Summer transfer window rumors
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joseephuss
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jterrell
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http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014...arting-xi-for-20142015-including-four-new-ar/
Thibaut Courtois
The Belgian goalkeeper is being linked with a return to Chelsea after three years on loan at Atletico Madrid. While that decision would leave Courtois fighting with Petr Cech for the gloves he is such a talent that it is surely time to make him the undisputed number one at Stamford Bridge.
Cesar Azpilicueta
The Spanish international spent the vast majority of last season playing at left-back, but with a potential new arrival detailed below, Mourinho may opt to put him back into his favoured position ahead of Branislav Ivanovic.
John Terry
Chelsea’s captain fantastic showed last season that he still has plenty of gas in the engine and I expect him to be first-choice again in the new campaign. Next year could be his last as a first-team regular given the emergence of the likes of Tomas Kalas and Kurt Zouma, so expect him to go out with a bang.
Diego Godin
Godin has been tipped to be part of a £100million influx from Atletico Madrid and he would be an outstanding signing. I have put him in the side ahead of Gary Cahill because he has been simply superb in La Liga and would make Chelsea’s back-line even stronger.
Filipe Luis
Ashley Cole may be gone but rumours persist that Chelsea will replace him with the superb Atletico left-back. The 28-year-old left-back would be one of the most impressive pieces of business Mourinho has ever pulled off as the Blues boss.
Willian
Willian showed last season just how good he is and he will hope to follow what could be a victorious World Cup campaign with another sterling one at Chelsea. His work-rate is such that he simply cannot be ignored and he is also a regular creator of both chances and goals.
Nemanja Matic
It may have taken a while – and cost Chelsea more than was necessary – but Matic is now a regular and vital part of the Blues’ midfield. He showed in the second half of last season just how good he can be, and with a full pre-season in London behind him I expect him to be even better next year.
Cesc Fabregas
The Barcelona man has been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent days and while Mourinho is flush with midfield talent he would still be a fantastic addition. He will not come cheap but it does appear his time in Spain is coming to an end, so what chance a return to London?
Eden Hazard
Forget the rumours linking Hazard with a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain. Mourinho would be crazy to let him go and the Belgian play-maker has already intimated he will remain at the club next season. If he continues where he left off in the previous campaign, he would add the Player of the Year trophy to last season’s Young Player award.
Oscar
Mourinho put a lot of faith in the young Brazilian at the start of his second spell in charge, allowing Juan Mata to leave after making Oscar his number 10. While injuries and fatigue took their toll in the second half of the campaign, I expect him to have a great campaign supplying the likely new arrival up front.
Diego Costa
Chelsea need a new striker. There is absolutely no doubt about that. And it appears – if reports are to be believed – that man will be Spanish international Costa. An agreement is reportedly in place and a medical is said to have been completed, so it would come as a big surprise if the Atletico front-man is not wearing the blue of Chelsea next season.
What do you think of the Chelsea line-up above? How successful would it be?
joseephuss
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Godin didn't make it to Chelsea and rumors are A.Madrid aren't going to be selling him off. He would have been a good player. Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic will be okay rotating around the CB position for the season.
JBS
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Nearly 50k people at the Bernabeau for James presentation.
As much as i like the player, i have been a fan of his even before the wc, its undeniable that RM overpaid. But what's new?
Here's hoping that James proves to be worth the money
As much as i like the player, i have been a fan of his even before the wc, its undeniable that RM overpaid. But what's new?
Here's hoping that James proves to be worth the money
joseephuss
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http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/...reportedly-inching-close-to-new-york-city-fc/
Xavi Hernández reportedly inching closer to New York City FC
After months of speculation linking him with moves to both Qatar and Major League Soccer, FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández appears to be inching closer to the United States. According to reports out of Spain, the 34-year-old playmaker is set to “imminently” leave the only club he’s ever know, with 2015 Major League Soccer expansion franchise New York City FC his expected destination.
Xavi Hernández reportedly inching closer to New York City FC
After months of speculation linking him with moves to both Qatar and Major League Soccer, FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández appears to be inching closer to the United States. According to reports out of Spain, the 34-year-old playmaker is set to “imminently” leave the only club he’s ever know, with 2015 Major League Soccer expansion franchise New York City FC his expected destination.
jterrell
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yea, Godin would have been a nice addition but Terry is a great traffic cop and Cahill is an ascending player.
Bran is tough as nails and delivers to the box.
jterrell
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Barca has to be runaway fave for CL but things have a way of surprising with the UCL.
Real, Chel, Barca, Bayern as last 4 winners (IIRC) are all gonna be tough again next year.
erickb
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I think the MLS maybe pricing out a lot of teams for Yedlin (SoundersFc USMNT) latest rumors around here is 6.3 Million. Roma wanted him but basically he would have been loaned out for 2 years and Yedlin did not want that, been quite lately but for Sounders fans when it's quite something is being worked on or at least that is the history when it comes to Sounders and their players.
joseephuss
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Barca haven't chosen who will be their #1 keeper yet. Hard to be a runaway favorite when you don't have a clear #1 in goal. Chelsea haven't either(officially), but I bet they are leaning toward Courtois. Plus both Courtois and Cech are better than any of the 3 guys Barca have to choose from.
Barca did not address their center back position with any new players. Maybe they think one of the young kids will step up. Barca will be fine in league play and in early rounds of CL, but the deeper they go the more it helps to have a steady back line and goalkeeper. They have neither at this point.
joseephuss
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http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28492365
Didier Drogba: Chelsea re-sign club legend on free transfer
The Ivorian, 36, won 10 trophies at Chelsea from 2004 to 2012 and was a free agent after leaving Galatasaray.
Manager Jose Mourinho had earlier said the forward "belongs" at Stamford Bridge - but that any deal would be made "in a non-emotional way".
Drogba told Chelsea's official site: "It was an easy decision - I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again."
He said: "Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.
"My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career."
Didier Drogba: Chelsea re-sign club legend on free transfer
The Ivorian, 36, won 10 trophies at Chelsea from 2004 to 2012 and was a free agent after leaving Galatasaray.
Manager Jose Mourinho had earlier said the forward "belongs" at Stamford Bridge - but that any deal would be made "in a non-emotional way".
Drogba told Chelsea's official site: "It was an easy decision - I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again."
He said: "Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.
"My desire to win is still the same and I look forward to the opportunity to help this team. I am excited for this next chapter of my career."
CATCH17
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Real, City, Barca, Chelsea, and Bayern are most likely the teams competing for the CL.
I can't see anyone outside of them taking it unless Juve or PSG get lucky.
jterrell
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Claudio Bravo is no chump in goal and looks to be GK1. And that Barca lineup is 2nd to none.
Teams figiured out the style they used but talent-wise they've been fine.
Once Courtois gets the nod I expect Cech to end up somewhere else.
jterrell
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that looks about right to me too but I didn't have atletico on the short list last year.
lots of moves to be made before the UCL single eliminations.
joseephuss
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If we are just talking about offensive and attacking players then I agree Barca is second to none. I never even hinted that offense would be their problem. If we are talking defenders, which I was, then those guys are second to the other top teams that will contend for the Champions League title.
Bravo is no chump in goal, but he is second to the other keepers of the other favorites in Champions League.
Pique used to be a top defender, but he hasn't been in a couple of years. Perhaps that is due to injuries because he has not looked in good form the last couple of seasons. The rest of the defenders on the team or either not good at defending(Alves, Alba) or are we just don't know enough about them due to their youth and inexperience. There are rumors they will sign some center backs, which is their main issue. If they do, then my outlook will change. As of now I don't have much faith if they once again forced to play Mascherano as a center back. He is very good when he plays his natural defensive midfielder position, but he is out of his element when forced to be a center back. It is good to have some offensive potential out of the full back position that both Alves and Alba provide, but sometimes you have to plug in a tough defender and Barca lacks those.
The other teams that will make the final 8 of the Champions League will all have very good to great offenses including Barcelona. The defense and the keepers will be the difference on which teams make it to the finals and which teams don't. Right now Barca has to improve that defense. They still have time.
joseephuss
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You were right last year when you said Chelsea would never sell Lukaku for $60 million.
Romelu Lukaku flying in to complete £25million move to Everton from Chelsea on five-year deal
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ton-Chelsea-five-year-deal.html#ixzz38y3oTIyL
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jterrell
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At the time I was absolutely right.
But 14 months of Lukaku blasting Chelsea and Jose worked to get him out of here. Chelsea wasn't sending him to a UCL danger so Everton was about as good as they were going to get and getting Everton to fork over about twice the highest transfer deal they've ever done was as high as they were going to get.
It really is a shame because Lukaku would be a beautiful fit for a very complete Chelsea team.
He'll be fine at Everton and likely remain in that top 4 slot hunt yearly but he is unlikely to make much noise in major comps or ever win the league while at Everton.
I am guessing he gets sold again in a couple years to a UCL favorite.