Chelsea intensify pursuit of versatile winger who could be the ideal Jadon Sancho replacement - opinion

By: Muhammad Saeed on March 06, 2025 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Chelsea are already plotting moves for the summer transfer window, with reports suggesting a keen interest in signing an emerging talent from Spain.

The Blues have made a habit of scouting and signing young talents from across Europe and South America under Todd Boehly.

Boehly’s tenure at the club has been far from normal. The American has spent over £1bn since taking over the club in 2022.

Interestingly, a major chunk of those signings have been young upcoming talent, suggesting that there is a deliberate strategy to invest in a squad for the future.

According to Football Transfers, the club has spent around £800m on players aged 23 or under.

Some of the notable players they have signed includes Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Wesley Fofana, Noni Madueke, and Nicolas Jackson.

The latest to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge is Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez.

Chelsea stepping up pursuit of Jesus Rodriguez

According to Daily Mail, the Blues are ‘taking a keen interest’ in signing Rodriguez, who has been attracting a lot of attention from across Europe after breaking into Manuel Pellegrini’s team in October.

The report claims that Chelsea are now intensifying their pursuit of the Real Betis wonderkid as they look to bolster their attacking options for the future.

They could face competition from other elite clubs including Liverpool, who have also been reportedly monitoring the exciting Spaniard’s progress.

Rodriguez, who has been making waves in La Liga, is seen as one of the brightest young prospects in Spanish football.

His technical ability, composure on the ball, and versatility in the final third have made him a standout talent at Betis.

He has racked up two goal contributions for the first team in 10 league appearances, impressing in attack alongside Manchester United loanee Antony.

He was also a part of the Spain U19’ss side which won the European Under-19 Championship last year.

Chelsea’s need to bolster their left-wing with Jadon Sancho underperforming

With Mykhailo Mudryk suspended indefinitely for doping and Jadon Sancho failing to make his mark at Stamford Bridge, there is a pressing need for Chelsea to bolster the left side of their attack.

It has been reported that the club will be prioritising the signing of a left-winger and a new striker in the upcoming transfer window.

While Rodriguez remains an option, the club are linked with several other options, including Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho who was strongly linked with a move in January as well.

Another name linked with a move is Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens who has attracted a lot of attention from Premier League clubs.

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New footage shows Virgil van Dijk and PSG chief involved in heated half-time exchange during Champions League clash

By: Muhammad Saeed on March 06, 2025 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Liverpool pulled off a classic smash-and-grab on Wednesday night, scoring a goal in the 87th minute to after being dominated the entire game.

Arne Slot’s side were hammered by the home team, who fired 27 shots at Liverpool, 10 of them being on target.

However, Alisson Becker, who had the best performance of his life, stopped everything coming at him with some incredible saves.

The only shot he let in was the one from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 20th minute, however, the goal did not stand due to the player being in an offside position.

While the offside decision was correct, there has been a debate regarding the referee’s decision to not award PSG a penalty and a subsequent red card for Ibrahima Konate’s tackle on Barcola.

The incident was checked by the VAR who agreed with the on-field referee’s decision but many, including Rio Ferdinand, felt that Konate should have been sent off.

What happened between Virgil van Dijk and Luis Campos

PSG chief Luis Campos also felt aggrieved by the referee’s decision and had a meltdown in the tunnel before coming into a heated exchange of words with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

In footage recorded by Canal+, Campos was heard expressing his frustration in the tunnel at halftime at Parc des Princes, repeatedly insisting, “It’s a red card or penalty,” with growing anger.

The Dutch defender was not having any of it as he fired back, saying: “Come on bro, it’s not Ligue 1 bro. It’s not Ligue 1.”

This enraged Campos even more as he raised his voice shouting, “It’s a red card or penalty in every part of football.”

Van Dijk solid at the back for Liverpool once again

While Harvey Elliott got the match-winner, Alisson Becker deservingly gets all the credit for the Reds keeping a clean sheet against a side who have been scoring goals for fun this season, there were other notable performances in defence as well.

Trent Alexander-Arnold put in an outstanding show on the right while Van Dijk cleared everything coming his way in yet another commanding performance.

He made two clearances, blocked three shots, made two interceptions and was not dribbled past the entire game despite coming up against the likes of Dembele, Kvaratskhelia, and Barcola.

Much of the same will be needed in the second leg at Anfield, and the players understand it will not be an easy game.

The Liverpool captain has already warned his teammates that they will need to be prepared to ‘suffer’.

Speaking after the game, van Dijk said regarding the return leg: “It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time.

“What I really liked was the togetherness, everyone put a shift in and we know everyone can be better.”

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What Arne Slot made Harvey Elliott do right after PSG clash shows why Liverpool are thriving

By: Muhammad Saeed on March 06, 2025 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Liverpool pulled off one of the biggest robberies in Europe last night, beating PSG 1-0 in a dramatic first-leg clash at the Parc des Princes.

A late goal from Harvey Elliott secured the crucial away victory, but it was the Liverpool goalkeeper’s heroics between the sticks that ensured the Reds took a slender advantage back to Anfield.

Despite Liverpool’s win, the match was anything but comfortable for the Reds. Luis Enrique’s PSG dominated proceedings, recording a staggering 27 shots, 10 of which were on target.

However, they were met by an impenetrable force in Alisson Becker, who delivered what many are calling one of the best goalkeeping performances in Champions League history.

The Brazilian shot-stopper made nine crucial saves, including a sensational double stop to deny Ousmane Dembele in the first half and an acrobatic effort to tip Desire Doue’s curling effort away in the dying minutes.

And ultimately so, his heroics resulted in a dramatic smash-and-grab for Arne Slot’s side, courtesy of Elliott’s composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 21-year-old came off the bench to replace Mo Salah in the 86th minute and made an instant impact, scoring the goal just a minute later.

And while one would have expected Elliott to be inside the Liverpool dressing room celebrating the big win, Slot had other plans.

Arne Slot had Harvey Elliott out warm down instead of celebrating

Instead of soaking in the moment in the dressing room, Elliott was sent straight back onto the pitch for a warm-down session with the substitutes.

BBC Sport’s live match blog reported the moment: “Goal hero Harvey Elliott should be in the dressing room celebrating with the rest of his team-mates.

“Instead, Arne Slot has sent him back out on the pitch to warm down with the other Liverpool substitutes. Liverpool’s travelling fans, who have been held back, are celebrating in the stands.”

This shows the high standard the Dutch manager has set at the club since taking over the reigns from Jurgen Klopp in the summer and why the Reds are doing so well this season.

Elliott continues to take his chances despite limited playing time

Elliott has struggled with playing time under Slot. The youngster was unfortunate to break his foot early on in the season, missing 14 games for the Reds.

Since returning, most of his appearances have come from the bench as a substitute.

Despite his limited opportunities, he has proven to be a valuable player for Slot in cup competitions. He scored against Southampton to help the Reds to a 2-1 win in the League Cup quarter-finals.

He has also scored three in a row in the Champions League, scoring against Lille and PSV in the League stages prior to the winner against PSG.

The young Lion faces strong competition for a spot in the starting XI with the likes of Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of him, but he remains an integral part of Slot’s side who have been one of the best teams in Europe this campaign.

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Former NBA star thinks there is just one current player who could break Lebron James' 50,000 scoring record

By: Muhammad Saeed on March 05, 2025 / comment : 0 HITC, news

LeBron James’ longevity is often taken for granted, but the LA Lakers star keeps proving why he is one of the best players with his brilliant performances.

Despite being aged 40, James is showcasing some of the highest quality of basketball with the Lakers.

His exploits even helped him win the Conference Player of the Month award, a laurel he won for the 41st time in his career.

During the Lakers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans, James became the first player to reach the 50,000-point mark in the regular season and playoffs.

The NBA community congratulated him for the achievement, with Luka Doncic also stating James could reach the 70,000-point mark realistically.

It is only fair after the record is broken to discuss if anyone could break it again, which is what Chandler Parsons, Lou Williams and Michelle Beadle did on the show ‘Run it Back.’

Chandler Parsons said Kevin Durant could break LeBron James’ historic record

While the trio acknowledged the record could be untouched, Parsons dropped Kevin Durant’s name as a current player who could achieve the mark.

Although the former second-overall pick currently has just over 35,000 points, Parsons believes his elite shooting and basketball ability make him one of the only players who could get close to the historic record.

“I mean KD is the obvious choice, right.

“He’s gonna play for obviously four or five more years and he’s the closest at 35,225 points.

“I don’t think James gets there, I don’t think Curry gets there.

“I think the obvious choice here is Kevin Durant because I think he is going to continue to play, he is healthy for the most part.

“He can shoot the basketball till he is 45 years old and be seven foot, pick and pop for so I think Kevin Durant,” said Parsons.

Kevin Durant will find it difficult to break James’ 50,000-point mark

In 17 seasons in the NBA, Durant has averaged 27.3 PPG – which helps him rank sixth in the NBA all-time list ahead of players like James and Kobe Bryant.

The two-time NBA champion is eighth on the all-time scoring list with 30,240 points.

While he could make a push to add more points, the Phoenix Suns’ record could crush their playoff hopes, which means he would be unable to add more points in the postseason to add to his total.

Breaking the record is tough, but even if he doesn’t manage to do it, Durant will be remembered as an elite scorer due to his brilliance and ability to shoot at seven feet.

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Lou Williams knows his ‘clear front runner’ for the NBA MVP, he doesn’t even hesitate

By: Muhammad Saeed on March 05, 2025 / comment : 0 HITC, news

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performances have helped his way into the MVP conversations alongside Nikola Jokic.

The Serbian is a three-time MVP and is once again having a sensational season, averaging 28.9 PPG, 12.7 RPG and 10.4 APG, all while helping his Denver Nuggets side stay third in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, SGA is putting up elite numbers, averaging 32.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 6.2 APG, while keeping his side at the top of a stacked West.

Both these stars have had sensational years and the NBA media has started to argue their points on who deserves to win the MVP award – which rewards the best player of the season.

Although Jokic continues putting up record numbers, SGA has been a leader for the OKC Thunder in a brilliant year for them, and this has led to him getting a lot of shouts in the MVP conversation, including from his former LA Clippers teammate.

• READ MORE: The NBA franchises with the most Championships include the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers

Lou Williams picks SGA as MVP over Nikola Jokic

Lou Williams was a veteran of the Clippers, the team which drafted Gilgeous-Alexander in 2018.

The three-time sixth man of the year taught SGA some valuable tricks of the trade, which he has gone on to use and become one of the stars in the league.

After a successful career, Williams moved to a broadcasting career, appearing on ‘Run it Back’ alongside former NBA player Chandler Parsons.

Speaking about SGA on the show, Williams said: “He’s the best pure scorer in the league, he’s the best player in the league and he is the clear front runner for the MVP.

“He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do and more and he is still adding to his resume.”

SGA has definitely been one of the league’s best

Before the 2024-25 season, SGA did not have a single game with over 50 points.

However, he has achieved that four times already this season and SGA is proving to be one of the best scorers in the league.

While the Thunder remain one of the youngest teams in the NBA, they boast the best defence in the league.

This certainly is a testament to SGA as he leads them from the front and shows effort on the defensive end, averaging 1.8 steals per game and the best defensive rating on the team at 106.4.

His scoring numbers are sensational, but what propels him to be named as the MVP is his defensive effort and leadership in making Thunder a championship contender.

Jokic could end up averaging a triple-double for the season, a feat only achieved by Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson, but with just over 20 games to go, SGA might have done enough to clinch the award.

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LeBron James taunted despite Lakers star breaking a ludicrous NBA scoring record… again

By: Muhammad Saeed on March 05, 2025 / comment : 0 HITC, news

LeBron James has one of the best resumes in the NBA and despite playing in the 22nd year of his career, he continues displaying extraordinary performances.

Another one of those brilliant nights came when he added 34 points for the LA Lakers in their 136-115 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The 40-year-old has been in stellar form and his exploits in February even helped him win the Western Conference Player of the Month award, propelling James to MVP conversations.

In what seems almost every other night, King James broke another record in his brilliant performance against the Pelicans.

The four-time MVP breached the 50,000-point mark in the regular season and playoffs when he hit a three on the 8:34 minute mark in the first quarter to write his name in the history books.

While the NBA community was showing love to James on breaking another record, including his teammate Luka Doncic who tipped him to probably reach 70,000 points, Skip Bayless wasted no time in throwing digs at the four-time champion.

• READ MORE: The NBA franchises with the most Championships include the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers

Skip Bayless taunts LeBron James after breaking NBA record

Bayless is known to be one of the biggest critics of James.

On his previous show ‘Undisputed’ with Shannon Sharpe, the veteran journalist used to engage in heated debates, where he would criticise James for his odd off nights in the NBA.

Despite having left TV, Bayless is still a reputed figure in American sports and shares his views on his YouTube channel and social media handles.

After James crossed the 50,000-point mark in playoff and regular season, Bayless tweeted: ‘Congratulations to LeBron James for passing 50,000 points! My only question is, what took him so long?’

He added another tweet: ‘Funny LeBron passed 50,000 points by making the shot he has struggled with for much of his 22-year career – a 3-pointer!’

• READ MORE: Shaquille O’Neal ‘demands’ NBA fans to add underappreciated star to ‘G.O.A.T’ conversations

James acknowledges difficulty of reaching 50,000 mark

James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time regular season scoring record in 2023.

However, he broke the all-time playoff record held by Michael Jordan in 2017 itself, which is an indication of how special a player he has been since entering the league in 2003.

James acknowledged the difficulty of breaching the 50,000-point mark and stated it was an honour to be playing at the highest level.

“It’s a lot of points. A lot, to be honest,” said James in a post-game interview after the win against the Pels.

“The first thing that comes to mind is where I’m from. Just picking up the game when I was a little kid and just having my love for the sport.

“I was hoping that someday I would be able to play at the highest level. I’ve been able to do that and really enjoy my career.

“So, it was definitely an honor. It’s pretty cool to see that.”

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Shaquille O’Neal ‘demands’ NBA fans to add underappreciated star to ‘G.O.A.T’ conversations

By: Muhammad Saeed on March 05, 2025 / comment : 0 HITC, news

The NBA has been shaped by legendary all-time greats, with superstars like Michael Jordan’, LeBron James and so many more leaving timeless marks on the league.

While debates over the ‘greatest of all time’ continue over the likes of James and Jordan, many other deserving names often don’t get the recognition they deserve.

One such player, despite winning four rings and delivering countless clutch performances, is often overlooked in all-time great discussions. Well, not by Shaquille O’Neal.

• READ MORE: The NBA franchises with the most Championships include the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers

Shaquille O’Neal gives Steph Curry the respect he deserves

O’Neal thinks Steph Curry should be considered among the all-time greats of the NBA, particularly after recent dazzling form.

O’Neal ended his career as one of the most accomplished names in the league, winning four championships and multiple other individual accolades.

He has since enjoyed a sensational TV career and is part of one of the best NBA shows, where he has many times criticised, but also given players the flowers they deserve.

Curry is one player, who he has always appreciated, and he once again showed his love for the Warriors player on ‘Inside the NBA.’

“I demand you fans start putting Steph Curry in that greatest of all-time conversation.

“Just start putting him in the conversation. There’s Michael Jordan, there’s Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Start putting Steph in that conversation. I demand it. … I’m not saying he is [the GOAT], but let’s just have the conversation,” said O’Neal.

Steph Curry credits Jimmy Butler trade to Warriors return to form

The Warriors lost one of their core players in Klay Thompson last summer, which was expected to be a tough spot to fill, but they put together a few free-agent signings for the 2024-25 season.

Although they started 12-3, things seemed to go downhill from there as they dropped to 10th place in the Western Conference standings.

However, the front office pulled off a trade to bring in Jimmy Butler, who wanted a way out of Miami and gave him a two-year $120 million max contract.

Since then, the team has looked extremely positive and has won nine of ten games with him in the lineup, pushing them to sixth place in the West.

Curry, whose performances have also considerably improved since the Butler trade, was appreciative of the impact the six-time All-Star has had on the team.

“Y’all know who he is and what he’s been able to do in this league.

“There’s a learning curve and a learning process for bringing in a guy like him, but we’re talking, we’re figuring it out daily.

“He’s a superstar, he’s won and lifted teams and he’s doing it with us, we’re trying to do our part around him,” said Curry in a post-game walk-off interview after the win against the Knicks.

Curry really is back to his best

Curry has been putting up some sensational numbers for the Golden State Warriors this season.

In his 16th year with the franchise, the point guard is averaging 24 PPG and 6.2 APG on 44.7% field-goal shooting and 39.5% from the three-point line.

Another testament to Curry’s brilliant performance this season was his 28-point performance in the 114-102 win against the New York Knicks, where he shot 5-9 from beyond the arc.

This was his fourth consecutive game, scoring over 20 points, this is including his 56-point performance against the Orlando Magic.

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