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    Chelsea ‘line up Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen in January’ as Pochettino demands greater role in transfer business

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO is looking to add Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen to his struggling squad this winter, it’s been claimed.Chelsea are currently toiling in 14th place in the Premier League table after just ONE win in their first six matches.
    Mauricio Pochettino is demanding more of a say in Chelsea’s transfers going forwardCredit: REX
    Brentford hitman Ivan Toney is on the Argentine’s winter wishlistCredit: PA
    Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is also a targetCredit: REX
    Blues co-owner Todd Boehly bankrolled a whopping NINE signings this summer, although the new arrivals have yet to hit the ground running.
    It’s understood that Pochettino wants more of a say on transfers and has informed the Blues brass of that desire.

    And according to reports, Toney and Osimhen are on the Argentine’s winter wishlist.
    The Guardian claim the 51-year-old believes the addition of the Brentford and Napoli forwards will give his side sufficient firepower for the second half of the season.
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    Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban from football for a “substantial number of breaches” of the FA’s betting rules but will be free to play come January.
    Chelsea will have to go toe-to-toe with their London rivals Arsenal for the signature of Toney, whom Brentford value at £80m.
    They’ll also have to break the bank for Osimhen – despite his Napoli future being up in the air.
    The Nigerian striker is contemplating taking legal action against the Serie A champions after their official TikTok account posted two videos mocking him.
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    One of the shocking clips – which went viral on social media – even included a racial slur.
    Napoli have since issued a grovelling non-apology to their striker.
    In it, they claimed their snubbing of multiple offers for his services last summer showed how much they value him.
    It read: “As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad.
    “Social media, in particular, TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity.
    “Without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as the protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision.
    “In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.”
    Chelsea will be back in action on Monday night, travelling across West London to take on their neighbours Fulham.
    Chelsea are currently toiling in 14th place in the Premier LeagueCredit: ALAMY More

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    Chelsea fans say ‘he’s given up already’ as boss Mauricio Pochettino gives damning team news update for Fulham clash

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO has said that his team will have to “adapt” amid a mounting injury and suspension list.Chelsea go into Monday’s clash with Fulham sitting 14th in the table with five points from their six games this season.
    Mauricio Pochettino says he may opt to play with a false nine this weekendCredit: Getty
    One of the main issues facing Pochettino this weekend is Nicolas Jackson’s suspension after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Aston Villa last weekend.
    Academy product Armando Broja is available after returning from a ACL injury during pre-season but Pochettino has hinted he may opt to play without a striker.
    The Chelsea boss said: “We have a few options with a striker and without a striker.
    “We need to assess the whole squad after the game. Things appear after 48 hours and we need to see how they are and how they recover from Wednesday.”
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    Reacting to Pochettino’s lack of options up and generally downbeat demeanour, one fan on Twitter said: “He’s talking like he’s given up already.”
    Another fan wrote: “He inspires so much confidence when he speaks.” Alongside a sad face emoji.
    A third wrote: “Sterling to start up front when we have an 18 year old on the bench. Lmfao.”
    Pochettino is plagued by injury problems across the pitch, with vice-captain Ben Chilwell being the latest absentee.
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    Chilwell limped off despite completing the 90 minutes of Chelsea’s midweek 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Brighton.
    The Chelsea boss looked concerned as he confirmed it was “bad news” and may be a repeat of last season’s hamstring injury.
    He said: “Bad news. The doctor told me is it is a bad injury but we need to assess in the next few days. 

    “Yes [it’s the same leg as last season]. I think so. It’s the mechanism of the action. He was a little bit unlucky in the way he suffered the injury. It’s very sad because he was doing a very good game.”
    The club have not been able to put a timeline on Chilwell’s absence as of yet.
    Malo Gusto is suspended after seeing red in last weekend’s game against Aston Villa but first-choice right-back and captain Reece James could return from injury in his absence.
    Meanwhile Christopher Nkunku, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Carney Chukwuemeka, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana all remain sidelined. More

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    Football legend and ex-Chelsea star investigated by cops for ‘match fixing’

    A FOOTBALL legend and ex-Chelsea star is being investigated by cops for alleged match fixing.Former Blues striker Samuel Eto’o has been the president of Cameroon’s football federation since December 2021 – and is accused of helping to rig matches in the west African country’s second tier.
    Ex-Chelsea star Samuel Eto’o is being investigated for match-fixingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    The star spent only one season at Stamford BridgeCredit: Rex
    The allegations were first made in July, after a recording was leaked of a conversation between Eto’o and Victoria United president Valentine Nkwain, also known as Bobdidy.
    In the recording, Eto’o allegedly promised to promote Victoria FC, nicknamed Opopo, from the second division to the top flight by fixing matches.
    Camfoot reports that he allegedly said: “There are things we can do – but you have to be very discreet, brother.
    “Don’t worry, we’ll give you your three points and we will suspend the referee.
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    “Opopo must go up to the first division. This is our goal. This is our federation. Victoria United will go up.”
    Victoria United went on to be promoted in April.
    Eto’o denies the accusations, and Nkwain said it was not his voice on the recording.
    Cops are now probing alleged “abuse of authority and corruption” in Cameroonian football involving 40 people.
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    Eto’o told Gazzetta dello Sport he was “talking to a friend, someone who invests in football and wants to make his club one of the best in Cameroon”.
    He added: “I just reassured him by saying that I would have done everything possible to avoid any refereeing errors against him.”
    Eto’o scored 12 goals in his only season with Chelsea, including strikes against Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and a hat-trick against Manchester United.
    Despite this, a falling out with gaffer Jose Mourinho saw the player leave the club at the end of the 2013/14 season.
    Eto’o joined Everton in the 2014/15 season, scoring on his debut against Chelsea in a 6-3 loss at Goodison Park.
    He scored four goals during his short stay in Merseyside, leaving in January of that season to join Sampdoria. More

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    Chelsea legend fears owner Todd Boehly will KILL club and says he is DISGUSTED with fall from grace

    CHELSEA hero Frank Leboeuf is “disgusted” with Todd Boehly’s ownership claiming he has turned his former club into a “mid-table” team.Boehly has splashed a staggering £1billion on signings alone ever since taking over from Roman Abramovich last year but the Blues are still languishing.
    Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has been criticised by a “disgusted” Chelsea heroCredit: Getty
    Frank Leboeuf fears Boehly will “kill” Chelsea with the way he handles the clubCredit: PA
    The West Londoners finished 12th in the Premier League last season and things haven’t really improved under new manager Mauricio Pochettino as they are 14th in the table so far this term.
    Leboeuf didn’t hold back on his assessment of the American owner as he fears he will “kill” his former club.
    The ex-France international also believes it will become tough to attract the best players in the world as Chelsea won’t be able to offer them Champions League football.
    Leboeuf told CasinosEnLigne.com: “Let’s be realistic – Chelsea are a mid-table club. Attracting players will be tough and players like [Kylian] Mbappe won’t want to come.
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    “The big players want to play in the Champions League. Arsenal had that problem for years, and so did Manchester United.
    “Top players won’t come to Chelsea because the club has fallen.
    “It’s unbelievable what the club has become just two years on from their Champions League win. I’m disgusted with it.
    “I have nothing against Todd Boehly, but they need to change things quickly or else they’ll kill the club.
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    “I’d say the people in charge of recruitment are the most to blame.
    “It’s OK to sign young players to long contracts if they’re committed, but the board has forgotten to balance the team.
    “The spine of the team is very young apart from [Thiago] Silva and there’s not much experience there.
    “Even Enzo Fernandez looks very young, despite knowing the game inside out.
    “I don’t see the leadership, and that’s the main problem. The recruitment team didn’t think of that, and I think everybody is responsible.
    “Boehly approved the deals and Pochettino is in charge. If I was asked to manage Chelsea, even I’d say no!
    “The lack of leadership is an irreversible problem – and I don’t know how they can fix that.
    “Chelsea also need help in midfield, someone like Toni Kroos or Luka Modric. They may be older and not play as many games but they could definitely serve the club well.” More

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    Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf names five players club should make January transfer moves for

    CHELSEA legend Franck Leboeuf has named FIVE players he believes Mauricio Pochettino should look to sign in January.The Blues’ Argentine boss has endured a rocky start to life at Stamford Bridge.
    Chelsea have been urged to try and sign Napoli’’s Victor OsimhenCredit: EPA
    Chelsea’ legend Frank Leboeuf has named four other men the Blues should try and signCredit: PA
    The 51-year-old has only managed to secure one win and two draws from their opening six Premier League matches.
    That is despite owner Todd Boehly and Clearlake splashing out over £1BILLION on players over the past year.
    Supporters, who have no European football to look forward to this term, were provided with a glimmer of hope of some silverware last night when summer signing Nicolas Jackson secured them victory over Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
    However, former Chelsea defender Leboeuf, who won two FA Cups, a League Cup and the Uefa Cup and Super Cup during his five years at the club, believes Poch still needs a lot more to get them back on top.
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    The French 1998 World Cup winner told Casinos En Ligne: “Chelsea need a striker and an experienced midfielder.
    “I said last season that [Aleksandr] Mitrovic would be good – he’s not world-class, but he’s a leader and a fighter.
    “Victor Osimhen is having problems at Napoli, and maybe Chelsea can go for him in January.
    “There’s also Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed – I think he could do a good job.
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    “Chelsea also need help in midfield, someone like Toni Kroos or Luka Modric. They may be older and not play as many games, but they could definitely serve the club well.”
    The prospect of any of the above arriving in West London appear to be slim due to a mix of reasons.
    Mitrovic left neighbours Fulham for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in a £46m move last month.
    And Boehly’s transfer strategy has been to target younger players that should have a large resale value rather than veterans.
    That would likely rule out Real Madrid’s experienced midfield duo Kroos, 33, and Modric, 38.
    Nantes Egyptian forward Mohamed, 25, would fit the bill and has four goals in five Ligue 1 matches this term.
    Meanwhile, they have been linked with Napoli ace Osimhen for months, and this week’s social media scandal could help them in that pursuit.
    The Nigerian star, 24, refused to celebrate after scoring in last night’s 4-1 win over Udinese.
    Aleksandar Mitrovic swapped Fulham for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal last monthCredit: Reuters
    Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were both named by the FrenchmanCredit: AP
    The hotshot also opted against taking a penalty after being mocked by the Italian club’s TikTok account.
    Napoli’s official TikTok page shared a video mocking the forward for missing a spot kick in their 0-0 draw with Bologna on Sunday.
    The now deleted clip enraged Osimhen and the rest of the squad – and that appeared to lead to him deciding against taking a pen yesterday as he handed over spot-kick duties to Piotr Zielinski, who made no mistake to put the Gli Azzurri 1-0 up.
    Another now-deleted post reportedly saw the club release a video featuring a cropped photo of Osimhen’s head on a coconut with audio over the clip saying: “I’m a coconut.”
    It’s widely viewed as a racial slur.
    Osimhen’s agent, Robert Calenda, wrote on X on Monday: “What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable.
    “A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted.
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    “A serious fact that causes very serious damage to the player. And adds to the treatment that the boy is suffering in the last period between media trials and fake news.”
    He then added: “We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor.”
    Egyptian ace Mostafa Mohamed is another player suggested by the ’98 World Cup winnerCredit: EPA More

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    Chelsea line up TWO replacements for out-of-favour defender Marc Cucurella with Boehly set to continue splashing cash

    CHELSEA are reportedly lining up two replacements for out-of-favour defender Marc Cucurella.The left-back, 25, only joined the Blues from Brighton for £62million last summer.
    Chelsea are lining up replacements for Marc CucurellaCredit: Reuters
    But he’s cut a desolate figure after struggling to impress.
    And Cucurella is yet to appear in the Premier League under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, with last night’s Carabao Cup win over Brighton just his second game of the campaign.
    Calciomercato claims Cucurella is now ready to jump ship in January after missing out on a deadline day loan move to Manchester United.
    Chelsea are equally happy to left the Spaniard depart.
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    And it’s reckoned £1billion man Todd Boehly will continue his spending spree, with AC Milan star Theo Hernandez lined up as Cucurella’s replacement.
    The former Atletico and Real Madrid man, 25, has 25 goals in 173 games for his Italian club.
    Hernandez played a key role in their 2022 Serie A title win.
    And he also helped France reach the final of last year’s World Cup, where they lost on penalties to Argentina.
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    AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez is the top choice to replace CucurellaCredit: Rex
    The Blues also fancy Inter Milan’s Federico DimarcoCredit: Rex
    However, Hernandez is tied down to the San Siro until 2026.
    He was also named Milan vice-captain last season, and the Rossoneri will demand a pretty penny to let him go.
    It means Chelsea are eyeing another left-back, this time in Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco.
    The 25-year-old has only had two full seasons in Inter’s first team.
    But during that time he’s won two Italian Cups and two Italian Super Cups, while also reaching last season’s Champions League final.

    Dimarco also knows how to find the net on occasion, hitting nine goals in 105 games for Inter.
    His contract is also up in 2026, but the ace could be available at a more reasonable price. More

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    Chelsea legend warns club they could ‘create next De Bruyne or Mo Salah’ if they sell struggling flop

    CHELSEA legend Pat Nevin has warned the Blues they could create the next Kevin de Bruyne or Mo Salah if they sell struggling forward Mykhailo Mudryk.De Bruyne, 32, and Salah, 31, left Stamford Bridge early on in their careers after difficult spells.
    Mykhailo Mudryk has endured a difficult opening nine months at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
    Kevin de Bruyne departed Chelsea and has gone on to achieve great things at Man CityCredit: AFP
    They have since gone on to become two of the best players in the world at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.
    Mudryk, 22, joined Chelsea midway through last season for £97million from Shakhtar Donetsk as the Blues hijacked Arsenal’s pursuit of the Ukrainian forward.

    But he has endured a difficult first nine months in West London, scoring no goals and assisting just twice in 23 games.
    However, club icon Nevin, 60, who spent five years at Chelsea during the 1980s, believes his former side have to keep faith in Mudryk.
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    Speaking to OLBG, he said: “Mykhailo Mudryk is phenomenal and will come good – Chelsea cannot risk him being another Salah or De Bruyne.
    “There’s a reason why Arsenal wanted Mudryk – he’s phenomenal. His pace is ridiculous and so are his skills.
    “He had different problems to everyone else as he was a Ukrainian lad coming into a new country.
    “There was also a massive transfer fee hanging over him, though the pressure is slightly off now due to the other fees Chelsea have paid.
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    Mo Salah is another ex-Chelsea star that has thrived elsewhereCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Ex-Chelsea man Pat Nevin wants the Blues to stick with MudrykCredit: Getty
    “I think he has the potential to be a great forward and a great creator.
    “He came into a side that wasn’t playing well, but he didn’t make it easy for himself. His numbers last season were not good.”
    Mudryk has had to deal with a tough time off the pitch as his home country continues to fight a war with Russia.
    But Nevin, who won the second tier during his time at Chelsea, feels the Ukrainian will eventually settle and fans will see the best of him.
    He added: “I always look at the underlying player and I don’t think Chelsea want to lose him. Chelsea know better than anyone that if you let a player go, they can be world-class somewhere else.
    “He came in in January, which is a tough time for players to arrive. It’s early days this season, and I still have great hopes for Mudryk when the team starts clicking.
    “That could be later this season or next season. He has all the qualities that defenders hate playing against.
    “If Chelsea did cut their losses, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him shine somewhere else. He’s still only 22. You’d expect him, and a lot of other Chelsea players, to start finding their best form.
    “The problem is, you have so many players who aren’t at their peak yet, and that’s why you need experienced players like Thiago Silva or Ben Chilwell to help the team gel.
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    “It’s just not clicking as well as everybody at the club would have hoped.”
    Next up for Mauricio Pochettino’s men is a West London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday. More

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    Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali heads to dressing room AGAIN but fails to crack a smile despite Blues’ win over Brighton

    CHELSEA co-owner Behdad Eghbali re-entered the dressing room after the club’s 1-0 win over Brighton on Wednesday.The Stamford Bridge chief has paid a visit to Mauricio Pochettino and his players after every match he has attended this season.
    Chelsea clinched a 1-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup on WednesdayCredit: AP
    Behdad Eghbali entered the dressing room after Chelsea’s win over BrightonCredit: Twitter @gary_cotterill

    He shook hands and greeted squad members and coaching staff following Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday before being chased down by a group of angry supporters.
    And Eghbali returned to the dressing room following the club’s Carabao Cup win over Brighton.
    However, he still looked far from happy.
    Chelsea have endured a terrible start to the season.
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    They currently sit 14th in the Premier League table with just five points from six games.
    That’s despite the fact that over £1billion has been spent on players since Todd Boehly and Eghbali took over last summer.
    Boehly allegedly tore into the Chelsea squad following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in April.
    He spent an HOUR ranting at the players before singling out a senior star.
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    However, Pochettino has made it clear that he is perfectly comfortable with the owners entering the dressing room.
    He said: “I like when the owners come. In all my career as a coach, at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain before and after. I think it is good that the owner came to the dressing room.
    “It’s the way they approach the player is important, if they are in a good way then they are very welcome. After my press conference after the game against Aston Villa, they came and chill with us, like normally.
    “Also against Liverpool, Luton, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, they came with Paul and Laurence and Behdad.
    “We talk about the game. I don’t see it in a bad way. For me, it’s good always if they share with us and they can say hello to the players. It would be different if they came for a speech or something, but with the way that they came of course they are very welcome.
    “They own the club, they can do whatever they want. We are so glad they came and shared with us – even when it’s good things and we won the game, but even on Sunday where we lost and we are suffering.” More