Hooker McGuigan rejoins Newcastle
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Premier League 2025-26 preview No 7: Chelsea
Guardian writers' predicted position: 4th (NB: this is not necessarily Michael Butler's prediction but the average of our writers' tips) Last season's position: 4th Securing Champions League qualification on the last day of the Premier League season and an unlikely Club World Cup triumph have transformed the club, their finances and ambitions for 2025-26. Chelsea stayed relatively under the radar for much of the Club World Cup – in part because of their relatively kind route to the later stages – but their commanding 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the final means they are again regarded as a potentially dominant European force and perhaps even as contenders for the Premier League title. That is if Chelsea are ready – mentally, physically and tactically – for the new season. By the time Chelsea played the Club World Cup final on 13 July, nearly every other Premier League side had started their pre-season. Since then, while Liverpool, Arsenal and co have been hard at work, the players have had three weeks off and returned on Monday, with two friendly matches, two days apart, scheduled before their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on 17 August. To say Chelsea are playing catch-up is a severe understatement. That said, this is probably the most exciting period for Chelsea since the Champions League triumph in 2021. With the exception of goalkeeper and possibly centre-back, Enzo Maresca has a claim to having two elite players in every position and he could yet add further depth with Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho heavily linked. Departures will be needed to trim the fat and balance the books – Chelsea were given a €31m (£27m) fine last month by Uefa for breaking financial rules – but few would argue against them having the deepest squad in the league and one of Maresca's biggest challenges will be maintaining harmony and continuity, on and off the pitch. Last season, the Conference League was a useful chance to rest and rotate players. The Champions League will not be so accommodating. As recently as April, Maresca was at odds with the Chelsea fans and appeared to blame a negative environment at Stamford Bridge for a 2-2 home draw with Ipswich that left top-five hopes fading fast. But five wins from the final six league games secured fourth place, saving Chelsea's season and possibly Maresca's job. 'They were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough,' he said. 'Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. So in English, how do you say? Eff-off to all of them.' Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph – and the tactical masterclass by Maresca in the final to neutralise PSG's front three and create pockets of space for Cole Palmer – means he will get a very different reception at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's league opener. Chelsea's much-maligned financial gymnastics of recent years – the eight-year contract amortisation (a loophole closed by Uefa), the sale of their hugely successful women's team (to their own parent company) and their rampant use of multiclub ownership and the loan system – have infuriated rivals and allowed them to assemble one of the deepest, youngest, most talented squads around. In the Todd Boehly era, Chelsea have spent more than £1.5bn and the club face an additional €60m fine from Uefa if they fail to comply with regulations over the next four years. A bigger stadium would help, but what Chelsea do with Stamford Bridge remains unclear; the 40,044-capacity ground is not easily developed given challenges ranging from the freehold to a nearby railway line. A move to Earl's Court has been mooted. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Estêvão was courted by PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and is widely regarded as the biggest talent to come out of Brazil since Vinícius Júnior. The 18-year-old's performances at the Club World Cup – including a brilliant strike for Palmeiras against Chelsea in the quarter-final – suggests that the summer arrival is already world class. Players swooned over the teenager at the final whistle in Philadelphia – 'I told Estêvão: 'We are excited for you to join' but he didn't understand a single word I said,' Palmer said after swapping shirts with the £52m signing. Capable off both wings or as a No 10, the slender Estêvão will want to impress the former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, now of Brazil, before the World Cup next summer. 'He potentially can be a top defender for this club,' Maresca said of Josh Acheampong after the defender's performances at the Club World Cup prompted whispers that several clubs in England and Europe were tracking the teenager. How the 19-year-old fits into Maresca's plans remains to be seen, but his versatility, 6ft 3in stature and composure enabled him to enjoy a breakthrough year with 13 first-team appearances. Naturally a right-back or a centre-back but capable of playing anywhere across the backline, Acheampong joined Chelsea as an under-eight and signed a new five-year contract in 2024. 'The clubs that were mentioned, they like Josh, but we also like Josh,' Maresca said. 'The best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Roméo Lavia. The 21-year-old's quality is not in question. Chelsea are a better side with Lavia, more fluid and press-resistant, and he was sensational in a 3-1 win against Liverpool in May when he completed 100% of his passes. Maresca even moved Moisés Caicedo to right-back to accommodate Lavia alongside Enzo Fernández at the back end of last season, but concerns remain over the Belgian's fitness. After a first year when he managed 32 minutes in 2023-24, another injury-hit campaign followed, starting 11 league games. Another year on the sidelines could spell trouble, particularly as Chelsea have Caicedo, Fernández, Dário Essugo, the impressive Andrey Santos and perhaps Reece James competing for two spots in defensive midfield in Maresca's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Burnley sign midfielder Ugochukwu from Chelsea
Burnley have completed the signing of French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Chelsea for a fee of more than £ 21-year-old has signed a five-year deal at Turf Sport understands the fee is similar to the £23.2m Chelsea paid to sign Ugochukwu from Rennes in 2023."It's a great feeling to sign for Burnley," said Ugochukwu."As soon as I was made aware of the club's interest in signing me, I was keen to hear more about the project. I spoke to the manager and Maxime [Esteve] – they were both so passionate about the club and the direction it's heading in. "It feels like this is the perfect move for me at this stage of my career with the ambition the club is showing."Ugochukwu was considered surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea look to sell multiple players in their so-called 'bomb squad' - a group of players including England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell - training separately from Enzo Maresca's first spent two years at Chelsea, making 15 appearances in all competitions during his first season before joining Southampton on a season-long loan for are also in talks to sign Chelsea's 23-year-old forward Armando say the move could be worth up to £20m but the exact price has not been confirmed.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Mikel Arteta offers Viktor Gyokeres verdict after Emirates debut in pre-season defeat to Villarreal - as Gunners boss singles out academy starlet for praise
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted £64million summer signing Viktor Gyokeres will be in a 'very good position' by the time the Premier League season begins after his first pre-season start. The Gunners were beaten 3-2 at home by Villarreal on Wednesday night as the big-money summer signing made his home debut at the Emirates. Gyokeres had limited opportunities to score on his first start for the club, with the Swedish forward playing an hour of the match. His best chance came just before he was substituted, but saw a powerful strike well saved by the Villarreal goalkeeper. The forward had joined Arsenal following a protracted move from Sporting Lisbon, where he had scored 97 goals in 103 matches for the club. With Gyokeres having only a brief cameo in Arsenal's pre-season loss to Tottenham prior to his hour on Wednesday, Arteta insisted the forward will be up to speed by the time the new season starts. 'I think it was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team. 'He's been with us only a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking certain spaces. 'So in general, for a lot of players that haven't played many minutes, we have a lot now that they're going to be ready for Saturday in a much better condition.' 'I hope days, and every day in training I think he's getting a really good feeling. I think he's getting connections as well outside, which I think is really important with players that are going to help him to get in the position that he needs to get in. 'On his fitness level, I think he hasn't trained really with the team for two months, so he's done now six or five sessions I think before today, so I think on Saturday again he will take another step and he will be in a better condition.' Arsenal will face further LaLiga opposition on Saturday when they host Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup, before their Premier League opener away at Man United on August 17. The Gunners will hope to have Kai Havertz available again after he missed the defeat by Villarreal with a minor injury. Arteta also offered praised to 15-year-old academy star Max Dowman for his 'incredible' attacking contributions after another eye-catching pre-season performance. With Arsenal trailing 3-1, Dowman showed quick feet to fool a Villareal defender and induce a foul, resulting in the Gunners being awarded a penatly. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard acknowledged Dowman's contribution after scoring the penalty to reduce the deficit. It was the second penalty Dowman has won in pre-season after help Arsenal win 3-2 against Newcastle on their tour of Asia. The highly-rated youngster also drew the attention of home fans were several darting runs and crosses in the latter stages of the friendly against Villarreal. Arteta praised the youngster and admitted that despite his young age he will continue to deserve chances if he continues to make an impact from the bench. 'Max (Dowman) is moving so fast - even last year when he was training with us, he was doing these kind of things and now he is doing them in the games,' Arteta said. 'The efficiency he shows in every attacking action is incredible. He deserves to have chances and if he continues like this let's see what happens. When asked whether Dowman could be involved in the Premier League, Arteta added 'Let's see how it goes, let's go into Saturday, into the break as well. 'He needs a little break as well because he hasn't had any holidays really, so in the next few days he's going to have a break which I think he needs and then he'll probably be ready again to go.'
