19/06/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 19, 2025

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Kobel explains reason behind Chelsea snub

BRIEFS

Son to decide future after Spurs’ Asia tour

A REPORTED Chelsea target has explained why he found it easy to reject a move to Stamford Bridge last month. Gregor Kobel had been linked with the Blues ahead of the Club World Cup, with Enzo Maresca keen to recruit a new goalkeeper. They came close to signing AC Milan stopper Mike Maignan but the deal broke down because Chelsea were unwilling to meet their demands. They also considered moving for Kobel, who has shone for Borussia Dortmund since joining them from Stuttgart in 2021. According to Bild , the 27-year-old had “long been in Chelsea’s sights” and there was “contact for months” between the two

When asked if he had given up on his ‘dream’ of playing in the Premier League, Kobel replied: “I can’t remember ever saying that was my dream.” Chelsea did not manage to sign a new goalkeeper before the first part of the summer window closed last week. Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen struggled to prove themselves last season, leading to the Blues exploring their options in the market. It remains to be seen if Chelsea will revive their pursuit of a new goalkeeper between now and the start of next season. Any move for Kobel would appear to be a non-starter, given his own admission that he is perfectly happy at Dortmund. – Express Newspapers

camps over a potential deal. It never materialised, though, with Kobel turning down their advances in order to continue in Germany. Now, the Switzerland international has opened up on why he decided to reject a move to Chelsea. In an interview with Bild , he simply said that he was never intrigued by the prospect of playing in England because he was happy at Dortmund. “Everyone knows that I feel extremely comfortable in Dortmund,” said Kobel. “I love the fans, the stadium, the club and the atmosphere. Everyone knows that and sees it when I’m on the pitch. I really appreciate that.”

TOTTENHAM’S tour of South Korea is emerging as a factor in the future of captain Son Heung-min amid interest in the forward from Saudi Arabia. Son’s future at Spurs is unclear given he has just 12 months left on his contract, with clubs in the Middle East looking at capitalising on the uncertainty. But while well-placed sources have indicated the forward could yet leave before next season, any exit is likely to be delayed until after the trip to Asia with any absence likely to risk complications with tour organisers. It is understood that it would take an offer way above Son’s valuation for Tottenham to consider selling their skipper ahead of the tour. Spurs are yet to receive any formal offers for Son, and it remains to be seen how he fits into new head coach Thomas Frank’s plans for next season. Pogba given fresh Devils return verdict PREMIER LEAGUE teams have been advised that they are “not a good fit” for Paul Pogba as the Frenchman nears his return to competitive football. There had been tentative talk of a Manchester United comeback in the weeks leading up to the summer transfer window, while local rivals Manchester City considered making a move in the winter. As yet, however, Pogba remains a free agent after agreeing a mutual termination of his contract with Juventus last November. The 32-year-old has not played a competitive match since September 2023, with his career derailed by a doping scandal which landed him with a ban that was reduced from four years to 18 months on appeal. Despite Pogba’s obvious talent, his World Cup win and his record of playing for top clubs, former Prem defender Colin Hendry does not believe the next step in his career should be back in England. Pep called Klopp for permission PEP GUARDIOLA has disclosed that he sought Jurgen Klopp’s approval before bringing Pep Lijnders into his coaching team. Lijnders, who was a key figure in Klopp’s backroom staff at Liverpool during their intense rivalry with Manchester City, made headlines when Guardiola snapped him up this summer. The Dutch coach is set to fill Juanma Lillo’s shoes at City and is expected to make his mark on the team’s style of play in the upcoming season. Despite Klopp having moved on from Liverpool and Lijnders having a stint as Red Bull Salzburg manager before being dismissed last December, Guardiola still felt it necessary to clear the air with Klopp. TOUCHLINES BAYERN MUNICH will target Brighton and Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma, 28, and Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo, 26, if they miss out on Spain and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, 22. MANCHESTER UNITED have agreed a one-year con tract with English goalkeeper Tom Heaton to keep the 39-year-old at Old Trafford. BOURNEMOUTH and England rightback Max Aarons, 25, is a target for Rangers, with the Cherries favouring a permanent sale rather than a loan. TRABZONSPOR are targeting Ipswich Town and DR Congo defender Axel Tuanzebe, 27. AC MILAN have met with the representatives of Bayer Leverkusen and Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka, 32. NAPOLI are attempting to sign Manchester United and England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, after his unsuccessful loan spell at Chelsea. NOTTINGHAM FOREST are interested in Colombia and Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios, 25, whose contract includes a release clause of about £85m (RM486m). LEEDS UNITED and Aston Villa are keen on Strasbourg and Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra, 21.

Real Madrid players jog on the football field during a training session at the Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. – AFPPIC

s Lost Blancos Pressure and lack of belief – the challenges facing Alonso X ABI ALONSO’S Real Madrid reign kicks off with Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal, and the former Liverpool midfielder is

ideas and mix them together,” he told BBC Sport . “He also had a strong influence at home during his childhood, because his father Periko was a great player for Real Sociedad. “Even as a player, you knew Xabi would become a manager because he was like a coach on the pitch.” However, there is also a warning – success is expected to come instantly. “For Real Madrid, every title is important,” warned Del Amo, who came through Real’s youth ranks to win La Liga and the Champions League before becoming a legend at Deportivo La Coruna, taking another league title in 2000. “Real is the club with the most international titles in the world. Every time they play a competition, the target is to win it. It’s a very difficult club. “Already in Spain they are saying there’s a bad omen for Xabi because you have to go back to Del Bosque (who led Real to the Champions League in 2002) to find a successful Spanish coach at the Bernabeu. “So they are putting that kind of pressure on him.” Leading his team to a world title might sound like an unfair demand on a new manager just a handful of weeks after his arrival. But at Real Madrid, handling those expectations is part of the job. Alonso has stated his priority is establishing personal relationships with his players, and Del Amo believes he holds a major advantage in this respect because the new boss is 23 years younger than Ancelotti. “Xabi is closer to the generation of the current players,” explained Del Amo, who currently coaches in Slovenia and won last season’s title with Olimpija Ljubljana.

“This is an asset for a coach in terms of man-management. He can be closer to the players. It creates a better link. “His players all have memories of Xabi performing at the highest level. They know he was one of the best long passers of all time. “That will help him create the right mindset for the players to believe in their coach and follow his path.” Tactically, one riddle for Alonso to tackle is the positioning of star forwards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, who like to operate in similar areas and often looked incompatible during their first season together. Improving a defence which was greatly hampered by injuries over the past couple of years is another major task – and here an England international will play a key role. Alonso has been granted summer reinforcements, with Real sticking to their policy of capturing young talent by signing 20-year-old Spain centreback Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, and 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono – the youngest player to feature in a competitive match for Argentina – from River Plate. An exception, of course, is Trent Alexander-Arnold, a comparative veteran at 26, who has completed his move from Liverpool in time for the Club World Cup. Alonso’s tactical approach might take a while to unfold, but his first challenge is to restore the unshakeable levels of confidence traditionally associated with Real Madrid. It might sound strange for a squad packed with glittering stars, but self-belief looked in short supply as Real finished last season trailing Barcelona domestically – and meekly exiting the Champions League against Arsenal. – Agencies

already under pressure. The 43-year-old Spaniard has been hampered by minimal preparation, with injuries and international duty dictating that his first training session earlier this month featured only three senior players. So time is working against the ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss’ hopes of making an instant impact on a team that looked lost towards the end of predecessor Carlo Ancelotti’s long spell in charge. But that doesn’t mean Alonso will be granted the luxury of patience. After cutting his managerial teeth with Real Sociedad’s reserve team, Alonso moved to Germany and broke Bayern Munich’s 11 year stranglehold on the Bundesliga. Leading Leverkusen to their first league title convinced Real president Florentino Perez that Alonso – who made 236 appearances for Los Blancos between 2009 and 2014 – is ready to return and reinvigorate a tired team. And Perez is not alone in that view. Former Real and Spain winger Victor Sanchez del Amo is among those greatly impressed - but not particularly surprised - by Alonso’s exploits to date. Del Amo points out that Alonso played under an array of the modern era’s greatest coaches: Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho at Real; Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich; Rafa Benitez at Liverpool; Vicente del Bosque and Luis Aragones with the Spanish national team. “Xabi has learned from some of the best coaches in history, so he can take all their