Footy Extras

Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach have reportedly joined the hunt to sign Andreas Christensen from Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea as they are planning to bolster their defensive options.

According to reports from the Daily Express, the German outfit want to recruit the Denmark international star, who has fallen heavily out of favour at West London under Maurizio Sarri.

Christensen finds himself behind Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz in the pecking order and has often seen English star Gary Cahill preferred to him in central defence.

The likes of Barcelona and AC Milan have been recently connected with respective swoops for the centre-half but according to the Daily Express, Monchengladbach have entered the hunt.

It’s reported that die Fohlen would be keen to take the 22-year-old star on loan until the end of the current term.

Andreas is no stranger to Bundesliga football and did spend two seasons with Borussia Monchengladbach during a long-term loan deal.

Chelsea are said to be interested to avoid selling the promising centre-half but could be open to the prospect of loaning him out, with his senior-team opportunities limited.

Chelsea full-back Cesar Azpilicueta has signed a fresh four-year deal, extending his stay at the Blues to 2022.

The 29-year-old Spain international star has made 298 appearances since arriving from the Ligue 1 side Marseille in 2012.

Spaniard, who has won the EPL twice with Chelsea, has captained the West London side in the league this season.

“Since I came, I felt the joy and responsibility to play for this club, these fans. Every time I go on the pitch I try do my best. Hopefully there is a lot to come and we can keep Chelsea where it belongs,” he said.

Azpilicueta’s previous contract was due to expire in June of 2020 after he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal extension in 2016.

Club director Maria Granovskaia said: “Cesar is one of our longest-serving players and has proven to be a fantastic acquisition over the past six years.”

“His professionalism and consistency in that time have been second to none and he has also developed into one of the squad’s most influential players.”

“This new contract will take Cesar to 10 seasons at Chelsea, and we hope that over the next four years he will be a key part of our success.”

Out-of-favour Chelsea central defender Andreas Christensen has appeared as a rumoured transfer target for La Liga champions Barcelona, according to a report.

All seven of the Denmark international star’s appearances under Italian coach Maurizio Sarri have come in cup competitions, having slipped behind David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Antonio Rudiger in the pecking order.

Andreas Christensen has admitted that he is not happy with his situation at the west London heavyweights, leading to talk of a January switch to Serie A side AC Milan.

The Sun reports that Blaugrana have also shown an interest in the 22-year-old star as they are in need of a central-defensive cover for the second half of the campaign.

Samuel Umtiti has appeared just once since September and could be facing another spell on the sidelines after Frenchman’s knee injury flared up after the 1-1 draw with Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.

That has left the club with limited options at the back, with Thomas Vermaelen and Clement Lenglet their only options to partner Gerard Pique, but manager Valverde may now be given funds to bring in Blues star in January.

Chelsea young forward Callum Hudson-Odoi has reportedly appeared as a transfer target for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, according to recent reports.

Callum made an impression with the Blues senior squad during pre-campaign, but head coach Maurizio Sarri has been reluctant to hand minutes to the talent during the opening months of the season.

That has allegedly resulted in EFL Championship clubs expressing an interest in taking Hudson-Odoi on loan during the January transfer window, but according to The Daily Mirror, Bayern Munich are also monitoring the situation.

The German club have witnessed their Bundesliga rivals use English youngsters in senior-team action over the past year, with Reiss Nelson and Jadon Sancho making an impact at Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

Bayern Munich are now considering whether to offer Callum Hudson-Odoi a similar route, with the 18-year-old ace currently having less than two years remaining on his current contract.

The west London giants’ management are said to be attempting to agree to fresh terms with the academy graduate.

This season, in all competitions, English star has made 9 appearances, netted 2 goals and provided 3 assists for Blues so far.

Inter Milan versatile midfielder Radja Nainggolan has revealed that he rejected the chance to join Chelsea and Manchester United in order to stay in Serie A.

The 30-year-old star has been linked with a switch to the Premier League in recent seasons, but instead joined Inter Milan from AS Roma during the summer.

The former Belgium international star admitted that he is an admirer of the Premier League game, but insists that he has no regrets about turning down a switch to Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge.

“I have had plenty of chances to leave. I am the kind of person who above all needs to live well and be at a club which plays to win, or where I am happy with my life. In Italy, you live really well – I like the culture and way of life here,” Radja told ESPN.

“Chelsea offered me more money [while at Roma in 2017] and they are a big club, yes. But I’m interested in waking up in the morning in a place where I feel good and, at the age of 29, winning back all the respect I’d worked 12 years to earn in Italy was not for me. There are lots of components – lots to evaluate. I stayed in Italy, with Roma, because I wanted to end in the best way possible.”

West Ham United are reportedly prepared to wait until next summer transfer market before resuming negotiations with Declan Rice over a new deal with the club, according to recent reports.

Rice’s current contract expires in the summer of 2020 but initial discussions over an extension have dragged on, with West Ham United having now put the talks on hold.

The Hammers do have an option to extend the star’s current terms by a further one year, and the British daily newspaper The Guardian reports that the board are confident they will not lose the 19-year-old ace for free.

Rice has broken into the senior team at the London Stadium this campaign and his form has seen him connected with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, who are understood to have scouted the star.

The all-around defender currently earns £3,000-a-week but is reportedly pushing for a new £30,000-per-week contract, while the club’s opening offer was £15,000.

Rice is thought to be content at the club but is willing to consider his options should West Ham United fail to match his wage demands.

Chelsea have been given a boost in their long-term pursuit of Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj, according to recent reports in Italy.

It is stated that the right-back’s entourage Mario Giufreddi has been in talks with the Serie A club’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis, with the president keen to tie the defender down to a fresh and improved contract.

Hysaj is an important player for the Naples-based outfit and they have long been attempting to secure the star’s future at the Stadio San Paolo.

However, Chelsea have been perennially connected with a move for the Albanian star and according to the Italian press, a January move could yet be on the cards.

It was reported earlier on Friday that Mario Giufreddi believes Elseid Hysaj is all but set to remain at Partenopei for the foreseeable future.

However, according to Tele Sport, as quoted by Calciomercato, the agent’s negotiations with De Laurentiis have reached an impasse, with an exit for the defender now a genuine possibility.

It is believed that the Napoli woner is angered by the demands of the star’s entourage, with the agent reportedly demanding €3 million per campaign for his client, which is €1 million more than what he currently earns.

The London-based side Chelsea have joined a number of other sides in the hunt for Portuguese outfit Porto defender Eder Militao, according to the latest reports in the British media.

The centre-half only joined Porto in the summer transfer market but is already being touted with a transfer away, with Manchester United, Juventus and Everton all showing interest in him.

However, the British daily tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail reports that Chelsea have joined the hunt for Militao, with Porto potentially prepared to make a quick profit on the Brazilian star.

Liga NOS club only paid £7.2 million for the star in the summer, signing the all-around defender from the Brazilian club Sao Paulo.

The central defender has played 12 times for Dragons and scored in the UEFA Champions League versus Bundesliga club Schalke last week.

In a surprising turn of events, the star also has the same agents as Blues stars David Luiz and Willian, which could tempt Eder Militao to join the Blues this January.

This campaign, in all competitions, the South American star scored one goal and registered one assist in 15 matches.

The entourage of Elseid Hysaj, Mario Giufreddi, has revealed that he is optimistic of Hysaj staying at Napoli and returning to top form under Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea and Manchester United have both been credited with an interest in Hysaj, who has impressed for Partenopei in recent years.

Chelsea are interested in strengthening their defensive options and have targeted Albania international star as a potential new right-back.

However, Elseid looks set to snub interest from EPL and commit his future to the Naples-based side in the Serie A.

Speaking to Calcio Mercato, Mario said this:

“Hysaj? I talked a few moments ago with his father, I really liked his approach: we know its value, there may be moments of fogging but I am convinced that it will return to the levels expressed even in recent years.

“He suffered a bit from the adaptation with Ancelotti, after a very good time with Sarri.”

Hysaj has made over 100 Serie A matches for Napoli since his move from Italian club Empoli in 2015 and is regarded as one of the best fullbacks in Italian top flight.

La Liga champions Barcelona have reportedly made official contact with Chelsea’s management over a potential deal to land Danish central defender Andreas Christensen in the January transfer market.

According to a report from Spanish daily sports newspaper Sport, the Catalan giants have initiated contact with Blues’ Marina Granovskaia as they seek a short-term replacement for French star Samuel Umtiti.

There are fears at the Camp Nou outfit that the Frenchman may require knee surgery as the former Lyon player continues to struggle with injuries.

It is stated that Marina did not react positively to the contact and is interested to keep hold of the player. However, there are hopes that should Blaugrana step up their interest, Chelsea could be convinced into a deal.

A number of players, including former Chelsea player Branislav Ivanovic, have been connected with a move to the Camp Nou as the club search far and wide for a possible stopgap.

The north London club have reiterated their desire to keep the Danish star in January, despite his limited involvement under Italian manager Maurizio Sarri this season.