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Jacob deGrom is back.

The Texas Rangers right-hander was named to the American League All-Star team last week in recognition of what is turning into a brilliant comeback season. A two-time Cy Young Award winner, deGrom has battled injuries since the 2021 season but is finally healthy again in 2025.

The 37-year-old had a dominant 2021 campaign ended by elbow inflammation, and missed much of the 2022 campaign due to a stress reaction in his right scapula. After leaving the New York Mets to sign a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers in December of 2022, he made just six starts for his new team before needing Tommy John surgery. He didn't start another major league game until September 13, 2024.

This season, deGrom has returned to form, and while he's not notching as many strikeouts as he used to, he has been excellent. Through 18 starts, he's 9-2 with a 2.29 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 105 punchouts against 23 walks in 106 1/3 innings. He's currently eighth among AL pitchers in fWAR (2.6).

Though it has been years since he was at his peak, deGrom has a legitimate claim to being the most dominant pitcher of his generation. What follows is a look inside the numbers of his comeback season and his brilliant career. It should serve as a reminder of just how great he is.

1 — Pitchers with more WAR than deGrom since he broke into the big leagues in 2014. Only Max Scherzer's total of 56.3 tops deGrom's 45.4

2 — Pitchers with more fWAR than deGrom since 2014. Scherzer (52.7) and Clayton Kershaw (46.4) top deGrom's total of 45.6.

21 — More appearances (20 starts) Kershaw has had than deGrom in that time.

60 — More appearances (all starts) Scherzer has had than deGrom in that time.

0.99 — deGrom's career WHIP, second to Kershaw's 0.96 since 2014.

2.50 — deGrom's career ERA, second to Kershaw's 2.45 since 2014.

2.63 — deGrom's FIP since 2014, best among pitchers with at least 50 starts. Spencer Strider second by a significant margin (2.78), followed by Chris Sale (2.79) and Kershaw (2.83).

156 — deGrom's career ERA+, second to Kershaw's 162 since 2014. (Side note: Clayton Kershaw was really good. He was also a six-year veteran when deGrom debuted.)

1.08 — deGrom's ERA in 2021. He only made 15 starts, which prevents it from being considered one of the greatest seasons of all-time, but he had a WHIP of 0.75 and 146 strikeouts and 11 walks in 92 innings. An elbow injury ended his season on July 18.

373 — deGrom's ERA+ during that season, the best in MLB history for a pitcher making 15 or more starts by nearly. Pedro Martinez finished at 291 during his legendary 2000 season. When factoring in the Negro Leagues, deGrom's 2021 season is still the best by 50 points, topping Slim Jones's 1934 season for the Philadelphia Stars where he finished at 323.

1.98 — deGrom's combined ERA from 2018 through the '21 season. In that time, he made 91 starts and went 32-21 with 774 strikeouts in 581 innings pitched with a 0.88 WHIP.

205 — His ERA+ in that time, one of the most dominant four-year stretches for a pitcher in baseball history.

4 — deGrom's leaguewide rank in WHIP (0.91) among starting pitchers this season.

6 — His leaguewide rank in ERA (2.29) among starters.

20 — Combined starts by deGrom from 2022 through '24.

18 — Starts he has made this season.

15 — Starts in which he has allowed two or fewer runs in 2025.

14 — Consecutive starts in which deGrom went at least 5 innings while allowing two or fewer runs, which lasted from April 18 through July 7. It was the longest such streak in the American League since 2014.

97.4 — Average miles per hour of deGrom's four-seam fastball in 2025, which ranks fourth among qualified starters in MLB. A reminder: he's 37 years old.

Injuries cost deGrom the better part of four seasons, but that shouldn't taint his legacy. He remains one of the best pitchers of his generation and has reminded everyone of his greatness again this season.

His first All-Star selection since 2021 might be deGrom's greatest, given all he's been through in the past four seasons. He's back where he belongs, among the best pitchers in the sport.

Neymar delivered once more for Santos as the Brazilian icon inspired a crucial 3-0 win over Cruzeiro to secure the club’s Serie A survival. However, he admitted afterwards that his future is uncertain as he plans to undergo knee surgery. With his contract expiring in a few weeks and transfer speculation growing, the 33-year-old’s emotional post-match comments have heightened doubts over whether he will remain with his boyhood club.

Neymar helps Santos avoid relegation with 3-0 win

Santos wrapped up their season with a decisive 3-0 win over Cruzeiro, a result that ensured the club avoided relegation to Serie B. Neymar once again played a key part in the attacking structure, influencing the game as a creator this time out rather than a finisher, having scored five goals across the two matches prior. The victory capped a late surge in form that carried Santos from danger into 12th place with 47 points.

The match itself followed a clear pattern from the outset, with Santos dictating the tempo in front of an energised Vila Belmiro crowd. Thaciano struck twice in the 26th and 28th minutes, taking advantage of the momentum that Neymar and the frontline generated with their fluid combinations. Joao Schmidt added a third shortly after half-time, sealing the win and all but confirming Santos’ mathematical safety. For Neymar, the match completed a final stretch played under physical duress, as he continued pushing through persistent knee pain.

AdvertisementNeymar casts doubt over his Santos future

After the 3-0 win, Neymar laid bare the physical and emotional weight he carried throughout the season’s final stretch: "I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. These have been tough weeks for me. I thank those who were with me to lift me up. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have played these matches because of these injuries, this knee problem. I need to rest and then we will have this knee surgery."

When addressing his future, Neymar added: “I do not know, really. I don’t know. I need some days now, I need to rest, disconnect then decide my future. For sure my priority always goes to Santos.”

Neymar's strong end to the season restores Santos' hopes

The resurgence Neymar delivered in the final weeks came after a turbulent season in which he managed only 19 appearances due to recurring injuries, as his hamstring issues repeatedly disrupted his rhythm throughout the year. Despite the fitness issues, his late-season form, with three goals and two assists in two crucial matches before the Cruzeiro clash, proved transformative in the tight relegation fight.

Neymar’s return to Santos in January had initially been framed as a dream homecoming, but pressure mounted as his fitness and form fluctuated. His outburst last month generated criticism, with claims that he was destabilising the squad rather than leading it. The narrative shifted only when results demanded a hero, and Neymar delivered exactly that.

His performances against Juventude and Sport restored hope around Vila Belmiro that Neymar can still be decisive, even as he prepares for knee surgery this winter.

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Brazil and the World Cup dream for Neymar alive?

Santos now face a pivotal decision period, as Neymar’s contract expires in just a few weeks and negotiations remain delicate due to his impending surgery. The club is expected to maintain dialogue with his representatives, but any new agreement will depend heavily on recovery estimates and clarity around his long-term physical condition. Regardless of affection on both sides, the timing complicates an immediate resolution.

A broader layer to the story is Neymar’s continued ambition to return to the Brazil national team for the 2026 World Cup. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has left the door open, insisting he will call Neymar if he is fit enough to contribute, which places even greater importance on a successful procedure and full recovery. For now, the coming months will determine not only his club destination but the trajectory of the final stage of his career.

دافع خوان لابورتا رئيس برشلونة عن أحد لاعبي برشلونة والذي تعرض لانتقادات شديدة بعد الخسارة أمام تشيلسي بثلاثية نظيفة في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال لابورتا في تصريحات نشرتها “موندو ديبورتيفو” :”أظهرنا شخصية قوية رغم اللعب بعشرة لاعبين، فيما يتعلق بالطرد كانت البطاقة الأولى قاسية للغاية ثم لعبنا بعشرة لاعبين”.

وقدم لابورتا دعمه لأراوخو الذي تعرض للطرد في مباراة تشيلسي وأكمل برشلونة المباراة بعشرة لاعبين: “أريد بطريقة ما، تشجيع أراوخو والدفاع عنه، لقد تعرض لانتقادات قوية ولا أعتقد أن هذا عادل”.

وواصل: “أراوخو يقدم كل ما لديه في الملعب، هو قائدنا والآن عليه تجاوز الوقت الحالي لأنه شخص عاطفي ومشاعره قوية، لقد مر بوقت عصيب، نحن ندعمه وعليه التقدم للأمام، نحن جميعاً نفوز ونخسر ولا أحد يتحمل مسؤولية الهزائم أو الانتصارات”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. رد قوي من لابورتا على تصريحات بيريز: مهووس بـ برشلونة

وأكمل لابورتا :”تحدثت مع فليك في طريق عودتي من لندن، أعجبتني ردة فعله وفريقه الذي يتحد بقوة، هانز متفائل وهذه النتيجة ستكون نقطة تحول، حدث لنا مرات عديدة في تاريخ برشلونة أن تدفعنا نتيجة سيئة لموسم جيد وناجح وأنا مقتنع بأن هذا سيتكرر، ستساعدنا هذه النتيجة على تقديم أداء أفضل ورؤية الجوانب التي نحتاج لتحسينها، الفريق يتحد وهذا يعجبني”.

وختم لابورتا عن إصابات فريقه :”نستعيد الآن لاعبين مصابين، سيغيب فيرمين لمدة أسبوعين كإجراء احترازي لكن بيدري عاد، خوان جارسيا عاد أيضاً، سيتمكن رافينيا من لعب دقائق أكثر من بيدري، وفي دوري ننافس فيه على الصدارة إذا فزنا ضد ألافيس سنتصدر الجدول”.

Como coach Cesc Fabregas believes that Argentine midfielder Nico Paz should not be restricted, describing him as an incredible talent. The former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder compared Paz to a magician on the pitch, saying he can pull a trick out of his hat at any moment, which is why he should never be “caged”.

Paz's entry into Serie A and his explosion

Paz has quickly become one of Serie A’s brightest young stars since joining from Real Madrid in 2024 for a fee of €6 million (£5.2m/$6.9m). In his debut campaign, he delivered eight goals and six assists, earning the award for the league’s best young player. His impact has only grown stronger this season, where he has already contributed four goals and four assists, showing remarkable consistency and maturity for his age.

A major reason for his rise has been his seamless fit in Fabregas’ system. Fabregas has given him the freedom to dictate the tempo, find pockets of space, and drive the team forward, allowing Paz’s intelligence and technical quality to shine. The coach has even placed him in the “Lionel Messi category” in terms of how opponents react, noting that rival teams do everything they can to stop him from receiving the ball. Paz is now beginning to show that he can be a worthy successor to Messi in the national team as their primary creative force.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesFabregas' praise for Paz

In an interview with , Como coach Fabregas praised Paz, saying the young midfielder does incredible things on the pitch, saying: “Nico does incredible things. He is a footballer capable of pulling a trick out of his hat at any moment.”

Fabregas also highlighted Paz’s versatility and unpredictable nature, explaining that his ability to attempt and execute crazy ideas makes him difficult to contain. For this reason, Fabregas believes Paz should not be restricted this season, adding: “He does crazy things that are unpredictable, which is why he should not be caged.”

Inter's interest in Paz and Madrid's buy back clause

Inter are preparing to make a major statement in the upcoming transfer window by submitting a €58 million (£49m/$63m) bid for Paz. The club view the young midfielder as a long-term partner for Lautaro Martinez and believe his creativity and versatility would strengthen their attack for years to come. However, Inter face a significant obstacle in Madrid. The Spanish giants hold a buy back clause on Paz, reportedly valued at €8 million in 2025, €9 million in 2026 and €10 million in 2027. This contractual leverage gives Madrid the power to either block the move or bring the player back at a fraction of Inter’s proposed offer, complicating the Nerazzurri’s ambitious pursuit.

Como President Mirwan Suwarso addressed Paz's transfer situation, explaining that Real Madrid are fully entitled to re-sign him based on the terms agreed in the original deal. He made it clear that the club respects the arrangement and that the player's future remains his own choice. Suwarso said: “I couldn’t care less. It’s a situation we agreed on from the beginning. Real Madrid are allowed to buy him back whenever they want. It’s up to Nico to decide what he wants to do with his future. We are very happy to have him. We like to build a home for him in Como. He chose to stay this season, and we take it day by day. We see how it goes. Does he go back to Madrid next season? Madrid have every right to do that. Will he stay with us? It’s up to him whether he wants it or not.”

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Getty ImagesPaz’s Central Role in Como’s Success This Season

Paz has been central to Como’s impressive campaign, with the club currently sitting seventh and pushing for European qualification. His performances have directly contributed to key results, including a memorable win over Juventus and a hard-fought draw against defending champions Napoli. With Paz in strong form, Fabregas will aim to shape his system around maximising the midfielder’s impact, ensuring he remains the driving force behind Como’s pursuit of a historic finish.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Cuiabá irá receber o Fortaleza na Arena Pantanal neste domingo (12) para um duelo válido pela 34° rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A bola vai rolar a partir das 18h30 (horário de Brasília) e será o jogo será trasmitido pela Premiere.

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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA

CUIABÁ X FORTALEZA
34° RODADA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO

Data: domingo, 12 de novembro
Horário: 18h30 (horário de Brasília)
Local: Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá (MT)
Onde assistir: Premiere

Arbitragem: Caio Max Augusto Vieira (árbitro); Alex dos Santos e Luis Carlos de Franca Costa (auxiliares); Rafael Odilio Ramos dos Santos (quarto árbitro); Pablo Ramon Goncalves Pinheiro (VAR)

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

CUIABÁ (Técnico: Rogério Ceni)
Marcos Felipe, Gilberto, Kanu, Vitor Hugo e Camilo Cándido; Rezende, Yago Felipe, Yago e Cauly; Biel (Rafael Ratão) e Everaldo

FORTALEZA (Técnico: Juan Pablo Vojvoda)
João Ricardo; Tinga, Titi, Brítez, Bruno Pacheco; Zé Welison, Caio Alexandre, Pochettino; Guilherme, Marinho e Lucero

Arsenal chiefs and sporting director Andrea Berta now want to tie down another player after William Saliba and Bukayo Saka, with the Gunners convinced he’s actually one of the world’s best.

Arsenal in talks with Bukayo Saka after confirming William Saliba deal

Earlier this week, Mikel Arteta expressed his joy after star defender Saliba committed his future to the club.

The Frenchman, who’s been pivotal to Arsenal’s trophy charges since forming an unbreakable partnership with Gabriel in 2022/2023, signed an extension which will keep him in North London until 2030.

Saliba’s defensive prowess was well noted by Real Madrid, who reportedly reached out to his camp over the summer, but the 24-year-old was apparently clear that he wanted to stay at the Emirates Stadium (HandOfArsenal).

Saliba and Gabriel, who also signed a new deal earlier this year, made a summer pact to stay at Arsenal and win major silverware together (HandOfArsenal), with the pair now set to marshal Arteta’s backline for years to come.

After the centre-back, it is reliably reported that Arsenal are confident they’ll agree a new deal with Saka shortly (Fabrizio Romano).

The winger is absolutely crucial to the way Arteta wants to play, with Arsenal dearly missing him midway through last season when Saka was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Arsenal have attempted to manage the 24-year-old’s minutes this season too, taking his hamstring issues into account, but Arteta has little choice but to play Saka far more regularly than he’d hoped with Noni Madueke out injured until late November.

In any case, it is believed that Berta could agree an extension with Saka’s camp by Christmas, and his potential fresh terms could see the England international earn north of £250,000-per-week (Football Transfers).

Now, following an interesting turn of events, Berta is also planning to award defender Jurrien Timber with a brand-new deal too.

Arsenal plan new deal for Jurrien Timber amid behind-scenes praise

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are ready to offer Timber an extension following the Dutchman’s excellent performances — and they believe he’s actually among the world’s best in his position.

Talks with the former Ajax sensation are apparently scheduled for before the end of 2025, with Timber relegating Ben White to the bench and making the right-back spot his own after an injury-ridden debut season in 2023/2024.

The 24-year-old, who can also play at left-back and in the centre of defence, has been invaluable to Arteta since the start of 2024/2025 — making 48 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners last season.

Timber’s done superbly since working his way back from that ACL tear, missing just a handful of games since his recovery, and the full-back’s consistency has been remarkable.

Arteta has called Timber one of the leaders of Arsenal’s group too, piling praise on the Netherlands international after his comeback this time last year.

Former Chelsea and Liverpool striker Fabio Borini has revealed he wanted to sue former club Sampdoria as they did not feed him during a lean patch in his career. Borini's revelations come just weeks after his surprise return to English football with Salford City, who are owned by members from Manchester United's 'Class of '92'. Back on English shores, the Italian will be looking to rebuild his career and rediscover his love for the game after what he describes as one of the darkest periods of his life.

From the Premier League to the depths of despair

Borini’s journey through football has been as turbulent as it has been remarkable. Born in Bentivoglio, Italy, he rose through Bologna’s youth academy before he earned a move to Chelsea. However, his big break came at Roma, which led Liverpool to make a move in 2012. During his time at Anfield, Borini starred in Brendan Rodgers’ squad. He later joined Sunderland, where he became a fan favourite and scored in the 2014 League Cup final loss to Manchester City, before moving on to AC Milan and Hellas Verona in Serie A. But his most difficult chapter came at Sampdoria, whom he joined in 2023 after a successful spell in Turkey with Fatih Karagumruk. His debut season was a hit as he scored nine goals. However, a shift in club management left Borini out in the cold. He suddenly found himself frozen out and, what followed, as he claims, was inhumane treatment.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBorini reveals his struggles in Italy

In an explosive interview with , Borini didn’t hold back as he detailed the emotional and physical toll of his final months in Italy.

"People close to me know how difficult it was because it was a very a strict position taken by the director before even meeting me," he confessed. "He decided that I wasn't right, I wasn't this, I wasn't that, I was a problem in the dressing room, when in reality, I was the dressing room.

"I was keeping them together in the hard times because it's my experience that brings me to do that, and I can do the same here. I was ready to sue the club. I had every paper to sue the club because they can't make me train on my own different times, no food, no involvement with the team, all these little things. So I was very, very, very troubled. I spoke with a friend of mine who was in Sampdoria and lived the same situation, and he said, 'I'm feeling like I'm healing by being away'. And I text him yesterday, and said, 'I'm starting to feel those feelings again'. Because it's a long process."

Fresh start in Salford

Borini has finally found a lifeline in Salford City, co-owned by the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes. The League Two club is already known for its ambition and star-studded ownership, signed Borini earlier this month in what is a coup that will add glamour to lower-league football. 

"It’s been great, I came in to train to keep myself fit in this transition between contracts and Salford, the gaffer, Alex Bruce, were kind enough to allow me to use the facilities and train here," Borini said after the announcement. "Experience is one thing that I can bring, but it’s not just about the experience that I have on the pitch, it’s outside of the pitch so leading by example in training, outside training, how to manage a game. I’ve never played League Two football so I need to learn as well from my team mates the main characteristics of this league, but I will bring myself as an open book for my team mates to use me, learn from me or help me, so I’m very open to this challenge."

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Getty Images SportWhat next for ex-Italy striker?

So far, Borini has featured twice, logging 20 minutes of game time, and though he’s yet to score, his experience should come in handy for Salford. They have set their sights on back-to-back promotions that could eventually take the club to the Championship. They are sitting third in the League Two table, just one point off the top, and Borini's arrival couldn't have come at a better time. 

BCB had requested the UAE board to play the extra game as Bangladesh are still unsure about their Pakistan tour

Mohammad Isam19-May-2025

An additional T20I has been added to Bangladesh’s tour of UAE, making it a three-match series. The third T20I will be played on May 21 in Sharjah, also the venue for the first two games.ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been the one to request for the extra match and the Emirates Cricket Board agreed to it. Bangladesh are, however, still unsure about their next assignment – a T20I tour of Pakistan. This prompted the BCB to keep their team in the UAE, so they could fly to Pakistan directly if that tour goes ahead as scheduled.Bangladesh beat UAE in the first game of the series on Saturday. They had planned this series to be a precursor to their five-match T20I series against Pakistan, which was initially scheduled to start on May 25. But due to the India-Pakistan tensions, the PSL had to be suspended temporarily, which meant the Bangladesh tour also became uncertain.Related

Nahid Rana pulls out of Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan

Waseem and UAE make history after acing 206 chase against Bangladesh

BCB to finalise Pakistan tour based on government directives

Parvez Hossain Emon hits 53-ball hundred as Bangladesh brush off UAE

Bangladesh are all systems go against UAE

Once a ceasefire was announced, a new date for the PSL final was fixed – May 25 – which meant that the Bangladesh tour had to be pushed back. According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board sent the BCB a new draft schedule, which had the first T20I on May 27 and the last one on June 5.The BCB got a directive from the Bangladesh government that the Pakistan tour can go ahead, but the board is now seeking the players’ opinions on the matter. The plan was for the final decision to be made by May 20.

جدد بول سكولز، أسطورة نادي مانشستر يونايتد انتقاده لنجم نادي ليفربول، محمد صلاح، موضحًا أن الدولي المصري يصبح أسوأ لاعب في العالم عندما لا يتمكن من التسجيل.

محمد صلاح يعيش فترة سيئة للغاية خلال هذا الموسم، حيث لم يستطع ابن الـ33 عامًا تسجيل سوى ثلاثة أهداف مع الريدز في جميع المسابقات بالفعل.

وانهالت حدة الانتقادات على محمد صلاح في ظل عجز الدولي المصري عن تسجيل الأهداف، وهو ما دفع المدرب آرني سلوت لإجلاسه كبديل.

سلوت وضع محمد صلاح كبديل خلال مواجهة ليفربول أمام آينتراخت فرانكفورت يوم أمس الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

أقرأ أيضًا .. فيرتز عن مساهمته التهديفية الأولى مع ليفربول: أستطيع تقديم الأفضل

ويرى سكولز في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ديلي ميرور” أن محمد صلاح يلعب بشكل سيئ حقًا ولا يقدم أي إضافة بخلاف التسجيل.

وقال سكولز عن محمد صلاح: “حتى عندما كان يسجل الأهداف كان يبدو سيئًا للغاية في لعبه، الكرة ترتد من قدمه، إنه يفعل بعض أسوأ الأشياء التي تراها لكنه كان يسجل الأهداف”.

وأضاف حديثه: “عندما تتوقف عن التسجيل، ترى كل تلك الأشياء الأخرى، إذا توقف عن التسجيل، سيضطر سلوت إلى إبعاده عن التشكيل الأساسي في وقت ما”.

واختتم سكولز تصريحاته قائلًا: “قد يكون محمد صلاح أسوأ, أفضل لاعب كرة قدم في العالم”.

ويقصد سكولز أن محمد صلاح أسوأ لاعب تم وصفه بالأفضل في العالم، على حد وصفه.

وعول سلوت على خدمات فلوريان فيرتز في مركز الجناح الأيمن، وذلك بدلًا من محمد صلاح بالإضافة إلى الاعتماد على ثنائي خط هجوم وهم هوجو إيكتيكي ، وألكسندر إيزاك.

Chelsea wanted to sign a new centre-back in the summer transfer window and were actively exploring options, following Levi Colwill’s disastrous ACL injury which is expected to keep him out for a large portion of 2025/2026.

Enzo Maresca even publicly asked the club to bring in a new central defender, and they were actively pursuing a deal for Dean Huijsen before the Spaniard ultimately opted for Real Madrid.

While the Italian later backtracked on this message, claiming an internal solution was the only option, it is crystal clear from Maresca’s statement there that he’s not happy with Chelsea’s current defensive options.

Colwill’s injury has left them light in that area, with Wesley Fofana also having struggled for consistent fitness since his £70 million move from Leicester City three years ago.

Joao Pedro

Noni Madueke

Jamie Gittens

João Félix

Jorrel Hato

Djordje Petrovic

Liam Delap

Lesley Ugochukwu

Dario Essugo

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Mamadou Sarr

Renato Veiga

Estevao

Armando Broja

Kendry Paez

Carney Chukwuemeka

Alejandro Garnacho

Mathis Amougou

Basir Humphreys

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Marcus Bettinelli

Christopher Nkunku

Nicolas Jackson (obligation to buy in 2026)

Alfie Gilchrist

Lucas Bergstrom

Ben Chilwell

Axel Disasi is part of the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ with Raheem Sterling, and while Benoit Badiashile has returned to first-team training this week, it is unclear how ready he is to feature for Maresca.

Summer signing Jorrel Hato can play centre-back but is primarily viewed as a left-back and alternative to Marc Cucurella, leaving little wonder why Maresca was so keen on another option to bolster the heart of his defence.

With the UK window closing on September 1, this could still be on the agenda for 2026, with journalist Graeme Bailey reporting that they’re big fans of Club Brugge starlet Joel Ordonez.

Chelsea send officials on midweek mission with Joel Ordonez set to leave Brugge

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey states that Chelsea scouts were sent to run the rule over Ordonez during Ecuador’s 1-0 win over Argentina on Wednesday.

Enner Valencia scored the only game of the game as both Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Otamendi were sent off during a tense affair, but Ordonez managed to help Ecuador keep a clean sheet against the world champions.

The 21-year-old, according to reports, is valued at around £40 million by Brugge, and Bailey says that Ordonez is “almost certain” to leave in 2026 amid interest from Chelsea.

Tottenham have also been credited with an interest in the “huge talent”, with his mooted summer move to Marseille falling through. It could only be a matter of time before he’s plying his trade in the Premier League, and Ordonez ticks nearly every box.