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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will miss his side's next Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers after being suspended for an extra game following his reaction to being sent off against Newcastle United last month.
The Dutch defender was also fined 100,000 pounds after admitting he acted in an improper manner, the Football Association said in a statement.
Van Dijk was sent off for fouling Alexander Isak during the first half and appeared to remonstrate with referee John Brooks before walking off the pitch.
"The defender admitted that he acted in an improper manner and used abusive and insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute, and the sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent regulatory commission," said an FA statement.
He was automatically suspended for Liverpool's win against Aston Villa on Sept. 3.
Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Christian Radnedge
[reuters]
After a club-record transfer fee and plenty of excitement, this wasn't how it was supposed to end for Nicolas Pepe at Arsenal as the winger makes a silent exit this summer.
The Ivorian winger joined the Gunners four years ago from French side LOSC Lille, with hopes that he would lock down the right flank for years to come. At just 24 years old and with some impressive numbers in Ligue 1, it appeared to be an exciting investment at a club-record £72million.
There would soon be doubts though as his opening campaign ended with just five goals and six assists in 31 Premier League appearances. His numbers the following season improved with ten goals and one assist from 29 league games, but the issues arose after that.
Pepe was soon competing with an up-and-coming youngster by the name of Bukayo Saka, who very quickly put himself in the frame as the first-choice option on the right. Pepe was limited to just over 600 minutes the following season before a loan spell with OGC Nice last year.
Back at Arsenal, with one year left on his contract and a few top-class options ahead of him, it seemed as though his story at the Emirates was as good as over. Plenty of transfer links have occurred over the summer, but it seems as though a deal has finally been agreed.
The 28-year-old is making his way to Turkish side Trabzonspor, with reports claiming that it will be on a short-term contract basis. According to reports from GFFN, the north London outfit are set to receive £3million for the winger's exit, a far cry from the huge investment they made four years ago.
To most, that may look as though the Gunners have lost £69million from the transfer and would come as a huge issue within their finances. In fact, that isn't quite the case as the documents will tell quite a different story once they are revealed in a couple of years.
A value of a football player is often determined by their transfer fee and that is then depreciated (similar to any asset across a company) across the length of a contract, which is called amortisation. That may be a phrase familiar with a few due to Chelsea's recent use of long-term deals to try and spread their spending.
Linking that all back to Pepe, he was signed for roughly £72million on a five-year deal, meaning that his value on the books depreciated by £14.4million every year. That means his current value before his exit is £14.4million, which would be the loss the club would take at the end of the season if he left on a free.
[https://www.football.london/]
Carla Ward: Rachel Daly is hungry for more success as Aston Villa prepare to close the gap in Women's Super League
AdminAston Villa manager Carla Ward believes Rachel Daly is hungry for more success as the side prepare to challenge the top four in the Women's Super League.
Rachel Daly has had an incredible year, in which she was the WSL's top goal scorer for Villa, a crucial player during England's run to a first ever World Cup final, and now voted the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year.
The 31-year-old only joined Villa on a permanent deal last year, arriving from Houston Dash, but will continue to be key part of the West Midlands side's push to close the gap on Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
"I said she's going to score goals and she's going to be a centre forward and she did. I think I even said that she'd play for England in their nine and she's done that," said Villa manager Carla Ward.
"Rachel has been unbelievable. She's had quite some season and then to top it off to get the PFA award. I said to her today that award for me is the biggest one, it's the biggest accolade, it's all of our peers voting for her and I think there's no greater honour.
"But she's hungry for more. The first thing she said is she wants to improve. There are certain areas of her game she wants to improve and that shows what she's about.
"She knows that people will analyse her from last season. She wants to add a different dimension and I love that - we're excited, she's excited."
Aston Villa made impressive progress in the WSL last season, going from a ninth place finish in 2021/22 to fifth in 2022/23. Their next challenge is closing the gap to the top four, after finishing 10 points adrift of Manchester City last time out.
"Expectations rise, from both within and externally. You know what it's like when you finish best of the rest. There's a target on your back, naturally, everyone wants [this] because we are the chasing pack," said Ward.
"That's the fact, that's a reality, but we want to try and close the gap. Last year we did that, but that doesn't come without a lot of hard work, a lot of focus, a lot of new ideas.
"We've brought in some new faces behind the scenes, new faces, obviously, on the pitch and that will hopefully allow us to do that."
One of those new faces is Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, who signed from Twente this summer.
"She's some player, we opened up discussions with her at Christmas, she's an unbelievable talent. When I watched her at Bramall Lane come on at the Euros, from then onwards, she's been sensational," said Ward.
"Look, she had 14 clubs on the table, so we're absolutely delighted that she came here. She's only been in the building a week and she's been absolutely brilliant."
Alongside Van Domselaar, Villa have also brought in centre-back Lucy Parker from West Ham.
The strengthened squad faces a series of early tests, playing Manchester United, Liverpool and then Arsenal at the Emirates in their opening three matches.
"We want to play the big games, that's what we're here for. I think anyone that wants an easy start, they're lying," said Ward.
"You want the big teams early, you want to test yourself, you want to see where you're at and I'll be honest, we're delighted with our start, we really are.
"A lot of people probably won't give us much hope, but we certainly will."
[skysports]
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been handed an additional one-match ban and a £100,000 fine after admitting he acted in an improper manner following his red card at Newcastle.
The Netherlands international was dismissed for a foul on Alexander Isak in the first half of Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at St James’ Park on August 27, but initially refused to leave the pitch – and then remonstrated with referee John Brooks.
An automatic one-match ban saw the centre-back suspended for the 3-0 win over Aston Villa before the international break, but he will now also serve an additional suspension and so miss the trip to Wolves on September 16.
A statement from the FA read: “Virgil van Dijk has been suspended for one match and fined £100,000 for breaching FA Rule E3.1 during Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Newcastle on Sunday August 27.
“The defender admitted that he acted in an improper manner and used abusive and insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute, and the sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent regulatory commission.”
[football365]
Al-Nassr striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has said his rivalry with Lionel Messi “is gone” having both already “changed the history of football.”
The two footballers have dominated for over a decade.
Between themselves, Ronaldo and Messi have won a combined 79 trophies and are the only two players to have scored over 800 goals each.
“I don’t see things like that, the rivalry is gone,” Ronaldo said.
“It was good, the spectators liked it.
“Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don’t have to hate Messi and vice versa. We’ve done well, we have changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world, that’s the most important thing,” he added.
Ronaldo left European football for Saudi Arabia in January this year, after his contract at Manchester United was terminated.
Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup, joined Inter Miami CF in June as a free agent after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.
He became the most decorated football player when he won his 44th trophy after helping the MLS club lift the 2023 Leagues Cup in August.
[DailyPost]
Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has become the first Nigerian male footballer in 24 years to get nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award as Super Falcons star, Asisat Oshoala also got nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or women’s player of the year award for the second successive year.
The Super Eagles star striker, who has scored 17 goals in 25 international appearances, becomes the first Nigerian to be nominated for the prestigious prize since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
The Napoli forward also becomes the 7th Nigerian male footballer and 8th Nigerian player to earn a Ballon D’Or award nomination after Finidi George (1995), Austin Jay-Jay Okocha (1995), Daniel Amokachi (1995), Nwankwo Kanu (1996, 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), Sunday Oliseh (1998), and Asisat Oshoala(2022, 2023).
It was a historic day for Nigeria as Osimhen restored the glory of the Super Eagles since 1999 and Oshoala continued to stamp her feet as the best African player after she wrote her name in the history books by becoming the first female African player to get the Ballon d’Or nomination in 2022, finishing in the 16th position among the shortlisted 30 players.
Oshoala, who is the reigning Africa women’s player of the year, scored 21 goals in just 28 games to lead FC Barcelona to the 2022/23 Spanish league title and was the Spanish club’s top-scorer with 27 goals in all competitions.
The 28-year-old was instrumental as Barcelona retained their domestic title and won the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, 5-time record African Player of the Year award winner Oshoala made history as the first Nigerian and first female African player to score at three different editions of the FIFA World Cup. She has now scored 31 goals and won the Women’s African Cup of nations three times with the Super Falcons.
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen makes the list of 30 star players nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or men’s award alongside Inter Miami forward, Lionel Messi and Man City forward Erling Haaland.
The Napoli striker scored 26 Serie A goals last season to guide the Partenopei to the Scudetto for the first time in more than three decades.
Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen has been nominated alongside Inter Miami forward, Lionel Messi and Man City forward Erling Haaland for the 2023 Ballon d’Or men’s award.
Osimhen is currently one of the best players in Europe and he is in superb form, continuing his goalscoring form at Napoli where he has now scored 62 goals in 103 appearances.
The Nigerian striker scored 26 goals and added 4 assists in 32 league appearances to emerge as the highest goal scorer and lead Partenopei to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
The 24-year-old was the first African player to achieve the feat he is also currently the highest-scoring African in the Italian top flight after eclipsing the old record set by former Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o.
Osimhen will compete with favourite and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and a plethora of other European superstars.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.
The winners of the Ballon d’Or 2023 will be announced on this day.
Super Falcons star striker, Asisat Oshoala has been nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or women’s player of the year award following her impressive season with FC Barcelona Femini in the Spanish League and the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
Oshoala, who is the reigning Africa women’s player of the year, scored 21 goals in just 28 games to lead FC Barcelona to the 2022/23 Spanish league title and was the Spanish club’s top-scorer with 27 goals in all competitions.
The 28-year-old was instrumental as Barcelona retained their domestic title and won the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The two-time Champions league winner was also nominated for the award in 2022 as she became the first female African player to get the Ballon Dór nomination, finishing in the 16th position among the shortlisted 30 players.
At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Oshoala made history as the first Nigerian and first female African player to score at three different editions of the FIFA World Cup.
The Super Falcons star scored in her debut World Cup in 2015 against Sweden; in 2019 against South Korea; and now in 2023 against Australia.
She scored the winning goal in the 3-2 win over co-hosts Australia in the group stage and led the Super Falcons of Nigeria to an impressive round of 16 finish.
Nigeria crashed out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing 4-2 on penalties to eventual finalists—the Lionesses of England in the Round of 16.
The nine-time African champions were unbeaten in the group stage finishing second behind co-hosts Australia, and qualified ahead of Olympic champions, Canada and debutants Republic of Ireland.
Oshoala was a key part of the impressive Falcons side as they avoided defeat in all three group-stage matches for the first time in history, with a win and two draws.
The Ikorodu born superstar and former Arsenal striker has also won the African Player of the Year award for a record five times—2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and in 2022.
With two-time defending champion Alexia Putellas out of the running after a season hampered by injuries, a new winner will be crowned on October 30th.
Barcelona and Spain superstar Bonmati, who was instrumental to the Spanish women’s national team glory at the FIFA Women’s World Cup is the favourite to win the prize her teammate, Alexia Putellas won last year.
With a stellar performance at the tournament, playing in every game and winning the best player award, Bonmati is a strong contender to succeed Putellas.
Chelsea’s Sam Kerr is yet another likely winner having racked up 29 goals for Chelsea last season as they won a domestic double before featuring for the Matildas of Australia at the World Cup.
Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg won the maiden women’s Ballon d’Or back in 2018 while United States Women’s national team star Megan Rapinoe won the honours in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 ceremony to be cancelled. Oshoala’s teammate, Alexia Putellas emerged as the winner following its resumption in 2021 and retained her title in 2022.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.
The winners of the Ballon d’Or 2023 will be announced on this day.
The Ballon d’Or women’s award nominees are:
Khadija Shaw (Man City)
Mapi Leon (Barcelona)
Mary Earps (Man United)
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
Wendie Renard (Lyon)
Katie Mccabe (Arsenal)
Jill Roord (Wolfsburg and Man City)
Yui Hasegawa (Man City)
Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)
Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Debinha (Kansas City)
Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
Guro Reiten (Chelsea)
Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg)
Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
Daphne Van Domselaar (Twente and Aston Villa)
Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)
Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai and Man United)
Millie Bright(Chelsea)
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
Hayley Raso (Man City and Real Madrid)
Amanda Ilestedt (PSG and Arsenal)
Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
Olga Ramona (Real Madrid)
Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
Alba Redondo (Levante)
Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon)
Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen has been nominated alongside Inter Miami forward, Lionel Messi and Man City forward Erling Haaland for the 2023 Ballon d’Or men’s award.
The Super Eagles hotshot becomes the first Nigerian to be nominated for the prestigious prize since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
The Napoli striker scored 26 Serie A goals last season to guide the Partenopei to the Scudetto for the first time in more than three decades.
Osimhen will compete with favourite and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi who was instrumental to Argentina’s World Cup glory in Qatar.
There is also Manchester City forward Erling Haaland who had a stellar debut seasons with City as they won the treble for the first time in the club’s history.
See full list for Ballon d’or 2023 men’s award
Josko Gvardiol
Jamal Musiala
Andre Onana
Karim Benzema
Mohamed Salah
Bukayo Saka
Kevin DeBruyne
Jude Bellingham
Randal Kolo Muani
Bernado Silva
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Nicolo Barella
Emiliano Martinez
Ruben Dias
Erling Haaland
Martin Odegaard
Ikay Guendogan
Yassine Bounou
Julian Alvarez
Vinicius Jr.
Lionel Messi
Rodri
Lautaro Martinez
Antoine Griezmann
Robert Lewandowski
Kylian Mbappe
Victor Osimhen
Kim Min-Jae
Luka Modric
Harry Kane
Former sporting director at Paris Saint-Germain, Leonardo, has admitted that Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé lacked support and recognition to create a winning environment during their time together in France.
The star-studded attacking trio won league titles at PSG the past two seasons, but failed to bring Champions League success to the club.
“People, they need to feel comfortable. These players need a state of good spirits, they need to feel support, they need to be recognised.
“And the ones who have do that are the club, us, and the coaches,” Leonardo told Brazilian publication Ge.
Mbappé is into the final year of his current contract at PSG, while Messi left the Ligue 1 champions this summer to join Inter Miami CF as a free agent. Neymar moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal in a €90million transfer.
[DailyPost]
More...
Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has admitted how terrible he feels being away from football, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Siasia was banned from all football activities for life in August 2019 by the world football body FIFA and fined $50,000 for agreeing to ‘the manipulation of matches’ for betting purposes.
According to FIFA, Siasia’s ban emanated from an extensive investigation into matches that Wilson Perumal attempted to fix.
But in 2021, after an appeal, his ban was reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sports which lapsed in August 2024 and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner can’t wait to return to football.
“I thought I was going to be free by this year (2023) and I was so excited,” Siasia said in a radio interview on Kennis 104.1FM monitored by our correspondent.
“But I had to look through the document that FIFA served me, and I found out that it was going to be next year.
“By next year, in August 2024, I will be free from the FIFA ban, and hopefully I will be back to football.
“Irrespective of what happened, I have learned my lessons, but FIFA, who initially gave me a life ban in football, could not prove anything wrong with what they claimed I did. But they had to reduce it to a five-year ban, and it will expire next year. I thank God for that.
“It has been terrible to be away from football for five years, but I am preparing myself to come back to football, so I have to prepare myself so I can start ‘running’ once I resume by next year.”
Siasia also recounted the ordeal his men’s U-23 team went through prior to the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The Nigerian team overcame several challenges to arrive Rio on matchday before defeating Japan 4-3 in their opening group game.
He said, “We were abandoned ahead of our opener (against Japan), but we came into Rio on the same day, played Japan the same day, and won our opener the same day by 4-3.
“The Japanese billionaire, Dr. Katsuya Takasu was so amazed and wanted to see the coach of the team and handed me a cheque for $200,000″. “He also appreciated the team as a whole.”
Siasia also urged the country’s sports administrators to celebrate medal winners at major tournaments.
“My bronze medal is still in my house in the United States of America, but it’s so sad that Nigeria does not appreciate those who win laurels at the Olympics,” he continued.
“It must not be gold always, but once an athlete win either silver or bronze, they ought to be appreciated.
“Our bronze at the Rio Olympics was the only medal Nigeria won at that Olympics, but it was not celebrated.
“We were not received at the airport and no one appreciated us or talked about it. It’s shameful and not fair.
“Wwe have to first celebrate the medals won before looking forward to winning another, so that the younger ones who see athletes being appreciated will look forward to winning for Nigeria, and that is how it should be,” Siasia said.
[Punch]
Siasia is the only Nigerian coach to have won two Olympic medals with the U-23 team at two different Olympics.
The 56-year-old won the silver with the dream team at Beijing 2008 and also won the bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Novak Djokovic fought back from two sets down to overcome compatriot Laslo Djere and reach the fourth round of the US Open during a late-night spectacular on Friday.
The two Serbian foes went toe-to-toe at the Arthur Ashe Stadium for three hours and 45 minutes, and Djokovic eventually completed a terrific turnaround to prevail 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-3.
Djere got off to a dream start against the 23-time Grand Slam winner with a break in the opening game of the match, and an off-colour Djokovic had no answer after losing his serve in the seventh game of the second set.
However, following a "pep talk" in the mirror, Djokovic came out a different beast in the third set, winning five games on the bounce via a double break before Djere also lost his serve in the first game of the fourth set.
The 32nd seed did immediately break back, but his late efforts were fruitless against a fired-up Djokovic, who strung together a magnificent eight-game winning streak before Djere restored some parity with a hold to love
By that point, however, Djokovic was already a break up in the decider, and a 58th unforced error of the night from Djere on match point saw Djokovic progress to the fourth round, where he meets Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo.
Djokovic's triumph marked the eighth time in his career that he has recovered from a two-set deficit to win a top-level match, but Iga Swiatek's route to the last 16 was much more straightforward.
The defending women's champion is yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows this year and made light work of her meeting with Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan, winning 6-0 6-1 in just 49 minutes.
Registering a second bagel in three matches, Swiatek won each of the first nine games before Juvan belatedly got on the board, which would be nothing more than a minor consolation for the world number 145, who hit a paltry two winners compared to Swiatek's 21.
Swiatek can now look ahead to a meeting with former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, who came back from a set down to beat the USA's Bernarda Pera 4-6 6-3 6-3, while Caroline Wozniacki's fairytale homecoming continued with a 4-6 6-3 6-1 win over Jennifer Brady.
Wozniacki's reward is a glamour tie with sixth seed Coco Gauff, who recovered from a slow start to dump Elise Mertens out 3-6 6-3 6-0, but Elena Rybakina's run came to a premature end.
The former Wimbledon winner was made to pay for 56 unforced errors in a 3-6 7-6[6] 4-6 loss to Sorana Cirstea, who will meet 15th seed Belinda Bencic in her first-ever US Open fourth-round match.
Elsewhere, 10th seed Karolina Muchova saw off Taylor Townsend 7-6[0] 6-3 to set up a clash with Wang Xinyu, who posted a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova to reach a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time in her career.
Home favourites Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul also prolonged their runs on home soil, beating Jakub Mensik, Adrian Mannarino, Aslan Karatsev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina respectively.
[Sportsmole]
David Ferrer admitted that he yearns to see Nadal pairing up with two-time major winner Alcaraz in Davis Cup Finals if Spain manage to reach that stage.
When Rafael Nadal had made the emotional statement on 2024 likely to be his final year on tour, moments after he withdrew from the French Open earlier this May, the Spaniard had shared a few of his plans and desires. The 37-year-old, who a month later underwent a hip surgery owing to an injury that kept him on the sidelines since his early Australian Open exit in January, had set his return date as November this year following which Carlos Alcaraz made a blockbuster offer to the 22-time Grand Slam winner.
On Saturday, less than three months from Nadal's desired date of return, compatriot and former tennis player, David Ferrer, who is also the captain of the Span Davis Cup team, addressed the topic while also teasing Alcaraz's offer.
Speaking to Marca, Ferrer said: "I don't see far away" and hence doesn't rule out the possibility of Nadal's return. "I wish he could be with us,” said the former tennis player from Jávea, “I don't see it as a utopia.”
Ferrer also admitted that he yearns to see Nadal pairing up with two-time major winner Alcaraz in Davis Cup Finals if Spain manage to reach that stage.
"I can't say much more, but I hope he can be with us in November, now he has taken a vacation and is doing his things," he said. "My dream is to join Rafa and Carlos in the Davis Cup team."
Following a sensational win in the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz, in conversation with El Partidazo de Cope, had revealed that he is dreams to play doubles with Nadal in Olympics where the tennis events will be held at Roland Garros, where the legend has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slams.
"It would be a dream to live the experience of playing doubles with your idol," Alcaraz had said. "Let's see how he's doing and how he's going, you know, in this year. Hopefully, he's going great but for me, it could be a dream to play doubles with him."
Alcaraz has never before teamed up with Nadal for any tennis event in his career, although the two have faced each other on the ATP tour with the latter winning two of the three matches before the 20-year-old stunned him at 2022 Madrid Open quarters. The two also share a great bond with Alcaraz revealing last month how a message from Nadal moments before Wimbledon final inspired him to beat Djokovic in the five-set thriller.
[hindustantimes]
For many clubs in Europe, the summer transfer deadline has passed and their business will now be finished until they have a chance to shuffle their ranks in January.
Chelsea will most likely mark the past few months as a success in their books, landing top target Moises Caicedo after months of working to get a deal done. There may be questions over the £115million price tag and uncertainty over Liverpool's push, but at the end of the window, he's wearing blue.
Romeo Lavia, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Cole Palmer and Robert Sanchez are just a few of the new faces who made their way in during a busy period that saw a huge influx of youth prospects. The club also managed to move off most of their outcast stars that no longer had a future there.
It means that Mauricio Pochettino can finally get down to work without the distractions of new players that he will need to integrate into his style of play. That's not to say that all their business may stop there though as, in terms of a couple more outgoings, there are still other markets open that could look to land a couple players.
Mauricio Pochettino Backs Chelsea To Turn Their Form Around
There's also likely to be another shuffle in the free transfer market, with players that were unable to find clubs becoming an attractive proposition as they're free to join outside of a transfer window. It's rare that a top-end club like Chelsea will land a star at this stage, but there's one out there that could cap a dream summer.
In this case, it's club legend Eden Hazard, who became a free agent earlier this summer after ending his ties with Real Madrid. The Belgian international struggled to fit in at Los Blancos as injury concerns piled up until he was no longer seen as a key part of the project.
Hazard enjoyed some of the best years of his career in blue, spending seven-years at the club and racking up six trophies in that time. While things have no doubt changed since he left for the big-money move, the 32-year-old could still play an invaluable role within the team now.
Hazard has Premier League experience and could play a huge role in helping nurture some of the young talent currently with the Blues. A lot of the goal scoring burden currently lies on Raheem Sterling, but with Hazard as a rotational option, that pressure may be lifted while he isn't under the same injury strain of playing every week.
There's an obvious sentimental aspect to it, Hazard may not earn the same wage at Stamford Bridge as he could elsewhere and he may not have that same importance in the squad with his role. However, in this instance, it's a deal that just makes sense for where the club are, have been and want to be.
[football.london]
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