Chelsea are definitely in the mix to sign Karim Benzema if he leaves Saudi 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 away playing for Senegal but has proven to blow hot and cold when it comes to taking goal scoring chances. Armando Broja has yet to impress and is not clinical enough and could leave if a striker is signed at Stamford Bridge. 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. Christopher Nkunku came in for Pochettino but he 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 a loan deal. The 24-year-old has not played this season because of a hamstring injury.
Liverpool ‘s training this week for visit to Bournemouth
Liverpool can increase their lead when they meet Bournemouth on Sunday. With a win they will increase their top of the table lead to five points over Aston Villa and Manchester City who are not playing 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 Szoboszial had shown promise that his hamstring injury had healed and he would make the trip, however the Hungary international was missing from training. As I write this there are still four days to go and he could resume training but a League Cup second leg next Wednesday looks more realistic. Klopp has obvious selection problems with nine players not appearing for the training session. Mohamed Salah is away playing for Egypt and Waturu Endo is also absent. 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 seventeen 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.
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Oscar Bobb is the real deal
The world is at his feet and his feet did 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. Oscar 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 for him to score. He revealed, “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, “It’s obvious 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 striker to midfield he sustained damage to his thigh in the FA Cup third round victory over Sunderland on January 6th. Newcastle told me that he could need an operation and conceivably be out for the rest of the season. With Howe literally 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 £6million 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 team squad this month in the transfer window. 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 being very focused in the transfer window because we are second in the table and we are recovering some players that have been out since the start of the season, Alex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey. I am very happy with the players. The commitment with the current players 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 with good performances to play in our style and we have the players to do that.” Basically, 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 would 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 Unai Emery, will fight to the bitter end and they are hard to beat. Either City or Liverpool are likely to win the title but three into two doesn’t work so it is between Tottenham, Arsenal and Villa.
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