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talk SPORT. com has all the latest news, views and reaction from the world of football. Chelsea begin their Club World Cup campaign against LAFC tonight, with the Blues naming a very strong team for their opener. Meanwhile, Bournemouth have confirmed the arrival of Adrien Truffert, opening the door for Milos Kerkez to join Liverpool. And Florian Wirtz is set to complete his Reds medical ahead of his British-record move from Bayer Leverkusen. Visit talk SPORT BET for all the latest summer transfer betting odds 18+ gambleaware. org There was a small clash between Chelsea and LAFC as both teams made their way towards the tunnel. It seemed to stem from Denis Bouanga and Pedro Neto having some words, with others joining after. Reece James didn't look happy and got right in there. The players don't seem to be lacking passion at the Club World Cup, even after their very long season. We might end up seeing a feisty second half now. .. It's half time in the Club World Cup. Chelsea lead Los Angeles FC at the break thanks to Pedro Neto's brilliant near-post finish. The Blues have had a lot of the possession and have looked threatening every time they come forward. It's been largely comfortable for them so far. LA have looked spritely on the attack, with Reece James and Tosin Adarabioyo booked for poor tackles. But the gulf in class has been pretty clear to see after 45. talk SPORT understands that Everton are interested in signing Kyle Walker from Manchester City this summer. But there has yet to be any contact made between the clubs. Walker is not part of Man City's plans next season after spending the second half of last campaign on loan at AC Milan. He isn't in their Club World Cup squad this summer. And now the defender looks set for an exit from the Etihad. CHELSEA TAKE THE LEAD! PEDRO NETO OPENS HIS CLUB WORLD CUP ACCOUNT! The winger receives the ball on a counter, getting into the box on the right-hand side and cutting in. He leaves a defender behind and then tucks a strike into the bottom corner to put Chelsea in front! Chelsea have been all over LAFC for the opening half hour. It's wave after wave of Blues attack as they look to open the scoring against their American opponents. They've had almost 70 per cent of the ball and six shots. One of the best of those came from Reece James from the edge of the box, with the captain unleashing a powerful effort. Cole Palmer has had a chance too, forcing Hugo Lloris into a tipped save which put the ball onto the roof of the net. Wrexham have made their first signing of the summer. They have signed Ryan Hardie from Plymouth for an undisclosed fee. Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mc Elhenney are tipped to spend plenty in this window ahead of the club's Championship campaign. And Hardie has become the first man to join the Red Dragons, further bolstering their strong forward line. The 28-year-old netted 74 goals in 248 games for Plymouth. Speaking after his signing was announced, he said: “I’m delighted to get the move done, I’m really happy to get it done so early and I cannot wait to get going. “To get a full pre-season will be a massive benefit, to get integrated into the squad and learn the way the manager plays and get to know everyone will be important. “The last couple of seasons, it’s been good getting experience in the EFL Championship and it’s experience I can lean on now. I’ve enjoyed playing there, and I’ve managed to score a few goals, so hopefully that can continue this season. “I love how family-oriented the Club is, the community is all together and it really is a one-club City. Everything is to do with the football, and I’m really excited to be a part of that – I’ll give everything I’ve got for the badge. ” It's a debut wearing No. 10 for Cole Palmer tonight. He changed from his usual No. 20 at the start of this month. The Chelsea star took the digits from Mykhailo Mudryk, who was stripped of his shirt number in the process. After a few minutes, Palmer had already made an impact, receiving the ball on the edge and picking out Noni Madueke. Madueke was unable to get a shot away in the box though. Nicolas Jackson has had the best chance of the game so far, falling over as he fired a close-range shot away. We're underway in Atlanta! Every player was just introduced to the pitch individually in a very different approach to the start of this game. Cole Palmer got the biggest cheer from the fans. Speaking of fans, there aren't too many in the stadium at all as we kick off, with plenty of seats left empty. You can follow live coverage of the game on talk SPORT. Commentary is coming from Joe Shennan and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto. To tune in to talk SPORT or talk SPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.   You can also listen via the talk SPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM. talk SPORT understands that Chelsea have made a verbal enquiry to Lyon for winger Malick Fofana. The French side want around £42. 5million for the 20-year-old. Fofana made 29 Ligue 1 appearances last season and had a hand in nine goals, while also starring in Europe. He netted six times in 10 Europa League games for Lyon. Chelsea are eyeing another winger following Jadon Sancho's departure, with only three natural wide players available. On potential signings in that area, Enzo Maresca said: "Jadon is not with us, so for sure that is a position we need to do something. "We have Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] and Ty [George] only as the proper wingers, so something for sure is going to happen. "When the transfer window is open, for sure, we can do something. " Chelsea are kicking off their Club World Cup campaign this evening against LAFC and the teams are in! Enzo Maresca has gone almost as strong as he can for his side's opener in the USA, with Cole Palmer among the starters. Romeo Lavia starts over Enzo Fernandez in midfield. Meanwhile, Liam Delap is forced to wait for his debut, sitting alongside Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr on the bench. For LAFC, ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris starts, as former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is a substitute. Chelsea XI: Sanchez, James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Lavia, Neto, Palmer, Madueke, Jackson. Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Anselmino, Badiashile, Chalobah, Gusto, Sarr, Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, Essugo, Fernandez, George, Guiu, Nkunku, Delap. LAFC XI: Lloris, Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead, Jesus, Tillman, Delgado, Ordaz, Bouanga, Ebobisse. Subs: Hasel, Ochoa, Chanot, Marlon, Tafari, Amaya, Holm, Raposo, Saldana, Yeboah, Giroud, Morales, Wibowo. Moises Caicedo currently holds the British transfer record after his £115million move to Chelsea from Brighton. But he's set to say goodbye to that very soon. .. Florian Wirtz will join Liverpool in the coming days for just £1miillion more than Caicedo's move - £116million. The German's medical with the Reds is set for Friday. And Caicedo, who was very close to joining Liverpool himself in 2023 before heading to Chelsea, has been asked about losing his record. "I didn't know Liverpool were going to pay that, " Caicedo said, via Sky Sports News. "It's good (that Wirtz will cost £1 million more), it's good. " The Ecuadorian added: "Yeah, he's a great player. I think everybody watching [can see] how he plays, he's a very good player. "So I'm happy to hear he's [coming] to the Premier League. " Crystal Palace are set to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window, talk SPORT understands. 32-year-old goalkeeper Walter Benitez has agreed terms and completed a medical ahead of joining the Eagles. Benitez will arrive at Selhurst Park on a free after departing PSV at the end of his contract. He was an ever-present during the Dutch side's league-winning season, but he is now set to depart after three years at the club. The Argentinian will compete with Dean Henderson, as Palace prepare for their upcoming European campaign. Leeds United are closing in on their second signing of the summer. The Whites added Lukas Nmecha over the weekend, and have now reportedly agreed a deal for Jaka Bijol, according to Fabrizio Romano. Daniel Farke's men are set to pay Udinese 22 million Euros for the defender. The centre-back has already agreed personal terms with Leeds and is set for a medical soon. Newcastle United feel they have a strong chance of signing Joao Pedro, according to reports. The Daily Telegraph's Luke Edwards states the Magpies are now set to open talks with Brighton over a move for the Brazilian. The Seagulls rate Pedro at around £60 million, meaning he would be the Toon's second-most expensive buy after Alexander Isak. Newcastle did try to sign Pedro in 2022 only to see the deal collapse, but they are back in for their top target. However, talk SPORT understands that Chelsea and Liverpool are also monitoring the situation. Borussia Dortmund's CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, has claimed it's disappointing that Florian Wirtz is joining Liverpool. The Reds have agreed a deal worth £116 million to take the German international from Bayer Leverkusen. He will have a medical Friday and sign a five-year deal. However, despite finishing 25 points behind Bayern Munich last year, Watzke has claimed he would have liked to see Wirtz at the Allianz. He said: "It's a real shame that a player like Florian Wirtz is leaving the Bundesliga. "I wouldn't have had a problem at all if he had gone to FC Bayern. That would have been better for the Bundesliga. " talk SPORT understands that Florian Wirtz will undergo a medical t Liverpool on Friday. The Reds have already agreed a British-record transfer fee for the German international. They are set to pay Bayer Leverkusen an initial £100 million with a further £16m in add-ons. Personal terms have been agreed, with Wirtz to stay within Liverpool's wage structure. As long as the medical is complete without any issues, he will join Arne Slot's team. talk SPORT understands that Milos Kerkez's proposed move to Liverpool is getting closer. The Cherries confirmed the arrival of Adrien Truffert from Rennes earlier today, which is expected to accelerate the transfer of Kerkez to Anfield. The Hungarian left-back is the club's top target to come in at left-back. Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas are currently the options there, but the former is getting older and has been linked with a move away. Meanwhile, Tsimikas has never been able to nail down a starting spot. Bournemouth have confirmed the signing of Adrien Truffert from Rennes. The left-back joins the Cherries on a five-year deal, and the club are paying 17 million Euros. His arrival is widely expected to be the catalyst for Milos Kerkez to join Liverpool. The Reds have identified the Hungarian international to add competition at left-back, and the two clubs have been talks over a deal for some time. But with Truffert now at Bournemouth, Kerkez's proposed transfer might accelerate. Speaking to the club's website, the Frenchman said: “I’m really happy and proud to join AFC Bournemouth. It’s a great opportunity for me to keep progressing and to be part of an ambitious project. I felt the club’s confidence in me from the first discussions, and I’m excited to get started. “It’s a dream for any player to play in the Premier League. It’s one of the best and most competitive leagues in the world. I’m looking forward to testing myself at this level, facing top players every week, and helping the team achieve great things. ” talk SPORT understands that Brighton's proposed move for Diego Coppola is complete. The Seagulls are set to pay 11 million Euros to Hellas Verona for the 21-year-old. The defender has agreed a five-year deal with Brighton to move to the Premier League. There are no add-ons to the fee, and it should be announced at any time. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has indicated that the Blues will definitely sign a left winger this summer. Jadon Sancho won't be joining the cub after they refused to pay the £25 million obligation to buy from Manchester United. Instead, Chelsea opted to pay a penalty fee. They have also seen a move for Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund stall. But Maresca has tried to ease any fears Chelsea fans might have. Speaking ahead of their opening game at the Club World Cup against LAFC, he said: "Jadon is not with us so for sure that is a position [winger] we need to do something. "We have Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] and Ty [George] only as the proper wingers so something for sure is going to happen. "When the transfer window is open, for sure, we can do something. " Wolves have agreed a €23million fee with Celta Vigo to sign forward Fer Lopez, talk SPORT understands. The 21-year-old Spaniard is a product of Celta Vigo's having only made his senior debut last December. Lopez has been likened to former Spain striker Iago Aspas, who excelled at the beginning of his career with Celta Vigo. However, Aspas struggled to replicate the same form when making the move to the Premier League having scored just one goal for Liverpool. Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo appears to be backing Thomas Frank to be a success at Tottenham. But Mbeumo, who is subject to transfer interest from Manchester United as well as Spurs, now managed by former Bees boss Frank, didn't get sucked in to talk about where his own future lies. "He has done so much for me, " Mbeumo told Sky Sports at the Canadian Grand Prix. "He has trusted me from the start, developed the team so well, developed me as a human and a player so much and I wish him all the best and wish he is going to do well. "He knows everything. He is really smart, he knows where he wants to bring the team and how he wants to play and he has been fantastic for Brentford. "He is going to have some time to adapt. He will have more games and more expectation but I am sure he is going to do well. " Paris Saint-Germain have stepped up their interest in Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi, talk SPORT understands. The centre-back is understood to be keen on a move although there's no agreement between the two clubs at present. Zabarnyi has been on Bournemouth's books since January 2023, and has enjoyed a strong season for Andoni Iraola's side. However, Bournemouth may be reluctant to sell the Ukraine international with the Cherries already waving goodbye to centre-back Dean Huijsen this summer. Meanwhile, left-back Milos Kerkez is expected to join Liverpool in this window. Real Madrid are reported to be working on a deal to sign another Liverpool defender on a free. According to Marca, Los Blancos are long-term admirers of Ibrahima Konate and they are already eyeing a move. His contract runs out in the summer of 2026 and Real will be lurking should he not sign a new one at Anfield. It means the French centre-back may end up departing just as Trent Alexander-Arnold did this summer. .. Alongside Konate, Marca's report also includes two more names, including Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly. Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera is listed too, as Real make some early preparations for some free agent swoops. After talk SPORT brought you the news that Leeds were set to complete their first summer signing earlier today. .. The club have now confirmed the arrival of Lukas Nmecha. The German joins from Wolfsburg from July 1, once his contract with the Bundesliga club comes to an end. He becomes Leeds' opening signing of the window as they look to strengthen their squad for their Premier League return. A statement on their website tells fans a bit more about the type of player Nmecha is and what he'll bring to the team. It reads: "Nmecha adds versatility to Farke’s forward line as the team prepares for a return to the Premier League with his ability to play in the centre of the attack or also on the wing. "Standing at over six-foot in height, he also offers a strong physical presence. " The statement ended: "Having fought off competition from other Premier League sides for his services, everyone at Leeds United looks forward to welcoming Lukas to Elland Road. " © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

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