The Romelu Lukaku situation has become laughable. His £97.5m transfer to Stamford Bridge has evolved as arguably one of the worst signings in not just Chelsea history, but Premier League history.

The Belgian has reportedly ruled out a return to the Blues and has his heart set on another season at Inter Milan.

The Blues must find a way to navigate this deal and permanently free themselves from Lukaku.

The best possible outcome for Chelsea is they can secure an exchange deal involving Nicolo Barella.

What’s the latest on Nicolo Barella to Chelsea?

According to Corriere dello Sport, the West Londoners have enquired about bringing Barella to the capital in a package deal that would see Lukaku move in the opposite direction.

Last month, it was revealed that Liverpool are also interested in the 26-year-old, who has been valued at around £61m by his parent club.

How can Chelsea line up next season?

The Italian has been in imperious form for the Nerazzurri this term, as he made 52 appearances and recorded 19 goal involvements in all competitions.

He was a crucial component of a side that made the Champions League, secured top four, and won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.

The Euro 2020 winner has developed a formidable reputation for his impudent dribbling ability, intricate feet, close control and his athleticism to glide across the pitch.

This is showcased by the fact that he ranks within the highest 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the best 19% for progressive passes and carries per 90, according to FBref.

His addition could be especially crucial for Mauricio Pochettino, as Chelsea’s midfield only contributed a measly 12 goals between them in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Barella sits within the top 8% for non-penalty goals per 90, to emphatically display his threat in attack.

If Chelsea secured this outlandish coup, then Pochettino could potentially form a dream midfield, if the signing of Moises Caicedo was also completed, with the Londoners currently leading the race.

Brighton are set to demand £120m for the 21-year-old, who ranks within the best 13% for tackles and interceptions per 90.

His former manager Graham Potter described the Ecuadorian sensation as “fantastic” having “all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level.”

The prospect of Caicedo’s wondrous defensive acumen, combined with Barella’s magnificent attacking class is frightening and instantly places Chelsea in a far superior position.

As the 2021 Champions League winners begin the long journey to return to Europe’s most elite competition, Barella, who has been labelled as “top-class” by Jurgen Klopp, could be a key addition to the club’s ambitions.

Mason Mount's Chelsea future looks like a transfer saga that will drag on right until the end of the summer window.

Manchester United remain eager to sign the England international, but there is a big gap between both sides' respective valuations, with the Red Devils supposedly only willing to offer £50m.

Chelsea want closer to the £70m mark for a player about to enter the final year of his contract, but allowing the rigmarole to continue deep into the summer would be damaging for the Blues.

Instead, it may be a case of accepting United's offer now and looking for a replacement – or indeed searching within their ranks for a ready-made alternative of sorts.

Who is Chelsea youngster Cesare Casadei?

In Cesare Casadei, Chelsea appear to have a midfielder who is ready to step up and play in the Premier League under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

According to the Evening Standard, Pochettino is weighing up whether to include the 20-year-old as part of Chelsea's pre-season training camp after he caught the eye at the U20 World Cup with Italy.

Casadei ended the tournament as top scorer with seven goals – this as a midfielder, remember – to follow in the steps of the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero.

But rather than having the next Messi on their hands, Chelsea will settle for something close to the next Frank Lampard, a player who scored a club record 211 goals for the West London side.

With eight goals in nine appearances for Italy at U20 level, Casadei will now look to get close to the mark Lampard managed for England U21 when scoring nine goals in 19 caps.

The youngster is not strictly one of Chelsea's own, having been recruited from Inter Milan in a reported £16m deal last summer, before then being loaned out to Championship side Reading in January.

Casadei scored one goal in 15 appearances for the relegated Royals as he made his first foray into senior football. While he caught the eye with his goals at the U20 World Cup, it was more the defensive aspect of the youngster's game that stood out at Reading.

He averaged 1.87 blocks per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was the third-most of any Reading player, while also ranking highly for the percentage of aerial duels won with 70.6 – again, only two others bettered that figure.

For comparison, Mount averaged 1.31 blocks per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season and won 29.1% of his aerial duels.

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini was glad to see Casadei go out and get some regular football, and he now looks set to step up and feature for the U21 side during the 2023-24 campaign.

"Cesare Casadei is really good. He had already impressed me [before the U20 World Cup]," Mancini told Corriere dello Sport last week, via Football Italia.

"He went to England and played in the Championship, a tough and formative league, almost like the Premier League. If it wasn't for the U20 World Cup, he would be playing for the U21 side already."

Given Chelsea's hugely bloated squad, it may well be that Casadei has to be patient for his chance. But if nothing else, the past six months suggest the Blues have another talented midfielder on their hands, regardless of whether Mount stays or goes.

Liverpool may have a new striker in mind this summer, with journalist Sacha Tavolieri reporting that the Reds are set to have a meeting with Victor Osimhen's representatives next week.

How many goals did Victor Osimhen score last season?

The current Napoli striker has been in scintillating form over the course of the last campaign, helping fire his side to Serie A glory. It was the first title that the player has won since his move to Italy and he had a large part to play in that victory too.

With just 30 starts to his name in the league, the attacker managed to hit the back of the net a whopping 26 times, with four assists along the way to boot. It means that Osimhen averaged 1.05 goals or assists per 90 – meaning that every time he played a game, he was guaranteed to do one or the other.

When you compare him to others in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe too, he stands out as arguably one of the most clinical finishers around right now. His 0.87 non-penalty goal rate, for example, puts him in the top one percent in that category, whilst his overall non-penalty xG and xAG rate of 0.80 puts him in the top six percent in that category too.

It means that he possesses one of the best abilities to hit the back of the net in Europe and is also one of the best options for setting up teammates too, and he could soon be on his way to Anfield.

Are Liverpool interested in Victor Osimhen?

It's no wonder then, that there has been interest in his services. A recent report suggests that Premier League side Chelsea were still considering a deal for the player but that they may have to stump up £100m or more to do business for the player.

Now, according to an update from Tavolieri, there are actually three teams booked in to speak to Osimhen's entourage next week and one of the newest emerging teams who have planned talks is Liverpool.

It states that the Reds, and by extension new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, are set to speak about the player next week and that the "intentions" of the side will be "defined." Chelsea and Man United are also holding meetings about the striker.

The player has had an excellent 2022/23 season, when you consider both his stats and the way that he has impressed onlookers. Football journalist Josh Bunting for example has called Osimhen "lethal" based on his performances and goalscoring this season and it shows how prolific the attacker has been in front of goal.

If Liverpool do indeed have plans to bring in fresh forward options, then they could do a lot worse than the Napoli player.

The match between Gujarat and Rest of India could be a crucial audition for the two wicketkeepers ahead of India’s five Tests at home

Arun Venugopal19-Jan-2017The match-up between Parthiv Patel and Wriddhiman Saha for a Test spot didn’t appear on the horizon until a couple of months ago. After MS Dhoni had retired at the end of 2014, Saha seemed to have finally sewed up his place in the side. His credentials as arguably India’s best specialist wicketkeeper remained unchallenged, but his back-to-the-wall hundred in St.Lucia and two unbeaten half-centuries on a tricky pitch in his hometown of Kolkata, against New Zealand, made him one of the more valuable members of the side.His captain Virat Kohli singled out Saha for praise, and said success couldn’t come to a nicer team-man.Nothing could go wrong now. Or could it? During the second Test against England, Saha strained his left thigh. Enter Parthiv for the third Test. It wasn’t an altogether surprising choice given Parthiv’s improved glove-work, and the fact that he has never averaged less than 45 in the Ranji Trophy since 2012-13.Siraj replaces injured Shardul

Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel has said batsman Bhargav Merai has been dropped for the Irani Cup game. Seamer Mehul Patel will also miss out after sustaining a fracture in an accident back home. The pair will be replaced by 18-year-old batsman Het Patel, who was part of the victorious India Under-19 team in the Asia Cup, and Mohit Thadani.
Rest of India have called up Hyderabad seamer Mohammed Siraj in place of Shardul Thakur, who, it is understood, has an ankle niggle. With 41 wickets, Siraj was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy. Siraj, 22, also picked up nine wickets in the quarter-final against Mumbai.

In Mohali, Parthiv was safe with the big gloves, but by no means electrifying. He made an impression with the bat, though, playing two spunky knocks of 42 and 67*, the half-century in India’s chase of 103. With Saha still recovering, Parthiv held down his spot for the next two Tests and smashed a useful 71 in the final Test in Chennai. Parthiv then went back to the Ranji Trophy and smashed 90 and 143 in the final against Mumbai to drive Gujarat to their maiden title.Ahead of the Mohali Test, India coach Anil Kumble had said Saha was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper. After Parthiv’s returns in the England series, it might not be such a straightforward decision after all. With national selector Sarandeep Singh doubling up as Rest of India coach, the Irani Cup match could be a crucial audition ahead of the five home Tests this season. While Parthiv will lead Gujarat, Saha will feature in his first competitive fixture since the Vizag Test.On the eve of the match, Saha is almost through with his wicket-keeping drills at the Brabourne Stadium. He has taken a few catches towards the end of the session, and wears a smile as Cheteshwar Pujara, the Rest of India captain, and a few other team-mates appear to be joking around. Most of Rest of India’s players have headed back to the dressing room, but Saha calmly walks back to the middle and takes a seat under an umbrella near the practice net. A couple of net bowlers seek him out for a chat.Wriddhiman Saha has been India’s No. 1 choice behind the stumps, but a thigh-strain saw him out of action for the last three Tests against England•Associated PressOn the other side, Parthiv, having just completed a meeting, briskly bounds in to chat with the media. Like with any Parthiv interaction, there is plenty of political correctness, a pleasant smile, and overall optimism. Immediately after the presser, he scoots off to the nets for a hit.Stillness is not something you associate with Parthiv – he is either chirping behind the stumps or cutting, pulling and doing the dab-and-run routine with the bat. Meanwhile, Saha, normally a man of few words, is still talking. A few other boys seem to have approached him for cricketing advice and he appears to be more than generous with it.Watching Parthiv, 31, and Saha, 32, is a fascinating exercise not least for the contrasts they offer. While it is tempting to speculate what’s going on in their minds, you can be sure that neither of them is going to reveal much. When asked about them competing for the same slot, Parthiv expectedly took the diplomatic route. “It’s just a game between Gujarat and Rest of India, so we will stick to that,” he said. “I think it’s not a game between two players. We all know he [Saha] is a very talented player. There is a game to be won and we will be focusing on that.”From a neutral standpoint, Pujara could see the benefits of such competition. He felt having back-up players in every department was essential for a strong India side. “If we want to be No. 1 in the world we need to have some back-up players not just wicketkeepers but even other departments,” he said. “We need a bunch of players who are always ready and when they come in to the Indian team they perform. I always believe that if you have a healthy competition it is very good for the Indian team.”Someone like Karun Nair is a prime example. He was doing well in the India A team and when he got the opportunity he scored a triple-hundred. Both [Parthiv and Saha] are hard-working players and have performed well for India and at the domestic level. I wish them luck.”

Chelsea have "shown interest" in bringing FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa to the Premier League, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Diogo Costa leaving FC Porto?

Since graduating from FC Porto’s academy back in 2019, Costa has been a regular feature between the sticks having clocked up 109 senior appearances to date, and his impressive form has also increased his profile on the international stage.

The Portugal international represented his nation at the 2022 World Cup, during which his displays caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino who, alongside Todd Boehly, is reportedly in the market for a new number one shot-stopper this window.

Back in February, 90min reported that the Blues had sent scouts to watch the 23-year-old live in action as they weigh up whether to make an official approach, and if the following update is to be believed, it sounds like they have made their feelings known.

Are Chelsea signing Costa?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Chelsea are keen on signing Costa but are set to face competiton from two other suitors who are also looking to secure his services. He wrote:

"Diogo #Costa, #Chelsea recently shown interest in the #Porto goalkeeper. #ManUTD already approached him: at the moment his release clause (€75m) [£64m] is considered too high, but #MUFC remain on his tracks. Also #Bayern in the race for the GK: evolving situation."

Where would Costa fit in under Pochettino?

Chelsea will know that they are likely to lose Edouard Mendy this summer after reports emerged that he has agreed personal terms over a move to Saudi Arabia outfit Al Ahli so a replacement will be needed should he depart, and having been dubbed a “superman” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Costa could be the perfect successor.

The Gestifute client, who’s sponsored by Adidas, kept 16 clean sheets from 33 Liga Portugal outings last season and his outstanding displays saw him receive individual recognition by being awarded the 2022/23 Goalkeeper of the Season accolade.

The Rothrist native also made a total of 60 saves from 79 shots on target against giving him a success rate of 77.2%, which would make him a huge upgrade because that is higher than both of the current shot-stoppers who are at Stamford Bridge.

Finally, Costa will know what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured ten trophies across club and country since the start of his career so could bring a much-needed winning mentality to the SW6 outfit, who will be hoping to kick off a new era under Pochettino.

Manchester United fans have once again made their feelings known about current owners, the Glazer family, protesting outside the club’s Megastore and forcing it to close as the Red Devils launched their 2023/24 home kit.

The kit was unveiled at 9am on Tuesday morning, and fans purposely planned a protest against the current ownership, blocking the entrance to the store in their numbers.

Fans have been unhappy with the Glazer family for a while, resulting in the owners putting the club up for sale. A takeover remains uncompleted at this moment in time, however.

What’s the latest on Manchester United’s potential takeover?

As things stand, a takeover is yet to reach completion, but, according to Manchester Evening News, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe remain the front-runners to take ownership from the Glazers. It remains to be seen who the current owners would prefer to sell to.

Of course, United fans have been protesting for a while now. Back in 2021, fans protested on the pitch at Old Trafford, forcing the game between Manchester United and Liverpool to be postponed.

Even last season, too, when the Red Devils were winning under Erik ten Hag, Glazer-out chants could still be heard loud and clear.

The Glazer family made a statement back in November, revealing their intentions to sell the club. Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer said, via Sky Sports: “The strength of Manchester United rests on the passion and loyalty of our global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers.

“As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the Board has authorised a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives.”

You can see how the fans protested outside of the club shop below:

Manchester United fans protest

As far as Manchester United fans are concerned, it seems as though the last thing that they want to do is give the Glazers more money before a potential sale.

As the delays become more and more frustrating, too, this may not be the end of the protests. We’ve seen how the fans can disrupt games a couple of years ago, and with the new season approaching, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.

On the pitch, Ten Hag will be keen to see a quick resolution so that the club can get on with their summer recruitment ahead of an important campaign coming up.

Chelsea are “confident” that they can complete a summer deal for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

The Premier League playmaker still has another four years remaining on his contract with Roberto De Zerbi’s side, but having established himself as last season’s top-performing defensive player at The Amex, he’s caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino in SW6.

The Evening Standard have reported that the Blues have identified the 21-year-old as the leading contender to replace Mateo Kovacic who is close to joining Manchester City, with Galetti also claiming that the boss has personally “asked” to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

As well as Kovacic, N’Golo Kante has left to embark on a new adventure in Saudi Arabia and Denis Zakaria has also confirmed his return to Juventus upon the conclusion of his loan, so reinforcements in front of the backline with definitely be needed, and the Seagulls star could be the perfect candidate.

Are Chelsea signing Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Chelsea are closing in on Caicedo, with Brighton’s midfielder expected to green-light the deal imminently. He wrote:

“#Chelsea are still pushing for Moises #Caicedo. Understand that #CFC are working to close the gap with #Brighton and they're confident to reach an agreement for the MF. Personal terms set to be agreed: evolving situation.”

Could Caicedo be a strong recruit for Pochettino?

Caicedo may only be 21 years old but he’s already been dubbed a midfield “leader” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and he’s at the age where you could build a team for the long-term future around him, so he would definitely be an excellent addition for Pochettino.

The Ecuador international, who earns £60k-per-week, is stronger in the natural aspect of his game protecting the backline, having made 100 tackles last season which was higher than any of his teammates, via FBRef, whilst averaging 1.5 interceptions per top-flight game.

The World Cup participant, however, is also capable of chipping in at the opposite end of the pitch on occasion, having scored one goal and provided an assist during the previous campaign too.

Finally, Caicedo is a versatile operator having been deployed at right-back and slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his usual role, which will be yet another attractive quality to the boss, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for the Blues.

Arsenal are "on the verge of agreeing" a deal to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber alongside Kai Havertz, according to journalist Chris Wheatley.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners currently have many plates spinning in north London, as manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu prepare for what will be a crucial 2022/2023 Premier League season.

Arsenal are trying to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice, but having seen their most recent bids rejected for the player, a third attempt is in the pipeline for a top target.

Meanwhile, Havertz is thought to be joining Arteta's side, as a wide variety of reliable sources have confirmed as much in the last few days – including the likes of Fabrizio Romano.

Arsenal have apparently reached an agreement to sign the German for around £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons, but reporter Wheatley says they're closing in on another deal after him.

Indeed, writing for London World, the journalist claims that they're "on the verge of agreeing" a move to sign Timber alongside Havertz – with both men nearing moves to Arsenal.

Wheatley reports that they have agreed personal terms with the Netherlands international, who is "set to make a £35 million move" from Ajax.

He claims that, although this exact fee is still to be fully negotiated and ironed out, there is real confidence that a deal for Timber will be finalised "in the coming days".

Who is Jurrien Timber?

The 22-year-old has been a mainstay for Ajax under manager Maurice Steijn, playing more Eredivisie minutes last season than any other player in their squad (WhoScored).

Chipping in with two goals and two assists in that time, Timber also averaged a higher pass accuracy than all of his teammates (91.7%), making him a credible candidate for Arteta's fluid, attack-minded system.

Liverpool star and international teammate Virgil van Dijk has seriously endorsed the young defender, calling him a "great player" and "true professional" (via 90min).

“I wasn’t nearly as far along as he is now [at the same age],” Van Dijk said.

“He has so much potential. Hopefully he can develop further. Then it will be all right, I think.”

As Arsenal look to shore up and challenge for another league title, Timber may well be a fantastic addition, if they manage to get it done.

It is understood that both Gautam Gambhir and KP Bhaskar have agreed to the creation of an independent panel that will enquire into their spat

Arun Venugopal10-Mar-2017The DDCA will set up an independent enquiry committee to investigate into the spat between Gautam Gambhir and Delhi coach KP Bhaskar. Gambhir had accused Bhaskar of “creating an atmosphere of uncertainty” among the team’s youngsters.It is understood that both parties agreed to the creation of such a panel after retired Justice Vikramjit Sen, the DDCA administrator, met with Gambhir, Bhaskar and Delhi manager Shankar Saini on Friday morning at the Feroz Shah Kotla.The composition of the committee was not known and no time-frame was given for the completion of the enquiry. Bhaskar refused to elaborate on the spat but said he was not the first person to be at the “receiving end”. “There have been eight other instances which have happened. It’s unfortunate that I was at the receiving end this time,” Bhaskar told ESPNcricinfo.” I respect Justice Sen and I have full trust in his judgment and wisdom.”While Gambhir admitted to having an argument with Bhaskar after Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh on Monday, he denied that he had abused the coach as had been stated in a few news reports. Gambhir was particularly critical of Bhaskar’s handling of the exclusions of batsmen Unmukt Chand and Nitish Rana during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.”If protecting a youngster is a crime, I am guilty. If making 20-22-year-olds feel secure in an insecure environment is a crime, then I am guilty. But I could not have let this man (Bhaskar) play with careers of young players like Unmukt Chand and Nitish Rana,” Gambhir had told PTI on Tuesday.Gambhir had also said he was trying to provide security to the youngsters, and that he didn’t want them to face the insecurities he did. “There has been a culture in Delhi cricket about making players insecure. I have myself faced that when I was a youngster. When I got into the Ranji Trophy team, I was made to feel insecure. Then only I had decided, if I ever take charge I will never make young boys feel insecure.”

انضم الثنائي، حمدي فتحي المحترف في صفوف فريق الوكرة القطري، ومحمد شريف مهاجم الخليج السعودي، إلى معسكر منتخب مصر الحالي، استعداداً للمشاركة في البطولة الودية التي تقام في مصر.

ويشارك منتخب مصر في بطولة ودية دولية تحت مسمي”كأس عاصمة مصر” بمشاركة منتخبات كرواتيا وتونس ونيوزيلندا.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع نيوزيلندا يوم الإثنين المقبل الموافق 22 مارس في مباراة دور نصف النهائي وإذا حقق الفوز سيلاقي الفائز من مباراة كرواتيا وتونس في المباراة النهائية يوم 26 من الشهر ذاته.

وكشف اتحاد الكرة المصري عبر صفحته على “فيس بوك”، عن انضمام الثنائي حمدي فتحي ومحمد شريف إلى معسكر منتخب مصر تحت قيادة التوأم حسام وإبراهيم حسن، اليوم الأحد.

طالع | أبو جبل يوضح ما طلبه حسام حسن من حراس منتخب مصر ويتغنى به: أسطورة كروية ويُساعدنا كثيرًا

وحضر الثنائي حمدي فتحي ومحمد شريف للمحاضرة الفنية تحت إشراف الجهاز الفني للمنتخب بقيادة حسام حسن، عقب وصولهما لفندق الإقامة.

ومن المقرر أن يشارك الثنائي في مران المنتخب اليوم، المقرر انطلاقه في التاسعة والنصف باستاد القاهرة الدولي.