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How Knight Riders trumped Kings XI by being unpredictable, and, really, what was all the hand-waving from Dinesh Karthik all about?

Dustin Silgardo03-May-2019They say that if you can really up the ante in the last few overs of the first innings of a T20 match, it can really deflate the opposition, and stick the momentum firmly on your side.Sam Curran’s 24-ball 55 not out, including 22 runs in the last over, bowled by Harry Gurney, certainly made Kings XI the happier side at the break, and Knight Riders needed a start frenetic enough to snatch that momentum back, and away. Enter Chris Lynn, and in 22 Powerplay deliveries, he had put the pressure right back on Kings XI.He started quietly enough, but then got stuck into young Arshdeep Singh, taking three fours in the fourth over of the chase, and then hit R Ashwin for a four and a six in the fifth, and Andrew Tye for a six and four in the sixth before falling off the last ball of the Powerplay.The 46 he scored was also his best Powerplay performance this season – comfortably topping the 38 he had scored in 26 balls against Chennai Super Kings in Kolkata – both in terms of runs scored and strike rate.Gill at ‘home’ at the top of the inningsWe go back to Andre Russell saying the other day, that Knight Riders “have a good team”, but were “making bad decisions”. That’s when the team was in the middle of a win-drought. A change in the script, winning a match they had to win to stay in the running for a playoff spot does make it seem like some good decisions were taken, and we think one of them was in not being predictable.ESPNcricinfo Ltd Sticking with Sandeep Warrier instead of Prasidh Krishna, who had done well in patches but had been really expensive in his last few games Shubman Gill opening the innings on a ground he is very familiar with turned out to be a masterstroke. Not that Gill hadn’t opened before in IPL 2019 – he had thrice before, and now has three fifties in four innings at the top – but the temptation must have been to go with Sunil Narine after Kings XI put up 183 for 6. Knight Riders went with Gill, and were rewarded with a 49-ball unbeaten 65, the 19-year-old batting through the innings to take the team home. Russell was again given a lot of balls to face, having been sent in at No. 4 midway through the 11th over. It showed intent on the part of Knight Riders, an example of the team learning from its earlier mistakes, and the 24 he struck in 14 balls went some distance in helping them win with two overs to spare and boost their net run rate.Curran picks his targets, and spotsCurran’s 55 not out off 24 balls was his first really significant innings in the IPL, and his performance suggested that he had learnt from his previous six outings with the bat.He had been out twice to the variations of legspinner Sandeep Lamichanne, in Kings XI’s two games against Delhi Capitals, so he wisely played Knight Riders’ leggie, Piyush Chawla, cautiously. He had also struggled against Royal Challengers Bangalore offspinner Moeen Ali, trying to hit the ball square of the pitch before missing a reverse sweep and being trapped lbw.ESPNcricinfo LtdAgainst Knight Riders’ Sunil Narine, Curran looked to hit straight, getting both his boundaries in the long-on region. He went straight against the seamers too but mixed it up with some shots to fine leg.His reading of the slower balls was impressive. Against Mumbai Indians, he had fallen to a Jasprit Bumrah slower ball, but here, he anticipated a short slower one from Russell, walked across his stumps and slapped the ball to fine leg, and then, in the final over, waited on a Harry Gurney slower one and hit it down the ground for six.Pooran – a better No. 4 than Miller?David Miller is not the best batsman against spin. He doesn’t get out to spinners too often, but since 2017, his strike rate against spinners – in all T20s – has been 116.83. Nicholas Pooran, in contrast, has scored at 139.33 against spinners in the same period. The sample size in Pooran’s case is smaller than Miller’s though.As a result, Pooran, especially against a team like Kolkata Knight Riders, was Kings XI’s choice for No. 4 ahead of Miller, as he showed with a 27-ball 48 before toe-ending Nitish Rana to the midwicket fence. Miller was left on the bench for the game.ESPNcricinfo LtdBefore this game, in his IPL 2019 appearances, Pooran had batted at No. 4 only once, in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and had scored a 10-ball 21. This time, he was even better. He hit Piyush Chawla for a six and a four in the eighth over, and another six in the tenth over, but was quiet against Sunil Narine – remember that maiden Super Over Narine bowled to Pooran in the 2014 Caribbean Premier League?Miller has had an underwhelming tournament, with 213 runs in 10 outings, with an average of 26.62 and strike rate of 129.87. Pooran might have done enough in his latest innings to keep that No. 4 spot for himself in whatever matches Kings XI Punjab have left in the tournament.Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell have a chat•BCCIWhen you’re not happy and you know it, wave your hand
It was interesting to see Dinesh Karthik looking a lot more animated than he usually is soon after the Powerplay. A meltdown, we called it on our ball-by-ball coverage, and it certainly looked like it, Karthik waving his gloved hands about and – from the looks of it – letting it rip. He even gave his team an animated talk during the strategic time out.What it was about, we didn’t know at the time. Was it about the murmurings of discontent in the ranks that we have been talking about?Karthik answered it after the game, saying, “I wasn’t too happy with the way the fielders and bowlers were doing, the body language. The kind of things I didn’t expect from them. So I thought I’d let the boys know what I felt about it.”

Newcastle United have joined the race for a “special” young star who has been likened to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, according to a new report.

Newcastle plan for big summer after Carabao Cup success

Newcastle have had quite the season. Not only are the Magpies firmly in the race for Champions League football next season, they also won the Carabao Cup – their first piece of major silverware in 64 years.

To clinch the trophy, Eddie Howe’s side beat Premier League leaders Liverpool 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium, with both Alexander Isak and Dan Burn on the scoresheet.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle about the club’s open-top bus parade, which took place over the weekend, Burn said: “It’s something I’ll never forget – I knew there would be a lot of people but when we saw the sheer amount of people it was amazing.

“It really hit home, what it means to the region and the city, the achievement that we’ve managed to do. The lads were starting chants all the way round and just being able to take in that moment, it was only an hour but it’s an hour I’ll never forget.”

On his goal in the final, which saw the English defender head home Kieran Trippier’s corner, Burn said: “The first few days, my phone was getting constantly pinged with videos and remixes, when I was away with the England lads it was on TV all the time and I ended up having to switch the TVs off at the end because I was starting to get a bit embarrassed!”

“I will watch it forever, I’ll never tire of it – it was an amazing moment.”

Newcastle join race for Dibling despite huge price tag

Even after such a successful season, Newcastle are expected to bolster their squad in the summer, with Howe keen to push on from this year’s achievements and build more depth. Among those players thought to be interesting the Magpies is Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle are now one of several clubs keen on the English talent and are “expected to closely monitor” his situation at Southampton in the coming weeks, as the Saints brace for a significant transfer shake-up when they eventually get relegated back to the Championship.

Though previously Southampton put a price tag of £100 million on Dibling’s head, it’s thought that the asking price will significantly drop in the summer to ensure a sale.

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Dibling has been one of Southampton’s standout players in an otherwise poor season for the club, and has been heavily lauded for his performances by former Premier League players Danny Murphy and Dion Dublin.

“It is the quality he has got – the belief in himself and the physical power. He just goes past people with ease. He has got a lovely left foot. He is very brave on the ball and his decision-making is good,” Murphy told BBC Sport of the 19-year-old in December.

“It is difficult to get too over the top with these young players, because he has just come on to the scene, but he is going to be something special.”

Dublin added: “Do you know what it is? I don’t want to put any pressure on him, but he plays his game like Cole Palmer, doesn’t he? He plays free and easy, and he gets himself into good positions, rolls players and takes the ball well.”

Antonio Conte has reflected on the emotional weight of his Tottenham exit, and how personal tragedy reshaped his outlook on life and football.

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Conte reflects on his Tottenham daysReveals how tragedy shaped his outlookReveals ick at Spurs celebrating CL qualificationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Conte has opened up about his turbulent spell with Tottenham, describing his time in North London as a “difficult” chapter in his managerial journey. Though he led Spurs to a top-four finish in 2022, Conte has admitted that qualifying for the Champions League wasn’t something he ever felt deserved celebration — and revealed how a series of devastating personal losses shifted his perspective on football and life.

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Speaking to Sky Italia, Conte recalled his first full season with Spurs and the emotional and philosophical toll it took: "It was a difficult year at Tottenham. I arrived in November with them ninth in the standings and we ended up in the Champions League, overtaking Arsenal… For them, going to the Champions League was like winning the Premier League.”

But for Conte, the celebrations in the dressing room after sealing fourth place didn’t sit right: "On the last day, the Champions League entry was celebrated in the dressing room. I called my staff and told them: we don’t get used to these celebrations. You don’t celebrate these things. We are used to celebrating other things. OK, great feat, but at the same time, we understand what kind of celebration it is."

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The Italian coach went on to speak candidly about the personal tragedies that surrounded his final months in charge — the deaths of close friends Gian Piero Ventrone and Gianluca Vialli — which ultimately left him questioning his priorities and emotional capacity to continue at Spurs.

He added: "Gian Piero Ventrone died of leukaemia in fifteen days and it was a terrible blow on an emotional and psychological level and it wasn’t easy.

"Then Gianluca Vialli also passed away, with whom I had met the month before at a restaurant with my wife. I had seen him very calm, he was even fine, but during that dinner, I understood that something was wrong. You notice it when someone is enjoying something, he had drunk, eaten and after a month he passed away."

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The Napoli manager also spoke about Sinisa Mihajlovic’s death and its impact on him, and how it led him to reconsider his priorities in life.

Conte continued: "Sinisa’s story also had an impact. A series of pains that made me rethink some priorities. I had my family far away, in Italy, while I was in a hotel. My wife had always made an effort for me. So I asked myself: how much is it worth sacrificing family and friends for this knowing that from one day to the next you find yourself facing tragedies of this kind and no longer being there? This made me change some priorities.

"Then I also had a problem and I had to urgently have gallbladder surgery and I was at risk of getting pancreatitis. In short, that period made me think a lot about the priorities."

Bruno Fernandes has revealed that conversations with his "supportive" wife Ana Pinho convinced him to reject Al-Hilal and stay at Manchester United.

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Fernandes on "supportive" wife conversationsTurned down lucrative Al-Hilal moveStays at Manchester United as captainFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The United captain had been offered £200m in salary over three years and the Saudi club were prepared to shell out a £100m transfer fee to land him, but he opted to stay put in the Premier League. He has since revealed that support from those closest to him was a big part of the decision.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT FERNANDES SAID

Fernandes said: "It was a very ambitious proposal. The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount – with my agent, of course. Then I spoke to my wife and family and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. She is someone who always supported me a lot. It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team. We have a great friendship. But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions. And I feel capable of it."

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Fernandes is set to feature alongside United's new signing Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford next season, after the Brazilian completed a £62.5m move from Wolves. Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo is expected to be the next through the door.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR FERNANDES?

Fernandes is set to feature for Portugal in Wednesday's Nations League semi-final tie against Germany, with a huge clash against either Spain or France on the cards in the final if they win.

At one stage this Premier League season, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea looked like genuine title challengers hot on the heels of Liverpool.

Now, however, the Blues look shaky gripping onto fourth spot in the unforgiving league, with an unwelcome eighth defeat of the season greeting them come full-time away at Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

Cole Palmer’s complete absence from the squad did make Chelsea’s task of picking up a win on the road a lot harder, but there were still far too many underperformers that let the team down on the day, regardless of the England international sitting the contest out.

Chelsea's biggest underperformers vs Arsenal

Starting in goal, current number one Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had a particularly shaky time of things on Sunday afternoon.

Before Mikel Merino gifted the hosts a 1-0 lead, Sanchez’s rash play out from the back nearly resulted in Gabriel Martinelli firing home, with the 27-year-old inexplicably kicking it straight to the Brazilian forward.

He arguably could have done better too when Arsenal’s man of the moment looped this header over Sanchez, but there were other underperformers who also struggled at the Emirates away from the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion ‘keeper in isolation.

Indeed, both Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku offered very little down the flanks as the pair failed to muster up a single on-target effort, further reinforcing Palmer’s absence.

But, there was another attacker away from the out-of-sorts duo that struggled to leave his mark on the contest, having tallied up fewer touches than Sanchez across the course of his forgettable 90 minutes.

Maresca must forget 35-touch Chelsea dud after Arsenal

Not many players from a Chelsea perspective trudged off the Emirates turf happy with their individual efforts, with Maresca branding the overall showing as “frustrating” at the close of the game.

That would be an apt word to describe Pedro Neto’s away day too, with the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker showing bursts of quality here and there, only to then fall flat for the visitors at the final moment. Handed a 5/10 player rating by the Sun, they suggested he was ‘always up against it as a false 9’ but was far too easily ‘outmuscled by Arsenal’s defenders’.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

35

Accurate passes

15/17 (88%)

Shots on goal

3

On-target shots

0

Possession lost

12x

Successful dribbles

0/2

Accurate crosses

1/6

Total duels won

1/7

The table above makes for some pretty grim reading from Neto’s point of view, with his accumulation of 35 touches coming in at six fewer than Sanchez’s at 41, with no successful dribbles and no shots on target not exactly causing the Gunners’ defence much bother when he ventured forward.

Moreover, just one accurate cross being tallied up all game shows how poor the former Wolves’ man end product was in North London, on top of just one duel being won showing off his lack of fight whenever he became a passenger to the play unfolding.

Whilst he does boast five goals and six assists in all competitions this season away from this no-show at Arsenal, Maresca could now axe Neto as his lone striker option for contests to follow even as Nicolas Jackson remains sidelined.

The ex-Leicester City boss might well fancy throwing Nkunku into this role instead having got seven goals out of the Frenchman up top this campaign, or Cole Palmer would surely be a worthy option as a false 9 once he’s fit again.

Despite some positives falling into Maresca’s lap this campaign, his side still find themselves short of being an elite team in the top flight, with more defeats piling up down the line potentially damaging their ongoing top-four chances.

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ByRobbie Walls Mar 15, 2025

Rashford has been on loan at Aston Villa and faces an uncertain summer with seemingly little chance of returning to Old Trafford.

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Rashford linked with Barcelona moveEngland forward has done well at VillaGary Pallister says he can restore former valuationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United legend Gary Pallister has backed Marcus Rashford to become a player worth £100m again but admitted the England forward may not get a move to Barcelona because of the La Liga giants' financial issues.

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Rashford made the loan switch to Villa in January after confirming his desire to leave United and try something different. He has scored four goals and supplied five assists for Unai Emery's side since, though he hasn't played in almost a month due to a hamstring problem. The 27-year-old also has a reported interest in joining Barcelona, though there are concerns his considerable £350,000-a-week wages could block any potential summer move from materialising.

WHAT PALLISTER SAID

Pallister told William Hill: "Barcelona is a great football club, they are a top team for any player. They have had financial problems, so they may find it difficult to sign Rashford in the summer. But it will also depend on whether Aston Villa decide to buy him permanently.

"He was a £100m player a few years ago, so his valuation has dropped a lot. But there is a player in there, and if he can return to that form, he can go back to being worth that amount."

DID YOU KNOW?

Rashford's current contract with United isn't due to expire until 2028 and the Red Devils would be keen to sell the England international if possible, with INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe undertaking a number of unpopular cost-cutting measures since arriving at Old Trafford.

MCC criticised for hosting annual Eton-Harrow fixture but solitary women’s ODI since 2017

Matt Roller26-Jun-2023The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) were “alarmed” by the “truly appalling” fact that England Women have never played a Test match at Lord’s, making the damning assertion that: “The ‘home of cricket’ is still a home principally for men.”In a 317-page report published on Tuesday, the ICEC highlighted the “public function” of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the private members’ club which owns Lord’s and said that recent decisions made by the club’s members have sent “a very public signal about the club’s values”.Specifically, the ICEC recommended to MCC that the annual Eton-Harrow and Oxford-Cambridge fixtures should no longer be staged at Lord’s after 2023, and that they should be replaced by a national Under-15 state school finals’ day for boys and girls, and a national university finals’ day for men’s and women’s teams.”We respect and value many of the traditions of cricket generally, and Lord’s in particular, but not all,” the commission wrote in its report. “Some no longer have a place in contemporary Britain.”Guaranteeing a tiny number of schoolboys the right to play at Lord’s every year when millions of children are denied that right is completely unacceptable. So too is the fact that the schoolboys of two expensive and elite institutions get to play at Lord’s every year when the England Women’s national team have yet to play a Test Match there.”The Oxford and Cambridge match has also had its time and should no longer be played at Lord’s. It sends a similar message of elitism, entrenching the position of certain institutions to which only a small minority of school pupils will gain access.”Related

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England Women have played at Lord’s only once in any format since they won the 2017 World Cup final there six years ago – though are due to return on July 8 for the third T20I of the ongoing Ashes series.England Men, by contrast, have played two Tests and at least one limited-overs international at Lord’s every year since 2000 – except for the pandemic-affected 2020 summer.Richard Thompson, ECB chair, told BBC Radio 4’s programme: “That’s unacceptable, and we’re going to ensure that there will be a Test match by the England Women in 2026 – and that should have happened sooner. So that has been addressed and will be addressed in 2026 when we also host the Women’s T20 World Cup which is a real moment for women’s sport in this country. Clearly, we hope that will be a celebration of cricket.”The commission highlighted the successful attempt by MCC members to challenge the decision of the club’s committee to move the “historic fixtures” away from Lord’s as “an illustration… of the obstacles placed in the way of those seeking to modernise the game”.It added: “MCC may be a private members’ club, in which some members may resent ‘interference’ with their right to make their own decisions, but it is also a club that benefits from substantial amounts of money from the general public through ticket sales for major matches, with all the accompanying publicity and prestige.”Those who argue for the continuation of the Historic Fixtures do not seem to understand the damage they are doing to the reputation of MCC and Lord’s in the public imagination – compounding a view, whether fair or not, that MCC members are out of touch, elitist and unrepresentative of both the wider population and those who play cricket.”As the game strives to become more inclusive, as it clearly must, decisions such as these at ‘the home of cricket’ do more harm than some people appear to realise.”Lord’s was also singled out as the only major venue in the country that does not permit the use of musical instruments, which the commission gave as an example of “ways in which authorities have sought to sanitise the atmosphere at grounds”, saying the ban “had a disproportionate impact on ethnically diverse communities, particularly those from Caribbean communities”.In a statement, the MCC Chief Executive & Secretary, Guy Lavender said: “Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) received the report published by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) earlier today. We recognise that it will make very difficult reading for everyone involved in cricket in this country. This is a vitally important piece of work and all stakeholders in the game must now reflect on the contents of the report.”MCC is named in the report and we will be analysing the findings in detail. We are committed to playing our part in ensuring cricket is the most inclusive sport in this country and that Lord’s is a place where everyone feels welcome.”

Super Giants are quite well placed despite their recent losses, while Sunrisers are at No. 9 but very much in the race too

ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-2023Sunrisers Hyderabad – #9
Sunrisers Hyderabad are the only team to have played fewer than 11 matches so far – they have played only ten, while five teams have already played 12. That means the last week will be the busiest for them, but it also means they have the best chance of making up lost ground, for they could still potentially double their current points tally of eight.If SRH do win each of their last four matches and finish on 16, they will give themselves a great chance of qualification. It could still come down to net run-rate as five teams could potentially end up on 16 or more, but SRH will very much be in the mix.If they lose this one, though, they will be at the mercy of several other results going their way, for as many as six teams, excluding SRH, can reach 16.The other disadvantage for SRH is their home record: one win in five games this season. They have done better in away matches – three wins out of five – but their remaining away games are against teams which have pretty good home records this season: Mumbai Indians (four out of six) and Gujarat Titans (three out of six).Lucknow Super Giants – #5
Lucknow Super Giants have lost their way after a relatively strong start, collecting only three points from their last five games. However, they are still in charge of their own destiny: three wins in three games will take them to 17 points and assure them of qualification.One loss, however, will put them in tricky territory, as up to five teams can finish on 16 or more points. For that to happen, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings will have to win all their matches; so if LSG don’t maximise the points from their remaining games, they will have to hope that other teams slip up.Curiously, LSG can even make it to the top four with 13 points, but for that to happen, Titans, Chennai Super Kings and MI will have to win most of their games so that the other teams are stuck on 12 or fewer points.

Sevilla’s Loic Bade is holding out for a move to Inter, rejecting offers from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth as he awaits a defensive spot to open.

Bade prioritises Inter over all offersUnder contract with Sevilla until June 202925-year-old key defensive target for NerazzurriFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Bade has made it clear that Inter is his preferred destination this summer. Despite concrete offers from Leverkusen and interest from Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund, the Sevilla defender is prepared to wait for the Nerazzurri club to make their move. Inter, however, need to offload a defender before they can finalise the transfer.

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The Frenchman remains one of Europe’s most in-demand defenders, valued at €30 million (£26m/$33m) by Sevilla and tied to a contract until 2029. His combination of composure, aerial strength, and ball-playing ability has caught the attention of top clubs. While Erik ten Hag's team are pushing hard, and Dortmund have joined the race, Inter’s interest has taken priority for the Frenchman. However, a delay from the Serie A side could force him to reconsider other options.

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The 25-year-old has been instrumental for Los Nervionenses, showcasing leadership and defensive stability. Piero Ausilio, Inter’s sporting director, has personally requested Bade's camp to stall negotiations with other clubs until Inter can clear squad space, reports .

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Inter must act quickly, a defensive sale will need to be finalised before any move for Bade can happen. Sevilla, meanwhile, will hold firm on their €30m valuation. If Inter delay too long, Leverkusen could pounce and seal the deal.

Chelsea are now ready to make an opening offer for Palmeiras forward Allan, but there could be competition for his signature from two of the world’s biggest clubs.

The Blues have already added one young Brazilian forward to their ranks in recent times, with Estevao emerging as a first-team regular this season, and the 18-year-old got off the mark in front of goal in the 2-1 victory against Liverpool last month.

With the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens also on the books, Enzo Maresca already has plenty of exciting youngsters at his disposal in attacking areas, and the west Londoners have now started running the rule over forwards with more top-level experience.

Maresca’s side are now ready to launch a January move for Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, amid tensions with manager Xabi Alonso, although a deal could be on the expensive side, considering he is regarded as one of the best wingers in the world.

Chelsea ready to bid for Palmeiras forward Allan

Vinicius is not the only Brazilian forward Chelsea are looking to sign, however, with a report from Spain revealing BlueCo are also ready to bid for Palmeiras’ Allan, but there could be competition for his signature from Manchester United and Real Madrid.

The 21-year-old is protected by a release clause of nearly €100m (£88m), and with the Brazilian club determined to receive a large fee, akin to the money raised by selling Estevao and Vitor Reis, so a deal may need to break the bank.

With Palmeiras extending the youngster’s contract until 2029, however, they remain in a strong negotiating position for the time being.

The starlet has impressed at times for Palmeiras, being described as their “standout” player by journalist Leandro Boudakian earlier this year, and he is extremely versatile, having featured in central midfield, on both wings, and in attacking midfield for the Brazilian club.

Not only that, but the Florianopolis-born attacker has regularly displayed his dribbling and creative talents over the past year, ranking in a very high percentile on both metrics, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Successful take-ons

2.93 (99th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.93 (98th percentile)

Assists

0.42 (99th percentile)

That said, the Palmeiras academy graduate didn’t exactly set the world alight in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A, chipping in with just one goal and two assists in 21 appearances, which suggests he may be some way off first-team level at a club like Chelsea.

Allan is still very young, but the Blues have already signed a plethora of youngsters in recent times, including Gittens, Garnacho and Estevao, so it would not be the end of the world if they missed out on another.

Chelsea now leading race to sign Samu Aghehowa Chelsea lead race to sign Samu Aghehowa with January transfer now possible

The Blues are in pole position to sign a new striker, who could be made available this winter.

ByDominic Lund Nov 2, 2025