
UK's youngest senior player Atherton joins Chelsea
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Metro
20 minutes ago
- Metro
Chelsea told they've loaned out star who can be 'better than Messi'
Chelsea have been told that they have just loaned out a player who 'has everything to be better than Lionel Messi and Neymar'. It's been a busy summer at Stamford Bridge and not just because Enzo Maresca's side won the Club World Cup. The Blues have spent over £200million on seven new players, with Jorrel Hato and Xavi Simons also on their way from Ajax and RB Leipzig. However, one of those signings hasn't stayed in west London for long, having already been loaned out to Strasbourg, the French club owned by Todd Boehly's BlueCo group. Kendry Paez's move to Chelsea had long been in the works, with the club agreeing to sign him from Independiente del Valle over two years ago when he was just 15-years-old. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Having now turned 18, Paez finally completed the £17m transfer this summer but Maresca believes the attacking midfielder will develop better in Ligue 1 where he can get more game time. His loan move was confirmed on Thursday – exactly one month after he arrived at Stamford Bridge. There is much hype surrounding the teenager who already has 18 caps for Ecuador and is the second-youngest South American to play international football behind only the legendary Diego Maradona. And according to former Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio, Paez could even surpass the greatest of all-time. 'He has everything to be better than Lionel Messi, better than Neymar, but it depends on him and his entourage,' the former forward said, as quoted by L'Equipe. 'It's the first time I've seen a player with these characteristics. I think he has everything to become one of the most important players in world football.' More Trending Tenorio also added that it was important not to 'put pressure' on the youngster, easier said than done when comparisons to Messi are made. If Paez can even get close to Messi's ability, Chelsea will have some player on their hands, with the current Inter Miami star and World Cup winning captain regarded as one of, if not the best footballer of all-time. In addition, Chelsea have also loaned goalkeeper Mike Penders and defender Mamadou Sarr to Strasbourg, while midfielder Mathis Amougou has moved there in a permanent deal. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: £60m Chelsea target misses training and sends social media message over move MORE: Borussia Dortmund have reservations over re-signing Jadon Sancho from Man Utd MORE: Jeff Stelling declares Enzo Maresca is under 'pressure' as Chelsea head coach


BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wrexham suffer back-to-back defeats in the Netherlands
Wrexham were beaten by Eredivisie side FC Groningen in two back-to-back matches in the Netherlands on the first game a side which included most recent signing Conor Coady were beaten 1-0 after conceding a late second game saw David Van der Werff put the hosts ahead after 18 minutes but four minutes later Josh Windass equalised with his first goal for Groningen went ahead seven minutes before half-time through Brynjólfur Willumsson and the Iceland international sealed the win with his side's third with a minute of the 90 begin the Championship season – their first in English football's second tier since 1982 – on Saturday, 9 August at Southampton.


The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Crisis club Sheffield Wednesday missed out on huge Danny Rohl windfall before boss walked out
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY missed out on a Danny Rohl windfall weeks before his exit. German side Wolfsburg were willing to pay almost £1million compensation to bag him. 2 But owner Dejphon Chansiri wanted the full figure in boss Rohl's contract — which was more than double that sum. Rohl, 36, left the crisis club by mutual consent on Tuesday. Meanwhile, long-serving Liam Palmer, 33, will NOT hand in his notice despite the Owls ' current problems. And neither will skipper Barry Bannan, who has signed a new contract at Wednesday to keep his daughter happy. The midfielder, 35, was a free agent and claimed he turned down 'interest from elsewhere' to remain at Hillsborough for an 11th consecutive season. It was a surprising announcement given Wednesday's dire financial situation ahead of their opening Championship clash at Leicester on Sunday August 10. Under the ownership of Thai businessman Chansiri, there have been late payments to HMRC, transfer embargoes, multiple failures to pay the wages of players and staff members, and rising debts. They only have 15 first-team squad members and departed manager Rohl has been replaced by his Danish assistant Henrik Pedersen. Yet Bannan struck an optimistic note as he explained his reasons for staying in the blue-and-white half of the Steel City. The Scottish father-of-two, who has made 447 Wednesday appearances, revealed that his children are delighted he is not leaving. He said: 'Being out of contract, it was the first time that has happened to me in my career so it's been hard. 'Deep down inside I always knew what I wanted to do. 'At times it seemed like what I didn't want to do could happen but now I'm delighted to get it done and I can look forward. 'There's loads of reasons really. I've made it clear over the years my love for the club and the love I receive back. 'This club is a big part of me and my family, who are with me here as I'm signing. 'They will always stand by me with whatever decision I make and I've decided to stay. 'With the season getting closer, this last week has been tough because there was interest from elsewhere and I had a lot to think about. 'We had a lot of conversations as a family and when I told my daughter Elsie that I might be leaving she started crying. 'Then last night when I told her I was staying she started crying again. I asked her why and she said they are just happy tears.'