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[ad_1] LONDON: Chelsea extended the contract of 38-year-old centre-back Thiago Silva to the end of the 2023/2024 season on Friday. Despite spending in excess of £500 million ($606 million) on new players this season, the Brazilian international has remained indispensable at the heart of the Blues defence. "I am honestly so happy to continue my career with the Blues," said Silva, who joined Chelsea on a short-term deal from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020. "When I signed my first contract here, it was to just do one year. Now it is already the fourth. I could not have imagined that, but really it is a very special moment for me to sign and stay at Chelsea." Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have come under fire for a scattergun approach to the transfer market during their first year in charge of the club. But in a joint statement they hailed Silva's experience and leadership skills as a vital complement to the array of young talent they ...

[ad_1] LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino is ready to "risk" his reputation at troubled Chelsea, but the new Blues boss won't be bolstered by a reunion with Harry Kane. Kane has been linked with a move away from Pochettino's former club Tottenham and a switch to Stamford Bridge could have suited both parties. Pochettino needs a top-class striker to improve on the club's dismal goal-scoring record last season and England captain Kane fits the bill perfectly. Tottenham's record goalscorer, who rose to prominence under Pochettino, is keen to leave the north Londoners after failing in his bid to engineer a transfer to Manchester City two years ago. Linked with Bayern Munich and Manchester United, Kane's Tottenham contract expires next year, increasing the urgency to resolve his future. However, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy might see the prospect of selling Kane to a London club, and one managed by the man he sacked in 2019, as a bridge too far. Speak...

[ad_1] MANCHESTER: The clock is ticking for Chelsea manager Graham Potter to turn unprecedented spending into results, starting against Fulham on Friday, as new Everton manager Sean Dyche prepares for a baptism of fire against Premier League leaders Arsenal. Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool travel to face struggling Wolves, desperate to pull themselves out of a slump that has left them playing catch-up, while Tottenham host champions Manchester City. AFP Sport takes a look at some of the key talking points ahead of the weekend action in the English top flight. British-record signing Enzo Fernandez could make his debut at Stamford Bridge in the west London derby after completing a 121 million euro ($132 million, £107 million) move from Benfica. Mykhailo Mudryk is also in line for his first start since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in a blockbuster January transfer window for the club for a fee that could rise to 100 million euros. Chelsea's overall spend in their first se...

[ad_1] LONDON: Newly installed Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard dismissed suggestions he should be fearing a trip to face Real Madrid on Wednesday after seeing his side beaten 1-0 at Wolves in his first game back at the club.  Lampard was put in charge of the Blues until the end of the season on Thursday, just over two years since his first spell as manager at Stamford Bridge ended.  The defeat at Molineux left Chelsea still languishing 11th in the Premier League table despite spending a world record amount of over £500 million on new players in one season.  But they have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they face holders Real in the first leg in Spain.  Madrid were in sparkling form as they thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in midweek to reach the Copa del Rey final and made light work of Premier League opposition in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 6-2 aggregate win over Liverpool.  "If you are worried, don't come. The player...

[ad_1] LONDON: Graham Potter pleaded with his Chelsea players to "stay together" after a shock 2-1 defeat at Fulham that saw Blues forward Joao Felix sent off on his debut before a decisive blunder from Kepa Arrizabalaga. Potter's troubled side crashed to a seventh defeat in their last 10 games in all competitions after another spluttering display. Chelsea fell behind to a goal from their former winger Willian in the first half at Craven Cottage on Thursday. Kalidou Koulibaly equalised after the break but Felix was dismissed for a reckless studs-up lunge on Kenny Tete. Fulham were gifted their late winner by Chelsea keeper Kepa, who made a hash of dealing with a cross that Carlos Vinicius converted to leave Potter facing renewed talk of the sack just four months after he replaced the axed Thomas Tuchel. "We made a couple of mistakes for their first goal, then the red card changes the game. Disappointed with the second goal because I think we could do bet...

[ad_1] LONDON: New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino underlined the challenges that engulfed Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling in the last season but said he will help the trio reach their full potential with the help of a customised training regime. Chelsea hired the 51-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris St Germain boss in May after finishing 12th in the Premier League following a tumultuous campaign, which saw Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard take charge at Stamford Bridge. "Different players arrived in different circumstances but of course now is an opportunity," Pochettino told Chelsea's website, outlining his plans for the team ahead of the pre-season. Chelsea begin their preparations for the new campaign in the United States with a game against National League champions Wrexham on July 19th. "I hope we can help them to achieve their best level, a higher level, and try to perform for Chelsea in the way tha...

[ad_1] LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino is ready to "risk" his reputation at troubled Chelsea, but the new Blues boss won't be bolstered by a reunion with Harry Kane. Kane has been linked with a move away from Pochettino's former club Tottenham and a switch to Stamford Bridge could have suited both parties. Pochettino needs a top-class striker to improve on the club's dismal goal-scoring record last season and England captain Kane fits the bill perfectly. Tottenham's record goalscorer, who rose to prominence under Pochettino, is keen to leave the north Londoners after failing in his bid to engineer a transfer to Manchester City two years ago. Linked with Bayern Munich and Manchester United, Kane's Tottenham contract expires next year, increasing the urgency to resolve his future. However, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy might see the prospect of selling Kane to a London club, and one managed by the man he sacked in 2019, as a bridge too far. Speak...