William Gallas issued a warning to his former club Arsenal that key players could lose patience if their trophy drought continues.
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Two things are true: Liverpool have exceeded expectations this season and are heading toward the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season; Liverpool need to make sweeping changes in the transfer market this summer.
Mohamed Salah has posted 32 goals and 22 assists across all competitions as the Anfield side prepare to defend their 12-point lead at the top of the table after the March international break, the final of such sojourns this term.
But Liverpool’s frontline, deadly as it may be, is lopsided, imbalanced by an absence of potency through the likes of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
Mohamed Salah
17 (17)
12
5
Cody Gakpo
13 (9)
5
1
Luis Diaz
18 (15)
1
2
Diogo Jota
14 (9)
2
1
Darwin Nunez
16 (4)
3
4
Federico Chiesa
5 (2)
2
1
All three have largely flattered to deceive since Christmas; all three have been suggested as potential departures in a summer fire sale.
Slot, after all, has only welcomed Federico Chiesa through the gates since settling into Jurgen Klopp’s seat last summer, and the forthcoming market is expected to be a busy one.
FSG will no doubt have noticed the recent rumours linking Martin Zubimendi with a move away from Real Sociedad. It doesn’t look like that move will conclude on Merseyside.
The latest interest in Martin Zubimendi
Last summer, Liverpool went all in for Zubimendi but failed to convince him to leave the Basque Country. Instead of assessing alternative options, FSG decided that the Reds could make do with their existing options.
This was met with derision from rivals and anguish from Liverpool’s fanbase, but hindsight has revealed a method in the madness, for Slot’s side are firm favourites for the Premier League title.
Now, Arsenal are preparing to sign the Spain international in the summer, something that no doubt stings but perhaps isn’t actually the most crushing of blows for those of a Reds persuasion.
Indeed, Liverpool have a healthy crop of midfielders, and while there is a need for greater depth, you could stake the claim that Zubimendi wouldn’t actually see that much action, based on the evidence of the campaign as a whole.
The starting trio are all worth more than the Spaniard, but there’s another member of Slot’s brood who is actually more valuable than him too.
Liverpool have hit the jackpot on "relentless" midfielder
Losing Klopp after so many illustrious years was always going to be a bitter pill to swallow as Liverpool stepped out into the unknown, but Slot’s vision was inculcated into the first-team squad very quickly, one player, in particular, loving the new gaffer from the get-go.
That man, you may guess, is Curtis Jones, who waxed lyrical about Slot’s tactical prowess before the campaign kicked off.
Jones’ start to the season helped Liverpool considerably in dominating matches and setting the pace for the title charge, always one step ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
It meant Klopp’s departure and the failure to convince Zubimendi to jump ship were quickly forgotten blemishes.
While Zubimendi’s seemingly destined for a date with the Gunners, Liverpool won’t feel the weight of the Spaniard’s rejection too keenly, not when their current crop are supercharging a Premier League title drive.
Jones isn’t always in the starting lineup, but he’s an invaluable part of the team, so committed and fitting as an extra part. His valuation reflects his worth in Slot’s eyes, for sure.
Zubimendi might have a lofty release clause in the ÂŁ50m ballpark, but Jones may be an even more valuable midfielder in the current market.
By CIES Football Observatory’s reckoning, he is indeed. CIES describe themselves as ‘the world leader in the scientific evaluation of professional players’ transfer values.’ They clearly know their ABCs, so having projected Liverpool’s Scouse-born midfielder to currently have a ÂŁ68m price tag, it’s clear Jones is making real headway with Slot at the helm.
An underrated player, sure, but Jones gives his teams something distinctive in the middle of the park. He’s industrious and energetic while also boasting a first-class short-passing game.
The data certainly backs that point up. As per FBref, Jones ranks among the top 1% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for pass completion, the top 3% for passes attempted and the top 16% for both progressive passes and tackles per 90.
And while Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister make up the central core of Liverpool’s midfield, Jones has still been a major part of his boyhood club’s success, featuring 24 times in the top flight, starting 13 fixtures and posting three goals and three assists apiece.
If anything, Jones’ struggle to play from the outset invariably is more a reflection of Liverpool’s abundant quality than an indication he’s flattering to deceive.
Tuchel clearly subscribes to the same notion as Slot, with Lee Carsley also handing Jones his England debut back in November 2024. The centre-midfielder got himself on the scoresheet, and it was a fine goal at that.
Jones also started the opening fixture of Tuchel’s tenure, with the 2-0 victory over Albania a routine result, but one that saw respected journalist Henry Winter hail Jones for being “relentless in his pressing.”
He’s a fine player, born on Liverpool-red soil and undoubtedly envisaging a one-club career. Who knows, but one thing’s for certain: Liverpool have hit the jackpot on their homemade talent, whose talents have seen him be placed in a more lucrative bracket than a coveted phenom in Zubimendi.
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India head coach Rahul Dravid was point-blank in his assessment that the 469 they conceded after electing to bowl on a “green wicket” put India on the back foot. It meant playing catch up for the rest of the WTC final at The Oval.”It wasn’t a 469 wicket,” Dravid told Star Sports, after Australia wrapped up a 209-run victory. “On the first day, last session, conceding 157 [for no wicket] was disappointing. We knew the lines and lengths we needed to bowl; the lengths weren’t bad, but we went wide with our lines, gave a lot of room to Travis Head, he capitalised and we fell behind.”That said, Dravid also rued India’s dismissals late on the fourth day in a chase of 444. Rohit Sharma was out sweeping Nathan Lyon, Cheteshwar Pujara out to an attempted ramp and Shubman Gill caught in the gully to a contentious catch that elicited widespread debate.Related
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“Yesterday I felt on this wicket, we played three-four shots, we could’ve been a bit careful,” Dravid said. “It was tough, [but] there was hope. However far behind you are, you always fight. In the two years, we’ve had situations where we’ve been behind but have made comebacks.”The good thing was we were behind for two days in this Test but didn’t give up and fought well. We needed an exceptional performance, a big partnership [on the final day]. We had the players, but they [Australia] had the upper hand, they bowled well, got a couple of wickets and it can happen.”
Asked about India’s decision to bowl first, Dravid said overhead conditions played a big role in that. As it turned out, barring the first hour, the rest of the Test was played in glorious sunshine with temperatures touching 30 degrees C on the fourth and fifth days.Most of this WTC final was played in glorious sunshine•Associated Press
“In the [first] morning, there was a lot of grass, the overhead conditions were cloudy and, in England, we felt batting gets easier – even on the fourth and fifth day, there wasn’t much happening,” Dravid said. “Lot of teams win the toss and field. At 70 [76] for 3, we felt it was a good decision, but the complexion of the game changed in the two sessions after that.”Had we restricted them to 300-odd, it would’ve been a good score, we would’ve still been in the game, and it would’ve been a tight third and fourth innings. It’s one of those things in England. Last year at Edgbaston, the fourth innings became easier, and England chased 380 [378] easily. We knew 444 is a lot of runs, but if we kept them to 320, we could’ve chased it.”Dravid was then asked if he felt the top five needed to do better. While he agreed the “legends” would be the first to be disappointed with their own returns, he cited how the dip in averages over the last two years was also a reflection of tougher pitches.”The same boys have won twice in Australia, won Tests in England,” Dravid said. “Yes, they will agree this wasn’t up to their high standards but we’re working on it. Some of the wickets have been challenging. This was a good wicket, but some other conditions haven’t been easy.”Every game is important in the WTC. You need points, can’t play for draws. So everywhere, even in India, the wickets have been tough. You have to factor this in while looking at averages. It’s not just ours, but yes, we need to work on it. If we give bowlers runs to play with, we can win Tests.”
On the point of “tougher pitches”, Dravid was asked by Harbhajan Singh if India needed to re-look at their policy of tailoring tracks to suit their spinners at home, which brought with it the inherent risk of batters being undercooked against quality pace abroad. While Dravid agreed pitches that turned from the first ball weren’t ideal, the nature of the WTC and the pressure to win meant they needed to take risks, he said.”Nobody wants wickets to turn from the first ball and turn square, but certainly when you’re playing the WTC and playing for points, as it gets to the back end of it, everyone expects you to qualify, everyone wants you to quality, everyone wants to come to games like this [final]. In situations like that, at times, you have to take a few risks.”We’re not the only team taking risks. You look at the wickets in Australia, look at the wicket in Brisbane [when South Africa toured last year], Australia also used to play on wickets that lasted five days, but now they’re also playing on wickets that are lasting three-four days in their own country.Scott Boland, a big thorn in India’s side this Test, in the process of bowling KS Bharat second ball of day three•Bipin Patel
“When you’re looking at the WTC, you’re looking at qualification. Sometimes the pressure is on you to get points in every single game, and sometimes it can get quite tough. Sometimes, wickets have become result-oriented. While I agree some of the wickets in India have been difficult, it’s sometimes a risk we all have to take.”
India came into this Test on the back of a staggered week-long preparation. With the IPL only having finished on May 29, several first-choice players only linked up with the squad a week prior to the Test. After a short camp in Arundel, India began training in London from June 3 only. Dravid was again point-blank when asked if this was ideal.”I am never going to be happy with the prep as a coach, but that’s a reality I’m faced with…we are faced with,” he said. “Schedules are so cramped and tight. When you’ve been playing international cricket, if you’re here three weeks before the tour and play two side games, you’re going to be better prepared.”We don’t have that, got to do what we can, but no excuses, no complaints. I want to congratulate Australia. They played better than us for five days. We don’t need to make excuses, we need to look at ourselves, see what we can get better at, what we can improve on, and that’s a constant effort.”
As Kobbie Mainoo’s contract negotiations continue to stall, Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on signing a young midfielder who’s shown more creativity than their academy graduate.
Man Utd eyeing impressive midfielder
The Red Devils have it all to do this summer if they are to make significant improvement under Ruben Amorim. On course for a mid-table finish in the Premier League, whether INEOS have the funds available to rebuild their side is another question, but that hasn’t stopped the rumours from arriving.
The likes of Matheus Cunha and Chris Rigg have both been among the headlines this week, with Manchester United reportedly targeting moves to sign the impressive duo. Cunha would particularly offer Amorim a much-needed upgrade in attack, putting an end to the blunt nature of a frontline centred around Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Meanwhile, Rigg represents one of the most talented young players that English football has to offer. The 17-year-old has become one to watch at Sunderland and could yet find himself on his way to Old Trafford at the same time that Mainoo’s future is thrown into doubt.
The Carrington graduate is yet to sign a new deal and previous reports suggested that he could seek a move abroad, potentially forcing the Red Devils to turn towards a Champions League-level replacement.
According to Calcio Mercato, Manchester United are now readying a move to sign Ardon Jashari, who Club Brugge value at around €35m (ÂŁ29m) this summer. The Premier League giants aren’t alone in their interest, with Juventus, Atalanta, AC Milan and AS Roma all chasing the midfielder’s signature, but they are ready to ‘go on the attack’.
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Still just 22 years old, Jashari has impressed throughout the current campaign, performing well in the Champions League against the likes of Aston Villa and interested party Juventus. Now, as a hectic race begins to form, he may have a decision to make.
"Great" Jashari is more creative than Mainoo
Two players who would sit in a deeper role in Amorim’s system rather than the advanced roles, Jashari has proven to be more influential going forward than Mainoo this season and could yet offer Manchester United an instant upgrade.
Despite sitting deep, the 22-year-old has had a hand in as many as nine goals – scoring three and assisting a further six in all competitions. Mainoo, meanwhile, in a season full of injury frustrations, has managed just one goal and one assist.
As both Zirkzee and Hojlund struggle for consistency in front of goal too, any help from the midfield alongside Bruno Fernandes’ output certainly wouldn’t go amiss at Old Trafford.
Praised for his “great technical ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson before he even earned a move to Club Brugge, Jashari has only improved since those days and now looks destined for a big move.
With no Premier League football on the menu due to the international break, most of the talk in the air at Manchester United in recent days has centred in on transfer gossip.
Indeed, the rumour mill has linked the Red Devils with a whole host of new personnel particularly in the centre-forward department, with Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike one possible purchase that is being intently looked at.
Another potential signing that is being talked about non-stop is the ongoing pursuit of Everton powerhouse Jarrad Branthwaite, with the Toffees warrior perhaps intrigued by the prospect of calling the Theatre of Dreams his new home if fresh reports are to be believed.
Man Utd's ongoing pursuit of Branthwaite
New reports seem to suggest that the 22-year-old centre-back is considering his long-term Toffees future having been snubbed from Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad.
A move away from Goodison Park could well boost Branthwaite’s chances of more Three Lions opportunities, therefore, with the Red Devils still interested in clinching a deal for their long-term target, alongside the likes of Liverpool now amazingly taking a look.
A deal would well depend on how much United are willing to splash the cash on the Carlisle-born centre-back, with past rumours suggesting that Branthwaite would be available for around the ÂŁ50m range.
Whilst that isn’t eye-watering money at the end of the day for a club of United’s prestige to splash, they might have a homegrown alternative already to the 22-year-old that will save them plenty of hassle down the line.
Man Utd are brewing their very own Branthwaite
Everton have reaped their rewards now for persevering with Branthwaite when he was still just a raw, wide-eyed defender attempting to cut his teeth.
Amorim and Co will hope their willingness to launch young and hungry talents into their own first-team picture pays off too, with the likes of Ayden Heaven at the back benefitting greatly from the Portuguese manager’s fearlessness in chucking youth products into the main team.
Now, with the teenage sensation finding himself out of action with an injury, Amorim could look elsewhere for a new starlet defensively, with 17-year-old Godwill Kukonki perhaps ready for his moment in the spotlight.
After all – back in December of last year – Amorim proclaimed that the imposing 6 foot 5 presence was adult enough to “handle the Premier League’s demands”, with the potential for Kukonki to take to the top-flight in a similar way to Branthwaite when he was given his breakout moment at Goodison back in 2023.
Senior centre-back options available to Amorim
Player
Age
League games this season
Clean sheets
Leny Yoro
19
14
0
Lisandro Martinez
27
20
5
Harry Maguire
32
20
1
Matthijs De Ligt
25
27
3
Victor Lindelof
30
8
1
Jonny Evans
37
6
1
Sourced by Transfermarkt
The United target would never look back when entering into the Everton first-team picture with seven clean sheets under his belt in league action this season, whilst Amorim’s current selection consistently let him down when looking at the table above.
With Victor Lindelof also out of contract at the end of the campaign, the time could now be right to start gifting Kukonki more and more senior chances away from the stale senior set-up, potentially winning the Red Devils a cost-effective Branthwaite subsequently.
Celebrated for his aggressive front-footed nature by data analyst Ben Mattinson – an attribute Branthwaite has in abundance – time will only tell if Kukonki can go on to prove himself as a Premier League calibre talent.
But, with United’s terrific track record of youngsters going on to make the grade on their side, the 17-year-old well might be Amorim’s next superstar.
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Sussex teenager puts side in position to press for emphatic win at Hove
Alan Gardner19-May-2023Glamorgan 123 and 118 for 1 (Byrom 57) trail Sussex 481 (Coles 138, Smith 89, Haines 58) by 240 runsCome for the Australian great, stay for the local rising star. There was a Sussex centurion on day two at Hove but it was not, as had been expected, Steven Smith. Instead, 19-year-old James Coles took the acclaim on a sun-dappled afternoon by the south coast, with a maiden first-class hundred that put his side into a position of considerable strength against the visitors, Glamorgan.Smith made 89 and could perhaps feel aggrieved after receiving his third lbw decision in three innings for Sussex – this one the most marginal of the lot. He seemed content with the workout, nevertheless, even if the expected hefty victory for his side, after they took a 358-run lead on first innings, may mean he won’t get to bat again before joining up with Australia ahead of the World Test Championship final (and the small matter of the Ashes thereafter).Glamorgan dug in to be one-down at the close, with conditions having eased considerably since their implosion on the first morning. Marnus Labuschagne resumed his pre-Ashes tango with Ollie Robinson, and their contest should provide another compelling reason for spectators to turn up for day three. Come for the ICC’s No. 1-ranked batter, stay for the possibility of a resounding home victory (so long as the ICC’s No. 1-ranked batter doesn’t bat all day…)Some 1000 schoolchildren received free entry to the ground on Friday, through the Sussex Cricket Foundation, and there was no doubt who had top billing in their eyes, as Smith patiently signed autographs and posed for selfies during the lunchbreak. Coles is not long out of school himself, and may have inspired one or two to want to follow in his footsteps when he punched Jamie McIlroy crisply through the covers shortly after the interval to take his score into three figures for the first time.Coles did not start the season in Sussex’s first XI but has now made scores of 74, 14, 70 and 138. A product of the club’s development partnership with the Oxfordshire Cricket Board, he became the youngest player ever to make a first-class debut for Sussex, at 16 years and 157 days, during the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020 – although discussion of this fact in the press box was met with the query, “What about John Barclay?” Since the former Sussex captain and cricket committee chair was sitting upstairs, it was possible to confirm that Barclay was, in fact, 16 years and seven months (or 205 days) when selected in the XI to play Jamaica at Hove in August 1970.That digression dealt with, Sussex’s day could be put in its full context. Coles began it in the company of Smith, their fifth-wicket partnership eventually extending to 143, before the teenager shared stands of 57 and 79 with Oli Carter and Fynn Hudson-Prentice respectively, taking Sussex to a fourth batting point and a position of dominance.Coles was seventh man out, lbw to a tired stroke having faced 223 balls, after an innings characterised by fluent cover drives and percussive whips to leg. The only moment of drama during an otherwise chanceless knock came when he had made 72 and an attempted flick off the pads saw the ball ricochet behind him and deflect off leg stump, but without enough force to dislodge the bails.By the time Coles walked off to a standing ovation, Glamorgan were beginning to flag themselves, and promptly put down a succession of chances as the kids in the stands hooted and cheered. Labuschagne, who sent down four overs of liquorice allsorts spin for 39 runs, dropped the easiest of the lot when Jack Carson edged straight to the Australian at second slip without scoring, although Billy Root didn’t do much better with a Hudson-Prentice uppercut at deep third that ended up going for six. Hudson-Prentice was in a mood to drive home the advantage, bounding along to his highest Sussex score before picking out mid-off for 73 off 64.It had meant to be a Steven Smith day at Hove. As part of their Ashes build-up, Sky Sports got James Anderson and Stuart Broad to consult an Artificial Intelligence programme on ways to dismiss Smith – which yielded such piercing insights as “bowl a tight line and length” and “use strategic field placement”. But if machine learning has picked up anything useful from Smith’s three-week stint in the Championship, it will have been to try to hit his pads and appeal accordingly, such has been the alacrity with which umpires on the circuit have raised a finger.On this occasion, Martin Saggers was the official to send Smith on his way. The Australian had already received a life, a low edge to first slip off compatriot Michael Neser put down by Timm van der Gugten (who plays for Netherlands but, like Smith, was born in New South Wales) having added just a single to his overnight 68. But after hooking James Harris for six earlier in the over, he was struck on the back pad looking to defend; Smith looked like he had got outside the line of off stump, but Saggers thought otherwise. Asked by a fan for his view on the dismissal while doing the rounds at lunch, Smith replied with a smile: “Pretty much out if there was five stumps.”Coles took centre stage in Smith’s absence, and his efforts added to the sense that Sussex may have finally hit upon the right blend of youth and experience to mount a promotion bid. They are well placed for a win here that would push them to the top of Division Two but know it will require some hard yakka, having finished on top on both of their previous fixtures – rain-affected away trips to Worcestershire and Leicestershire – but unable to secure victory.Robinson took the one wicket to fall, Ed Byrom pulling firmly but straight to the leaping Carson midwicket. Sussex thought they had dismissed Byrom when he had made 37, only for the square-on umpire, Rob White, to request a conversation with Cheteshwar Pujara, Sussex’s captain, on whether the catch had been cleanly taken by wicketkeeper Carter, diving to his left; the upshot of which was Byrom resuming his innings.
Chelsea’s revival under Enzo Maresca continued on Thursday evening as they secured an important 2-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in their last-16 Conference League tie.
Given the strength of their squad, plus the nature of the teams left in the competition, if the Blues don’t claim the trophy, it will be a major disappointment indeed.
If they do, they will become the first team to win the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup and now Conference League, placing them in their own unique bubble.
Winning trophies is what the supporters are desperate for, especially after a tough few years.
Maresca certainly looks as though he is at Stamford Bridge for the long haul. If he does win the Conference League, it should give him and the club a major boost heading into the 2025/26 season.
They have come a long way since being managed by Frank Lampard, that’s for sure…
When Lampard took his first managerial position at Derby County ahead of the 2018/19 season, eventually taking the reins at Chelsea was something which could happen at some point in the future, depending on how well his career in the dugout panned out.
After leading the Rams to the Championship playoff final, he managed to secure a return to the Blues in the summer of 2019, taking over from Italian, Maurizio Sarri.
It was the biggest gamble in Roman Abramovich’s tenure so far, especially considering the calibre of manager he could have lured to London.
Lampard led the club to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League during his maiden season, despite the season being interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
It was a decent showing, especially with a transfer embargo placed upon the club, meaning the former Blues midfielder had to field several young talents.
Unfortunately, despite the presence of youngsters such as Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, Lampard was sacked in January 2021 with Chelsea sitting ninth in the table, after spending nearly ÂŁ200m in the transfer window.
His replacement, Thomas Tuchel, ended up leading the club to Champions League success, with both Mount and Abraham playing key roles in the club’s success.
The duo looked like they could be the future of the Stamford Bridge side heading into a new era under the German coach.
First Impressions
Lampard gave them their chance in the first team, and it was Abraham who looked like he could lead the line for the Blues over the coming years.
After an impressive start to the 2019/20 season, Lampard lauded praise on the striker that October after a goal against Southampton, saying:
“Tammy’s goal was incredible. It’s confidence. When people are in good form, things happen for them. And that comes from how Tammy has handled himself all season form the early moments when people were questioning him.
“The work ethic behind the scenes that gets him in such good nick. He’s not just a handful for defenders, he has good feet, holds up the ball well. He is also getting goals which is brilliant for him.”
|
Tammy Abraham’s career statistics |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
2023/24 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
|
2022/23 |
54 |
9 |
6 |
|
2021/22 |
53 |
27 |
5 |
|
2020/21 |
32 |
12 |
5 |
|
2019/20 |
47 |
18 |
4 |
|
2018/19 |
42 |
26 |
3 |
|
2017/18 |
39 |
8 |
4 |
|
2016/17 |
48 |
26 |
4 |
|
Via Transfermarkt |
|||
That campaign ended with the Englishman scoring 18 goals in all competitions, including 15 in the Premier League, setting him up nicely for the following campaign.
He was even hailed by former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, who dubbed Abraham as “Didier Drogba-esque” after a goal during the 2019/20 season. High praise indeed.
His development continued despite managerial changes at the club, netting 12 goals for the Blues as they claimed their second Champions League trophy courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
It looked as though he was going to be the main man under Tuchel, but during the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, he was sold to AS Roma.
Overall, his spell at Chelsea yielded a total of 30 goals in 82 appearances for the club, but when Roma came in with an offer of ÂŁ34m, it was clear that Tuchel was ready to cash in and use the money elsewhere.
Perhaps a fresh start would work out well for the English striker, as plenty of players from these shores have shone upon moving to continental Europe.
Indeed, 27 goals and five assists for the Italian side in all competitions proved why Mourinho spent that sort of fee in bringing him to the club. He added the Conference League trophy to his collection in the process.
The following two seasons weren’t quite as productive, with injuries during the 2023/24 campaign meaning the 27-year-old played just 13 times for the Serie A side.
With just days left of the 2024 summer transfer window, AC Milan announced that they had signed Abraham on a season-long loan deal from Roma. This gave him a chance of a fresh start in Milan after a year of hell.
Across 34 matches for the club, he has managed to score just eight goals, with only two coming in Serie A. Hardly the most productive of loan spells.
In the Italian top flight, the striker averages only one shot per game while missing ten big chances. Furthermore, he has completed just 5.1 passes per game along with taking 13.2 touches each match for Milan.
If he continues this sort of form, there is only one way the player will go, and this could see his value decrease significantly. At present, he is valued at just ÂŁ17m, as per Transfermarkt, half of what Chelsea originally sold him for.
Aside from his debut season for Roma, Abraham’s spell in Italy hasn’t quite produced the goods. While injury issues can be blamed on his poor form last term, since joining Milan, he has struggled under the weight of expectation.
This certainly suggests that Chelsea hit the jackpot in selling him way back in the summer of 2021, no doubt about that.
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Chelsea desperately need to sell one player to avoid losing more money after his big-money move.
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Ethan Lamb
Mar 8, 2025
Chelsea have made some big-money investments during the Todd Boehly era, looking to push the club back towards the top end of the Premier League table.
The American has spent over £100m on two separate players, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández costing the Blues £115m and £106.8m, respectively.
However, the pair have been worthwhile additions despite the mammoth sums, both becoming key members of Enzo Maresca’s side – with the latter taking the armband in recent weeks.
Despite the vast number of additions at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of years, the pair have remained integral to the plans of various management teams, showcasing how well the moves have worked out.
The same can’t be said for one player, with injuries massively plaguing the star ever since his own big-money move to join the West London outfit a couple of years ago.
Wesley Fofana’s stats for Chelsea
French centre-back Wesley Fofana joined Chelsea in a ÂŁ75m deal from Leicester City in the summer of 2022, with real expectations on the defender transforming the backline.
The 24-year-old would only make 20 appearances during his debut campaign in the capital, suffering an ACL injury which would put a halt to his progress at the Bridge.
However, he’s since returned for this campaign, with Maresca making Fofana a key member of the side in his first few months in charge following his summer appointment.
However, injuries would hamper him once more, suffering a hamstring injury in December, ruling him out for three months, and making his first return to action in the recent 1-0 triumph over his former side.
His setbacks have had a huge impact on his market value, with his price tag dropping dramatically, which has seen a former player now valued at a much higher figure after his departure.
Former Chelsea star is now worth 3x more than Fofana
Given the influx of additions, it was always likely that sales were needed to balance the books, resulting in various star talents departing the Bridge in recent years.
From homegrown talents like Mason Mount to big-money signings like Romelu Lukaku, departures have been frequent, preventing the club from suffering any financial implications.
Centre-back Marc Guehi is another player to depart West London in recent times, moving across the capital for Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021 during the Thomas Tuchel era for a fee in the region of ÂŁ18m.
The 24-year-old spent 14 years at the club before his transfer, unable to break into the first-team picture, with his sale now looking to be a huge mistake a couple of years down the line.
Guehi, who’s now Palace’s captain, has thrived with regular Premier League minutes, racking up 145 appearances for the Eagles – even forcing himself into the England national team as a result of his performances.
2021/22
42
4
1
2022/23
40
1
0
2023/24
29
0
1
2024/25
34
3
2
Total:
145
8
4
The centre-back, who’d previously been dubbed “unbelievable” by podcast host Aaron Moniz, has been subject to huge transfer interest in recent months, with Newcastle United making multiple bids for his signature.
Chelsea have even entered the race for his signature recently, showcasing his development and the mistake made in allowing him to depart – but his ÂŁ75m valuation has prevented any return to the Bridge, an increase of 320% on the fee they sold him for.
His subsequent valuation is higher than current star Fofana’s price tag, with the Frenchman now valued at just ÂŁ25m by Transfermarkt after his injury setbacks – a figure three times less than that of Guehi.
There’s no denying that Fofana has been superb when not suffering from fitness issues, having the tools to push the Blues back towards the summit of the table in the next few years.
However, his issues are far too frequent to make him a reliable option, with Guehi potentially the perfect player to operate in Maresca’s backline, demonstrating the huge error they made in approving his sale back in 2021.
He's playing like Robben: Chelsea must regret selling Cobham "star boy"
Chelsea must rue the sale of Cobham “star boy” who could’ve been their next Robben
ByConnor Holden Mar 11, 2025
Mikel Arteta has had to deal with a lot at Arsenal this season.
In what really should have been the campaign in which his side finally got their hands on the Premier League title, he’s had to contend with a general drop in form and a dreadful injury crisis to his frontline.
Worse yet, instead of pushing the boat out and signing the Spaniard a new forward during the winter window, the board decided to keep their powder dry, which some saw as a white flag for the season.
This chronic lack of options up top has led to Arteta playing Mikel Merino as his starting number nine, and while the summer signing has done okay, his efforts have paled in comparison to a centre-forward sold by Arsenal for a pittance last year.
Arteta's Merino experiment
If you had asked Arsenal fans who they thought would be leading the line for the team towards the backend of the season earlier in the campaign, we’d hazard a guess that precisely none would have answered Merino.
However, this is the situation the Gunners now find themselves in, and while the Spaniard will not be playing up top next season – lest another set of disastrous circumstances play out – he hasn’t been dreadful for a central midfielder anyway.
For example, he helped the team avoid an embarrassing draw away to Leicester City with a perfect header and brilliantly placed shot in his first appearance leading the line.
Moreover, he scored and assisted a goal away to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League and headed home the winner against Chelsea just before the international break.
However, while his tally of four goals and one assist in seven appearances up top is genuinely impressive on paper, he failed to score or assist a goal against West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United in the league and against PSV at home.
The former Real Sociedad ace might just about work as an emergency stand-in striker for a game or two, but it has become abundantly clear that he’s not good enough to play up top for any significant period.
What makes it all the more annoying for fans is the fact that a striker the club sold for pennies on the dollar in the summer has been scoring for fun on the continent while Merino has been struggling.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
The ex-Arsenal star who'd be their best striker
It would be fair to say that while Arsenal made a bit of a mess out of their signings last summer, they did pretty well when it came to their sales, getting ÂŁ30m for Eddie Nketiah, up to ÂŁ34m for Emile Smith Rowe and up to ÂŁ25m for Aaron Ramsdale.
However, while fans were pretty happy with the sizable fees the club got for players deemed surplus to requirements, they may not have been aware that a young up-and-coming striker was sold to Austrian outfit Sturm Graz for just ÂŁ4m: Mika Biereth.
Now, at the time, those who were aware likely didn’t care all that much, as while he managed to rack up a tally of 15 goals and nine assists on loan with Motherwell and Sturm Graz last season, he had never played for the Gunners’ first team, and with a fit Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the squad, it seemed like he never would.
However, the Dane’s simply sensational form this season has since proven that not only was it a massive mistake by the club to sell him for such a small sum of money, but a mistake to sell him full stop.
For example, in the first half of the season, the “crazy” talent, as dubbed by former GOAL reporter Robin Bairner, hit the ground running and by January had already scored 14 goals and provided five assists in just 25 appearances.
Appearances
25
12
Minutes
1971′
860′
Goals
14
11
Assists
5
3
Goal Involvements per Match
0.76
1.16
Minutes per Goal Involvements
103.73′
61.42′
Such a rate of return was enough to tempt AS Monaco into spending ÂŁ10.8m plus ÂŁ1.75m in add-ons on the 22-year-old early into the winter window and to say that the investment has since paid off would be a considerable understatement.
In just 12 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, totalling 860 minutes, the London-born gem, whom former Manchester United defender Paul Parker described as “one of Europe’s most dangerous strikers,” has scored 11 goals and provided three assists.
That means he’s currently averaging 1.16 goal involvements every game, or one every 61.42 minutes on the French Riviera, which is just the sort of attacking output Arsenal desperately need.
Ultimately, while Merino is clearly trying up top, he’s not a natural goalscorer, and had Arteta and Co kept hold of Biereth, there might not even be a discussion around the club’s lack of cutting edge at all.
Bad news for Nwaneri: Arsenal want to sign "unplayable" Premier League star
Ethan Nwaneri’s development might be in danger if Arsenal sign this ÂŁ50m star.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 26, 2025
Visitors had last played an ODI in November 2022, even as Sri Lanka prepare for World Cup Qualifiers
Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Jun-2023
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan drew their last series 1-1•AFP/Getty Images
The Afghanistan men’s side are going to the big show, but Sri Lanka are yet to qualify.There is nuance to this. In the ODI World Cup Super League, Afghanistan’s oppositions were Ireland, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. But then, they barely played ODIs, despite having won 11 out of those 15 games. Sri Lanka played 24 matches, and won only seven, which is why they finished tenth on the Super League table.It is a testament to Afghanistan’s rise – despite major challenges – and to Sri Lanka’s ODI collapse, that they meet in Hambantota as evenly-matched outfits. For Afghanistan, this is their first serious preparation for the World Cup in October-November. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, must get their one-day game in gear ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, starting later this month.Related
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Here are some things to look out for in this three-match series.
Will Afghanistan be rusty?Such is the lot of this team that they have not played a single ODI since November last year, when they were last in Sri Lanka for a series that was drawn 1-1. They have had some T20Is this year, most recently winning 2-1 against Pakistan in Sharjah in March. They’ve also just recently concluded the Green Afghanistan One Day Cup – their premier List A tournament – during which several of the national squad surged into form.But they will have challenges in Hambantota – chiefly, Sri Lanka’s pace attack, which, unlike the side they played last year, will feature the returning Dushmantha Chameera, and the likes of Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha.Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi will have extra responsibility in the absence of Rashid Khan•AFP via Getty Images
How will the spinners fare?For a time, Wanindu Hasaranga could probably claim to be on Rashid Khan’s level, but lately, Hasaranga’s performances have fallen away. There was a chasm between them at the IPL. Rashid was second-equal on the wicket-takers’ list, claiming 27 dismissals, with an economy rate of 8.23. Hasaranga took nine wickets from eight matches, and went at 8.89 an over.However, both spinners are likely to miss the start of the series. Rashid is out with a back injury. Hasaranga is struggling with a foot complaint. This means extra responsibility will fall on the likes of Maheesh Theekshana – he is fresh from a decent IPL – as also Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi. Afghanistan also have left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad in their squad, and he enters the series on the back of 16 wickets in the IPL.Spinners will, however, have to contend with the furious crosswind that tends to blow in Hambantota. Usually, this means they tempt the batters to play their big shots into the wind.Matheesha Pathirana was used as a death-over specialist in IPL. Can he deliver new-ball overs for Sri Lanka?•BCCI
Is Pathirana ready for internationals?Though not particularly well-known in Sri Lanka in March, Chennai Super Kings and MS Dhoni made a weapon out of 20-year-old Matheesha Pathirana at the IPL, when they charged him frequently with closing out the innings. Though possessed of an action that is even lower – and arguably slingier – than Lasith Malinga’s, Pathirana did not bowl with the new ball, and appeared to have serious limitations.However, such is the hype around him at present that Sri Lanka may want to try him out. But is he ready for this format? And in matches where there is no Impact Player substitution – like it was in IPL – can he reliably deliver new-ball overs?Can both teams finish their batting innings better?Since 2021, Sri Lanka have scored at a run rate of only 6.97 in the last ten overs of an ODI innings. A whopping 39% of the deliveries they have faced in that portion have been dot balls. Clearly, there is a lack of firepower lower down in the middle order, with Dasun Shanaka only sporadically effective, and the likes of Chamika Karunaratne and Hasaranga possessing limited hitting ability.Perhaps the thinking with bringing Dimuth Karunaratne back is that Sri Lanka will conserve wickets through the innings better, and have the likes of Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva or even Charith Asalanka at the crease towards the close.Afghanistan, meanwhile, have been only slightly better in the last ten since 2021. They have scored at 7.18, with almost 39% of deliveries faced also being dots. Rashid has been their standout finisher in that time.