Daily Archives: June 21, 2019

Frank Lampard gets Chelsea’s appointment date

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Fresh reports indicate that Chelsea expect to finalise the appointment of Frank Lampard as their new manager next week.

The Stamford Bridge club’s legend is favourite to take over from Maurizio Sarri, who has been unveiled by Juventus on Thursday as their new manager.

ESPN FC claim that Chelsea are prepared to pay the £4 million needed to release Lampard from his contract with Derby, but the Championship club’s desire to secure a replacement before sanctioning his departure has slowed the process.

Lampard is expected to sign a three-year contract and be accompanied by former Chelsea academy coach Jody Morris and long-time fitness coach Chris Jones.

Derby had wanted to keep Lampard after a positive first season in which he led a vibrant young team to the Championship playoff final, and are reported to have offered him a contract extension.

Lampard will work closely with former Chelsea teammate Petr Cech, announced as the club’s new technical and performance adviser on Friday.

Cech will provide advice on all football and performance matters, work to improve the pathway from the academy to the first-team squad and travel with the senior side home and away.

Barcelona deny signing pre-contract agreement with Manchester United, Arsenal key target

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Barcelona have reportedly rubbished reports that they signed pre-contract agreement with PSG star Adrien Rabiot.

The Catalan giants are said to have previously signed a pre-contract form with the midfielder which would mean the player is owed money by Barca even if they do not exercise their option to sign him.

Reports claim that the agreement between the two parties comes into effect when Rabiot’s contract expires on 1st July.

But, according to SPORT, Barça are insisting there is no such pact with the Frenchman.

This alleged deal was included during talks between Rabiot and Barça last summer.

Rabiot is out of contract at the Parisian club this summer and would not command a transfer fee, but his reported wage demands alongside agent fees (the player’s representative is his mother) are said to be excessive.

The 24-year-old has not featured for the first-team in over five months with the club refusing to play him until his situation is resolved, with the player seemingly intent on an exit.

Meanwhile, reports in Italy say he has agreed personal terms with Juventus despite efforts by two Premier League clubs Manchester United and Arsenal to sign the midfielder.

Solskjaer changes his mind over Paul Pogba move, tells Manchester United his latest decision on midfielder

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Reports in England state that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Manchester United bosses he wants to sell Paul Pogba as Real Madrid and Juventus intensify efforts to sign the Old Trafford club’s midfielder.

The former Old Lady’s star has been heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu and Turin club. He recently admitted that he was looking for a ‘new challenge’ .

According to the Metro, Solskjaer want to offload the Frenchman so he can reinvest the funds in improving his squad.

United have maintained that Pogba is not for sale and it would take an enormous offer to change that stance, but the Daily Star claim Solskjaer is ready to sanction a move.

The Red Devils have only given Solskjaer a summer transfer kitty of £100million to spend after failing to qualify for the Champions League, meaning they have just £27m left once Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move is finalised.

But Solskjaer knows his rebuild will cost far more than that, with a centre-back, defensive midfielder and playmaker all on his agenda, and is ready to sacrifice Pogba to bolster the funds available to him.

United will demand in excess of £140m for Pogba, all of which will be given to Solskjaer to continue his summer rebuild, while they also hope to raise funds from the sales of players like Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Darmian.

Solskjaer’s modest budget has seen United pull out of the running for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Kalidou Koulibaly, while they fear being blow out of the water by rivals City in the race for Harry Maguire.

Atletico Madrid pull out of move for Chelsea star

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Reports in Spain claim Atletico Madrid have pulled out of a move to sign Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso due to his €40m valuation.

The 28-year-old is, according to Cadena Cope, have been lined up by Los Rojiblancos to replace the outgoing Filipe Luis, who is out of contract at Atleti this summer, in the backline.

Alonso is viewed as a set-piece specialist and offers a goal threat but it is questionable if the West London club will sanction his exit in light of their FIFA-imposed transfer ban.

Football Espana cite previous reports that claimed he has been in talks with Atleti over the past two months but his lack of game-time in the Europa League final victory over Arsenal is said to have hastened his decision to seek a move elsewhere.

The Spain international has fallen behind Emerson Palmieri in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and is now said to want a return to Spanish football.

However, the exit of Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri – with whom Alonso did not have a strong relationship – to Juventus appears to have calmed his desire to leave.

Alonso came through Real Madrid’s La Fabrica youth system but did not make the grade in the first-team and has since represented several clubs, joining Chelsea from Fiorentina in 2016.

OFFICIAL: Chelsea confirm Petr Cech’s appointment

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Chelsea legend Petr Cech has been appointed as the Stamford Bridge club’s Technical and Technical and Performance Advisor.

The former Czech Republic international spent 11 years as a player at Chelsea, making 494 appearances for Chelsea and won 13 major honours, and winning every domestic and European club honour.

He left to join Arsenal in 2015, but retired at the end of the season.

Chelsea state on their official website that Cech will be “providing advice on all football and performance matters throughout the club as well as embed and facilitate strong links between the club’s men’s and academy teams, ensuring that the various support departments are working together effectively.

“His role will also align him with the men’s first team coaching and backroom staff, travelling with the team home and away with an emphasis on strategy and performance.”

He is expected to work closely work closely with Chelsea Director Marina Granovskaia.

Cech said: “I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to join Chelsea FC again and help create the best possible high level performance environment to continue the success the club has had over the past 15 years .

“I’m looking forward to the new challenge and hope I can use all of my football knowledge and experience to help the team achieve even more success in the future.”

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said:”We are delighted to welcome Petr back home to Chelsea.

“During his playing career here he was one of the most dedicated, successful and thoughtful professionals we have ever had.

“We always hoped that when Petr was ready to retire we would see him back at Chelsea FC and we are thrilled to add his expertise and knowledge of the game to the technical staff.”

Photo Credit: chelseafc.com