jessica Radcliffe Death Video
News
Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters
Arts & Culture
"Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date
News
China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier
News
Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia
Business
Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs
Videos & Features
Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall
Arts & Culture
South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle
Lifestyle
Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt
News
The Jessica Radcliffe Orca Attack? 100% Fake and AI-Generated
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
8 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Slot reveals Liverpool will only sign right player at right price amid Isak row - World
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said Thursday the Premier League champions will only sign the right player for the right price but refused to be drawn on the club's position regarding unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. Since Liverpool's reported £110 million ($148 million) bid for the 25-year-old Sweden international was rejected earlier this month, they have not held further talks but equally do not appear to have given up hope of bringing Isak to Anfield. Newcastle, for their part, are reported to be demanding a British record transfer fee of £150 million for Isak. The forward's decision to go public on Tuesday, accusing Newcastle of breaking promises and saying he "can't continue" and "change is in the best interests of everyone", has intensified speculation about Isak's future. Newcastle's response was to insist: "We have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met." The back-and-forth exchanges have all added another layer of interest to Liverpool's match at Newcastle's St. James' Park on Monday, with Isak expected to absent again as he continues to train away from the squad. Slot, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, said: "I am happy with the squad but if we think there is a player who can really make us better then this club has always shown they can bring them in." The Dutch manager, who has seen Liverpool's £300million-plus spending spree this summer offset by more than £200 million worth of sales, added: "But it needs to be everything we want: right transfer fee, right position and the player wants to come to us. "I don't think (it will be a busy end to the summer transfer window) because (that would mean) I would be unhappy with the squad and I am happy with the squad. "I say two players for each positions is ideal, but sometimes less is more so you are not disappointing players." Slot rejected suggestion Liverpool's trip to the northeast would be made easier by Isak's absence and the ensuing turmoil it has caused Newcastle. "I don't think they are a club with troubles," he said. "I assume Isak is not playing but they still have Anthony Gordon as a nine, they have Anthony Elanga as a right winger and Harvey Barnes from the left -- and Jacob Murphy is not even playing. "This is the Premier League, we all have a lot of options and Newcastle have them as well." But Slot's options at right-back have been reduced, with new signing Jeremie Frimpong ruled out until after next month's international break with a hamstring injury sustained in their opening victory over Bournemouth. Joe Gomez was pressed into action for 18 minutes despite having had just two training sessions after three weeks out with injury. Gomez could still be in contention at Newcastle, with Conor Bradley only returning to training on Thursday. "At the moment we only have two injuries, but unfortunately it is two in the same position," said Slot. "The good thing is we have other players that can play there. "Wataru Endo played there for a few minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai has already played there. There are other options we can explore." (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
9 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Liverpool's Frimpong out for several weeks with hamstring injury - World
Frimpong suffered the setback during the Premier League champions' 4-2 opening win over Bournemouth at Anfield last Friday. The former Bayer Leverkusen full-back, a reported £29.5 million ($39.6 million) replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, went off after an hour of his home league debut for Liverpool. "The medical team were completely right about Jeremie to tell me to take him off because he is out until the end of the international break (September 10) and that happened during the game," Slot told a pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool's game against Newcastle on Monday. "I think I got criticised for taking him off, didn't I?," the Dutch boss added. "It had nothing to do with how he played but we felt he had an issue with his hamstring and by we, I mean the medical staff. It was a good call to take him off, otherwise he would have been out for longer. We expect to have him back after the international break." Conor Bradley, Liverpool's other option at right-back, only returned from injury to training on Thursday. The build-up to Monday's match at St. James' Park has been dominated by Liverpool's pursuit of unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, with the Magpies reported to be demanding a British record transfer fee of £150 million ($202 million) for the 25-year-old Sweden international. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
10 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Maresca adamant Fofana 'very happy' at Chelsea - World
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists he has had heard nothing to suggest Wesley Fofana wants to leave Stamford Bridge after the defender removed pictures of himself playing for the club from his Instagram account. The 24-year-old France international, an unused substitute during Sunday's goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace, previously did something similar in 2022, just before completing a £70 million ($94 million) move from Leicester to Chelsea. The 19-year-old academy graduate Josh Acheampong was preferred alongside Trevoh Chalobah for the Palace draw despite a long-term injury to fellow central defender Levi Colwill. Maresca said after the match he never planned to deploy Fofana for the game, with the defender having missed a large part of last season after injuring his hamstring in December. Fofana, however, is expected to play some part when Chelsea face West Ham at the London Stadium on Friday. "I spoke with Wes every day. He's very happy, first of all because he's back from injury. He's joining all the sessions with us," Maresca told a pre-match press conference on Thursday. "He was on the bench just to be with us but from (Friday) he can get some minutes. We are happy, he is happy. About Instagram, I don't have any idea because I don't use social networks." Fofana, who has been limited to 34 appearances for the club in three seasons due to injuries, subsequently suffered online abuse on Wednesday after removing all references to Chelsea from his Instagram. "Wes is happy, we are happy, there is nothing to add on that," said Maresca. "If there is abuse on Instagram, it's never good. Not good for Wes, not for any player or human being in the world. It's something unfortunately we cannot control." Maresca appears to have become involved in a disagreement with the Chelsea hierarchy after saying before the Palace match that "the club knows" he favours signing a replacement to help cover Colwill's role given the player's importance in building attacks from the back. Tosin Adarabioyo, who missed the Palace match but is available to face West Ham, is considered the only member of the current squad capable of stepping into Colwill's position. Maresca, who has previously dismissed the possibility of using Fofana in the role after a failed experiment during last season's win over Bournemouth, has been told by the club he must make ends meet with the existing squad. "We used Josh in the last game, we are trying to find some internal solutions... we will see if something happens," said the Italian. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
