Gossip: Chelsea to sign Arsenal reserve to replace star?
SOME ODD CHELSEA SHENANIGANS
We’re not quite sure what is going on at Chelsea. Eden Hazard reportedly wants out with Real Madrid circling, while Thibaut Courtois wants to make the same move. The rumours on Wednesday make Chelsea sound like they are going backwards quickly.
Marca say that Courtois will be allowed to join Real for a fee of £31m, with only 12 months left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Sky Sports report that Chelsea would look to replace Courtois with Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester or by bringing back Petr Cech, which would be several kinds of silly.
The Evening Standard claim that Gary Cahill will also leave Chelsea, with Daniele Rugani his replacement for a fee of £44m.
That last deal would leave Ruben Loftus-Cheek as the only English player in the first-team squad. Odd club.
EVERTON CLOSE TO FORMER ARSENAL TARGET
Remember Malcom? The Bordeaux winger has been linked with Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and others at various points over the last year. As ever when that happens, you feel an agent is aiming for the moon and hoping to land on a star even if he misses.
That’s exactly what seems to have happened, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that Everton are now in advanced talks to sign Malcom for a fee of £30m. He will be given a five-year deal and paid £80,000 a week.
Given that the Telegraph’s information is so exact, you’d have to say that this is a move that is actually likely to happen.
STURRIDGE TO MAKE A QUESTIONABLE CALL
Fair play to Daniel Sturridge. He’s done that thing you used to do as a kid when you parents had friends over. Sit very quietly in the corner having absolutely no fun whatsoever and they might forget that you’re still up and so you get a gloriously late night.
Forget that Sturridge has little chance of first-team football at Anfield. Forget that the move to West Brom even went disastrously. Forget that Jurgen Klopp doesn’t seem that impressed. Because the striker has decided to stay put at Anfield and fight for his place. We even have quotes and everything.
“I see myself staying at Liverpool, hopefully being part of the team week in, week out,” Sturridge told the Daily Mirror. “Pre-season is going well, so for me it’s keeping my head down and building on that. I’m excited about the season ahead and it feels great to be back.”
At 28, Sturridge needs regular Premier League starts. That’s not going to come at Anfield, unless there’s an injury crisis. Surely Klopp is more likely to give minutes to the club’s young players.