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Chelsea have arguably had a more turbulent start to 2026 than any other Premier League side. They sacked Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day and are still on the hunt for a new manager as they look to have a strong second half of the season.

It will be interesting to see how this affects the recruitment at Stamford Bridge, although it is unclear how much say the manager gets.

Reports following the Italian’s sacking suggest that the signing of Alejandro Garnacho was simply “put to Maresca for his opinion” rather than him having much input.

It certainly seems like recruitment will continue regardless of the managerial situation, and they are reportedly eyeing up a big target.

Chelsea target big-name Premier League star

Chelsea have not been afraid to splash the cash under the new owners, who seem to have the majority of power when it comes to transfers.

Their midfield, for example, is made up of £107m Enzo Fernandez and £115m Moises Caicedo.

However, the Blues might not be done there when it comes to signing expensive midfielders.

According to a report from Football Insider, they are said to be ‘closely monitoring’ Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali and have a ‘firm interest’ as they search for ‘proven Premier League midfielders.’

This might be a deal that the West Londoners are more likely to do in the summer rather than this January, but they are getting their due diligence in early. As for a price, it was revealed back in October that the midfielder could cost as much as £130m.

What Tonali could bring to Chelsea's midfield

There is no doubting the ability of former AC Milan star Tonali. He has shone in the middle of the park for the Magpies, living up to the “generational” tag he earned from journalist Carlo Garganese as far back as 2020.

Fast forward to 2025 and in the words of Newcastle journalist Joel Bland, the Italian is “one of the best midfielders in Europe”.

Indeed, this season has been another impressive campaign from the 30-cap Italian international. He’s featured 25 times in all competitions, chipping in with four assists along the way, sitting at the base of midfield and dictating play from deep.

Tonali is one half of a dominant midfield duo for the North Eastern outfit, alongside Bruno Guimamares. The pair have formed a brilliant partnership, and are “one of the best in the Premier League” according to the Brazilian.

The fact that Tonali is part of such a high-class midfield might well be music to Chelsea fans’ ears. They would no doubt hope he can form a similar partnership with their own £100m midfield stars, Fernandez and Caicedo.

The importance and talent of that existing Chelsea pairing is a massive part of the furniture in West London. It is their first-choice pivot, although perhaps Fernandez is better in a more advanced role, and has operated as a number 10 this season.

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Indeed, the 2022 World Cup winner has played 25 times this season, grabbing five goals and two assists in that time, showing his natural attacking instinct. As for Caicedo, he’s one of the best defensive midfielders around, making 23 appearances this term.

If Chelsea were to secure the signing of Tonali, he could add the quality on the ball that Chelsea need to make this midfield truly unstoppable. This season, he’s averaged 16.6 forward passes per 90 minutes and done well off the ball, with 5.5 ball recoveries each game.

Tonali key stats in 25/26 PL

Stat

Per 90 mins

Season total

Chances created

1.2

17

Long passes completed

2.6

38

Forward passes

16.6

244

Duels won

3.8

55

Ball recoveries

5.5

80

Stats from Squawka

Imagine that as a trio. The combative Caicedo sat alongside Tonali, who can help dictate play and progress things forward, with Fernandez playing higher up, operating in the final third. It really does feel like a very well-balanced midfield, with progression, a real engine and attacking threat from all three.

There is no doubt that £130m is a huge investment for the Blues. Yet, they’ve proven they are willing to spend that money, so they could complete one of the most expensive midfields in the world by signing Tonali, which can surely only be a good thing for Fernandez and Caicedo.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls

Manchester City are now reportedly positioning themselves to sign a £100m star ahead of Manchester United after already beating them to Antoine Semenyo.

Man City closing in on Semenyo

The Citizens are set to make quite the statement by welcoming Semenyo in the January transfer window. Recent reports have claimed that their £65m deal to sign the Bournemouth winger could be wrapped up within 48 hours as he prepares to bid farewell to the Cherries against Chelsea this evening.

Given the interest of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and others, Semenyo’s arrival represents how quickly Man City have returned to the top of the pecking order following a mixed summer transfer window. Those at the Etihad, as ever, are set to splash the cash with great conviction.

The 25-year-old will be the final piece to Pep Guardiola’s frontline as he sets his sights on leapfrogging Arsenal in the race to win another Premier League title.

As things stand, his side are just two points behind the Gunners, who crucially square off against an Aston Villa side this evening that beat them just a few weeks ago.

Related Man City submit £70m offer for "spectacular" star with Pep personally keen

City have tabled a huge bid for a new forward

Posts ByDominic Lund

City, meanwhile, will travel to an impressive Sunderland side on New Year’s Day and Guardiola has been full of praise for his side in the build-up – telling reporters: “It is not easy but compete in a way we do. We have to improve, absolutely, but this mindset is better.”

The Citizens have rediscovered their ruthless streak on and off the pitch and they’re not stopping after Semenyo. According to TeamTalk, Man City are now positioning themselves to sign Elliot Anderson ahead of rivals Manchester United next summer.

Man City positioning themselves to sign Anderson

The Manchester club are reportedly confident of beating United to the midfielder’s signature next summer, but it won’t come cheap. Recent rumours have suggested that Anderson could cost them as much as £100m amid what has been an excellent individual season for the England international.

It’s easy to see why Man City have set their sights on Anderson. Guardiola has always progressed with Premier League trends and the current trend of added physicality is set to force the Spaniard away from the usual elegance of his midfield and towards the engine of the Forest star.

PL stats 25/26

Elliot Anderson

Bernardo Silva

Minutes

1,620

1,232

Tackles Won

33

8

Progressive Carries

24

26

Ball Recoveries

152

64

The numbers tell the story. Bernardo Silva, as much as his icon status is well secured at the Etihad, has struggled to make his mark in the current state of the Premier League. Anderson, meanwhile, has thrived.

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The Forest star has earned deserved praise as a result, with England boss Thomas Tuchel telling reporters earlier this season: “Anderson is a key player for us at the moment. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League – that’s why he is with us and starting for us.

“He deserves it because he has been nothing but impressive. He has to keep on going now though. He is a very complete and mobile midfielder, and that’s what he keeps showing me.”

Kenya’s ambitions to bridge the gap between themselves and the Full Member countries have been dealt a blow by the news that Roger Harper will not be renewing his contract as coach after the ICC World Twenty20.Harper took charge in January 2006 and has had considerable success in rebuilding a side that hardly played in the previous three years. In February this year Kenya won the World League Division One, a success which earned them a place in the ICC World Twenty20. The Kenyan side has also become far more disciplined in his time at the helm.Harper turned down an invitation to continue because of family commitments in the Caribbean.”Roger has been a truly marvellous ambassador for the game of cricket,” Samir Inamdar, Cricket Kenya’s chairman, told Cricinfo. “His steadying influence at a time when our cricket was in pieces has been an outstanding feature of his stay here. It has, I believe, succeeded in bringing our national team together into a cohesive and disciplined unit.”Kenya will look to fill the vacancy immediately after the tournament. Harper’s successor will be appointed for the period ending June 2009.

Australia will field their most potent bowling combination © AFP

Having seen off India’s timid challenge, Australia and West Indies willcontest bragging rights in the DLF Cup final in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. For the first time in a competition where they have experimented with all types ofcombinations, Australia will be fielding their strongest side, and a WestIndian team missing the experience and canny swing bowling of CoreyCollymore will have its work cut out to be competitive.The two teams split the two matches in the league phase, with West Indieshaving squandered a tremendous opportunity in the tournament opener, whenthey went from 172 for 1 to 201 all out. On Sunday though, they’ll facethe world’s most potent new-ball attack, with Glenn McGrath and Brett Leein tandem for only the second time in the competition. The support cast isno less impressive, with the ever-improving Shane Watson and NathanBracken, and West Indies would also do well to be wary of Brad Hogg, whosorted out a couple of Indian batsmen with his variations on Friday night.The batting order, even without the hulking figure of Matthew Hayden -rested in view of not being part of the Champions Trophy squad – isimposing, with Damien Martyn likely to miss out from the twelve chosen forthe game. Simon Katich and Watson should open the innings, with RickyPonting, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Michael Hussey forming afrightening middle order. Brad Haddin’s effervescent efforts with the bathave made the absence of Adam Gilchrist seem like a trifling problem, andHogg too is no Bugs Bunny with the bat.West Indies’ prospects will depend entirely on the top order, capable ofshredding any attack on a good day. Brian Lara leads the way, and his 87in the last game against Australia was touched with genius. Chris Gayle,Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have also shown signs ofexceptional form at various times in the tournament, and West Indies wouldlove all four to make an impact against a bowling line-up that will be atthem from the outset.Jerome Taylor’s raw pace complements Ian Bradshaw’s control with the newball, and Dwayne Smith has performed creditably in his outings with theball, swinging it late with great accuracy. But Dwayne Bravo has had anindifferent series, and plenty of worries remain about the fragility ofthe middle order. Wavell Hinds scratched around dreadfully in the lastmatch against India, and Marlon Samuels may just have played his way outof the XI.With a thigh injury depriving them of Collymore’s services, West Indies’only real hope is to bat big and hope to pressure Australia’s batsmen intomistakes. Chasing against the likes of Lee and McGrath is a difficult taskat the best of times, and as India found out yesterday, the anaconda gripgets you eventually.TeamsAustralia 1 Simon Katich, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8Brad Hogg, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Glenn McGrathWest Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 3 RamnareshSarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Wavell Hinds, 7 RunakoMorton, 8 Dwayne Smith, 9 Carlton Baugh (wk), 10, Ian Bradshaw, 11 JeromeTaylor

Division One

Points TableEssex remain hot favourites to win the National League Division One, but they squandered a chance to increase their eight-point advantage as they let Gloucestershire off the hook at Cheltenham. Gloucestershire were bowled out for 182, with Darren Gough and Grant Flower sharing six wickets, but even then they were let off the hook – they had been 118 for 6 before Malinga Bandara and Martyn Ball put on 59 for the ninth wicket. On a dry and crumbling track, Essex lost their way from the first ball when Flower was bowled by James Averis. At 49 for 7 a three-figure score seemed unlikely but Andre Adams, batting with a runner because of a toe injury, clubbed 46 to see them to 122.At Colwyn Bay, Lancashire moved into fourth spot with a convincing eight-wicket win over Glamorgan, with Dominic Cork doing the bulk of the damage with four wickets – all lbw – for 37. Set 174 to win, Lancashire eased home with nearly 14 overs to spare, Mal Loye hitting an unbeaten 79 off 95 balls.

Division Two

Points TableIt was a bad day for the division leaders as Sussex suffered a three-run defeat at the hands of Derbyshire, a result which will give Warwickshire renewed hope. Michael di Venuto’s unbeaten 129 off 131 balls formed the basis of Derbyshire’s 232 for 3, and Sussex’s chase appeared well on course as they started briskly, but they lost their last three wickets for six runs as time ran out.The match of the day came at Taunton where Yorkshire came within two runs of an astonishing victory. Somerset had looked odds-on winners after posting 345 for 4, Matthew Wood smashing a 105-ball 129 off 105 balls and Ian Blackwell 114 off 61. Yorkshire set off at a pace, with Matthew Wood (52), Phil Jaques (66) and Ismail Dawood (57) all keeping them in the hunt. With 38 to win off two overs and 25 off one, the game seemed over, but a brutal 27 off 10 balls from Deon Kruis took the match to the wire with five needed off the final ball – Kruis could manage only two.

Sri Lanka 18 for 0 trail Zimbabwe 228 (Ebrahim 70) by 210 runs
Scorecard

Mark Vermeulen: made a duck on his comeback© Getty Images

Zimbabwe’s inexperience inevitably let them down on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Bulawayo. After being well placed at 176 for 4 at one stage, they ended up all out for 228 on a pitch where 400 was probably the par score. However, one bright spot was the batting of Dion Ebrahim, who scored a fighting 70 and at least made the bowlers work harder for their wickets than they had to in the first Test. Sri Lanka closed on 18 for no wicket.Helped by Stuart Matsikenyeri, Ebrahim made sure Zimbabwe made a better fist of things this time round. Matsikenyeri, who had played only one significant innings previously against these tourists, played a positive, at times daring, knock of 45 from the top of the order. He drove and slashed entertainingly before needlessly running himself out. Ebrahim was more solid, but was still positive. Batting at his preferred position of No. 4, he showed typical fighting spirit in his innings, but nobody else reached 30 and too many wickets were squandered, mainly through inexperience.After Zimbabwe were put in, Matsikenyeri and Brendan Taylor went in under a cloudless, steely blue sky to face the left-arm opening attack of Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa. Taylor was still very much out of his depth, although, as he showed in the one-day series, there is little doubt that he will produce the goods one day. He made a painful 5 in 38 minutes, before he edged a short one from Vaas to Prasanna Jayawardene, the wicketkeeper (24 for 1). The fact that he walked without waiting for the umpire’s decision perhaps demonstrated his naivety in Test cricket at present, but no doubt the runs – and probably the refusal to walk – will come.Mark Vermeulen, returning to international cricket after his head injury in Australia almost six months ago, failed to score, driving Vaas low to Muttiah Muralitharan at mid-on (31 for 2). Ebrahim then joined Matsikenyeri at the crease and the two of them steadied the innings. Murali came on to bowl 20 minutes before lunch, and concentrated entirely on his offbreaks, with his doosra under suspicion. He was also handicapped by a badly bruised finger.However, disaster came for Zimbabwe when Matsikenyeri tried to take a quick single after a firm drive to Farveez Maharoof at a deepish mid-off. Maharoof threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end with a superb direct hit, while Matsikenyeri veered away at the last moment as the throw came in. The result was that he was narrowly run out, an unnecessary dismissal for an enterprising, if at times risky, innings (82 for 3).Tatenda Taibu, on his 21st birthday, played some fine strokes. Once again, though, a promising partnership failed to materialise. As Sri Lanka closed up the game and waited for the batsmen to do something silly, Taibu drove Maharoof uppishly to Thilan Samaraweera in the covers for 27 (134 for 4).Alester Maregwede was impressive when he joined Ebrahim, and he hit Sanath Jayasuriya for a big six over long-on. But then came another unnecessary run-out. Ebrahim turned Murali behind square leg, and Maregwede called for a quick single which Ebrahim declined. But Maregwede went, and was run out by the length of the pitch for 24: another partnership of rich potential ending with a soft dismissal (175 for 5). This proved to be the turning point of the innings. Elton Chigumbura was immediately caught in the slips by Mahela Jayawardene off Vaas without scoring, and Zimbabwe were back in trouble.The weight of responsibility rested with Ebrahim, who was 70 not out at tea. But he failed to add to that, edging Maharoof to Tillakaratne Dilshan in the slips (193 for 7). Mluleki Nkala and Tinashe Panyangara both made starts, but failed to build on them. Nkala holed out to Kumar Sangakkara on the midwicket boundary as he tried to take on Murali (216 for 9), while Panyangara was caught by Vaas at mid-on trying to hook Zoysa (211 for 8).Vaas, with 3 for 41, was the most successful bowler, but none of the Sri Lankans was particularly threatening. For the most part, the batsmen got themselves out through unforced errors, an almost inevitable consequence of their inexperience. Sri Lanka did well with their ground fielding, but put down four catches, one in the slips and three by Prasanna Jayawardene, their wicketkeeper, who otherwise did a fine job.Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu – captains past and present – were content to play out for the close, taking only eight runs off the first eight overs. Panyangara, in particular, bowled with impressive accuracy to keep the score down.The day’s play was watched by fewer than 300 people, among them Heath Streak … who had to pay to get in.

Saturday 8 MarchThe squad will depart Johannesburg at 0915 on South African Airways flight SA 405, arriving into Port Elizabeth at 1030.There is no practice scheduled following the squad’s arrival. Media access will be co-ordinated upon request.Sunday 9 MarchThe squad will practice at St.George’s Park, Port Elizabeth from 1400. A media opportunity will follow that session.Monday 10 MarchSome members of the team will practice at St.George’s Park, Port Elizabeth from 1000. This is an optional session. A pre-match media conference will follow practice.Tuesday 11 MarchAustralia takes on New Zealand at St.George’s Park, Port Elizabeth in its second Super Six match of the tournament.Play commences at 1000.For further information please contact (in South Africa): – Jonathan Rose, ACB Media Manager, on +27 (0) 833 107 662.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Namibia kept their hopes alive toqualify for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa when they won playoffgames of the ICC Trophy here Saturday.Playing under rain-threatening clouds, UAE defeated Uganda by fivewickets to enter the Super League. Nabimia also advanced to the nextstage with a 75-run win over Bermuda.The current event, which is halfway through now, is a passport to thenext World Cup. Three of the 24 ICC Associate member countriescompeting in the tournament, will make it to the World Cup.At the end of the current second stage, a league will be formed basedon the combined points achieved from previous fixtures. Teamsfinishing first and second in the league will contest the final, whilethe teams finishing third and fourth will play in the World Cupqualifying final.Both finalists and the winners of the qualifying final will go toSouth Africa.With their tight bowling and excellent fielding at the wet Maple LeafNorth-East Ground, UAE restricted Uganda to 154 in 46.3 overs despiteJ. Lubia’s stubborn knock of 76.It was then UAE batsmen’s turn to show their skill and they did it instyle. Though the outfield was slow and sluggish following earlymorning’s heavy showers, UAE batsmen took exactly 155 minutes to reachthe victory target of 155 for the loss of five wickets.Middle-order batsman Ahmed Nadeem was their top scorer with 67 comingoff 71 balls. In the other match of the day, Namibia managed to score221, before being all out in 49.1 overs in Toronto city where play washalted twice because of rains.In reply, Bermuda were bowled out for 146 in 45.4 overs.

Septemer 21
Obituary – Cricket’s canny iconoclast
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Tribute – Chappell: He did a hell of a lot for the game
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September 20
Video – Bal: Dalmiya was a torchbearer of Indian cricket
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Reactions – ‘The greatest sports administrator of India’
News – BCCI president Dalmiya dies in hospital
September 18
News – BCCI president Dalmiya stable, but still in critical careSeptember 17
News – BCCI president Dalmiya in hospital after heart attack

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRohit Sharma and his Mumbai Indians were pumped up as they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore•BCCI

There was a lot of work to do for Mumbai Indians, and the sanest way to go about it at the M Chinnaswamy stadium was to chase. ‘Forget about the Sunrisers game’ was the message from their camp but that’s easier said than done after you have been knocked out for 92 and lost by 85 runs. So Rohit Sharma and his bowlers did the next best thing – they drew a rage from it, the rage to win and show they were better. Mumbai allowed Royal Challengers Bangalore to score only 151 and chased it with six wickets to spare.The pitch on Wednesday was the one that had been used in Bangalore’s first IPL game this season, when the hosts had amassed 227 for 4. But it behaved rather unnaturally. It was dry and offered grip even to a brand-new ball, which contributed to Kohli’s first single-digit score in this IPL. Then Chris Gayle, who had been dropped against Rising Pune Supergiants on Saturday and didn’t play against Kings XI Punjab on Monday either, was dismissed for his fourth single-digit score in four innings.Mitchell McClenaghan and Tim Southee were responsible for those blows. Their back-of-a-length barrage, with emphasis on not giving room or leverage, followed by Krunal Pandya’s stingy left-arm spin had Royal Challengers at 25 for 2, their third lowest Powerplay score in Bangalore in all IPLs. It was an effort worthy of the reward – all three put their feet up for the entire second innings.That didn’t mean Mumbai’s chase was clinical. They needed 73 off the final seven overs when Kieron Pollard came to the crease at No. 5. He may not have imagined the finisher’s job to be tough considering the asking rate at the start had been a modest 7.6. But the legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who took 1 for 16 in four overs, and the left-arm seamer S Aravind, who was brought in for Iqbal Abdulla and took a wicket off his first ball, created complications in the first 10 overs.But the back-end bowling specialists for the home team were not quite as good as the back-end batting specialists for Mumbai as Pollard, with 35 off 19, and Jos Buttler, with 29 off 11, hauled them over the line. Shane Watson’s wide yorkers missed their mark by a few inches and he was punished. Pollard struck him for his 400th six in the 17th over and followed it with back-to-back fours to pull the equation down to 26 off 18. Chris Jordan was worse, serving up full tosses and half-volleys, and his England team-mate Buttler cracked him for consecutive sixes in the 18th over to leave Mumbai needing 10 off 12.It isn’t often that the home team is in unfamiliar territory. Before Wednesday’s match, Royal Challengers had posted a total below 155 only six times in their nine years at the Chinnaswamy stadium, and had won on only one of those six occasions.Kohli believed they were 20 runs short, and hadn’t been in the game for the first 15 overs of the match. That is because he was caught at fly slip for 7, Gayle was caught at mid-off for 5, AB de Villiers top-edged Pandya to deep midwicket – the bowler sprinted to the fielder, Ambati Rayudu, with an expression of pure glee on his face and an hour later was holding his first Man-of-the-Match award in T20 cricket for a spell of 4-0-15-1. Watson biffed a six and a four but was run out for 15 by a direct hit from Rohit, who roared in triumph, leapt up, and pumped his fists. It was clear Mumbai wanted to erase the dismal memories of their last match with better ones from this match.The only one who stood in their way was KL Rahul, who constructed his fourth fifty this season. He twisted his left ankle on 23, was struck on the glove by a McClenaghan bouncer on 34, but did not let either incident mar his approach. The pick-up shots flew off his bat. His pulls were authoritative. He hooks on instinct, and that shot needs a bit of sharpening. Nonetheless, 34 of his 68 unbeaten runs came in the Vs between fine leg and square leg and square leg and midwicket. Without his 53-run stand in 27 balls with Sachin Baby, Royal Challengers wouldn’t have crossed 150.Parthiv Patel was caught at slip off Aravind in the second over, but Rohit and Rayudu were fairly solid, even if they couldn’t shut the opposition out. Pollard and Buttler could, and Mumbai sealed their sixth win of the season and broke into the top four again.