All posts by h716a5.icu

Everton have now made their first move to sign Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho by registering their interest in the striker, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Everton transfer news?

Everton have sanctioned the departure of Ellis Simms, with the striker joining Coventry City for an undisclosed fee, meaning Sean Dyche is now running the rule over a number of targets to bolster his attacking options this summer.

The Toffees are in the race to sign Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia, who has a €25m (£21.7m) release clause in his contract that is set to expire tomorrow, and Dyche is willing to use Neal Maupay in a part-exchange deal for the Senegal international.

In the same report, it is mentioned that Viktor Gyokeres was a target for the Blues, but he has since moved to Sporting Lisbon, while Moussa Dembele has also been discussed, however the Frenchman is believed to have received very lucrative contract offers from Saudi Arabia.

According to a report from Football Insider, Everton have now made the first move to sign Iheanacho by registering their interest in the Leicester striker, who is out of contract in less than 12 months, meaning the Foxes could be forced to sell him.

The Toffees only have a limited budget this summer, however they could use the money raised from selling Simms and potentially Maupay by making one marquee signing, as opposed to bringing in a number of new players.

Leicester are believed to value the Nigerian at around £10m – £15m, with the deal to sell Simms to Coventry allegedly netting the Toffees around £8m, including add-ons.

Having registered their interest in the forward, it remains to be seen whether Everton decide to come to the negotiating table with an official bid.

How many goals has Kelechi Iheanacho scored?

The Nigeria international has not exactly been prolific in the Premier League, having scored 42 goals in 196 appearances in the top flight, which means he averages less than one goal every four games, however he could still be a good signing for the Blues.

During the 2020-21 campaign, during which the Leicester striker was given more regular game time, he managed to score 12 goals in 25 Premier League outings, while he also recorded seven goal contributions in seven appearances in the Europa League.

Even last season, the £80k-per-week forward was hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, as a result of the runs he made, and his decision-making in Leicester's end-of-season clash against West Ham United.

The former Manchester City man is a very strong dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 91st percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, while he also places in the 98th percentile for assists, having averaged 0.40 per 90.

Given that Iheanacho could be available for a fee as low as £10m, it is definitely worth Everton taking a chance on the striker, and having registered their interest, they should now test the waters with a bid.

Ireland have slid considerably over the last year or so, while Bangladesh have just one win from their last five ODIs, leaving both teams desperate for a win

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan18-May-2017Match factsMay 19, 2017
Start time 10.45am local (0945 GMT)Tamim Iqbal’s good recent form will leave the onus of building the innings with him•AFPBig pictureA win percentage of 31.5 in completed ODIs since the start of last year pretty much encapsulates how far Ireland have slid in recent times. In two series preceding the ongoing tri-nation tournament, they lost 2-3 to Afghanistan in Greater Noida, before being swept 2-0 by England in England.Conditions played a part in their toils against Afghanistan as Ireland couldn’t quite cope with the slow surfaces in Greater Noida and succumbed to a team that clearly had superior spin stocks. The familiarity of the cold, harsh climes of Malahide, however, hasn’t bred success for them either: they came up short against a weakened New Zealand team, led by Tom Latham.An ageing team has also played a part – the average age of their XI against New Zealand was 29. Veterans like William Porterfield, Niall O’Brien, Kevin O’Brien and Gary Wilson – all of whom played significant roles in Ireland becoming the top Associate nation – are well into their 30s now.Bangladesh’s graph has moved in the opposite direction. Since making the 2015 World Cup quarterfinal, series wins over Pakistan, India and South Africa have made them a force to be reckoned with in home conditions. They came into the tri-series fresh off levelling Test, ODI and T20I series on the tour of Sri Lanka. However, their recent record outside the subcontinent hasn’t been too encouraging. They returned from their tour of New Zealand without a single win in eight international games across formats and have also had mixed results in Ireland overall, with four wins from eight international matches.Form guideIreland LLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLWLLIn the spotlightPeter Chase, the 23-year old right-arm pacer, has had a mixed start to his ODI career. Chase has 23 wickets from 16 matches, but also averages 38.95 and has an economy rate of 6.83. His performances in this series have typified that. In the opener, he rocked Bangladesh with early strikes before rain intervened, and finished with 3 for 33 in six overs. In his next match, he was slapped for 74 runs in ten overs by New Zealand. Chase can generate pace and bounce and, in conditions amiable for pace-bowling, this series is an opportunity to bring some consistency in his game and step up in the absence of senior bowler Boyd Rankin.Tamim Iqbal has one fifty and a century from his last five outings with the bat. His good form augurs well given Bangladesh’s tendency to lose wickets in a cluster, often from good positions. Tamim’s experience is also welcome in what are likely to be tough batting conditions.Team newsIreland gave Simi Singh an ODI debut in place of Stuart Thompson against New Zealand, and Simi had a forgettable match scoring 9 off 14 balls in a chase of 290. Thompson himself had replaced Ed Joyce in the series opener against Bangladesh. If Joyce has recovered from his back injury, it is fairly certain neither Simi nor Thompson will find a place in the XI.Ireland (probable) 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Niall O’Brien (wk), 4 Andy Balbirnie, 5 Kevin O’Brien, 6 Gary Wilson, 7 Stuart Thompson/Ed Joyce, 8 George Dockrell, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Tim Murtagh, 11 Peter ChaseIn Bangladesh’s previous match, against New Zealand, Taskin Ahmed made way for the returning Mashrafe Mortaza, who had missed the first match due to an over-rate suspension. Bangladesh failed to defend 257, but with Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain both taking wickets, Taskin will likely miss out again.Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mehedi Hasan, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsThe Malahide pitch is known for being green and pace-friendly but it also turned out to be a good batting track in the previous match between New Zealand and Ireland. Spinners from both sides also did well, with Mitchell Santner claiming a five-for. While it is expected to be partly sunny around start time, rain is forecast at noon and there is cloud cover expected right through the afternoon.Stats and trivia Mahmudullah needs 28 more to complete 3000 runs in ODI cricket. The average scoring rate in the first innings in Malahide is 5.7, which translates into an average first-innings score of 285.

Faf du Plessis is expected to return to the UK in time to captain South Africa in the first Test against England at Lord’s after going home for the birth of his first child

Firdose Moonda29-Jun-2017Faf du Plessis is expected to return to the UK in time to captain South Africa in the first Test against England at Lord’s after going home for the birth of his first child. Du Plessis’ wife Imari gave birth on Thursday, a week before the series opener, which should give du Plessis, who has never played a Test series in England before, enough time to travel back the squad.Du Plessis confirmed the arrival of his baby in a tweet: “Our biggest blessing yet came in a small package. So very grateful,” he posted.In du Plessis’ absence, Dean Elgar is leading the South Africans in their warm-up match against England Lions in Worcester. Theunis de Bruyn was included in the XI as a back-up batsman but South Africa also have Aiden Markram in the squad, who was initially said to be cover for du Plessis. With the skipper set to take his spot at No. 4, it is likely the only debutant at Lord’s will be opener Heino Kuhn, who replaced Stephen Cook in the squad.South Africa are still sweating over the fitness of Vernon Philander, who was unable to take part in the tour match as he recovers from an ankle injury. Though they are hopeful Philander will be fully fit in a week’s time, Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo are in the squad as back-up.The touring party will be back to full strength with coach Russell Domingo, who had to rush home after his mother was involved in an accident, also expected to return later this week. This series is likely Domingo’s last in charge with CSA searching for a new coach. Domingo is understood not to have reapplied and interviews for his replacement have already been conducted. CSA has appointed a five-man panel, which includes Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons, to recommend a suitable candidate by July 21.

Nottingham Forest are closing in on the signing of Manchester United youngster Anthony Elanga, according to a key update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How much does Anthony Elanga earn?

The 21-year-old has been at United since 2014, arriving as a child in the youth team and working his way into the senior setup, making 55 appearances to date, not to mention scoring and assisting four times apiece along the way.

Elanga has found it difficult to see earn regular football under Erik ten Hag, however, with other attacking players generally preferred to him, from Marcus Rashford to Antony.

Last season, only five starts came his way in the Premier League, as well as just one in the Europa League, and it looks increasingly as though he isn't seen as part of the manager's future plans at Old Trafford.

It has become clear that a move away this summer looks highly likely and Forest have now emerged as the frontrunners to snap him up before the new season gets underway. Now, a new update has emerged regarding his future that further suggests the £5,000-a-week attacker could be heading to the City Ground in the very near future.

Will Nottingham Forest sign Anthony Elanga?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided a big update on Forest's pursuit of Elanga this summer, saying that the move is now nearing completion:

"Negotiations advancing for Anthony Elanga to Nottingham Forest – it’d be permanent deal."

Elanga could be a really shrewd signing by Forest this summer, coming in as someone who has proven himself at a high level. Granted, things ultimately haven't panned out the way he would have hoped at United in terms of being a regular, but he has still picked up some invaluable experience and played his part in some of the club's success.

The 12-cap Sweden international is someone who could flourish as one of the main men at a club rather than simply being a cog in the machine, and there is every chance that he becomes one of the first names on the teamsheet at Forest.

At just 21, Elanga still has a vast chunk of his career ahead of him, and while he would arrive as an important figure from the off, he could mature into an even more formidable prospect over time. The fact that he has impressed Roy Keane recently speaks volumes, with the legendary former midfielder saying:

"I like the fact he likes to run in behind. I love that desire. You stretch teams, it’s very simple and very effective, you have to do it at the right times. When they are sprinting behind, you cause all sorts of problems, especially if you mix your game up, which he does well."

To receive praise from someone like Keane says a lot about Elanga's potential – the ex-Forest man isn't exactly one to dish out compliments left, right and centre – and further highlights why he could be such a good signing for the Reds, coming in and immediately bolstering their wide attacking options in the process.

Aston Villa enjoyed a fantastic end to the 2022/23 season and manager Unai Emery will be hoping the momentum can carry on into the new campaign.

With three players already arriving in the Midlands, the Spaniard will surely be aiming to add a few more fresh faces to his squad, especially with the added Europa Conference League fixtures which are set to cause chaos with their schedule.

With this in mind, Villa have shown an interest in Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie ahead of a potential move to the Premier League.

Could Aston Villa sign Franck Kessie?

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Villa are interested in bringing the player to England, and it is his preferred destination should he depart the La Liga side this summer.

He could cost Emery just €30m (£26m) and considering the Spaniard has already spent €55m (£47m) on Moussa Diaby and £31.5m on Pau Torres during the transfer window, big money is being expended on luring quality players to the Midlands.

A fee of £26m is certainly affordable and could turn into a shrewd investment by the manager as he looks to take Villa to another level.

Who has Franck Kessie played for?

Under Steven Gerrard, Villa made a few signings which haven’t really worked out, such as Philippe Coutinho and Calum Chambers, whilst Leander Dendoncker surprisingly arrived on deadline day from local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer, and it was clearly a signing of desperation rather than necessity.

The Belgian titan started just nine games for the Villans last season, and despite Kessie making just 16 starts across all competitions himself, he would be an upgrade on the current Villa player.

Indeed, not only did the 26-year-old register more domestic goal contributions (five to zero) than Dendoncker, but also more shots per 90 (1.66 to 0.51), shot-creating actions per 90 (1.91 to 1.18) and touches in the attacking third (133 to 67), suggesting he would be a much bigger threat going forward due to his attacking capabilities.

Despite his lack of playing time domestically, Kessie still managed to rank in the top 12% compared to positional peers for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (2.6) and progressive passes received per 90 (4.44), indicating that he is a prominent fixture in the penalty area, looking to get on the end of chances created by teammates.

The Ivorian further demonstrated his attacking qualities during his spell with Milan, scoring six Serie A goals in 2021/22 from just 25 starts while also holding an 88% pass completion rate and winning 4.4 duels per game – a success rate of 55% – displaying that he isn’t only a threat going forward but can also dictate play and is strong in one on one battles.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the midfielder as a “warrior” during the embryonic stages of his career with Atalanta and alongside Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans, Emery requires someone like Kessie, who has shown he could offer both attacking and defensive qualities in abundance.

For £26m, it could turn out to be a wonderful bargain.

Captain Steven Smith has also indicated that Australia’s No. 6 position – between Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright – will be based on pitch conditions

Brydon Coverdale18-Aug-2017Usman Khawaja and Ashton Agar appear all but certain to make their Test returns when Australia take on Bangladesh in Mirpur later this month, captain Steven Smith has indicated.Australia fly out for Bangladesh on Friday for their first Test tour of the country since 2006. While they are wary of the threat posed by Bangladesh in their home conditions, Smith’s men will also take heart from their own fighting performances in India earlier this year.During that series, Khawaja was overlooked for Shaun Marsh, while Agar sat out and fellow left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe was used, and collected 12 wickets in Australia’s surprise victory in the first Test in Pune. However, O’Keefe is now out of favour with selectors and Marsh has also been left out of the squad for the Bangladesh series.Should he win a recall as expected, Khawaja will need to find a more effective way to handle spin than he has on previous tours of Asia. In all, he has played 15 first-class innings in Asia – all in India and Sri Lanka – and has passed fifty only once, when he retired on 101 in a tour game in Colombo on the 2011 tour of Sri Lanka.”I think Usman’s going to be a really big player for us this summer,” Smith told reporters in Darwin on Friday, ahead of Australia’s departure for Dhaka. “He’s done incredibly well in Australia over the last couple of years. He hasn’t played any cricket [since January], so he’s chomping at the bit to get out there and I dare say he’ll get his opportunity.”Agar has not played Test cricket since his surprise debut series, the 2013 Ashes in England, when at the age of 19 he made a memorable 98 batting at No.11 on debut in Nottingham. Agar had limited impact with the ball during that series, but has returned to favour and looks set to be the second frontline spinner behind Nathan Lyon, instead of uncapped legspinner Mitchell Swepson.”I’d say so, at this point,” Smith said when asked if Agar would be the likely second spinner. “He’s improved a lot in the last couple of years. He bowled really well up here this week. He’s probably going to get his opportunity first up, if that’s the way we go.”For me with Ashton it’s when he’s consistent and hitting a good length, he’s going to be dangerous. I think that’s the key to bowling spin, particularly in the subcontinent. I think he’s gained a lot of confidence in the last couple of years. He understands what he’s trying to do now a lot more. If he can keep being consistent and hitting good lengths, I’m sure he’s going to be a big player for us on this tour and in the future as well.”Smith also agreed that Agar, who is now 23 and has two first-class centuries to his name, could even find himself as a top-six Test batsman at some stage in his career.”I think he’s a real talent,” Smith said. “We’ve seen him play some really good innings – obviously his debut, where he scored 98, was quite phenomenal at number 11. He’s got a lot of potential with the bat and he’s a great fieldsman as well. He’s a good package and an exciting player for the future.”Australia’s other selection decision will be whether to retain Glenn Maxwell at No. 6 or opt for the medium-pace allrounder Hilton Cartwright, with only two specialist fast men likely to be in the attack. Maxwell should have the front-running after his strong display in India earlier this year, where he made his maiden Test century.”I thought he performed really well in the last two Test matches in India,” Smith said. “We’ll wait and see what the conditions look like, and what we feel the best make-up for the team is when we’re over there.”Australia are conscious that recent wet weather in Bangladesh could yet affect their warm-up game in Fatullah, which would leave them short of any match practice in the country ahead of the first Test, which starts on August 27. Australia’s squad members played a three-day practice game in Darwin this week, but Smith is well aware that Bangladesh could be a tricky proposition at home.”They’re a very good side in their own conditions and they’re going to be very challenging,” Smith said. “It will be great for us to get some game time there and play in those conditions, and see what we’ve learnt from India. Hopefully the guys have learnt a lot, and we’re able to take that into this tour and have a really successful one.”

Kemar Roach, who took 3 for 17 on the second day of West Indies’ three-day warm-up match against Essex, shed light on the efforts he has been taking towards a Test return ahead of the three-match series against England

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Aug-2017Kemar Roach took further steps towards playing his first Test since January 2016, carrying over his promising domestic form into West Indies’ first warm-up match, against Essex, ahead of the three-Test series against England. Following his 3 for 17 on the second day of the thee-day warm-up fixture, Roach shed light on the efforts he has been taking towards the Test return.”I’m looking to make the ball go both ways. I always had it in me, but I need to perfect it even more and I’ve been working hard on that,” he said after a rain-hit day in Chelmsford. “Today, it was perfect. The line and length was spot on. That’s where I wanted to be. I want to keep working and building on that.”Roach is the most experienced member of the 15-man squad, having played 37 Tests since his debut in 2009. He was dropped owing to poor form at the start of 2016, but has since made strides in the Professional Cricket League, West Indies’ first-class tournament, where he took 23 wickets at 16.17 for Barbados.”It’s pretty tough to go there after almost two years off, to catch up with things. Test cricket is the biggest form of cricket, and I’ve been working hard and I want things to be right back here. So I’m going to go there, help the young guys in the team and put some good performances.”Roach is no stranger to English conditions. He played in West Indies’ previous tour of England, in 2012, and took eight wickets – the most for his team – despite playing only two of the three Tests. That apart, he has also represented Worcestershire in the County Championship.”I’ve been here previously for Test tours. I know certain grounds and how the pitches play and the atmosphere. It’s about adapting quickly. It’s not home, it’s not Barbados. It is colder here. It’s about doing the business right.”Roach also spoke positively of the format for the first of the three Tests; the match will be played under lights at Edgbaston – England’s first day-night Test. “I’ve played a couple of games with the pink ball back home during the domestic season,” he said. “I think it’s good for cricket. It does a bit more for a bowler’s likes, so that’s good for me.”It’s always a different feel, a different switch up. The atmosphere is going to be different; everything is going to be different. We’re going to pull some more crowd. It’s about time we switch things up a little bit.”

Manchester United "remain keen" on signing Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus, who could be targeted as an alternative option to Rasmus Hojlund, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Hojlund remains a transfer target for Man United, with Erik ten Hag confirming the club have made "progress" in their pursuit of a new striker, however they are unwilling to fork out more than £60m for the Atalanta striker.

The Red Devils are working under strict financial constraints, and talks are currently being held over Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani, however they are unlikely to wrestle with Bayern Munich over Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.

Kane is the striker that Ten Hag would most like to sign, however the same report mentions that the United boss has a "firm interest" in Kudus, and Bailey has now offered another update on the ongoing pursuit of the Ghanaian.

Taking to Twitter, the transfer insider has now said: "Chelsea discussing personal terms with Ajax's Mohammed Kudus but no bids yet and they are not only interested party as Manchester United remain keen and Arsenal are also keeping close tabs on the situation too."

In the extended report for 90min, Bailey claims that Ten Hag is open to a reunion with his former player, as he is seen as a viable alternative to Hojlund, with United currently focussing on signing the Denmark international.

There has also been a suggestion that the Ajax star could even be brought in alongside Hojlund, as signing two strikers remains on the agenda and Kudus can also play deeper, so they are keeping informed of his situation.

Given that Chelsea have already made a move for the 22-year-old, Man United may have to move swiftly if they are to win the race for his signature, however they do have the advantage of having Champions League football on offer next season,

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

Ten Hag will know all about the £11k-per-week forward's qualities, having spent time working with him at Ajax, and one of his key attributes is his versatility, commonly playing at central midfield, right-wing and striker throughout his career so far.

The forward has been praised by teammate Steven Berghuis, who has lauded him as "unpredictable", and he scored 11 league goals for Ajax last season, as well as four in the Champions League.

In his most recent 50 matches, the Ghana international has only played at striker 11 times, so his goal-scoring record is very impressive, however Man United may be keen on signing a more out-and-out striker.

Hojlund has played at striker 89 times, including matches at youth level, weighing in with 42 goals and 13 assists during that time, with football scout Jacek Kulig describing him as an "absolute monster in the making."

As such, the Atalanta star should remain Man United's priority target, however Kudus could still be an excellent addition to the squad, given his versatility, and it is exciting news that the Red Devils could pursue both players.

In August, the High Court had ordered the BCCI to lift the life ban on the fast bowler, stating the board had no “incriminating evidence”

Nagraj Gollapudi19-Sep-2017The BCCI has challenged a Kerala High Court judgement from last month, which had ordered the board to lift its life ban on fast bowler Sreesanth. The BCCI had banned Sreesanth in 2013 for his alleged involvement in the Indian Premier League corruption scandal. Sreesanth was one of three Rajasthan Royals players – Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan being the others – to be handed a life ban by the BCCI for an alleged role in the scandal.In February this year, Sreesanth filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court challenging the ban, after the BCCI refused to issue a no-objection certificate for him to play league cricket in Scotland. A writ is an application filed in the court asking it to enforce some right against an authority or against an order against which there is no statutory remedy.In his petition, Sreesanth argued that in 2015 a trial court in Delhi had dropped charges filed by the Delhi Police against him, Chavan and Chandila. The three were among 42 individuals chargesheeted by the Delhi Police under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).In the absence of a specific criminal law to deal with spot-fixing in India, the cricketers were chargesheeted for offences under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the MCOCA. The court, however, said there was not enough evidence for charges to be framed under MCOCA, a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organised crime syndicates and terrorism. The MCOCA contains much stricter provisions relating to bail and admissibility of confessions compared to the Indian Penal Code.In August, Justice A Muhamed Mustaque of the Kerala High Court, accepted Sreesanth’s appeal and told the BCCI it had no “incriminating evidence” against the player and hence the ban should be “quashed”.On its part, the BCCI maintained the ban was handed after a one-man inquiry commission found Sreesanth guilty of various offences under the board’s anti-corruption code.The BCCI has now decided to challenge the order of Justice Mustaque. In an application filed in the Kerala High Court on Monday, the BCCI has pointed whether “interference” by a writ court was warranted”. The BCCI has also asked whether the writ court could “sit in appeal” and “alter the quantum of penalty imposed” against the findings of the board’s disciplinary committee.The BCCI said that its decision was in “accordance” with the principles of natural justice and it has now asked the court to decide whether Justice Mustaque’s order was “contrary to law and to principles of justice, equity and good conscience and ought to be set aside?”

Chelsea sources are “downplaying” a move that would see them bring Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe to the Premier League, according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

Is Kylian Mbappe leaving PSG?

The France international’s contract at the Parc des Princes is set to run out in less than a year, and having informed his hierarchy that he won’t be extending his deal by a further 12 months, he was left out of the club’s pre-season tour squad and was instead sent to train with a group of his teammates who have also been omitted.

Having established himself as Luis Enrique’s best-performing offensive player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.80 and of course dominating the World Cup in Qatar, the 24-year-old is bound to attract interest should he depart his homeland outfit, and it sounds like the Ligue 1 giants are preparing to sanction his departure.

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

The Times reported last month that PSG were expecting to receive offers for their centre-forward from the Blues and clubs in Saudi Arabia, the latter having already happened with Al-Hilal submitting a £259m bid, though the project was turned down by the player, and after plenty of speculation, a much-needed update on Mauricio Pochettino’s stance has been delivered.

Are Chelsea signing Kylian Mbappe?

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Jacobs claimed that Chelsea’s owner and manager are both denying that a swoop will take place for Mbappe, but admitted that he is likely to be joining a new club this summer. He said:

“PSG will now listen to all offers and have received some player-swap options. Paris-based sources indicate Todd Boehly was one of the first people to make contact with Nasser Al-Khelaifi over Mbappe. Yet those close to Chelsea continue to downplay a move.

Mauricio Pochettino, who managed Mbappe at PSG, has also said Chelsea have other priorities. So Chelsea are either keeping any approach really secret, have low confidence Mbappe will move to the Premier League, or PSG are simply fuelling interest to put pressure on Real Madrid.”

How many goals has Kylian Mbappe scored?

Since joining PSG, Mbappe has racked up an out of this world 310 goal contributions (212 goals and 98 assists) in just 260 appearances which is a remarkable return for any striker, with this probably being one of the main reasons why he currently earns a staggering £1.1m-per-week and therefore £61m-per-year, according to Capology.

The 2018 World Cup winner, who’s sponsored by Nike, recorded 144 shots over the course of the last Ligue 1 campaign which was higher than any other of his teammates, via FBRef, form which saw him collect seven man-of-the-match awards.

Mbappe, who has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline, has additionally received plenty of individual recognition for his excellent standard of performances throughout his career having won top goalscorer accolades on ten occasions already, and whilst he would be an unreal signing for the boss, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be on his way to Stamford Bridge anytime soon.