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New captain says he will aim to continue winning mentality in absence of talismanic batter

Matt Roller31-Jan-2025Hampshire’s new captain Ben Brown believes the club’s “winning mentality” will help them overcome James Vince’s absence in the County Championship this season as they look to end a 52-year wait for the title.Vince has captained Hampshire across formats for almost a decade and led them to three consecutive top-three finishes in the Championship. But he will spend the first two months of the season at the PSL and does not intend to play in the Championship at all this year, with unexplained attacks on his home last summer prompting his family to move to Dubai.Vince will continue to lead Hampshire in the T20 Blast but Brown is taking over as four-day captain, and concedes that there is a “huge hole” to fill in their middle order. He has already spoken to director of cricket Giles White about the prospect of bringing in an overseas batter, but believes the rest of the squad have a responsibility to cover the loss of a “generational talent”.Related

• James Vince: Why I quit red-ball cricket – and others will follow

• English players want NOC clarity after signing PSL deals

• Vince quits first-class cricket to take up PSL deal

Brown told ESPNcricinfo: “The big thing here is mentality. It’s been passed down: stories of Shane Warne, who passed on a mentality of winning, right through to Vincey who has been driving that culture of trying to win every competition we play in. It’s hugely important to make sure that message continues, because there’s no doubt Vincey’s going to leave a huge hole.”He’s led the club, not just with his runs but his personality. Of course, we are going to miss him. But we have to fill that void as a collective and find a way to move forward. All of us need to step up and that’s the senior group and the young players, who are moving in the right direction as well. We have an attitude collectively to fill the gap, and there’s no reason why we can’t win it.”Hampshire announced this week that Kyle Abbott will return as one of their two overseas players in the Championship this season, with the second slot likely to be filled by a batter. “I’m sure we will get a good overseas to come in to help us out,” Brown said, “but I do think it’s on the group to make sure we’re all stepping up our performance.”Abbott is among a group of senior players who will support Brown as captain, along with Nick Gubbins, James Fuller and Liam Dawson, who signed a new three-year contract at the club on Thursday. He will also be expected to aid the development of Hampshire’s young seamers, such as Sonny Baker, who made his first-class debut for England Lions this week, and John Turner.Hampshire have an experienced core despite James Vince’s absence•Getty ImagesGubbins will continue to captain Hampshire’s 50-over side, while the formal role of club captain will be vacant in 2025. Hampshire are in a period of transition on and off the pitch: this will be their first season under the ownership of Delhi Capitals co-owners GMR Group, and their first running a fully professional women’s team in the ECB’s new domestic structure.Brown is an experienced captain who led his boyhood club Sussex in 78 matches across formats between 2016 and 2021. But he was controversially removed from the role midway through his final season with them, and negotiated an early release from his contract in order to join Hampshire after his relationship with the Sussex hierarchy declined sharply.He has never won the Championship as a player, but was breaking through as a teenager when Sussex won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. “They were really inspiring times,” he recalled. “I was on the balcony watching, and those memories don’t go away for a young player. One of the large reasons I came here was that I wanted to win a Championship.”It would be a hugely special achievement because of the history here: it’s the one piece that’s missing, and everyone around the club knows how big it would be. Surrey have been incredible, winning three in a row so every other county has to take their hat off – but also find a way to cash in if they slip up, and to close the gap every year.”Brown is yet to play against his old county but will do so this year after their promotion back to Division One. “I’m delighted to see them back,” he said. “I was really sad to leave and I still have a lot of passion and love for Sussex. It’s a really good squad full of some really good people, and a lot of the young players that I played with are now maturing into first XI players.”For my own personal journey, you have to do what’s right for you in a relatively short career. I’ve learned a huge amount coming here and seeing a different environment. I was obviously at Sussex all the way through as a boy, and sometimes you just need to change it up. I’m delighted to take on the captaincy and to take the club forwards.”

Afghanistan wristspinner Rashid Khan has become the No. 1 ranked bowler in ODIs following his team’s 3-0 sweep of Bangladesh this month in Abu Dhabi.Rashid, who was previously No. 1 in November 2024, took 11 wickets in the series at an average of 6.09 and economy rate of 2.73. His performance helped him rise from sixth place, and with 710 ratings points he is 30 ahead of South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj.

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Ibrahim Zadran, who was the Player of the Series against Bangladesh for top-scoring with 213 runs at an average of 71 in three innings, has moved up eight places to No. 2 in the ODI batting rankings – the best ever by an Afghanistan batter. He has 20 ratings points fewer than Shubman Gill at No. 1 and eight more than Rohit Sharma at No. 3.In the ODI rankings for allrounders, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai reclaimed the top spot from Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza after taking seven wickets – the second-most in the series – and scoring 60 runs in the three ODIs against Bangladesh. He had been ranked No.1 between February and August too.India’s left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav has achieved his career-best ranking among Test bowlers, rising seven places to 14th after finishing the two-match series against West Indies as the top wicket-taker. Kuldeep took 12 wickets at an average of 19.50. India’s opener Yashasvi Jaiswal rose from seventh to fifth after scoring 175 in the first innings of the Delhi Test.

Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez has claimed he did not set out to hurt anyone by singing a controversial song aiming at the France team during Argentina's Copa America celebrations in 2024. The midfielder issued a public apology after footage emerged of several Argentina players singing a song that questioned the heritage of France's black and mixed race players.

Fernandez came under fire for France song

Fernandez came under scrutiny after filming himself and several of his Copa America-winning team-mates singing a song that was deemed "racist and discriminatory" as part of celebrations after the Albiceleste picked up another trophy. Wesley Fofana, who is one of a host of France stars in the Chelsea dressing room, hit out and called the song "uninhibited racism", while Chelsea reacted by opening up disciplinary proceedings. Fernandez ultimately escaped disciplinary action, although he did subsequently post a public apology and admitted the song used "highly offensive language." The Chelsea star has now spoken about how he was not trying to hurt anyone and revealed the lengths he went to in an effort to try and apologise for his actions to his team-mates.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Part of football folklore'

Fernandez told Givemesport: "I remember that period. What happened is not typical of who I am. It was a really hard time for me personally and I suffered during it. I’ve always understood my teammates’ position, so the first thing I did was to phone them and tell them I wasn’t going to go on holiday because I wanted to travel back to speak to them in person to tell them what sort of guy I am and about my values. They understood that and now we all get on well. It all fizzled out and there’s now very good harmony in the dressing room.

“It was a euphoric moment in which I didn’t want to hurt anyone. It was just a song that we sing in Argentina as part of ‘football folklore’, which is what we call it. It was a really difficult time for me, and I tried to apologise to the squad to show my teammates that I’m not the type to discriminate or judge others. They understood my message and that’s where it all ended

"Originally, I called them while I was away. And then I cut short my holiday and travelled to where the team was for pre-season in America. The first thing I did when I arrived was to go and speak with them to apologise in person.”

Enzo grateful for support from Chelsea

Fernandez also says he enjoys a great relationship with the France stars in the Chelsea squad and hailed the support he received from Chelsea during what was a difficult time.

“I have a very good relationship with them,” he added. “We often eat together and do things outside of the dressing room. When we have team dinners or are in the dressing room, everything is normal. Nothing else happened because they know what I’m like as a person.

“The club has always shown faith in me and I’m grateful for that because I was given the captain’s armband at a tough time. But that shows a lot about me and what I mean to the club and my teammates who showed faith in me from the start. The support was unwavering, so I’m ever so grateful to them for that.”

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GettyChelsea set to continue title push

Chelsea and Fernandez are currently enjoying a strong season and sit in third place in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Arsenal. Fernandez has been a driving force for the Blues so far in 2025-26, scoring five goals in all competitions for Enzo Maresca's side. Both teams are back in action in midweek, with Chelsea up against Leeds at Elland Road and Arsenal taking on Brentford at the Emirates.

كشفت تقارير صحفية بريطانية تطورات جديدة بشأن الأندية الأكثر اهتماماً بالتعاقد مع أحد اللاعبين المتألقين في الدوري الإنجليزي الذي ارتبط بخلافة محمد صلاح في ليفربول خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوية القادمة.

وأفاد الصحفي البريطاني “ديفيد أورنستين” لصحيفة ” ذا أتلتيك” حول أنطوان سيمينيو لاعب بورنموث: “يبدو أن ليفربول مهتم بشدة، لكن هناك فرقًا أخرى تتنافس أيضاً”.

وأضاف: “هناك مانشستر سيتي وكذلك توتنهام في الوقت الحالي، ومن خلال المحادثات العديدة التي أجريتها فإن هذه هي الفرق الثلاث الأبرز في الصفقة”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. رئيس ليفربول: كنا قريبين من ترك محمد صلاح وفان دايك مجانًا

وواصل: “في حالة إذا انتقل سيمينيو فإنه يبدو أنه أقرب إلى ليفربول أو مانشستر سيتي أو توتنهام مع إمكانية حدوث أي تغييرات”.

وكان سيمينيو قد ارتبط بالانضمام لصفوف مانشستر يونايتد في وقت سابق ومن المرجح أنهم أصبح لديهم أولويات أخرى بعد تعاقد الشياطين الحمر مع ماتيوس كونيا وبريان مبيومو الصيف الماضي.

ويملك سيميينو شرطا جزائيا في عقده مع بورنموث بقيمة 65 مليون جنيه إسترليني في يناير وينخفض لما يزيد قليلاً عن 50 مليون جنيه إسترليني الصيف المقبل.

This weekend might be the first one in a long time that West Ham United fans are actually looking forward to.

The East Londoners have been subjected to some terrible football and even worse results over the last year or so, but finally, the London Stadium was treated to an impressive win over Newcastle United last week.

It was Nuno Espírito Santo’s first win in charge, but he’s not got an altogether different challenge to face in Scott Parker’s Burnley.

The Clarets’ manager is still a firm fan favourite among West Ham fans, and it could be argued that one of their current players is now emulating him – and no, it’s not Freddie Potts.

West Ham's record against Burnley

West Ham’s game against Burnley this afternoon will be the 97th competitive meeting in all competitions.

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The two claret and blue sides first met back in November 1923, in a league game that the Hammers sadly lost 5-1.

However, while their first meeting didn’t end well for the East Londoners, they have won 40 games, drawn 21 and lost 35.

Moreover, the last five meetings between the two teams have been more fruitful for the Irons, with them winning twice and sharing the spoils three times.

Their last meeting was a Premier League match on March 10th, 2024.

The game ended 2-2 courtesy of goals from Lucas Paqueta, Danny Ings, David Datro Fofana, and an own goal from Dinos Mavropanos.

While another draw wouldn’t be the end of the world, Nuno and Co. will be looking to make the most of last weekend’s win and go on something of a run.

While the whole team will have to play their part to make that happen, much of the goalscoring burden will fall on the player who’s something of a modern-day Parker for West Ham.

West Ham's modern-day Parker

Parker joined West Ham from the Toon in the summer of 2007, and while he had to deal with a number of injuries early on, he established himself as one of the team’s most important players.

In fact, he was so crucial that he was named Hammer of the Year for three consecutive seasons and was even named England’s Player of the Year in 2011.

Unfortunately, when the Irons were relegated at the end of the 11/12 season, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur to keep his place in the national side.

Now, when it comes to a modern player who could be talked about in a similar way, there is only one who comes to mind: Jarrod Bowen.

Yes, he plays in an entirely different position, but over the last few years, he has been just as, if not more, important to the club.

For example, in 249 appearances, totalling 19881 minutes, the incredible “game changer,” as dubbed by journalist Roshane Thomas, has scored 77 goals and provided 53 assists.

That comes out to a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games, or every 152.93 minutes, over a period of more than five years.

On top of that, he has also taken the responsibility of the captaincy, which, as things stand, must be a particularly heavy burden.

Finally, not only has he been a constant source of goals and assists for the club, but he is also the scorer of the goal that secured them their first European trophy.

Appearances

249

Minutes

19881′

Goals

77

Assists

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

152.93

Ultimately, while someone like Potts might come to resemble Parker’s style of play more, Bowen embodies his spirit and truly is the current Mr West Ham.

West Ham's "supreme" star is going to be their biggest talent since Kudus

The incredible talent will become more important to West Ham than Kudus ever was.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

Still on the hunt for their next manager, Rangers and those at Ibrox are now reportedly targeting a manager who’s made history in English football.

Rangers shortlist growing

A number of names have been mentioned since Steven Gerrard’s unexpected decision, but the Gers remain without a replacement for Russell Martin. With Rangers back in action against Dundee United this weekend, to say that their current situation is far from ideal would be an understatement.

The 49ers still have a number of options, however. They could still turn towards the likes of Danny Rohl or perhaps even Hearts manager Derek McInnes. The 54-year-old is doing an excellent job at Hearts right now and has them top of the Scottish Premiership, two points above champions Celtic. For many at Ibrox, he would be the next Rangers manager in an ideal world.

Whether the 49ers can lure the Hearts boss away from his current role is another question entirely. Instead, they may be forced to look elsewhere and towards English football.

Whether that means turning to Rohl will be interesting to see. The former Sheffield Wednesday boss is one of the most exciting managerial prospects around and did an admirable job in a difficult position at Hillsborough. The 36-year-old wouldn’t be the safest choice given his inexperience, but he could be worth taking a gamble on.

It’s not just McInnes on the list, though. Former Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky has also emerged as a potential candidate. A title winner in Switzerland, the 48-year-old may not be a well-known name, but he is someone who has had impressive success in recent years.

The same can also be said for a Championship manager, who even has some historic moments on his side if Rangers come calling.

Rangers now targeting Kieran McKenna

According to TeamTalk, Rangers are now targeting Kieran McKenna. The Ipswich Town boss has emerged as one of the candidates for the job after impressing during his time at Portman Road, with Ashley Young calling him a “winner”.

One of just five managers to achieve back-to-back promotions from League One all the way to the Premier League, it’s hard to doubt McKenna’s ability to transform a club. And whilst Ipswich have since been relegated back to the Championship, the manager’s reputation is still more than intact, with many full of belief in his expertise.

Rangers left impressed after Ibrox talks with "amazing" 4-2-3-1 manager

Is he the right man for the Ibrox job?

By
Henry Jackson

Oct 12, 2025

The biggest task for Rangers will be prying McKenna away from Ipswich. The 39-year-old has been at the club since the 2021/22 campaign and still has work to do as those at Portman Road eye an instant return to the Premier League.

If the 49ers did manage to lure the former Manchester United coach away from Suffolk in the coming weeks, then the transition could be smoother than ever. McKenna plays the same 4-2-3-1 system as Russell Martin, albeit without the clear weaknesses that the former manager had.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now ready to make a January offer for a midfield “artist”, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Wolves still not off the mark in the Premier League

It has been a torrid start to the Premier League season for Wolves, who remained bottom of the table after a very disappointing 3-1 home defeat against newly-promoted Leeds United last weekend.

Vitor Pereira’s side are the only top flight club yet to pick up a single point this season, but there has been some respite in the EFL Cup, having reached the fourth round, after progressing past West Ham United and, most recently, Everton.

Wolves star Munetsi reveals what they "really" worked on in training before Everton win

Wolves dominated the Toffees on Tuesday evening…

By
Ben Goodwin

Sep 24, 2025

There were some promising signs on Wednesday night, with the Old Gold defeating the Toffees 2-0 at Molineux, courtesy of goals from Marshall Munetsi and Tolu Arokodare, and the manager remains confident his players have the ability to turn things around.

Pereira said: “The work I watch everyday in training is hard work and this is a group who work a lot, they compete and want to be at a better level. We’re just missing the results because the players have quality.”

If things do not improve, however, and their Premier League status is on the line, Wolves may have to inject some fresh quality into the squad during the January transfer window, and they are now looking to sign Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states the Old Gold are now ready to make an offer for Locatelli as soon as January, although there will be competition from some of their Premier League rivals.

West Ham United and Aston Villa are also prepared to make bids of their own, and there are signs a deal could be possible, with the Serie A side considering sanctioning a departure, although it is unclear what sort of fee they would be looking for.

"Artist" Locatelli could play major role in Wolves securing survival

Even though we are just five games into the new Premier League season, it is already starting to look like Wolves’ main goal this season will be to simply avoid the drop, and the £103k-a-week Juventus maestro could take Pereira’s midfield to the next level.

An established Italy international, with 32 caps to his name, the 27-year-old has plenty of top-level experience, having made 22 Champions League appearances, and he is very highly rated by scout Ben Mattinson.

Not only is the midfielder comfortable in possession, but he is also solid defensively, as shown by his performance in some key statistics over the past year.

Locatelli could be an excellent signing for Wolves, but it is questionable whether a player of his quality would be interested in moving to a relegation-threatened side.

West Indies captain takes three wickets and scores 71 off 54 but tourists fall short again

Valkerie Baynes26-May-2025

Heather Knight’s unbeaten half-century steered England to a 17-run victory and a 3-0 sweep of the T20I series against West Indies.Knight arrived at the crease with England 21 for 2 batting first for the first time in the series after being sent in by West Indies captain Hayley Matthews.She batted with superb placement and timing to reach an unbeaten 66 off 47 balls with seven fours and a six, but she pulled up with a tight right hamstring late in her innings was replaced in the field by substitute Tammy Beaumont.Nat Sciver-Brunt, Knight’s successor as captain, was England’s next best with 37 in the first test of their batting all series, having chased down 147 and 82 in the first two games for the loss of just two wickets and one respectively.Matthews led the way for her side with the ball and latterly the bat, just as she had done in the first match, scoring a century in a losing cause at Canterbury. Her three wickets for 32 in four overs helps contain England while Jahzara Claxton, on debut, was also excellent with 1 for 15 from her four overs.Matthews’ 71 off 54 balls kept her side in pursuit of 145 in a match briefly interrupted by rain but, as has been a theme of the tour, no one from her side could match her.Lauren Bell struck with the first ball of the innings•ECB via Getty Images

England’s opening stumbleDanni Wyatt-Hodge was bowled off the first ball of the innings for the second match in a row and third consecutive time by Zaida James. It took her tally for the series to just 17 at 8.50 and compounds a disappointing start to the international season after being dropped for the ODI leg of West Indies’ visit which follows from Friday in Derby.In contrast, Sophia Dunkley had entered the match with an unbeaten scores of 81 and 24 to her name, but Matthews made it two-down for England when Dunkley’s attempted cut resulted in an edge behind and the hosts ended the powerplay on 24 for 2, their lowest for the series by a long shot.Knight’s knock comes at a costSciver-Brunt and Knight settled into a rhythm, Knight’s superb reverse-sweep off Matthews racing away for four followed by two more boundaries from Sciver-Brunt, who advanced down the pitch to despatch Afy Fletcher over mid-off and three balls later timed one perfectly through the leg side.Sciver-Brunt survived on 36 when she skied a Matthews delivery over the covers but a back-pedalling Fletcher couldn’t hold on. Knight slog-swept the next ball for six and, when Sciver-Brunt holed out two balls later, it fell to her predecessor to marshal the innings.She did so beautifully as Amy Jones, required to bat for the first time all series at No.5, chimed in with four fours on her way to a 17-ball 22 although she couldn’t convert her start, flummoxed by the flight of a Matthews delivery which clattered into her stumps.Alice Capsey fell cheaply in her only chance of West Indies’ visit, having been overlooked for the ODIs, giving Claxton her maiden international wicket when she chipped straight to Realeanna Grimmond at deep extra cover.Knight brought up her eighth T20I fifty with a reverse-paddle for four off Ashmini Munisar and a wristy shot over short third off Aaliyah Alleyne also flew to the boundary. At that point Knight was in obvious pain, down on her haunches taking deep breaths between facing and clearly hobbling between the wickets. But she punched through it to face the final ball of the innings, going inside-out over the covers to find the boundary once more.WI trip up earlyLike Wyatt-Hodge, Qiana Joseph fell early to the same bowler for the third consecutive time when she was bowled first ball by a Lauren Bell inswinger.A four and a six in two balls off Charlie Dean suggested Matthews was in similar mood to last Wednesday when her unbeaten 100 off 67 balls came in a losing cause. Amid the constant threat of rain, she kept her side in touch while Dean saw three chances go begging off her bowling in the 11th over.In echoes of the infamous T20 World Cup meeting between these sides, Sciver-Brunt put down a straightforward chance off Grimmond – on 12 at the time – at midwicket, Dean couldn’t hold a return catch and Jones failed to gather a faint outside edge behind the stumps.Hayley Matthews notched a 41-ball fifty•PA Photos/Getty Images

Matthews leads once moreWest Indies and England fans alike gasped when Matthews flicked an Em Arlott delivery off her pads towards deep midwicket, where Wyatt-Hodge did well to parry the ball back inside the rope to save a boundary, but Matthews ran two to raise her half-century.Matthews followed that immediately with a one-bounce four over mid-on and she struck back-to-back boundaries off Sarah Glenn so that she was on 66 by the time the rain finally set in to force the players from the field for about 25 minuntes.Linsey Smith claimed two wickets in as many deliveries during the first complete over after the resumption: Shabika Gajnabi bowled for a run-a-ball 14 and Claxton held at midwicket by Sciver-Brunt. Alleyne survived the hat-trick ball but the momentum had swun firmly in England’s favour with West Indies needing 32 runs off the last three overs. When Matthews launched the next ball down Arlott’s throat at long-on to give Bell her second wicket, it was all over, Bell closing with an economical 2 for 11 from four overs.

Thomas Tuchel has surprisingly called a Manchester United wonderkid into England training despite the 18-year-old still waiting for his senior club debut. Shea Lacey has been making waves for United’s under-21s, and was given the chance to train with England’s first team following a series of standout performances.

• GOAL
  

  Superstar hype around Lacey

  Lacey's rise has been meteoric. After his double against Crystal Palace’s U21s, he caught the eye of both Tuchel and Ruben Amorim, with the latter even having him train occasionally with United’s first team. Already drawing comparisons with England and Manchester City star Phil Foden, Lacey has been earmarked by many as a future footballing superstar.

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• Versatile customer in attack

  Lacey's versatility, which sees him shine as both a right-winger and an attacking midfielder, has given him the edge over other young hopefuls. Despite not yet making his senior United debut, Lacey’s exceptional performances in the youth ranks have made him impossible to ignore.

• Rising stars get their shot at the big time

  Lacey wasn’t the only surprise inclusion in England’s latest first-team session. Alongside him, 19-year-olds Lakyle Samuel and Harrison Murray-Campbell were also called up. Samuel, a defender on loan at Bromley from Manchester City, and Murray-Campbell, a Chelsea defender, were both given the chance to impress in the senior setup.

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• Scouts flock to watch lacey

  Lacey’s stock continues to rise as he carves out a reputation as a future star. Last week, during an impressive 2-0 win over Liverpool’s Under-21s, scouts from across the EFL and Premier League were seen flocking to the game. As soon as Lacey left the pitch, many scouts, believing the show was over, packed up and left, such was the teenager’s impact. His performances have impressed United first-team regulars like Harry Maguire, who have been left in awe after seeing Lacey’s skill up close in training. The calls for Lacey to be included in the first-team matchday squad are growing louder with each passing game.

Chelsea have now opened talks with the representatives of Barcelona star Fermin Lopez, which comes as a shock amid their long-winded pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

Enzo Maresca’s side, amid their desperate bid to offload the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku to make room in their squad, opened negotiations over signing Simons weeks ago.

Negotiations for the Dutchman have been ongoing ever since, and despite some reports to the contrary, a full agreement with Leipzig still hasn’t been reached.

Just five days remain until the transfer window shuts on September 1, and Maresca was believed to be prioritising deals for both Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and the 22-year-old before the deadline.

However, reports that Barca’s Lopez has emerged as a concrete target during this final stretch have prompted many questions.

The Spaniard, who has become a star under Hansi Flick, has been approached by Chelsea as the Blues reach out to his camp, according to multiple reliable sources, with Chelsea now eyeing a late move for Lopez who’d come as an alternative to Simons.

The 22-year-old made 46 appearances in all competitions last term – scoring eight goals and bagging 10 assists – including a brace of goal contributions against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

His quality is pretty much undeniable, as is the notion that he’d provide Maresca with a serious playmaking upgrade who’s also capable of playing on the left-wing.

Chelsea's plan for Xavi Simons after opening talks with Fermin Lopez

Some on-lookers may assume from Chelsea’s contact that they are moving on to Lopez after contacting his entourage, but that apparently isn’t the case.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are attempting to put pressure on Leipzig to sell Simons by approaching Lopez, with the Bundesliga sensation very much still their priority right now.

If Chelsea do turn their attentions fully towards Lopez, the asking price is believed to be around £60 million.