Crunch time for Brazil ports as coffee flow hit, sugar faces delays
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UK’s Starmer to Pick Labour Top Team to Fight Next Election
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What is Claude 2? How to access this ChatGPT competitor.
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Airbus wins mammoth order for 500 jets from India's IndiGo at Paris Air Show
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Beyoncé and Taylor Swift understand the power of concert films
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South Africa Seeks Help From China to Safeguard Supply of Solar Panels
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Find cheap flights with a lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club
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2023-09-03 17:24
Paulo Dybala or Dusan Vlahovic: Which Serie A striker should Chelsea sign?
Back in 2019, Mauricio Pochettino came perilously close to linking up with compatriot Paulo Dybala. The then Tottenham manager had hoped to bring the Argentine to north London to strengthen their frontline following a 2-0 Champions League final to Liverpool a few months earlier. The deal, of course, fell through, as Dybala remained at Juventus before moving to Roma last summer. The 29-year-old was welcomed to the Italian capital with open arms, and he enjoyed a solid debut season at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists for Jose Mourinho’s Roma outfit. And yet, Dybala’s time in Rome could already be drawing to a close. The forward has a €12m release clause, active for overseas sides, which is valid until the end of July. That does present the opportunity for a potential link up between Dybala and Pochettino. Chelsea are in the market for another striker this summer, this despite the additions of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson from RB Leipzig and Villarreal, respectively, and this has led them to Serie A. As per The Independent, Chelsea are exploring the possibility of turning their attention to Italy’s top tier in a bid to bolster their frontline, with Dybala and Juventus hitman Dusan Vlahovic both emerging as potential targets for the Blues. Two different striker profiles, but the reasoning for considering one or the other is sound. The arrivals of Nkunku and Jackson means the Blues are versatile in their approach for another forward, with Dybala operating better as a second striker and Vlahovic considered more of an out-and-out frontman. Initially a move for Dybala perhaps makes more sense financially. €12m for a forward of his calibre is a steal in the modern market, but even if Chelsea are able to pay that release clause, agreeing terms with the player is another matter entirely. Dybala, who turns 30 in November, is said to be happy in Rome, and even if Chelsea could strike a deal with the Argentina international, is he worth the risk? Dybala’s injury issues are well documented, and his fitness concerns meant he started just 22 of a possible 38 league matches for Roma in 2022/23. Furthermore, with the capture of Nkunku, do Chelsea really need a similar forward on the books? The Frenchman, likely Dybala, is able to lead the charge, but is better playing off a striker in the number 10 role, rather than as the lone striker in Pochettino’s favoured 4-2-3-1 setup. As such, why invest so much in Nkunku to then sign an injury-prone attacker who operates in the same role in order to half-heartedly bolster the attack? Chelsea have made a habit of making poor tranfer decisions in recent seasons, but if they are looking to add another forward, then a move for Vlahovic would make more sense. The towering Serb hasn’t quite lived up to expectations at Juventus following his arrival from Fiorentina 18 months ago, but 17 league goals in a disfunctional Old Lady outfit isn’t to be scoffed at. Of course, he’d cost significantly more than Dybala - one report states that Juventus are willing to consider offers in the region of €75m for the ex-Viola man - but at 23 years of age, he’d be a far better investment in the long-term, and match Chelsea’s current approach of signing the best young players. What’s important to note is that Vlahovic is a striker who, to put it bluntly, knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. This was better evidenced during his time with Fiorentina, but is a quality to his game that fans have bore witness too in fits and spurts at Juventus. Summer signing Jackson is another consistent finisher having returned the best conversion rate (29.3 per cent) in La Liga last season, yet Vlahovic’s arrival would afford Pochettino some attacking flexibility. While he did play up front for Villarreal last season, Jackson has been considered a winger in the past. Factor in Nkunku’s ability to play a number of roles on the frontline and Vlahovic’s biggest strength being to operate as the lone forward, and Pochettino would have an impressive array of strikers on the books that each offer something different. So while Chelsea are considering their Serie A striking options in a bid to strengthen in the final third, they should focus their efforts on Vlahovic rather than Dybala if the Blues do have their heart set on raiding Italy for another frontman this summer. Read More Chelsea target two Serie A players in quest for experienced strikers Mauricio Pochettino explains Chelsea ‘risk’ as club enters new era Mauricio Pochettino tells Chelsea to banish last season and deliver from day one Chelsea target two Serie A players in quest for experienced strikers Mauricio Pochettino explains Chelsea ‘risk’ as club enters new era Arsenal transfer news: Record Rice bid, Timber and Xhaka latest
2023-07-12 14:53
Marketmind: Breaking point?
By Jamie McGeever A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist.
2023-10-04 05:54
Microsoft Strikes Deal With Sony Over ‘Call of Duty.’ Activision Stock Rises.
Microsoft signs an agreement to keep the 'Call of Duty' videogame franchise on Sony’s PlayStation consoles following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision.
2023-07-17 18:24
Stormzy becomes latest celebrity to buy a football club
South London rapper Stormzy has become the latest celebrity to become the owner of a sports team after buying part of his hometown club AFC Croydon Athletic. Alongside Crystal Palace footballer, Wilfried Zaha, and the former head of player care at Palace, Danny Young, the trio has agreed a deal to buy the non-League club. According to a statement, “the consortium will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club”. The statement continued: “While completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities. “They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.” Stormzy and Zaha made the announcement on their respective social media pages, with many left excited about the opportunities it may bring for AFC Croydon Athletic which currently competes in the Combined Counties League Premier South Division in the ninth tier of English football. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Many of their fans praised them for investing in their local community as South Londoners, with Stormzy born and raised in Croydon and Zaha growing up in the area. “Investing in youth,” one Instagrammer praised, adding some raised hands emojis. Another wrote: “Giving back to the ends. Love to see it.” Someone else commented: “Black excellence.” With the acquisition, Stormzy and Zaha become two of many celebrities who have begun to invest in the sporting world, as Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds Rob McElhenney famously bought Wrexham football club and recently acquired a stake in the F1 team Alpine. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-27 21:48
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