Chelsea's first big transfer splash under new boss Graham Potter could reportedly be RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, after the club had a £77million bid rejected before the deadline.

Gvardiol is young at 20, but he does not lack experience, having already been awarded 10 senior international caps for Croatia, as well as racking up 47 club appearances in all competitions last season for Leipzig.

He was one of many high-profile defenders to be enquired about during Chelsea's search that ended up landing Leicester City's Wesley Fofana and Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly.

But with Koulibaly already 31 and Thiago Silva now 37, the club may feel it is best to figure out the succession plan sooner rather than later.


TOP STORY – CHELSEA PLAN BIG MOVE FOR GVARDIOL IN JANUARY

With over £150m spent between Fofana, Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella, while being tied with Manchester United for the fewest goals scored in the Premier League by a team in the top-half (eight from six games), it is curious to see the Stamford Bridge side still so desperate for defensive help.

It remains to be seen what kind of budget Potter will be allowed to use in the January window, given all the recent signings had been under Thomas Tuchel's guidance, and it is also fair to assume a potential Gvardiol deal would not have this season's results in mind, given their previous offer included loaning him back to Leipzig.

Ownership's willingness to open up the cheque book in January would have likely been discussed during their recruitment of Potter, and Bild remain convinced Chelsea's interest with the young Croatian is far from over.


ROUND-UP

– According to The Mirror, Arsenal and Newcastle United will compete for the signature of 26-year-old Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo, who is said to be available for £8.6m due to being in the last year of his contract.

– The Metro is reporting United full-back Diogo Dalot turned down a move to Milan, instead wishing to fight for his spot at Old Trafford.

– According to inews, Newcastle are joining the race for Vasco da Gama teenager Andrey Santos, who reportedly has a £30m price tag and is a target of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

Jordi Alba is unsettled at Barcelona amid interest from Inter, but remains committed to the club where he now has to contend with Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso for the starting role, according to Marca.

Former Inter and Italy defender Davide Santon has announced his retirement from playing at the age of 31 due to persistent injury issues.

The full-back had spent the past four seasons with Roma but failed to make a single appearance under Jose Mourinho in the 2021-22 campaign.

Santon was capped eight times by Italy between 2009 and 2013 and was a two-time Scudetto winner with Inter during the first of two spells with the club, either side of a three-season stint with Newcastle United.

Injuries ultimately took their toll on the defender, who announced his playing days are over in an interview with Tuttomercato published on Friday.

"I'm forced to stop playing," he said. "Not for not having had offers, not for anything else, but because my body, with so many injuries in the past, can't take it anymore.

"I didn't want to do this, but I have to. I had endless tests and consultations, but there was nothing to be done. I can still walk, but that's not enough to be a professional athlete. 

"If I kept pushing, I'd risk needing a prosthesis. The left knee is just gone. It stops me doing lots of things. 

"The right knee, that had surgery three times, removing cartilage, the entire external meniscus, so as soon as I strain it even a little bit, it swells up and can't bend.

"All my injuries really came from there, because if the right knee can't bend, you put more strain on the left and the flexor. If you play one match, you risk being out of action for the next five."

Santon made just 42 Serie A appearances across four seasons with Roma and was accused by some of turning down moves elsewhere in order to continue picking up an easy wage at Stadio Olimpico.

Responding to those claims, Santon said: "I didn't turn anyone down. I was never going to pass a medical."

Play will resume at the BMW PGA Championship on Saturday after a day's pause following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Event organisers halted play late on Thursday and all day Friday following news of Her Majesty's passing at the age of 96.

However, the DP World Tour has confirmed play will resume at Wentworth on Saturday, with the tournament to be contested over 54 holes rather than 72.

"The decision to restart on Saturday has been taken in accordance with Official National Mourning guidance and in consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)," the DP World Tour's statement read.

"The Wentworth event will give players, caddies, staff, volunteers and spectators the opportunity to come together across the weekend, not only to express their condolences but also to celebrate the extraordinary life of Her Majesty.

"The second round of the BMW PGA Championship will resume at 6.40am on Saturday morning and all original second round tee times will remain the same. 

"Those players who are yet to complete their first round will do so from 7.30am onwards from the place on the golf course where they stopped on Thursday afternoon.

"Across the weekend at Wentworth, black ribbons will be made available for people to wear and flags will continue to fly at half-mast."

"In addition, there will be a two-minute silence at 9.50am on Saturday morning across the venue to commemorate the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the proclamation of King Charles III being shown on the television screens in the Championship Village from 10am."

Tommy Fleetwood, Andy Sullivan and Viktor Hovland held a joint-lead with an eight-under par 64 when play came to a stop on Thursday.

England's third Test against South Africa at The Oval will also resume on Saturday, while the Super League clash between Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils will go ahead as planned.

Friday's meeting between Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos had already been given the green light to take place as it is being held in Perpignan in the south of France.

However, all Premier League and English Football League fixtures this weekend have been called off, as has Saturday's undisputed middleweight championship bout between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall.

The fight at the O2 Arena in London has been provisionally postponed until October 15.

Cristiano Ronaldo has offered his condolences to the Royal Family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, describing the late monarch as "irreplaceable".

The Royal Family revealed on Thursday that the longest-serving sovereign in the UK's history had passed away peacefully at the age of 96.

The sporting world has united in grief following her death, with Ronaldo's club Manchester United hailing her "immense contribution to public life, including sport, both here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world", in a club statement.

Ronaldo took to social media to pay his own respects on Friday, writing on Instagram: "Seven years of my career were played in the Premier League, making this my eighth season living in England. 

"Throughout these years, I've felt the everlasting love of the UK for its Queen, and how important Her Majesty was and will forever be to the British people. 

"I pay my respect to her memory and I mourn this irreplaceable loss with the country that I've learned to call home. My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family."

On Friday, the Premier League called off its full weekend fixture programme as a "mark of respect" for the Queen, who was described as "an inspiration" in an official statement.

The Football League (EFL) did likewise, before the Football Association (FA) confirmed all games scheduled in England between September 9 to 11 would be postponed.  

The Premier League called off its full weekend fixture programme following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, saying it took the decision "as a mark of respect" for a monarch who had been "an inspiration".

After discussions with Government officials, an announcement of the postponements came in a statement from the league at 11:30 BST.

It read: "At a meeting this morning, Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

"To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend's Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game."

The weekend programme had been due to kick off with Fulham's home game against Chelsea at 12:30 BST on Saturday, ending with Leeds United's Elland Road clash with Nottingham Forest on Monday evening.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty's long and unwavering service to our country.

"As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication.

"This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing."

The EFL, which runs the Championship, League One and League Two in England, also announced the postponement of its fixtures, with a blanket cancellation of all football then confirmed.

The Football Association (FA) said all games across England would be postponed from September 9 to 11.

It said the Queen had "left a lasting and indelible legacy on our national game".

She had been a patron of the FA and famously handed over the Jules Rimet Trophy to England captain Bobby Moore after the 4-2 win over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final.

The FA said: "As a mark of respect, following the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, English football has united to postpone all football fixtures between 9-11 September."

It said this applied all the way down to grassroots level.

The FA's statement added: "Our thoughts remain with our president, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, and the whole of the Royal Family during this time."

Chelsea have cancelled a news conference with new head coach Graham Potter following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Potter had been due to face the media for the first time as Blues boss at 13:30 BST, at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.

That was announced before the Queen's death on Thursday, and Chelsea moved to cancel the planned session on Friday morning.

The decision was taken amid uncertainty over whether the weekend's English football programme would go ahead as planned, and it was announced at 11:30 BST that Premier League games would be postponed.

Potter left Brighton and Hove Albion to take over at Chelsea following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

German boss Tuchel was surprisingly dismissed on Wednesday, just a day on from a 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

That result followed an indifferent start to the Premier League season, during which Chelsea have taken 10 points from a possible 18 after a bold spending spree under new owner Todd Boehly.

Boehly said of Potter's appointment: "We are thrilled to bring Graham to Chelsea. He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the club."

 

Chelsea have reportedly held an emergency call with new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to reassure him of his future with the club after Thomas Tuchel's surprise sacking.

Tuchel was removed from his position after Chelsea's 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League opener, in a move that will carry a heavy financial cost, according to reports from the Daily Mail and The Mirror.

Tuchel and his backroom staff are said to be receiving £15million in pay-outs, and Brighton are set to claim £20m in compensation after Graham Potter took over.

One of the main selling points for Aubameyang to come to Stamford Bridge was his relationship with Tuchel, who had coached him at Borussia Dortmund, and the Telegraph claims Chelsea's ownership group went out of their way to reassure the 33-year-old striker about his decision after cutting ties with Tuchel.

 

TOP STORY – CHELSEA OWNERS REASSURE AUBAMEYANG OF HIS ROLE AFTER TUCHEL FIRING

According to the Telegraph's report, controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Egbali addressed the Chelsea squad on Wednesday after Tuchel's sacking took place that morning, but there was also a separate individual chat with Aubameyang.

They reportedly told the signing from Barcelona that they "believe he can flourish under new head coach Graham Potter", and the Gabon international is said to have no second thoughts about his decision.

While he was clearly a player Tuchel pushed for, Aubameyang was assured he was "a club signing", and the report claims he "is thought to have been appreciative of the explanation".

In his one game for Chelsea under Tuchel, Aubameyang was substituted in the 59th minute.

 

ROUND-UP

– BILD has confirmed once again that Liverpool have their sights set on a massive move for Borussia Dortmund's 19-year-old English midfielder Jude Bellingham in 2023. 

– A report from Sport claims the rise of 18-year-old Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has complicated the arrival of Marcos Alonso, who was brought in to be the main competition to Jordi Alba, but he is now behind Balde as well.

– Fabrizio Romano is reporting 21-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk wants a move to Arsenal alongside his Ukrainian compatriot Oleksandr Zinchenko, and that it could be possible in January.

– JuveLive claim Juventus are prepared to offer 22-year-old striker Moise Kean to Aston Villa in a straight swap for 24-year-old midfielder Douglas Luiz.

Liverpool have joined other leading sporting clubs and bodies in paying tribute to HRH Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 on Thursday.

Britain's longest-serving monarch passed away in Balmoral earlier today, just months after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee.

The sporting world has paid tribute to the Queen, with the Premier League announcing it was "deeply saddened" by her passing.

Jurgen Klopp's side were among those to express their sorrow.

"Liverpool Football Club is saddened by the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II," read an official statement. "We extend our sincere condolences to The Royal Family."

It has yet to be announced whether Liverpool's Premier League meeting with Wolves will go ahead this weekend.

Premier League champions Manchester City have sent their "sincere condolences" to the Royal Family after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.

Her Majesty passed away peacefully at her Balmoral residence on Thursday at the age of 96.

The sporting world has paid tribute to the Queen, with the Premier League announcing it was "deeply saddened" by her passing.

Manchester United said the club "shares the sorrow of the entire nation", while Arsenal held a minute's silence ahead of the second half of their Europa League match at FC Zurich.

City have also expressed their sadness at her death, the club posting on their official website: "Manchester City wishes to express its sincere condolences to the Royal Family following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

"Her Majesty's dedication and service has been exemplary and we join our country and the Commonwealth in mourning her loss."

Chelsea have joined several other Premier League clubs in sending their condolences to the Royal Family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Royal Family announced Her Majesty had passed away peacefully at her Balmoral residence on Thursday.

The news was met with tributes from across the sporting world; Manchester United said the club "shares the sorrow of the entire nation", while Arsenal held a minute's silence ahead of the second half of their Europa League match at FC Zurich.

The Premier League, meanwhile, announced it was "deeply saddened" by the Queen's passing.

A statement on Chelsea's website read: "Chelsea Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We join those mourning in the UK and across the world.

"We would like to send our condolences to the Royal Family and everyone affected by this very sad news."

Arsenal paid respect to Queen Elizabeth II with a minute's silence prior to the second half of their Europa League match at FC Zurich on Thursday.

The Royal Family announced Her Majesty had passed away peacefully at the age of 96 at her Balmoral residence on Thursday, with the news coming while the Gunners' match was taking place in Switzerland. 

Arsenal emerged for the second half of the contest wearing black armbands before a minute's silence was held in advance of the match's resumption.

The club also paid tribute with a statement on their website, which read: "Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is saddened at the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

"Her Majesty gave remarkable service over eight decades to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and we join together with so many around the world in mourning her passing and wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family."

The Premier League has paid tribute to the Queen after the death of Her Majesty at the age of 96 was confirmed by the Royal Family on Thursday.

Buckingham Palace issued a statement on the status of the Queen's health earlier in the day and said doctors were "concerned", with members of the Royal Family travelling to Balmoral to be by her side.

News of her "peaceful" passing was confirmed at 6.30pm BST, and an outpouring of tributes were swiftly posted from across the world, including from the Premier League to the UK's longest serving monarch.

A statement on the Premier League's Twitter page read: "The Premier League is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with The Royal Family and everyone around the world mourning the loss of Her Majesty."

Arsenal held a minute's silence and wore black armbands at the start of the second half of their Europa League group stage game against FC Zurich to pay respects.

Manchester United have paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II following the announcement of her death on Thursday.

The Premier League side posted a short statement of tribute following the news that the 96-year-old – Britain's longest-reigning monarch – had passed away, with their club crest rendered black on social media.

Erik ten Hag's side are set to face Real Sociedad in their Europa League opener later on Thursday at Old Trafford, and the club confirmed the match will proceed as planned.

"Manchester United shares the sorrow of the entire nation following the announcement from Buckingham Palace on the passing of Her Royal Highness The Queen Elizabeth II," read the club's statement.

"The club recognises her immense contribution to public life, including sport, both here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world.

"Everyone connected with Manchester United joins the wider football family in sending our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to The Royal Family.

"Following direction from the FA and UEFA, tonight’s UEFA Europa League fixture against Real Sociedad will take place as planned at Old Trafford.

"A minute's silence will be held before kick-off which will allow the teams, match officials and everyone in attendance to pay their respects to Her Majesty, The Queen.

"Both teams will wear black armbands and the flags at Old Trafford will fly at half-mast as a sign of our utmost respect."

Graham Potter has been confirmed as the new head coach of Chelsea, succeeding Thomas Tuchel.

Tuchel was surprisingly dismissed as Chelsea boss on Wednesday, just a day on from the Blues' disappointing 1-0 setback at Dinamo Zagreb to begin their Champions League campaign.

It followed an indifferent start to the Premier League season, which saw Chelsea take 10 points from a possible 18 after a bold spending spree in the transfer window under new owner Todd Boehly.

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Potter quickly became the frontrunner to replace Tuchel and Chelsea have acted upon a reported £16million release clause in his contract to bring the 47-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

"We are thrilled to bring Graham to Chelsea. He is a proven coach and an innovator in the Premier League who fits our vision for the club," Boehly said in Chelsea's announcement.

"Not only is he extremely talented on the pitch, he has skills and capabilities that extend beyond the pitch which will make Chelsea a more successful Club. He has had a major impact at his previous Clubs’ and we look forward to his positive impact at Chelsea.

"We look forward to supporting him, his coaching team and the squad in realising their full potential in the coming months and years."

Potter's path to west London has certainly been an interesting one. He spent seven years in charge of Swedish side Ostersund, who he led from the fourth tier to the top flight and earned domestic glory in the Svenska Cup.

His team also enjoyed a run to the last 32 of the Europa League in the 2017-18 season, where they were beaten by Arsenal.

The impressive work in Sweden led to a move to Swansea City, where he spent just a solitary season before Brighton came calling after sacking Chris Hughton.

After finishing 15th and 16th in his first two top-flight campaigns, Potter led Brighton to ninth last term and has earned plenty of admirers for the attacking brand of football his teams employ.

Potter's first assignment will be the derby at Fulham this weekend, with the announcement saying he will take charge of the team "immediately".

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Graham Potter he can expect a "different pressure" at Chelsea but believes it is a "fantastic move".

Potter has been named as Thomas Tuchel's successor at Stamford Bridge, following the axing of the Champions League-winning boss on Wednesday.

New Blues owner Todd Boehly has been extremely active since taking over from Roman Abramovich, splashing vast amounts of money in the transfer market, and has now made his first managerial appointment.

Chelsea received permission from Brighton and Hove Albion to speak to Potter on Wednesday and confirmation of his appointment followed on Thursday.

Rodgers, who has experience in high-pressure clubs following his time with Liverpool, has told Potter he will encounter different challenges than his time at Brighton but feels it is the right move.

"It's a different pressure," Rodgers said in the press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Aston Villa.

"He's done fantastic at Brighton, they've really developed. They're strategically well run behind the scenes. 

"It's that next step and it will be a fantastic move for him."

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