Sports
Conor Gallagher agrees £33.7m Atletico Madrid move after Diego Simeone talks
Conor Gallagher agrees £33.7m Atletico Madrid move after Diego Simeone talks
Conor Gallagher has agreed to join Atletico Madrid from Chelsea for £33.7 million after Diego Simeone pushed hard to convince the midfielder to move to Spain.
England international Gallagher is poised to sign a five-year deal that could earn him as much as £200,000-a-week once bonuses are taken into consideration.
Gallagher was preparing to fly to Madrid on Monday to finalise the deal, having consulted Kieran Trippier about life at Atletico while on England duty during the Euros.
While the fee is significantly lower than the initial £55 million they banked for Mason Mount, who also had a year remaining on his contract, from Manchester United last summer, Chelsea favoured selling Gallagher overseas.
The west London club accepted a higher offer from Aston Villa in June, but Gallagher turned the move down, while Tottenham Hotspur have not followed up their long-standing interest with a firm offer.
Selling Gallagher to Villa, Spurs, or any other English club, could have piled pressure on Chelsea if the 24-year-old outperformed their midfielders during the forthcoming campaign.
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Chelsea twice offered Gallagher a new two-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months – once after accepting Villa’s offer and again after Atletico’s bid had been accepted.
Gallagher turned down each offer and, on Friday, was called in to Chelsea, cutting short his summer break, to be told that he risked being left out of the first-team squad if he stayed and did not sign a new contract.
That prompted a hectic weekend of talks, with verbal agreement between Gallagher and Atletico being found in the early hours of Monday morning.
Simeone has told Gallagher that he sees him as a key component of what has turned into a summer rebuild and believes the Chelsea academy graduate will fit perfectly into his system and style of play.
Gallagher played virtually every game under Simeone’s Argentine compatriot, Mauricio Pochettino, at Chelsea last season and captained the team for the majority of the season.
But Pochettino’s exit and the appointment of Enzo Maresca as head coach resulted in Chelsea believing that Gallagher would be more of a squad player, if he had signed a new deal, under the Italian.
Once he formally completes his move to Atletico, Gallagher will be the fifth first-team academy graduate to be sold by Chelsea’s Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly owners, with Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja also set to depart this summer.
Gallagher follows Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ian Maatsen and Lewis Hall out of Stamford Bridge. Reece James and Levi Colwill are two academy graduates who have signed new long-term Chelsea contracts under the current owners.
Conor Gallagher agrees £33.7m Atletico Madrid move after Diego Simeone talks
Sports
Newcastle make Osimhen transfer target
Newcastle make Osimhen transfer target
Newcastle United have joined the race sign Victor Osimhen as the English club seeks to bolstering its attack with the prolific Nigerian star next year.
The club’s owners, Public Investment Fund is reportedly ready to activate the Nigerian’s £113m release clause.
Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder reports that the Magpies are among several clubs jostling for the service of the 25-year-old striker, who is currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray from Napoli.
The former Lille striker has been in an tremendous form since joining Galatasaray in September, netting eight goals in nine appearances across all competitions, including six strikes in six Turkish Super Lig.
His latest contribution came in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Samsunspor, where he scored twice to maintain Galatasaray’s unbeaten run and extend their lead at the Turkish Super Lig summit to six points.
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Napoli Sporting Director Giovanni Manna has set a minimum price for any potential suitor.
“There are many clubs interested in Victor Osimhen. Galatasaray cannot take Osimhen if it does not pay a net fee of €75m,” Manna stated.
Newcastle’s interest comes after an inactive summer transfer window, with manager Eddie Howe keen to strengthen his attacking options. Fans are already agog by the prospect of pairing Osimhen with current striker Alexander Isak, though profit and sustainability regulations at St James’ Park could hamper any potential deal.
Chelsea and several Saudi Pro League clubs maintain their interest in the striker following failed moves last summer, setting up what could be an intense battle for his signature in 2025.
Meanwhile, Fenerbahce Vice President Acun Ilıcalı have shown little interest in pursuing Osimhen, citing the club’s existing forward options.
“There is Dzeko, there is En Nesyri, and there is also Cenk. Who will play?” Ilıcalı questioned during a recent television appearance.
Newcastle make Osimhen transfer target
Sports
Chelsea move to third after playing 1-1 draw with Arsenal
Chelsea move to third after playing 1-1 draw with Arsenal
Chelsea and Arsenal shared the spoils in a tense 1-1 battle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The draw keeps the London sides level in the Premier League, but still nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
In a finely balanced game, the sides enjoyed almost equal possession and both had three shots on target.
It was Arsenal who looked the more disappointed at the whistle, Mikel Arteta holding his head in disbelief after substitute Leandro Trossard failed to put away two late chances.
Gabriel Martinelli had put the visitors in front in the 60th minute, turning in a neatly lifted ball from captain Martin Odegaard, whose influence on his return from injury proved crucial after the Gunners’ failure to score in their last two games.
Chelsea equalised 10 minutes later when substitute Enzo Fernandez pushed the ball to the ever-lively Pedro Neto just outside the Arsenal area and the Portuguese stepped to one side and shot low to David Raya’s left.
“We came to win, so we’re not as happy as we wanted to be, but we didn’t want to lose and it’s a good point against a good team,” Neto told Sky Sports.
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Chelsea’s Cole Palmer had almost made the perfect start but his third-minute rocket was tipped over by the ever-vigilant Raya.
Arsenal thought they had gone ahead in the 32nd when former Chelsea striker Kai Havertz latched on to a speedily taken free kick and sent the ball across Robert Sanchez into the bottom corner.
But VAR showed the German was fractionally offside.
Sanchez had been called into action five minutes earlier, getting his hand to a shot from Martinelli.
Chelsea fluffed a couple of second-half chances with Levi Colwill shooting just over and Noni Madueke firing high and wide.
But as the minutes ticked down it was Arsenal who pushed forward. Sanchez kept out substitute Mikel Marino, before Trossard fired over from close range
In time added on, William Saliba sent the ball across the six-yard box but Trossard could not connect with it despite an open goal.
The result lifted Chelsea to third and Arsenal, who have gone four Premier League games without a win, to fourth in the table, both on 19 points.
Chelsea move to third after playing 1-1 draw with Arsenal
(Reuters/NAN)
Sports
EPL: Liverpool win, Man City lose again, Iwobi helps Fulham in 2-0 victory
EPL: Liverpool win, Man City lose again, Iwobi helps Fulham in 2-0 victory
Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in a Premier League encounter at Anfield on Saturday.
Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the first half, before Mohammed Salah made sure of a big three points with six minutes left in the second half.
Liverpool took full advantage of Manchester City’s slip-up to move five points clear at the top of the league table.
It was yet another defeat for champions Manchester City as they squandered a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 to Brighton.
Erling Haaland had opened scoring on 23 minutes before João Pedro and Matt O’Riley both scored late into the second half to compound City’s problem.
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Elsewhere, Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi provided an assist to help Fulham seal a 2-0 win against their hosts Crystal Palace.
In the other Premier League games played concurrently, Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Southampton 2-0 for their firsg win this season, while West Ham and Everton played a goalless draw.
Earlier on Saturday, Brentford and Bournemouth played a five-goal thriller, with hosts Brentford carrying the day with a 3-2 victory.
EPL: Liverpool win, Man City lose again, Iwobi helps Fulham in 2-0 victory
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