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    Incredible XI of stars Chelsea could sell to fund huge summer striker signing including £72million Kepa Arrizabalaga

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    CHELSEA could be forced into selling an entire XI of star players this summer in order to fund a world class striker.The Blues’ desperation for a No 9 has left the club needing to flog players in order to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules.Manager Enzo Maresca is prepared to shift as many as 11 players to get a new No 9Ben Chilwell could be one player leaving Stamford Bridge on a permanent basisCredit: PAWith £1.2billion spent under Todd Boehly since 2022, Enzo Maresca essentially has two separate squads and more players than he can count.But so far Chelsea have avoided Financial Fair Play punishments due to their ability to sell players – such as £60million-plus deals for Mason Mount to Manchester United and Kai Havertz to Arsenal – amounting to decent net sales.And this summer, they have no shortage of options for potential profitable exits – so many that you could practically make an XI out of a sellable list.It’s hard to keep up with who is on the books at Chelsea, with NINE of the XI currently out on loan, but SunSport runs the rule over those who could make way.READ MORE CHELSEA NEWSKepa ArrizabalagaKepa Arrizabalaga joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for £72m in 2018.The Spaniard, who is currently on loan at Bournemouth, remains the most expensive keeper of all time.The 30-year-old is reportedly keen to join the Cherries on a permanent basis after starting 22 Prem games this season.But after spending last term on loan with Real Madrid, Kepa will surely have many other suitors, too.Most read in FootballKepa Arrizabalaga is reportedly keen to join Bournemouth on a permanent basisAlfie GilchristChelsea loanee Gilchrist has started 26 of Sheffield United’s 30 Championship games this season.Home-grown talent and an English defender aged 21 is a good combination for getting a decent fee.With Chris Wilder’s side pushing for immediate promotion back to the Prem, the club could move to make Gilchrist’s deal permanent.Alfie Gilchrist has started 26 of Sheffield United’s 30 Championship games this season.Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeTrevor ChalobahFellow Cobham star Chalobah, who joined Chelsea at the age of eight, is said to be seen as “expandable” by the club heading into the summer.Academy graduates represent “pure profit” when it comes to PSR and any sales would go a long way to helping Chelsea get some money in the bank to spend on new arrivals.Chalobah likely had hopes of saving his Blues career when the club recalled him from his loan at Crystal Palace as Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill were out with suspected long-term injures.Axel DisasiChelsea are planning to sell Disasi after sending the Frenchman out on loan to Aston Villa in January. A move to the Birmingham-based club could be an option for the Frenchman should he impress in the remainder of the season. Chelsea are planning to sell Axel Disasi after sending the Frenchman out on loan to Aston Villa in JanuaryBen ChilwellChilwell set Chelsea back a whopping £50m when he arrived from Leicester in 2020 but fitness issues have made him a liability.Maresca said the left-back is “free to leave” when he loaned him to Crystal Palace for the remainder of the season in January.Chilwell, who earns around £200,000-per-week, was widely criticised by a section of the fanbase last season.Renato VeigaVeiga, 21, joined Chelsea from Basel for £11.8m in the summer but was loaned to Juventus at the turn of the year.The Italian side have agreed to cover the Portugal international’s wages and pay a £3.8m loan fee, with no option to buy included in the deal.Veiga has also been linked with Borussia Dortmund as he looks for more minutes to stay in the Portugal squad.Carney ChukwuemekaThe 21-year-old joined Dortmund on loan, with an option to buy, from Chelsea in February and has enjoyed a great start there.The Bundesliga giants would be keen on keeping Chukwuemeka for another loan after this one comes to an end, although this would rely on them qualifying for Europe.’Embarrassing our manager is taking that…’ – Eagle-eyed Chelsea fans fuming after spotting Maresca’s gesture to TimberRaheem SterlingSterling has endured a nightmare stint at Stamford Bridge since signing for £47.5m from Manchester City on a FIVE-YEAR deal in 2022.The 82-time England international joined Arsenal for a season-long loan last summer, with Maresca explaining that he wouldn’t play a minute under his management.With four Prem starts in 29 games this season, Arsenal won’t move to sign Sterling, who bags £325,000-per-week on a permanent deal.Bookies have West Ham and Fenerbahce as the front-runners to take him if he was to leave Chelsea.Arsenal won’t move to sign Sterling on a permanent dealJoao FelixFelix’s £113 million transfer from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019 made him the fifth most expensive football transfer of all time. After a topsy-turvy few years Diego Simeone, Felix joined Chelsea on a brief loan in 2023, before he spent a campaign with Barcelona.His £42.7m sale to Chelsea last summer saw the LaLiga side ultimately accept a devastating financial loss.But within six months of his deal which runs until 2031, Maresca sent him on loan to AC Milan – which has been another nightmare.Felix, 25, has been slammed by some sections of the Italian press after a string of underwhelming performances since January.Joao Felix was shipped out on loan to AC Milan in JanuaryDavid Datro FofanaFofana’s 18 months at Chelsea have seen him feature just four times for the club, while he bags around £30,000 a week.The 22-year-old was recalled from his loan spell with Super Lig side Goztepe after major knee injury left him unable to play until next season.Previous loans at Union Berlin and Burnley previously conjured up just six goals in 32 appearances.Now Chelsea could cut their losses on the £13m man and ensure he is off their wage bill.Armando BrojaChelsea were willing to sell striker Broja last August, before he joined Everton on a season-long loan on deadline day.But bidders might be put off by the Albania international’s ongoing injury problems.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe 23-year-old was sidelined for the opening months of the season at Everton as he continued to recover from an Achilles injury, which had scuppered a transfer to Ipswich.Broja was then available for selection for FIVE games before being stretchered off with oxygen during Everton’s FA Cup win over Peterborough. 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      Nick Cushing turns focus on WSL clash after Miedema’s Man City brace ends Chelsea’s unbeaten run

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      NICK CUSHING is ready to turn his attention to Manchester City’s WSL test against Chelsea after his side beat them in Europe last night. Vivianne Miedema’s brace sealed City’s 2-0 Champions League quarters first-leg victory, ending the Blues’ 31-game unbeaten run. Nick Cushing guided Manchester City to a hardfought win at Joie Stadium on their return to Champions League actionCredit: AFPTwo second-half goals for Vivianne Miedema sealed City’s quarter-final first leg victoryCredit: AlamyBrazil forward Kerolin impressed for City on her first European outing since joining the club in JanuaryCredit: AlamyThe Netherlands star’s second-half double enabled the Cityzens to avenge their League Cup final loss to Chelsea before their second-leg clash next Thursday at Stamford Bridge. Before then the rivals meet at the Etihad this Sunday at 2:30pm in the top tier. And Cushing is targeting his first match win in the top tier since his Man City return last week. His side are currently fourth in the WSL and 12 points behind leaders Chelsea after losing four of their 16 games this term. Read More Football StoriesThe interim Cityzens boss, who oversaw his first game at Joie Stadium since 2019, said: We wanted to win, we’ve won with a two-goal lead. “We can put that one away now and focus on the league game, because our league position isn’t where we want it and Sunday’s game becomes crucial. “After that we prepare for the Stamford Bridge (reverse Champions League) game. “We know any game against Chelsea is going to be incredibly difficult. Most read in Football”The confidence and belief comes from knowing that we can play whatever game is in front of us.”While striker Khadija Shaw and forward Aoba Fujino joining Lauren Hemp on the Cityzens’ crocked list, Cushing opted to start Miedema on the bench on Wednesday night. His side had three first-half shots on target including 19-year-old Lily Murphy’s low strike close to half-time which prompted a comfortable save from keeper Hannah Hampton. With visitors Chelsea content to soak up pressure, Cushing shuffled his deck bringing Miedema on in the second half.The WSL record scorer rewarded him with a 60th-minute shot into the roof of the net before a late strike with two minutes of normal time left. After the match Miedema said:  “I’m honestly happy that I could come on and help the team. Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has backed her Blues to bounce back in their WSL duel with City at the Etihad on March 23Credit: Alamy”This is the standard that we need to set ourselves. It gives us a lot of confidence going into the next two games (against Chelsea).”It’s a really special (win). We’ve had a couple of special Champions League nights here this season. “We had the win over Barcelona as well, but this one feels really really good.” More

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      Chelsea’s Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo signings confirmed in unorthodox announcement as EXACT transfer fees revealed

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      THE exact transfer fee – including the costs of agents – that Chelsea will pay to sign Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo has been revealed.Selling club Sporting Lisbon announced the deals in a statement which also detailed how much the fees would come to.The exact fee Chelsea will pay to sign Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo has been revealedCredit: RexChelsea will pay up to £44m for 17-year-old QuendaCredit: GettyMeanwhile, Essugo will cost £18.7mCredit: GettyThis was a very different move to the way deals are typically announced with clubs often calling the fee “undisclosed”.The Portuguese giants revealed the double deal was worth just under £62.4m (€74.5million).Broken down for the two players, Chelsea have paid more than double the fee for Quenda than Essugo.The 17-year-old, one of Europe’s most sought after talents and previously linked with reuniting with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, was reported as a shock move last week.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea will pay £42.6m up front for the winger, with a further £1.1m in potential add ons.However, the Blues will not see their new star in action until at least 2026 after an agreement was struck to leave the teen on loan in Lisbon.Meanwhile, the deal for Essugo, currently on loan at Las Palmas, has seen Chelsea pay a flat £18.7m (€22.27m).The defensive midfielder will remain on loan in Spain before linking up with Chelsea in the summer. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeThat means he could make his debut for the club during the inaugural Club World Cup.The statement also added fees for intermediation services in the deals were worth £3.7m for the pair of them – £2.8m (€3.35m) for Quenda and £838,000 (€999,700).’This is a joke’ – Danny Drinkwater reveals moment he was told he had ONE HOUR to leave Chelsea More

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      ‘I think it’s very different’ – John Terry reveals how Cole Palmer is ‘leading’ Chelsea in unorthodox way

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      COLE PALMER is leading Chelsea by example, according to the club’s greatest ever captain.John Terry has been blown away by Palmer’s performances – even though the forward has not scored in two months.Chelsea star Cole Palmer is leading by example, says John TerryCredit: GettyTerry has been blown away by Palmer’s performances despite his recent strugglesCredit: PATerry, 44, works as a coach at his beloved Blues’ academy and witnessed first hand how deceptively strong wispish-looking Palmer is with the way he outstripped his team-mates in a recent bleep test at the training ground.Terry, speaking in a tell-all interview with SunSport, said: “He probably doesn’t think, ‘I’m a leader here’, but he’s leading the group and going, again, there’s my standards.”This is the standard you probably need to get up to. You need to get as fit as me to stay longer in the game and all of that. So it’s those bits.“He’s probably leading the way he likes to lead. A lot of players do that.Read More on Chelsea”From afar people look at captains and leadership as if you’ve got to be that big vocal guy, screaming, shouting, barking orders. “I think it’s very different. A lot of players now do it in the way they’re playing. He certainly falls under that category.”He’s been incredible for us. He’s taken a lot of the heat in terms of our dip, but also in terms of our first part of the season. “It was probably all him, with his goals, with his contribution, with the work rate, with everything Chelsea were doing well. It revolved around him.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge”Teams have obviously identified that he’s the big threat and there needs to be a real focus. So that’s come into play. Chelsea have had a dip also.”Palmer was threatening to take the Premier League Golden Boot award at his height this season after scoring 14 goals but has fallen away in recent weeks – like the whole Chelsea team who were once considered title contenders.Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace opens up on their relationship for the first time in new documentary He missed his first penalty in 15 for club and country in the 1-0 win over struggling Leicester earlier this month but it was then revealed he had insisted on playing despite suffering with stomach problems.Terry said: “He’s personally not in his best form, but in terms of the quality that he brings to us, he’s just a fantastic player to have.”Do I think he’ll come back to his best? Of course he will. He’s an incredible talent and he’ll continue to show those signs as well.”John Terry was speaking on Chelsea and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Watch every game from the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN for free. Sign up today:  https://www.dazn.com/competition/Competition:dc4k1xh2984zbypbnunk7ncic More

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      ‘This is a joke’ – Danny Drinkwater reveals moment he was told he had ONE HOUR to leave Chelsea

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      DANNY DRINKWATER has revealed he was given just ONE HOUR to leave Chelsea.The former Blues midfielder has lifted the lid on his brutal Stamford Bridge exile, which came just a year after his shock £45million switch from Leicester.Danny Drinkwater has revealed he was give just one hour to leave ChelseaCredit: https://x.com/FIVEUKHe stunned Rio Ferdinand with the tale about his brutal axeCredit: https://x.com/FIVEUKDrinkwater was signed by Chelsea in 2017 following their title-winning campaign under Antonio Conte.But a lack of form and several injuries saw him make just 12 Premier League appearances.And when Maurizio Sarri took charge in 2018, Drinkwater began to fear the worst.The Blues already had himself, Cesc Fabregas, N’Golo Kante and Ross Barkley on the books after Tiemoue Bakayoko was loaned out to AC Milan.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA young Ruben Loftus-Cheek was making waves in the academy too.But Sarri’s arrival saw TWO more midfielders join, with Jorginho signing from Napoli and Mateo Kovacic coming from Real Madrid.It saw club captain Cesar Azpilicueta initially warn Drinkwater that he may have to start searching for a new side.The three-time England international told Rio Ferdinand’s podcast: “Looking back actually, I remember Azpi tried giving me the heads up about this when I was in that second season.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge”So I was in there with Cesc on that Sarri first pre-season, so it would’ve been me and Cesc I think, Kova might have been there, and they were trying to bring Jorginho in.”N’Golo was obviously there wasn’t he? So N’Golo, Cesc and me, I can’t remember if Kovacic was there at the time.’Reminded me of Gerrard at Liverpool’ – Cole Palmer told he needs to LEAVE Chelsea and has outgrown the club alreadyMaurizio Sarri wanted to send Drinkwater to ItalyCredit: GettyThe midfielder stayed put but failed to make another appearance for ChelseaCredit: Getty“But then Azpi’s like, ‘Drinks, if they bring Jorgi in, which they’re going to, they want to, you need to think about what you want to do here.'”Despite the warning, Drinkwater ended up staying put at Stamford Bridge throughout the summer.He even came off the bench in the 2-0 Community Shield defeat to Man City, suggesting he still had a future at Chelsea.But on transfer deadline day, Drinkwater received the “joke” message he’d been fearing for several months.The midfielder was summoned to Sarri’s office after training, where he was told he was not in the club’s first-team plans.Sarri told Drinkwater that several teams wanted to sign him on loan, including one Italian side.But Drinkwater, father to a young baby at the time, dismissed any exit talk with just ONE HOUR left in the window and insisted he’d take his chances as a fringe player.He continued: “So Sarri’s English, again, when he came, wasn’t the best… That first window after that summer, it was like the last day of the window. Danny Drinkwater’s football careerMan Utd, 2008-2012: 0 games, 0 goalsHuddersfield (loan), 2009-2010: 37 games, 2 goalsCardiff (loan), 2010: 12 games, 0 goalsWatford (loan), 2011: 12 games, 0 goalsBarnsley (loan), 2011: 18 games, 1 goalLeicester, 2012-2017: 218 games, 14 goalsChelsea, 2017-2022: 23 games, 1 goalBurnley (loan), 2019: 2 games, 0 goalsAston Villa (loan), 2020: 4 games, 0 goalsKasimpasa (loan), 2020-2021: 11 games, 0 goalsReading (loan), 2021-2022: 34 games, 1 goalEngland, 2016: 3 games, 0 goalsTrophiesLeicester: Premier League, ChampionshipChelsea: FA Cup”My son was a year old here as well, so I’ve got stuff off the pitch that I’m focusing on as well.”Zola came and saw me, and said, ‘Drinks, the gaffer would like to see you.’ So I was like, ‘Yeah, buzzing, sweet.’ Didn’t expect anything from it.”I came up and he’s like, ‘I think you should go on loan.’ So I was like, ‘What? What time is it?’ I was like saying, ‘I’ve got an hour to get a club, what do you mean?'”And he’s like, ‘No no, loads of like… I’ve got a Serie A team, loads of teams asking about you.’ [I’m] like, ‘Nah nah, I ain’t going out of England, are you mad?'”Just had a baby, I’m a footballer but I’m a dad, I ain’t going anywhere. And he’s like, ‘Well, you might get frustrated.’ I was like, ‘Well, I’m going to get frustrated aren’t I? This is a joke.'”Drinkwater’s decision to stay at Chelsea saw him fail to add to his Communiy Shield cameo for the entirety of the 2018/19 campaign.The Premier League title winner eventually saw his career fade out with unsuccessful loans at Burnley, Aston Villa, Turkish side Kasimpasa and Reading.Drinkwater then retired from football aged 33 in 2023 after failing to find a new side.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe’s since lost £782,000 after going into the restaurant business.And last summer Drinkwater shared a photo of himself “grafting” on a building site. More

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      Chelsea files: Geovany Quenda, 17, was so good he was allowed to train in jeans and quit Benfica in bizarre bedroom row

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      CHELSEA hope to have a pair of star-studded Levis in their dressing room – but not in the way you think.Centre half Levi Colwill is already an established member of the first team squad. Chelsea have beaten Man Utd to the signing of Sporting’s Geovany QuendaCredit: GettyQuenda (pictured third from the left in the middle row) was initially allowed to play in his trousers as youth team Damaiense didn’t have any spare kit for himCredit: DamaienseBut next summer Portuguese wonderkid Geovany Quenda will be arriving at the club. And he is so good that he was allowed to train in jeans as a kid.Quenda was born in Guinea-Bissau in West Africa and migrated to Portugal in 2016 aged nine. On arrival he tried his luck at football with amateur side Damaiense but did not have any kit. Club officials went to find some but by the time they came back, Quenda was already showing his blistering potential so they let him carry on playing in his normal trousers.A Blues insider said: “He broke a lot of records that day. He then went with them to a tournament and totally bossed it. That’s when he caught the attention of Portugal’s bigger clubs.”Quenda was quickly snapped up by leading Portuguese team Benfica but in a bizarre episode ended up quitting to join their fierce rivals Sporting Lisbon soon after.Benfica had promised the young boy a bedroom at their academy in Seixal but then went back on the deal. Neighbours Sporting seized their chance and put him up and from there he has created shockwaves with his burgeoning talent.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe was playing for the Under-23 side aged 16 and under Ruben Amorim, who is now manager at Manchester United he was given a first team chance.At 17 yrs and 95 days Quenda became the youngest player in history to score in Portugal’s La Liga top flight – taking the record from Cristiano Ronaldo.Humble Nicolas Jackson snubs mega-money supercars as he leaves Chelsea training in £30,000 Fiat 500 He is the youngest player from Sporting to start in the Champions League and at 16 was the leading scorer in Portugal’s Under-23 league.Although Chelsea say a deal has only been signed ‘in principle’ Quenda will be coming to England in summer 2026 to join a steady stream of young foreign talent on its way over.Brazilian winger Estevao Willian is coming in a few months’ time and Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Paez is on his way.At a more senior level, Chelsea have agreed an £18.5 million fee for midfielder Dario Essugo – Portuguese like Quenda.Chelsea have also agreed a deal for Dario Essugo, who is currently on loan at Las Palmas from SportingCredit: GettyFAN-TASTICCHELSEA have been winning but not singing. And to try to put that right a group of fed-up season ticket holders have taken action.A group called We Are The Shed had a trial run of a ‘singing section’ in the Upper Tier of the famous stand at Stamford Bridge last week.Around 120 diehards have worked with the club in an effort to gather all those who want to generate noise and atmosphere together in the same group of seats in Block Four.While the deafening Danes from FC Copenhagen were impossible to compete with during last Thursday’s Conference League victory for The Blues, there was a visible and audible know of fans stoking things up.The atmosphere or lack of it at home games has been a big talking point among Chelsea fans in recent seasons. It is the same at most Premier League stadiums these days though in their defence.We Are The Shed are on the lookout for new recruits to join their growing band.A group of Chelsea fans are hoping to improve the atmosphere at Stamford BridgeCredit: GettyThe Blues’ support was drowned out by noisy fans of FC Copenhagen during last week’s Conference League clashCredit: PAROMAN IN RUINSROMAN ABRAMOVICH has turned his back on football since being forced to give up his beloved Chelsea.The Russian billionaire remains furious over the Theresa May Government withdrawing his “golden visa” in  2018.Four years later, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine saw the Boris Johnson Government force Abramovich to sell the club as part of the sanctions against Russian financial interests.And close friends report that Abramovich has barely watched a game since being left with no option other than to hand the Blues over to the Todd Boehly-led consortium.One said: “Roman still likes football. But he doesn’t go to games any more. It was always about Chelsea.”Some £2.5bn of the sale price earmarked for victims of the war, remains stuck in an escrow account.Friends of Roman Abramovich (pictured in 2017) say the ex-Chelsea owner has turned his back on footballCredit: AFPNO LAUGHING MATTERAMID a frantic flurry of interviews and announcements from Manchester United last week, one briefing slipped out which would have pricked ears at Stamford Bridge.It has emerged that Red Devils minority owners, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has declared war on the club’s bloated wage bill.After branding some United players “overpaid”, the British billionaire wants to scale back base wages and focus on performance related incentives.This news was rather well received within the corridors of power at Chelsea, who have been doing the same for a couple of years now.Many were quick to laugh when the club’s American owners, Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, started dishing out nine-year deals with the incentive of a big bump when certain targets are hit.Chelsea’s latest published accounts, for the year to June 2023, showed wages rising from £340.2million to £404m.However, the Blues owners have made huge efforts to trim their expenditure on wages back.It has also been noted at the Bridge that the restructuring at other top club’s, with multiple high-level people in place to look after recruitment, is starting to mirror the changes at Chelsea – who have two sporting directors in Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.There are signs that other clubs are starting to copy Todd Boehly’s often-derided approach at ChelseaCredit: APUNLUCKY 13LIFE as a professional footballer may seem like paradise – and it can be. But what people on the outside don’t often see is the sacrifice that goes into getting there.And forward Christopher Nkunku illuminated that in a recent interview. Born and raised in the suburbs of Paris, his blossoming skills earned him a place at France’s national football academy at Clariefontaine – some 35 miles away.Maybe not so far but Nkunku explained: “You are only 13 years old and you move out of home. It was really hard. Since then I have not lived in my family house and this is hard.“But you remember you are here for football because you have a dream and you have to sacrifice to achieve that.”Given that Nkunku played for Paris Saint-Germain then to Germany to join RB Leipzig and now Chelsea in London, that is quite the nomadic lifestyle. And none of it with any guarantee of success.Christopher Nkunku has been playing far from home ever since he was 13 years oldCredit: GettyCAUSING A STERRAHEEM STERLING has been voted into UEFA’s official Team of the Week after his sterling display for loan club Arsenal last Wednesday.The winger is not yet thinking about his long term future as time ticks away on his season long spell in North London.It seems obvious he does not have a future under current boss Enzo Maresca but with two years left on his contract in summer is under no pressure to quit – at least not on Chelsea’s terms. There are rumours that a host of Saudi Arabian clubs are taking interest in the 30-year-old who last week became the first English player to be directly involved in at least one goal for four different clubs in the Champions League: Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea and now Arsenal.But they can forget it. One place Sterling won’t be going is the Pro-League. There is money and adulation on tap from star-hungry Saudi fans but it doesn’t suit the born and bred Londoner.Raheem Sterling hasn’t pulled up any trees on loan at Arsenal this season, but he did set a unique Champions League recordCredit: Getty More

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      Bournemouth in Caoimhin Kelleher transfer chase and confident of beating Chelsea and Tottenham to Liverpool keeper

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      BOURNEMOUTH are confident of beating Big Six clubs to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher this summer.The Republic of Ireland international wants to leave Anfield to get first-team football, and may have played his last game for the club in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final. Caoimhin Kelleher is wanted by Bournemouth and several other Premier League sidesCredit: RexChelsea, Tottenham and Carabao winners Newcastle are also interested.Bournemouth are ready to move first however, putting them in pole position, as manager Andoni Iraola has made signing a goalkeeper a priority with Kelleher his top target.Iraola has used on-loan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for most of the season, but there is no obligation to buy in the loan contract with Chelsea and his performances have been mixed.The Spaniard was dropped by Iraola earlier in the season for another young Irish goalkeeper, Mark Travers, who is now on loan at Middlesbrough.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIraola regards Kelleher as a big improvement on both his current goalkeepers and has asked Bournemouth to move quickly when the transfer window opens in June.Chelsea have also expressed interest, but will not commit to making a bid at this stage.Boss Enzo Maresca wants to back his current goalkeepers, Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, despite the doubts of others at Stamford Bridge.Tottenham’s goalkeeping position is also unclear, with Guglielmo Vicario, Fraser Forster and Antonin Kinsky all being used by Ange Postecoglou this season.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAnd while Newcastle want an extra goalkeeper and like Kelleher, the club’s PSR problems mean they may not be able to meet Liverpool’s £30million asking price.Bournemouth may also be able to offer European football as Iraola’s side are currently ninth in the Premier League, but Kelleher does not regard that as essential.Shay Given loses the rag over Liverpool’s treatment of Caoimhin Kelleher Kelleher’s priority is securing a move to a Premier League club that can provide regular first-team appearances after his career has stalled at Anfield through no fault of his own.The 26-year-old has played 17 matches so far this season, but has been restricted to appearances in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup since Alisson Becker returned from a hamstring injury in December.Liverpool are aware of Kelleher’s frustrations and will not stand in his way.Arne Slot has already signed Kelleher’s replacement, with Georgian international Georgi Mamardashvili due to arrive from Valencia at the end of the season. More

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      ‘He thinks we are all idiots’ – Chelsea fans turn on Enzo Maresca after ‘delusional’ comments following Arsenal loss

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      CHELSEA fans were furious with manager Enzo Maresca’s post-match comments after their loss to rivals Arsenal.The Blues lost 1-0 to the Gunners at the Emirates on Sunday following Mikel Merino’s winner in the 20th minute.Chelsea fans were furious with manager Enzo Maresca after their loss to rivals ArsenalCredit: X @ChelseaFCMaresca claimed Chelsea ‘controlled the game’ and ‘competed very well’Credit: GettyThe West Londoners’ faithful were furious with the performance against Mikel Arteta’s side.And their frustrations got worse after hearing Maresca, 45, telling Sky Sports his side “controlled the game” and “competed very well” against the North Londoners.Fuming Chelsea fans took to social media and lashed out at the Italian tactician, with some calling him “delusional”, amid a turbulent run in the Premier League.One fan tweeted: “This guy is delusional. The difference was Arsenal tried to win the game. And we had no intention of doing that.”Read More on ChelseaAnother commented: “We controlled the game”??!! Honestly it’s worrying how deluded he is. Controlling the bits of the pitch with sideways passing doesn’t mean you control the game. “We didn’t look threatening at all. Arsenal forced us wide & shut the central areas out comfortably.”A third wrote: “It’s not the fact that he is watching a different game, it’s the fact that he thinks we are all idiots and that we can not see how dire we are. Insulting.”This fan added: “We certainly didn’t control the game.”Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesdayplus player ratings and exclusives from Stamford BridgeAnd that one asked: “Does Maresca watch a different game to the rest of us?”Chelsea fans were also left upset with Maresca following a heated exchange with Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber during the closing stages of the game.Enzo Maresca defends lacklustre Chelsea after Conference League progress Timber was caught on camera leaning in and telling the ex-Leicester boss on the sidelines to: “Try harder, try harder.”Maresca responded with his mouth covered, before the full-back cheekily held out his own hand.The Chelsea boss shook it and fans were not impressed with his light-hearted reaction.Chelsea ratings vs ArsenalCHELSEA missed the chance to pull clear in the race for Champions League football as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game as the Blues produced a limp performance at the Emirates.They were without several key men including Cole Palmer.And they struggled to create chances against Arsenal with a threadbare subs bench to boot.But who was Chelsea’s best player in North London?And which players will want to forget about their performance as soon as possible?See SunSport’s Andy Dillon’s verdict on the Chelsea players here More

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      Chelsea ‘willing to let Geovany Quenda play AGAINST them next season despite spending £42m on transfer’

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      CHELSEA new boy Geovany Quenda could find himself playing AGAINST the Blues next season due to Uefa rules.The 17-year-old agreed to join Chelsea in a £42million transfer from Sporting Lisbon last week.Geovany Quenda could face Chelsea next season despite signing for the Blues last weekCredit: AFPQuenda is set to pen a seven-year deal with the option for an eighth, but will not make his debut until next year at the earliest.The Blues have agreed to loan him back to Sporting for the 2025-26 campaign.And should both teams qualify for the Champions League this season, the winger could find himself playing against his new club.In Uefa competitions, parent clubs have no say on whether or not a loan star can play against them.Read More in FootballTherefore, if Sporting do face Chelsea then manager Rui Borges can decide to play him.Rules in the Champions League and Europa League differ to those in the Premier League, where loan players are not permitted to face their parent clubs.Quenda has made 44 appearances for Sporting this season, contributing to 10 goals.Manchester United were heavily linked with a move for him given Ruben Amorim’s links to the Portuguese club, but the Red Devils never submitted a bid.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSQuenda has made 10 appearances in the Champions League this seasonThey had even sent scouts to watch the teenager.But Quenda is now set to join fellow wonderkids Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez in West London.Enzo Maresca defends lacklustre Chelsea after Conference League progress More