Author: moshood

Chelsea got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start but were made to work hard for it by an impressive Brighton display.

With their summer spending in excess of £200million, and counting, much is expected of the Blues this season and goals from Jorginho, Reece James and Kurt Zouma ensured they began with three points, though a 3-1 final scoreline was perhaps a touch flattering.

Frank Lampard gave debuts to his two summer signings from the Bundesliga in Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was given the nod to start in goal despite speculation over his future, with Rennes stopper Edouard Mendy set to arrive.

Werner’s sharpness was the bright point in a disjointed first half display from Chelsea, as Brighton more than matched them, with former Blues academy man Tariq Lamptey particularly lively.

However, Lampard’s men were gifted the chance to take the lead on 23 minutes, when Steven Alzate’s loose pass in midfield allowed Jorginho to play Werner in on goal and the German was brought down as he attempted to round Mat Ryan. Jorginho resumed spot-kick duties and made no mistake with a trademark hop and skip before sending the Australian the wrong way.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek wasted a terrific chance to play Werner in again on the counter, poking a tame pass straight at Ben White, who had been the only Brighton defender back, and while Seagulls boss Graham Potter would’ve been pleased with his side’s display, the sight of debutant Adam Lallana limping off before the interval provided cause for concern.

A smile was back on his face soon after the restart as Leandro Trossard levelled the scores with a low strike into the far corner, though there were serious questions about Kepa’s attempt at a save yet again.

The home joy was short-lived, however, as James’ rocket into the top corner from 25 yards put Chelsea back in front only 100 seconds later, the full-back scoring his first Premier League goal.

Brighton should have capped a crazy few minutes with a second equaliser as Lewis Dunk was somehow allowed to steal in completely unmarked at the back post, only to somehow head wide from six yards.

His wastefulness was punished on 66 minutes when fellow defender Adam Webster diverted Zouma’s tame effort beyond a wrong-footed Ryan to give the visitors a two-goal cushion they never surrendered.

Bayern Munich’s former president, Uli Hoeness, claims that Manchester United have “probably agreed personal terms” with Thiago Alcantara, as the Champions League winner’s future remains in limbo.

Thiago had all but agreed a new deal with the German champions before suddenly deciding to leave, much to the dismay of the club’s hierarchy.

Bayern have remained firm in their £28m evaluation of the Spain international, who has just one-year remaining on his contract, with Liverpool considered clear favourites for his signature.

However, Hoeness said Bayern are still yet to receive any official offers, and believes clubs are waiting until the twilight hours of the window in order to negotiate a cut-price deal.

“Both Liverpool and Manchester United did not come to us with an offer for Thiago,” he said. “They are bluffing and waiting until the last week of the window to make a cheap offer. Bayern must decide whether they want to play this game or stand their ground and keep him.”

A transfer tug of war for the services of French superstar Kylian Mbappe looks set to begin in earnest amid reports that that the 21-year-old wants out of the French capital next summer.

Mbappe currently stands as the second most expensive transfer of all time when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco three years ago as he became the most expensive teenager in history for a reported fee in the region of $211 million.

But that fee may well be broken next summer after the Times reported that he has told the French club of his desire for a new challenge.

PSG are understood to be resistant to let Mbappe depart from the club and have made multiple lucrative offers to extend his contract past its 2022 expiration date.

These included promises to make him the club’s best-ever paid player, as well as a declaration that they will build the team around the French international.

However, the 2018 World Cup winner appears to be resolved in his desire to move to another European powerhouse, with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool thought to be circling.

For now, though, the club with the firmest interest in Mbappe appears to be Real Madrid who have shortlisted him with the intention of making him the latest ‘Galactico’ recruit as Zinedine Zidane looks to build upon the club’s first La Liga crown since the 2016/17 season.

Mbappe is understood to have informed PSG director Leonardo of his intention to leave, allowing the club to recoup a transfer fee next season.

He would be available on a free transfer in 2022 if he doesn’t extend his deal and a transfer away isn’t completed in a year’s time.

The 35-times capped French international has very much delivered on his potential, scoring an impressive 77 goals in just over 100 appearances for the Ligue 1 champions.

In addition to Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are among the clubs who could bankroll a deal for the player, while Liverpool have also been mentioned in the press as a potential destination after Mbappe publicly lauded the job that Jurgen Klopp has done on Merseyside.

Arsenal got their Premier League campaign underway with a 3-0 win at promoted Fulham thanks to goals from Alexandre Lacazette, new signing Gabriel and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the opening game of the season on Saturday.

Lacazette fired the Gunners ahead in the eighth minute after poor defending by the home side before new signing Gabriel made it 2-0 in the 49th and Aubameyang put the icing on the cake with a superb shot into the top corner.

Right back Denis Odoi forced a save from Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno early on but that was as good as it got for Fulham, whose opening-day performance suggests that staying in the top flight could be a tall order.

Lacazette was left with the simple task of poking the ball in from close range after a comedy of errors by the home side, who enjoyed a slice of good fortune when Willian hit the post with a 22nd-minute free kick.

Brazilian defender Gabriel, who joined Arsenal from Ligue 1 side Lille, made it 2-0 with a thumping header after a corner swung in by Willian, who enjoyed a fine debut after his summer move from cross-town rivals Chelsea.

Aubameyang put the icing on the cake in the 57th minute with a rasping shot from inside the penalty area and Arsenal missed several chances in the closing stages to win by an even bigger margin at Craven Cottage.

Manchester United will head into the new season on a losing note after Aston Villa beat them in a pre-season friendly.

Man Utd don’t begin their Premier League campaign until next week, when they will play Crystal Palace. They were given an extra week to prepare after being involved in the delayed Europa League over the summer.

However, things didn’t go to plan for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, as Villa – whose game against Manchester City was postponed because of their opponents’ European commitments in August – claimed victory.

Villa’s new signing Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the game to give them a 1-0 win.

Solskjaer fielded a relatively strong side, although he was still without some first team regulars.

Dean Henderson, who is preparing to compete for the number one spot this season, started in goal instead of David De Gea.

Diogo Dalot, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw formed United’s back four.

New signing Donny van de Beek joined Scott McTominay in midfield, and Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Dan James played in behind Odion Ighalo.

Bruno Fernandes was not involved, having recently returned from Portugal, where he was attending the birth of his child.

However, United will still have been disappointed to miss out on the win, against a Villa side who also claimed the scalp of Arsenal in their most recent friendly before this one.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN HAVE signed Italy international Alessandro Florenzi on a season-long loan from Roma, the Ligue 1 champions announced on Friday.

In a statement PSG said that they had an option to buy the 29-year-old full-back, who will likely replace Thomas Meunier following his departure for Borussia Dortmund, come the end of the season.

He is the first new face to arrive in the French capital during this summer transfer window, with the other major move being the permanent signing of Argentina international forward Mauro Icardi, who had also been on loan.

“We have extraordinary challenges ahead of us this season, and it will be a pleasure and an honour to face them alongside my new teammates, who are some of the best players in the world,” Florenzi said in a statement.

Florenzi has spent almost his entire career playing for his hometown team Roma, where he has played 280 matches over eight seasons after coming through the youth ranks in the Italian capital.

However he has not been a key player the plans of the Serie A side’s coach Paulo Fonseca despite becoming club captain in 2019 following the departures of fellow Romans Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi.

Despite being sent out on loan to Valencia in the second half of last season Florenzi is still a part of Roberto Mancini’s Italy set-up and played for the ‘Azzurri’ in their 1-1 Uefa Nations League draw with Bosnia earlier this month.

He has played 36 times for his national team, scoring twice.

Florenzi arrives at PSG with last season’s Champions League finalists in the midst of an internal coronavirus crisis that has left seven of their first team stars positive for the disease.

A second-string line-up shorn of a host of last season’s regulars fell 1-0 at newly-promoted Lens on Thursday night, their first match of the new Ligue 1 season.

Thomas Tuchel’s side take on fierce rivals Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night before another home match with Metz which was their original opening fixture on Wednesday and a trip to Nice the following Sunday.