Chelsea · FIFA Club World Cup · Midfielder · #41 · Brazil · 18 yrs
Today’s chatter is talking about its dreams againElite football clubs splash out millions on their scouting efforts these days, gather reams of data and spend countless meticulous hours assembling their recruitment plans, yet somehow the final days of the transfer window remain a desperate scrap, for some, to recruit players.After an underwhelming start to the season and with a slightly threadbare frontline, Liverpool certainly find themselves in that bracket and, despite the fact Bradley Barcola is en route from PSG, the Reds want more wide forwards. Much seems to depend on Cody Gakpo’s future – with Manchester City and Tottenham in pursuit – but Andoni Iraola’s side have been linked with Chelsea’s Estêvão, as well as Yankuba Minteh and Ismaïla Sarr. What on earth Iraola’s forward options will look like in a couple of days is anyone’s guess. Continue reading...
KIERAN GILL AT STAMFORD BRIDGE: Chelsea did not need him. They won by two goals, with Welbeck scoring and Odoffin sending Estevao's shot into his own net.
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.
Joe Cole won three Premier League titles at Chelsea (Picture: YouTube) Joe Cole has backed Manchester City to dethrone Arsenal this season unless the Premier League champions sign Victor Osimhen before the transfer deadline. Mikel Arteta’s side begin their title defence on Friday night when newly-promoted Coventry City, managed by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, visit the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners won the Premier League by seven points last season and look well-placed for another successful season after Sunday’s emphatic Community Shield win over Man City. It has been suggested that City, the dominant force in English football over the past decade, could struggle in their first season without legendary manager Pep Guardiola. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. But Cole has backed Enzo Maresca to win the Premier League in his first season at the Etihad Stadium unless Arsenal sign a new striker before the summer transfer window closes. Arteta is interested in bringing in a new No. 9 before the transfer deadline, with Arsenal heavily linked with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen. Viktor Gyokeres ended his first season at Arsenal with 21 goals in all competitions but Cole nevertheless believes the Sweden international must be replaced for Arteta’s side to go back-to back in the Premier League. Arsenal transfer target Victor Osimhen (Picture: Getty) Asked for his title prediction on the Dressing Room podcast, ex-England star Cole said: ‘I’ve been flipping and I’m going to put an asterisk on this. ‘I think Man City win the title if Arsenal don’t bring in a No. 9 because I still think that will be a problem for them. ‘So I’m going to go Man City to win the league ahead of Arsenal but if they bring in Victor Osimhen, I would flip it back. But as it stands I’m going for Man City.’ Mikel Arteta is hoping to retain the Premier League title (Picture: Getty) Ex-Premier League striker Carlton Cole added: ‘Arsenal have the best squad and if they get Victor Osimhen in they’re going to be flying, he could be top goalscorer if he comes.’ Cole won three Premier League titles at Chelsea and expects the Blues to greatly improve this season under Xabi Alonso. Chelsea finished just 10th last term but Cole has backed his former club to climb back into the Champions League places. Man City will try to dethrone Arsenal (Picture: Getty) ‘I’m going to go Chelsea in third place, I think they’re going to have a really good season,’ Cole added. ‘Not having any European football is massive, we saw how that helped Manchester United last season. ‘Chelsea have finally got some experience through the door as well. Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Estevao had relaxing summers to varying degrees, not hugely intense summers, so I think they will all be at it.’ Alonso’s first Premier League game in charge of Chelsea is a west London derby against Fulham on Monday night. Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney says Arsenal are not only ‘favourites’ to win the Premier League but could ‘run away’ with the title. ‘Arsenal have the potential to run away with it but behind them we could see a lot of changes,’ Rooney said on Stick to United. ‘I think it’s unrealistic to think Manchester United are going to win the Premier League this year, I don’t think they will.’ 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
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F09%2Festevao-chelsea-6a999b83adbe4472232077.jpg)
