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    Edouard Mendy’s Chelsea future ‘uncertain after holding showdown talks with club’

    CHELSEA keeper Edouard Mendy’s future at Stamford Bridge remains up in the air as he prepares for crunch talks with the club, according to reports.The Blues shot-stopper, 31, has returned to full training this week after a lengthy time on the sidelines following surgery on his finger in January.
    Edouard Mendy could be set to leave Chelsea in the summerCredit: Getty
    He has been unavailable since returning from the World Cup – where he helped Senegal reach the last-16.
    And Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to continue in between the sticks, with the Spaniard having already racked up 25 appearances this season.
    Mendy has started just eight Premier League games in the 2022/23 campaign – only two of which have come since Graham Potter took over from Thomas Tuchel.
    And according to The Times, Chelsea are struggling to tie him down to a new deal.
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    Mendy, who has kept 49 clean sheets in 104 games for the Blues, is under contract until 2025.
    However, new owner Todd Boehly is keen to avoid any player’s deal running under the two-year mark.
    It comes after they lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen for free last summer.
    But talks between Mendy and the club have failed to see them come anywhere near reaching a deal.
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    And Chelsea are understood to be prioritising other players’ contracts ahead of the Senegalese keeper – who won the Champions League with the club in 2021.
    They include Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante – who is set to return to Potter’s squad for the home game against Everton on Saturday.
    Chelsea will assess their goalkeeping situation in the summer, with Brentford’s David Raya, Brighton’s Robert Sanchez and Leeds’ Ilan Meslier all potential replacements if Mendy departs.

    Spaniard Raya, 27, has emerged as a highly-rated Premier League keeper with Manchester United and Tottenham monitoring him.
    Brentford are thought to be looking for a fee in the region of £40million. More

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    Inter chief confirms Lukaku WILL return to Chelsea with loan not expected to become permanent transfer

    INTER MILAN’S supremo has rocked loan striker Romelu Lukaku’s hopes of a permanent move from Chelsea.Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta insists the 29-year-old WILL return to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
    Romelu Lukaku is heading back to parent club Chelsea at the end of the seasonCredit: Rex
    But Marotta suggested that if the Belgian regains peak form after injuries he could yet land his dream transfer.
    He said: “Lukaku deal? He will return to Chelsea as it’s a straight loan, it’s part of the deal — then we will see.
    “Lukaku is not in good condition yet, we are still waiting to see the real Romelu as we saw in the past”.
    The 104-cap star sparked controversy last summer by publicly revealing how desperate he was to rejoin Inter.
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    And although a season-long loan did go through, he’s been plagued by fitness issues, particularly a hamstring problem.
    Lukaku is hungry for a permanent switch to the Italian giants before eventually returning to first club Anderlecht.
    He said earlier this year: “Everyone knows what I want.
    “I hope to stay at Inter. I love this club and we will speak to Chelsea in order to find a solution.
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    “Inter fans are really special, for me they are the best in the world.
    “The idea is to finish my career with Anderlecht.
    “I’m nearly 30, my son started school here and plays in the Inter academy. I want to stay here and do things right.” More

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    Chelsea will be handed whopping £50million cash injection thanks to Fifa decision

    CHELSEA are in line for a massive £50million cash boost – after Fifa confirmed the Blues have qualified for the first expanded version of the Club World Cup.World chiefs meeting in Rwanda agreed the qualification format for the 32-team event, starting in 2025 and likely to be held in China.
    Stamford Bridge chief Graham Potter has the prospect of more games and more cash next season, via the Club World CupCredit: Alamy
    Europe has been given the largest share with 12 slots with Fifa’s ruling Council agreeing that qualification would run over the four year cycle from the 2020-21 to 2023-24 seasons.
    It means the four Champions League winners over those seasons, plus the next eight leading sides on Uefa’s four-year coefficient rankings system, will earn berths for the money-laden new competition.
    Chelsea’s 2021 Final win over Manchester City means they are now guaranteed a spot, alongside Real Madrid, to be joined by the next two winners of Europe’s biggest prize.
    No country can have more than two places through the coefficient table but as it stands Liverpool and Manchester City would qualify.
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    However, if Liverpool miss out on a European spot for next season, that would open the door for Manchester United to replace them by reaching the knock-out stage of the Champions League. 
    Fifa is also revamping its current smaller version of the Club World Cup, which will continue to be played annually but rebranded and with the Champions League winner automatically through to the Final.

    World chiefs also finally agreed the “International Match Calendar” dates for international qualifiers to start in 2025.
    It will mean a four-match and 16-day window for games stretching between late September and early October from 2026, rather than the current two separate breaks.
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    Nine day breaks, for two matches, will continue to be held in March, June and November, meaning 10 international games outside of tournaments per year.
    Meanwhile, recalled Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella hopes to revive his Spain career too.
    Cucurella hopes to take on Erling Haaland’s Norway in the opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Saturday, March 25. More

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    Marc Cucurella hopes his Chelsea resurgence will earn Spain recall for clash against Erling Haaland’s Norway

    MARC CUCURELLA hopes his Chelsea revival will be rewarded with a 90-minute test against goal machine Erling Haaland.Spain boss Luis de la Fuente names his squad on Friday for the Euro 2024 qualifying double header against Norway and Scotland.
    Cucurella hopes his Chelsea revival will see him return for Spain as they launch their Euro 2024 qualifiers with two games in a weekCredit: Getty
    Cucurella is getting back on track after finding it hard to adjust to life at Chelsea following a £62m move from Brighton last summer during which he endured personal problems.
    The family home was robbed while his partner was expecting their third child and the full back was booed by his own supporters.
    But daughter Bella was born safely two and a half weeks ago and that coincided with a huge upturn in the full back’s performance levels.
    To the extent that he was voted Man of the Match in Chelsea’s exciting 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund last week that fired the club into the quarter finals of the Champions League.
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    And having been left out completely by boss Graham Potter recently, Cucurella has completed the last two matches, with Chelsea winning both.
    Sources close to Cucurella insist the left back is much more settled now and that the huge transformation at Chelsea following the ownership change even affected the new players who signed last year.

    The source added: “Marc is more motivated than ever now.”
    Cucurella played at U-18, U-20 and U-23 level for Spain under de la Fuente.
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    He also earned his only senior cap under him in June 2021 when head coach Vicente del Bosque missed a game through Covid.
    De la Fuente has already made informal contact with Cucurella and his Chelsea team-mate and keeper Kepa to let them know he is impressed by their recent performances.
    Spain play Norway on Saturday week when Manchester City’s 33-goal hitman Haaland will head to Malaga in blistering form. More

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    Man Utd and Chelsea in Gregor Kobel transfer fight with Borussia Dortmund keeper seen as David De Gea replacement

    MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, according to reports.The keeper has impressed this season and likely caught the eye of Blues chiefs in their recent Champions League meeting with the German side.
    Manchester United and Chelsea want to sign Gregor KobelCredit: Getty
    Kobel has impressed for Borussia Dortmund this season
    United are also keeping an eye out for a new goalie with David de Gea in the final 18 months of his contract.
    And according to Sport1 they could make a summer move for Kobel.
    However the report adds Chelsea have held a meeting with the player’s representatives over a potential switch.
    Kobel, 26, still has three years remaining on his contract so Dortmund could demand a huge fee to let him leave.
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    The Swiss has impressed since joining from Koln in 2021 and has kept eight clean sheets in 18 games this season.
    Kobel has also committed his future to the club after speculation linked him with a move to Bayern Munich in December.
    He said: “I did not hear those stories and that’s not of interest to me either.
    “I play for Borussia Dortmund and we have big plans with BVB. That’s all I care about.”
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    United have also been linked with Leeds shot-stopper Illan Meslier, who could be available for a bargain price if the Whites are relegated.
    Sevilla star Bono is also believed to be of interest but he could cost £45million. More

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    Chelsea star Reece James names the toughest players he has ever faced.. and not a single Premier League player features

    CHELSEA star Reece James has revealed the two toughest players he has ever faced.And none of them have ever competed against James in the Premier League.

    Chelsea star Reece James revealed the two toughest opponents he has facedCredit: TikTok / @zeinababdalla11
    Reece James named Vinicius Junior and Rafael Leao as his toughest opponentsCredit: TikTok / @zeinababdalla11
    The right-back singled out Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and AC Milan ace Rafael Leao.
    James told CFCBluesCom when asked to name the most difficult opponents he ever faced: “Vinni. Vinni is one. Vinicius.
    “Say Vinni and Leao.”
    Vinicius has risen to superstardom at Real by spearheading Carlo Ancelotti’s attack.
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    The striker is the obvious candidate to succeed the mantle from Karim Benzema at the frontline.
    Leao, on the other had, has stood out at Milan ever since his arrival from Lille in 2019.
    The winger has even attracted interest from various Premier League clubs.
    That includes Chelsea, who have faced a bidding war with Real Madrid and Liverpool.
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    James has also become a prolific figure at Stamford Bridge ever since his first-team breakthrough in 2019.
    The right-back has since amassed a total of 11 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances with the Blues.
    And the England international will be crucial for Graham Potter’s side in the Champions League quarter-finals. More

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    Man Utd ready to swoop for £66million Arsenal target if Red Devils cannot seal Harry Kane transfer this summer

    MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly ready to battle Arsenal for Dusan Vlahovic if they fail to sign Harry Kane this summer.SunSport revealed last week that Erik ten Hag has made the Tottenham star his No1 transfer target this summer.
    Dusan Vlahovic is on Manchester United’s summer transfer target listCredit: Getty
    Tottenham striker Harry Kane remains their No.1 targetCredit: Reuters
    Kane, 29, has less than 18 months remaining on his deal and United are hoping to take advantage of the England captain’s contract situation.
    But we reported last night that they are still anticipating a “nightmare” pursuit.
    That’s because Spurs chief Daniel Levy is renowned as a tough negotiator.
    Now ESPN have claimed that has left United “focusing on alternative options including Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Juventus forward Vlahovic. 
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    Regarding Kane, this update says that the Red Devils “will not risk a prolonged pursuit”  which “drags out until final hours of the summer transfer window”.
    A source told them: “United can’t afford to start the season without a new striker.
    “And having dealt with Levy in the past, they don’t want to go through that nightmare all over again for Kane with so much at stake, so they might not even get involved.”
    Vlahovic, 22, joined Juventus from Fiorentina back in January after snubbing the chance to move to the Premier League with Arsenal.
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    Mikel Arteta’s side were desperate to bring the Serbian international to the Emirates – but he rejected them in favour of Turin – but they are still keen.
    Vlahovic has scored ten goals this term but has now gone six game without finding the net but Juve’s early Champions League exit has left them needing to raise funds.

    Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain have entered the transfer race for Osimhen.
    The Nigerian star’s goals have fired Napoli to the top of Serie A this season.
    His blistering form, which includes 19 goals in 22 top-flight matches, has attracted interest from the likes of United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
    And Luciano Spalletti’s side stand to make a big profit from Osimhen, valuing him at £107m. More

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    Arsenal could lose Ethan Nwaneri as Chelsea and Man City consider transfer raid for 15-year-old record breaker

    CHELSEA and Manchester City want to sign Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri, according to reports.Nwaneri became the youngest ever Premier League player when he featured as a substitute against Brentford in September aged 15 years and 181 days.
    Ethan Nwaneri is wanted by Chelsea and Manchester CityCredit: Getty
    He is highly regarded by the Gunners but they risk losing him amid interest from Premier League rivals.
    Chelsea and City are amongst the clubs who are keeping tabs on Nwaneri, according to The Telegraph.
    But Arsenal have not given up their hopes of keeping the youngster, who could agree scholarship terms with the club when he turns 16 on March 21.
    Arsenal will be determined to avoid a repeat of last summer when they lost highly-rated academy prospect Omari Hutchinson to Chelsea.
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    Unlike Nwaneri, Hutchinson was never given a first-team opportunity and Arteta’s faith in the teenager could influence him to stay.
    Arteta said of his decision to play Nwaneri against Brentford: “I met the boy and really liked what I saw.
    “Per Mertesacker and the academy staff gave me really good information about him as well.
    “It’s another step, another experience. In your career all the steps are not going to be forward.
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    “After that, maybe he needs three backwards to go another one forward, but as well I think it sends a really strong message about who we are as a club.”
    Arsenal reportedly offer young players contracts based on add-ons and incentives, so a lucrative weekly wage could persuade Nwaneri to leave. More