SprightlyCFC™

🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Paul Winstanley and Chelsea directors spotted in Madrid with Xabi Alonso It looks like Xabi Alonso is getting to work as new Chelsea manager already, with directors meeting him in Madrid yesterday. Not much gets passed the guys at El Chiringuito TV, and they had cameras to capture Alonso walking around Madrid yesterday and they even managed to ask him a few questions. But what they also managed to capture, was Chelsea’s directors also with Alonso in Madrid, and discussion will start as to why they were all there. I’d assume Alonso still lives in Madrid, and the Chelsea directors were out there having meetings with him around summer transfer plans. Because although Alonso does not officially start his role with Chelsea until July, they will all be wanting to make transfer plans from now on because that cannot wait and they need to get to work on it for the summer. Chelsea directors meet Alonso The video has been posted on X yesterday, but the Spanish TV channel manage to zoom in on Chelsea’s directors. They say that Paul Winstanley, Sam Jewell and Joe Shields were apparently in Madrid with Xabi Alonso and his staff yesterday. In other news today... Joao Pedro is being linked with Barcelona – and will apparently make it clear to Chelsea that he wants to join them. A €100m fee is being spoken about for Chelsea to let him go. Andrey Santos was delighted with his first Premier League goal for Chelsea. He’s explained a funny story about what his Wife said to him after the game. #CFC [Source: @siphillipssport]

@MaaziTim I pray this happens. We need this

🚨💥🔵 *BREAKING* : Chelsea are reportedly considering a summer move for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix as Xabi Alonso continues assessing defensive reinforcements ahead of the new season at Stamford Bridge. 👀 The French centre-back is highly admired because of his recovery pace, physical dominance and ability to operate aggressively in high defensive lines; qualities believed to suit the tactical structure Alonso wants to implement at Chelsea. Following another strong campaign with Crystal Palace, Lacroix has attracted growing Premier League interest, with Chelsea understood to be closely monitoring his situation as internal discussions over defensive additions intensify ahead of the summer rebuild. However, Chelsea’s failure to qualify for the Champions League is also believed to be a significant setback in the situation, especially with top players increasingly prioritising elite European football when considering their next move. The absence of UCL football could make negotiations more complicated for the Blues compared to direct rivals competing at the highest European level. Crystal Palace are still expected to demand a fee around £60m before entertaining any serious negotiations for one of their key defenders. (@TEAMtalk)

@MaaziTim Why is everyone saying this about him? You don't think there's a player in there?

@SprightlyCFC They should just come and offload him bro

🚨🔵 SUMMER MOVE: Newcastle plot move to sign Chelsea star as big price tag on cards Liam Delap remains a target for Newcastle United after they missed out on his signature in the last summer transfer window. Delap last scored for Chelsea in early January, and netted just three times in 47 appearances across his debut season at the club. He has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the coming months as Xabi Alonso lines up some attacking signings following his appointment as their new boss. Everton are reportedly admirers, and as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Newcastle are also keeping tabs on Delap as the next window approaches. Eddie Howe will be fronting Newcastle’s transfer plans this summer and looks set to eye a new striker signing to bolster his struggling forward line. Newcastle wanted Liam Delap and remain keen on a move this summer Sources have revealed to Football Insider that Delap will need to impress Alonso in pre-season training to earn a longer stay at Chelsea. He could be moved on if the Blues look to sign a new striker, with Newcastle waiting in the wings after they missed out on the 23-year-old last summer. Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “We know Newcastle are admirers of Delap. They were one of the clubs that were looking to sign him from Ipswich last summer before he did make that move to Stamford Bridge. “Obviously it has been a difficult debut season for Delap in West London. He has struggled for form with just two goals and four assists in 47 appearances across all competitions. “He is under contract until 2031, so look, Chelsea will be looking at a decent fee for Delap if they were to consider selling him. Newcastle open to offers for Yoane Wissa as new striker signing eyed Will Osula ended the campaign as Howe’s first-choice striker ahead of Wissa after Nick Woltemade was moved to attacking midfield. With Delap in their sights, sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Newcastle are happy to sell Wissa this summer following a dismal debut season at the club. He had to wait until December to make his Magpies debut after suffering a serious knee injury, and scored just three goals in 28 appearances from then on in. Newcastle splashed out £55million on his services from Brentford, and he still has three years left on his contract, so a move will not come cheap for any interested sides. #CFC

@adebarry_ This is a bad place to be. I think Chelsea made fans completely numb to pain this season. We were getting battered and it doesn't hurt.

Doctor - We tried our best but we lost him 😔 Me - okay doc Doctor - I said we lost him😢 Me - I have see worse. Doctor - what's that? Me .......

@cfc_whale You're welcome buds

@SprightlyCFC Thanks 👍

Coming live to your screen soon.

@FabrizioRomano They have to keep him. A team lacking world class players, shouldn't sell their only world class talent.

🚨 EXCL: Man United start talks to keep Bruno Fernandes despite £57m release clause into his contract, open to reward him. Initial discussions took place to continue with Bruno despite Saudi/European clubs keen. #MUFC absolutely want Bruno to stay. 🎥 youtu.be/qBGooJ7a3kQ

@cfc_whale "But better means progress, tactical fluidity and consistency" You nailed it.

@SprightlyCFC Spoken like a true, level-headed fan. That is a massive dose of realism that a lot of Chelsea’s fans desperately need to hear. Next season can and should be better, but "better" means progress, tactical fluidity, and consistency—not necessarily immediate silverware.

@jake_avis84 @TouchlineX Hahahaha 😂🤣😂

@SprightlyCFC @TouchlineX “Half the squad looked like they were wearing parachutes.” That’s class 😭😭😂😂

🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Liverpool fans noticed two strange things during the first match wearing their new home kit for next season. • The shirt uses a complex dye-sublimation printing process, meaning the red color is not as deep or vivid in saturation as the standard pre-dyed fabric in the shorts. Fans were complaining that the difference in tones made it look like two different kits were stitched together. • Also, fans pointed out that some players including Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai wore extremely oversized jerseys for the match. — @Footy_Headlines

@adebarry_ How's it good?

This is a good News

@cfc_whale Jackson played in a more settled XI than him

@SprightlyCFC Jackson is far better. No argument here.

@cfc_whale I know next season will be better. Also, fans need to calm down and realize that we won't immediately win champions league straight away

@SprightlyCFC We are cooking next season, bro. I can feel it

@cfc_whale Jackson got two seasons, don't forget that

@SprightlyCFC Another chance? Where?

@cfc_whale It didn't work for him at Chelsea. Left for me, I am willing to give him another chance here.

@SprightlyCFC I pray 🙏

@TheBlueDodger @em_sandy I like that The other Jamaican we signed that we hyped, I stopped hearing about him again.

🚨🇯🇲 Chelsea target Bunny Shaw has agreed a new long-term deal with Man City. (@em_sandy) #CFC

@chelseatoonz Yes, they can't. They have be one a small club now

@SprightlyCFC they can't win anything bigger

🛑 Manchester United celebrating the biggest trophy they can ever win 😂🤣🤣 Repost if you believe this is the highest Man Utd will finish for the next 7 years #Chelsea #ManUtd

@CFC_Jane Hearing Madrid are already in talks with Bastoni's camp, might be unrealistic considering how our owners treat high wages like a criminal offense.

🚨 Chelsea fans… this could be the beginning of a completely different era under Xabi Alonso. 👀🔵 Reports are now linking Chelsea with a DREAM shortlist featuring: 🇨🇭 Gregor Kobel 🇮🇹 Alessandro Bastoni 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé And honestly… you can already see the type of squad Alonso wants to build. According to Andy Brassell, Alonso’s biggest priority is adding EXPERIENCE to Chelsea’s young core — something that was crucial during his success at Bayer Leverkusen with leaders like Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich. 🧠⚡ For goalkeeper, Brassell believes Gregor Kobel is the “shoo-in” signing: 🧤 Elite shot-stopper 🧤 Vocal leader 🧤 One of the best keepers in world football Then there’s Alessandro Bastoni… a composed, ball-playing defender who perfectly fits Alonso’s preferred back-three system. 🇮🇹🔥 And finally… the name nobody can ignore: KYLIAN MBAPPÉ. 😳 Mbappé reportedly loved working under Alonso at Real Madrid after scoring 30 goals and providing 5 assists under him last season. The French superstar even thanked Alonso publicly for giving him confidence “since day one.” Now, after reportedly becoming frustrated with his role late in the season, people are starting to wonder if Alonso could convince him to make a shock move to Stamford Bridge. 👀 Chelsea may not have European football next season… But that could actually become Alonso’s biggest advantage. 📅 Full weeks on the training ground ⚡ Less fixture congestion 🧠 More time to fully implement his tactical system That’s exactly how Antonio Conte transformed Chelsea into title winners in 2016/17. 🏆 Chelsea already have the young foundation: ⭐ Cole Palmer ⭐ Moisés Caicedo ⭐ Estêvão ⭐ Andrey Santos ⭐ Jorrel Hato ⭐ João Pedro Now Alonso wants leaders, structure, intensity and winners added around them. This summer genuinely feels like it could define the next decade at Stamford Bridge. 💙 Mbappé to Chelsea still sounds crazy right now… but football gets crazier every transfer window. 😅🔥 #CFC

@dittyefe No way you can compare them

🚨 Chelsea fans can you compare both regimes?

@itzelfklein He was nursing injury

@SprightlyCFC Depends, Cole palmer himself was zero this season

🚨🔵 Chelsea fans seriously need to stop forcing this João Pedro vs Nicolas Jackson debate because if we’re being brutally honest… This shouldn’t even be controversial. João Pedro is a clear upgrade. And before people start shouting “but Jackson links play better” or “Cole Palmer benefited from him”, let’s actually talk football for a second. Yes, Jackson’s movement is good. Yes, his hold-up play can drag defenders out of position and create space for others, especially Palmer during that period when our attack was flowing. But at the end of the day, what is a striker’s PRIMARY job? Scoring goals. And this is exactly where João Pedro clears him. Jackson’s best ever season for Chelsea was 17 goals in 44 appearances. João Pedro, in his FIRST season with us, in arguably one of Chelsea’s messiest seasons, put up 26 goals in just 34 appearances. That alone should already end this debate. And before people say “Jackson made Palmer better”… Cole Palmer has provided 19 assists to Jackson in the league. Jackson has provided 10 back. Most of those came when the entire attack was functioning properly anyway. Now imagine João Pedro getting the amount of chances Jackson has missed over the last two seasons… Are we seriously pretending he wouldn’t put up crazy numbers? And this is what confuses me about Chelsea fans sometimes… did we all suddenly forget how frustrating Jackson has been in front of goal? Because I definitely haven’t. For me, João Pedro starts every single time. If Jackson improves his finishing, cool, then maybe we can have a real conversation. But right now? Pedro is simply the better striker. Am I being harsh or are some fans forcing this debate too much? 👀 #CFC #Chelsea