Chelsea offer for Dewsbury-Hall turned downpublished at 13:53 28 June
13:53 28 June
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea have made an offer for Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall but it has fallen short of the Foxes' valuation.
Talks remain ongoing between the two parties, with an openness at Stamford Bridge to include various players in a potential swap or send them on loan to King Power Stadium.
Strikers Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana are reportedly being discussed as options, but the players are reluctant to be involved in such a deal, while midfielder Cesare Casadei, who spent part of last season on loan at Leicester, could also be offered.
Dewsbury-Hall has turned down the chance to move to Brighton but remains open to either moving to Chelsea or staying at his boyhood club Leicester.
Which Premier League teams have the most players still at Euro 2024?published at 13:29 28 June
13:29 28 June
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Managers will always outwardly support their players on the international stage, but you can be sure one or two will privately be hoping for an early exit from Euro 2024 for a few of their star men.
International tournament summers disrupt pre-season for managers.
Various players from different nations return to their clubs at different times, sometimes with injuries, holidays get postponed and rescheduled. As a general rule, the best players are more likely to play for the best nations and therefore go further in international tournaments.
The Euro 2024 final will take place on 14 July. Over half of Premier League clubs already have a pre-season fixture scheduled within 10 days of that.
Of English clubs, unsurprisingly, Premier League champions Manchester City have comfortably the most players in the Euro 2024 knockouts. The best represented Premier League side at the start of the competition have a full line-up of 11 stars still in Germany.
They are followed by the rest of last season's top three - Arsenal and Liverpool - who have eight and seven respectively. Manchester United also have seven while Brentford - aided by their healthy Danish contingent - have six and Crystal Palace five.
Championship play-off winners Southampton's three representatives were all eliminated at the group stage, while fellow newly promoted side Ipswich have not seen their summer impacted at all by players at Euro 2024.
Of the Championship-winning Leicester squad, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and defenders Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard remain in Germany - as does Turkey's Yunus Akgun, who spent last season on loan with the Foxes.
This data was provided by Opta and counts the clubs where players finished at the end of the 2023-24 season.
McNulty Q&A: Is it time for Mainoo, Palmer and Gordon to start?published at 12:29 28 June
12:29 28 June
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Before England's Euro 2024 last-16 tie against Slovakia on Sunday, the BBC's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering readers' questions on all things Three Lions.
Mike asked: Do you see the previously benched players who made an impact in the last game (Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon) starting against Slovakia? Or do you feel their positive impact was as a result of the time they came on?
Phil answered: I can see at least two [of Mainoo, Palmer and Gordon], or possibly all three, starting against Slovakia. Mainoo gave the team some urgency against Slovenia, while Palmer looked confident and creative when he came on as a substitute in the second half. Gordon only a got a couple of minutes - but he has a chance because England look unbalanced on the left flank, which is his natural position.
Dewsbury-Hall wanted by Chelsea and Brightonpublished at 09:23 28 June
09:23 28 June
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
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Chelsea have made a move to sign Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who Brighton are also interested in.
Albion are keen to sign Dewsbury-Hall in a cash-plus-player swap deal involving Poland midfielder Jakub Moder.
Moder is ready to switch but there are concerns that Chelsea's enquiry, made on Thursday, could cause Dewsbury-Hall to reject the move to the south coast.
Chelsea believe they would be the preferred choice for the 25-year-old, particularly as they can offer the chance to link up with manager Enzo Maresca, who joined the Blues this summer after delivering Leicester's Championship title and promotion to the Premier League last season.
The situation is complicated further by Dewsbury-Hall's general reluctance to leave his boyhood club, who he joined when he was eight.
In an interview with BBC Sport this week, Dewsbury-Hall said: "I have been here since I was a kid. I love everything about the club. I grew up and managed to play in the first team. I am happy.
"I have never said I am actively wanting to leave. That sort of stuff is not up to me. You never know with football - the season is about to start, so we will see."
The Foxes, who hired Steve Cooper to succeed Maresca, are in a poor position under the Premier League profit and sustainability rules and it is thought they need to sell the academy graduate to satisfy the regulations.
Brentford are also reportedly interested in Dewsbury-Hall.
Gossip: Blues may use Chalobah in deal for Murillopublished at 07:38 28 June
07:38 28 June
Chelsea want Nottingham Forest's 21-year-old Brazilian defender Murillo, who the City Ground side value at £70m, and could offer Trevoh Chalobah as part of any deal. (Guardian), external
The Blues have contacted Leicester City about signing 25-year-old English midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who is understood to only want to move to Stamford Bridge if he leaves the Foxes. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Ipswich begin talks to sign Chelsea's Hutchinsonpublished at 18:51 27 June
18:51 27 June
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, PA Media
Ipswich Town have opened talks to sign Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson on a permanent deal.
The 20-year-old is free to leave Stamford Bridge and is keen to return to Portman Road.
Hutchinson got 10 goals and six assists in 44 appearances and built a good relationship with manager Kieran McKenna while achieving promotion from the Championship on loan at Ipswich.
The former Arsenal academy player, who has made two appearances for Chelsea, was considered one of Ipswich's main targets upon achieving promotion to the Premier League.
As first revealed by BBC Sport, Chelsea exercised an option in Hutchinson's deal to extend his contract until 2026 in May, helping to increase their leverage in securing a good fee.
Spend big or learn from the past? Your suggestions for Euros recruitmentpublished at 16:49 27 June
16:49 27 June
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We asked for your views on which Euros player would be a good fit for Chelsea.
Here are a few of your suggestions:
Josh: I think the return of Guehi, or Bologna's Calafiori would be great options for Chelsea. Both already have lots of experience and are young and would strengthen our back line.
Martin: Do not buy a player based on performances in a summer tournament. We did it with Enzo. Don't do it again. Would you buy Foden, or Bellingham, or Saka based on their performances? Exactly. What happens in a tournament bears no relation to how they'd perform in the Premier League.
Ian: Joao Cancelo is the ideal fit in the Chelsea defence for me. He has lots of experience and is an ex-Man City player who would fit in nicely with Maresca's style of play.
Bob: We turned down an opportunity to sign Olise, but there's a much better winger available in Nico Williams. He'd be a perfect fit.
Colin: We are in need of a centre-back and if I were buying for Chelsea I'd go for Dayot Upamecano.
Nick: Who should Chelsea buy after the Euros? Nobody. International tournament football is different from club football. You can't judge a player's quality, and how well they may do in the Premier League, on a few good games at the Euros. Example? Chelsea buying Enzo for over £100m because he impressed when Argentina won the World Cup. Turned out to be decidedly average.
Williams heads on loan to Burtonpublished at 09:03 27 June
09:03 27 June
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea defender Dylan Williams has agreed to join League One Burton Albion on a season-long loan deal.
The 20-year-old has already completed his medical and, once the transfer goes through, will effectively leave Chelsea permanently as there is an obligation-to-buy clause included.
Williams joined Chelsea after making nine appearances at Derby County in the Championship but did not play for the first team at Stamford Bridge despite being named on the bench on multiple occasions.
The move will see him link up with former Chelsea Under-21s manager Mark Robinson amid major changes under Burton's new owners, Nordic Football Group.
Robinson has also signed midfielder Charlie Webster from the Blues.
'So many imbalances about the team' - Rooneypublished at 08:00 27 June
08:00 27 June
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Former England captain Wayne Rooney feels there are "so many imbalances" in the Three Lions team, with the left side being an "issue".
Given Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw is still not fit, Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier has been deputising on that side of defence.
Without a naturally left-footed player in that position and Manchester City's Phil Foden being played on that side of midfield, England have struggled to generate width or create chances from the left.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, ex-striker Rooney said: "At the minute, it's Tripper or [Joe] Gomez, for me, who should play there. I was very surprised and really shocked that Ben Chilwell didn't get picked - just for the balance of having a left-footed player there.
"He plays at Chelsea and has played well for England in the past. He's a good left-back - he's been in tournaments as well - so I was really surprised he wasn't selected."
Gomez, who has yet to feature this tournament, regularly covered for Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson when he was injured last season.
"So do you play Tripper or Gomez there? Do you bring Kyle Walker across?" Rooney continued. "Over the past few years, Kyle has been the best right-back in the world. Do you take that away from him and put him at left-back? There's so many imbalances about the team.
"Should Foden play on the left, on the right, or as a 10? There are so many questions."
Gossip: Blues target Isak given £115m price tagpublished at 07:12 27 June
07:12 27 June
Chelsea have enquired about Newcastle United's Alexander Isak but they would have to pay more than £115m to sign the 24-year-old Sweden striker. (Mail), external
Palmer and Gordon add a spark - Shearerpublished at 11:47 26 June
11:47 26 June
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It is difficult to judge players properly when they come on late in a game, but Cole Palmer did well against Slovenia, and England looked more of a threat.
It was the same with Anthony Gordon, who had a couple of runs down the left. With him on the pitch, we probably looked more dangerous down that flank in the final five minutes as we did in the rest of the three games combined.
The move right at the end that started with Jude Bellingham and Gordon on the left and ended with Palmer's shot being saved was probably the best thing England did all night.
It was the only time at these Euros that I saw us move the ball from left to right with pace, and it caused the opposition problems.
We need to see much more of that. Palmer and Gordon could be the key to providing the spark and energy we have been badly missing.
That is what gives me the most hope because there has not been very much else to get excited about.
Palmer and Gordon have given Gareth Southgate something massive to think about - and he has got some huge decisions to make.
One tiny positive from our tournament is the side of the draw we are now on - avoiding Spain, France, Portugal and Germany has done us a huge favour - but I'm not sure we can go into any game right now feeling confident about winning.
Normally I would say that our tournament starts here, but I do not really know what to expect in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, whoever we end up facing.
'Palmer has to start' - pundit reaction to cameo rolepublished at 10:53 26 June
10:53 26 June
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England manager Gareth Southgate felt Cole Palmer showed "calm" and "composure" against Slovenia as calls grown for him to start in the next match.
The Chelsea midfielder was handed his first major tournament minutes for the Three Lions when he came off the bench in the final group game.
Palmer scored the most Premier League goals of any England player last season and made an impact with his direct play and had the side's best opportunity of the second half late on.
"He [Palmer] did look sharp. That is what we have seen in the last few days in training," Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We have got good players in the squad and I don't think we should hesitate to use them. He showed real composure, he has a real calm manner about him and I think that showed in the way he and Kobbie [Mainoo] came into the game as two very young players."
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart agreed, saying: "It was exciting to see the guys come on. Anthony Gordon didn't get much time, but Cole Palmer looked really cool – what a lovely player.
"He really makes things happen without looking like he's making any effort - he is exceptional to watch."
The 22-year-old, who came on for Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, had a 100% pass accuracy during his time on the pitch.
Ex-England striker Chris Sutton said: "One thing we have learned from this match is Cole Palmer has to start."
Former Everton defender Izzy Christensen was more cautious however, adding: "The cry will be Palmer has to start. But I think the thinking is much deeper than when he has had an impact for 20 minutes.
"The thinking is - what does the next opponent look like? Who have we got? How do they play? And that is Gareth Southgate's and his technical coaching staff's job to pick the right XI with the best tools to unlock that team."
Gossip: Chelsea work to sign Barcelona youngsterpublished at 07:49 26 June
07:49 26 June
Chelsea are moving forward in their pursuit of 18-year-old Barcelona striker Marc Guiu and they will trigger his 6m euro release clause. (Fabrizio Romano), external
McNulty Q&A: 'Still time for Gordon and Palmer to make their mark'published at 15:53 25 June
15:53 25 June
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Before England's final Euro 2024 group game against Slovenia, BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering readers' questions on all things England.
Gareth: Before the tournament, Gareth Southgate said he was going to copy a tactic from the playbook of England's former rugby union coach Eddie Jones - where he would seek to use the wider quality in his squad by using impact subs he called "finishers" to either bring something different to the attack (like Cole Palmer or Anthony Gordon) or to bring control to midfield (Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton). But his substitutions have been poor and not impactful.
Why do you think this is and do you think he'll seek to better leverage the depth of talent in his squad as the tournament progresses?
Phil answered: He tried that when he made those three changes after 69 minutes against Denmark, replacing his whole forward line of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden with Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen.
By that time, however, all the momentum had got away from England and the fact he made those three substitutions at the same time showed what a mess they had become.
It was all very like-for-like and did not work. There is still time, however, for Gordon and Palmer to make their mark.
Casadei to talk with Maresca before deciding futurepublished at 14:22 25 June
14:22 25 June
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei will wait to talk with new manager Enzo Maresca before deciding his future.
The 21-year-old is reportedly available for sale this summer but boasts a good relationship with his fellow Italian, who was announced as the Blues' new manager earlier this month, because of his loan spell at Leicester last season.
Casadei is ready to fight for his future at Stamford Bridge unless he is told by Maresca that his future would be best suited away from west London.
There are believed to be several players in similar situations at the club - as the Blues decide whether to sell, loan or include players in their first-team squad.
'Every defeat hurts so much'published at 14:08 25 June
14:08 25 June
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Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has questioned whether he spent too much time "searching" for improvement when he was in charge of the side.
The club's all-time record goalscorer first became head coach in 2019, when the club were under a transfer embargo, and he took them to fourth place in the Premier League and an FA Cup final in his first season.
The Blues had a strong start the following campaign, but a difficult run of results saw Lampard sacked in January 2021.
"Certainly at times in Chelsea towards the end of my first spell there, I was searching to try to get improvements in a short period," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "It felt like a month of football and in that month I was searching a lot.
"When I finished there I was like 'OK, did I need to search that much?' What energy are you giving off if you are searching so hard in your head at home and then you are going into the training ground saying 'hey lads' but you can carry that energy on? That was something I took on board.
"When you get in the job, you are so emotional and you want to affect so much. Every defeat hurts so much because you think of the reaction outside and inside the club."
The 46-year-old returned for a second spell at Chelsea as interim manager in April 2023 following Graham Potter's exit, but struggled to reignite the side's form and won just one of his 11 games in charge.
He added: "Once the dust settles, you understand that they are all experiences and, however you want to dress them up, if you can take the benefits of the experiences to maybe deal with things slightly better next time, or understand a bit better, then keeping that life balance is a huge point."
Alexander-Arnold or Gallagher - what do the stats say?published at 12:02 25 June
12:02 25 June
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Reports suggest that Conor Gallagher will replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England's midfield against Slovenia on Tuesday.
According to Opta, no player created more chances (three) or played more line-breaking passes in the final third (five) for England against Denmark than Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold, despite him being substituted in the 54th minute.
However, at the end of 2023 (as per Opta) Chelsea's Gallagher was the only player in Europe's big five leagues with 20+ shots, 20+ chances created, 20+ dribbles completed, 20+ touches in the opposition box, 20+ duels won, 20+ tackles and 20+ interceptions.
Will England benefit from the switch?
Have Chelsea 'struck gold' or more experience needed?published at 11:27 25 June
11:27 25 June
We asked for your views on highly-rated 17-year-old Brazilian Estevao Willian, who is set to join Chelsea next summer.
Here is a selection of your responses:
Paul: I can't wait to see him play for us. He sounds beyond amazing. Let's hope that he lives up to the hype.
Kevin: I'm getting fed up with Chelsea's transfer policies to be honest. We need to sign experienced players, especially a striker. We keep getting kids in and it isn't good enough! Do our owners want us to struggle? They bang on about becoming a top-four team - well it won't happen unless we sign older players.
JJ: Hopefully we have finally struck gold with Estevao Willian.
Ollie: The same was said for Enzo Fernandez and we are still waiting for him to show up. It has been hard to get excited over Chelsea in recent times. It is just a game of whether the players can last longer than the managers it seems.
Jan: Excited? No. Chelsea has a history of buying talented youngsters only to loan them out and eventually sell them to a rival club where they become stars. Expect similar under these clueless owners and their "rookie" manager.
Image source, Getty Images
