Revealed: Why Real Madrid may call off move for Chelsea, PSG target

Real Madrid are reportedly long-term admirers of Lille centre-back Leny Yoro and have been receiving positive reports about his progress but there’s a debate within the club over whether to try and sign him in this summer’s transfer window.

Yoro, 18, has a contract at Lille until June 2025 and a number of top European clubs are monitoring his situation with an eye to a deal.

Madrid’s priority signings for the 2024-25 season are the arrival of Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain and bringing in Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies.

According to ESPN, some at Madrid believe they should wait another year before investing the €50 million ($54.3m) which Lille expect to receive for the teenager should they allow him to move on.

Others argue that it’s worth moving for him now, believing that if Madrid don’t do so this summer, the defender will end up joining another club.

The report adds that Madrid would be best-positioned to sign Yoro if they opted to push for his signature, but said that PSG and Chelsea are also keen.

Yoro’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has an excellent relationship with PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos.

Yoro has reportedly been in contact with at least two players from the Madrid first team in recent months to get an idea of what awaits him at the Bernabeu if a deal comes to fruition.

Madrid have four senior central defenders in their squad: Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba and Nacho Fernandez.

Yoro would fit into the club’s long-standing policy of signing outstanding young prospects from Europe and around the world, such as Vinícius Júnior, Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo Goes and Endrick.

However, there is no consensus within the club on his signing as Madrid’s initial plan had been to delay the rebuild of the centre of defence until the summer of 2025.

Alaba and Rudiger are both 31, while Militao is just 26.

Madrid are also concerned about the prospect of a bidding war for Yoro’s signature, which would raise the potential cost of a deal.

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“I was one hour away from Chelsea transfer with a plane waiting – then deal was called off”

West Ham United midfielder Edson Alvarez has revealed that he was close to signing for Chelsea, and even had a plan waiting for him, before he joined the Hammers from Ajax last summer.

The Mexican international joined the Hammers from Ajax in a £35m deal last summer.

However, a year prior, Alvarez came close to joining Chelsea in the first transfer window of Todd Boehly’s reign as Chelsea owner.

Speaking in an interview with Caliente TV, the 26-year-old, who replaced Declan Rice at the heart of the West Ham midfield, said: “In year three [at Ajax], I had to go to Chelsea, the plane was waiting for me at the airport – then Ajax told me, ‘You know what: you’re not going’.”

“Whether people believe it or not, it doesn’t make any difference to me, I’m the one who is here and the one who is living it. I was an hour away from getting on the plane and going to sign for Chelsea.”

“Ajax told me: ‘You’re not going’. So, you’re not leaving, what do you do? There’s no way you’re leaving.”

Alvarez has impressed at the heart of West Ham’s midfield, making 35 appearances so far for David Moyes ‘ men.

“I was one hour away from Chelsea transfer with a plane waiting – then deal was called off”

“I was one hour away from Chelsea transfer with a plane waiting – then deal was called off”

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Chelsea star rebukes fan for criticizing Raheem Sterling over his awful performance vs Leicester

Raheem Sterling’s penalty miss against Leicester is still generating furore as Noni Madueke hit back at a Chelsea fan on social media after he told the Blues star to apologise for his awful performance in the FA Cup.

Chelsea have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup after beating 10-man Leicester City 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

However, the game is not one Sterling will want to look back on after the England international missed countless chances and was relentlessly booed by his own supporters before being subbed off for Madueke in the 86th minute.

The worst moment came in the first-half when he won a spot-kick and then took the ball off regular penalty taker Cole Palmer, only for his tame effort to be easily saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.

This could have been a very costly moment after Leicester came from 2-0 down to level the match, but injury time goals from Carney Chukwuemeka and Madueke saved Sterling’s blushes.

Afterwards, the 29-year-old posted an apology to fans on social media for the penalty miss, though many of his teammates were quick to rush to his defence.

Madueke was one of them, replying to his fellow winger with: “Bro no need to apologise… we appreciate you g.”

Some fans disagreed with the 22-year-old however, claiming that Sterling ‘needed’ to apologise for his errors, but Madueke wasn’t having any of it.

He responded to one by saying: ‘Be quiet man, people like you are the issue.’

It is not the first time that Madueke has hit out at a fan on social media, having previously told a supporter to ‘stay in your lane’ after he criticised the former PSV star’s performance in the win over Leeds in February.

As mentioned, Chelsea’s players have rallied around Sterling following the game, with Chukwuemeka later telling Standard Sport: “Raheem is an experienced player who has had an amazing career.

“We know what a great footballer he is. He has had goals, assists and won so many penalties this season. It happens at the end of the day, he is human and players miss chances.

“He had an off day and for sure we stick behind him. Let’s not forget, he got an assist for Cole’s goal.

“For us youngsters – especially for me, Noni and Cole – Raheem has helped us a lot since we came here.

“He is always on us showing what we can do well and what to improve on. He is always on us, inside and outside football, Raheem is a big part of what we do. He is like my big brother.”

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Leicester: Jackson, Palmer, Mudryk, others shine, Sterling struggles

It was a day to forget for Raheem Sterling despite his Chelsea side advancing to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Chelsea had a 2-0 lead at the break after goals from Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer, despite Sterling missing from the penalty spot.

But some awful defensive mistakes, and more poor finishing from Sterling, allowed Leicester back into the game.

Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke went on to give the Blues a 4-2 victory over ten-man Foxes who saw Callum Doyle sent off in the 77th minute.

Robert Sanchez – 5

Would have made Chelsea fans feel a little unnerved with the risks he was taking in the first-half on the ball. Axel Disasi was at fault for Leicester’s first goal but questions could be asked about why Sanchez was so far off his line.

Malo Gusto – 6

Was given the BBC’s Man of the Match after a solid display. He is marked down however, as he would have needed to get a ticket back into the stadium after he was done by Stephy Mavididi’s fancy footwork for Leicester’s equaliser.

Axel Disasi – 5

What was he doing for Leicester’s first goal? Yes, he was under a bit of pressure but he just needed to play a simple back-pass to Sanchez and his error brought Leicester back into the game.

Trevoh Chalobah – 6

Lost the ball on several occasions while trying to play out from the back. His partnership with Disasi looked weak at times.

Marc Cucurella – 7

Showed great tenacity to get forward and tap home the opener. Not always been great defensively for Chelsea but he was the best of the four for Mauricio Pochettino’s side today.

Moises Caicedo – 6

A solid but unremarkable performance which sums up his performances this season.

Cole Palmer – 7

Scored his 16h goal of the season in all competitions to double Chelsea’s lead in the first-half. Not his fault, but it could have been an easier afternoon if Raheem Sterling didn’t take the ball off him for the penalty.

Conor Gallagher – 6

Calm and composed on the ball in a solid performance before he joins up with Gareth Southgate’s squad.

Raheem Sterling – 3

Was energetic and got an assist but in truth, it was an absolute nightmare of a day for the winger.

He missed a penalty, then should have scored a one-on-one opportunity and was booed by the Chelsea crowd after sending a free-kick into Row Z in the second-half. The boos for Mudryk being substituted was telling too. A day he will want to forget about and quickly.

Mykhailo Mudryk – 7

Is showing signs of improvement and his energy was appreciated by the Chelsea fans who were not happy that he was taken off with over ten minutes to go at 2-2.

Nicolas Jackson – 8

Chelsea’s best player and Leicester could not deal with his pace. Showed a great burst of speed to set up Cucurella’s opener before catching out Callum Doyle who was sent off for a challenge on the striker mid-way through the second-half.

Manager

Mauricio Pochettino – 7

Decision to bring Mudryk off instead of Sterling didn’t go down well but his substitutes killed the game off in the second-half.

Substitutes

Carney Chukwuemeka – 7

Proved the match winner sliding in his finish under Stolarczyk after coming off the bench.

Noni Madueke – 7

The England Under-21 winger scored a stunning solo goal with the last kick of the game.

Ben Chilwell – N/A

Unused subs Petrovic; Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Acheampong; Harrison; Washington.

(Video) Madueke scores stunning goal! Chelsea 4-2 Leicester

Another lovely goal, this time by Noni Madueke, who showed slick footwork as he ran at the heart of the Leicester defence and then bent a brilliant shot over Stolarczyk into the top corner.

That actually gets better with every viewing. Top finish.

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(Video) Mavididi equalizes! 62’… Chelsea 2-2 Leicester

WHAT A GOAL!!! Mavididi, take a bow. The winger dribbles calmly towards the Chelsea goal, with Gusto giving him way too much time on the ball.

Fancy footwork by Mavididi as he advanced towards a Chelsea defence who just backed off and backed off.

Inside the box, he stepped to his right and curled a brilliant shot into the far corner. Perfectly-placed.

What a superb fightback by the Championship side.

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(Watch Goal on Video) Chukwuemeka scores! Chelsea 3-2 Leicester

That’s surely the winner for Chelsea and it’s a beautifully worked goal.

Carney Chukwuemeka, breaking into Leicester’s box, the one-two with Cole Palmer with the neat backheel to set Chukwuemeka through. Nice finish though the keeper’s legs into the far corner.

And it looks now like Chelsea are heading for Wembley.

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(Video) Disasi scores own goal! 51’… Chelsea 2-1 Leicester

An absolute gift from Disasi to bring Leicester very much back into the game!

Gusto throws the ball back to Disasi, who is under pressure from Daka and attempts a pass back to his keeper.

He completely mishits the ball back to Sanchez, who is nowhere near the goal and it goes in for an own goal. 2-1 and game on!

(Video) Cole Palmer scores! Chelsea 2-0 Leicester

Sterling atones with the assist, using his pace to breeze past two Leicester defenders before rolling the ball across to Palmer, six yards out, to side-foot home Chelsea’s second.

They’ve made heavy work of this game but have now doubled their lead.

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(Video) Cucurella scores! Chelsea 1-0 Leicester

And Leicester are torn apart as Chelsea take the early lead.

Terrific work by Jackson, who is able to glide past Jannik Vestergaard with his pace, break into the box and then have the presence of mind to pick out the totally unmarked Cucurella to tap in at the back post.

Wout Faes had drifted across to try and cut out Jackson’s cross but that didn’t work and his man was left free to score.

That’ll settle Chelsea nerves.

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