Rooney reveals how Van Gaal reacted to infamous boxing accident in 2015

Wayne Rooney has opened up about how a video of Phil Bardsley knocking him out in a friendly kitchen bout left former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal in stitches of laughter.

A video emerged in March 2015 of Rooney and Bardsley, at that point a Sunderland player, squaring up to each other with boxing gloves on in Wayne’s kitchen. Coleen must have been at her parent’s or something.

Out of seemingly nowhere, Bardsley produces a brutal left-hand jab, leaving Rooney unconscious even before the back of his head thuds on the marble-like floor. Watching this video for the first time, I genuinely thought Rooney had died. My childhood hero. Dead. From a punch from a Sunderland full-back.

Rooney: “When it (boxing video) was coming out, I went to see Van Gaal. I said ‘this story’s coming out about me and Phil Bardsley fighting in the house', and he p***ed himself laughing. He found it hilarious." #mufc [MEN] pic.twitter.com/Muowus83c3

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) May 31, 2019

Some managers would have taken serious action against a player involved in such a video. Not Van Gaal. The Dutchman, I can imagine, took great joy out of seeing a good old-fashioned informal kitchen knockout in full swing, with the only negative remarks perhaps coming in the shape of critiquing Rooney’s lack of defence and poor head positioning.

In the following game, a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, Rooney played superbly and scored a wonderful solo goal, driving through the heart of the Spurs defence and sliding the ball past Hugo Lloris. In celebration, the United captain produced a quick air-punch combo before falling flat on his back once again. It was another trademark moment from a player whose attitude this current team desperately misses.

Conte clarifies transfer stance on Lukaku after joining Inter Milan

Antonio Conte has confirmed that no contact has been made between Inter Milan and Romelu Lukaku this summer amid rumours of a potential move to the San Siro.

The Belgian, who has spoken fondly of Serie A in recent weeks, could be surplus to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s requirements after failing to impress him since December.

Reports have suggested that Manchester United would be willing to let Lukaku leave if potential suitors lodge a bid worth around £80m.

But according to Conte, who was announced as Inter boss on Friday, no contact as of yet has been made with Lukaku.

“Have Inter met with Lukaku? No, that’s not right, but in this moment there is a sporting director to talk about this and do this question about the transfer market, about the players,” he said.

“But I repeat: Now we are very focused to do the first step and to work together.”

The BBC‘s Simon Stone recently confirmed the widely reported claim that Conte admires Lukaku deeply, with the Italian trying and failing to sign the striker in 2017.

The view has been Conte would want Lukaku (as he did at Chelsea) when he returned to management. View at Inter is that Lukaku more realistic financially for them than Sanchez. As Lukaku kept being left out, I assume OGS would be open to sale BUT sums need to work.

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) May 31, 2019

Solskjaer would have to receive guarantees of a new striker coming in should Lukaku depart. In principle, the move makes sense, but whether both parties can get the numbers to work remains to be seen.

Massive development in De Ligt saga, decision to be made soon: report

There is a feeling in Holland that moving to Manchester United serves as a better option for Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt, according to the Telegraph.

A series of conflicting reports have come out regarding De Ligt, with agent Mino Raiola stoking up uncertainty as a means of adding extra value to the transfer. 

A source from Man United reportedly claimed last week that the club expected De Ligt to join Barcelona. On the other side in Spain, reports have suggested a deadlock in negotiations between the Catalans and the De Ligt camp. There is no clear idea on what is really going on.

According to the Telegraph‘s Luke Edwards, who reported earlier this month that De Ligt was open to an Old Trafford move, the idea of figuring at the centre of the club’s rebuild appeals to the 19-year-old, who was given a similar role ahead of the beginning of Ajax’s resurgence two years ago.

If De Ligt’s main ambition really is to play a central, leading role at a club going through a rebuild process, then United find themselves in the driving seat. His latest quotes certainly nod towards this being his primary motivation.

“I’m very excited for what could be coming in the near future,” he said to Dutch media. “But I’m calm too. I see it as a challenge, that’s the most important thing. There are various options, what I’m doing is looking for the best option.”

Man United favourites to sign 24yo midfielder, deal could be done within a week: report

Manchester United are in pole position to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes and could complete the deal ‘within a week’ after making a superior offer to other competitors, according to reports from Portugal.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in the market for midfield reinforcements following the departures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera this year.

Fernandes, who began his career in Italy, has enjoyed a sensational season with Sporting, scoring 31 goals from midfield in all competitions.

And according to Portuguese media outlet A Bola, Man United could have the deal wrapped up with Fernandes within the next week.

Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United offer will beat their neighbours, hope signing could even be done within a week.

https://t.co/Iapk61UO1D #mufc #mcfc pic.twitter.com/mDSxNeUHJ3

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) May 31, 2019

The month of May has come to an end and United are yet to complete any business. This is not exactly a concern but it does mean one thing: June has to be big.

Daniel James, you’d expect, will be the first signing. God knows what is happening with Matthijs de Ligt. A new full-back seems to be on the agenda.

What must not be ignored, however, is just how badly the midfield needs to be addressed. United have lost two established Premier League players in Fellaini and Herrera, further diminishing an already substandard part of the team. The club must buy smart in this area. Fernandes, who Pep Guardiola admires, is a good place to start.

Chelsea "release" Sarri ahead of Juve move

Chelsea have agreed to release manager Maurizio Sarri from his contract so that he can become Juventus manager, according to a breaking Sport Italia report.

There has been speculation over the Italian coach’s future at Stamford Bridge, despite the former Napoli man having won the Europa League this season, while also leading his side to a third place finish.

With Max Allegri having left Juventus this summer, speculation had linked Sarri with a move to Turin, with some reports earlier this season claiming Sarri was eyeing a return to the Serie A.

Now according to Sport Italia report, Chelsea have allowed the 60-year old to leave the club.

Although this report is currently unconfirmed, it does point to a major decision on Sarri’s future being made soon.

The post Chelsea “release” Sarri ahead of Juve move appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Gallery: Academy graduate or Juventus star? Players who Chelsea should consider as Marcos Alonso replacements

Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso is nearing a move to Atletico Madrid this summer, as explained by Spanish news outlet Marca. 

This comes after the defender has been left frustrated by a lack of consistency in the starting 11 this season having failed to make the cut for the Europa League final on Wednesday, with Maurizio Sarri opting to play Emerson ahead of him.

Alonso flourished under Antonio Conte when given the freedom to go forward as a left wing-back. But Sarri demands more defensive responsibility from his full-backs, and the once highly-rated defender showed weaknesses in his game, making mistakes all too often.

Atletico are looking for a new left-back after cashing in on Lucas Hernandez and wanting fresh legs to replace Filipe Luis.

Both Alonso and Emerson have proved somewhat unreliable to Sarri, but with a transfer ban looming, Chelsea may have no option but to stick with what they have or look towards their youth academy.

Here are some potential replacements for Alonso should Chelsea avoid their ban.

The post Left-backs who could replace Marcos Alonso at Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Italian football expert reveals how Juventus really feel about Maurizio Sarri

Fresh off the back of winning the first trophy of his managerial career, Maurizio Sarri has continued to be inundated with reports of his imminent departure, as Italian champions Juventus look to sweep in and take the chain-smoking tactician back to his homeland.

These rumours, however, have now been disputed, with Italian football expert Adam Digby suggesting that Sarri is merely a fall-back option should the Old Lady fail to tempt Pep Guardiola or Mauricio Pochettino over to Turin.

Upon Massimiliano Allegri’s sudden departure from the Italian giants, with whom he won a record four consecutive domestic doubles, reports began to surface that underfire Chelsea coach Sarri would be the man to replace him.

However, in an interview with Sky Sports News, Digby seemed to think otherwise, stating that:

Juve see him almost like a fall-back. They’re looking at Pep Guardiola and we know they’re looking at Mauricio Pochettino. They’re still trying to target one of those two, but keeping Maurizio Sarri as a fall-back option.

 I think that’s why the issue of Sarri’s compensation and getting out of his contract at Chelsea is taking so long; because Juve are not stood there saying, ‘OK, we’ll just pay it and have this manager’. 

Despite his assertions that Sarri is not the man Juventus feel they can rely on to deliver a long-awaited Champions League title, Digby did not fall short of explaining what an impressive job the 60-year-old had done in guiding Chelsea to a third-place finish and a Europa League title in his first season at the Bridge.

It’s fantastic. The one thing that you need to look at when you’re analysing that is the fact that, of all his seasons at Napoli, his first season was the worst. It only gets better from there.

The post Maurizio Sarri is not Juventus’s top choice this summer appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Hazard pictured with Real Madrid shirt as transfer edges closer

Days after helping Chelsea to a 4-1 Europa league victory in Baku, Hazard has been spotted in Marbella holding the Real Madrid shirt while posing for pictures with fans, reports the Mirror.

The images have since been doing the rounds on social media too.

Twitter: Ya tengo a @hazardeden10 aquí en Marbella, primera foto con una Camiseta Del @realmadrid #HalaMadridYNadaMas https://t.co/MljjWoQUs5 (@RMadridEuropa)

Chelsea are bargaining with the Madrid club for the right price after valuing the player over the £100m mark.

Hazard has always dreamed of playing for the Spanish club and after seven years in England, the time might be right to move out and start a fresh challenge as the main man in the Los Blancos team.

I think it’s a goodbye but in football you never know.

After a poor season finishing third in La Liga and tumbling out of the Champions league to Ajax, Hazard could be the first piece of the Galactico puzzle.

Hazard may only be on holiday at the minute, but Chelsea appear to have had their last glimpse of the player on English soil, perhaps until he comes to haunt them in European football for years to come.

The post Eden Hazard spotted with Real Madrid shirt appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Hazard's Real move delayed as Chelsea resort to last-minute tactics

After a tremendous seven years at Stamford Bridge, Eden Hazard has made it clear he thinks it is time for a new challenge.

However, reports on AS are suggesting that the move to Real Madrid that Hazard has been waiting for, is not going to be as smooth as it was initially hoped to be.

Hazard suggested that the final of the Europa League in Baku on Wednesday night was the final game he would ever wear the Blue shirt for, with a plan to sign the contract with Real Madrid on Thursday and fly out to Spain a couple of days afterwards. However, there has now been a delay in the signing of the contract.

Obviously, Chelsea are not going to give up the Belgian easily. He has had an immense impact on the team over the past seven seasons and it will, therefore, be hard for bosses at Stamford Bridge to let him go. Hazard has however stated that he will not extend his current contract, which takes him to June 2020.

Due to the fact bosses at Chelsea have delayed the contract signing, there is no confirmation as to when Hazard will officially leave the Blues and join Real Madrid, with the London side eager to hold out for much as money as possible.

The post Chelsea bosses delay Hazard’s move to Real appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Italian maestro reflects on the time he nearly joined Chelsea

Andrea Pirlo has opened on nearly moving the Premier League with Chelsea after an amazing career playing most recently for New York City FC.

Now, reports from the Daily Mail suggest Pirlo is looking to become a coach as well as doing work on the TV during match days.

However, he admits he is more of a family man now that his long playing career is over and is essentially catching up on missed time with the family after such a dedicated lifestyle.

I have to do the last licence in September and after that, maybe it will be good for me to become a coach.

Back in 2009, Pirlo was close to joining the Blues, led then by Carlo Ancelotti but terms could not be agreed and the club opted to source for younger players, Pirlo being 30 at the time.

Chelsea said that I was very old – 30 years old!

Pirlo admits it would have been an exciting new challenge in England but looking back on his career is more than happy he stayed in his homeland before finishing stateside.

For sure it would have been a fantastic experience but I’m happy that I decided to stay in Italy.

The post Pirlo reflects on the time he came close to joining Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea man announces retirement from football after Europa League win

Rob Green has announced his retirement from professional football after Wednesday’s midweek victory against Arsenal in Baku.

As reported by Henry Winter, Green released a statement that confirmed he would be hanging up his gloves after 23 years as a professional.

While he has not been involved on the pitch much during his time with the Blues, he has become a popular member of the dressing room and will no doubt be missed by his team-mates.

Green confirms that he wants to continue in the game, possibly in a coaching role but whether or not that is with Chelsea remains to be seen.

The post Rob Green announces retirement from football appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea transfer target empties locker ahead of Frankfurt exit

Chelsea transfer target Luka Jovic is edging closer towards an exit from Frankfurt this summer.

According to German outlet Sport Bild, Jovic has already emptied his locker at Frankfurt as he attempts to seal a move away from the club.

The report claims that Jovic has now gone on holiday and is expected to push for a move to Real Madrid when he returns, which will come as a blow to Chelsea.

Jovic enjoyed a sensational season with Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, as he found the back of the net 17 times, whilst also scoring 10 goals in the Europa League.

Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Jovic, but the club are unable to make any deals until they resolve their transfer ban.

FIFA hit Chelsea with a two-window ban earlier this year, although it remains unclear as to whether it will start this summer or in the winter window.

The post Chelsea target Luka Jovic closing in on Frankfurt exit appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Sarri agrees three-year deal to leave Chelsea - but the Blues have changed their stance

After weeks of speculation, it looks as though Maurizio Sarri’s future is becoming more clear. Reports from the Mail Online suggest that Sarri’s agent, Fali Ramadani, has flown to London to discuss the Chelsea manager’s future.

Sarri’s season at Chelsea was quite tough to begin with, but after finishing third in the Premier League, securing his first piece of silverware and ensuring Chelsea will be part of the Champions League next season, reports claim that bosses at Stamford Bridge are not willing to sack the Italian manager – something that looked unlikely earlier in the campaign.

Just the other day Sarri stormed out of a training session in Baku after an upset. But that hasn’t meant his players dislike him or his way of working. David Luiz had some very positive things to say about his manager:

He is a great person, great guy, a great manager and we finished (the season) in the best way for him because we finished winning a trophy in his way.

Although players and staff at Juventus are pretty positive that Sarri is going to be Massimilano Allegri’s successor, and the Italian is said to have agreed a three-year deal, nothing has yet been confirmed.

The Old Lady are reportedly waiting to keep an eye on Saturday’s Champions League final with Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino also a target.

The post Sarri agrees Juventus deal – but Chelsea won’t sack him appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Juventus could sign Chelsea defender as part of Sarri deal

Juventus could be prepared to sign Chelsea left-back Emerson this summer as part of the deal to bring Maurizio Sarri to Italy.

According to Tuttosport, via Calcio Mercato, Juventus are closing in on a deal to make Sarri their new manager for next season.

However, they are not willing to pay the €6m compensation figure that is being demanded by Chelsea. Instead, they are considering an agreement in which they sign Emerson for €25-30m as part of the package to appoint Sarri.

The report also mentions that the future of Gonzalo Higuain remains unclear, with the possibility that he could be given another chance at Juventus if Sarri is the manager of the Italian side.

Emerson only made 10 appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League, but was a regular fixture in their Europa League side – playing 11 times – as the club won the trophy on Wednesday – beating Arsenal 4-1 in Baku.

The post Juventus could sign Emerson as part of Sarri deal appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Arsenal Willing To Subsidise Wages To Offload Ozil This Summer

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Reports suggest that Arsenal are willing to subsidise Mesut Ozil’s wages in order to offload the German this summer (via Daily Mail).

It’s a desperate situation for Arsenal after Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat to Chelsea.

The Gunners are left without Champions League football and with a squad full of players who aren’t good enough but unable to be sold.

Top of that list is Mesut Ozil, the club’s highest-paid player who put in a dire performance on Wednesday.

It was a low point for Ozil in a season of low points who strolled off the pitch after being replaced by the younstger Joe Willock.

Now, reports suggest that Arsenal and Emery are eager to offload Mesut Ozil and are willing to subsidise his salary.

The German is earning £350,000 per week and few clubs would be willing to pay anywhere near that sum of money for him.

It’s clear that Mesut Ozil’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end but it’s going to be difficult to find a resolution. The German is on an enormous weekly wage and no club in their right mind would pay him that much. 18 months on, it’s clear that giving Mesut Ozil that enormous contract was a terrible decision.

Chelsea defender agrees terms with Spanish giants despite a fee yet to be agreed

Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso has reportedly agreed terms with Atletico Madrid ahead of a summer switch.

According to Spanish outlet Marca, cited by Caught Offside, the 28-year-old has agreed personal terms with Diego Simeone’s side, despite both clubs yet to agree on a fee for the player. 

Alonso has been with the Blues since 2016 and has been a regular in the side under a number of different managers. 

The defender was used just four times in the Blues’ Europa League campaign, with Maurizio Sarri using Emerson in Europe and domestic cup competitions. 

It would be a surprise if the club allows Alonso to leave over the summer, especially considering they have a two-window transfer ban looming over them. 

If the Spaniard returns to his native country with Atletico, it would leave Italian Emerson as the remaining senior left-back and may mean the Blues will have to rely on younger players with limited first-team experience.  

The post Marcos Alonso reportedly agrees terms with Atletico Madrid appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Xhaka Reveals Dressing Room Reaction To Europa League Defeat

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Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka has revealed the dressing room reaction to the Gunners’ Europa League final defeat on Wednesday night (via Goal.com).

It was the low point of what has been yet another disappointing season for Arsenal.

The 4-1 defeat in the Europa League final was a sickening blow for the Gunners fans who made the journey and for the players as well.

It’s always interesting to see how the dressing room reacts to these kinds of defeats and Granit Xhaka has lifted the lid on the response.

“Him (Emery), the players, nobody speaks in the dressing room,” Xhaka said after the match before being asked why Emery remained silent.

“I don’t know. He was disappointed of course.

“I think we know what we played. We know we lost the game. It is not about shouting. It is not about shouting everything if we lose.

“You can say a lot now but it is not the time to explain why and what happens. I think it was a big chance for us and we don’t take it.”

One of the most disappointing things about the Europa League defeat was the reaction from the players. The team’s response to initially going a goal behind was embarrassing and so it was interesting to get an insight from in the dressing room. The silent acceptance seems pretty damning.

Emery: Some Players Need To Leave After Europa League Defeat

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Unai Emery has suggested that “maybe some players need to leave” Arsenal after the Europa League final defeat (via Sky Sports).

It was a hugely disappointing match in Baku as the Gunners went down 4-1 to Chelsea in the Europa League final.

Arsenal’s second-half performance was disillusioning with the vast majority of the players failing to impress.

Now, the failure to qualify for the Champions League will have consequences with the Gunners needing to rebuild, as Unai Emery said after the match.

“Our idea is to continue to carry on and improve with the young players that have arrived,” Emery said after the match.

“Maybe some players need to leave but it’s not the moment to speak about that.

“We have the possibility for a lot of players to improve. We have young players getting the first experience of a final and I am positive for our future with young players getting better in our way.

“I am very proud of our work, not very proud to not achieve our target, but proud of our work because I think the players did all they could to achieve our target and we are closer to other teams. The next year we can continue with the same team with some players coming to help us get better.”

It’s clear that a lot needs to change at Arsenal. Many of the players aren’t up to standard and the entire squad’s attitude stinks. A number of players are expected to be free to leave but it will be difficult to find a buyer for many of them.

Premier League defender breaks silence on Man United links

Manchester United target and Leicester City star Harry Maguire has broken his silence amid rumours over a potential move.

The Englishman has been a target of the club’s since Jose Mourinho’s second season in charge with the hope being he could shore up their leaky defence.

United’s defensive woes are no secret and the centre-back would have potentially resolved most of their issues.

Maguire ending up remaining at Leicester with the club having very little reason to let go of one of their main stars.

Rumours resurfaced over a potential move once more but it appears that the former Hull man has hinted at remaining with the Foxes.

According to Manchester Evening News, Harry said: “Leicester’s an exciting club to be at − Brendan has really improved the team in the recent months, and he’s someone we’re looking forward to working with.

“I’m sure he will take the club forward. He’s definitely got his own aspects in the game, and I’m sure he will improve us.

“After a good pre-season, I’m sure he’s the man that can help us break into those European spaces.”

Maguire’s ambition for European football does bode well for Manchester United given their current Europa League status.

If Solskjaer’s first full season in charge ends up being successful then he could be able to offer the powerful defender Champions League football.

This would be even more appealing if Leicester fail to get to the next level this upcoming season.

Harry would certainly be an upgrade on the likes of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo and he could potentially form a solid partnership with the club’s current best defender in Victor Lindelof.

How this Spanish club could ruin Man United’s transfer plans: report

Manchester United’s summer transfer plans may reportedly be ruined by Real Madrid in what can only be considered a blow to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Norwegian is said to be chasing Matthijs de Ligt’s signature this summer but he isn’t the only one.

The Dutchman could pretty much have the pick of the bunch in terms of whichever club he wants to join ahead of the next season.

De Ligt’s impressive performances during Ajax’s incredible run to the semi-finals of the Champions League saw him become a huge target of several clubs.

Solskjaer will surely have other options to sign but there’s no doubt the youngster would be anyone’s first-choice.

According to the Mirror, Mundo Deportivo report that Real Madrid have joined the race for Matthijs’ signature due to concerns over Sergio Ramos’ future.

With interest already coming from Barcelona and PSG according to other reports, United are starting to really lose their legs in this race.

Not only does Ole have no Champions League football to offer but his only other advantages of money and guaranteed minutes are no longer exclusive.

PSG can offer plenty of money if they wanted to while Madrid could pretty much guarantee De Ligt match-time alongside Raphael Varane if Ramos does leave.

Chelsea look set to lose out on defensive target to London rivals

Arsenal are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Chelsea target Thomas Meunier, according to journalist Nicolo Schira.

The two London clubs, as well as fellow Premier League rival Everton, have been linked with a move for the Paris Saint-Germain right-back this summer, with the Belgian appearing likely to be forced out of the Parc des Princes.

And according to reliable source Schira, the Gunners have offered the versatile defender a five-year contract ahead of the two clubs finalising discussions over a transfer.

With Cesar Azpilicueta’s future as a centre-half, and with Davide Zappacosta’s future unclear, the 27 year old Belgium international was seen as a smart signing for Chelsea as they look to strengthen defensively.

However it appears as though Arsenal may have stolen a march, and will look to close the deal, giving them one up on the Blues after having been humiliated 4-1 in the Europa League final against their London rivals.

The post Arsenal close to signing Chelsea target Meunier appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Confirmed: When Man United will complete their first signing

Swansea City star Daniel James will reportedly be a Manchester United player soon with fans excited to see their new signing.

The Welshman has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for weeks now and it was believed the transfer was going to happen quickly.

Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case and supporters have been made to wait patiently for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first signing.

James was meant to resolve United’s right-wing issues and was meant to signal just what type of player the Norwegian wants to bring in.

With Juan Mata potentially departing once his contract is over, the youngster will be arriving at the perfect time.

According to Manchester Evening News, everything is set between the Red Devils and Daniel and the transfer was only put on hold due to his father’s death but expectations are it will be completed by mid-June.

It makes sense to wait due to the tragic circumstances but also due to the national team’s ongoing exploits.

Ryan Giggs has revealed that James pushed to represent his country despite what had occurred to him and so completing the move after the fixtures are played is a realistic matter.

Soon pre-season will begin and supporters can see the winger in full flow, hopefully taking apart opposition defenders.

Chelsea star to stay at Stamford Bridge this summer despite exit speculation

Emerson will remain at Chelsea this summer, the defender’s agent has confirmed.

As reported by a Tuttomercatoweb exclusive, Emerson’s agent Leonardo Cornacini played down speculation that his client was keen on a move to Italy, with Juventus, Milan and Inter all said to be keen.

As quoted by Tuttomercatoweb, Cornacini said:

He [Emerson] still has years of contract, he is happy and the club is happy to keep him, we are sure that the future is in London.

When asked about how his season with Chelsea went, Cornacini said:

Well, at first a bit difficult.

There was competition from Marcos Alonso, another great player. Then Emerson took confidence, he did the Europa League very well, he had the patience to wait for his moment.

The post Emerson agent confirms client will remain with Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Underperforming Man United star told he can leave amid interest: report

Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku has reportedly been told he will be allowed to depart amid interest from the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus but only if certain conditions are met.

The Belgian hasn’t endured the best of seasons during the last campaign with rumours initially surfacing over his future after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preference for Marcus Rashford became obvious.

The former Chelsea man’s goalscoring record isn’t actually bad having grabbed 15 goals across all competitions this season and 27 last season.

However, fans are still unconvinced by Lukaku as United’s main striker and it appears Solskjaer holds the same reservations.

The powerful forward himself has been flirting with a potential move to the Serie A and apparently that move could come true.

According to the Sun, Romelu will be allowed to leave for more than the £75m the Red Devils paid to sign him and they will not pay any of his £225k a week wages to help facilitate a transfer.

It’s unlikely that Inter will make such a huge approach for the 26 year old unless they end up selling their own striker Mauro Icardi and even then he may prove to be too expensive.

Juventus may have the finances but will probably hold off unless someone was to leave such as Paulo Dybala.

Chelsea receive boost in race to sign defender with European giants having second thoughts

Atletico Madrid could pull out of the race to sign Chelsea target Elseid Hysaj from Napoli this summer. 

According to claims from Spanish news outlet Sport, the La Liga giants remain keen on landing the Albanian defender but are not convinced by his valuation ahead of next season. 

Napoli are reportedly demanding a huge fee for their right-back. Hysaj was not particularly impressive throughout the recent campaign, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side are understood to be requesting €40 million for his signature. 

Atletico are on the lookout to sign a new player in this position, but Sport states that they could ‘discard’ their plans to recruit him because of the price tag placed on his head. 

Hysaj’s future at the Stadio San Paolo appears to be in doubt. Recent reports indicated that he is waiting to see what his former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri’s future holds at Chelsea before making his mind up on his next destination. 

The ex-Empoli star enjoyed a good relationship with the Italian, and could yet see a move to Stamford Bridge as an option should the manager stay put in West London.

The post Atletico could pull out of race for Chelsea target Hysaj appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Departing Chelsea ace wants to remain in the Premier League

According to Sky Sports News, Gary Cahill believes he still can cut it in the Premier League as he seeks a move away from Stamford Bridge with his contract running out at Chelsea this summer.

I’m confident that potentially I might stay in the league but I want to wait and see, take the decision over the summer.

Cahill’s Chelsea career started off in January 2012, arriving from Bolton. During his seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge, he has helped win two Premier Leagues, two Europa Leagues, two FA Cups, one Champions League and one League Cup. Not bad business for just £7 million.

He has made nearly 300 appearances during his time at Chelsea, however, he only made two appearances this season coming off the bench in both of those as he was given a farewell at Stamford Bridge.

Even though Cahill did not play in the final on Wednesday, he still helped lift the trophy with captain Cesar Azpilecuta, as the centre back admitted:

The lads deserved to win the game. It was a great feeling, lifting the trophy, and being a part of this group that’s gone on to finish the season very well is pleasing.

The Blues legend has gone and made 61 caps for England, scoring five times in the process.

With apparent interest from Fulham, Monaco and even Juventus back in January, it would appear clubs still are interested in his aerial prowess and defensive ability.

The post Chelsea’s Gary Cahill seeks Premier League move appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Gary Neville singles out player for criticism in Chelsea's final win over Arsenal

Gary Neville has criticised Kepa Arrizabalaga’s role in Chelsea’s defence, despite the Blues win over Arsenal in the Europa League final.

The Spaniard was part of the team that secured Chelsea’s second Europa League title this decade, with the Blues winning 4-1 in Baku.

However, Neville has singled out Kepa for criticism, stating that he “can’t accept” a goalkeeper like the Spaniard, due to the fact the former Manchester United man believes he transmits nervous energy throughout the Chelsea defence.

Neville stated, via the Independent:

Nothing personal but I just can’t accept a keeper like Kepa.

He would make every defence a nervous wreck. P.s probably man of the match now

Kepa has not had the greatest start to his Chelsea career, especially after his spat with Maurizio Sarri during the Carabao Cup final.

The Spaniard refused to come off before the penalty shootout, which Chelsea would go on to lose.

However, performances have improved since then, with Kepa only conceding once in Baku, although he did not have much of an Arsenal threat to deal with.

The post Gary Neville criticises Kepa Arrizabalaga despite final win appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Eden Hazard confirms he is already thinking about his first game against Chelsea

Eden Hazard may be set to leave Chelsea, but the 28-year-old Belgian is already thinking about playing against the Blues next season.

After seven blistering years at Chelsea, it seems like the maestro’s time at Stamford Bridge has finally come to an end.

On Wednesday night in Baku, Hazard was nothing short of sensational as Chelsea comfortably dispatched their London rivals Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final.

Even though Hazard was brilliant on the pitch, it wasn’t just his performance that grabbed the headlines across the world but what he said afterwards as well.

Speaking to RMC, as cited by the Independent, Hazard said:

I think it was my last game, it’s between the clubs right now, I cannot talk about it yet. I hope to face Lille and Chelsea in the Champions League next season.

Hazard started his professional career in Lille as a 16-year-old in 2007 before leaving five years down the line for Chelsea in a £32 million deal.

It seems like the Belgian is ready for a new challenge again as he all-but confirmed his departure from Stamford Bridge with those quotes.

Hazard has made 352 appearances for the Blues in which he has scored 110 times as well as assisting 92 for his teammates.

The Belgian said a few weeks back in the press that he had already made his decision and yesterday told RMC after the game again:

I’ve made my decision and I told Chelsea two weeks ago. I’m just waiting on both clubs to decide now.

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri also added fuel to the fire after the game by saying:

I know he wants to leave and I have to respect his decision.

The post Hazard hopes to face Chelsea next season appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea could make managerial decision within the next 48 hours

The future of the Blues boss Maurizio Sarri is said to be close to being resolved within the next 48 hours, according to Calcio Mercato, as cited on Inside Futbol.

Sarri made the Champions League places with Chelsea by achieving an impressive third-place in his first season in charge of the club and following that up by winning the Europa League with a 4-1 win over rivals Arsenal.

Blues fans have been split in whether or not they want the Italian to remain in charge next season.

With Sarri’s agents set to hold talks with the Chelsea hierarchy this week, the Turin club Juventus will be eagerly waiting after missing out on first choice Pep Guardiola.

The Old Lady are said to have prepared a three-year contract worth around £6.2 million per season should Sarri leave.

Whether or not Sarri replaces Allegri back in Italy, a move he is apparently keen to make, will all depend on how discussions go with the Chelsea man.

It is being suggested that he is also not against the idea of staying with the Blues for another year.

The post Sarri’s future could be sealed within the next 48 hours appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Image: Chelsea's new third kit has been leaked online

Chelsea’s third kit for the 2019/20 season has been leaked by the very reliable Footy Headlines.

The new shirt, as shown in the image below, is predominantly black with an orange and white trim, with a slightly different Nike logo, as it includes text as well as the usual ‘Swoosh’.

Footy Headlines report that the shorts for the kit will be black, whilst the socks will be orange.

There is no word yet from Chelsea on when the kit will be unveiled officially, but Footy Headlines are very rarely wrong when it comes to these leaks so we would tend to believe that this will be Chelsea’s third kit next season.

The post Chelsea’s new third kit leaked online appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Former Chelsea star criticises Sarri following treatment of defender

Former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas believes that boss Maurizio Sarri missed a trick by not bringing on Gary Cahill in the final stages of the Blues’ Europa League final win against Arsenal.

The 33-year-old was named on the substitutes bench for Chelsea’s final game of the season but didn’t feature. 

Eden Hazard was the star of the show, with the Belgian scoring twice and teeing up Pedro in Chelsea’s scintillating second-half performance. 

Cahill did lift the trophy alongside Cesar Azpilicueta in Baku, earning an eighth major honour with the club.

Talking as a pundit on BT Sport, cited by the Independent, Fabregas admitted that he would’ve liked to see Cahill given the final five minutes to give the Englishman leave as the ‘hero he deserves’. 

He is a fantastic servant for the club.

I mean, if there is one thing that I am missing tonight, it was this touch from somebody.

I don’t want to say anything negative tonight, but a little touch to Gary Cahill, with five minutes to go, 4-1 against Arsenal. 

Put him on, give him the armband. Let him leave as a proper hero as he deserves. I missed thatto be honest. But it’s a great night for Chelsea Football Club.

Cahill recently admitted that he would like to remain in the Premier League, however, the defender isn’t expected to receive a new Chelsea deal in the coming weeks.  

The post Fabregas claims Sarri should have allowed Cahill perfect Chelsea farewell appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Brazilian could replace Hazard if the transfer ban is frozen with United move off the cards

Philippe Coutinho has offers to join both Chelsea and Manchester United this summer, but a move to the latter now seems unlikely.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the lack of Champions League football on offer at Old Trafford means that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are all-but out of the running.

Not only can Chelsea offer Coutinho Champions League football, but they will also be among the teams in Pot 1 for the draw after winning the Europa League.

A deal to join Chelsea is also dependent on the incoming transfer ban and whether or not it is frozen this summer.

The report claims that if Chelsea are successful and have the ban frozen, Coutinho looks set to be the man that will replace Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard himself all-but confirmed his move to Real Madrid was close after Chelsea’s 4-1 win against Arsenal in the Europa League final.

Speaking after scoring twice against the club’s London rivals, he hinted that the game was a ‘goodbye’.

The post Coutinho unlikely to join United as he waits on Chelsea offer appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Gallery: If Sarri is to leave Chelsea, who are the contenders to replace him this summer?

With Maurizio Sarri’s future at Chelsea still undecided, there have been plenty of rumours floating around about who the potential candidates are for the managerial position at Chelsea.

Sarri’s season has been a tough one but has ended quite well. He’s managed to secure a place in the top three of the Premier League, he’s confirmed Chelsea’s place in the Champions League competition next season and has managed to add to Chelsea’s numerous trophies through his 4-1 win in Baku against Arsenal in the Europa League final.

But after all of this, his future is not certain. Towards the end of the season speculation started to grow stronger as to whether Sarri should stay at Chelsea, even though he managed to finish in the top four, it was a struggle for Sarri and his squad in terms of getting there.

Now, after Sarri has been linked with Juventus, multiple names are appearing as potential replacements. Ranging from Championship managers to emotional returns.

Let’s take a look at the potential candidates.

The post Who could be Sarri’s replacement at Chelsea? appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Italian giants make 'contact' regarding Chelsea winger

Inter Milan have reportedly made contact with Chelsea over the possibility of signing Victor Moses this summer.

According to the Italian media, cited by Sport Witness, the Italian giants still see Moses as their ‘first choice’ and have begun discussions with the Blues over a potential deal. 

The 28-year-old joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on loan back in January, however, Inter’s reported permanent interest for the player has thrown his Chelsea future up in the air. 

Former Blues boss Antonio Conte is set to take over at Inter Milan over the summer and is thought to be keen on reuniting himself with the Nigeria international. 

A reported €12m fee may well be enough to tempt Chelsea into selling Moses, who moved to Stamford Bridge in 2012 from Wigan Athletic. 

Moses enjoyed a fine season under Conte in his first season in charge with Chelsea, and it appears as if the pair may well be linking up again at the San Siro over the summer. 

The post Inter Milan make contact with Chelsea for Victor Moses appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Gallery: Denying Spurs of the title, brilliant goals and more - some of Hazard's greatest Chelsea moments

It’s fair to say Eden Hazard has had a remarkable season at Chelsea and has been a great asset to the team since 2012. From goals to assists he’s been an important character in helping Chelsea secure a place in the top six and the UEFA Europa League title this season.

There have been rumours all season about his departure, with some people claiming the Belgian international is too good to stay at Chelsea.

According to reports on the BBC, last night’s game in Baku was his last game wearing the Chelsea shirt as he addressed his future after the final whistle.

I think it’s a goodbye.

I’m sure many Chelsea supporters would love to see Hazard stay on for another season to help them reach the top six again, but it’s time for Hazard to move on.

Rumours about a link with Real Madrid are becoming more promising for the Premier League star, but he now says that he is waiting on both clubs to come to an agreement.

After the successful season Hazard has had at Chelsea, let’s take a look at some of the most memorable moments of his career in Blue.

The post Remembering Hazard’s remarkable years at Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea star names the one player who can replace Eden Hazard next season

Chelsea defender David Luiz has called for talented teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi to fill the boots of the departing Eden Hazard next season, the Independent report.

Hazard starred in the Blues’ Europa League final victory over Arsenal on Wednesday evening, scoring twice and setting up Pedro in Chelsea’s 4-1 win.

The Belgian, who has spent seven years at Stamford Bridge, looks set to join Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid this summer.

Chelsea may not be able to bring in an immediate replacement for Hazard due to their looming two-window transfer ban.

And Luiz, who also put in a solid display against the Gunners, has called for teenage winger Hudson-Odoi to fill the Belgian’s boots next season.

We have many [who could replace Hazard], also Callum is great.

Callum has known this club since he was young and he has the talents to one day try to be like Eden.

It is a new story for Callum. It did not start so well because of the injury but now it is time for him to improve in other sides of his game.

The Englishman suffered a season-ending injury back in April after rupturing his Achilles against Burnley at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues’ Young Player of the Year is set to return by October, and following Luiz’s recent claims, Hudson-Odoi may well be viewed as a key member of the Chelsea squad next season.

The post David Luiz calls for Callum Hudson-Odoi to replace Eden Hazard appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea star brutally mocks Arsenal after Europa League win

Olivier Giroud sent a brutal blow to Arsenal in the aftermath of Chelsea’s Europa League win.

As reported by the Mail Online, the French striker was seen on Instagram mocking his former side as Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners in Baku to win the Europa League.

Italian midfielder Jorginho broadcast the celebrations through his Instagram account for supporters to watch live.

Pictured on the team bus with the trophy, Giroud shouted, ‘Thanks Arsenal!’, as he joined up with the rest of his team-mates.

It was the Frenchman who opened the scoring for Chelsea, while also making him the top scorer in the competition this season.

Quickfire goals from Pedro and Eden Hazard put Chelsea in control on the evening.

There was also a lot of love for the injured Callum Hudson-Odoi, with the rest of the Chelsea squad urging him to sign a new contract and stay at the club after he was forced to miss the final in Baku.

The post Giroud mocks Arsenal after Europa League win appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Major development in Manchester United star’s potential move to Serie A: report

There has been a major development in Romelu Lukaku’s Manchester United future amidst rumours over a potential departure to Inter Milan.

The Belgian has been linked with a move away after reports emerged over his concerns regarding his role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Norwegian clearly prefers Marcus Rashford as United’s first-choice striker, putting Lukaku’s future in doubt.

The former Everton man has occasionally even been shifted out wide to the right-wing to accommodate the youngster as a striker.

The 26 year old must be confused over what more he could do to prove his worth having scored over 20 goals in his debut season with the club.

According to the Daily Mail, Inter haven’t made a bid for Romelu just yet, in contrast to earlier reports, but they do want to make him the potentially incoming Antonio Conte’s first signing.

The Italian is said to be on his way to the Serie A side who are considering beefing up their squad to truly contend for the title.

Conte was believed to have been keen on Lukaku during his time at Chelsea but failed in landing him and ended up signing Alvaro Morata.

It seems the manager is trying to finally get his hands on his man and with the striker flirting with a move to Italy, a transfer could be more realistic than initially thought.

Solskjaer makes decision over Eric Bailly amid Arsenal links: report

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly keen on Eric Bailly remaining at Old Trafford despite question marks over his future.

The Ivorian’s latest injury seemed to spell the end to his career under the Norwegian but it appears that’s not the case.

Fans consider the defender to be the second best centre-back at United after Victor Lindelof but his proneness to injuries meant he might’ve been running out of time to prove his worth.

Solskjaer is said to be hopeful that Bailly will return from his injury in time for the club’s pre-season tour.

The Red Devils’ legend is placing a lot of hopes on the pre-season tour to resolve the issues within his squad.

According to the Express, ESPN report that Ole doesn’t want to sell Eric to a top four rival and wants to give him a chance to prove his worth once more.

Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are certainly less deserving than the former Villarreal and so it makes sense he’s given more time.

The aforementioned trio have had a lot of time to show that they’re deserving of a starting XI berth despite their injury records and lack of real quality.

[Match Highlights] Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal - All The Europa League Final Highlights

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All the match highlights from the 2019 Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal.

—–
Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: Chelsea v Arsenal
Stadium: Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
Kick-Off (UK Time): 20:00 29/05/2019
—–

It was a must-win match for Arsenal in Baku and things started well for them. The Gunners dominated much of the first half but the chances went untaken.

When the opportunities came for Chelsea after the break, they took them. First, Olivier Giroud headed home before the Blues ran riot.

Pedro made it 2-0 and less than five minutes later, Eden Hazard stepped up to convert a penalty with ease.

Arsenal pulled one back when substitute Alex Iwobi volleyed home from the edge of the area to give the Gunners hope.

That hope was swiftly extinguished when Olivier Giroud played a simple one-two with Eden Hazard to allow the Belgian to score.

Arsenal made chances late on and probably should’ve converted a few but by then, the match was over.

Here are the match highlights (will open in a separate tab).

Gallery: How did Hazard rate on his potential farewell? Our Chelsea player ratings from their Europa League win

Chelsea demolished local rivals Arsenal 4-1 to win the Europa League and ensure that Emery’s men will be playing Europa League football next season.

Everyone knew that the atmosphere inside the 68,000 capacity stadium in Baku was going to be poor due to the fact that only 12,000 tickets were allocated to Arsenal and Chelsea fans, but nobody expected the football on show to be just as poor.

In fact, in the first 45 minutes the only things that got the real fans off their seat was a half-hearted penalty appeal by Arsenal and an Olivier Giroud effort from just outside the box that Petr Cech did well to get a couple of fingertips to. The rest, well, put it this way, you wouldn’t have missed anything if you fell asleep.

The game finally got the goal that it needed in the 48th minute when Olivier Giroud’s diving header found the bottom corner of Cech’s goal. You would have thought that this would wake Arsenal up a bit, but it was like they were treating this game like a pre-season friendly.

They were punished on the hour mark when Eden Hazard found Rodriguez Pedro in the box, who subsequently found the bottom corner with a left-footed shot.

Things got even more embarrassing for Emery’s men five minutes later when Giroud was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and Hazard converted from the spot.

Arsenal thought they had a glimmer of hope when Alex Iwobi scored a peach of a goal in the 69th minute, but just three minutes later Hazard scored his second of the night after some great link up play with Giroud.

Chelsea pushed for a fifth goal, but some fine saves from Cech kept the score to four.

Here are our Chelsea player ratings for tonight’s final:

The post Chelsea Player Ratings: Arsenal (Europa League Final) appeared first on Read Chelsea.