AGENT Ali Barat has emerged as a key figure in Chelsea’s transfer window.
Not least because the Blues future of one of his star clients, Nicolas Jackson, will be a major issue in the coming days and weeks.
XAli Barat has been a key figure in Chelsea’s transfer window[/caption]
GettyThe future of Nicolas Jackson is still yet to be decided[/caption]
Dubai-based Barat looked pretty relaxed sitting in the owners’ box at Stamford Bridge for the friendly against Bayer Leverkusen.
Especially when you consider Jackson’s omission from the matchday squad further fuelled talk that the Senegal striker could be on his way.
As well as managing that situation, Barat is also working for Chelsea target Xavi Simons to seal him a move to the Premier League.
And that has meant him getting involved with the Blues’ attempts to sell players like Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka and Tyrique George to the German side.
Barat was also instrumental in the deal that took Noni Madueke to Arsenal for a fee of £52m which will be very handy when it comes to balancing the books to comply with Uefa rules.
But there is plenty more business to be done at Stamford Bridge and you can expect Barat to be at the heart of it.
And whatever happens with Jackson, he will retain a strong powerbase at Chelsea.
Barat was named Best Agent at the 2023 Golden Boy awards, after overseeing the deal worth up to £115m that took his client Moises Caicedo from Brighton to the Blues.
That was also the year Chelsea agreed to sign Ecuador wonderkid Kendry Paez. The Epic client moved to the club this summer after turning 18 and was sent out on loan to sister club Strasbourg for the season.
Barat, who also worked on Dean Huijsen’s move from Bournemouth to Real Madrid this summer, is being given the “super-agent” tag once applied to former Stamford Bridge gatekeepers like Jorge Mendes and Pini Zahavi.
ACCESS ALL AREAS
PREMIER LEAGUE fans watching from home will be hearing from players and managers DURING the game this season – and Chelsea could be the pioneers.
An update to the Premier League’s ‘Section K’ rules for the new broadcast deal this season means clubs will have to offer a higher level of access to cameras on at least two occasions this season.
GettySky Sports will have better access to players and managers from this season[/caption]
There are three new elements.
Either the manager speaking at half-time, so long as their team are winning, cameras being allowed into the dressing room, or a player who has been substituted off being interviewed while the game is going on.
Clubs have to notify the Premier League and broadcasters ahead of their TV fixtures whether they intend to offer up this access.
Chelsea host Crystal Palace live on Sky Sports this Sunday and are considering being quick out of the blocks with the new feature.
SUMMER SALES
WHILE everyone has been quick to criticise Chelsea’s spending, they have become very adept at selling.
A number of senior figures at rival clubs have been privately impressed by the Blues when it comes to moving players on, this summer especially.
Instagram @burnleyofficialArmando Broja left Chelsea to join Burnley this season[/caption]
They are also being rather smart when it comes to structuring deals.
Burnley have signed Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja for a combined £35million.
And the Blues have been generous when it comes to the terms of the transfers, with lower payments up front.
Further instalments are due in January and then spread across their respective contracts.
However, if Burnley were relegated and felt the need to sell either player, they would have to pay Chelsea the full balance of the fee, which would give the Blues a cashflow boost.
NOT FOR KEEPS
SPECULATION continues about a Chelsea bid for Gianluigi Donnarunna but the Blues are not in the market for a new goalkeeper in the remainder of the transfer window.
And recent claims that Filip Jorgensen is seeking to leave after only a year at the club are also thought to be unfounded.
GettyChelsea are not expected to move for Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer[/caption]
Jorgensen, 23, played every game bar one of the Blues’ victorious Conference League campaign last season.
But when the Dane was given his chance in the Premier League in February, errors in the defeats by Brighton and Aston Villa led to Robert Sanchez regaining the No1 position.
A number of clubs are believed to have enquired about Jorgensen’s availability for sale or loan in the current transfer window.
But he has no interest in quitting Stamford Bridge and is confident of being given the opportunity to challenge Sanchez for the No 1 spot again.
VAO ABOUT THAT
WHEN Blues boss Enzo Maresca talked about “punishing” teenage sensation Estevao, some fans’ imagination went into overdrive.
The Brazilian winger is already a crowd favourite at the Bridge after scoring and generally looking brilliant on his debut in the Leverkusen friendly.
GettyEnzo Maresca joked that Estevao was ‘punished’ after joining Chelsea for scoring against the Blues in the Club World Cup[/caption]
But Maresca joked that Estevao’s new team-mates made it clear when he first arrived at Cobham that they had not forgotten him netting for former club Palmeiras against Chelsea in the Club World Cup quarter final.
Maresca told the Men in Blazers YouTube channel: “We punished him when he arrived, because he scored against us.”
Some supporters speculated that Estevao might have been forced to endure the tunnel run of slaps, which is said to be a common form of light-hearted training ground discipline.
But the word is that Maresca was being absolutely tongue in cheek about any kind of retribution being taken on the wonderkid.
CAPTAIN’S ORDERS
TALKING of pretend outrage, Cole Palmer has let good mate Tosin Adarabioyo know that he was not impressed with the defender being trusted with the Chelsea captaincy before he got to wear it himself.
Tosin posted snaps to Instagram of himself wearing the armband in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, after taking it from Moises Caicedo when the midfielder was substituted.
GettyCole Palmer is keen to get his hands on the Chelsea captain’s armband[/caption]
Palmer was quick to comment on the post, saying: “Wait how on earth have you got the armband before me???”
The pair’s friendship has been well documented, as has the leadership of Tosin in the dressing room and on the pitch since his arrival for free from neighbours Fulham.
He is one of a fair few players who have worn the armband for Chelsea in this squad, including of course captain Reece James, vice-captain Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah.
Palmer is clearly keen on being one of the next to have the honour.
