Euro Championship · Attacker · #10 · England · 23 yrs
Much like Central Cee, the Chelsea attacker is a distinct presence and right now is perhaps the only truly creative English player out thereThis week Central Cee launched his new Premier League song, called The Team. It owes its existence to a youth-centred, fist-bumping corporate tie-in with Coca-Cola, the press release for which appears to have involved a man in golf-casual clothing frowning at his computer screen for half an hour before typing “cool urban street words, what are?” into the AI search box, then nipping off for a quick brain-bowl strategy lunch with Roger from the Bluesky Synergy hub.The song is really good, because Central Cee is really good. He’s super-smart with words, funny and snappy, but also surprisingly tender and raw. Continue reading...
Former England striker Gary Lineker (Picture: The Rest Is Football) Gary Lineker views Arsenal as clear favourites to win the Premier League and predicts only one team can stop the Gunners from retaining their title. Mikel Arteta’s side got their title defence underway with a convincing 3-0 win over newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates last Friday. The Gunners have enjoyed another strong transfer window, signing Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis while adding further depth in defence after a £51million deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa. A potential blockbuster deal for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez remains on the cards as Arsenal look to add even more firepower to their attacking ranks before the transfer deadline. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Regardless, Lineker believes that the defending champions are the clear favourites to win the league again, as he backed Arteta’s side to retain the title with ease. ‘Even though some people say it’s easier to win your first title than retain it, I disagree,’ he said on The Rest Is Football podcast. ‘I think they’ll retain it. I think not only the fact they’ve added to where they were last season when they won the league and added well, but I also think that pretty much all the big teams around them are in transition. Arsenal are the defending champions (Picture: Getty) ‘So I’m actually going to go Arsenal by at least 10 points.’ It has been a summer of change for many of Arsenal’s potential title challengers, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all appointing new managers over the off-season. And Lineker believes that Xabi Alonso’s Blues are the only team that could run Arsenal close this season, insisting: ‘I’m not sure it’s a hot take, but I think Chelsea might finish second. ‘I’ve got the feeling that Xabi Alonso has got something about him. If the club as a whole doesn’t completely implode, which is a possibility, I think he’ll do well with them. I think he’s good. Chelsea have started brightly under Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty) ‘I think they have got, obviously, a lot of talent there. If you go Rogers and Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro up front, that is a good front three.’ Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola are both new to the dugout at City and Liverpool, but Lineker can’t envisage either being in the title conversation this season. ‘City are definitely in transition mode in more ways than one and probably more than anyone,’ he said. Lineker doesn’t think Manchester City will challenge for the title (Picture: AFP) ‘So, anything could happen this season; I still see them making the Champions League, but I don’t envisage them being in the title race.’ On the Reds, he added: ‘Obviously a new manager has come in, he’s got to change the style and has actually said himself that he’s not sure they’re quite ready yet for what I want, so it might take a bit of time and one or two signings. ‘They’ve obviously lost a couple of experienced players, so I think they’ll just make Champions League football.’ Similarly, Lineker finds it hard to picture Manchester United mounting a title challenge given their added fixture load upon returning to the Champions League. ‘The big question is, can Michael Carrick continue with how well he was doing last season, given the fact that this time they have Champions League football as well?’ he mused. ‘I think the squad looks a tad light to compete on all fronts at present, so I think they are fourth or fifth with Liverpool.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
With Chelsea facing Luton Town for their 2026-27 Carabao Cup debut, questions rose over the absence of Enzo Fernandez from the squad list. Chelsea open their 2026-27 Carabao Cup campaign on Thursday, August 27, hosting third-tier side Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in the second round of the competition. With manager Xabi Alonso rotating his squad for the fixture, questions arose after midfielder Enzo Fernandez was omitted from the team sheet entirely. According to reporting from South American transfer insider Cesar Luis Merlo, Enzo Fernandez personally requested that manager Xabi Alonso hold him out of the match against Luton Town. Fully fit and unhindered by injury, the Argentine international sought to avoid participating as he looks to finalize his impending move to Manchester City, explaining his complete absence from the substitute bench. That account aligns with reports from Ciaran Wiseman and Ben Jacobs of talkSPORT, who indicated Fernandez was left out of Chelsea’s squad due to advanced transfer negotiations with Manchester City. The outlet reports that the midfielder is finalizing personal terms on a blockbuster move to the Etihad Stadium, prompting his complete omission from the squad. Despite standing as one of the club’s marquee talents, Fernandez recently saw his status in the squad shift. During Monday’s Premier League opener against Fulham, the midfielder was relegated to the substitute bench before entering in the 65th minute to audible frustration from portions of the traveling Blues support. Cole Palmer of Chelsea hands the captain badge to Enzo Fernandez. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Now, Chelsea leadership, manager Xabi Alonso, and Fernandez have mutually moved toward an impending exit. With discussions ongoing for Manchester City to finalize a potential record-breaking transfer fee, his exclusion aims to accelerate negotiations ahead of the September 1 Premier League transfer deadline. Enzo Fernandez could turn into most expensive Premier League signing Chelsea previously set a deadline back on Friday, August 14, where any club could sign Enzo Fernandez if they met the £120 million asking price. Even though this offer has expired, Manchester City are still pushing for the signing, and could turn the Argentine into the most expentive Premier League signing. As reported by Argentina insider and TyC Sports journalist Gaston Edul, Manchester City are preparing a bid between £130 million and £140 million ($177M to $191M USD), eclipsing the £106.8 million ($145M USD) Chelsea paid Benfica to sign him originally. Confirmed lineups for Chelsea and Luton Town Chelsea’s confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): Mike Penders; Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix, Josep Chavarria; Valentin Barco, Reece James; Estevao, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers; Danny Welbeck.Head coach: Xabi Alonso. Luton Town’s confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): Josh Keeley; Harrison Ashby, Hakeem Odofin, George Johnston, Joe Johnson; Benedict Benagr, Liam Walsh; Emilio Lawrence, Kasey Palmer, Gideon Kodua; Callum Marshall.Head coach: Jack Wilshere.
Palmer opened his account for the season with a goal against Fulham on Monday night, darting diagonally across the width of the box to finish a move set up by Joao Pedro.
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