738 – Last season in all competitions, Matthijs de Ligt was dribbled past by an opponent only once every 738 minutes, leading all Serie A defenders with at least 1500 minutes played in all comps in 2021-22 by a wide margin (ahead of Fiorentina’s Milenkovic with 555). Immovable.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Chelsea would still need to buy a striker who can score twenty or more goals a season even if they complete the signing of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.

(Sky Sports)

"Sporting are a fantastic team, they are champions of Portugal, which have a very strong league, with Porto & Benfica, they change the ball well, they have fast & intelligent players. I would say that Matheus Nunes is one of the best players in the world today"

- Pep Guardiola

5 - The top five players for combined goals and assists under Pep Guardiola for top-flight teams:

291 - Lionel Messi (211+80)
186 - Raheem Sterling (120+66)
175 - Kevin De Bruyne (70+105)
151 - Sergio Agüero (124+27)
136 - Gabriel Jesus (95+41)

Re-cast.

Chelsea's pre-season now involves a rough estimate of 14,000 air miles across at least seven flights (London to LA to LV to NC to Orlando to London then to Udinese back to London) with the addition of a trip to Italy.

[ChelseaYouth]

OFFICIAL: The 2022/23 Chelsea home kit.

😯 Chelsea's with/without record in the Premier League last season with Reece James in the starting XI

Most goals by Premier League wingers [majority of games played wide] since the start of the 17/18 season:

🥇 Mohamed Salah - 118
🥈 RAHEEM STERLING - 78
🥉 Sadio Mane - 77

Chelsea are signing one of the PL’s very best. 👏

From Stamford Bridge to Wembley Stadium in one shot.

🔗 Jason Hawkes

➡️Sterling
⬅️Lukaku

😬 Key passes completed by Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz combined in the Premier League last season: 44

👀 Key passes completed by Frenkie de Jong in La Liga last season: 43

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly wanted to schedule meeting with Barcelona to know them in person and discuss of many topics. Barça ask for Marcos Alonso & Azpilicueta after personal terms agreed 🔴🛩 #FCB

Barça don’t want to pay too high fee as both are out of contract next year. #CFC

[via Fabrizio Romano]

❗️ According to Dest's representatives, the player's name is not on the table during the meeting between Barça and Chelsea.

[via Achraf Ben Ayad] #fcblive

Since the start of 20/21 Ethan Ampadu has more PL appearances than Nathan Ake.

In one of those seasons Ampadu was in Italy.👀

[Daniel Childs]

Di Canio: "Romelu Lukaku flops in crucial games. It’s not an opinion, it is a fact. It’s what he showed in his seven-year spell in the Premier League."

(Sky Sport)

🎯 Most passes per 90 of centre-backs in the Premier League last season (10+ apps):

1⃣ Aymeric Laporte - 92.7
2⃣ Thiago Silva - 89.0
3⃣ Ruben Dias - 84.9
4⃣ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗸𝗲 - 𝟴𝟯.𝟭

[WhoScored]

Chelsea have full agreement with Nathan Aké on personal terms. Man City are aware of the situation on the player side, but still waiting to receive the official bid. 🔵 #CFC

City want around £40/45m for Aké and plan is to replace him with a new centre back in case he leaves.

[via Fabrizio Romano]