All posts by h79snht.top

Everton are in a drastically better position early into the new Premier League season compared to where they were when the 2024/25 campaign kicked off.

Sean Dyche’s Toffees would lose all three of their opening league clashes, conceding an alarming ten goals along the way.

While the defence hasn’t quite been staunch under David Moyes in the early stages of this season, the Toffees do have a promising two wins next to their name from the three contests this time around.

Four goals have been shipped, but an impressive five goals have also been put away with some confidence, as their new leading man in attack, Jack Grealish, attempts to show the Premier League what he’s all about, still, after a bruising Manchester City stay.

Grealish's red-hot start at Everton

Away from the excitement and fanfare that was generated after his Toffees announcement, there would have been some lingering worries in the air that the former Aston Villa midfielder could be a flop on Merseyside.

After all, his time at the Etihad has been topsy-turvy to say the least, culminating in the three-time Premier League winner collecting a mere seven goal contributions last season from his limited first-team chances.

However, there didn’t need to be so many concerns based on his lightning-quick start to life donning Everton blue, with Grealish already only three short of last season’s tally at City, as seen in him picking up a blistering four assists from just four clashes to date. His early season heroics have deservedly seen him nominated for the division’s August Player of the Month award.

The exciting 29-year-old playmaker will hope he can keep this red-hot form up over the course of the long, gruelling campaign, with Moyes and Co more than happy to shell out £50m – as is his price-tag at the end of the loan – to keep him around permanently if he does so.

Amazingly, however, there is another attacker who used to call Merseyside home who has an ever-increasing worth that even eclipses Grealish’s bumper valuation…

The ex-Toffee now worth more than Grealish

Everton have fallen victim many a time to selling players before they’ve reached their peak.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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Faces such as Ademola Lookman and Moise Kean immediately spring to mind, who have a combined tally of 107 goal contributions between them for their current employers, Atalanta and Fiorentina.

In Everton blue, they could only muster up a weak 12, in contrast. Thankfully for Anthony Gordon, while he never set the world alight regularly at this boyhood club, he did at least surpass this meagre amount before sealing a £45m switch to Newcastle United.

Dubbed a “delight to work with” by ex-Toffees boss Frank Lampard, Gordon would bow out from his time on Merseyside with a reasonable seven goals and eight assists from 78 clashes.

However, as much as Lampard would wax lyrical about working with him, the manner in which the Liverpool-born attacker left his boyhood club behind did leave a sour taste in the mouths of those on Merseyside.

Unbelievably, it was alleged that the now 12-time England international reportedly skipped training in the midst of the 2023/24 season – which saw the Toffees languish near the drop-zone – to push through a big January move.

Gordon’s numbers at Newcastle

Games played

108

Goals scored

22

Assists

23

Value when joining

£45m

Value now

£56m

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Unfortunately for those back in Liverpool, Gordon would go on to be a rip-roaring success at St James’ Park, with a standout 45 goals and assists across 108 Magpies contests to date, even helping the Toon lift the EFL Cup last season.

Off the back of turning into even more of a “nightmare” for defenders to thwart – as he self-professed – Gordon has also seen his transfer value rise to £56m, via Transfermarkt, which is £6m more than man of the moment Grealish’s own price-tag.

In an ideal reality, Everton might well have kept the wantaway winger at his hometown club for longer.

But, with Grealish now in through the door, on top of Moyes also having the likes of Iliman Ndiaye at his disposal, his absence isn’t that sorely felt anymore, with a further hope that the captivating 29-year-old can stick it out permanently down the line to avoid any similar Gordon-style heartbreaks from occurring.

Related Everton sold "world-class" talent who's now playing like Grealish & Gordon

Everton could have used a player of Grealish and Gordon quality in their new-look team…

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Sep 4, 2025

اعترف رافينها دياز، نجم نادي برشلونة، أن العديد من الأشخاص تمنوا رحيله عن صفوف الفريق الكتالوني، وذلك بعد فترة بسيطة من وصوله إلى ملعب كامب نو.

برشلونة تعاقد مع رافينها خلال صيف عام 2022، وذلك قادمًا من صفوف نادي ليدز يونايتد، مقابل صفقة كلفت خزائن النادي الإسباني حوالي 58 مليون يورو.

وعلى الرغم من أن التوقعات لم تكن عالية تجاه رافينها مع برشلونة، إلا أن الدولي البرازيلي قد انفجر خلال الموسم الماضي تحت قيادة المدير الفني هانز فليك.

رافينها استطاع أن يقدم موسمًا استثنائيًا مع برشلونة، حيث سجل اللاعب 34 هدفًا وقدم 26 تمريرة حاسمة، أي 60 مساهمة تهديفية خلال 57 مباراة فقط مع البرسا.

أقرأ أيضًا .. بمشاركة برشلونة ومانشستر سيتي.. ميسي يعلن إطلاق بطولة تحمل اسمه في ديسمبر

وقال رافينها في مقابلة مع شبكة إي إس بي إن: “أراد الكثيرون رحيلي عن صفوف برشلونة منذ خطواتي الأولى في كامب نو، لا أستطيع ذكرهم جميعًا”.

وأضاف رافينها في حديثه: ”ربما لم أكن أؤدي ما توقعوه مني. لم أكن اللاعب الذي توقعوه ولم يروا لي مستقبلًا، ولم تكن هذه رغبة فئة قليلة بل كانت أمرًا ملموسًا وواضحًا”.

وأتم الجناح الأيسر: “ربما توقعوا 30 هدفًا في الموسم لكن هذا ليس مستواي. لست مهاجمًا صريحًا، أنا لاعب يساعد كثيرًا بالجهد والتفاني والعمل، وهذه هي شخصية رافينها، سأبذل قصارى جهدي دائمًا”.

رافينها يعاني من إصابة في الوقت الحالي ، والتي تشير الأنباء أنها قد تجددت ومن المحتمل أن يغيب اللاعب عن الكلاسيكو المرتقب بين برشلونة وريال مدريد يوم 26 أكتوبر المقبل، ضمن قمة الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

MatériaMais Notícias

A noite de domingo será quente no Maracanã. O Grêmio visita o Flamengo e o duelo marca um reencontro especial do time carioca com Renato Gaúcho, treinador do Tricolor.

O comandante passou rapidamente pelo rubro-negro em 2021 e a história terminou de forma trágica, com insultos da torcida e revés na final da Libertadores da América.

Conhecido pela forte personalidade, Renato Gaúcho teve em suas mãos um dos principais elencos dos últimos anos, mas não rendeu o esperado.

Em baixa, deixou o Flamengo e só voltou aos trabalhos na reta final da temporada 2022 para recolocar o Grêmio na elite.

Atualmente, o treinador vive um bom momento na equipe gaúcha e espera mostrar o seu valor em solo carioca neste fim de semana.

Kieran Elliott had earlier taken a six-wicket haul of his own as the home side were bundled out for 93

AAP18-Feb-2025

Paceman Brendan Doggett sparked a stunning South Australian comeback against Tasmania as 20 wickets tumbled on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash.Shield leaders SA were skittled for 98 at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday with Tasmanian quick Kieran Elliott bagging a career-best six wicket haul.Related

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Doggett then shredded Tasmania, taking 6 for 40 as the visitors crashed to 101 all out. He captured five of the initial six Tasmania wickets on a pitch offering considerable movement off the seam.Just three Tasmanians reached double-figures with new Test allrounder Beau Webster top-scoring with 28.Doggett started his spree by dismissing former SA opener Jake Weatherald for a golden duck when the left-hander edged to wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen. Two more batters perished in identical fashion before the end of the fourth over with Tim Ward and Jordan Silk also caught behind off a rampant Doggett.Kieran Elliott continued his stunning form with six wickets•Getty Images

Liam Scott chipped in with the wicket of Doran – the left-hander pulled a short delivery to midwicket where Lloyd Pope plucked a screamer of a one-handed catch.Doggett then returned to take another two consecutive wickets including Hobart Hurricances’ BBL hero Mitchell Owen for a second-ball duck.Webster launched a counter-attack before legspinner Pope helped clean up the tail and ensure opening-day honours were shared.Earlier, SA’s batsmen collapsed amid precision seam bowling from Elliott and Gabe Bell. Elliott took 6 for 23, the best return in first-class cricket for the Victorian born 29-year-old, to follow his 10-wicket match haul against Victoria in the previous round.SA lost 7 for 17 in the middle session and only three batters reached double-figures – Jason Sangha, Conor McInerney and captain Nathan McSweeney.

يناقش اتحاد الكرة المصري في الوقت الحالي الاسم الأنسب لخلافة أسامة نبيه في القيادة الفنية لمنتخب مصر للشباب بعد إعلان إقالته. 

وكان أسامة نبيه، قد قاد منتخب مصر مواليد 2005 في بطولة كأس العالم للشباب التي أقيمت في تشيلي قبل الخروج من دور المجموعات.

وتصدر شوقي غريب، المدير الفني السابق لمنتخب مصر، الأسماء المرشحة لتولي منتخب الشباب مواليد 2005.

طالع.. اتحاد الكرة يوضح حقيقة إعادة ملابس منتخب الشباب بعد الخروج من كأس العالم

وعلم بطولات، من مصادر خاصة، أن شوقي غريب أبرز المرشحين لتولي تدريب منتخب مصر مواليد 2005.

ويستعد منتخب مصر مواليد 2005 للمشاركة في تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 23 عام والمؤهلة لأولمبياد لوس أنجلوس 2028.

While it’s always tricky to determine who has ‘won’ the transfer window, Arsenal certainly have a strong shout this year.

New Sporting Director Andrea Berta has been transformational since his arrival, overseeing eight additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad over the last few months.

Moreover, while a number of those players have been signed to bolster the squad, others could be real game-changers for the starting lineup, like Eberechi Eze.

The Englishman is an unbelievably exciting signing for the Premier League hopefuls, although they did sell their own version of him not too long ago.

Eze's return to Arsenal

Signing a player of Eze’s quality is hugely exciting and would have been enough to delight the Arsenal fanbase regardless of the nature of the deal.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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However, the fact that it looked like the club had cooled their interest in him weeks prior, only to suddenly reenter the conversation in the 11th hour and steal (rescue) him from Tottenham Hotspur, was enough of a story to send the fans into delirium.

It’s easy to see why Arteta was reportedly so keen to bring the 27-year-old to the Emirates this summer as well, as not only is he a creative force, but he also knows exactly where the goal is.

Despite playing for a mid-table side last season, the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, was an output machine, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling 3303 minutes.

In other words, the versatile game-changer, who can play in the middle of the park or out wide, averaged a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes – just imagine what he’ll do with better players around him.

Moreover, it’s not just the hijacking of his move to Spurs or the quality he’ll add to the side that makes this transfer so special; there is the human side, which is the fact that the club released him as a 13-year-old and has finally made his way back.

In short, Eze’s move to Arsenal is one of the best of the summer, even though the club sold someone who could’ve been described as their version of the Englishman not too long ago.

Arsenal's former Eze

It would be fair to say that fans were left quite disappointed by Edu Gaspar’s final summer transfer window at Arsenal, as he only oversaw five signings, two of which were the loan deals for Raheem Sterling and Neto.

However, while he failed on the incoming front, he did do reasonably well regarding outgoings, as he saw Eddie Nketiah move to Crystal Palace for £30m, Aaron Ramsdale join Southampton for up to £25m, and Emile Smith Rowe move to Fulham for up to £34m.

The latter was undoubtedly the one most fans were sad to see go, as even though the money was good for someone who had fallen out of Arteta’s plans, there was a belief he could be something special.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former fan favourite is the player who could have been described as the Gunners’ own Eze.

The first reason stems from the positions he’d play under Arteta.

Smith Rowe’s versatility

Position

Games

Goals

Assists

Attacking Midfield

102

19

15

Left Midfield

45

15

3

Central Midfield

41

8

5

Right Midfield

12

4

1

Left Winger

3

0

0

Centre-Forward

2

0

0

Right Winger

1

0

0

All Stats via Transfermarkt

While he now almost exclusively plays as an attacking midfielder for the Cottagers, he would spend plenty of time in other areas of the pitch at the Emirates.

For example, across his time with the Gunners, the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by one analyst, made 54 appearances in attacking midfield, 25 in left-midfield, ten in central midfield, three at left-wing, three in right-midfield, and he even played up top on two occasions.

It wasn’t just where he played that made him similar to the former Palace man, though, but how he played, and still does to an extent.

Even though he wore the number ten in North London – another similarity to the club’s new star – the Croydon-born gem was far more of a ball-carrier than someone who’d play pinpoint passes like traditional tens. In the words of his manager while on loan at Huddersfield, Danny Cowley, he was “like Dennis Bergkamp but with pace.”

For example, in the 20/21 season, his best at Arsenal, the 25-year-old ranked in the top 9% of Premier League midfielders for progressive carries and the top 14% for carries into the penalty area per 90, per FBref.

Finally, in addition to the similarities in their game, both players have featured for the national team and progressed through the Gunners’ legendary Hale End academy.

Ultimately, while they have finally signed the real thing, for some time, Smith Rowe was Arsenal’s own Eze.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 3, 2025

حلل جرايم سونيس لاعب ليفربول السابق، مباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد والتي انتهت بفوز الشياطين الحمر خارج ملعبهم بهدفين لهدف واحد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقال سونيس في حواره مع برنامج “هاتريك” على قناة “أون سبورت2” ردًا على سؤال إذا كان ما حدث في مباراة الفريقين كان عادلاً بخسارة ليفربول أم التعادل كان أقرب: “أعتقد أن كرة القدم لها قصتان”.

وأضاف: “القصة الأولى أن ليفربول كان من المفترض أن يفوز، الكرة اصطدمت بالقائم والعارضة ثلاث مرات ومانشستر يونايتد سجل مبكراً وهذا منحهم راحة وثقة أكبر، رغم أنهم يفتقدون الثقة التي يجب أن تكون لدى فريق بهذا الحجم، كانوا منضبطين جداً في الدفاع، وربما لو سجل ليفربول قبل هذه اللحظة لكانت الأمور أفضل له”.

وواصل: “مانشستر يونايتد كان يدافع بشكل جيد ويستحق أن يكون سعيدًا بالنتيجة، عندما كنت لاعباً في الثمانينات، لم تكن هناك مباراة سهلة أمام مانشستر يونايتد، كانت دائماً الأقوى والمنافسة بين الفريقين لا تزال كما كانت منذ 30 أو 40 عاماً رغم أن المدينتين تفصل بينهما 30 ميلاً، المنافسة بينهما كبيرة جداً”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. سلوت يبرر استبدال محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد: لست معتادًا منه على ذلك

وتابع عن ليفربول: “هو فريقي، هذا الموسم صعب للغاية، بداية الموسم كانت متعثرة للغاية بالخسارة أمام كريستال بالاس في الدرع الخيرية ورغم أن اللاعبين على الورق كانوا جيدين جداً إلا أن ليفربول لم يبدأ موسمه فعلياً بعد”.

وحول إيزاك ذكر سونيس: “إيزاك لم يسجل بعد، هناك لاعبون جاؤوا من ليفركوزن وهو ناد ليس على مستوى ليفربول من حيث الضغط والتنافس، الأجواء في ليفربول مختلفة تمامًا ولا تشبه مكانًا آخر في العالم”.

وذكر عن سلوت: “لم يغير كثيرًا في منظومة الفريق التي وضعها كلوب، ولكن يبدو أن ليفربول لم يدخل بعد في الإيقاع المطلوب”.

وحول محمد صلاح وما يثار حوله ويوجه له هذا الموسم، علق سونيس: “هو النجم الأول، ولكن في كل المباريات نراه محاطاً بعدة مدافعين، هذا الموسم لم يظهر بمستواه المعتاد وربما لا يشعر بالمتعة كما اعتدنا رؤيته، المباراة ضد يونايتد كانت لتكون انطلاقته الحقيقية لكن الخسارة كانت رسالة قوية وصعبة، على ليفربول العودة سريعاً لأن فارق النقاط مع آرسنال ما زال بسيطاً ولكن إن اتسع سيكون الأمر صعبًا للغاية”.

وتلقى سونيس سؤالاً حول سبب عدم ارتياح صلاح مثل الموسم الماضي: “عليه أولاً النظر لنفسه، أرنولد غير متاح حالياً وإيزاك يلعب، لذا عليه أن يظهر روح المبادرة والعزيمة الغائبة عنه، محمد صلاح مميز وعندما لا يكون في أفضل حالاته يتأثر الفريق بأكمله، حتى الآن صلاح ليس الذي نعرفه، سجل هدفًا واحدًا فقط من ركلة جزاء، وأهدر فرصًا مؤكدة، أتذكر إحداها اليوم حين سدد بجوار القائم الأيسر، كان يمكنه المراوغة أو التمرير لزملائه”.

وأكد سونيس: “اللاعب الكبير يجب أن يكون جاهزًا للتحدي دائماً، في مباراة كريستال بالاس لم أجد لديه رغبة الالتحام والقتال على كل كرة، لا أقول إنه سيء، لكنه قائد ويجب أن يظهر هذه الروح لزملائهه، هو من أقدم لاعبي الفريق، حتى لو فان دايك القائد الرسمي لكن صلاح القائد الحقيقي في غرفة الملابس”.

وأردف: “عليه إعادة ترتيب نفسه من الداخل وأن يكون قدوة أداءً وروحًا، أنا مررت بهذه التجارب عندما كنت لاعبًا، خسرنا مباريات قاسية لكننا عدنا بالحديث مع بعضنا البعض في غرفة الملابس وقلنا نحن لاعبون كبار ويجب أن ننهض من جديد”.

وختم عن سباق الصدارة: “ليفربول الآن على بعد ثلاث نقاط من الصدارة، وما زال الطريق مفتوحاً، رسالتي لصلاح من برنامج مصري، عليه أن ينظر أولاً في المرآة ولا أحد آخر”.

Khawaja said Queensland Cricket general manager Joe Dawes and board member Ian Healy made statements that were “categorically untrue”

Alex Malcolm21-Mar-2025

An emotional Usman Khawaja said he was disappointed and devastated by accusations that he had opted out of a Sheffield Shield game, claiming both Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia knew about his hamstring injury and that no one from Queensland had contacted him about it. But he confirmed he will play for his state in next week’s Shield final against South Australia in Adelaide.Khawaja held a 17-minute press conference ahead of Queensland training in Brisbane on Friday to explain his side of the story after Queensland Cricket general manager Joe Dawes had claimed on Wednesday that Khawaja did not have any hamstring issues that they were aware of and said, “it’s just disappointing he didn’t play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to.”Queensland Cricket board member Ian Healy had also made strong comments on his SEN radio show saying, “It’s just this pick and choose mentality that has been evident in his later years that Queensland haven’t been happy with.”Related

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Tension between Khawaja and Queensland builds ahead of Shield final

Khawaja hit back on Friday with a passionate defence of his injury and his actions, after missing the game against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval last week and travelling to Melbourne to watch the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.”There’s a lot of misinformation being thrown around,” Khawaja said. “The most disappointing thing was, I try to keep this as in-house as possible behind the scenes. It’s obviously not anymore. Joe Dawes came out the other day and said a few inflammatory things, which was really disappointing to me as a player, and after that, I just felt like I had to speak up and say something, and give my side a story.”Joey said that the medical staff had no idea. That is 100% wrong. I’ve talked to both our physios. I’ve talked to the Australian physio. I was talking to the Australian physio the whole time. It’s on our athlete management system (AMS). My hammy is reported. Everything is there. Everyone knew about it. That was probably one of the most shocking things I heard. It was really disappointing because it’s categorically untrue. So I just wanted to clear that up, that the physios 100% knew about my hammy injury.”Khawaja, 38, said that when he returned from Sri Lanka he was managing a hamstring impingement, a torn rotator cuff and a calf niggle that had arisen during his 232 not out in the first Test in Galle.Following a lengthy discussion with Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey, Khawaja said a plan was put in place for the end of the Shield season before he would have all of April and May off ahead of the World Test Championship final.”We came up with a plan that I would play Tasmania and I would take the next game off,” Khawaja said. “And these are all fluid, but at the moment, I played Tasmania, took the next game off with the light of playing the Shield final. We’re trying to avoid me playing back-to-back games. I’m 38 years old guys. I can’t burn the candle at both ends.”I do have to look after myself in some respect, and Queensland Cricket do know that. I texted [Queensland coach] Johan Botha and let him know. I didn’t really get a reply.”Khawaja also said he had a fitness test with Queensland physio Stephen Timms on his hamstring before the Tasmania game and could only run at 70%. He then said both Bailey and Australian team physio Nick Jones reached out after the match regarding his hamstring.”I said, the hammy’s not great,” Khawaja said. “It’s feeling like it’s gonna pop. I think we should stick to the same plan that we had. And [Jones] was, like, 100% agree. It’s too much risk for you to go out and play back-to-back games.”I’m happy to do what’s best for Queensland cricket always,” Usman Khawaja said•Getty Images

“It’s a no brainer. So that was decided. Then George Bailey messaged me, and he said, ‘How’s everything going? What’s happening with QC?’ I said I haven’t heard from anyone in QC from when that Tasmanian game finished. I didn’t hear from Joe Dawes. I don’t hear from Botha. I don’t hear from any medical staff in Queensland Cricket. So I assumed everything was fine.”And then a few days later, I started hearing murmurs and reports about me opting out and all this stuff. And I was fuming. I was actually really devastated. I was really disappointed. A board member started to attack me, which was really disappointing for me.”To be honest, the other bit about me not wanting to play for Queensland was probably the most disheartening thing. The amount I’ve given to Queensland, just like Joey would have given too, you give your heart and soul. You can tell I get a bit emotional, you give a heart and soul for this organization.”It is understood Khawaja did not have a scan on his hamstring after the Tasmania game. He went on to say that he could see why his appearance at the Formula One Grand Prix garnered some criticism but he said he was still doing his rehab while he was away and had spoken to Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald about it.”I talked to Andrew McDonald yesterday, and he’s like, ‘Uzi, what you do with your spare time I have no issue with whatsoever’,” Khawaja said. “I either go home and curl up in a ball or I go watch F1 at the end of the day. I’m still doing my rehab. I still got three gym sessions in while I was away in Melbourne. I still look after my body. It’s not by any coincidence that I’m 38 years old and still playing cricket. Behind the scenes I do a lot of work, and I’m very professional about what I do. So yeah, look, I understand people look at it and they don’t have all the facts and the optics look bad. But I think that’s what was frustrating me, and that’s why I wanted to speak out.”Botha had missed a Shield game earlier in the season to compete in an ultra-marathon.Khawaja said he was willing to push his hamstring for the Shield final knowing that he has a 10-week break before the WTC final in June.”I’m not the guy who hold grudges,” Khawaja said. “I’m happy to do what’s best for Queensland cricket always.”Hammy is feeling pretty good. I’ve gone pretty hard on some of my loading on it over the last week and a half. I haven’t sprinted yet, so that’s the final thing. So I’ll have a little run today. I’ll have another little run on Sunday. And obviously, if everything’s going well, yeah, I should be fine. To be honest, if it feels like it still did in Tassie, I’m still willing to push for the Shield final. Was just hard to push for the game before, knowing that if I injured myself then I was gone for the Shield final.”

It wouldn’t be a summer transfer window if Chelsea were not extremely busy, would it?

This summer, the Blues splashed over £300m on nine new senior recruits, six of whom are attackers.

Well, the recent 5-1 demolition of West Ham emphasised the attacking potential that Enzo Maresca’s side possesses, but do they have a slight issue at centre-forward, one that a Cobham graduate sold for £34m could’ve fixed had he stayed?

Chelsea's striker conundrum

During Chelsea’s controversial 2-0 West London derby victory over Fulham last weekend, Liam Delap hobbled off in the 14th minute due to a hamstring injury, and this had quite the ripple effect.

At the same time, Nicolas Jackson was in Bavaria finalising a move to Bayern Munich, only for Chelsea to pull the plug on the move, despite having frozen out the Senegalese international since the Club World Cup, saying that they could not let him go.

Jackson’s agent, Ali Barat, released an angry statement and, in the end, he did complete his move to Bayern, with the Bundesliga champions paying an extortionate £14m loan fee, with a £56.2m obligation to buy having been agreed.

Instead, the Blues decided to recall Marc Guiu from his loan at Sunderland, the Spaniard having seen just 103 minutes of action for the Black Cats, scoring against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup, with Chelsea having to pay a penalty fee, cutting short one of the shortest loan spells in Premier League history.

It remains to be seen how long Delap will actually be sidelined for, while the returning Guiu is far from guaranteed minutes, given that Maresca has João Pedro, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estêvão Willian, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Tyrique George and others from which to choose.

Nevertheless, this whole chaotic and messy situation could’ve been avoided had Chelsea kept hold of a Cobham academy graduate once compared to the club’s greatest-ever centre-forward.

Chelsea's ideal Liam Delap back-up was sold in 2021

Tammy Abraham joined Chelsea at the age of seven, but certainly had to work hard for his place in the first team at Stamford Bridge.

Following loan spells at Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa, scoring 48 goals in 78 EFL Championship appearances, his breakthrough came once Frank Lampard was appointed manager in 2019.

Abraham was Chelsea’s top scorer in 2019/20 with 18 goals, including 15 in the Premier League, before bagging 12 the following campaign, part of Thomas Tuchel’s team that won the Champions League against Manchester City at Estádio do Dragão.

That summer though, the England international was sold to Roma for £42m which makes him the fourth most expensive Chelsea academy sale of modern times, behind Mason Mount, Ian Maatsen and Conor Gallagher.

He then netted 27 goals during his first season with the Giallorossi, winning the inaugural Conference League, before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the final day of the season against Torino, which rather hampered his progress.

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Now 27, he spent last season on loan at AC Milan, scoring ten times for the Rossoneri, two of which came against Roma in the Coppa Italia, before joining Beşiktaş on loan back in July.

Well, Abraham has made a bright start to life in İstanbul, scoring six goals in eight appearances for the Black Eagles, averaging a goal every 108 minutes, including a hat-trick against St Patrick’s Athletic in a Conference League qualifier in Dublin.

At his best, speaking after a Champions League victory over Lille, Rio Ferdinand compared Abraham to Chelsea’s greatest-ever striker, asserting that much of what he produced was “Didier Drogba-esque”, praising his “hold-up play” while highlighting his “magnificent touch” and beautiful finish for his goal at Stade Pierre Mauroy.

But how do his statistics compare to those of Delap? Let’s find out.

Abraham vs Delap comparison

Season

Abraham

Delap

2025/26

6

0

2024/25

10

13

2023/24

1

8

2022/23

9

4

2021/22

27

0

2020/21

12

0

2019/20

18

N/A

2018/19

26

N/A

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table documents, given that Delap is only 22 years old, he has only ever scored 25 senior goals, yet to prove himself as a regular goalscorer, even if bagging 12 in the Premier League for a very poor Ipswich side is a noteworthy achievement.

Abraham on the other hand, aside from campaigns massively blighted by injury, has been consistent in front of goal, reaching double figures in five of the last seven full seasons, including surpassing 25 goals for both Aston Villa and Roma, making a blistering start to his Beşiktaş career last month too.

So, while Delap, who is five years younger, clearly has greater potential, Abraham would certainly have proved to be a capable deputy, given their stylistic similarities too, both physical penalty box presences who like to stay within the width of the area.

Thus, for however long Delap is on the sidelines, Abraham would’ve offered the perfect cover.

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MatériaMais Notícias

A invencibilidade do Botafogo fica ainda mais nítida nos números da equipe no Campeonato Brasileiro. Após vencido o Vasco por 2 a 0, o Glorioso alcançou dois feitos significativos em sua caminhada como líder da competição nacional.

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A equipe está invicta há um mês no Brasileirão. Além disso, saiu de campo mais uma vez sem ter sofrido gols e se consolidou ainda mais como a melhor defesa.

A última vez na qual saiu de campo amargando uma derrota foi justamente na qual viu o adversário balançar a rede: no 1 a 0 para o Athletico-PR, em 3 de junho, em duelo na Arena da Baixada. Desde então, o Alvinegro bateu por 2 a 0 o Fortaleza, obteve vitórias por 1 a 0 sobre o Cuiabá e Palmeiras e, no último domingo (2), saiu de campo superando o Vasco no clássico.

Ao fim da décima-terceira rodada, os botafoguenses têm apenas sete gols sofridos em 13 partidas (média de 0,53 por partida). O entrosamento de Cuesta e Adryelson vem se mostrando cada vez mais forte e ratificando o bom momento de Lucas Perri.

O Botafogo volta a campo no domingo (8) para enfrentar às 18h30 o Grêmio na Arena do Grêmio.