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New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Chelsea Transfer DealSheet: Summer window latest, key targets and likely exits
Another transfer window is open, and one thing is guaranteed: Chelsea are going to be busy once again. They have shown that already by moving for Liam Delap, but there is going to be a lot more to come — in terms of both further arrivals and some departures — for the rest of the summer, with deals allowed to go through this time from June 1-10, to cater for those sides, such as Chelsea, who are involved in the Club World Cup, and then June 16-September 1. As always, The Athletic is here to provide a guide of what to expect and will continue to do so over the weeks ahead. Chelsea's process is primarily led by the sporting team of Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell. They have already bought one striker in Ipswich Town's Delap, but there could be another to come. Certainly, adding more attacking talent is one of Chelsea's summer priorities, and that includes a right-footed left-winger. The club are open to buying in other areas too, but it very much depends on what deals, for the quality of player required, are possible. Advertisement For example, by making a strong move for Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen before he opted for Real Madrid last month, Chelsea showed they are prepared to buy a centre-back, but only if the right opportunity comes up. This approach has even been extended to the goalkeeper position. This is not to say they will definitely sign another one as they already have good options in Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic (loaned to Strasbourg for last season), Filip Jorgensen and teenager Mike Penders (officially joining from Genk this summer after being signed last August). However, none of the first three has been earmarked as the definite No 1 for next season either, while Penders is too inexperienced to even be considered yet. It does not really work that way at Stamford Bridge. In the Chelsea structure, the sporting team listed above recruit the players with some input from the head coach, but the ultimate decisions lie with them. As The Athletic revealed last week, Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, a pursuit that has not gone away just because they have succeeded in acquiring Delap. They are not prepared to meet Frankfurt's €100million (£84.3m/$114.2m) valuation for the 22-year-old Frenchman (top, left) but have now made a formal enquiry to his German club. Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, 20, and Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho, 21 next month, are on their list of winger targets, but Real Madrid's Rodrygo is not under consideration. As far as centre-backs are concerned, one of the names not being considered right now is Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, who turns 23 in a couple of weeks. There is a rather long file. The majority of those who have been away on loan are a fairly obvious place to begin, because they left to get more first-team football than looked likely at Chelsea in the first place. So that's Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi to start with. Joao Felix is another possibility. Advertisement Lesley Ugochukwu is well-liked and seen as someone who had a positive loan season at Southampton despite their dismal performance as a team, but Chelsea are now well-stocked for midfielders. The club believe he will generate a lot of interest this summer. Alfie Gilchrist, who was on loan at Championship promotion chasers Sheffield United last season, is another expected to explore his options. Fellow academy graduate Leo Castledine is pursuing a move elsewhere and there will be others from the junior ranks doing the same. Meanwhile, from the senior squad who did play much under Maresca, Christopher Nkunku is going to depart. The Athletic reported before Christmas that he was not happy in his second season at Stamford Bridge. Trevoh Chalobah and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall might have decisions to make, given neither's place in the first XI is assured, while one of the goalkeepers not named Penders may go on a permanent basis. Yes. Ecuador international Kendry Paez, who is officially a Chelsea player now, having agreed to join from Independiente del Valle two years ago, is expected to go to Strasbourg initially. Midfielder Mathis Amougou, bought from fellow French side Saint-Etienne for £12.5million earlier this year, is going to join him there. Other youngsters in line for loans are striker Marc Guiu, defender Aaron Anselmino, and Penders. Having suffered a bad thigh and knee injury to end his spell at Turkey's Goztepe prematurely last December, the loans route is also being seen as an option for striker David Datro Fofana. As has been well documented, Delap is having his medical ahead of a move from Ipswich for £30million ($40.6m). But the squad is also going to be boosted by the arrival of three signings already agreed over the past 12 months. There is Brazil international Estevao Willian, bought from Palmeiras in his homeland for an initial €34million, Sporting CP midfielder Dario Essugo for £18.5m and highly rated Strasbourg centre-back Mamadou Sarr for €14m. Midfielder Andrey Santos is also going to be part of the Chelsea senior squad for the first time, having impressed on loan at Strasbourg over the past 18 months. How much business Chelsea do will partly depend on the amount of money they can raise from the departures of the sales candidates listed above. But they are in a strong financial position having qualified for next season's Champions League, and can make up to £97million more at the Club World Cup, which kicks off in just under two weeks. In short, there are no concerns over PSR. (Top photos: Getty Images)
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Chelsea need Champions League football to convince fans of Maresca project
It was in March when head coach Enzo Maresca finally went public on the fact that Champions League qualification was very much Chelsea 's objective this season. Now with one game to go, away at fellow Champions League chasers Nottingham Forest, Chelsea have it in their hands to achieve their goal. Failure to do so would be viewed as a disappointment, rather than a crisis, inside Stamford Bridge and Telegraph Sport has reported that Maresca's job as head coach is not on the line. But pressure is on Chelsea to get the job done at the City Ground and, here, we pick out five reasons why... Trust the process Chelsea are yet to qualify for the Champions League under owners Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly, with the club now unrecognisable from the one who won the competition twice under Roman Abramovich. Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have been tasked with building a new, young squad that is capable of playing an attractive brand of football that the owners hope can set Chelsea on a winning path for years to come. Maresca was appointed to implement that plan on the pitch and there has been progress this season in terms of style and results. But many supporters are growing tired of being asked to trust the process and want to see some tangible results. Qualifying for the Champions League would offer undeniable proof that Chelsea are heading in the right direction and encouragement that the plan could pay off. Failure to do so, having finished sixth last season, would test the faith of those who believe in the new Chelsea philosophy and increase the fears of its doubters that the club are falling behind their rivals. Bad timing Maresca has consistently claimed that Chelsea deserve to qualify for the Champions League because they have spent the majority of the season inside the Premier League's top five. Ahead of this final Premier League weekend, Chelsea spent 201 days in the top five which is only behind Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. As of Friday, Aston Villa, who could leapfrog Chelsea into the Champions League qualification places, had spent just 63 days in the top five. Chelsea's opponents Forest, who have enjoyed a wonderful season, spent 162 days in the top five which is more than Newcastle United. Timing can be everything when it comes to claiming the big prizes in football and Villa's end-of-season run could yet see them squeeze past Forest and Chelsea. That would feel like a huge blow to the London club in particular who have had Champions League qualification in their hands for the entire season. Chelsea could find out in the worst possible way that it is not how you start, but how you finish. Revenue Chelsea make less money than all of their traditional big-six rivals. Their latest set of accounts showed a revenue of £468.5 million, compared to Tottenham's £528.2 million, Arsenal's £600 million-plus, Liverpool's £614 million, Manchester United's £661.8 million and Manchester City's £715 million. Chelsea have started each of the last two seasons without a front-of-shirt sponsor and gambled against striking a long-term deal on non-Champions League terms with the view of negotiating a much more lucrative sponsorship with Champions League qualification secured. Damac struck a deal to have their logo on the front of the Chelsea shirts for the final games of this season, but the plan has always been to try to wait for the best deal Champions League qualification can bring. That may or may not pay off, but the club cannot keep banking on selling hotels and women's teams back to themselves. Their Club World Cup pay day will be a one-off unless Chelsea can win the Champions League again. To do that, they have to compete in it. London pride Chelsea used to enjoy a good chuckle at their London rivals, but there will not have been too many people laughing at Tottenham Hotspur winning the Europa League. That means Arsenal and Spurs have already qualified for next season's Champions League, and Chelsea will get plenty of stick if they are the odd ones out. They could still end the season with a trophy themselves by winning the Conference League, but good luck convincing anyone that betters or equals Arsenal and Tottenham's seasons if they finish outside the top five. Former Chelsea captain John Terry was quick to remind James Maddison how many trophies he won at Stamford Bridge following Tottenham's Europa League success. But the past is the past and the present will be embarrassing for Chelsea if their London rivals are fighting it out with Europe's elite without them. Transfers Maresca has been open about the fact that Champions League qualification or otherwise will have an impact on Chelsea's summer transfer plans. A striker will be the primary target, with the likes of Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike all on their list. Missing out on the Champions League could see Chelsea tumble down the queue of clubs chasing strikers with Newcastle United also interested in Delap, Arsenal looking at Sesko, together with Viktor Gyokeres, and Ekitike ideally wanting to move to another Champions League club after securing qualification with Eintracht Frankfurt this season. Chelsea are also looking at defenders with Marc Guehi among their targets. But he has already been subject of a January bid from Tottenham, who can now dangle the carrot of Champions League football. Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite has been left with the impression that he needs to join a Champions League club to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's England squad in time for the World Cup.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea club sources admit 'another goalscorer' would have qualified Blues for Champions League
While we've spent plenty of time sticking the boot into Nicolas Jackson for his red card at the weekend and its potentially fatal effects on our Champions League chances, we've also made it clear that he's not the only one who deserves the blame. The fact that he is our only senior striker is an indictment of the squad planning for this season, and it seems like those at the club acknowledge the failure of their gamble. Chelsea admit mistake in striker squad planning Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. (Photo by Chris Lee/Chelsea FC Nizaar Kinsella's piece for the BBC today about our search for a striker claims that 'everyone at Chelsea is aware that a lack of quality finishing and therefore goals is stopping the team from taking the next step,' and that 'Chelsea feel having another goalscorer would have been enough to have already qualified Enzo Maresca's side for next season's Champions League.' Advertisement Well, we said all of last summer that this was going to happen. Adding a teenage Marc Guiu to the extremely streaky Jackson who had only just finished his second season as a top level pro was always a huge gamble, and one it felt likely would backfire. How Chelsea ended up in striker mess So why did they put themselves in such a position? According to Kinsella, a deal for Victor Osimhen fell through because of his 'wage demands on deadline day.' Meanwhile other options on the market 'were not considered good enough to add to what… Jackson could offer.' None of that sounds like a very good excuse to us. Osimhen's wage demands could have been scoped out months in advance. They should have known by the time the window opened that he was going to ask too much, let alone by the time it closed.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Chelsea set to stick with Maresca for next season
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is expected to lead the team into next season even if they fail to qualify for the Champions club hierarchy, led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, plan to reserve judgement on the 45-year-old Italian until the summer of is despite ongoing uncertainty over whether Chelsea will secure a top-five finish following their 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on two rounds of the Premier League season remaining, Maresca's team sit fifth, but they are only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, with matches at home to Manchester United and away at seventh-placed Nottingham Forest to has been his first season in charge, after joining from Leicester City in June top five will qualify for the Champions League, with the Premier League benefiting from an extra place because of its teams' strong performances in have also reached the Europa Conference League final and will play Real Betis in Wroclaw, Poland, on 28 Maresca and his team fall short in the Premier League, injuries throughout the winter period will be considered a significant data showing their missed chances (the second most in the Premier League) and expected goals (fifth highest in the league) will also influence Chelsea's decision makers. Both metrics illustrate the team are creating a lot of scoring opportunities, even if they are not always finishing therefore, are expected to retain the Italian, barring a huge U-turn or falling-out. Senior figures have admired Maresca's hard work, progression tactically and adaptation to a revised club structure, featuring a new set-piece department and an entirely revamped medical structure and recruitment appointed him on a five-year contract, seeing him as the right man for a long-term spell in charge. Predecessor Mauricio Pochettino was on a two-year deal and left after only one BlueCo ownership has a wider multi-club model which also features French top-flight side Strasbourg. Both teams play a similar style of football with Englishman Liam Rosenior in charge of Strasbourg. Academy teams at both clubs also play in a possession-based, modern has so far slotted in with the modern vision of Chelsea and any future change of boss would be expected to result in a similar type of coach stepping club have expressed some regret in the past about removing Graham Potter before the end of the 2022-23 season, although they remain resolute that neither Thomas Tuchel nor Pochettino proved to be the right fit for Chelsea.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flint Group commits to NC-free ink for flexible packaging recycling in Europe
Flint Group, a supplier of inks and coatings for the print and packaging industry, has reaffirmed its commitment to developing nitrocellulose-free (NC-free) ink systems, aiming to enhance the recyclability of flexible packaging in Europe. The move aligns with the EU's updated Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates that all packaging must be 100% recyclable by 2030. The legislation also emphasises the need for seamless integration of all components of the packaging value chain with recycling infrastructure. Flint Group Europe flexible packaging product manager Stephen Butler said: 'We already have market-proven PU [polyurethane]-based products delivering outstanding results for our customers. Our comprehensive portfolio of NC-free inks is successfully used in real production environments, producing consistent high-quality print at high speeds. 'This proves that flexible packaging printers don't need to compromise performance for sustainability. 'Our focus remains on delivering sustainable, regulatory-compliant technologies that anticipate future needs as regulations continue to evolve. By switching to our proven PU-based inks, printers aren't just meeting compliance requirements - they're actively contributing to more effective and economically viable recycling systems.' Flint Group recently explained how traditional NC-based inks may break down during mechanical recycling, possibly leading to the contamination of recycled materials. The company offers VertixCode (flexo) and MatrixCode (gravure) inks in PU-based, NC-free, and traditional NC formulations. These inks are suitable for surface, reverse, and lamination printing, delivering strong colours and high-opacity whites for flexible packaging. Flint Group technology and product management vice-president Paul Winstanley said: 'The recycling infrastructure represents a significant investment that must function efficiently to achieve the circularity goals of initiatives such as PPWR, and whilst NC-based printing inks are recyclable, NC-free solutions offer improved compatibility with the mechanical recycling process. 'Additionally, under PPWR, producers - including packaging printers - are subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, which impose fees based on how easily their packaging materials can be recycled. 'Therefore, the ink industry is proactively developing new solutions to improve the ability to recycle packaging materials.' Earlier this month, Flint Group opened a distribution hub in Montreal, Québec, to better serve its label and narrow web customers in Canada. "Flint Group commits to NC-free ink for flexible packaging recycling in Europe" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
