Premier League

CHELSEA have released Malang Sarr after terminating his contract as his four year stay at Stamford Bridge comes to a bitter end.The Frenchman, 25, departs west London having made 21 appearances since joining in August 2020. Malang Sarr will leave Chelsea immediately after the club released him on SaturdayCredit: ReutersThe Frenchman has joined Lens in a two-year dealCredit: GettyChelsea and Malang Sarr have agreed to terminate the defender’s contract. 🔵— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 27, 2024

Sarr spent time on loan at Porto and Monaco during his time at the club.The centre-back failed to break back into the first team squad when Mauricio Pochettino arrived last summer and was subsequently sent to train with the Under-21s.Following the mutual termination of his Chelsea contract, Sarr will not receive any compensation for the final year of his wages.Sarr has now officially joined Ligue 1 side Lens on a two-year deal as he looks to revive his career.Lens manager Pierre Dreossi said: “Versatile and with solid European experience, Malang is a player who started out very young and whose career has been marked by many challenges.“Despite the trials and tribulations, he never gave up and now joins Racing with the firm intention of performing well.”The defender picked up a whopping £20.8million in wages from his spell in the Premier League.He was limited to just eight Prem appearances, and last featured in the top flight in the 2021/2022 season. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSChelsea’s US tour partyGoalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Marcus Bettinelli, Eddie Beach, Lucas Bergstrom.Defenders: Reece James, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia.Midfielders: Lesley Ugochukwu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Andrey Santos.Forwards: Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Armando Broja, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Angelo.Rested: Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer.Reported injured: Petrovic   Left out:  Trevoh Chalobah, Alfie Gilchrist, Malang Sarr, Cesare Casadei, Leo Castledine, Deivid Washington, Diego Moreira, Omari Kellyman, Caleb Wiley, Tino Anjorin, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mason Burstow, David Datro Fofana, Bashir Humphreys, Romelu Lukaku, Alex Matos, Gabriel Slonina, Harvey Vale, Dujuan Richards, Kiano Dyer, Billy Gee, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Zak Sturge, Jimi Tauriainen, Travis Akomeah, Ato Ampah, Somto Boniface, Luke Campbell, Brodi Hughes, Harrison McMahon, Donnell McNeilly, Leo Cardoso, Max Merrick, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Richard Olise, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Frankie Runham, Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny, Zain Silcott-Duberry, Ronnie Stutter, Shaun Wade, Kaiden Wilson.Sarr began his career at Nice, debuting as a 17-year-old and making 119 first-team appearances before joining Chelsea as a free agent.Chelsea could also cut ties with some first team players this summer.Football teams that controversially changed their badgeTrevoh Chalobah was left out of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the club’s USA pre-season tour last week.Blues chiefs are reportedly looking to offload him before the transfer window shuts.Conor Gallagher could also leave despite his fan-favourite status, with Aston Villa and Tottenham registering their interest in the England international.Meanwhile, Maresca has publicly stated that Enzo Fernandez – who is under internal investigation- is in his plans for next season after the Argentine sparked a racism storm.The £105m Chelsea man shared shocking footage showing Argentina players signing a racist and homophobic song on their team bus about France. More

AFTER months of talk around Chelsea academy graduates leaving the club it seems Blues fans may have another to get excited about.Teenager Tyrique George has been handed a chance to impress in the United States by new boss Enzo Maresca this summer.Chelsea academy starlet Tyrique George has been called up to the US pre-season tourCredit: GettyChelsea star Raheem Sterling has been sharing important advice for GeorgeCredit: PAChelsea’s pre-season tourHere is a look at Chelsea’s full tour of the USA:RESULTSChelsea 2 Wrexham 2 – July 24 FIXTURESChelsea vs Celtic – July 27 – Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IndianaChelsea vs Club America – July 31 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaChelsea vs Manchester City – August 3 – Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OhioChelsea vs Real Madrid – August 6 – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North CarolinaGotham FC vs Chelsea Women – August 19 – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New JerseyChelsea Women vs Arsenal Women – August 25 – Audi Field, Washington DCNot only was the 18-year-old winger named in the touring squad for pre-season but he was a surprise starter in the opening game against Wrexham at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.George was named on the bench by Mauricio Pochettino three times in Premier League games last season but never got on.So against the Welsh side in California this was his first real chance to show what he can do – and there was plenty to like.Despite his age the left winger was confident and composed on the ball, always looking to take on the defender in front of him and make things happen.Read More on ChelseaSome runs came off, others did not but across the 45 minutes he was given in the first half George never went hiding.He said: “I was very excited and this is another big step in my career. It was such a good experience.”I have been at Chelsea since I was eight years old so to have the chance to play for the first team for the first time, with players who not long ago I was watching on TV, was so special.”Those players who he has been watching on TV have been impressed too.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGeorge has been in the thick of it in training Stateside, taking part in friendly challenges with far more senior teammates at the end of sessions.Noni Madueke has long been a fan and supporter of George’s, impressed by his return of 14 goals and 10 assists across Chelsea’s youth teams last season.Chelsea’s top summer transfer targetsHis fellow winger has been one of a few players to support the youngster as he looks to make an impression on Maresca.Veteran Raheem Sterling has made a lot of effort to ensure that George is settled and working hard at this level, while former Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is also a close friend.George said: “When you are quite new to the group, having someone like Raheem give you advice when he has played at the highest level for so many years really helps.”Having the chance to play alongside all these top players has been really good. You are learning new things every day from really experienced players.”On the pitch in America, fellow academy graduate Levi Colwill has been giving George vocal support while Christopher Nkunku has also been keeping an eye on him.The England Under-18 international has been with the Blues academy since the age of eight having been born in London to Nigerian parents.Chelsea pre-season tour squad and notable absenteesGoalkeepers: Robert SanchezMarcus BettinelliEddie BeachLucas BergstromDefenders: Reece JamesMalo GustoJosh AcheampongWesley FofanaAxel DisasiTosin AdarabioyoBenoit BadiashileLevi ColwillBen ChilwellRenato VeigaMidfielders: Carney ChukwuemekaRomeo LaviaLesley UgochukwuKiernan Dewsbury-HallAndrey SantosForwards: Nicolas JacksonChristopher NkunkuRaheem SterlingMykhailo MudrykNoni MaduekeArmando BrojaTyrique GeorgeMarc GuiuAngeloNotable absentees: (Internationals)Cole PalmerConor Gallagher Enzo FernandezMarc Cucurella(Left out ahead of possible loan/sale)Romelu LukakuOmari Kellyman Alfie Gilchrist Bashir Humphreys Cesare Casadei David Datro Fofana Deivid WashingtonDjordje Petrovic More

GARY CAHILL called on Chelsea to ditch their transfer strategy and buy some older, experienced heads – just like him.Todd Boehly’s £1billion-plus spending spree since buying the Blues in 2022 has focused on paying big money for young rising stars.Gary Cahill won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012Credit: GettyEnzo Maresca has continued the Chelsea transfer strategy of signing youngstersCredit: GettySpanish striker Marc Guiu, 18, arrived from BarcelonaCredit: GettyBoehly signed off mammoth cheques for Wesley Fofana (£75m), Mykhailo Mudryk (£88m), Enzo Fernandez (£110m) and record-arrival Moises Caicedo (£115m).New manager Enzo Maresca has continued the trend since taking over from Mauricio Pochettino this summer with Omari Kellyman (£19m), Tosin Adarabioyo (free), Marc Guiu (£5m), Kieran Dewsbury-Hall (£30m) and Renato Veiga (£11.75m) heading through the entrance door at Stamford Bridge. But Cahill believes the smartest piece of business the new manager could do before the transfer window closes is to land a few veterans. Thiago Silva spent four years in West London, providing bags of trophy-winning know-how and leadership expertise to a young squad desperately lacking.READ MORE ON CHELSEABut after the 39-year-old’s free transfer exit at the end of last season, the only two players aged over 30 currently in the squad are Romelu Lukaku, 31, and 32-year-old Marcus Bettinelli.Of last season’s regulars, Raheem Sterling is the senior statesman at 29.Cahill, 38, said: “I’d like to see a little bit of experience added in the window, to be honest. “That would be a sensible play from Chelsea, from my personal point of view, to try and build that spine and knit together some of these young players. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“Obviously, the tactic has been to buy exciting young players to then develop over the next two or three years. That sometimes takes time, especially when you get players from different leagues, different countries. It’s not always easy for them to settle. “For me, a good transfer window for Chelsea would be to have two or three experienced players that are not phased and potentially know the league but have been around a little bit. Chelsea fans in tears at ‘ugliest kit so far’ as ‘melting pot pattern’ for 2024/25 season is releasedGary Cahill’s career at ChelseaAppearances: 290 (2011-19)Goals: 25Premier League: 2014-15, 2016-17FA Cup: 2011-12, 2017-18League Cup: 2014-15Champions League: 2011-12Europa League: 2012-13, 2018-19“That would be vital in terms of getting the squad together and helping these young players to progress and almost set the standards and the levels. “Like with Thiago, he had a big impact there, didn’t he? Even at the age that he was at, it was a huge impact. That’s a big loss in terms of not just playing but also in the changing room.“Adding that experience will help this team on and off the pitch.”Pressed on who he had in mind, the 61-cap ex-England defender and 2012 Champions League winner joked: “Me, mate! Did you see me in Soccer Aid?“But that kind of pedigree, an experienced player, a top player and a player that’s been around and knows the standards and knows what it’s like to compete and be at a big club and try and challenge for trophies.”Maresca certainly knows how to lead teams to win trophies, being Pep Guardiola’s No2 during the Treble-winning season before lifting the Championship in his solo campaign as Leicester boss, securing the Foxes an immediate return to the Premier League.But Cahill is not necessarily expecting Maresca to add to his personal collection of medals in 2024-25.He added: “Time will tell. It’s quite, what do you say, risky. It’s an appointment where I think people are unsure how it’s going to go.“The new manager has got his philosophies and ideas. It’s difficult for that to all hit the ground running and be uber successful straight away.“It needs a little bit of time and patience. READ MORE SUN STORIES“Patience can’t be a mid-table. I think patience has got to be definitely competing to get Champions League football and pushing on in the last stages of the cup competition. “They’ve got a lot of potential in the squad. It just needs to knit together. I think it still needs a year or two to develop and get to the stage where they want to be because you’ve got such a young, average-age squad.”Veteran Thiago Silva bid farewell at the end of last seasonCredit: Getty More