30 Apr 2026 10:28:51
Apparently Richard Hughes 1 step away from leaving at the end of the season to join Al-Hilal. Nicolo Schira on X (normally fairly reliable).
30 Apr 2026 10:53:14
Sounds like he's hovering in the doorway.
Is this why we can't get rid of Slot? Hughes is blocking the exit door!
30 Apr 2026 11:07:40
"This is Sparta" comes to mind, that's the help he needs through the door.
30 Apr 2026 10:51:32
1 step? Someone shove him
30 Apr 2026 11:40:02
Hughes has a way of doing things, which is divisive, to say the least. He is Edwards' man, though, and he does have a contract.
Isak's agents were complicit in the mess surrounding his transfer, but they would have done whatever they were told to do.
The chaos around that move rests with Edwards and Hughes, who were the driving force.
Edwards has taken some of the responsibilities upon himself, for obvious reasons.
It could be an ideal time to sell, once this rebuild and new new manager are in place. The ME is on shakey ground, so stick or twist? FSG are in that headspace.
30 Apr 2026 11:52:14
No smoke without fire. Hughes has been linked to Saudi jobs since he took the role.
30 Apr 2026 11:53:45
Sell who? Isak!? Surely not!!?
30 Apr 2026 11:57:54
I wouldn't be shocked if FSG sell us in the next 3 years.
Ken.
30 Apr 2026 12:15:52
No-one's going to be buying Ken.
{Ed001's Note - Barbie might do.}
30 Apr 2026 12:26:51
Sell Isak?! .. That's insane ...
There is a 25-30 goal-a-season striker there.
Wirtz and Isak .. that should be the next 5 years .. feed him the ball .. get others to do the running .. stick him in the box and tell him to stay there .. he isn't Bobby .. he is just a pure goal scoring predator ...
30 Apr 2026 12:39:05
Agreed, MightyR - Jacob Murphy did exactly that, just getting crosses in, and Isak scored shed loads! He's a proper No.9, so play him as one, get 2 wingers along with Wirtz and that's a 25-30 goal season.
30 Apr 2026 12:39:09
I may be wrong, but I assumed that he meant FSG sell the club rather than the club sell Isak.
30 Apr 2026 12:40:03
Not Isak - the club values can't really grow in the current state of the world.
Edwards has taken some of Hughes' responsibilities on.
30 Apr 2026 13:43:08
Just 1 step? Quick - somebody push him!
30 Apr 2026 14:11:20
Seems like Alonso to Chelsea could be happening, if it does, good luck to him.
30 Apr 2026 14:21:19
I hope not Koptie.
30 Apr 2026 14:39:34
I can't see Alonso going to Chelsea. Their transfer strategy isn't exactly going to appeal to him, and I can't imagine he'd have much say on their transfers. I may be wrong though.
30 Apr 2026 15:32:01
It shouldn't surprise anyone that Isak has had the season he has had, because we know from (very) recent experience that a player with an inactive pre-season usually results in him having a bad season. Even if you put all injuries aside. Remember Chiesa? No pre-season, and he spent half the season getting fit. And when he was played unfit, he got injured and that delayed fitness also.
Edwards and Hughes have enough brain cells between them to know this.
Newcastle and Isak's agents were responsible? Fine, step away. Go back the next season. Isn't it better than committing to an outlay of 150 Million (or whatever it was) and paying a salary for a full year without much of a return on that expenditure? How about putting all this on the statistical and data-driven analysis, and seeing what you get?
30 Apr 2026 15:35:29
Chelsea are a tram smash and potential career enders right now. It is not the place for any up and coming manager. They need a has-been manager with nothing to lose looking for one last big payday (like hiring Mourinho yet again).
30 Apr 2026 16:01:11
There's talent to work with though. Likes of James, Fofana, Enzo, Cucurella, Caicedo, Palmer, Estevao. Only a good summer window away from having a top 11 there, in fairness. Maybe they just need the right guy to get them going.
30 Apr 2026 17:43:19
SA, Rumours doing the rounds that Chelsea are willing to give Alonso control over transfers to secure him. No idea of the original source or credibility, but it could certainly be the decisive factor. Although, like I've been saying since January, he won't be taking a job this side of the summer.
He'll be the most sought-after manager on the market come June, and there's likely to be a lot of movement; he'd be a fool to commit to anything with only 4 weeks to go.
30 Apr 2026 19:20:32
If the STC leaves in the summer, I can see Edwards just taking that role and no one else coming in.
30 Apr 2026 20:07:36
Come on Ed001, be realistic, we both know Barbie has been cashing Ken's cheques for 40 odd years now.
{Ed001's Note - good point well made Ron.}