Big Picture: Another World Cup build begins

There’s always another World Cup to plan for. The recent T20I series had the more immediate focus of next February’s tournament, but these three ODIs – the first for Australia and South Africa since the Champions Trophy – are the first step towards the 2027 50-over edition which the visitors will jointly host with Zimbabwe and Namibia.These two teams have so much ODI history and in 2023 traded blows in India with South Africa winning the group game but Australia taking the semi-final. They were due to meet at the Champions Trophy but the match was washed out.Related

• Labuschagne eyes Test return: I thrive on proving the doubters wrong

• How Bavuma found a role model in a 14-year-old

• 'Show off more' – Conrad tells his players after last-over defeat in final T20I

Since the Champions Trophy there have been three significant retirements between the sides: Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell from ODIs and Heinrich Klaasen from all internationals. They leave considerable holes to fill on the way to 2027.Australia have had to make changes to their initial squad for this series with Matt Short (side), Mitchell Owen (concussion) and Lance Morris (back) ruled out which has opened the door for Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie and Matt Kuhnemann. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins continue to rest but Marnus Labuschagne is in the squad and could play for the first time since losing his Test place in the West Indies.South Africa will be led by Temba Bavuma who was last seen holding the World Test Championship mace aloft in emotional scenes at Lord’s. Keshav Maharaj also returns to bring experience to the spin attack.

Form guide

Australia LWLLL
South Africa LWWLL

In the spotlight: Marnus Labuschagne and Wiann Mulder

Does Marnus Labuschagne‘s road to the Ashes start in Cairns? It’s perhaps a stretch, but despite the different format, runs in this series would certainly not be a bad thing as he embarks on trying to regain his place to face England in November. Labuschagne was dropped before the 2023 World Cup but earned a reprieve when called up as cover on a tour of South Africa and ended up making a vital 58 not out in the final against India. In a 12-month period from September 2023 to September 2024 he averaged 52.11 in ODIs with a strike rate of 85.43 but his last eight innings have brought a top score of 47.Last month, Wiaan Mulder sent the cricket world into meltdown when he declared on 367 against Zimbabwe. He’ll do well to stir quite as big a talking point in this series. His ODI record needs some work if he’s to cement a long-term spot. At the Champions Trophy his bowling had more of an impact than his batting where he finished as South Africa’s joint-leading wicket-taker including career-best figures of 3 for 25 against England.Dewald Brevis lit up the T20 series•Getty Images

Team news: Hardie could fill allrounder role; Brevis likely to debut

Green will return to the middle order, or potentially No. 3, while Josh Inglis and Alex Carey are set to continue featuring together. There will likely be some rotation among the quicks with three games in five days. Josh Hazlewood played all three T20Is so may be due to sit out.Australia (possible): 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Cameron Green, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Alex Carey, 7 Aaron Hardie, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodBrevis is set to make his ODI debut after a starring role in the T20Is. Kwena Maphaka has been added to the one-day squad after his success but may not make the XI with tall left-armer Nandre Burger available. Bavuma confirmed he would bat at No. 3.South Africa (possible): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Matthew Breetzke, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Pitch and conditions

Conditions were good for batting in the deciding T20I although there were occasional signs of the ball holding in the surface and slower deliveries from the quicks gripped. Dew will be a factor for the bowling side in the second innings although Aiden Markram said he would have batted first on Saturday. When Australia played New Zealand in three matches in Cairns in 2022 there was help for the bowlers with the highest total across six innings being 267. There won’t be any concerns with the weather.

Stats and trivia

• The 2022 series between Australia and New Zealand in Cairns were the first ODIs at venue in 19 years.
• Green’s highest ODI score of 89 not out came on this ground in that New Zealand series. Since that innings he has averaged 42.72 in ODIs
• Marsh has won the toss 20 times as captain across T20Is and ODIs – choosing to bowl on every occasion
• If Bavuma and Maharaj play two matches in this series they will reach 50 ODIs

Quotes

“Getting ready to spend three-and-a-half hours in the field will be a little bit different for a few of the boys. But as a group and as a whole, nothing really changes. [There’s a] bit of a mindset change, it’s obviously different format. But the same stuff rolls on.”
“It’s always exciting when you see the young faces. Obviously the big talk has been on Brevis…excited to see what he can also bring within the one-day stuff.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Vasco e Nova Iguaçu batalham no Maracanã pela última vaga para a final do Campeonato Carioca. A Laranja da Baixada tem a vantagem do empate e o Cruz-Maltino precisa vencer se quiser voltar disputar uma decisão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoVasco tem respeitar ou a camisa vai pesar? Relembre a última vez que um clube de menor expressão chegou na final do CariocaVasco16/03/2024VascoPiton curte fase artilheira pelo Vasco, mas descarta rótulo de heróiVasco15/03/2024Fora de CampoNão é o Palmeiras! Leila Pereira revela que pai e irmãos torcem para outro gigante da Série AFora de Campo15/03/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

Por falar em final, o Vasco não chega para uma disputa de título há quatro anos. A última vez, o Cruz-Maltino enfrentou o Flamengo, em 2019, e acabou sendo derrotado nos dois jogos.

Chegar a uma final de Campeonato Carioca não representa só uma quebra de tabu em São Januário. Isso porque seria a primeira decisão desde que a 777 Partners assumiu o futebol do Vasco.

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Em 2022, ano da compra de 70% da SAF pela 777 Partners, o Vasco já disputava a Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. Já em 2023, o Cruz-Maltino foi eliminado na semifinal do Campeonato Carioca e na segunda fase da Copa do Brasil.

O confronto entre Vasco e Nova Iguaçu será às 16h deste domingo (17). A expectativa é de Maracanã lotado, com mais de 60 mil vascaínos, para apoiar o Cruz-Maltino.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is, as a "big icon who loves hair", being tipped to become the A-list barber that eventually gets to give The United Strand a fresh trim. Red Devils fan Frank Ilett has gone viral after vowing not to cut his locks until Ruben Amorim's side have won five games in a row. They recently ticked three of those boxes, but the wait goes on as various names are offered up as potential cutters of what has become rather wild hair.

• When did The United Strand make his pledge?

  Ilett made his pledge back in October 2024, with United preparing to pass managerial reins around that time from Dutch coach Erik ten Hag to Portuguese tactician Ten Hag. They rarely looked like stringing together back-to-back victories, never mind five-in-a-row, when stumbling to a 15th-place finish in the 2024-25 campaign.

  A slow start was made to the current season, leading to more uncomfortable questions being asked of Amorim and his favoured 3-4-3 system, but United did show signs of life when overcoming Sunderland, Liverpool – at Anfield no less – and Brighton. With Ilett starting to get excited, Nottingham Forest held the Red Devils to a 2-2 draw at the City Ground.

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• Ronaldo the barber: Saha floats interesting idea

  The United Strand is back to square one, as his bouffant grows ever larger, with there no end in sight when it comes to a rather questionable challenge. He has, however, become infamous in his own right, with suggestions being made as to who should eventually shear his overgrown locks.

  Ex-United striker Louis Saha has joined that debate, with the Frenchman telling : "There is hope (for The United Strand). That's a funny one to be honest. If you have more pressure with fans who are doing stuff like this, I think it's good.

  "I can see that there is a need for results and to be serious on that point. The consistency is extremely important so the fans have a point here. I think when you look at over the years, the big icons who love doing the hair, there is no bigger name than Cristiano Ronaldo. He should come and shave his new haircut."

• Getty/via @theunitedstrand on Instagram
  

  What about Beckham? Another option for The United Strand

  Ronaldo’s hair has been big business down the years, while the same could once be said about his fellow iconic former United No.7, Sir David Beckham. The ex-England captain, who is now working with Lionel Messi at MLS side Inter Miami, is another to have seen his name added to the pop-up barber pot.

  Former Red Devils winger Nani has told : "If that means that Man Utd is winning, I want him to cut his hair. I believe it's going to happen because of the way we've been playing. I think it’s deserved. Man Utd just need to be very, very disciplined during the next games, staying humble and working hard. It doesn’t need to be 3-0 or 4-0, 1-0 is enough. I think after he cuts his hair then everything will change and we will look forward. I think he’d like a legend to cut his hair and I think David Beckham should do it, he’s had plenty of practice. He'd be perfect!"

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• Man Utd fixtures: Cam Red Devils win five on the bounce?

  One-time United defender Wes Brown has said of Ilett’s long-running escapade: "I like the banter. It’s funny because the other day my daughter showed me. When you’re thinking of five games on the bounce to win it sounds fairly straightforward. That can be done. That’s what I love about the game. Regardless of the results some fun can come from it. But is he going to get it cut? How long does this go on for? How many teams have done five in a row in the league? Even from last season. It’s probably harder than you think. He might have to get it braided."

  United have one more game to take in prior to the November international break, with that contest set to take place at Tottenham on Saturday. Ronaldo has admitted to still keeping an eye on how the Red Devils are faring, claiming that the Premier League giants need a change in “structure” if they are to get themselves back on track and recapture former glories.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made his feelings about signing a new centre-back pretty clear in the summer, and that wish hasn’t gone away.

Their need for defensive reinforcements has become increasingly urgent. Almost every centre-half in Maresca’s squad has been either injured or unavailable at some point already this season, with Chelsea believed to be prioritising a new defender in January.

The Italian publicly called for a new central defender during the summer transfer window, but his requests went unheeded – a decision that came back to haunt the Blues when Chelsea were left with barely any options to face Liverpool just before the October international break.

Academy graduate Josh Acheampong did very well against Arne Slot’s Premier League champions after being thrown in the deep end during their dramatic 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge, with Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana all missing through injury or suspension.

Acheampong partnered Benoit Badiashile to great effect in that game, before they were both forced off with injuries in the second-half themselves, and Maresca will be very keen to avoid another mini-defensive crisis.

Maresca made his position on bringing in a new defender very well-known after the news of Colwill’s ACL injury in pre-season. The 22-year-old, who was Chelsea’s most reliable defender with 41 appearances last season, is expected to miss most of the 2025-26 campaign, but at least Badiashile could return after the international break.

Considering that Chelsea held talks over signing Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth in the summer, prior to the Spaniard’s Real Madrid move, a star centre-back has long been on the club’s agenda, and it will surely be right up there now.

At various points this season, Chelsea have had four or five defenders unavailable simultaneously, forcing Maresca to field inexperienced partnerships and admit he couldn’t provide adequate rest to those who remained fit.

Chelsea in pole position to sign Lautaro Rivero as part of 'ambitious defensive overhaul'

Now, according to reports from Spain, the Blues are planning an ‘ambitious defensive overhaul’ to finally grant Maresca’s wish.

Indeed, as per one Spanish media source, Chelsea have ’emerged as the favourite’ to sign highly-rated River Plate centre-back Lautaro Rivero — positioning themselves ahead of Atlético Madrid in the battle for one of South America’s most sought-after defensive talents.

The 22-year-old, who was handed his first Argentina cap in a 6-0 win over Puerto Rico last month, has apparently become a priority target for the Blues.

However, securing his signature won’t come cheap. River Plate have protected their prized asset with a contract running until 2028 and a release clause exceeding £88 million, which presents a significant financial obstacle, even for Chelsea’s ambitious owners.

Atlético are also monitoring Rivero’s situation as part of their own defensive rebuild, but they face financial limitations that leave them at a disadvantage in any bidding war with Chelsea.

Diego Simeone’s side are said to view him as a long-term target and hope not to spend too much, while Chelsea are believed to be keen on finalising the deal early doors. Those within the club are also confident they can put together a ‘compelling offer’ to tempt Rivero to London, so as things stand, BlueCo are in pole position for his services.

However, they might have to watch out for rivals Tottenham, as it’s been reported that Thomas Frank’s side are also pretty keen on Rivero.

Chelsea defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo has been one of the standout performers for Enzo Maresca in the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign.

The 24-year-old star, who signed for a club-record £115m from Brighton in 2023, has scored three goals in 11 matches in the top-flight, whilst averaging 5.5 tackles and interceptions per game, per Sofascore, which is a club-high.

Caicedo offers an exceptional box-to-box presence with the goal threat and defensive quality that he provides in the middle of the park, which makes him such an important player for Maresca.

The Ecuador international arrived at Stamford Bridge as a proven Premier League star, thanks to his time with Brighton, and the club are now reportedly looking to repeat that feat.

Chelsea want to sign one of the best midfielders in the Premier League

In theory, signing players from other clubs in England is preferable to signing from abroad because they do not need time to adapt to the league or country, which helped Caicedo to hit the ground running when he first arrived at the Blues.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are interested in a deal to sign Nottingham Forest central midfielder Elliot Anderson to bolster their ranks in the middle of the park.

The Blues are set to fight it out with Manchester United and Manchester City to land the England international in the January transfer window or next summer, after extensive scouting work done on the Tricky Trees star.

The Mirror reported, earlier this month, that Nottingham Forest are expected to demand a fee of up to £120m for the midfield star, and it remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea are willing to pay that much for Anderson.

Why Chelsea should sign Elliot Anderson

The Conference League champions should push to win the race for the Forest star’s signature in the January transfer window because he could be Caicedo 2.0 at Stamford Bridge.

Like the Ecuador international, Anderson would arrive at the club as a Premier League-proven star and as a club-record signing, if he costs as much as the reported £120m.

The 23-year-old star has racked up 92 appearances in the division, per Transfermarkt, and was described by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, which shows what a former Champions League winner and the current England boss thinks of his talent.

That opinion is also held by former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, who recently sang Anderson’s praises in the clip above.

xAG

0.15

Top 22%

Shot-creating actions

4.18

Top 5%

Progressive passes

8.82

Top 1%

Passes into the final third

8.55

Top 1%

Successful take-ons

1.27

Top 3%

Tackles won

2.64

Top 24%

Passes blocked

1.43

Top 7%

As you can see in the table above, the central midfielder’s statistics in the Premier League this season make it easy to understand why the likes of Tuchel and Carragher rate him so highly.

The England international has proven himself to be one of the top-performing midfielders in the division, particularly with his use of the ball at the base of the midfield, and that is why he could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea.

Pairing Caicedo and Anderson at the base of the midfield could be an exciting prospect for Maresca, as the former brings defensive quality and a goal threat, while the Forest ace offers incredible ball progression, mobility, and creativity.

Chelsea open talks with Premier League star as £26m January deal on the cards

The Blues could now look to one of their London rivals to acquire an exciting new addition.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 15, 2025

If Chelsea do decide to go through with a January or summer swoop for the English star, his proven quality in the Premier League could allow him to hit the ground running in the same way that Caicedo did.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is the only specialist fast bowler in the Pakistan XI

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-20252:31

What is Oman’s best chance of challenging Pakistan?

Toss Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first on an exceptionally hot day in Dubai. Every game in the tri-series Pakistan won last week was won by the side setting a target. Salman Agha opted to keep following the pattern that worked for his side in Sharjah.In acknowledgement of the pitch’s partiality to turn, Afridi is the only specialist fast bowler in the Pakistan XI, while both wristspinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed play.Oman captain Jatinder Singh said they would have batted first too, and also confirmed they opted to go with a “spin-heavy side”. This is Oman’s first game since February, and the first one since a pay dispute caused turmoil within the group. A large number of mainstays of the Oman side are no longer with the team.This is the first game of the tournament for both sides.Oman 1 Aamir Kaleem, 2 Jatinder Singh (capt), 3 Hammad Mirza, 4 Vinayak Shukla (wk), 5 Hassnain Shah, 6 Shah Faisal, 7 Mohammad Nadeem, 8 Zikria Islam, 9 Sufyan Mehmood, 10 Shakeel Ahmed, 11 Samay ShrivastavaPakistan 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Salman Agha (capt), 5 Hasan Nawaz, 6 Mohammad Haris (wk), 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10 Sufiyan Muqeem, 11 Abrar Ahmed

Former left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has resigned as a Bangladesh national selector after deciding to contest in the upcoming BCB elections. Razzak, 43, collected his nomination papers to stand as a director candidate from the Khulna division on October 6.Razzak played 13 Tests, 153 ODIs and 34 T20Is for Bangladesh, and remains the third-highest wicket-taker for his country in ODIs. He is one of 61 nominations for the 23 directors’ position that will be contested in the upcoming BCB elections.The general members body, known as the councillors, will elect 23 of the 25 board directors, and the BCB president will be elected from that pool of 25 to serve a four-year term. The most prominent candidates are the incumbent BCB chief Aminul Islam and Tamim Iqbal, who have both announced that they will contest for the board president.”I had the honour of playing for the national team for 14 years and the privilege of serving as a national selector for over four years,” Razzak, who has been a selector for the Bangladesh men’s team since 2021, said in a statement. “I believe the time has come for me to step down from this position to explore the possibilities of contributing to the game that has given me so much, on a larger scale if the opportunity presents itself. I feel this is the right thing to do.”Following Hannan Sarkar’s resignation in February last year, Razzak was one of two members in the selection panel alongside chief Gazi Ashraf Hossain.Reflecting on Razzak’s tenure as a selector, Ashraf praised his colleague. “He was an invaluable member of the panel and brought his undoubted experience and vision to the selection process,” Ashraf said. “We thank him for his contribution and wish him the very best for the future, which we hope will remain closely connected with Bangladesh cricket.”

Jose Mourinho was far from happy with his Benfica side, as they scraped through the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal with a 2-0 win over minnows Atletico CP. The Special One unleashed an explosive post-match rant against his starting eleven, claiming he would have made nine substitutions at half time, if allowed. He went on to call some of his players' attitudes "unacceptable".

Benfica labour to cup win

The fourth round tie pitted one of Portugal's most vaunted clubs against relative minnows; Atletico are currently plying their trade in the third tier of the country's league pyramid. Despite the gulf in stature, the minnows frustrated a lacklustre Benfica side for the opening 45 minutes, keeping the game scoreless going into the break. 

That prompted Mourinho into a change of formation and four changes at the break. Benfica's superiority eventually told, with the record 26-time cup winners taking the spoils thanks to a 73rd minute header from Ricard Rios and a Vangelis Pavlidis penalty a few minutes later. 

Despite their progress in the competition, Mourinho gave his players both barrels in his post-match interview, lambasting their first half performance and questioning their commitment. 

The two-time Champions League winning manager, who started his second spell as the Lisbon club's boss in September 2025, was frank in his response when questioned if his message was getting through to his players. While he did not shirk his responsibility in getting a tune out of the squad, he suggested his players were falling short in their duty towards him and the club's fanbase. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMourinho's sensational rant against his Benfica squad

Mourinho said: "Atlético did an extraordinary job. I saw them play in Mafra in a league game, they played an extraordinary game and I realized they had the qualities to make the game difficult for us. But our first half was poor. And it was poor in the sense that it hurts me the most, which is the attitude. The attitude was poor. 

"There were many players who weren't serious and didn't approach things as they should have. At halftime I made four substitutions, but I wanted to make nine. With the players at halftime, I told the two who were taking the game seriously that I wanted to keep on the field. The other nine weren't. 

"In the second half we improved a lot, Atlético couldn't get out with the same quality anymore and it was only a matter of time before we scored. I was pleased with the second half because the attitude improved." 

When asked how he changed things tactically to accomodate the switch in personnel, he commented: "One thing has nothing to do with the other. What didn't work was the players who were on the field. I didn't want to single anyone out because that's something that should be done internally, but to remove some of the players I wanted to remove, it was necessary to change the system. And we had players who, from the first minute, weren't there. And that, to me, is unacceptable. I've already told some of them not to come knocking on my door asking why they aren't playing."

In response to questions about his message failing to reach his new charges, the ex-Chelsea coach said: "I think the message isn't just mine, it's a general one. From Benfica fans. In my case, I'm the coach and the one responsible. The players have a responsibility to me and to Benfica fans. And there are things regarding their attitude that are unacceptable." 

Mourinho's difficult start to life with Benfica

Mourinho took over at the Portuguese giants after the sacking of Bruno Lage. While Benfica have yet to lose a league game this season, a spate of draws, including three under Mourinho, have left them six points adrift of Porto in the Liga Portugal. 

Lage's dismissal came after they opened their Champions League campaign with a chastening 3-2 home defeat to Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag. Mouinrho has failed to engender a turnaround in European competition, with Benfica losing all three of their league phase games, most recently falling to a 1-0 defeat to Leverkusen at the Estadio da Luz.

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AFPCrucial fixtures wait for Mourinho's Benfica

Th ex-Real Madrid and Inter manager will hope his players react positively to his post-match comments, as they prepare for a crucial run of fixtures over the coming fortnight. Next Tuesday, the Eagles face off against Ajax in the Champions League. A Lisbon derby against Sporting on December 5 could determine who will mount a title challenge against Porto, while the arrival of Antonio Conte's Napoli on December 10 will present another stiff challenge in Europe. 

English Football League pundit Don Goodman has shared his stance on rumours linking Haji Wright with Leeds United.

Coventry City have enjoyed a blistering start to the season, losing just one of their 14 opening games in the Championship. Under the guidance of Frank Lampard, Coventry are a well-drilled, intense side, one who have scored a staggering 39 goals in the second division already.

Wright, a striker who also plays for the American national team, has been integral to Coventry’s success. The forward has scored nine goals in all competitions, eight of which have come in 13 Championship appearances. Unsurprisingly, rumours over Wright’s future have started to circulate.

Premier League side Leeds United have been linked with a move for Wright, with Football Insider noting that the Whites would be ‘eager’ to complete a deal for the 27-year-old.

Goodman offers thoughts on Leeds interest in Wright

Speaking to Football League World, Goodman has played down suggestions Wright would turn down the advances of a Premier League side.

Leeds have picked up 11 points from their opening 10 matches in what is their first Premier League season since 2023. The Whites have, generally, looked like a solid, structured side in defence, though there are some question marks over their attack. Only Nottingham Forest and Wolves, who occupy two spots in the bottom three of the table, have scored fewer goals in the league (seven) than the Whites (nine).

Noah Okafor has enjoyed a promising start at Elland Road, whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha’s physicality allows the Whites to play a brand of football incorporating long balls forward. It could be argued, though, that none of their attacking options are as reliable a goalscorer as Wright currently is.

Given Coventry’s own ongoing promotion push, it remains to be seen whether Wright, who has been dubbed a “dangerous” player by boss Frank Lampard, will depart the Sky Blues mid-season. As Goodman said, however, the allure of the English top flight may prove too enticing to ignore.

Leeds have new Okafor waiting in the wings

Chelsea are now preparing a club-record bid to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, with it being revealed Enzo Fernandez could play a key role in the potential transfer.

The Blues’ interest in signing a new centre-forward comes amid a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge for Liam Delap, with the 22-year-old failing to score in his opening four Premier League games since making the move to west London in the summer.

Joao Pedro has been more promising, picking up four goals and three assists in the league, but the Brazilian was given the nod in a slightly deeper role against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, upon Delap’s return from a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old excelled in attacking midfield, scoring the second in the 3-0 rout, and Enzo Maresca has suggested he is also better-suited to playing with a partner, saying: “We know that he can play as a number nine or he can play as a number 10,”

“In both positions, I think Joao is very good, but probably when he has another number nine next to him, he is playing better.”

As such, there may be space in the squad to bring in another new centre-forward, and a huge offer is now in the works…

Chelsea preparing club-record bid for Julian Alvarez

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now preparing an offer of around €150m (£133m) for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, which would make him their record signing, should they manage to get a deal over the line.

Fernandez could play a key role in the transfer, as the Blues are hoping the Argentinian’s presence at Stamford Bridge will convince Alvarez to make the move, given that they are international teammates.

BlueCo clearly mean business, but it looks unlikely that a deal will be straightforward, given that FC Barcelona are also in the race, and Atletico Madrid are reluctant to enter negotiations over a sale.

Should the Spanish club soften their stance, the 25-year-old could be a fantastic addition to Maresca’s forward line, having made a flying start to the campaign, chipping in with 13 goal contributions across his opening 15 matches in all competitions.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Pablo Gonzalez, the 49-time Argentina international also found the back of the net 17 times in La Liga alone during his debut campaign, while a tally of 11 goals and ten assists in the former Manchester City man’s final campaign at the Etihad Stadium indicates he is very well-rounded.

Signing Alvarez would be a major statement of intent from Chelsea, and if they were able to get a deal done this winter, the World Cup-winning forward could be a real difference-maker in the Premier League title race.

Julian Alvarez has been named as one of the best strikers in the world The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best number nine right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025