After a disastrous last season, where Chelsea recorded the worst title defence in the history of the Premier League, The Blues will be looking to restore their lost pride under the managerial leadership of Antonio Conte. The former Juventus manager has already started stamping his authority on the squad. He is a no-nonsense kind of a man, therefore any player who he feels is surplus to requirements will be shown the exit door. Conte is currently in the market for a defender who can shore up the porous defensive line from last season and a quality striker, given his preference for two strikers up front.
This week Schalke signed Chelsea defender Baba Rahman on a season-long loan. The Ghana international joined Chelsea last summer from Bundesliga side Augsburg on a five-year deal. He made his Chelsea debut in the Champions League and then went on to make 23 appearances last season. The 22-year-old will reunite with his former Augsburg manager Markus Weinzierl, who took over as Schalke manager in June. His departure has left Chelsea defensive line fairly short of left-back options, which might force Conte hands into buying a left-back in the coming few weeks. Here we look at 3 players who could fill the void left by Rahman.
Santiago Arias
There have been strong rumors over the past week linking Aries with a move to Stamford Bridge. The PSV Eindhoven full-back is capable of playing on either side of the defense, something that will definitely interest Conte as looks to create a healthy competition in his squad. Conte is supposedly a big admirer of the Columbian international, is rumored to have sent scouts last week to watch him in action. Arias made 32 appearances for PSV last season, his third with the Dutch club. With his experience and solidity at the back, he will definitely be an upgrade over Rahman.
Ricardo Rodriguez
Rodriguez has been linked with a host of clubs this summer, including the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. The 23-year-old was very impressive for the Swiss national team in the recently-concluded European Champions. He is excellent going forward without forgetting his defensive duties, something Conte will surely admire. He also provides a threat from dead ball situation. Rodriguez made 25 appearances for Wolfsburg last season. His natural position is on the left side, therefore he will be a perfect replacement for the outgoing Rahman.
Ryan Bertrand
Bertrand is part of the ever-growing list of players that Chelsea allowed to leave and regretted later. The England international was a very important part of the Champions League-winning team of 2012 but soon was sold to Southampton, where he has improved leaps and bounds. The fact that the 26-year-old was the only Southampton to be part of the PFA team of the year last year, shows how much he has improved over the past few years. Although the defender recently signed a contract extension, bringing him back would be a very wise move by Conte, as he is only going to get better from here on.
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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