• Blue’s forward Nicolas Jackson is playing for Senegal at the Cup of nations in Cote d’Ivoire but has proven to blow hot and cold in taking his chances in front of goal.
• Osimhen is unlikely to sign this time around but another attempt in the summer is being discussed at Stamford Bridge.
Image: FILE
Chelsea are definitely in the mix to sign Karim Benzema if he leaves Saudi Pro team Al-Ittihad. The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has not settled after joining on a free transfer from Real Madrid and is looking for a way out.
If Chelsea are to qualify for Europe next season, they desperately need a top-level striker but Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta has also discussed taking Benzema on loan.
Blue’s forward Nicolas Jackson is playing for Senegal at the Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire but has proven to blow hot and cold in taking his chances in front of goal. Armando Broja is yet to impress is not clinical enough and could leave if a new striker joins. Victor Osimhen is a possibility but the Nigerian was second to Jackson, who signed from Villarreal in the summer.
Osimhen is unlikely to sign this time around but another attempt in the summer is being discussed at Stamford Bridge. Nkunku came in for Mauricio Pochettino but has suffered injury setbacks and currently has a hip problem. However, I am told he could return to training next week.
Fulham have contacted the Blues about signing centre-back Trevor Chalobah, on loan. The 24-year-old has not played this season because of a hamstring injury.
Liverpool train for visit to Bournemouth
Liverpool can increase their lead when they meet Bournemouth on Sunday. A win will put them five points clear of Aston Villa and Manchester City, who are out of action this weekend. Jurgen Klopp’s squad reunited at the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday to begin preparations for their visit to the south coast of England.
Dominik Szoboszlai has shown promise in his hamstring injury recovery and could make the trip. However, the Hungary international was missing in training. He could resume training any time but a League Cup second leg next Wednesday looks more realistic. Klopp has obvious selection problems with nine players missing the training session.
Mohamed Salah is away playing for Egypt and Waturu Endo is also absent playing for Japan at the Asian Cup. Liverpool are without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Joel Matip.
The absence of senior players means Klopp might have to rely on his youngsters with Kaide Gordon, Bobby Clark, James McConnel, Calum Scanlon, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and 17-year-old winger Trent Kone-Doherty all taking part in the training session. You might not be familiar with some of those names but they are the future of Liverpool.
City’s Bobb is the real deal
The world is at his feet and his feet are doing the talking. Manchester City’s whizz-kid Oscar Bobb is the real deal and he proved it against Newcastle with a cool, calm and skilful goal, rounding keeper Martin Dubravka to slot the ball home.
When the 20-year-old returned to the dressing room, he was cheered by the other players having been cheered off the pitch minutes before by the away City fans. Bobb had played only 11 minutes of top-level football before coming on as a sub instead of the unwell Jack Grealish. Bobb revealed that Pep Guardiola had told him to go on, enjoy himself and score a goal. He did both.
Bobb spoke warmly about Kevin De Bruyne, who made the assist: “I said ‘thank you’ to him after the game. He’s the only one in the world that can do that, so to play with him is great. Not only is he one of the best players in the Premier League but he is also a very nice guy and he helps the younger players a lot.”
I can confirm that Erling Haaland is unlikely to play in January. Doctors advised him not to train after missing the last five weeks with a stress injury.
Brentford’s Toney ready to play against Forest
Brentford striker Ivan Toney’s eight-month ban ended on Thursday and coach Thomas Frank said he is expecting to play him in Saturday’s important clash with Nottingham Forest.
Frank believes Toney, who has been in an intensive training programme at the club, will hit the ground running and be in contention to score on his comeback. Frank is also confident that Toney will remain at Brentford for the rest of the season despite Chelsea making a lot of noise about signing him and Arsenal also circling.
Toney himself hinted that he could leave in January and said on Wednesday: “I would like to play for a top club, everybody wants to play for top clubs, fighting for titles.”
Brentford have signed Tottenham defender Sergio Reguilon on loan until the end of this season.
Joelinton’s return delayed
After Eddie Howe moved Joelinton from attack to midfield, he sustained damage to his thigh in the FA Cup third-round victory over Sunderland on January 6. Newcastle told me that he could need an operation which could mean his season is over. With Howe fighting for his job after their recent losing streak this comes as a bitter blow.
The latest news is that Newcastle representatives have contacted the agents of Man City’s Kalvin Phillips as they renew their interest in the midfielder. Crystal Palace have also shown interest but all clubs, including Juventus, are refusing to meet the £6 million loan fee plus wages.
Emery is happy with his squad
Despite Aston Villa’s rise to the top four of the Premier League, the club say they are unlikely to strengthen their squad this month. Villa have done three deals and they are all outgoings. Coach Unai Emery, who won the January Manager of the Month Award, said: “We are not focused in the transfer window because we are second in the table and we are welcoming some players who have been out since the start of the season... Alex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey.
"I am very happy with the players. The players’ commitment is very good and the wish and desire to work hard is also really good. We are going to face three competitions until the end of the season... Premier League, FA Cup and Europa Conference League... and it will be very difficult. We need players to be available and be ready to give good performances by playing in our style. We have the players to do that.”
To conform with the Fair Play rules, Villa will have to sell either Callum Chambers or Bertrand Traore if they want to bring in high-quality expensive players. Paul Torres is back in training and Youri Tielemans is ready to play again. Lucas Digne is not available because of his recent hamstring injury but he did train on Wednesday. However, Emery said he will be ‘cautious’ with his defender.
Tottenham going for a top-four finish
A fascinating development is happening at the top of the Premier League. Many people are suggesting Tottenham will finish in the top four and Aston Villa will slip down to fifth and miss a spot in the Champions League.
Winning the league is beyond Tottenham this season but Ange Postecoglou’s style of playing a high-line and all-out attacking football has their fans cheering on the new coach and their team. And their impressive wins lately have been without their two best players Son Heung-min and James Maddison.
There is no doubt Arsenal look tired and it remains to be seen if spending time in sunny Dubai recharges their batteries. Aston Villa, so well organised under Unia Emery, will fight to the bitter end. They are hard to beat. Either City or Liverpool are likely to win the title.
Isak is a world star for Newcastle
Alexander Isak could walk into most world teams on his current form. If Kylian Mbappe leaves PSG this summer as expected, the French champions have already discussed approaching Isak.
Central strikers who can score goals, make assists, skip past defenders and show a physical side are hard to come by and command top prices. Newcastle paying Real Sociedad £62million for his services was a brilliant piece of business.
The threat to his place at Newcastle came from Chief Executive Darren Eales, who said the club will have to sell players, including star names, to keep within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. Isak has ten goals from 13 starts in the PL this season and 14 in all competitions.
After six defeats in their past seven league games, Eddie Howe will argue strongly that they must keep their prized asset and he knows that the Saudi owners did not buy the club to languish in mid-table but want the glory more than most. His job is on the line.
Is Ratcliffe using Sir Alex as his guru to change United?
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe addressed journalists after the Tottenham game, he told us: “I haven’t much to say.”
After watching his team struggle against a vibrant Spurs team, I have no doubt he will have a lot to say and do in the coming months. Sitting next to Sir Alex Ferguson in the director’s VIP seats, he was continually asking the former boss questions and making points. At one point they were laughing but I didn’t witness much to laugh about.
I have no doubt a lot of that chat was about Erik Ten Hag. Ratcliffe will be using some of his billions to improve the Old Trafford leaking roof, improving the training ground and involvement in all aspects of player transfers.
United might have shared the goals with Tottenham but they were dominated for most of the match. The team has gone backwards compared to last season.
Ratcliffe met with members of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust and held a video call with the Fans Forum. He made the same point to both: “So let’s be clear what I’m here for: I’m not here to make money. I make plenty of it from my day job.” MUST put out a statement after the discussions and said: “He views our club as a community asset and stressed that his purpose in taking a share in United is not to make money.”
The most relevant comment came from a Trust member, who said: “He’s done more fan engagement in one day that the majority shareholders, the Glazers, have managed in 18 years.” A confident start for the man who has supported the club from childhood.
Henderson’s move from Saudi no surprise
The problem for Premier League and top European players going to Saudi Arabia is the intense heat and cultural differences between Europe and the Middle East.
Jordan Henderson realised his mistake early on. He left Liverpool and signed a contract worth £30million a year! However, his family moved back to the UK several months ago and Dutch club Ajax proved attractive because playing in Holland is only 45mins by plane to his UK home.
Ajax asked Dutch agent Nathan van Kooperen to seal the deal. Juventus also made an enquiry but no Premier League clubs showed interest. Barcelona rejected an approach from Jordan’s agent.