Chelsea transfer news

CHELSEA could face financial ruin after having a number of their corporate accounts frozen by ‘risk-averse’ banks.Barclays are one of the banks to have suspended the Blues account.
And it has been reported that Roman Abramovich has given the green light to a sale of Chelsea with bids to be taken next week.
This is despite the Russian not being able to earn a penny from any sale due to sanctions.
In his press conference, boss Thomas Tuchel admitted that many players and staff were worried about their futures.
But there has been some good news for Chelsea fans as Nike are reportedly set to stand-by their kit deal with the club.
Meanwhile the Blues may be allowed to continue selling tickets to non-season ticket holders and away fans if they donate the profits from the sales to victims of the war in Ukraine.
Roman Abramovich has been BANNED from selling the club by the government amid sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
Shirt sponsor Three have also suspended their deal with the Blues, asking for their logo not to appear on shirts for the foreseeable future.
It comes as New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and a private Saudi consortium had joined the race to buy the club.
Billionaire Abramovich is said to have had over 300 parties express their interest in buying the Blues he values at £3billion.
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Gallagher in talks with Chelsea
Crystal Palace loanee Conor Gallagher has confirmed that he is still in contact with his parent club Chelsea.
Gallagher has impressed in the Premier League while on loan at Selhurst Park this season.
And a return to Stamford Bridge can’t be ruled out amid the Blues’ financial crisis.
Gallagher told the Evening Standard: “Chelsea talk to me and keep an eye on me”
Green light to sell
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given the green light for the sale of the club to go ahead with bids now expected to be considered by the end of next week.
According to the Telegraph, Abramovich has instructed the merchant bank Raine to go ahead with the sale, despite being hit by sanctions that effectively take the process out of his hands.
That is very promising news for the fans, as the Blues were facing financial ruin had the Russian pulled the plug on the sale.
Both Raine and the west Londoners have held talks with the UK government over how the sale can go ahead and have agreed that the preferred bidder and the use of profit from the sale will require government approval
Frank Lampard’s message
Everton manager Frank Lampard reacted to the current events surrounding his former club Chelsea.
Lampard said: “”I don’t know the specifics about it other than what I read.
“But I managed there for nearly two years and played there for more than 13.
“I care about the fact the fans who were at the beginning, before and will be after”
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Tuchel on sanctions
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel believes it is “way too early” for conclusions following the government’s sanctions on owner Roman Abramovich.
Tuchel said: “It’s maybe way too early to talk about it. I don’t know exactly the rules about the current situation and I think, as the statement said from the club, there are negotiations and talks going on about the licence. So let’s see what’s coming.
“It makes not a lot of sense for me to comment on the situation now and give an outlook to the future in the summer.
“I trust in everybody who is in charge, I trust people who are in charge in the government to find a solution that keeps us going through the season, and gives us the possibility to be in charge of our actions in the summer.
“I think this is what we can do now. We were all surprised by the news and it is too early to have an outlook on the summer I guess”
Government on Chelsea sale
The government is adamant they will refuse any sort of sale involving Chelsea if Roman Abramovich profited in any way.
Digital minister Chris Philip revealed: “As the licence conditions are written today the sale would not be allowed.
“If a buyer emerged then it would be open to that buyer or to the football club to approach the Government and asked for the licence conditions to be varied in a way that allowed that sale to take place.
“But to be clear, no proposal would be accepted which saw the proceeds of any sale ending up in an unrestricted bank account owned by Abramovich.
“He can’t benefit from the proceeds of any sale”
More background info
Chelsea staff are fearful of what’s next following the government’s sanctions on owner Roman Abramovich, which leave the club in financial turmoil.
A source told The Athletic: “People are worried about their jobs. No one knows what’s going on.”
Chelsea chiefs have asked the government to ease sanctions to allow them to sell the club in a desperate bid to avoid going bankrupt.
And the government will allow Abramovich to pass on ownership of the club as long as he doesn’t see a single penny from the sale
Get the Chel out
A Chelsea star’s agent is wondering if they can get their client out of Stamford Bridge in the summer after the sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich.
Staff and players were left stunned by the bombshell sanctions – which currently prevent Abramovich from cashing in on the club and players being bought or sold.
And prior to the full list of sanctions being unveiled, one Chelsea ace’s agent asked The Athletic: “Can I still get him out of there in the summer?”
As it stands, the only players who are set to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer are those who will be out of contract at the end of the campaign.
And a close friend of a senior player reckons the west Londoners’ out-of-contract stars will be thrilled they didn’t commit their futures to the club.
They said: “I bet they are delighted they haven’t signed anything now. They can get away from this mess”
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Free agents’ status
Chelsea aces Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta look set to become free agents as the Blues won’t be able to hand out new contracts as per sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Rudiger has been targeted by three clubs whereas Christensen and Azpilicueta could join Barcelona.
Romano tweeted: “Chelsea contracts situation. Andreas Christensen has decided to join Barca.
“Rudiger has been approached by three clubs and he will decide soon. Azpilicueta has Barca proposal on the table [until 2024].
“Jorginho was waiting for an answer – his deal runs out in 2023”
Chelsea’s Rud Awakening
Antonio Rudiger has been approached by three clubs amid sanctions imposed on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich had his assets frozen by the government on Thursday morning due to his alleged ties with president Vladimir Putin.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Rudiger has been approached by three clubs and will decide his future soon.
The Germany international has previously been linked with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
Just do it
Nike will remain partnered with Chelsea despite owner Roman Abramovich’s government sanctions.
It comes after shirt sponsors Three announced they are suspending their deal with the Blues on Thursday.
But according to The Athletic, kit manufactures Nike have told the west Londoners they will stick by them despite suggestions they were considering the partnership.
The two parties agreed a 15-year, £900million deal back in 2016 as Adidas were replaced.
With nine years remaining, it meant Chelsea would have lost £540m if Nike, who make match kits, training gear and replica kits, walked away.
New Chelsea logo?
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel would be happy if the club displayed a peace message on the front of their shirts.
This comes after mobile phone company Three has suspended its shirt sponsorship with the club and has asked for its logo to be removed.
The logo still appeared on the front of the shirts for Thursday’s 3-1 victory at Norwich but it will be removed ahead of Sunday’s home game with Newcastle.
Tuchel said: “We can always wear a message for peace. It can never be the wrong message.
“When it’s a big storm you dig in, you hold together, you stay strong and go through it. But a message for peace can never be wrong”

Rule of three
Chelsea have received three bids from American-led groups looking to buy the club amid sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich can still sell the Blues despite his assets being frozen as ‘an application for a licence to sell the club would be considered’ by the government.
The Russian would not see any of the cash – instead, he would have to hand over the whole process to the UK government, who then would determine where the money goes.
According to the Telegraph, Raine, the New York-based bank handling a potential sale, have received almost 150 enquiries but so far three have emerged as the most serious and all are from the US.
Todd Boehly, together with Hansjorg Wyss and another businessman, have made an official offer between £2billion and £2.5bn.
The other two parties are the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Cubs, and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
Solhekol addresses Chelsea account freeze
Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol reported: “Chelsea’s bank accounts with Barclays have been temporarily suspended.
“We have been told that Barclays need time to assess the licence that Chelsea have been given that allows Chelsea to continue their football related activities.
“Chelsea are hopeful that the suspension put in place by Barclays will be lifted shortly.
“But the issue Barclays have got is the bank account is in the name of Chelsea. Chelsea are owned by Roman Abramovich.
“He is sanctioned by the UK Government. No one in the UK, including Barclays, is allowed to do business with Roman Abramovich.
“If they give Chelsea access to those accounts, how can they be sure that Chelsea will only spend that money on what the Government have said Chelesea are allowed to spend their money on.
“This is very, very serious for Chelsea. Even though we are being told they hope the suspension will be lifted shortly”
‘Bank accounts frozen’
Chelsea’s bank accounts have reportedly been frozen to leave them in financial uncertainty following the sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich.
That is according to The Times, who state sources at the Premier League club, who were given a licence to still operate, have ‘warned the club’s corporate accounts, including credit cards, have been frozen’ as the banks are being ‘risk-averse’.
The source was quoted as saying: “The licence allows the club to continue with day-to-day activities but the banks don’t have the risk appetite for it.
“They’ve frozen some of the corporate credit cards. It’s put a lot more pressure on the club”
Sale term reminder
Roman Abramovich has been given 81 days to sell Chelsea or risk the club folding, according to SunSport’s Martin Lipton.
Chelsea face a £106million financial black hole — with shirt sponsors Three suspending their £40m-a-year contract, and £66m of Premier League and UEFA prize money set to be withheld.
And the ‘licence’ that will allow the club to play on to the end of the season will NOT be renewed unless Abramovich, who valued the club at £3bn, agrees a sale and walks away without a penny.
The Blues have been told a deal must be agreed before the licence runs out on May 31 to guarantee the survival of the club
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On shirt notice
Three have suspended their £120million shirt sponsorship contract with Chelsea after the UK government’s crackdown on owner Roman Abramovich.
A statement read: “In light of the Government’s recently-announced sanctions, we have requested Chelsea Football Club temporarily suspend our sponsorship of the club including the removal our brand from the and around the stadium until further notice.
“We recognise that this decision will impact the many fans who follow their team passionately.
“However, we feel that given the circumstance, and the Government sanction that is in place, it is the right thing to do.
“As a mobile network, the best way we can support the people of Ukraine is to ensure refugees arriving in the UK from the conflict and customers currently in Ukraine can stay connected to the people who matter to them.
“Therefore, we are offering connectivity packages to all Ukrainians arriving in the UK, and those in the Ukraine”
Chelsea official statement
Chelsea broke their silence yesterday with the below statement after owner Roman Abramovich was hit with sanctions by the UK government following Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine.
It read: “By virtue of his 100 per cent ownership of Chelsea FC plc and affiliated entities, Chelsea FC would normally be subject to the same sanctions regime as Mr Abramovich.
“However, the UK Government has issued a general licence that permits Chelsea FC to continue certain activities.
“We will fulfil our men’s and women’s team fixtures today against Norwich and West Ham, respectively, and intend to engage in discussions with the UK Government regarding the scope of the licence.
“This will include seeking permission for the licence to be amended in order to allow the Club to operate as normal as possible.
“We will also be seeking guidance from the UK Government on the impact of these measures on the Chelsea Foundation and its important work in our communities.
“The Club will update further when it is appropriate to do so”
Juventus open talks with Rudiger
Juventus have opened negotiations with Antonio Rudiger over a free transfer.
Calciomercato claims the Italians are eager to land Chelsea’s star defender when his contract expires this summer.
Rudiger is believed to have firm offers from three top clubs so far.
And Juventus are also keen on signing Blues teammate Christian Pulisic.
Prem XI of free agents
Numerous Premier League stars are out of contract this summer.
And together, they make a pretty impressive starting XI.
Would this team be able to win the title?

Rangnick urges caution over Chelsea
Ralf Rangnick has warned about a pile-on against Roman Abramovich.
The Man Utd boss said: “I don’t have enough inside info to speak about what’s happening at Chelsea. If you look at the bigger picture it’s just a human tragedy and I very, very much hope in the next days and weeks they can find a peaceful solution.
“Anyone in this room or wherever, could anybody foresee what was happening there in the last three or four weeks. Nobody could expect that to happen.
“We should be very careful to blame somebody for that, Roman Abramovich has been the owner at Chelsea, but also at Arsenal and Everton there were ownership shares by Russian oligarchs.
“Right now, in England and Germany and other European counties, it does not affect us directly yet. But I would be surprised if the war went on if it doesn’t affect us.”
Tuchel backs new shirt logo
Thomas Tuchel will be happy if the club displays a peace message on the front of their shirts.
Mobile phone company Three has suspended its shirt sponsorship with the club and has asked for its logo to be removed.
He said: “We can always wear a message for peace. It can never be the wrong message. 
“When it’s a big storm you dig in, you hold together, you stay strong and go through it. But a message for peace can never be wrong.”
Breaking – ‘mass clear-out’ at Chelsea
Premier League rivals are on red alert, with experts predicting Chelsea will be forced into selling top stars to stay afloat.
The Blues are facing a financial blackhole, which could allow the likes of Man Utd and Arsenal to plunder their squad.
Footy financial expert Rob Wilson told Sky Sports: “I think that’s the real threat for the football club.
“If we park the potential administration if they can’t pay those players over the short term, I think over the summer we’re going to see a number of players having to, probably, be sold.
“Chelsea lost over £400million over the last five years, notwithstanding Covid.
“So the fundamentals of the club are not particularly great and those players may well move on.”
Tuchel odds to United slashed
Bookies have slashed the odds on Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel becoming Man United’s next manager.
But ex-Spurs gaffer Mauricio Pochettino is favourite, with the Argentine expected to be axed by PSG.

Mauricio Pochettino – 6/4
Erik ten Hag – 11/4
Thomas Tuchel – 7/2
Antonio Conte – 10/1
Ralf Rangnick – 16/1
Diego Simeone – 20/1
Simone Inzaghi – 20/1

*Odds according to Betfair

Tuchel remains focused on job
Thomas Tuchel admits all he can do is to try and help Chelsea keep winning amid uncertainty over the club’s future.
He said: “Always, the best way is to carry on winning. Also, for us, it’s maybe in the moment a bit more difficult because of the noise. 
“But we can still enjoy what we are doing and we must still follow the responsibility to give everything, and what we demand of ourselves. 
“This is what we do and I’m happy we can still produce results and performances. We will be on it again to be ready for Sunday.”
Tuchel admits Chelsea players ‘scared’
Thomas Tuchel claims Chelsea players and staff are “frightened” and “scared” over the crisis which has gripped the club.
The German said: “Some players will feel uncertainty. Some maybe will be a bit frightened. Some will be concerned. It’s normal. And not only the players.
“We have a lot of people on the staff, in the club who are maybe also worried and scared and uncertain. 
“That’s why it’s very important that we keep the trust and the belief in the training centre, in all of us. 
“We rely on ourselves and in the end allow ourselves to be the guys who take care of the sport. We did not cause the situation. We cannot solve the situation.”
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ROMAN ABRAMOVICH is conducting an auction for the sale of Chelsea after announcing he is parting company with the club.And Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak says he is in talks to buy the club, adding: “The Turkish flag will fly over London!”
But more surprisingly, UFC star Conor McGregor is said to be exploring a potential takeover of Chelsea by forming a consortium with other investors.
And Abramovich is said to have rejected a £2.5bn offer for the West Londoners.
And there are concerns that Wyss has little interest in football, only wants to buy the club to spite Abramovich and will not splash out on transfers the way the Russian has.
Follow ALL of the latest updates and transfer gossip from Stamford Bridge right here…
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Prem’s pledge to Ukrainian kids
Prem clubs will allow Ukrainian kids to train with their academies amid Russia’s invasion of their country, claims Andriy Shevchenko.
He told TV channel 1+1: “In the UK, all football clubs have responded to the situation in Ukraine.
“They are ready to accept Ukrainian children to train in the academies of Premier League clubs.
“Now a series of negotiations will be held to formalise the documents. We need to get permission.
“We’ll try to get this done very quickly. I’m in touch with the football federation. Sports camps will open.
“Everything must be done so that children who leave the cities of Ukraine can train either on the territory of Western Ukraine, or it will already be on the territory of other countries.”
Reporter questions Bayrak’s validity
Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak’s credibility over his claims that he plans to buy Chelsea has come under scrutiny.
It’s been claimed no one in the Turkish FA or in the country’s footballing circles are even aware of Bayrak’s existence, according to a New York Times journalist.
Tariq Panja, a New York Times reporter told Sky Sports: “We saw that in the last few days, a Turkish businessman that none of us had heard of [made the headlines].
“I’ve contacted people in Turkey, in the football world there and people at Turkish FA, and they had not heard of this person.
“I’ve seen he has announced his intention of planting the Turkish flag in London on his own Instagram page.
“I don’t think serious people behave like that. But again, we live in a strange and interesting time.”
Shelvey’s apology to Toon fans
Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has bizarrely apologised for his performance in their 2-1 victory over Brighton.
But speaking on social media, he said: “We weren’t at our best yesterday but sometimes you have to grind out results – credit to Brighton.
“I apologise for my own performance: I’ve actually watched the game back twice but I dug deep and am proud of my team for doing the same.
“I honestly thought the fans were absolutely fantastic and it excites me what this place is going to be like in three or four years time and to keep seeing the results you’ve had in the past eight games but on a bigger scale.
“The sky’s the limit.”
Ronaldo’s centre-forward view
Cristiano Ronaldo finds playing as a centre-forward ‘absurd’, according to his former Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri.
The Manchester United superstar is one of the greatest goalscorers in history – netting more than 800 times for club and country.
Sarri, who coached the Portuguese star for the 2019/20 campaign, insists Ronaldo was not on board with becoming a central forward player.
Speaking to Sky Italia, the former Chelsea head coach said: “Ronaldo scored 35-40 goals per season by starting from that wider position, so for him it was an almost absurd request.
“That is understandable for the way he plays.”
Two potential Chelsea buyers
Two more candidates have reportedly emerged as potential buyers of Chelsea.
Property billionaire Nick Candy and Thomas Ricketts, owner of Major League Baseball team Chicago Cubs, are both reportedly exploring the option of tabling a bid.
And one of the two latest figures to emerge as a credible buyer is property businessman Candy, according to Sky.
Another expression of interest has come from across the pond in the form of Chicago Cubs owner Ricketts.
Raab slams Chelsea fans
Deputy PM Dominic Raab has slammed Chelsea fans for drowning out support for Ukraine by praising Roman Abramovich in their game against Burnley.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel also expressed his disappointment over the club’s fans’ actions.
When asked about the incident, Raab told BBC’s Sunday Morning: “I’m a Chelsea fan and I think it’s totally wrong.
“It would be a minority of fans doing it, and I thought Thomas Tuchel, the manager, was quite right to come out and be clear about his disagreement with that.”
Next United manager’s war chest
The next Manchester United manager will be handed just £50million to spend if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.
This is because, according to The Telegraph, the summer transfer kitty will be reduced from £80m to £50m if they fail to secure entry to Europe’s premier competition.
United spent £120m ahead of the 2021/22 season as they brought in Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho.
Yet despite that investment, qualification for next season’s Champions League remains up in the air.
Silva names dog after Stones
Bernardo Silva has named his dog ‘John’ in honour of Manchester City teammate John Stones.
Silva bought the dog with his partner, model Ines Degener Tomaz.
In an instagram video, the 27-year-old said: “This is John. We really wanted to have a dog.
“He was named after my good friend John Stones because we’re very close and I’ve always said to him if I ever get a dog I would call him John.
“It’s actually a great name, we love it.
“It suits him, he is a beautiful boy and very intelligent.”

Rangnick on Erik Ten Hag
Ralf Rangnick has dismissed claims that Man United have decided to make Erik Ten Hag their new boss.
Rangnick told Sky Sports when asked about the Ajax manager’s links to United: “I don’t know him, to start with, as a person.
“Obviously, I see the development at Ajax since he’s been there, I know a little bit about his work when he was with Bayern Munich and that he is one of the top coaches in Europe that’s obvious.
“But there are a few other top coaches.”
Aubameyang takes swipe at Arsenal
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took a swipe at former club Arsenal by revealing that he feels at home with Barcelona.
Aubameyang told Bein Sports France: “Things are going very well with Xavi.
“He is a legend and will contribute many things to the club.
“Barca deserves to be in front and I am very happy there because I am at home. I’m Spanish for my mother’s sake.”
Neymar loses his cool
Neymar lost his temper after Nice striker Amine Gouiri attempted to use the Brazilian’s signature move against him on Saturday.
The Parisians suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Nice at the weekend, marking their third loss of the season.
But, Neymar managed to get himself in trouble with the officials AFTER the final whistle.
Gouiri was keen to showboat after the referee ended the game and tried a rainbow flick.
However, the Brazilian took offence to this and reacted by pushing the striker.
Both the referee and the linesman had to intervene to prevent a potential fight from breaking out.

Sarri wants Kepa reunion
A fresh report has claimed that Maurizio Sarri wants to reunite with Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer.
The Spanish stopper was brought to Stamford Bridge by the Italian back in 2018 for £71.6million from Athletic Bilbao.
Now Sarri, who is in charge of Lazio back in his Italian homeland, wants to sign him on a season-long loan.
Speculation has been rife for several months that the Serie A side were plotting a move for the goalkeeper.
However, a deal failed to materialise during the January transfer window.
But Corriere dello Sport now claims that Sarri will attempt to get Kepa this summer on a season-long loan – despite the pair’s infamous Wembley fall-out.
Newcastle in Diaby transfer hunt
Newcastle are lining up a £50million bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, according to reports.
According to The Mail, they have identified Leverkusen winger Diaby as someone they are keen to sign.
However, the Germans reportedly want a fee rivalling the £75m they received from Chelsea for Kai Havertz.
Rubin shuts down Chelsea claims
American sports mogul Michael Rubin has shut down claims he plans to Chelsea from Roman Abramovich.
Rubin had been touted as a potential buyer by ESPN, but his representatives have come out to publicly dispel the rumours.
Rubin’s spokesperson said: “Michael has no interest in buying Chelsea. He is 100% focused on continuing to build the Fanatics business and is not interested in adding ownership stakes at this time.”
Abramovich nearly brought Arsenal
Roman Abramovich could have bought Arsenal instead of Chelsea— but he was mistakenly warned off the Gunners by ignorant Swiss bankers.
The stunning revelations have been made in book, The Club, penned by two Wall Street Journal writers.
They spoke at length with executives from leading Premier League clubs.
The book claims in 2003, Abramovich hired Swiss bank UBS to examine the economics of English top-flight football.
One of its findings was that ‘Arsenal were categorically not for sale’.
The book also says former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein believed the club’s owners would have cashed in if Abramovich had offered.
McGregor ‘forms consortium’ to buy Chelsea
Conor McGregor has reportedly linked up with several other interested parties to make his dream of buying Chelsea come true.
McGregor’s allegedly grouped with the owners of the Chicago Cubs MLB team and property mogul Nick Candy to form a consortium with the hopes of acquiring the Blues from Abramovich.
Exclusive: A pack of international suitors including the owners of the Chicago Cubs MLB team, the property entrepreneur Nick Candy and the MMA star Conor McGregor are exploring forming consortia to bid for Chelsea FC as Roman Abramovich plots a £3bn sale. https://t.co/2Ly2mqKcv4— Mark Kleinman (@MarkKleinmanSky) March 5, 2022

Death brawl on football pitch
Two people have been killed and more than 20 more taken to hospital after a bloody riot broke out during a Mexican football match between Queretaro and Atlas.
The brawls broke out about an hour into the top-flight clash at Corregidora Stadium on Saturday.
It was initially feared that multiple fans may have been killed after local reports in Mexico claimed as many as 17 were dead.
But officials from the Coordination of Civil Protection of the State of Querétaro later clarified that 22 people were transported to hospitals, with two in critical condition.
“The rest are stable. It should be mentioned that all of those injured are male and at this moment it’s been confirmed that four were from the state of Jalisco.”

Zinchenko’s gratitude for Ukraine support
Oleksandr Zinchenko admits he breaks down in tears every time British schoolkids tell him they are praying for Ukraine.
Manchester City’s left-back expressed gratitude to his club and people of the UK for the support he has received since Russia invaded his homeland.
Zinchenko, who has won 48 caps for his country, said: “Even outside the club, when I am walking in the street, little guys who are maybe ten-years-old from school come to me and say ‘we are praying for your country.’ Tears come from my eyes straight away.
“Everyone in Ukraine feels all of the world is standing with us.”

Kante speaks on Abramovich’s departure
Chelsea star N’Golo Kante admitted he and his team-mates were ‘not prepared’ for Roman Abramovich’s shock departure statement.
The Frenchman told Sky Sports: “It’s something we were not prepared for, it came quickly.
“But the only thing we can do, because we don’t control these things, is to do the best that we have always done.
“Which means that playing football at the best [possible level], for us, for the club, for the fans and see how the things are going and it’s the only thing we can control.
“It’s sad to see things like this [the invasion of Ukraine]. We can hope that it finishes as quickly as possible and in the best way.”
Ronaldo’s jet-set lifestyle
Cristiano Ronaldo bought a Gulfstream G200 twin-engine jet in 2015 for £20million.
He and partner Georgina Rodriguez have been seen making the most of the luxury transport.
Originally named the ‘Astra Galaxy’, the G200 is capable of reaching a top speed of 560mph.
Its range is up to 3,910 miles with four passengers in tow, so it’s ideal for quick flights from his new base in England to hubs around Europe.
But the G200 offers a generous seating configuration, and can fit as many as eight to 10 passengers for one flight.

Don’t worry about it
Jack Grealish has been told by Pep Guardiola to stop being ‘stupid’ for worrying about his poor scoring record.
Guardiola said: “If he is frustrated about his number of goals, he is a stupid man.
“That is not necessary to be frustrated about scoring goals. He has to play, and play good and try to do his best, that’s all he has to do. If he scores a goal, good. If not, next game.”
Keeping up with Jones
Man United are reportedly one of a host of clubs tracking Middlesbrough starlet Isaiah Jones.
The 22-year-old has gone from non-league unknown at Tooting & Mitchham to one of the Championship’s brightest stars in over the past two years.
Jones shone again last Tuesday at wing-back as Boro dumped Tottenham out of the FA Cup.
And 90 Min claims that his display led to Tottenham ‘asking to be kept informed’ over his future.
But United are allegedly ready to battle Spurs for any potential swoop should Chris Wilder’s side decide to cash-in.
Morning footy fans
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has slammed his own fans for chanting Roman Abramovich’s name while Turf Moor paid tribute to Ukraine before their Premier League match.
“It’s not the moment to do this. Listen, if we show solidarity, we show solidarity, and we should do it together,” Tuchel said after the game.
“We take the knee together, and if an important person from our club or another club unfortunately dies, we show a minute of respect. It’s not the moment to give other messages. It’s the moment to show respect.
“We do this because this is what we are also as a club. We show respect as a club, and we need our fans to commit to this minute of applause.
“At this moment, we do it for Ukraine, and there is no second opinion about the situation there. They have our thoughts and our support. We should stand together as a club. It’s not the moment for other messages.”
Chelsea have reportedly set a transfer fee for on-loan striker Armando Broja.
The 20-year-old striker has scored nine times for Southampton this term, where he has been shining on the South Coast.
And his form has alerted Arsenal and West Ham to his potential availability.
Now, Tuttomercatoweb claim the Blues are willing to accept offers in the region of £58million for the Albanian international.
Pep wants huge striker
Pep Guardiola told Manchester City they must splash the cash on a striker this summer.
The Etihad club are desperate to snap up a forward with long-term targets Harry Kane and Erling Haaland top of the wishlist.
City boss Guardiola was knocked back four times last summer for England captain Kane, with Spurs demanding £160million.
But the Spaniard, who has hinted to stay beyond 2023 when his contract is due to run out, said any forward planning must include a top goalscorer.
He said: “I think the club needs a striker. Definitely.”
Teen wonderkid Stones chase on
Wigan and Blackburn are checking out Guiseley teenager Josh Stones.
The striker, 18, is catching the eye in the National League North after only signing his first pro deal in October.
Stones has made 11 appearances so far this term, scoring once.
But he could now be set for a stunning move up the leagues, with Wigan and Blackburn both keen.
Stones was promoted to Guiseley’s first team earlier this season.
That’s after he netted nine times in just five games for their youth side.
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ROMAN ABRAMOVICH is conducting an auction for the sale of Chelsea after announcing he is parting company with the club.And Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak says he is in talks to buy the club, adding: “The Turkish flag will fly over London!”
American billionaire Todd Boehly is also said to be in the running, as he sizes up a joint bid with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss.
But Abramovich is said to have rejected a £2.5bn offer for the West Londoners.
And there are concerns that Wyss has little interest in football, only wants to buy the club to spite Abramovich and will not splash out on transfers the way the Russian has.
Follow ALL of the latest updates and transfer gossip from Stamford Bridge right here…
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EXCLUSIVE: ‘Rats’ stole Oli’s £500k watch collection
Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie is offering a £20,000 reward after “rats” took his watches.
The Scotland player said the £500,000 collection was taken in a burglary a few months ago.

Oli, 25, shared pics of eight timepieces including a gold Rolex.
He wrote: “£20k cash if anyone lets me know anything that leads to the recovery of the watches or the rats that done it.”
Rival footie fans trolled him.
One tweeted: “This lad’s had more watches than goals.”
Another posted: “I’ll watch out for them.”
EXCLUSIVE: Jesse’s victim of £100k robbery
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard was targeted by “Away Day” robbers who stole more than £100,000 of clothes and jewellery from his home.
The Sun can reveal he became their latest victim on January 15 as the Red Devils went to Aston Villa. The gang escaped with the haul before security was alerted at his £3million mansion.

In May 2020 Lingard gave an MTV crew a tour of his five-bedroom home for its Cribs show. He  showed off his walk-in wardrobe featuring a huge designer trainer collection and his 32 England caps.
Since the burglary, Lingard, 27, has put the property in Hale, Gtr Manchester, up for sale and accepted an offer. It boasts a swimming pool, gym and cinema room.
A source said of Jesse, who has a young daughter: “He was really upset to find out he had been targeted.
“The items which were stolen are replaceable, but it’s very invasive for him to have someone break into his home, especially as he is a father.
“He has stepped up security since the robbery and is reviewing how his home is protected when he is away from it.”
Conte: Spurs have been like this 20 years
Antonio Conte says no manager in the world could provide a quick fix for Tottenham’s issues — because they date back 20 years.
The Italian, who was appointed Spurs boss in November, has admitted the task of turning the success-starved North Londoners into winners is  tougher than he expected.
After Saturday’s 4-0 league win at Leeds, they lost 1-0 at Championship Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Tuesday to extend a 14-year trophy drought.
Speaking ahead of their home clash with Everton on Monday, Conte said: “I always said this from my first day. Tottenham’s story is this — many ups and downs.
“But to be competitive, to try to win something, fight for something important and become a strong team, the first thing that has to happen is to be stable and avoid these ups and downs.
“To do this and to change this situation that has been happening for many, many years in Tottenham, it’s not simple.
“In a short time it’s impossible to do this, not only for me but I think for any manager or coach to come in and change the story in one second.
“Especially when this club, for 20 years, has this type of situation.”
Abramovich departure ‘not good’ for fans
Spurs chief Antonio Conte says Roman Abramovich selling Chelsea is ‘not good news’ for their fans.
Conte won the Premier League in 2016-17, followed by cup glory in 17-18, but he was sacked due to a fifth place league finish.
The Italian’s axing cost Roman £26million in compensation and legal fees, as Conte sued the club in a lengthy legal battle.
In a press conference today he spoke out and said: “It is not good news for Chelsea fans.”
He seemed complimentary of the work Roman had done with the Blues.
Chelsea have beaten Conte’s Tottenham twice in 2022 already, and have not conceded a goal to the Lilywhites since August 2021.
Mu’s in for Blues
Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak claims he is in talks to buy £3billion rated Chelsea off Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The European champions were put up for sale by Abramovich amid Russia’s invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine.

Abramovich was a topic of conversation in the UK parliament with some MPs questioning why the Chelsea owner wasn’t sanctioned due to his ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
As a result, Abramovich is looking to offload all of his London assets, including Chelsea.
And Turkish billionaire Bayrak says he’s in talks to buy the west London club.
He told Turkish outlet Yeni Safak: “We are negotiating the terms of the purchase of Chelsea with Roman Abramovich’s lawyers.
“We are in the negotiation phase for the signatures. We will fly the Turkish flag in London soon.
“We made our offer. Because of the war with Russia and Ukraine in the world. Because they find Turkey safe, they want to get most of the after-sales money in Turkey. We are planning to sign soon.”
Toon and Gunners ‘eye Youssef’
Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri is reportedly on Arsenal and Newcastle’s radar.
Fichajes say the Moroccan’s injury-hit season has not deterred Premier League admirers.
The 24-year-old was also linked with an exit in the last transfer window.
And interest is expected to rise again in the summer.
Credit: Rex
‘Utd stars question Maguire starting place’
Harry Maguire’s Manchester United starting place has been privately questioned by team-mates, it’s claimed.
The Old Trafford skipper has already denied a dressing-room power struggle with Cristiano Ronaldo.
And now the Times suggest the England centre’s recent form has sparked debate in the squad.
They say ‘some of his team-mates have aired their grievances among themselves at the club’s Carrington training ground’.
Credit: Getty
Red Star fans back Russia
Red Star Belgrade fans chanted their support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during Thursday’s 3-0 win over Vozvodac.
The Serbian giants warmed up for their Europa League last-16 tie against Rangers with a comfortable victory.
And in footage shared by Serbian paper Sportski Zurnal, Red Star supporters can be heard chanting ‘Russia, Russia, Russia’ during the clash.
Red Star Belgrade fans chant in support of Russian invasion of Ukraine as they prepare for Rangers clash
The links between Serbia and Russia are strong – stretching back to the first world war.
And Red Star’s support of the country comes as the club have stood by their shirt sponsorship with Russian energy firm Gazprom.
Uefa ditched the oil giant’s sponsorship of the Champions League – while Schalke instantly dropped them as kit sponsors.
But Red Star’s general secretary insisted they will keep their main backers after lashing out at “anti-Russian hysteria”.   
Red Star played bitter rivals Partizan at the weekend, with Russian flags spotted in the opposition end.
I never want to leave Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli has revealed he wants to stay at Arsenal for his ‘whole life’ and help fire the club back into the Champions League.
The 20-year-old is a fan favourite at the Emirates and has started to show consistency this season.
Martinelli has played 23 times for Arsenal this season, predominately operating out wide on the left-hand side.

And his direct style of play has helped contribute getting Arsenal back fighting for a Champions League spot.
The Gunners are currently sat sixth, two points off fourth place Manchester United with THREE games in hand.
He told ESPN Brasil: “We always want more. Of course, Arsenal are a giant team. If I can, I’ll stay here my whole life. I want to conquer things, I already said, I want to stay here and win titles, with this wonderful crowd, my teammates.
“We have a young group, we have a lot of time ahead of us, players with a lot of quality, I think we will achieve great things.
“Our focus [today] is the Champions League. Fighting for that top four. A club like Arsenal has to be in the Champions League. It’s our total focus.”
Ralf has ‘no idea’ on next Utd boss
Interim chief Ralf Rangnick claims he is in the dark over who’ll get the permanent Manchester United job.
Ahead of Sunday’s Prem trip to neighbours City, he said of the managerial situation: “I have no idea.
“I am here until the end of the season and it is important to develop the players.
“We have had one or two meetings with the head of scouting. We have not spoken about the new manager too much”.
Eagles linked to Sanson
FA Cup quarter-finalists Crystal Palace are tipped to join a summer fight for Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson.
Lille and Rennes are also reportedly interested in a loan swoop as the Frenchman has struggled since arriving from Marseille.
Declan aims for the top
Declan Rice says his dreams to play in the Champions League are ‘urgent’ in a major transfer warning to West Ham.
The Hammers midfielder, 23, has been valued at £120million by boss David Moyes with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea showing an interest.
Rice’s current deal with the club runs out in June 2024 – with no talks so far to extend.
Credit: Rex
And the England international has hinted yet again his future may lie away from the club after admitting he sees himself as one of the best players in the world.
Asked about his desire to win trophies and play in the Champions League, Rice said: “It is as urgent as possible. I feel like, not only for me, that’s for every young player as well.
“I see friends that are close to me, big players winning big trophies. You want to be a part of that. You want to be remembered in this career for what you’ve won.
“I feel like I am one of the established top players around the world. I am only 23. But in terms of my playing ability and the way I’ve performed consistently, I see myself as an established player now who’s got good experience and can play at any level if required.
“We are really close with West Ham at the minute and last season it was gutting to lose out on it but we are pushing.”
‘Business as usual’
Emma Hayes insists it is ‘business as usual’ for Chelsea as they prep for a Conti Cup final in the midst of Roman Abramovich selling the club.
The Blues owner put the football juggernauts up for sale this week with the government facing pressure to impose sanctions on him.  
The Russian billionaire, 55, is an advocate of Chelsea’s WSL side who have evolved into one of the women’s game’s dominant forces following Hayes’ 2012 arrival.

However, Abramovich is set to cut ties with the club- whose women’s team have won 12 major trophies – following questions over alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen Putin come under fire from leaders across globe.
And the country has been suspended from competing in a number of sports events including this year’s World Cup.
Hayes, 45, who last Saturday was named as one of six custodians of the Blues said: “Look, it’s business as usual and I stand by this.
“Chelsea have amazing people, across the club, leading in all sections, from Neil Bath to Thomas Tuchel, to the work we’re doing here (with the women’s team).
“We will be successful going forward, nothing has changed. We’ve got a cup final, and everyone is looking forward to that.”
Utd ‘contact Ten Hag’
Manchester United have contacted Ajax chief Erik ten Hag as they narrow their managerial options for next season, reports say.
Ten Hag is favourite to land the Old Trafford permanent job this summer, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick tipped to move upstairs.
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino is rated next on the list of options.
And it’s now claimed Carlo Ancelotti could be a contender if Real Madrid sack him.
Other names mentioned include Graham Potter, Roberto Mancini and Luis Enrique.
Roman exit ‘not good’ for fans
Spurs chief Antonio Conte says Roman Abramovich selling Chelsea is ‘not good news’ for their fans.
Conte won the Premier League in 2016-17, followed by cup glory in 17-18, but he was sacked due to a fifth place league finish.
The Italian’s axing cost Roman £26million in compensation and legal fees, as Conte sued the club in a lengthy legal battle.
In a press conference today he spoke out and said: “It is not good news for Chelsea fans.”
He seemed complimentary of the work Roman had done with the blues.
Chelsea have beaten Conte’s Tottenham twice in 2022 already, and have not conceded a goal to the Lilywhites since August 2021.
Blues’ Bay watch
Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak claims he is in talks to buy £3billion rated Chelsea off Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The European champions were put up for sale by Abramovich amid Russia’s invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine.

Abramovich was a topic of conversation in the UK parliament with some MPs questioning why the Chelsea owner wasn’t sanctioned due to his ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
As a result, Abramovich is looking to offload all of his London assets, including Chelsea.
And Turkish billionaire Bayrak says he’s in talks to buy the west London club.
He told Turkish outlet Yeni Safak: “We are negotiating the terms of the purchase of Chelsea with Roman Abramovich’s lawyers.
“We are in the negotiation phase for the signatures. We will fly the Turkish flag in London soon.
“We made our offer. Because of the war with Russia and Ukraine in the world. Because they find Turkey safe, they want to get most of the after-sales money in Turkey. We are planning to sign soon.”
Lukaku set for recall
Chelsea return to Premier League football following a double dose up of cup action which included heartache and a fightback.
The Blues were beaten by Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final after a lengthy penalty shootout.
And the hangover looked to continue as they found themselves 2-1 down to Luton before fighting back to win 3-2.

Kepa Arrizabalaga – who missed Chelsea’s deciding spot kick at Wembley – started against Luton but is expected to be replaced by Edouard Mendy.
Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva – both ruled out against Luton – could come back into the line up.
Both were seemingly rested for the midweek trip to Luton and available to return.
Boss Thomas Tuchel said: “Those who weren’t at Luton due to minor injuries like Trevoh and Thiago were back in training yesterday so all fine.”
Pep ‘joy’ at watching Ronaldo
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City need to find a way to halt the ‘unstoppable goalscoring machine’ that is Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday.
The Portuguese legend has endured a difficult start to 2022, scoring just once in the calendar year so far.
But City weighed up the possibility of signing the veteran from Juventus before he returned to Old Trafford in August.

And Guardiola has admitted he is a big admirer, saying: “As a finisher he’s exceptional, I’m not going to disguise it was a joy to watch him these years.
“We have to explode our game, our strength to avoid Cristiano close to the box, because there he is almost unstoppable.
“When you are one of the greatest that he was in terms of being a goalscoring machine, you will always be there.
“He is so strong mentally. He handled pressure without a problem because he lived with expectation through his career and always responded in a positive way.”
Kante joins an exclusive club
After winning the Club World Cup last month, Chelsea midfield workhorse N’golo Kante joined a very limited club of exceptional players.
Only four players have ever won the World Cup, Champions League, Premier League and Club World Cup.

Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
Pedro (Lazio)
Thierry Henry (Retired)
N’golo Kante (Chelsea)

It is without doubt that he is one of the greats at Chelsea and in football in general. He revolutionised what it means to be a midfielder.
Perhaps he will only truly be appreciated after his retirement. Master.
N’golo Kante celebrates UCL glory.Credit: AFP
Who are the goal scorers?
Chelsea’s goal scoring list this season is as follows (In all comps):

Romelu Lukaku – 11 Goals.
Jorginho – 9 Goals.
Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz – 7 Goals.
Hakim Ziyech – 6 Goals.
Reece James – 5 Goals.

It must be said, it is concerning for blues fans that Reece James is so high up the list considering their array of attacking talent, and his significant injury this season.
Chelsea’s goal scoring troubled season
Chelsea have been defensively sound this season, and early on there were even questions surrounding whether the current crop could beat the record of 15 goals conceded in a campaign.
However, they have struggled defensively somewhat in comparison to the start of the season, perhaps because of injuries to Ben Chilwell and Reece James.
Their goal scoring however, seems to be a more permanent issue, with record signing Romelu Lukaku failing to hit the heights he hit last season with Inter Milan and Belgium.
Across all competitions, Lukaku has hit the target 11 times and got 0 assists, in 30 games, an average of 0.47 goals per 90mins.
Thankfully for CFC, the blues have had goals from a range of positions this season, as we look into their top goal scorers this season…
Chelsea ‘reject £2.5bn takeover bid’
Roman Abramovich will ‘not rush’ into selling Chelsea after reportedly rejecting an offer worth £2.5BILLION, writes GIACOMO PISA.
The Russian is looking for £3bn after deciding to cut his ties with the club following questions over his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
And the 55-year-old is seemingly adamant he will not compromise over his valuation, despite the risk of asset sanctions from the UK government.
A reported offer of £2.5bn from an unnamed bidder has been rejected by the oligarch, according to Reuters.
Joe Ravitch, co-founder of investment bank Raine Group LLC, is the man in charge of seeking out the next owners.
And he said the club are eager to source a buyer who who is the ‘best steward’ for Chelsea going forward, while also securing a fair price.
He went on to tell Reuters: “We are not going to rush anything. It is very important that Chelsea have the right owner to guide the club forward.”
Egyptian billionaire Lotfy Mansour has already pulled out of the race to purchase the club.
Chelsea’s London Football Awards Winners
The London Football Awards celebrate the best the sport has to offer in the capital, as only clubs and players based in London are eligible.
Chelsea had four winners last night, they were:

Samantha Kerr – FA Women’s Super League Player of the Year award.
Edouard Mendy – Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Conor Gallagher – Men’s Young Player of Year.
Emma Hayes – Outstanding Contribution to London Football award.

Chelsea academy product and potential summer signing – Declan Rice – picked up the Premier League Player award, which will maybe just add a few more pennies to his summer transfer fee.
‘He cares about the club’
Thomas Tuchel praised Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in his earlier press conference, after he has come under a lot of fire regarding the sale of CFC.
Tuchel had this to say regarding Abramovich’s tenure at the club:
“He was and he is a very very passionate owner, who cares actually about the team, about the club, about the performance…Which is very rare”
He went on to say how pleased he was that he could win the Club World Cup for Roman, which meant that the owner has won every trophy available to him in football at least once.
Tuchel evidently felt that Roman was entirely deserving of this honour, due to his “passion” and “commitment” to the club.
Roman Abramovich celebrates with the Club World Cup trophy.Credit: Getty
Chelsea trio out of Tuch?
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is concerned Chelsea’s out-of-contract stars could leave the club in the summer.
Roman Abramovich putting The Blues up for sale has generated a lot of uncertainty around Stamford Bridge.

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and American Todd Boehler are said to be interested but they could restrict spending if they complete a takeover.
And that could mean Chelsea lose defensive trio Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen who are all out of contract in the summer.
Tuchel said: “The bottom line is maybe we can’t help it – it is what it is. You never know maybe it has a positive effect on the negotiations or maybe it has a negative effect.
“We cannot predict and I would like not to predict on scenarios because you just lose focus, but everyone has a different situation and feels different about it (the sale).
“I hope for the best outcome still, I think we have something to offer still. Chelsea are a strong club and will stay a strong club. Our owner decided to sell the club but he sells a strong, solid, organised club at the highest level.”

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