All posts by n8rngtd.top

Arsenal and sporting director Edu didn't take any action during the January transfer window, which is rumoured to be down to budget constraints and FFP worries, but the summer is likely to be very different.

Arsenal looking at 2024 summer signings

Manager Mikel Arteta publicly claimed that his side have one of the Premier League's thinnest squads recently, with the Spaniard revealing exactly why Arsenal were quiet compared to some of their big rivals like Tottenham.

Ray Parlour: Arsenal star is like Keown after what he did vs Liverpool

Speaking to FFC, Ray Parlour has compared the influence of one Arsenal player to Martin Keown.

By
Matt Dawson

Feb 5, 2024

"We have one of the thinnest squads in the League, that's for sure," said Arteta on Arsenal's lack of winter signings (via Standard Sport).

"And when you talk about the numbers, especially in certain areas, we are really thin. It wasn't possible [to do any January deals]. And now we didn't have the capacity to improve the team in the way that we think we want to improve it, so we decided not to do something yet."

Arteta may have been exaggerating slightly when highlighting Arsenal's lack of depth in certain areas, but he could be proved right later this year when a few contracts are set to expire.

Both Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny are set to leave when their deals run out in June, as things stand, which would leave Arteta extremely short of depth in central midfield. Elsewhere in the squad, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah stand out as Arsenal's only senior striker options. Club legend Ray Parlour has urged Arsenal to sign a new number nine on plenty of occasions this season as a result.

"I do think Arsenal need to strengthen up front as we had four top strikers in my day with Bergkamp, Henry, Wiltord, Kanu and also Jeffers would pop up with a few goals," said Parlour in January, exclusively to FFC.

"Arsenal have two main recognised strikers in Jesus and Nketiah. It’s very tough in January to get the striker you want, so I trust Edu and Mikel to get it right and maybe a loan could happen."

Once the summer rolls around, Arsenal will be in a position to spend more, especially if they pip both Liverpool and Man City to the title. It is believed they're in full transfer planning for the window already, and one centre-forward enticing their interest is Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

Edu considers Chelsea hijack to sign Osimhen

The Nigeria international signed a new deal earlier this season which includes a £111 million release clause, with the Gunners in contention to activate it.

That is according to reports in Spain, which suggest Arsenal "wants to steal" Osimhen from under Chelsea's nose as Mauricio Pochettino's side also look at signing him.

Edu and co are currently considering all variables before potentially signing the 25-year-old, who's been called "world-class" by Jose Mourinho and is the scorer of seven goals in just 13 Serie A appearances this season.

Former Barcelona, Bayern and Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara is set to retire from football, according to a new report.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Midfielder hanging up his boots
• Enjoyed sensational, trophy-laden career
• Retires at age of 33

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per Fabrizio Romano, Thiago is set to call time on his career at the age of 33. The former Spain international made his professional debut in 2008 for Barcelona B and went on to become a fixture at the Camp Nou, before joining Bayern Munich in 2013. He would spend seven years at the club prior to his final transfer, when he joined Liverpool in 2020.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Thiago has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons and in 2023/24, he only managed to play five minutes of competitive football. In total, though, he played 98 times for the Reds before hip and muscle injuries took their toll. His fitness has undoubtedly played a key role in his decision to hang up his boots. Prior to the announcement, he had briefly been linked with a move back to La Liga with Girona.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Thiago enjoyed a ridiculously trophy-laden career. He won La Liga four times with Barcelona, as well as the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

  At Bayern, he won seven Bundesliga trophies, four DFB-Pokals, and the Champions League and Club World Cup once again.

  At Liverpool, he won the FA Cup and was a runner-up in the Champions League. Amazingly, he only won 46 Spain caps, as he struggled to dislodge the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Cesc Fabregas.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Thiago will look to embark on a new career path but Romano claims that he would like to stay involved in football. Whether he becomes a manager or a coach remains to be seen.

Glasgow Rangers continued their 100% record in 2024 after securing passage into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals following a 2-0 win over Ayr United at the weekend.

As the saying goes, there is no rest for the wicked and the Light Blues are back in action this evening against Ross County, with Ibrox being the venue.

The Gers have the chance to move level on points with Celtic at the top of the Premiership table with a win over the Staggies tonight, and this is clearly all the motivation the starting XI need to hear.

Philippe Clement has totally transformed the club since taking over last October and won one trophy already in the bag this term. Could he secure what would be a sensational treble in the coming months?

With the tie tonight being their fourth game in 11 days, the rotation of his squad will be vital in order for the club to continue their excellent run and Clement will surely make a few changes to his team.

Rangers team news vs Ross County

Clement spoke to the media prior to the clash against Ross County this evening and gave an update on a couple of squad members, most notably Leon Balogun and Ryan Jack.

“Leon trained with a mask,” said Clement following Balogun’s withdrawal against Livingston after suffering a facial injury.

“We still need to make some adjustments with the mask. That’s always normal, I have some experience with that getting some knocks. So yeah we will see tomorrow how he is, if he can be in the squad or not.

“Ryan Jack will not be in the squad because he is still in a kind of individual programme to rebuild him.”

While Balogun may miss out, Jack will certainly be absent from the squad this evening.

Ryan Jack’s season in numbers

The midfielder has entered into the final few months of his contract at the Ibrox side, and with his recurring injury problems, might he depart at the end of the season?

Once a regular in the starting XI, Jack has been utilised as more of a rotation option this term, making just 21 appearances throughout 2023/24, of which only 12 have been starts.

Among the squad this season, Jack ranks in a lowly 11th spot for accurate passes per game (26.7), while also ranking 24th for tackles per game (0.2) and 16th for key passes per game (0.6), which clearly shows that even when he has been given a chance in the starting XI, the 31-year-old has failed to produce the goods.

With Clement signing Mohamed Diomande during the January transfer window, plus being able to call upon Nico Raskin, John Lundstram and even Dujon Sterling, his central midfield area looks stacked.

This could suggest Jack won't be given an extended contract, yet he still has a big part to play between now and the end of the season, especially with the club in a title race.

Against County, however, the Belgian manager will have to replace Jack and this could mean Lundstram comes back into the starting XI having been rested against Ayr last weekend.

John Lundstram will play against Ross County

Since Clement arrived in Glasgow, Lundstram has been one of the first names on the team sheet and his performances have been wonderful.

In fact, the former Sheffield United midfielder has missed just one match since then, a 2-0 win over Motherwell on Christmas Eve due to injury, and he has looked back to his old self under the Belgian.

The Englishman has been a rock in the heart of the midfield and his performances have been key to the Ibrox side going on a wonderful run under the former Club Brugge manager, losing just once since he took charge.

A rest against Ayr would have done him the world of good, and he will be thrust back into the starting XI this evening as County are the visitors to Ibrox.

John Lundstram’s future is still unclear

Like Jack, the 29-year-old is also out of contract at the end of the current campaign, yet his displays will surely mean Clement offers him an extension sooner rather than later.

The £22k-per-week dynamo has made 136 appearances for the Gers since joining in the summer of 2021 and has worked his way to being a key figure in the starting XI.

The first few months of his Ibrox career were a struggle as he took a while to adapt to the physical nature of Scottish football, but he found his feet during the club’s stunning run to the 2022 Europa League final.

Garnering “cult hero” praise from Ibrox legend Ally McCoist ahead of the final against Eintracht Frankfurt, Lundstram had proven the doubters wrong.

A difficult 2022/23 campaign in which the Gers failed to win any trophies while suffering humiliation in the Champions League group stages once again saw Lundstram face his critics, but he has responded well under Clement.

Indeed, across the whole squad, the midfielder currently ranks third for big chances created (four) in the top flight, along with ranking third for accurate passes per game (63.6), second for accurate long balls per game (5.4) and third for tackles per game (1.7), clearly showcasing his strengths across a range of performance metrics this season.

With these statistics, it is a no-brainer for him to be included back in the starting XI. The question is, who will partner him against County?

Tom Lawrence could potentially come back into the heart of the midfield having missed the Ayr clash due to a precaution, while Clement also has the likes of Raskin, Sterling and Diomande to choose from.

This "thriving" Rangers wizard should be unleashed alongside Silva

The impressive attacking midfielder should return to the starting line-up tonight.

By
Dan Emery

Feb 14, 2024

It is not a bad selection headache to have, but the only important thing tonight is securing another three points and piling the pressure on Celtic ahead of the weekend.

Not many supporters felt there could be a title challenge when Michael Beale was sacked a few months ago, but it is testament to the wonderful job Clement has done since taking over at the Glasgow Side.

Emma Hayes has highlighted a key area the USWNT must improve in ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, with xG being used to support her argument.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Quest for glory about to be opened in France
• Have one more friendly date to take in
• Looking to become more clinical in final third

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States have started the countdown to a gold medal bid in Paris, with former Chelsea boss Hayes ready to oversee her first shot at tangible success. A couple of friendly dates against Mexico and Costa Rica are set to carry them into that tournament on French soil.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The first of those outings saw the USWNT battle their way to a 1-0 win over Mexico, with Sophia Smith netting the only goal of the game just past the hour mark. Hayes’ side were more dominant that the final scoreline suggests, with there much for them to work on in the final third of the field.

• WHAT HAYES SAID

  Hayes told reporters afterwards of the need to become more clinical: “You only have to see from just an xG perspective at the end of the game: It's two-point-something and should be much bigger because for the chances we've created, we're not hitting the frame enough. I still think that's something to add, but I think the difference in momentum from first half to second half was even bigger for us. Much more controlled. I think we're only scratching the surface. I think there's a lot of layers to go from everyone. If we use [the Concacaf Gold Cup] as a reference point, I think it's fair to say this game was much more measured, much more controlled. [We] limited them to very little, so [it's] a step in the right direction.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The USWNT will face Costa Rica on Tuesday in their final preparation fixture. A bid for Olympic glory is set to be opened on July 25 against Zambia, with Hayes’ side going on to tackle Germany and Australia in the group stage.

Leeds United have had their fair share of transfer howlers and blinders over the years in the market under current and previous owners and managers.

Former Whites owner Massimo Cellino was no stranger to a gaffe during the transfer window throughout his time at Elland Road before his exit in 2017.

One of his howlers in charge of the club was the signing of Mauritania international forward Souleymane Doukara ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.

Souleymane Doukara's Leeds statistics

Leeds initially signed him on loan from Catania with an option to make it permanent the following summer, and he had a fairly average first season in English football.

The French-born marksman, who was signed at the start of Dave Hockaday's short tenure as manager, made 27 appearances for the club in all competitions, 25 of which came in the Championship.

Doukara played the majority of those matches as a centre-forward, with five games on the right and left flank combined, and produced five goals and three assists in the league.

Cellino then opted to sign the attacker on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2015, which turned out to be a blunder by the Italian.

The now-32-year-old went on to endure a frustrating campaign in front of goal as he plundered three goals and two assists in 23 Championship matches throughout the 2015/16 season.

Midway through that term, manager Steve Evans claimed he had a "heart the size of Big Ben" but that did not stop him from landing in hot water shortly afterwards.

Doukara was banned for eight competitive matches by the FA for biting Fulham central defender Fernando Amorebieta in February, with the ban coming into place at the end of March for what the FA stated was an 'act of violent conduct'.

That was not the end of his Leeds career, though, as he went on to score six goals in 39 appearances in all competitions during the 2016/17 campaign.

Where Souleymane Doukara currently plays

The centre-forward left Elland Road through a mutual termination of his contract in the summer of 2017 and has been at seven different clubs since his exit from Yorkshire.

He joined Osmanlispor on a free transfer ahead of the 2017/18 campaign and then went on to play for Antalyaspor, Al-Ettifaq, Giresunspor, APO Levadiakos, and Genclerbirligi before a move to his current club in August of last year.

Doukara currently plays for Magusa TGSK in Cyprus but Transfermarkt and Sofascore do not have any information on their fixtures and results, which means that it remains unknown as to how well he is doing there.

However, the 32-year-old plying his trade in Cyprus, along with the aforementioned collection of clubs post-Leeds, shows that his career trajectory has not soared upwards since moving on from England, given that it is the 23rd best division in Europe based on their coefficient.

Overall, Cellino had a mare with the signing of Doukara as the forward failed to score or assist goals on a consistent basis before being released on a free transfer and becoming a journeyman with moves to Turkey, Greece and Saudi Arabia over the subsequent years.

Chelsea's Cobham academy has been the home for many talented youngsters to progress, before having a successful career at Stamford Bridge.

Within the current first-team setup in 2024, players such as Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Conor Gallagher are just three who came through the club's academy before excelling under boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Many players have enjoyed spells with the Blues before leaving the club for hefty fees. Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Callum Hudson-Odoi were all products of the academy, making over 100 appearances before leaving the club.

The club also invested in a youngster back in 2017, before rapidly developing at the club, and progressing into the first team. However, the club sold him back in 2022, with the club potentially living to regret his departure after his recent form.

Billy Gilmour's stats at Chelsea

After signing a professional deal following his move from Rangers, midfielder Billy Gilmour joined Chelsea's U18 side with the youngster swapping Glasgow for London.

The Blues paid a rumoured £500k for the midfielder, with the club keeping one eye on the future with his signing.

He quickly became a regular for the U18 side, making 16 appearances in the U18 Premier League, scoring six times as a central midfielder – with Gilmour quickly showing his talent.

The young gem's good form saw him progress into the U21 side, featuring 30 times over the next two campaigns, with the Scotsman still standing out despite his tender age.

His impressive performance did not go unnoticed, with Frank Lampard handing Gilmour his Premier League debut for Chelsea as an 84th-minute substitute against Sheffield United in August 2019, before making his full league debut against Everton in March 2020.

The midfielder went on to play 11 times in all competitions for the Blues that campaign, before leaving the club to join Norwich City on loan for the 2021/22 season. The move was beneficial for the youngster, with it allowing him to gain valuable top-flight minutes.

He ended up making 24 appearances throughout the campaign, playing for 1,858 minutes, with manager Daniel Farke dubbing the midfielder as a "baller". However, Gilmour couldn't prevent the Canaries from relegation as Norwich ended the season bottom of the league.

Gilmour's loan stint in East Anglia wasn't enough to break into Chelsea's first team, with the former Rangers man permanently moving away from Stamford Bridge after being sold by Thomas Tuchel in the summer of 2022.

Billy Gilmour's stats since leaving Chelsea

Gilmour joined Brighton and Hove Albion for a deal in the region of £7.5m, on a four-year contract. He made 14 league appearances during his first season on the South Coast, before becoming a more regular starter under Roberto De Zerbi this season.

The Scottish international has featured 25 times in the league, along with seven appearances for the Seagulls in the Europa League – with a 91% pass accuracy in the European competition as he has starred on the continental stage as a metronome in midfield.

His performances have seen his market value rise to £15m – with the midfielder's valuation increasing by 100% in the space of 18 months since his departure from Chelsea.

With Gilmour only being 22 years old, he could still have a huge future ahead of him, with the Blues potentially living to regret selling the midfielder given his recent form in the Premier League and Europa League, as they had a blunder with his exit.

Kylian Mbappe's mother Fayza Lamari has revealed when the Frenchman revealed his 'dream' to become a Real Madrid player.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Joining Real Madrid was Mbappe's dream
• Forward's mother on when he declared ambition
• Had been speaking of the move for decades

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe joined Madrid after years of speculation as the club signed the Frenchman on a five-year deal as a free agent following the end of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Even while playing with the Ligue 1 side, Mbappe had maintained that playing with Los Blancos was his childhood dream.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT LAMARI SAID

  When asked by when the first time the forward talked about his dream of playing for Madrid, she replied: "He was five years old, I thought he was crazy (laughs). All his idols were there and he wanted to imitate them. At five years old he had dreams. And what I find beautiful about him is that at 25, he still dreams.

  "You could say that he is jaded, that he already has everything he wants. That is not the case. I am not going to say that he is putting himself in danger by going to Madrid, but he is getting out of his comfort zone. I think he also needed another challenge."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  During his presentation at Santiago Bernabeu in front of 80,000 fans, Mbappe admitted that joining the Spanish giants was his only dream since his childhood before declaring his ambition to "live up to the history of this club, the best in the world". Pressure will be on the attacker to help fire them to a second consecutive Champions League crown after completing the highly-anticipated move.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  Mbappe will not travel with Real Madrid for the preseason tour to the United States due to the nose injury that saw him have to wear a face mask during Euro 2024. During the presentation, he said: "We'll see with the coach and the club. If the club says yes, I'll go. I'm at the club's disposal. I hope I'll play in the Super Cup match, it's up to the coach to decide. I'm going to get to work to play the first match.

  "I am in contact with the medical staff, I am listening to what is recommended to me and I will resume playing when possible. I want to be able to contribute as much as possible to the team as soon as possible."

Leeds United play host to Stoke City in the Championship at Elland Road on Tuesday as they go in search of a first win in three competitive matches.

The Whites were held to a 1-1 draw by Huddersfield away from home last time out in the second tier, which came after a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup. The weekend's result allowed Ipswich Town to move above them in the table and into second place, but despite dropping out of the automatic promotion places, for now, the 49ers are reportedly keen to tie down one of their vital figures to a new deal.

Daniel Farke contract update

According to Football Insider, the club will make giving head coach Daniel Farke an improved contract a priority move at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. Reporter Wayne Veysey claims that the former Norwich City tactician has made a top impression on the board, who are now plotting a major summer agreement.

He is set for a "huge" pay rise as the 49ers will present him with a bumper new contract should Leeds be promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

However, the outlet adds that the Yorkshire-based outfit could offer Farke, whose current deal expires in the summer of 2027, fresh terms even if they fail to go up, which shows how impressive he has been to those running the club this term.

How good has Farke been this season?

Having been relegated from the top-flight last term, Leeds gutted their squad of high-earners as the likes of Marc Roca, Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Rasmus Kristensen, Jack Harrison, and Robin Koch, among others, moved on either permanently or on loan.

Despite the huge turnover in the squad and the switch from Premier League to Championship football, Farke quickly put together a winning machine at Elland Road. Leeds have won 22 of their 35 league matches during the 2023/24 campaign to date, and sit two points off the automatic promotion places as it stands.

This shows that the German head coach, who won two Championship titles with Norwich, has been effective in deploying a side that can consistently win games at that level.

Farke has also showcased his ability to bring through and develop young talent as both Archie Gray and Mateo Joseph have emerged as first-team options, with perhaps the only criticism fans have to do with his use of substitutions.

As you can see in the table above, 17-year-old Gray has nailed down a place as a regular starter for Leeds in a promotion-push season, despite his age and inexperience heading into the campaign.

He has been linked with Premier League giants Liverpool and is reportedly valued at up to £50m, which is thanks to Farke's faith in the young whiz, who may not have been given an opportunity under other managers who favour experience.

Overall, tying the head coach down to a new contract would be a shrewd move as his results on the pitch and development of young talent suggest that he could be a fantastic manager for the club for many more years to come, regardless of what division they find themselves in this summer.

The homegrown defender looks set to depart Stamford Bridge despite starring in the second half of last season

Back in August 2021, Thomas Tuchel sprinkled a major surprise into his Chelsea line up for the Blues' Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. Sitting at the heart of his back three was not Thiago Silva, nor was it Kurt Zouma, who both had to settle for a place on the bench.

Instead, Trevoh Chalobah, flanked on either side by Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, was given the nod. His selection represented the realisation of a lifelong dream. Moving to London from Sierra Leone as a toddler, Chalobah was picked up by Chelsea before his ninth birthday and progressed through the youth ranks, forming part of the young Blues sides that won the 2015-16 UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup on two occasions.

How much this debut meant to the centre back became abundantly clear in the second half against the Eagles. Latching onto a crossfield pass from Mateo Kovacic 25 yards out, Chalobah inched forward gingerly before unleashing a rasping drive into the far corner. Vicente Guaita got a hand to it, but it wasn't enough, as the ball nestled into the back of the net.

The enormity of this storybook moment proved too much for Chalobah. After raising his hands to thank the heavens, he covered his face to hide the tears beginning to form and disappeared into Cesar Azpilicueta's embrace, before being ecstatically mobbed by his team-mates.

"I couldn't believe it when the ball went in. I didn't know what to do and I dropped to my knees," he told the after the game. "I was over the moon. I didn't know the ball went in until the crowd cheered. It's a surreal moment."

Debuts simply do not get better than that, and it should have been the start of Chalobah forging his legend at Stamford Bridge. However, the Cobham graduate's Blues career now looks set to end in the most depressing way imaginable.

• Omitted

  On Monday, it emerged that Chalobah had been omitted from Chelsea's travelling squad for their pre-season tour of the United States. This was not a fitness issue either. Reports confirmed that Chalobah had been told to stay at home as other centre-backs are ahead of him in the pecking order.

  Manager Enzo Maresca was quizzed on this snub during his first press conference since taking over in west London and did his best to explain. "The Trevoh situation for me is quite clear, we have Axel [Disasi] there, we have Tosin [Adarabioyo] there, we have Wes [Fofana] who in these two weeks has worked very good and is finally back, we have some very young profiles like Josh Acheampong who is doing fantastic. It’s a sad decision but we have to take the decision," he said.

  Chalobah has interpreted his omission as proof that the club are trying to force him out. This will be difficult to take, considering how strongly he finished the 2023-24 season.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Scintillating end to the campaign

  After missing a sizeable chunk of the season through injury, Chalobah's return in the middle of February coincided with Chelsea's best run of results under Mauricio Pochettino. Indeed, of the 13 Premier League games he featured in last season, Chelsea only lost one. And that was the 5-0 hammering at Arsenal, during which Chalobah only appeared as a second-half substitute when the game was already over.

  His standout display came against another of Chelsea's London rivals: Tottenham. Ange Postecoglou's side simply could not find a way through at the Bridge, with Chalobah helping to marshall inexperienced right-back Alfie Gilchrist through proceedings en route to a rare clean sheet. He netted the breakthrough goal as well, with his unstoppable header from a deep Conor Gallagher free-kick leaving Guglielmo Vicario with no chance.

  Towards the end of the campaign he also showed his versatility. With Malo Gusto and Reece James both sidelined, Chalobah was forced to play right-back. He did not miss a beat in this unfamiliar role either, helping Chelsea secure victories over West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, which confirmed their return to European football.

• Getty Images
  

  Surplus to requirements

  That extended spell in the first team is likely to be Chalobah's final act as a Chelsea player, though. Since then, the centre-back picture has changed pretty drastically, but in purely footballing terms, it's difficult to understand why the 25-year-old is starting the campaign bottom of the pile.

  As new boss Marseca alluded to in his press conference, Fofana is finally back from the serious knee injury he suffered 12 months ago, with his last appearance coming all the way back in May 2023. At this stage, the Frenchman has missed a combined 140 games due to various knocks over the past three seasons, meaning he comes into the new campaign as somewhat of an unknown quantity. Although he still may be able to rediscover the form he showed at Leicester City that made him one of the most coveted defenders in the world, it's a big ask for his battered body.

  Then there's Tosin, a player who was dropped by mid-table Fulham at various points during his time at Craven Cottage. The shrug-of-the-shoulders reaction that most Cottagers fan had when it was reported he was leaving on a free transfer speaks volumes of how much he has to prove to be considered an elite defender.

  Disasi, meanwhile, had a mixed debut season punctuated by errors. At best he is a rough diamond who is best served when playing alongside a more assured presence at the back.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Hand forced by terrible management

  However, like most personnel decisions made by Chelsea since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover, Chalobah's snub has nothing to do with how he has been performing on the pitch. Instead, the Blues' hand has been forced by financial pressure.

  We all know the story by now. Homegrown players count as 'pure profit' on the club's books and Chelsea desperately need exactly that as the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) tighten around their neck, thanks solely to the ludicrous spending that began under Boehly and has continued under the reign of seemingly infallible sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.

  In a different reality, Chalobah's performances would surely make him first-choice right-centre-back heading into Marseca's maiden season. But selling the rivals for his spot will not be anywhere near as financially lucrative.

  He is far from the first Cobham alum to be discarded in the name of financial necessity, of course. If Chelsea had adopted a different transfer model, one where youth teamers stuck around, they could now be boasting the most 'homegrown' team in the Premier League. Instead, the squad is oversaturated with expensive – and in many cases, underperforming – imports, tied to never-ending contracts.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is reportedly on "borrowed time", as per a former Scottish Premiership club chief.

Celtic chasing Rangers

The former Liverpool manager is currently on his second stint with Celtic, with his first time in charge beginning in May 2016. His first tenure was of course incredibly successful, with the 51-year-old managing to win seven honours whilst at the club, with two of those being league titles.

However, despite being welcomed back to The Hoops with (mostly) open arms, his second spell with the Scottish side has been far from smooth sailing. The club currently reside in second place and have only won three of their last five Premiership games.

This is quite a fall from grace for Celtic following their previous season, as Ange Postecoglou's side managed to finish on 99 points and only lose three domestic games the entire campaign. The sole outlier being the 2020/21 season where Steven Gerrard led Rangers to an undefeated season with 102 points, the Bhoys have won 11 out of the last 12 titles, so anything less than first place is correctly categorised as failure.

And as Phillipe Clement's men are currently leading the way by two points, Celtic's streak of dominance could once again be stopped by their rivals. If Rodgers does fail to lead the club to a title they are expected to look to replace him in the near future, with former Aberdeen Club Chief Keith Wyness claiming the Northern Ireland manager is on "borrowed time."

Rodgers running out of time

Speaking on Football Insiders' Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old suggested Rodgers could be replaced "within a year or two".

"I wouldn’t be surprised to see a change in manager in the off-season. I don’t know if Rodgers was the right pick," said Wyness. "It’s not a happy ship. It does seem to be on the pitch where the failings have come. It certainly seems that they’ve been underperforming in some pretty key games."

These claims come after the Hoops were knocked out of the group stages of the Champions League after only amassing four points out of a possible 18. Rodgers has, however, managed to overcome Celtic's Old Firm rivals on two occasions this term.

Despite triumphing over their arch rivals twice, Wyness went on to claim he has "no sympathy" for the 51-year-old.

"If you’re not first in Scotland, you’re nowhere – and I think the footballing side is what I’d be focusing on to find answers. I don’t have any sympathy for Rodgers. He’s a very experienced manager and he knew what he was walking into. I think he’s running on borrowed time. It’s going to be very hard to claw it back after this unhappy start.

"Even if he wins the league, I think it will only be a year or two before he ends up leaving.”