Lionel Messi, David Beckham and Kylian Mbappe have all been snubbed by Pierre Gasly as the Formula 1 star picks his personal Paris Saint-Germain hero.
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Famous faces passed through French capital
Racing star has always been a big fan
Idolised Portuguese striker growing up
Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
The 28-year-old is an avid PSG supporter and has followed them closely since the age of five. He has seen many iconic figures pass through Parc des Princes in that time. Some of those, such as Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, cemented his love for the Ligue 1 outfit.
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He has also watched South American superstars Messi and Neymar grace the books in Paris, while World Cup winner Mbappe is only now departing for Real Madrid, with Gasly enjoying the unpredictability of sport at the very highest level.
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WHAT GASLY SAID
Alpine driver Gasly has told the : “I've been a massive PSG fan since I was five years old. I remember the days of Pauleta. There was Ronaldinho; Ibra came over, Beckham came over. You can name all the superstars – Messi, Neymar, Mbappe. I've supported every single season and I will always support the team, no matter what. But this is football, anything can happen. Look at the Euros… as much as we like to predict the outcome of matches, how can we be sure? That's the beauty of sport – anything is possible. So long as you get a shot, you have to believe in it. Maybe, then, next year will be the one for the Champions League trophy.”
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Gasly added when asked to pick his PSG hero, having had to pick between football and racing in his younger years: “It's tough but if I need to pick one out, it will be Pauleta. I looked up to him when I was a kid. I played football from when I was five until I was 11 and Pauleta was very iconic. Then I had to take a decision between football and racing, basically. I think I picked the right sport for my life!”
Centuries from Chris Dent and Ryan Higgins put promotion contenders Gloucestershire into a strong position on the second day against Derbyshire at Derby.Dent scored 169, his fourth hundred of the season, and shared a Gloucestershire record sixth-wicket stand against Derbyshire of 221 with Higgins, who made 101, as the visitors closed on 396 for 7, a lead of 196.New Zealand allrounder Logan van Beek dismissed them both and Ravi Rampaul took two more wickets but it was a tough day for Derbyshire who will have to bat well to deny Gloucestershire victory.Gloucestershire’s objective at the start was to bat all day and Dent led by example as he played watchfully throughout a tense morning session.Derbyshire made him work hard for the 32 runs he scored before lunch as the seamers maintained a disciplined line with Fynn Hudson-Prentice opening with five consecutive maidens.But Dent was prepared to play a waiting game with his only lapse in concentration coming when he miscued a pull at Rampaul that fell to safety.Miles Hammond was not so fortunate when he wafted at a wide ball in Rampaul’s next over and was caught behind, but that was Derbyshire’s only success before the interval.Tom Smith was struck on the helmet by Rampaul but was able to continue and although Dent survived a difficult chance low to Wayne Madsen at first slip on 51, there were few false strokes as he batted his side into a strong position.Derbyshire had a chance to deny Gloucestershire a sizeable lead when Smith played on to Matt Critchley and Ben Charlesworth was caught behind off Rampaul in the next over but Higgins was positive from the start, pulling Rampaul for six, as the visitors regained the initiative.Dent celebrated his 18th first-class hundred when he glanced van Beek for his 10th four and although Madsen got his fingers to another tough chance on the stroke of tea, he had given the bowlers little encouragement.Derbyshire took the new ball straight after the interval but after 10 overs, turned to the occasional left-arm spin of Leus du Plooy, perhaps to try and induce a rash stroke, as a breakthrough looked increasingly unlikely.Dent went to 150 by cutting Hudson-Prentice for his 17th four and after the 200 stand was posted in 46 overs, Higgins turned van Beek for a single to complete a century which had come off 129 balls.Dent finally went to the next ball as he chased a wide one and in van Beek’s next over, Higgins played across the line and was lbw.But with two days left in the match and the forecast good, Gloucestershire have a great chance of claiming the win that would take them a step closer to Division One.
Celtic turn their attention away from Scottish Premiership action this afternoon as they travel away from Parkhead to take on St Mirren in the SFA Cup.
The Hoops hammered Buckie Thistle 5-0 in the last round of the competition but now come up against a fellow top-flight team, who could put up a tougher fight.
Brendan Rodgers' side are coming into this match off the back of a 2-1 win at Easter Road against Hibernian in the Premiership on Wednesday night, thanks to two penalties from deadline day signing Adam Idah.
The former Liverpool and Leicester boss, however, may make some alterations to the starting XI from that match to offer opportunities to other players and keep his squad fresh.
With this in mind, Rodgers could go with a 4-2-3-1 formation and make up to six changes to his side. Here is FFC's full predicted Hoops XI to take on St Mirren…
1 Joe Hart
Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Former Manchester City star Joe Hart could keep his place between the sticks despite it being a cup match. He started in the previous round against Buckie Thistle, keeping a clean sheet, which suggests that the manager is not eager to provide Scott Bain with an opportunity in this competition.
2 Anthony Ralston
Celtic defender Anthony Ralston.
Alistair Johnston's head injury looks set to open up a spot at right-back for another player to get an opportunity to impress, and that player could be Anthony Ralston as the first change to the XI.
The Scottish defender was brought on for the Canadian in the ninth minute on Wednesday night and put in a solid shift – winning six of his nine duels throughout the match.
3 Maik Nawrocki
Former Legia Warsaw defender Maik Nawrocki.
Another enforced change could come at the heart of the defence. Stephen Welsh suffered a hamstring injury against Hibs on Wednesday and is now a doubt for this game.
His absence would allow Polish colossus Maik Nawrocki to come in as the second change to the starting XI for his second start in this competition.
The 23-year-old titan has been solid enough in his eight Premiership appearances so far this season, with a ground duel success rate of 65% and a pass success rate of 87%.
4 Liam Scales
Liam Scales in action for Celtic.
Alongside the summer signing from Legia Warsaw, Liam Scales could keep his place on the left side of the centre-back pairing after a solid display last time out.
The former Aberdeen loanee's Transfermarkt value has soared by a staggering 233%, from €600k to €2m, since Rodgers returned to Parkhead last summer.
5 Alexandro Bernabei
Celtic defender Alexandro Bernabei.
At left-back, Greg Taylor's continued absence means that Alexandro Bernabei is the only natural, senior, option in this position. This could allow him to keep his place in the defence, for now.
6 Odin Thiago Holm
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
At the base of the midfield, Odin Thiago Holm could be unleashed to provide Matt O'Riley with a rest as the Danish magician has started 24 league matches and the previous SFA Cup clash with Buckie Thistle.
The young whiz was once described as a "huge talent" by scout Jacek Kulig and Celtic may have to wait to feel the full benefit of that as the 21-year-old is still in the early stages of his development.
Holm has only started twice in the Premiership but has provided one assist and created two 'big chances' in his eight appearances in the division.
This match is another opportunity for him to gain valuable minutes to help his growth and convince Rodgers that he deserves more time on the pitch moving forward.
7 Callum McGregor
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor.
Alongside the Norwegian talent, captain Callum McGregor could retain his spot to provide leadership and reliability in midfield next to the inexperienced Holm.
8 Liel Abada
Celtic winger Liel Abada.
On the right of the midfield trio behind the striker, Liel Abada could return to the team ahead of January signing Nicolas Kuhn after the German struggled on Wednesday.
The former Bayern Munich prospect failed to register a single shot on goal or chance created in 65 minutes on the pitch, which illustrates his lack of impact on the match in the final third.
Abada, who assisted Kyogo Furuhashi's goal against Buckie Thistle in the last round, could be provided a chance to stake a claim for his place on the flank.
9 Kyogo Furuhashi
Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi.
In the number ten position in this 4-2-3-1 line-up, Kyogo could be brought back into the starting XI in place of Paulo Bernardo, who could drop out in order for Rodgers to line up with a dynamic duo in the final third.
The Japan international, instead of being the lone striker in the side, could play in the hole behind Adam Idah and work off the Irish marksman's hold-up play.
This could alleviate the issues sometimes caused by Kyogo's lack of physicality when he is up front on his own. The 29-year-old forward has lost 78% of his aerial battles and 59% of his duels in total across 25 Premiership appearances so far this season for Celtic.
He would not have to contend with as many physical battles against opposition centre-backs as a number ten, which could allow him to focus on his actions in possession to attempt to find the back of the net or create for one of his teammates.
10 Luis Palma
Celtic forward Luis Palma.
The final change to the XI could come on the left flank with Luis Palma being brought back into the side to replace Daizen Maeda, who struggled against Hibernian.
23/24 Premiership
Luis Palma
Daizen Maeda
Appearances
20
18
Key passes per game
3.2
0.5
Big chances created
12
Four
Assists
Nine
Two
Stats via Sofascore
FFC published an article explaining why the Honduras international could supercharge Idah with his sublime creativity in the final third, which is illustrated in the table above.
Manchester United romped their way to a relatively comfortable win at Old Trafford as they swept West Ham United away with a 3-0 victory on Sunday.
Whilst the away side spurned a few opportunities of their own to find the back of the net, Erik ten Hag's men deserved their win as they were ruthless in front of goal.
Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring and Alejandro Garnacho added two to secure all three points for United, in a result that takes them to sixth in the Premier League table.
Whilst the two goalscorers will rightfully take the headlines with their outstanding performances, Casemiro was the unsung hero with an equally impressive display in the midfield for ten Hag.
Hojlund and Garnacho's match-winning brilliance
The young dynamic duo proved to be the match-winners with their three combined strikes to ensure that their side came away with the win on Sunday.
Hojlund, who won six of his 11 duels, was incredibly sharp for the opening goal with a fantastic shift inside of the defender before rattling the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Garnacho's goal to make it 2-0 had a touch of fortune as the winger came inside and fired in a shot that deflected in off Nayef Aguerd's torso.
Shots
Two
Goals
Two
Dribbles completed
One
Key passes
Three
Assists
Zero
The Argentine forward then wrapped up the three points with a composed finish into the far corner after Scott McTominay played him through on the right of the box after Kalvin Phillips was dispossessed in midfield.
Casemiro's midfield dominance
Casemiro was also exceptional for United as his performance played a crucial role in their success against the Hammers on Sunday at Old Trafford.
The Brazil international caught the eye with his contributions in and out of possession, as he looked sharp throughout the 90 minutes on the pitch.
His assist for the opening goal was terrific and epitomised his performance in the middle of the park; aggressive, forward-thinking, and strong. He pushed up into the final third to slide in and win the ball ahead of the Hammers defender, as you can see in the clip below, and provided Hojlund with the chance to run at the backline and score.
Casemiro, who had 99 touches of the ball in total, won three tackles and made one block, one interception, and five clearances throughout the game.
The former Real Madrid colossus completed 86% of his attempted passes and six of his eight long pass attempts, which shows that he was reliable in possession of the ball to go along with his impressive defensive work.
This was a much-needed performance from the 31-year-old titan after he missed a 'big chance', was dribbled past four times, and gave away a penalty in the 4-3 win over Wolves in his last appearance.
Casemiro stepped up and dominated in and out of possession in midfield and set the tone for United with his superb challenge for Hojlund's goal to kickstart the scoring, which is why he was the unsung hero of the game alongside the two match-winners at the top end of the pitch.
O técnico Roger Machado foi taxativo ao opinar sobre as paralisações de estaduais devido à escalada da pandemia de Covid-19. Em entrevista coletiva após o triunfo por 1 a 0 do Fluminense sobre o Bangu, neste sábado, em São Januário, o comandante frisou.
-O que eu penso é que o futebol não pode ficar à parte das necessidades importantes que sejam tomadas em função da pandemia. Sabemos como o Brasil está, com as UTIs cheias, cheias de lotação – e destacou:
– Ano passado, quando a pandemia começou, eu me posicionei afirmando que quando tudo parasse, não tinha com o futebol seguir. O futebol deve obedecer e seguir as regras para que a gente consiga superar. Se for necessário parar, vamos parar, sim. Para evitarmos perdas de vidas, já que os números são muito altos – completou.
O Fluminense volta a campo nesta terça-feira, para enfrentar o Boavista, às 18h, em Bacaxá.
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Arsenal now reportedly find themselves in pole position to sign a £60 million star as a report from the English press shares news this week.
Edu's rumoured transfer plans for January
Gunners sporting director Edu and club chiefs are rumoured to be interested in a new striker, midfielder and two full-backs as we approach January (The Independent).
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However, after spending over £200 million in the summer, Arsenal will have to tread with caution surrounding FFP regulations, and not fly too close to the sun.
It's believed manager Mikel Arteta may be forced to compromise on a couple of the aforementioned positions. Other reports suggest that Arsenal are keen to sign Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz, with Thomas Partey proving unreliable when it comes injuries this season.
The Ghanaian will travel to represent his country at AFCON next year, which will leave them a bit short in the middle of the park, while both Mohamed Elneny and Jorginho's deals expire in the summer.
In terms of a striker, Arsenal's main target appears to be Brentford star Ivan Toney. The 27-year-old was one of the Premier League's top goalscorers last season, and Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Arsenal are holding internal talks over signing Toney next month.
Bees director Lee Dykes, speaking to the press recently, has also admitted the Englishman could leave Brentford "very shortly".
"There will be lots of interest in Ivan in January," Dykes told club media (via 90min).
Ivan Toney strengths
Ivan Toney weaknesses
Aerial duels
Offside awareness
Direct free-kicks
Passing
Through balls
Finishing
(via WhoScored)
"Naturally, there should be. He was the third-highest Premier League goalscorer last season – one of them [Harry Kane] has gone to Germany now, so he’s up there as one of the best strikers in the division. He is in the top five in the world, in my opinion.
"So there should be interest, and maybe the time comes very shortly that Ivan moves on to another club. But they will have to pay a decent transfer fee to acquire his services because he is some talent.”
The north Londoners appear a very viable destination for Toney mid-season, with the forward set to return from his ban for alleged gambling breaches mid-way through January.
Arsenal in pole position for Toney
According to The Independent and reliable journalist Miguel Delaney, Arsenal are "leading the chase" to sign Toney in January despite the presence of Chelsea and Tottenham.
In a further boost, Brentford are willing to do business, as highlighted by Dykes' public statement, but interested clubs will have to pay an initial £60 million to sign him – which could rise to £80m with add-ons.
£60m could actually be a reasonable fee where Arsenal are concerned, especially since Sky Sports were claiming he'd cost around £100m. Toney's 20-goal haul last term isn't the only draw for Arsenal either, with Jermaine Pennant even once tipping him to be a "better Ian Wright".
“I’ve said a few times that Toney would be a great signing for Arsenal," said the former Liverpool star (via TEAMtalk and The Express).
"He’d be a newer, better Ian Wright! It would be a walk in the park for him and he’d boost Arsenal."
Imagine being one of the biggest names in world cricket, but still unable to find a place in the playing XI when it comes to the IPL. Dale Steyn is a prime example. Given that an IPL team can field a maximum of four overseas players each game, Steyn – arguably the greatest fast bowler of this era – has been left cheering his side from the dugout on many occasions in the past.Martin Guptill may not hold the same cult status as Steyn, but his T20I record is right up there with the very best. While he didn’t get any bids during the auction ahead of the 2017 season, Guptill, the second-highest run-getter in T20Is, was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for his base price of INR 1 crore (USD 140,000) this time around. Guptill, though, knows he might have to wait to make his Sunrisers debut.”It’s funny. When I come here I don’t expect to play straight away,” Guptill said on the eve of Sunrisers’ first home game of the season, against Rajasthan Royals. “It was the same when I was with Kings XI [Punjab in 2017]; I didn’t play straightaway. Just sit back and watch, and try to do as much as I can to help the guys who are playing.”I got an opportunity to play with Mumbai a couple of years ago and Kings XI the next year. I had the year off last year, and coming here this year, I am looking to forward to hopefully getting an opportunity when the time comes but it’s one of those things; you bide your time until you get selected.”However, Guptill doesn’t get too worried about what happens during auctions.”I have been up in the auction a few times and I have been picked up but when I go into the auction, I go in with reasonably low expectations. If I get picked up, that’s great and if I don’t get picked up, then I am not too disappointed.”Of late, Guptill’s form has been a bit up and down. During the ODI series against India at home, he managed just 47 runs in four innings. A disc injury then kept him out of the T20I series, before he regained fitness and struck form with back-to-back ODI hundreds against Bangladesh.Guptill revealed that a couple of flaws had crept into his batting which he ironed out with the help of his Auckland coach Mark O’Donnell.”I had a few issues with something in my game during the India series at home. There were a couple of balance issues. I wasn’t loading up properly in my sit up and that was causing me to play different lines than what I would have liked to. But I watched a lot of footage of what I was doing at that time and what I was doing previously that was working for me.”I managed to work on those hard and come on the other side and got a couple of centuries against Bangladesh. I am just looking to carry on that sort of rhythm and form that I had there and if I get an opportunity to play, hopefully I can translate that in the middle.”While he may or may not get a chance to play for Sunrisers soon, Guptill is looking forward to facing the likes of Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi at the nets, which he believes will help him firm his plans for the World Cup.”I haven’t faced Rashid yet but I have played with him in the CPL a couple of years ago. He’s an amazing bowler, very hard to face because he bowls so quick. I am looking forward to batting against him in the nets and figuring out how to play him because we got them [Afghanistan] second [third] game at the World Cup this year. So I will be trying to face him in the nets so that I can put some plans in place before I face him at the World Cup.”
Folarin Balogun has unleashed a brand new look ahead of a return to action as AS Monaco look set to qualify for Champions League.
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Balogun opts for dramatic new lookHas head shaved ahead of final fixturesForward remaining "calm" despite goal droughtWHAT HAPPENED?
The former Arsenal striker might not be having the best of seasons on the football pitch but his style game remains on point. Usually known for his short and dense spread, Balogun has now gone for a radical transformation and has been happy to show off his latest cut.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT BALOGUN SAID
Sharing his new look, Balogun posted a picture on his Instagram story and wrote: "Calmm".
@balogun InstagramTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Balogun will need to remain "calm" on the pitch too due to a drop in form after a spectacular 2022-23 season where he scored 22 goals in 39 appearances. His returns have dwindled in this campaign as he has managed to find the net just eight times in 30 appearances across competitions.
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Despite Balogun's dip in productivity, Monaco are second in the league standings and another victory would see them finish as runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. The top three sides qualify directly for the Champions League group stage for the next season and Monaco should be among them.
Everton have finally turned a corner under Sean Dyche to steer themselves away from the relegation zone and onwards towards mid-table comforts. On the pitch, the Toffees have enjoyed an excellent last month or so, advancing in the Carabao Cup against Burnley as well as losing just once in their last five Premier League games, which came at Anfield in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, when their performance arguably deserved a point.
Whilst the threat of a points deduction still lurks, it may well be Everton's current form that keeps them up come the end of the campaign. If they avoid any further punishment alongside a potential deduction too, the Toffees could be in a position to land one specific Serie A target during the January transfer window.
Everton transfer news
Considering their financial difficulties, Everton did well in the summer to recruit a number of players for Dyche. The former Burnley manager was able to welcome the likes of Jack Harrison, Beto, Arnaut Danjuma and Ashley Young, who have all played their part so far this season. If 777 Partners complete their takeover of the club, we could yet see more arrivals at Goodison Park and that could include a deal from Serie A.
According to TeamTalk, Everton are set to make an offer to sign Samuel Iling-Junior, who has found himself out-of-favour at Juventus. The winger has made just four appearances all season and now looks set to move on amid reported interest from the Merseyside club, as well as Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham.
At just 20-years-old, the Englishman looks likely to have a big decision to make in January. At this stage, after failing to receive enough game-time at Juventus, minutes on the pitch should be the key to his decision and that's something Everton could offer over the likes of Spurs and Aston Villa.
"Menace" Iling-Junior could hand Everton a surprise boost
If Everton can convince Iling-Junior to choose them over fellow Premier League sides, then Dyche could be handed an unexpected boost. The winger may still be young, but the fact that the Chelsea academy star got the move to Juventus in the first place says all you need to know about the talent that he has at his disposal. Iling-Junior's stats when compared to Everton's current wingers show that he is more than capable of keeping up with those more experienced, too.
Player
Progressive Carries Per 90
Progressive Passes Per 90
Goals + Assists Per 90
Samuel Iling-Junior
5.38
2.31
0.77
Jack Harrison
2.24
1.63
0.82
Dwight McNeil
3.16
2.37
0.13
From those stats, it's clear that Iling-Junior would also only benefit from more game-time. During limited minutes on the pitch for Juventus this season, he has already produced impressive numbers. Now, if he received consistent starts for a side like Everton, then those numbers would only improve to create one of Dyche's best offensive options.
Iling-Junior has been at the centre of praise at times whilst in Italy, including from U23 scout and journalist Antonio Mango, who posted on X: "Was handed a surprise start at the weekend, away to a touch Atalanta team. He scored the opening goal and was a constant menace throughout the game. High energy and work volume as well as dreamy ball skills. Definitely one to watch"
Chelsea have recently been linked with a swoop for Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and a reliable journalist has now delivered the chances of him joining in January.
Kvaratskhelia profiled
Kvaratskhelia is naturally a left-winger who has plied his trade at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium since last summer having joined from Dinamo Batumi where he’s so far gone on to make a total of 61 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Kvaratskhelia statistics).
The Georgia international still has just under four years remaining on his deal in the Serie A (Napoli contracts), but that hasn’t stopped chiefs from wanting to keep an eye on his displays considering the outstanding form he’s been in since the start of the season.
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Chelsea could land this supremely talented youngster in the January transfer window.
ByTom Griffin Nov 23, 2023
Walter Mazzarri’s 22-year-old has established himself as his overall best-performing player so far this term with a match rating of 7.49 (WhoScored – Napoli statistics), with his impressive form seeing him being brought onto the radar at Stamford Bridge.
Back in November, ESPN reported that Todd Boehly and Mauricio Pochettino were one of the clubs chasing the attacker, alongside the likes of Premier League rivals Manchester City, Newcastle, Barcelona and Real Madrid, but if the following update is to be believed, it sounds like a move won’t be taking place anytime soon.
Chelsea not set to sign Kvaratskhelia
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano revealed that while Chelsea are admirers of Kvaratskhelia, there are not in any ongoing discussions to sign him. Quoted by Football Transfers, he said:
“From what I am hearing, Chelsea have not started any kind of contact for Kvaratskhelia. Not on the player’s side and not with Napoli, so the situation is completely quiet.
"Nothing is going to happen in January because Kvaratskhelia is not for sale in the January transfer window, and for Napoli, with the dangerous situation with Victor Osimhen, their idea is to keep Kvaratskhelia. At the moment, between Chelsea and Kvaratskhelia, there is absolutely nothing concrete in terms of negotiations or talks.”
Napoli forwardKhvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Kvaratskhelia's impact in the final third
During his time at Napoli, Kvaratskhelia has posted 40 contributions, 22 assists and 18 goals, in 61 appearances (Transfermarkt – Kvaratskhelia statistics), but even if the end product isn’t always there, he’s constantly posing a threat to the opposition's defence.
Sponsored by Nike, the two-footed talent currently ranks in the 97th percentile for progressive carries (FBRef – Kvaratskhelia statistics), highlighting his desire to push his team as high up the pitch as possible to create chances for himself and his fellow teammates in the final third.
Mazzarri’s £25k-per-week earner (Napoli salaries), is even a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions over the grass since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and as an attacking midfielder.
Furthermore, Kvaratskhelia has received plenty of individual recognition in the past having been named Napoli’s Player of the Year and Georgia’s Football of the Year on three separate occasions, so Chelsea could be making a mistake by not pursuing a deal for the forward in January.