Chelsea has been on the declining side ever since Thomas Tuchel was sacked. Graham Potter, who lacks experience leading a Champions League titled team has been mediocre so to say the least.  

Despite this, a transfer influx of new stronger players may help Chelsea win more games, or for the least, not get downgraded to the Europa League just like their Premier League counterpart, Manchester United. 

Despite a reportedly “urgent” need for a centre-back and a striker, manager Graham Potter may not have much money available to him in the January transfer market to boost his first team roster. 

This is due to the result of Armando Broja’s injury during the friendly match against Aston Villa, the Blues have suffered significantly on the injury front. 

Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz remain as intermediate alternatives for Potter. Prior to the World Cup, none of the forwards made a significant impression, with Aubameyang scoring just once since joining from Barcelona.

While Todd Boehly made significant investments during his first summer as the Blues owner, Potter will be in charge for the first time during the January window. The Blues already have a fight on their hands to secure a Champions League spot as they currently sit eighth in the table. 

Additionally, Potter may get the chance to establish his dominance over the present Chelsea team during the January transfer window. The Athletic claims that the Chelsea boss has a centre-back and a central striker as his top two priorities for the upcoming month.

Chelsea transfers

Getting this man in January on loan would be ridiculous business from Chelsea. Small risk, massive reward.. 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/RibBNuFL8o

— Conn (@ConnCFC) December 26, 2022

Regardless of Chelsea’s budget constraints, the January transfers will still be crucial for them if they want any chances at all for this season. Fans are suggesting that when Chelsea gets Joao Felix to join their team on loan, he will help them win more games. 

Fans are still doubting Joao Felix as they claim that he is not someone like Mbappe. However, The 23-year-old still has a chance to shine, especially if he plays for a Champions League team like Chelsea. 

Here are more stories related to football.

Paul Pogba praise Cristiano Ronaldo’s discipline 

The new Manchester City forward added to his impressive start to life in the Premier League by scoring his first hattrick for the club.

Pundits now believe he will score more hat tricks, despite the fact that the Premier League can be a difficult place for even the best players.

Haaland scored a hat trick against Crystal Palace over the weekend in a game that reminded us of how Manchester City won the Premier League title last season.

Nonetheless, the crowd at Etihad Stadium was ecstatic after the champions came back to win 2-0 against a tenacious Crystal Palace side.

Now, Haaland has promised to break his father’s goalscoring record, and City could provide him with the platform to do so.

Summer signing Haaland turned the game around, bringing his Premier League goal tally to six from four appearances since joining from Borussia Dortmund for £51 million.

However, the 22-year-old still trails his father, Alf-Inge, a former City, Leeds, and Nottingham Forest midfielder who scored 18 Premier League goals in his career, including four for the Blues.

“He’ll probably say he has more goals in the Premier League than me! So I’m going to chase that,” said the youngster when asked about his dad’s goal scoring tally.

Haaland’s sensational hat-trick contributed to Manchester City’s 4-2 win against Palace.

Bernardo Silva scored city’s first goal, cutting Pala e lead to one goal in the 53rd minute. Haaland followed-up with the tying goal less than 10 minutes later to put the match at 2-2.

But that was only the start of City’s rampage against Palace.

A few minutes after his first goal, Haaland tapped in his second goal from short range to push City up a goal.

The third goal was a beauty to watch with a few city players contributing to Haaland’s tap into the goal giving city a big win.

Victor Wembanyama has only just dipped his toes into his NBA career but has already made splashes all over the news and social media. Tagged as one of the most hyped rookies in the league since LeBron James, Wembanyama has definitely proven that he’s well worth the anticipation the public had during the off-season. 

His athleticism was expected from the get-go. 

What many didn’t foresee, however, was just how much one person would pay just to own his game-worn jersey during his debut match.

Darren Rowell of The Action Network broke the jaw-dropping news on X, stating that the French player’s jersey was sold for a whopping $762,000 at Sotheby’s auction house.

JUST IN: A jersey Victor Wembanyama wore in his NBA debut just sold at @Sothebys for $762,000. pic.twitter.com/u8p5EGIPc1

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 21, 2023

Tommy Beer likewise reported the news and added that it was the largest sum of money ever paid for a rookie jersey.

Sotheby's auctioned off Victor Wembanyama's game-worn jersey from his NBA debut.

It was expected to sell for between $80k – $120k.

Bidding just closed and it sold for a record-breaking $762,000.

That's the highest amount ever paid for rookie jersey pic.twitter.com/CnAYC7Xtl2

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) November 21, 2023

Although the price for the debut jersey was quite high, it would be a significant bargain if the buyer genuinely thinks Wembanyama can develop into a great player and rank among the likes of James, Bryant, and Curry. Of course, if Wembanyama stays on the track he has set for himself from the beginning, that could sell for millions in the future.

Debut Game

The jersey that was auctioned was worn by Wembanyama during the second half of the San Antonio Spurs bout against the Dallas Mavericks on October 25. Staged at the Frost Bank Center, the Spurs rookie put up 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists and played for 23 minutes.

The Spurs suffered a loss against the Mavs, 126-119.

Wembanyama’s Stats 

The Spurs are currently struggling after 14 games into the season, only winning three matchups and plummeting to the bottom of the Western Conference rankings with the Portland Trail Blazers (record: 3-11).

Despite the Spurs’ dismal outcomes, Wembanyama continues to deliver good performances on court, leading the team in terms of scoring, rebounds, and blocks.

Wembanyama averages 18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.6 blocks. 

Currently, Wembanyama is second in the ‘Rookie of the Year’ race, only behind Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren.

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LA Clippers’ Paul George Fined After Slamming Officials

 

Mauricio Pochettino guided Chelsea to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Newcastle United in a penalty shootout, after Mykhailo Mudryk’s dramatic equalizer in the 92nd minute secured a spot in the League Cup semi-finals.

Chelsea had been through a difficult period, losing three of their last five games, including a 4-1 setback to Newcastle. However, their 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge demonstrated their renewed tenacity and grit, indicating a much-needed turnaround.

Chelsea advances

In an exciting turn of events, the Magpies appeared to be winning 1-0 until replacement Kieran Trippier failed to intercept a crucial cross, which allowed Mudryk—also a substitute—to tie the score. Fans were on the edge of their seats as the game went into a thrilling penalty shootout as a result of this stunning change of events.

Pochettino; “We are so happy. The fans and the club deserve this sort of feeling. It’s a big motivation,” and further added “Sometimes in football you need some luck and it came. But credit to the players because they were fantastic.” an article from straitstime.com mentioned.

England defender Trippier’s misery escalated on a tense evening when he mishandled Newcastle’s second penalty kick. Matt Ritchie’s effort was skillfully stopped by Chelsea’s Djordje Petrovic, only the second goalkeeper to start for the Blues, which only made the loss worse.

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Lionel Messi posts on Instagram to commemorate Argentina’s World Cup anniversary

Cover Photo: IG

 

In a thrilling Premier League opener, Chelsea rallied to tie Liverpool 1-1, displaying their improvement under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Luis Diaz’s quick counterattack goal gave Liverpool the lead in the marquee contest in the 18th minute. Chelsea’s rookie defender Axel Disasi tied the score in the 37th minute with a goal from close range.

Pochettino, making his managerial comeback a year after being dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain, was very happy. “It was difficult from the beginning but how we grew in the game and how we found the way to play and how we started to dominate and push Liverpool deeper and deeper! I am very pleased about everything,” he said, according to an article from latestly.com.

• Both teams had goals disallowed by VAR during the tense first half.
• Interestingly, both Chelsea and Liverpool wanted to recruit Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, a defensive midfielder worth £110 million.
• The fact that Caicedo preferred Chelsea to Liverpool could have effects beyond the draw.
• Both teams need a ball-winning midfielder like the Ecuadorian Caicedo. 

Chelsea showed an energy that had never been seen at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Pochettino. Nicolas Jackson, a young striker, was unable to make an impact despite controlling possession and putting pressure on Liverpool. His best chance came in the 71st minute when he sprinted towards the goal, but Alisson Becker made a heroic stop that perfectly captured the tension of the game.

Chelsea under Pochettino displayed a renewed vigour, outplaying Liverpool with a newfound ferocity. Although Nicolas Jackson’s attempts were unsuccessful, Chelsea controlled the action. The struggles of Liverpool’s reorganised midfield, which featured Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, highlighted the absence of Fabinho and Henderson. Klopp didn’t lose faith in his rookies.