Chelsea considering bid for James Rodriguez

Could this Real Madrid man soon be on his way to Stamford Bridge?. The Real Madrid man is also a target for Man City, according to reports

Football transfer rumours: James Rodríguez to Manchester City or Chelsea?

Chelsea are considering a bid for James Rodriguez, according to reports in Spain.

The Real Madrid star could be on his way out of the club this summer, with reports claiming the Spanish side are willing to listen to offers for the Colombia international.

He hasn’t had the greatest of times in Madrid since his move to the club from Monaco back in 2014 and it looks like after two years struggling in La Liga, he is ready to look for a new challenge.

Chelsea is one option, with the Blues still believing he has the talent to become a big star and succeed in England. Rivals Man City are also keeping a close eye on the situation and considering launching a bid of their own. Even Man United have been linked.

PSG looking at the Colombian

He has yet to try out English football and it is unclear whether or not he could cope with the demands of the Premier League. However, he coped well on the World stage with Colombia in 2014 and impressed in France.

It’s only for Madrid in Spain where has struggled a bit more and that could be down to having so many world-class players all fighting for the same positions, leading to a lack of opportunities.

Over in France, PSG are considering bringing the 24-year old back to Ligue 1, where he impressed for Monaco. PSG of course could match any offer that City or Chelsea placed for him and a move would therefore ultimately depend on where the player himself wanted to move to.

Michy Batshuayi is set to join Chelsea FC

Michy Batshuayi Tunga is a Belgian footballer who plays for French club Marseille and the Belgian national team as a striker. He began his professional career at Standard Liège in 2011, scoring 44 goals in 120 games across all competitions. Wikipedia.

CONFIRMED : Medical done for OM striker Michy #Batshuayi at Château du Haillan (Bordeaux) with Chelsea medical staff. #CFC @TweetChelseaFC

Michy Batshuayi passes Chelsea medical

Young Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi is yet another step closer to becoming a Chelsea player this afternoon, after passing his backflip-test medical with the club (conducted at Belgium's Euro 2016 base camp in Bordeaux).

Batshuayi has taken quite a few steps quite quickly towards making this transfer a reality over the past 24 hours.  From nothing to something faster than you can say SIGN ALL THE BELGIANS!

And speaking of signing, all that's left now is to sign on the dotted line.  Presumably that can happen sooner rather than later -- perhaps tonight already considering that the 22-year-old was excused from his previously scheduled press conference duties with the national team.

I'd expect we hear official confirmation from either Chelsea or Marseille, or both, very soon.

Where would Michy Batshuayi fit in under Antonio Conte at Chelsea?

Chelsea are closing in on a move for Michy Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi is set to join Chelsea from Ligue 1 club Marseille, according to Sky sources.

Batshuayi, who is currently playing at Euro 2016 with Belgium, has been linked with a host of clubs after scoring 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season.

The 22-year-old has attracted offers from West Ham and Crystal Palace, while Belgium team-mate Toby Alderweireld said that he hoped Batshuayi would join him at Tottenham next season.

Chelsea set to sign Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi is set to join Chelsea from Marseille, according to Sky sources

But he is close to becoming new Blues boss Antonio Conte's first signing - and could be given special dispensation to have a Chelsea medical while in Bordeaux, where Belgium are preparing for their quarter-final with France.

How would he fit in under Conte at Stamford Bridge next season? Here, we take a look...

Factfile

Name: Michy Batshuayi

Age: 22

Nationality: Belgian

Position: Striker

Background

Nicknamed "Batsman", Batshuayi is of Congolese origin, but was born and raised in Brussels. He made his first-team debut at Standard Liege aged 18, before going on to score 39 goals in 97 Belgian Pro League games during a three-year spell, including 21 in his final season.

His impressive form earned him a £4.5m move to Marseille in July 2014 where he has since scored 33 goals in 78 appearances.

Style of play

Batshuayi can use both feet and his dribbling ability has left defences all over France in tatters. He may be only 5ft 11in, but he possesses the upper-body strength to win physical battles with centre-halves. His style has drawn comparisons with another Stade Velodrome and Chelsea favourite - Didier Drogba.

The Belgium international ghosts in behind unsuspecting backlines and his ability to bring others into play makes him the ideal focal point up top.

Where would he fit in?

Since Jose Mourinho's arrival at the club in 2004, Chelsea have notoriously struggled to accommodate more than one top striker at the club at any one time.

First, there were problems in trying to fit Andriy Shevchenko alongside Drogba, followed by a similar issue with Fernando Torres a few years later.

Diego Costa is the main man at Stamford Bridge now, and has played pretty much exclusively as a lone striker since arriving in 2014. He did, however, play for several years at Atletico Madrid alongside another forward (Radamel Falcao or David Villa) and he certainly possesses the skill-set to do so again.

Batshuayi could play up front alongside Diego Costa


New boss Antonio Conte is also not afraid to deploy a system containing two strikers, and has done so to great effect with Italy so far at Euro 2016. He has set his team out in a 3-5-2 formation, a system he also implemented during his time at Juventus.

Chelsea are not in Europe next season, meaning they could have as few as 40 games to play, so keeping two first-choice strikers happy would not be easy. As a pairing, though, Costa and Batshuayi's blend of power and pace could prove devastating in the Premier League.

Would Conte go two up top?

Italy boss Antonio Conte is taking over at Stamford Bridge

While setting Chelsea out in a 3-5-2 formation would suit the prospect of Costa playing alongside Batshuayi, it would lead to problems in other areas of the pitch.

In particular, it may be difficult for Willian - Chelsea's top performer last season - and Eden Hazard to easily adapt to a system that would see them either pushed too centrally or too far back on the flanks.

And unless there is significant recruitment in defence, it may be too late in the day for John Terry, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic to get used to a three-man backline.

Verdict

Not since the 2009/10 season have Chelsea possessed two genuinely reliable strikers to score goals - then it was Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Batshuayi could be both a partner to Costa and provide a genuine alternative, which would not only help keep the Spanish international on his toes but also add another string to Chelsea's offensive bow.

Michy Batshuayi to Chelsea: Belgium international follows Blues on Twitter hours after £33.1m bid

Belgium international Michy Batshuayi may have revealed his next club after following Chelsea on Twitter.

The Blues seem set for a surprise deal for the 22-year-old striker, who has been at the heart of a transfer battle including Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace, after submitting a £33.1million offer to Marseille yesterday.

Palace had agreed a £31.8m fee with the Ligue 1 side earlier this week but Batshuayi is expected to favour a move to west London over Selhurst Park, and has spoken to Belgian international team-mates about the prospect of a move to Stamford Bridge.

Batshuayi’s Twitter account showed he had recently begun following the Football Association, Premier League and Chelsea social media accounts just hours after it was revealed that Antonio Conte had identified him as a transfer target.

Fuel to the fire: Has Batshuayi revealed his next club? (Twitter)

Marseille must raise £21m to avoid punishment from the Direction National du Controle de Gestion and have already lost key defender Nicolas N’Koulou, who on Wednesday moved to Lyon on a free transfer

Player ratings Argentina 0-0 Chile (2-4 pen.)

Sent off: 28' Marcelo Díaz, 43' Marcos Rojo. Penalty shootout: Arturo Vidal -, Lionel Messi -; Nicolás Castillo +, Javier Mascherano +; Charles Aránguiz +, Kun Agüero +; Jean Beausejour +, Lucas Biglia -; Francisco Silva +. Att: 82.026 (MetLife Stadium, New Jersey).

Argentina: Sergio Romero 6,60  - Gabriel Mercado 5,90, Ramiro Funes Mori 6,20, Javier Mascherano 6,60, Marcos Rojo 4,60, Nicolás Otamendi 6,30, Lucas Biglia 5,40, Ángel Di María 5,30 (57' Matías Kranevitter 5,90), Éver Banega 6,00 (111' Erik Lamela), Gonzalo Higuaín 5,10 (70' Kun Agüero 5,90), Lionel Messi 5,60. - coach: Gerardo Martino 5,70. = average: 5,80 [mediocre]

Chile: Claudio Bravo 7,40 - Mauricio Isla 6,30, Gonzalo Jara 6,30, Arturo Vidal 6,80, José Fuenzalida 6,00 (80' Edson Puch 5,90), Jean Beausejour 6,30, Gary Medel 6,10, Charles Aránguiz 6,50, Marcelo Díaz 4,50, Alexis Sánchez 6,30 (103' Francisco Silva), Eduardo Vargas 6,10 (109' Nicolás Castillo). - coach: Juan Pizzi 7,30. = average: 6,21 [solid]

Happy Birthday to The Living Legend, Lionel Messi!

Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi celebrates his 29th birthday. Happy 29th birthday to the one and only Leo Messi!

Barcelona and Argentina legend Lionel Messi is celebrating his 29th birthday today.

Ahead of Argentina’s Copa America final against Chile and Messi’s latest opportunity to win his first major trophy for his country, the little magician is celebrating his 29th birthday.

After a double-winning season in Spain with Barcelona, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is hoping to cap a stellar campaign in style at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday night.

From trademark jinking runs to cool finishes and lobs over the goalkeeper, Messi has scored some spectacular goals in his time in Spain.

He is unlikely to be partying too hard on his birthday, though, as he has a Copa America final to prepare for on Sunday.



Argentina meet Chile in a repeat of the showpiece from last year when Messi's team were beaten on penalties.

Messi became Argentina's leading scorer when he scored in the 4-0 victory over USA in the semi-finals, passing Gabriel Batistuta's 54-goal tally with a brilliant free-kick.

"I am happy to have surpassed Batistuta's record and I want to thank my team-mates, it's theirs as well," he said afterwards.

Happy birthday to Leo Messi.

Football was a different place before he began his career. Record after record.

Happy Birthday, Zinedine Zidane! Zizou turns 44

The Man Behind the World's Most Famous Headbutt Turned 44 Today. Zinedine Yazid Zidane, nicknamed "Zizou", is a French retired footballer and current manager of Real Madrid. He played as an attacking midfielder for the France national team, Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid.

Now a successful coach at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane was an all-timer.​ A legend was born ‪#‎OnThisDay‬ in 1972... Happy birthday, Real Madrid C.F. hero & ‪#‎UCL‬ winner as a player & coach Zinedine Zidane!

In the league if extraordinary footballers, one name which will certainly never be missed, is that of Zinedine Zidane.

The former French footballer turns 44 today. The French legend was a highly skilled football player, who was known for his elegance, vision, ball control and technique in the field.

Zinedine Yazid Zidane, who turns 44 years old today, is remembered by most non-soccer fans as the man who made the unthinkable decision to headbutt an Italian defender in the waning minutes of the World Cup Finals ten years ago.

The moment was so ludicrous that it seeped into the annals of pop culture. Yet, for the several billion people around the world who have a religious affinity toward soccer, Zidane is something of a spiritual leader.

For anyone who finds this hard to believe, I'll provide a litmus test for you. On your next trip outside of the U.S., ask any person—whether it's a cab driver, a child on the street, a bartender, anyone—what he or she thinks of Zidane.

The first thing you'll notice, before they proclaim he was the best, is that little sparkle in their eye.

The reason people worship Zidane is the same reason fish bite bait. It's a natural reaction to the sight of something enticing.

Watch Zidane play for a mere five minutes, and it becomes evident that he has the size, speed, and stamina to excel in virtually any sport.

ZiZou, as he's commonly known, was gifted with the kind of once-in-a-lifetime talent that allowed him to effectively take over an entire game—as he did in the 1998 World Cup Final in France—with a degree of grace that surely would have made Diaghilev proud.

His control in tight spaces was unrivaled, his technical mastery was on show in nearly every match, and his knack for scoring the biggest goals in the biggest games transformed him into a global celebrity who transcended the game.



Zidane was, after all, a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, and was voted the best European soccer player of the past 50 years.

For what it's worth, his goal in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final is the best I've ever seen.

Sure, Messi's freekick earlier this week was something special and worthy of all its praise. But the degree of difficulty in Zidane's shot puts it in another echelon of sports lore.

Watch how he positions his body at the very top of the 18-yard box while the ball hangs in the air for what seems an eternity.

When it finally comes down, Zidane uses his left (and weaker) foot to smash the ball out of the air toward the goalie's near post. Had the ball been struck by virtually any other person on the planet, the keeper might've had a chance.

But it wasn't. Real Madrid went on to win the Champions League that day, while Zidane was named the man of the match.

We soccer lovers are enamored with Zidane in the same way that art lovers swoon over Monet.

The two men turned their craft into something different and entirely more beautiful than it was before they arrived.

Zidane is not only adored for his athletic prowess, though, but also for everything he stood for and continues to stand for. In a phrase, he's everyone's hero: Whether it's the Parisian businessman who respects Zidane's competitive fire and sixth sense on the field, or the dock worker of north-African descent from Marseille who sees himself in Zidane's lineage.

If there are any doubters left out there of Zidane's ability on the pitch, however, use today, his birthday, as an opportunity to show them this video. You'll both quickly realize his star won't be fading anytime soon.

Alan Shearer named Joe Hart as England World Class

Alan Shearer said the only World Class player in the England's squad is Joe Hart.

Alan Shearer Identifies Just One England Player That Can Be Considered World Class

​Former England great Alan Shearer is undoubtedly a big supporter of the Three Lions, however, the all time leading Premier League goalscorer can only pick one current star who he believes is world class.

Writing in ​the Sun, the Newcastle United legend named England number one Joe Hart as the only member of Roy Hodgson's side who is a world class player, dismissing the likes of Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane or Raheem Sterling.

He said, "Joe Hart’s one of the best in the world in his position. But I don’t think we have any other world-class players at the minute, no. That doesn’t mean we cannot do well. I’ve seen in tournaments teams with world-class players who haven’t achieved anything. So you don’t necessarily need world-class players. They can all be excellent. But I’m not sure about world class."

Shearer went on to speak about the possibility of Premier League Golden Boot winner Harry Kane to grab the same award at Euro 2016, "They’re going to have to get to at least the semi-finals for him to have a chance of getting the Golden Boot.

"Everyone will have to be on top form for England to get there. And I worry about us defensively. I don’t think we can win it, I’d be amazed if we did — but if Kane can have a good tournament and some other youngsters, who are new to the team as well, I’m hoping it will bode well for future tournaments."

Hodgson named his 26 man provisional squad ahead of next month's European Championships tournament in France and Shearer's prophetic message to take Marcus Rashford could well happen, after the teenager was included.

"I think Rashford’s more of an option than Andy Carroll. He’s got great potential. He’s been one of the few positives for one of the world’s biggest football clubs this year. He might not have got his chance if it wasn’t for injuries or suspensions but when he’s been in there he hasn’t disappointed.

"He has been a breath of fresh air for United. His energy, pace and when he’s been given the chance in front of goal, he hasn’t let anybody down. He is a more realistic option to replace Welbeck. I also think referees don’t look favourably upon the likes of Andy Carroll at international level. Especially in major tournaments, there’s foul after foul after foul."