فجرت تقارير صحفية مفاجأة من العيار الثقيل بعدما ذكرت إمكانية استبعاد منتخب الأرجنتين لكرة القدم من منافسات بطولة كأس العالم، نسخة 2026، الصيف المقبل.
كان الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، قد أجرى مراسم قرعة بطولة كأس العالم يوم 5 ديسمبر الحالي، والتي أسفرت عن وقوع حامل اللقب، منتخب الأرجنتين في المجموعة العاشرة رفقة كل من الجزائر، الأردن والنمسا.
وذكرت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، نقلًا عن “لا ناسيون”، أن القضاء الأرجنتيني يكثف جهوده في الوقت الحالي ضد رئيس الاتحاد الأرجنتيني لكرة القدم، كلاوديو تابيا.
وأشارت إلى أن القاضي الفيدرالي دانيال رافيكاس قد أمر بمداهمات جديدة لمنزل ريفي في بيلار، حيث يجري التحقيق في عقار فاخر مسجل باسم شركة ريال سنترال إس آر إل، والمرتبط بلوتشيانو بانتانو وآنا لوسيا كونتي، اللذين يُزعم أنهما من المقربين لـ تابيا، ومُنع كلاهما من مغادرة البلاد.
اقرأ أيضًا.. مواعيد مباريات مجموعة الأرجنتين في كأس العالم 2026
وأوضحت أن هذه العملية تأتي إضافة إلى عمليات أخرى نُفذت في أكثر من 15 ناديًا ومكتب في وسط مدينة بوينس آيرس، وذلك في إطار القضية التي تسعى لكشف ثروات تابيا وحاشيته.
كما يُسلط الضوء على أمين الصندوق بابلو توفيجينو، الذي يُشتبه في كونه المالك المحتمل للقصر، وشركة سور فينانزاس المالية، المتهمة بتقديم قروض للأندية بشروط مجحفة.
وأفادت أن تداعيات هذه القضية امتدت لتشمل عالم كرة القدم، حيث تسعى المحاكم إلى معرفة ما إذا كان هناك إثراء غير مشروع واستخدام واجهات، بينما يراقب الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم الوضع عن كثب لتجنب أي تدخل سياسي محتمل قد يُقصي الأرجنتين من كأس العالم القادمة.
وفي خضم هذه الفضيحة، يتخذ المنتخب الأرجنتيني خطوات حذرة، بينما يشكك ليونيل سكالوني في مشاركة الأرجنتين في مباراة كأس فيناليسيما ضد إسبانيا في مارس، وهو الأمر الذي يعد مؤشرًا آخر على الأجواء المتوترة التي تُحيط بالاتحاد الأرجنتيني لكرة القدم في الوقت الحالي.
أثار بيب جوارديولا، مدرب مانشستر سيتي، الشكوك بشأن مشاركة مهاجمه النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند في مباراة الغد أمام سالفورد سيتي.
ويلتقي مانشستر سيتي وسالفورد ضمن مباريات بطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، غدًا السبت.
وسُئل جوارديولا في المؤتمر الصحفي قبل المباراة، عن مشاركة هالاند، وأجاب: “سترى غدًا، لكنه يشعر بأنه بخير”.
وأضاف: “لقد عانى من بعض الآلام ولكن لدينا سبعة أيام من مواجهة وست هام إلى مباراة سالفورد وتعافى جيدًا، مع الوضع الذي لدينا، نحتاج إلى استعداد الجميع”.
وأشار: “في العام الذي سبق وصول هالاند من بوروسيا دورتموند، كان لديه مشاكل ولكن منذ وصوله، باستثناء فترة واحدة، كان ثابتًا للغاية من حيث الإصابة واللياقة البدنية”.
اقرأ أيضًا | جارديان: بعرض رسمي.. مانشستر سيتي يغري فرانكفورت لضم عمر مرموش
وأكد: “كان عام الثلاثية مذهلًا، في الموسم الماضي، سجل أهدافًا لكنه عانى بعض الشيء”.
وأردف: “هذا الموسم، كان تركيزه لا يصدق، عندما تكون مركزًا وهدفك هو أن تكون لائقًا، فأنت دائمًا لائق”.
وسيكون حارس المرمى إيدرسون متاح، لكن جون ستونز وروبن دياز غير جاهزين، فيما شهدت التدريبات عودة أوسكار بوب بعد إصابته بكسر.
وعلّق جوارديولا: “إنها أخبار جيدة لنا، إنها ليست إصابة عضلية، كانت كسر وتم تعافيه بالفعل، من الواضح أنه ليس جاهزًا بعد، لكن من الجيد أنه عاد”.
So far this summer, the Gunners have already signed Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard, with the latter unveiled on Thursday.
Meantime, a £52m move for Noni Madueke appears to be close, while the Gunners continue the chase for both Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres.
It was clear that Mikel Arteta needed to add plenty of attacking firepower to his squad, but do they now have a new defender in their sights?
Arsenal's pursuit of a new centre-back
Earlier in the window, as noted by Stuart James and Guillermo Rai of The Athletic, Arsenal, amongst many other clubs, held a genuine interest in signing Dean Huijsen, before the Spain international chose to move to Real Madrid instead.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Thus, despite having William Saliba and Gabriel, who Oliver Hopkins of Opta’s the Analyst notes is arguably the best duo in the Premier League, the Gunners recognise they require greater depth in that position.
Thus, as reported by Football London, Arsenal remain interested in signing Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, adding that the Spanish youth international is ‘keen to sign’ for the Gunners, so much so that he has rejected a new contract with los Murciélagos.
Arsenal'sGabrielMagalhaes and WilliamSaliba
Ed Aarons of the Guardian has previously reported that the “monster” defender would cost around £16m, so could he swap Mestalla for North London?
How Cristhian Mosquera would improve Arsenal
Mosquera has been with Valencia since the age of 12, his senior debut coming against Atlético Baleares in the Copa del Rey in January 2022, accumulating 90 appearances for los Che’s first team, scoring his first-ever senior goal against Leganés in February.
He was also part of the Spain squad at this summer’s under-21 European Championships, starting three of their four matches in Slovakia, having also helped la Rojita win Olympic Gold in Paris 12 months ago.
Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.
Analyst Spencer Mossman praises Mosquera’s ‘tenacious tackling’ and ‘impressive’ improvement when it comes to his ‘ball playing’ ability, while also left impressed by his versatility.
Meantime, Jonas Bartsch of Total Football Analysis adds that the youngster has an ‘outstanding footballing IQ’ and ‘exceptional situational awareness’, so let’s assess his statistics from La Liga last season.
Minutes
3,319
5th
Tackles
56
42nd
% of dribblers tackled
77.5%
3rd
Blocks
37
33rd
Interceptions
35
26th
Clearances
128
26th
Ball recoveries
190
2nd
As the table outlines, Mosquera ranked generally very highly for all defensive metrics in La Liga last season, especially when it comes to the percentage of dribblers tackled and ball recoveries, made all the more impressive by the fact that Valencia spent the campaign battling against relegation.
Now though, let’s assess how he compares to Arsenal’s first-choice target – and Mosquera’s compatriot – Huijsen.
Passes attempted
54.2
59.5
Passing accuracy %
91.2%
84.2%
Duels contested
5.9
7.7
Ground duel success %
70.5%
51.5%
Aerial duel success %
45.2%
60.7%
Clearances
3.4
7.3
Interceptions
1
1.9
Touches
66
76
As the table outlines, Huijsen’s statistics are pretty much all more impressive than Mosquera’s, but this is to be expected considering the former Bournemouth man is a full-Spain international, and is the one of the two who has just joined Real Madrid.
Valencia defenderCristhian Mosquera.
Nevertheless, Mosquera’s statistics are still impressive, ranking higher for passing and ground duels, ensuring he is an exciting, high-potential Spanish defender in his own right.
Thus, it is clear that the 21-year-old would be an excellent addition to the Arsenal squad, joining Madueke and co in bolstering Arteta’s already talented ranks.
Fabrizio Romano: Player set for imminent Arsenal medical after deal agreed
The India captain said that the runs and records have been a byproduct of focusing on the team
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-20183:22
Can Kohli beat Tendulkar’s 18K runs?
After smashing Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the fastest to 10,000 ODI runs, Virat Kohli has said that his method remains the same: work hard for every run and never take things for granted.”Even after playing for 10 years, I don’t feel like I’m entitled for anything here,” Kohli told . “You still have to work hard for every run you score at the international level while playing for your country because they’re many people who want this very badly and when you’re in that position yourself, you should have that same hunger and passion. You should never take things for granted, never take it easy at any stage.”Captaining India is a tough task, especially as the No.1 batsman in the world – as Tendulkar found out – but to have simultaneously scaled unprecedented heights as a batsman is a tribute to Kohli’s mental resolve as well as physical fitness. Additionally, despite the constant glare of the spotlight, Kohli’s focus has rarely deviated, highlighted by the 20 ODI hundreds in successful chases.1:58
Simmons: Kohli has taken over from where Sachin left off
“I’ve been able to push my physical abilities and my mental abilities on just focusing on what the team needs, and in that process more runs have been scored than maybe I would have otherwise if I was thinking about my own batting or anything like that,” he said. “So I’ve just focused on the situation, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to help the team by contributing with the bat. My duty is to score runs and having done that for a long period now, everything has collected together for this moment but the intention always should be every game, every situation to look for what the team needs and just score as many runs as possible.”But above all, his greatest source of joy remains more homespun in nature – to have been able to play the game this long, with a few years left in the tank.”To understand you’ve come so far in your career playing for 10 years is something quite special to me because I love the sport so much and you want to play it more and more, and that for me is the most important thing, so I’m just happy that I’m able to play for this long and hopefully many more years to come,” he said. “I never thought I could achieve this feat or I would get to this stage. I always thought I just want to play for India, I never thought that this day would arrive and it just tells me that if you’re focused on the process and the right things then these things become irrelevant after a while.”
There was some initial worry about Newcastle United this season, especially after they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. Since then, however, Eddie Howe's side have put an end to any doubts by defeating Brentford, putting eight past Sheffield United and knocking Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup.
That's not to say the Magpies couldn't do with further reinforcements, though, which could result in a busy January transfer window for those at St James' Park despite some FFP constraints, with reports they could sell several players to fund signings.
And that could see them complete a move for one particular player that they already had a go for, having failed in their pursuit during the summer.
What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?
Spending a reported €153m (£133m) during the summer transfer window, Newcastle welcomed the likes of Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento, and Sandro Tonali to hand Howe a squad capable of potentially making it back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League. And after a slow start, the Magpies now look back on track to compete alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Liverpool, who are all gunning for Champions League qualification.
The January transfer window could yet make all the difference, too, especially if Newcastle secure the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz. According to Football Transfers, those at St James' Park are eyeing a move for the Southampton star, who they reportedly approached in the summer, only to be put off by the Saints' £30m price-tag.
Whilst Howe remains an admirer, AC Milan and Benfica also reportedly made an approach for the midfielder in the summer, handing Newcastle plenty of competition if they are to pursue his signature come the winter transfer window.
Considering their spending power, if Newcastle are keen on Alcaraz, then it will be interesting to see how Southampton fare when it comes to the battle to keep hold of their star.
Should Newcastle United sign Carlos Alcaraz?
Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
At 20-years-old, Alcaraz opted to stay put at Southampton despite their relegation to the Championship, and a solid start by Russell Martin's new side has quickly turned disastrous, with a run of four straight defeats in the Championship.
If that form continues, Alcaraz, who, it must be said, has played his part in what has been a dismal run, may start to consider his immediate future, especially if the right offer comes in during the January window from Newcastle.
Statistically speaking, the midfielder was certainly a standout in a poor Saints side last season. According to FBref, in 13 starts, Alcaraz made 20 progressive carries and 28 progressive passes, whilst also making 14 blocks and 11 clearances in a showing of great potential in a short period in the Premier League.
He has earned deserved praise during his time at St Mary's, too, including from former manager Ruben Selles, who said, via the official Southampton website: "That was the idea – to put him in that position as a 10 or as a striker, to be more aggressive in the pressure, to understand the triggers and to have some situations in front of the centre-backs but also in behind, as [with] the goal.
“That was the game plan, Carlos played good. He understands everything – I am helping him also, giving him some instructions so it’s easier for him to understand. He did really well, unfortunately for only 45, 46 minutes."
An opening stand of 189 inflicted Glamorgan’s fifth defeat in five Royal London Cup games this season and put Essex back into contention to move through to the knockout stage
ECB Reporters Network30-May-2018 ScorecardVarun Chopra and Adam Wheater put on a swashbuckling stand of 189 to inflict Glamorgan’s fifth defeat in five Royal London Cup games this season and put Essex back into contention to move through to the knockout stage.Until Wheater was stumped for 88 off 99 balls, it had looked like a race to see who would reach their century first. However, Chopra was left stranded on 98 when Essex passed the target of 201 with 18 and a half overs to spare.Chopra’s 84-ball innings, with nine fours and four sixes, took his season’s tally to 445 runs from five innings.Essex’s victory was set up by some accurate and parsimonious bowling, led by Jamie Porter, and supported by Matt Coles’s 3 for 41 in his first one-day outing since moving from Kent.Porter, who had been rested for the last three games, bowled his 10 overs straight through to record best List A figures of 4 for 27.By reaching their target so quickly, Essex improved their run-rate significantly, which could prove crucial if they win their remaining group matches against Sussex on Sunday and Kent next Wednesday and qualification goes to the wire.For Glamorgan, Chris Cooke marked his 32nd birthday with sixes off successive balls in a 75-ball 59, and shared a 64-run seventh-wicket stand in 12 overs with Andrew Salter that lifted the general lethargy surrounding the Glamorgan innings.Glamorgan, put in on a blameless wicket posted just 34 from the first 10 overs for the loss of their openers. Nick Selman epitomised the delusory pace with 10 from 22 balls before he nicked Porter low to Chopra at first slip. Aneurin Donald had already gone to the first ball he faced, edging a straight one behind in Porter’s second over.Ingram should have followed when he had 4 to another edge off Porter, but Chopra dived to his left, getting both hands to the ball but unable to hang on.However, the first time Porter went around the wicket he ended Ingram’s sequence of five successive one-day centuries against Essex. The left-hander was pinned on his crease as the ball slanted in, and he was out for 13.David Lloyd did not last long, driving Wagner forcefully square to cover point where Simon Harmer took a spectacular catch. Connor Brown, who had managed four fours in a debut 31, departed to a one-handed catch by Adam Wheater in front of first slip to give Porter his fourth wicket.Cooke and Wagg put on 42 for the sixth wicket in 16 overs before Wagg played all around one from Ravi Bopara and was bowled. Andrew Salter helped Cooke increase the rate and lifted Wagner over mid-on to put up Glamorgan’s 150 as late as the 43rd over.Salter hammered a second six over cow corner to dent Coles’s otherwise parsimonious figures, but when he went for another next ball, he was caught on the boundary. He had hit 43 from 47 balls, and shared in a 64-run stand with Cooke in 12 overs.Cooke passed fifty from 72 balls with a six flicked off his legs during the most expensive over of the innings which cost 17 runs. Bopara thought he had Cooke, on 59, caught off a head-high no-ball by Cook, but the South African swung at the next ball and Bopara took the return catch above his head.Coles wrapped up the innings with wickets in successive balls for figures of 3 for 41.Chopra showed the Essex intent. Ruaidhru Smith was twice deposited over the leg-side boundary ropes for six in his first two overs.With Wheater finding the gaps, the opening pair had 50 on the board inside eight overs, 100 up in the 16th. The wicketkeeper was first to his personal fifty from his 55th ball.Chopra’s half-century came from 45 balls and contained five fours and those two sixes.When he was 63, Wheater had a reprieve as a lofted drive flew through van der Gugten’s hands at midwicket. The 150 partnership came up in 26 overs before Chopra clouted Salter for a straight six, and then helped himself to four and another six in successive balls off the spinner.
How ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary called the 28-run over by Avesh Khan, courtesy Jake Fraser-McGurk
ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2024
****
3.1 Avesh Khan to J Fraser-McGurk,
More fortune goes Fraser-McGurk and DC’s way! He goes driving at this fullish ball angling in to finish outside leg, and the ball takes the inside edge to roll past and even beat a diving Samson to his right.3.2 Avesh Khan to J Fraser-McGurk,
Thumped dangerously to deep extra cover! Avesh goes shorter this time, and around off, as Fraser-McGurk swats back forcefully to beat extra cover.3.3 Avesh Khan to J Fraser-McGurk,
Sliced to a wide-ish deep third! Avesh had that groan after delivering – that potentially meant more effort, but it hardly mattered! Fullish and in the channel, as Fraser-McGurk opened the face of the bat to loft over point.3.4 Avesh Khan to J Fraser-McGurk,
Rammed over mid-off! Avesh is hammered all around, and Samson offers him some comfort now. Short of a length just outside off, and belted back over the short boundary.3.5 Avesh Khan to J Fraser-McGurk,
You can have all the conferences and discussions, but the result will hardly change. The third umpire confirms that the ball just dropped short of the deep-point boundary. Shorter side of a length from Avesh outside off, and hammered through the line.3.6 Avesh Khan to J Fraser-McGurk,
Fraser-McGurk gets to fifty off 19 balls! This time he gets a full toss, which is dipping to finish at a comfortable, lowish height on leg, as he hoicks it over wide long-on to make the over read 4, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6!From 31 for no loss in three overs, DC moved to 59 for no loss in six balls. Fraser-McGurk was eventually dismissed in the fifth over by R Ashwin for 50 in 20 balls. DC finished the powerplay at 78 for 2.
Liverpool enjoyed a successful first leg of the League Cup semi-finals as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Fulham at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Willian's first-half goal gave the visitors the advantage at half time but substitutes Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo changed the game with key contributions off the bench.
The former set up Curtis Jones for the goal to make it 1-1 and then provided the assist for Gakpo to put the Reds 2-1 in front and in charge of the tie ahead of their trip to Craven Cottage later this month.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Despite the win, Jurgen Klopp may not be too impressed with some of the individual performances on display from players who were supposed to be fighting to show the boss that they deserve more game time in the Premier League.
Harvey Elliott did not fully grasp his opportunity on the right wing in the absence of Mohamed Salah but it was Ryan Gravenberch who truly flopped with a poor performance.
Harvey Elliott's performance against Fulham in numbers
The England U21 international started out on the right and did not influence the game at the top end of the pitch, with Liverpool losing 1-0 when he was substituted in the 56th minute.
Elliott failed to register a single shot on or off target throughout his time on the pitch, with one blocked effort, and did not create any 'big chances' for his teammates.
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott.
The young whiz did, however, complete two of his three attempted dribbles and 85% (46/54) of his attempted passes, which suggests that he was solid but unspectacular on the wing.
Whereas, Gravenberch was noticeably poor in the middle of the park and Klopp may have second thoughts about naming him in the starting line up moving forward.
Gravenberch's performance against Fulham in numbers
The summer signing from Bayern Munich left a lot to be desired with his display in midfield as he failed to impress alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Jones.
Gravenberch recorded a Sofascore rating of 6.3, which was the lowest rating in the Liverpool squad, and that was because of his struggles in and out of possession.
Minutes played
56
Duels contested
12
Duels won
Two
Tackles won
One
Interceptions
Zero
Blocks
Zero
Clearances
Zero
As you can see in the table above, Klopp's lightweight did not do enough in his physical contests to assert control in the middle of the park.
Fulham players found it far too easy to get the better of him in 50/50 duels and the Dutch midfielder must do far better in the future to retain the ball and provide a strong defensive presence.
Klopp hooked him, alongside Elliott, in the 56th minute but he still lost possession a whopping 16 times in less than an hour on the pitch. For a point of reference, Jones only lost possession 11 times in 90 minutes on the pitch, which illustrates how poor Gravenberch was on the ball.
Overall, the 21-year-old dud failed to take his opportunity to impress and flopped badly against Fulham, and this could hinder and limit his opportunities moving forward until he is able to prove himself as a reliable option for the boss.
Aside from the League Cup, Arsenal are currently fighting on all fronts this year, and while they might not be quite as free-flowing and easy on the eye as they were last season, Mikel Arteta's men have looked more defensively astute, mature and intentional in their matches this campaign.
However, a defeat to Aston Villa last time out in the Premier League has slowed them down somewhat following their last-gasp winner against Luton Town last week.
The Gunners didn't deserve to win at Villa Park on Saturday, but they might've claimed at least a point with a clinical finisher in the team, as they had registered an expected goal value of 1.47 to their hosts' 0.66 – but they just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.
So fans should be delighted with the latest player linked to the Emirates, a striker who could turn Bukayo Saka into an assist machine, and someone who has already expressed his desire to join the club, Ivan Toney.
Arsenal transfer news – Ivan Toney
According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Brentford's star striker is keen to move to a top club in 2024 and has expressed his excitement and desire to join Arsenal specifically.
Talking on Kick, the Italian journalist said:“From what I’m hearing, this is one more detail on Ivan Toney, this is a rumour I’m hearing that his preference in terms of a top club move in January or the summer would be to go to Arsenal.
"From what I’m hearing Ivan Toney could be really excited by the possibility of joining Arsenal.”
Ivan Toney competing against Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa.
The former Newcastle United forward has been linked to the club in the past, but this development is a massive boost for the Gunners should they choose to pursue Toney.
However, the most significant barrier to signing the 27-year-old "monster", as described by his manager Thomas Frank, will be the price, as Sky Sports report that it will take at least £100m to secure his signature – although, for a player who scored 20 league goals last season, he might just be worth it.
Ivan Toney could supercharge Bukayo Saka
Now, the addition of Toney into this Arsenal team would instantly make them a far more worrying proposition for opposing teams, as the one-cap Englishman would likely craft his own chances with the sheer level of talent around him.
However, his clinical finishing and poacher sensibilities would help turn his teammates into assist machines, especially someone like Saka.
Arsenal could sign a £53m "special talent" instead of Douglas Luiz
The young Spaniard could be a better fit for Arsenal.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 11, 2023
The Hale End graduate racked up 11 league assists last season – despite Gabriel Jesus missing chunks of the campaign through injury – and he has already registered six in the league this season, so just imagine the numbers he could produce with a number nine solely focused on finding space and finishing chances.
Furthermore, the underlying numbers of the "future icon", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, all point towards a player calling out for more efficient players around him.
Expected Assists
0.30
Progressive Passes
3.45
Progressive Carries
4.41
Shot-Creating Actions
5.32
Successful Take-Ons
1.66
Crosses
5.93
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Season
Ultimately, if Arsenal want to reach that next level and win the Premier League and Champions League, they will need an out-and-out goalscorer in the team, and Toney would be precisely that.
It also helps that his presence would likely unlock another level to Saka's game and truly set him on the path to becoming one of the best players in the world.
Chelsea's prodigious academy is one of the greatest in world football at churning out some of the most promising young talents on the planet.
The Blues have forged this legacy by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and the best equipment to ensure that youngsters have all the tools they need to become stars.
This was particularly prevalent in the 1990s as the west London giants watched arguably their greatest-ever defender, John Terry, come through their academy, assert his dominance at the heart of their defence and rack up an incredible 717 appearances across a 19-year association with the club.
Across his glittering career at Stamford Bridge, he became a rarity among the world of defenders at the time through his ability with the ball at his feet, underscored by the fact he's the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history with 41 goals.
These days, being comfortable with the ball is imperative for any modern centre-back and Levi Colwill, who has been dubbed as the "next John Terry", is certainly that in abundance.
How much Chelsea paid for Levi Colwill
Much like Terry, Colwill is a graduate of Chelsea's academy, joining at the age of 9 through their development centre programme.
Initially, his introduction to football came with Sunday league side City Central, where he intriguingly played alongside Jamal Musiala.
Levi Colwill
If that wasn't an indication of his quality, Colwill's composure from an early age as well as his steady physical presence with growth, more than made up for it.
A physical specimen off the ball and a calming presence on it, the youngster had the requisite tools to become the next star to blossom from the club's underage groups, but he just needed a regular taste of senior football so he could develop in skill and stature.
With this in mind, after three outings in the Papa John's Trophy, Colwill was loaned to Huddersfield Town in the 2021/22 campaign, inspiring the Terriers to the Championship play-off final.
Despite scoring an own goal that saw his side crumble at the final hurdle, the Englishman impressed across 29 appearances while watching his expected transfer value (xTV) shoot up to €7.3m (£6.3m) in July 2022.
Levi Colwill's transfer value at Brighton & Hove Albion
After an excellent campaign under the stewardship of Carlos Corberan in the Championship, plaudits continued to rain down on Colwill during his spell at Brighton & Hove Albion last term.
In an exciting and youthful Seagulls side with an average age of 23.64, the 6 foot 2 titan fit into the progressive style deployed by Roberto De Zerbi like a glove.
A commanding presence at the back and an expert at spraying passes through the thirds, Colwill showcased glimpses of his unerring traits on the South Coast as he featured in 17 matches in the top flight and helped his side record a sensational sixth-place finish.
Not only that, but he also saw his xTV rise even further, from €7.3m in July 2022 to €10.8m (£9.3m) in May this year, with the 20-year-old looking ready to become a first-team regular at Chelsea.
Levi Colwill's value now
As soon as he arrived at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino made it known that Colwill was going to play a huge part in his plans, with the Argentine describing him as a "big talent" and a "great character".
In 11 appearances this term, Colwill – who has been dubbed by Antonio Mango as "insane technically" – has shown how good he is with the ball at his feet while operating as a centre back or left back.
This is demonstrated by the fact he's been thrown into the same bracket of ball-playing defenders as Jules Kounde, Alessandro Bastoni and David Alaba by FBref for his exceptional ball-playing attributes and calmness in possession.
Despite being only 20 and the youngest on that list, he ranks within the top 9% across Europe's top five leagues in the past year for passes attempted, top 6% for shot-creating actions and top 16% for progressive carries per 90.
Progressive passes
4.26
Passes attempted
76.48
Shot creating actions
1.36
Progressive carries
1.05
Progressive passes received
0.79
All stats via FBref
Whilst he's near faultless with the ball at his feet and displays an exquisite passing range beyond his years, he does need to improve defensively, as implied by his ranking in the bottom 24% for tackles and bottom 29% for interceptions.
However, considering his value has skyrocketed to a whopping €60m (£52m), as per CIES Football Observatory, Colwill is developing rapidly under Pochettino and has played a major role in their strong defence this term.
Chelsea's season in numbers
Whilst Chelsea's attack has come alive in recent weeks, scoring four in both fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, the Blues have been hard to beat this term.
As the saying goes, you should always build from the back and with the summer additions of Robert Sanchez, Axel Disasi and Moises Caicedo, in particular, Pochettino has successfully solidified the spine of their team and this is reflected by their impressive defensive metrics.
According to Understat, only five teams have conceded more expected goals (xG) than the Blues, with a total of 16.63 placing them just behind the likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Manchester City.
Contrary to the previous statement about Colwill's defensive abilities, the Englishman has made a colossal impact in helping preserve a strong rearguard that has only been breached 16 times, five of which arrived in the last two matches.
Despite being deployed as a left back on five occasions, the Englishman – who the Argentine said could become one of the greatest defenders in England – has still thrived alongside the veteran Thiago Silva.
The Brazilian has helped refine the defensive side of his game, having placed in the top 23% among defenders in the Premier League for tackles this season (1.83), which is a vast improvement from only recording 0.59 per game during his spell at Brighton last term.
If Colwill can continue his upward trajectory, as demonstrated by his exceptional statistics and current transfer value, he has the opportunity to become a generational defender for the Blues, as Terry did.