According to the English publication Evening Standard, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has hinted that the Blues have almost sealed the record deal for Everton forward Romelu Lukaku. Standard Sport claims that this Belgian striker is considering on handing over a transfer request at Everton; to secure his future back at the Stamford Bridge. They also mentioned Chelsea are willing to bid their final offer of £60m, plus their current striker Loic Remy. The deadline has been set and the move is likely to be completed by the weekend. However, the inclusion of the Belgian won’t raise the question for Diego Costa’s future at Chelsea, as Atletico Madrid have stated that they weren’t interested in bringing their former striker back at the Calderon.
The Spaniard now has secured his future at the Stamford Bridge and Conte will want him to play alongside Lukaku in this upcoming season. But will this duo solve all the problems in the attacking region? Chelsea scored 59 goals overall in their 38 league matches and 15 goals in 8 Champions League fixtures, which means an average of one goal per game in the Premier League and almost 2 per game in the European campaign. If Chelsea ought to enjoy success in their next campaign, the men up front must convert almost all the chances into goals.
Comparison Stats:
If we look at the stats of Costa and Lukaku from the last few seasons, it’s quite clear that the Spaniard has been far more superior in the scoring chart, provided Costa had played more games in the given period while Lukaku had average seasons. However, the scenario changed after he joined Everton in 2014. He has been exquisite for them than his rival, the previous season. Although he played 9 more games than Costa, as a whole he was way ahead while creating chances, attempts, key passes and most importantly goal scored. This clearly indicates why Everton has put a £70m price tag on him. The detailed comparison stats are given below:
Romelu Lukaku
Total Appearances: 37
Goal Scored: 18
Assists: 6
Chances Created: 51
Goals inside the Box: 17
Goals outside the Box: 1
Total Shots: 118
Shot Accuracy: 56%
Key Passes: 45
Yellow Cards: 3
Diego Costa:
Total Appearances: 28
Goal Scored: 12
Assists: 6
Chances Created: 30
Goals inside the Box: 12
Goals outside the Box: 0
Total Shots: 68
Shot Accuracy: 53%
Key Passes: 24
Yellow Cards: 8
One should keep in mind that Lukaku (23) is four years younger than Costa (27) but has been able to perform at a higher level than many players of his age last year. Then again Costa has been involved with goals at the right time which helped his clubs, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, win the league title; while Lukaku had failed in one of the biggest games of his career, a penalty miss against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final. But given his age, he can rectify his errors and become a big match player in the very near future. Now, if Chelsea brings this Belgian back at the Bridge, he has enough time to become one their very best. And who knows, the Costa-Lukaku duo might just turn into a nightmare for all defenders!
Chelsea
Sonia Bompastor Refuses to Address Sam Kerr Exit Speculation Amid Chelsea Striker’s Uncertain Future
Sonia Bompastor has declined to discuss Sam Kerr’s future at Chelsea amid mounting speculation the Australian superstar will walk away from Stamford Bridge as a free agent this summer. The prolific striker’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, with numerous reports claiming she has already decided to leave after seven years in English football.
Bompastor shut down questions about Kerr’s situation during her pre match press conference, stating that both the forward and captain Millie Bright, remain under contract for now. The Chelsea boss made clear she will not be drawn into speculation about player futures while matches remain to be played this season.
Sam Kerr Departure Would End Glorious Era
The potential exit of Kerr alongside long time captain Bright would signal the end of Chelsea’s most successful period in their history. The club has already lost Guro Reiten permanently, while Catarina Macario is heading to America on what reports claim will be a record shattering NWSL contract worth millions.
Chelsea appears committed to rebuilding around younger talent rather than extending deals for established stars entering the latter stages of their careers. This strategic shift could see several high profile names depart simultaneously this summer.
American Clubs Preparing Lucrative Offers for Sam Kerr
Multiple NWSL franchises are circling for Kerr’s signature, hoping to lure the Australian back to the United States, where she previously starred before joining Chelsea. The American league has dramatically increased investment in recent years, offering salaries that can now compete with European clubs.
Ian Wright publicly criticized any decision to offer Kerr merely a short extension rather than a substantial long term deal, arguing her legendary status deserves better recognition. However, Chelsea’s transfer strategy appears already set, with youth recruitment taking priority over sentiment towards club icons nearing the end of their peak years.
Chelsea
26-Year-Old Set for $8M Move to San Diego Wave as Chelsea Striker Expected to Leave Stamford Bridge With Transfer Window Nearing Final Days
Catarina Macario is expected to leave Chelsea F.C. Women and complete a move to San Diego Wave FC with the transfer window nearing its final days. Reports suggest the NWSL side is working quickly to finalize the deal, which could be worth roughly $8 million in total contract value.
The proposed transfer fee is believed to be around $300,000, which is frankly a favorable outcome for Chelsea given that Macario’s contract expires this summer. Without a sale now, the American international could have left the club as a free agent at the end of the season, which would have been disastrous business.
San Diego Using High Impact Player Rule
San Diego Wave are planning to sign the forward using the NWSL’s High Impact Player rule, a mechanism that allows clubs to pay certain star players up to $1 million outside the league’s salary cap. To qualify, players must meet specific performance or profile criteria, which Macario certainly does.
The current NWSL salary cap stands at $3.7 million, making the rule an important tool for attracting top international talent. This represents a significant investment from San Diego, who are absolutely serious about building a championship winning squad.
Has Not Featured Regularly for Chelsea
Macario has not featured regularly for Chelsea in recent weeks, partly due to injury concerns and the uncertainty surrounding her future. Despite her absence, Chelsea recently secured their first trophy of the season by defeating Manchester United Women in the Women’s League Cup final.
The London club remain active on multiple fronts, still competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and preparing for the quarter final stage of the Women’s FA Cup.
Chelsea Sit Third in WSL
However, Chelsea’s domestic league campaign has been more challenging. For the first time in five seasons, they are no longer clear favorites for the Women’s Super League title under manager Sonia Bompastor.
Chelsea
Joe Montemurro Makes Remarkable Juventus vs Chelsea Comparison After Matildas Gets Past Best Team at Asia Cup
Joe Montemurro showed a flexibility to his approach in the Women’s Asian Cup quarter finals that meant the Matildas prevailed by adapting to the circumstances in front of them, even if it was contradictory to the style that is in his DNA. Australia edged North Korea 2-1 in Perth to make the semi finals in what was a resilient performance against the tournament’s best team.
“Let’s be frank and honest here. Winning football games like that, it usually happens in tournaments,” Montemurro said after the victory. The Italian boss then turned to his captain, Sam Kerr, in the press conference and referenced one of his key wins in European football with Juventus against her Chelsea side.
Had 450 Million Shots and We Had One
“I’ve done it a few times like that in Champions League. I think there was a game against Chelsea, we got a draw. They had 450 million shots, and we had one,” Montemurro said with a smile. This Champions League reference perfectly illustrated the type of performance Australia needed to overcome North Korea.
He added, “We knew that they were a great side. They’re the best team in the tournament. They really are. So we just had to be methodical. Where we won the game were the little bits in between, as we were losing the ball or as we were winning the ball to keep our shape and keep our organisation. We didn’t create much. We had to resist a lot.”
It’s Who I Am But Part of Remit to Win
Montemurro was absolutely honest about abandoning his preferred style for tournament pragmatism. “Do I want to play a possession based game? Do I want to keep the ball? It’s who I am. It’s my DNA, but part of my remit is to win football matches,” he explained.
He continued, “Sometimes you have to have that flexibility. At this level, it’s all about moments. It’s all about taking those moments.”
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