Chelsea are already lining up replacements for Maurizio Sarri, who could receive 1,000 Nicorette patches as compensation for being sacked less than a year into his contract.
The Italian is likely to be sacked after his team’s 17-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final this weekend and Chelsea are thinking about which unfortunate sap to appoint next, with Zinedine Zidane and Frank Lampard’s Derby County manager Frank Lampard the early frontrunners. Let’s just hope the west Londoners know they’ll be legally obliged to change their name to Chelsea Legend Frank Lampard’s Chelsea if they go with the latter.
English players are all the rage these days. Get a load of Pep Guardiola
keeping tabs on West Ham’s Declan Rice, Leicester’s Ben Chilwell and
Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, all of whom could rival Phil Foden for
a minute or two of FA Cup action if they join Manchester City. Bayern
Munich are also eyeing Wan-Bissaka, while Tottenham are watching Birmingham City’s 22-year-old forward Che Adams.
Real Madrid, who are closing in on a deal for Porto defender Eder Militao,
have slapped a £131m price tag on Gareth Bale. Seems a bit specific.
Whether it puts off Chelsea and Manchester United from going for the Welsh
wizard remains to be seen. United might decide to look elsewhere and
intensify their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund whizzkid Jadon Sancho.
Liverpool reckon they can get Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes for a
bargain price. Meanwhile Daniel Sturridge could be off to Real Betis at the
end of the season.
Arsenal are pondering a move for Roma’s Steven N’Zonzi and are ready to
sell the hapless Shkodran Mustafi in the summer. Unai Emery is planning big
changes. Arsenal’s manager has also sent spies up to Burnley as he hunts
for a replacement for Petr Cech. Nick Pope is Emery’s top target, although
there are fears Arsenal will mistakenly buy Joe Hart instead.