There is no jeopardy in Chelsea's confetti spending when Saudi friends will happily fork out for their misfits, writes IAN HERBERT
Chelsea really will be laughing all the way to the bank, having cashed a mighty £43.7million for the Portuguese forward Joao Felix, a bang-average player now heading to Al Nassr.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
7 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Anfield evacuated ahead of Liverpool vs Athletic Bilbao friendly double-header
Fans were asked to leave ahead of the 5pm kick off for the friendly with the Spanish outfit. Anfield was evacuated ahead of this evening's friendly against Athletic Bilbao. Liverpool's game with the Spanish side was due kick off at 5pm, with a further fixture against the same opposition at 8pm. Fans had already begun to take their seats in the stadium when an alarm sounded and supporters were asked to leave the stadium. The reason for the evacuation is so far unclear at this stage. After a short period, supporters were allowed to re-enter Anfield huge queues formed at the turnstiles, reports the Mirror. The Reds are preparing for the 2025/26 Premier League season with a mixture of first-team and youth fixtures set to appear against their Spanish opponents in two separate matches. Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson are among the first-team regulars to be named to play in the first fixture. The friendly double-header marks the first return to Anfield for Liverpool since the tragic death of Diogo Jota. The Portuguese star, 28, was killed in a car crash alongside brother Andre Silva in Spain last month. In his programme notes, skipper Virgil van Dijk said: "It has, of course, been a very challenging time. "First and foremost for Diogo and Andre's family, for Rute and the kids. They are the people who must always come first in all of this. We must never forget that, and we cannot imagine their pain in this moment. "It is still a bit surreal, to be honest, but we are coping in the best way possible as a team, and we are all trying to do the best job we can in order to get through this really difficult time. "With everything that happened, it has been strange having to now try to carry on with work, with football. We will never forget Diogo, of course, but we just have to try to honour his memory. That's what we try to do each and every day. "I always come back to the fact that we have to look after Diogo's family, his parents, and that's the main thing. You think about so many different things, and it's difficult to process. You can't imagine the pain, the feeling that they have. That's why we try to be there as much as we can, and for each other as well. "That's also why it is very important that we honour and carry on his legacy, not only for now and the next couple of months, but for as long as we can, because that is what he deserves."
Metro
8 minutes ago
- Metro
Chelsea urged to sign 'inspirational' £40m Man Utd transfer target this summer
Former Chelsea star Emmanuel Petit has urged his old club to sign Manchester United transfer target Emiliano Martinez this summer. The Red Devils saw a loan bid rejected by Aston Villa last month – but the 32-year-old goalkeeper is thought to be available for around £40m. Robert Sanchez, who currently operates as Chelsea's No.1 goalkeeper, faced plenty of criticism for a number of his performances last season. Martinez, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, would arguably take Chelsea to the next level – and help them challenge for the top-flight title. In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – click here and sign up before Friday to make sure you don't miss the first edition. 'Emiliano Martinez would be an inspiration in the Chelsea dressing room,' Petit told ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. 'I have criticised his behaviour in the past but he knows what it takes to win titles, he has that experience. 'He can inspire other players and he has all the qualities needed of a top goalkeeper. 'He would be a very good signing for Chelsea and 32 isn't old for a goalkeeper. 'I think he'd link well with Enzo Maresca and the players already at the club. 'One fear I have is for Aston Villa, I am worried about them with top players leaving the club, I'm not sure where it will leave them next season.' It is believed that Martinez rebuffed the chance to move to the lucrative Saudi Pro League earlier this summer. Martinez has shined in the Premier League since he moved to Villa Park from Arsenal for £20m five years ago, making 212 appearances to date. More Trending The Argentine was named The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper in both 2022 and 2024. But William Gallas believes Chelsea would be wise to avoid a move for Martinez in the summer window, which remains open until September 1. 'I have some serious doubts about whether he would be a good fit for Chelsea,' Gallas told Prime Casino. 'I don't know if he's got the right profile to be the goalkeeper of Chelsea. When I think about his antics, I just don't think he would be a positive addition to the club.' MORE: Newcastle to battle Liverpool for £50m transfer amid Alexander Isak saga MORE: Andre Onana provides injury update after 'difficult weeks' with hamstring problem MORE: Marcus Rashford scores first Barcelona goal amid registration hold up
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Does Nunez move raise questions over PIF priorities?
To add to a deeply frustrating transfer window for Newcastle fans, it now looks like Darwin Nunez could make a move from Liverpool to Al Hilal in Saudi Liverpool to sell Nunez to free up the cash to potentially pursue Alexander Isak again makes so little sense to me. Al Hilal and Newcastle have the same overall owners, and they must know how much we do not want Liverpool to suddenly have a glut of cash is particularly galling when taken in the context of Eddie Howe's recent comments - that players have to "earn the right" to train with the rest of the squad. Not a Newcastle fan? Find and follow your clubThe team are back from pre-season and back in training this week, which represents a real opportunity to have a serious conversation and hopefully move forward without all this noise and also makes me think about what the priority is for our majority owners PIF. More and more discontent has been felt in the fanbase lately over where Newcastle sit on PIF's list of priorities, and allowing another of their clubs to benefit at the potential expense of us feels even more like we are being overlooked. Perhaps it is their clever way of getting money into NUFC, but I think most fans would say we would rather an improved contract was given to Isak, the dust of the summer settles, and he stays with us a little while more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
