Chelsea
Caicedo left out of Ecuador squad as Chelsea manage midfielder after Liverpool winner
Caicedo will miss Ecuador duty after Chelsea manage his fitness following a Liverpool winner & rest.
Moisés Caicedo produced a match-defining moment in Chelsea’s 2–1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, scoring a belting goal as part of a full performance. He completed his ninth full game of the campaign but has been omitted from Ecuador’s squad amid fitness concerns, giving the club an opportunity to manage his minutes during the international window.
Ecuador manager Sebastián Beccacece acknowledged the situation before the selection was finalised, saying: “About Moisés, his coach [Enzo Maresca] said he’s injured. He’s not well, but he’s so ambitious and committed that he always wants to perform like he did against Argentina. We’re reconsidering whether he’ll be included in the squad.” Ecuador’s forthcoming fixtures are both friendlies against the U.S men’s national team and Mexico, and the manager declined to take unnecessary risks with Caicedo.
After the Liverpool victory, assistant Willy Caballero spoke to the media in place of the sent-off head coach and provided further context on the midfielder. Caballero, who spent four years as a player with Chelsea between 2017 and 2021, stressed the need to monitor players who have logged heavy minutes.
“About Moi, what else can we say? He has played a lot of games with the Club World Cup and with the national team, so we need to manage him sometimes as we want him to arrive to matches feeling well,” Caballero explained. “Against Liverpool , he did, once again, a great job and had a great game. Also, he scored a fantastic goal that gave us an opportunity to manage the game a little bit more.
“We need to keep an eye on him because all the players who played constantly from [the start of] last season are living with some things, which is why we think about Moi and Enzo [Fernández]. Sometimes, they need to do partial team training because we want them to arrive well to the game.”
Caicedo’s exact condition remains unspecified, but Chelsea and Ecuador have opted for caution by withholding him from the squad for the upcoming friendlies so the midfielder can be managed by his club.
Chelsea
Manchester City Consider Fernández Move as Rodri Talks Shape Midfield Plans
City’s interest in Fernández grows as Chelsea hold firm and Rodri’s future begins to shape.
Manchester City are being linked with a major summer approach for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, with Enzo Maresca said to be open to the idea of a reunion.
The speculation around Fernández had eased after a blunt statement, particularly with the 25-year-old due to rejoin Chelsea on Wednesday after the 2026 World Cup. Even so, the possibility of a move to the Etihad Stadium has returned after City reportedly made contact with his camp, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea’s position remains clear. They are said to be demanding £120 million ($162 million) and are not expected to lower that figure. City, meanwhile, are understood to be hoping to negotiate, but the gap between the two sides is substantial.
Any move would also sit alongside City’s wider midfield planning, with the club preparing for a future without Rodri. The newly crowned Golden Ball and World Cup winner is reportedly set to join Barcelona this summer, leaving Manchester with one year left on his current deal. City rejected Barcelona’s opening bid of $52 million (£38.5 million), although discussions are still ongoing.
The club are also expected to sign World Cup breakout star Ayyoub Bouaddi, though reports indicate the teenager is not being lined up to replace Rodri directly.
Fernández may now be viewed as the player best placed to fill that role. He has already established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading midfielders and produced his strongest form under Maresca.
A return to working with the Italian coach, this time in sky blue, could also appeal after Fernández’s public falling out with the Chelsea hierarchy. That tension followed a two-game suspension over comments about a possible transfer last season.
City’s midfield is already well stocked after the summer arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for $153.9 million (£116 million), while Nico González, Tijjani Reijnders and Mateo Kovačić are also in the squad.
Arsenal
Why Lewis-Skelly Could Appeal to Chelsea and Manchester United
Lewis-Skelly is attracting interest, with Chelsea and Manchester United weighing a possible move.
Myles Lewis-Skelly may be entering a difficult stage in his Arsenal career after the club’s $101 million (£75 million) move for Bruno Guimarães reduced the space for him in the squad. The teenager’s minutes fell in 2025-26, yet he still managed to start in central midfield ahead of Martín Zubimendi in the Champions League final alongside Declan Rice.
Even so, the market is already circling. football.london report that Chelsea and Manchester United have both been offered Lewis-Skelly, with Arsenal possibly open to a sale. Chelsea have held a long-term interest in the player and, according to the report, a “good offer” could be difficult for the club to turn down.
Sky Sports add that Chelsea have made a “new enquiry” for the England international. Arsenal, however, “do not want to sell” to a local rival, which points to the possibility that the player has been put forward by representatives or intermediaries who believe his minutes could decline further if he stays in north London.
For Chelsea, the issue is practical as much as strategic. The club are trying to trim a bloated squad, but Marc Cucurella’s sale to Real Madrid earlier this summer means they need a direct replacement at left back. Rayo Vallecano fullback Pep Chavarría is said to be close to Stamford Bridge, though the 28-year-old does not carry the same long-term appeal as Lewis-Skelly.
Manchester United would also see the 18-year-old as a player who covers more than one need. He can operate at left back and in midfield, giving them short-term depth for Luke Shaw as well as a longer-term option. Their midfield picture is also thin, with only Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos available as senior central midfielders, or four if Mason Mount is counted in a deeper role.
The Guardian report that Lewis-Skelly could be priced at around $61 million (£45 million). Given the sums United have already spent on Santos and Tielemans this summer, the deal would sit within reach. Arsenal, meanwhile, may decide that a player not central to Arteta’s plans is still valuable as a source of major transfer income.
Chelsea
Chelsea edge closer to another teenage U.S. arrival, report says
Chelsea are reportedly nearing another U.S. teenage signing, with Garcia following the planned arrival of Benji Flowers.
Chelsea are reportedly moving toward the signing of another American teenage talent, with Garcia said to be next in line to join the club. The move would follow the planned arrival of fellow U.S. prospect Benji Flowers, who is also set to head to Chelsea once he turns 18.
FC Dallas, which only signed Flowers to a homegrown contract last month, has already reached an agreement with Chelsea for the 15-year-old. The deal is understood to be worth an initial $3 million, or £2.25 million, with add-ons that could lift the total to about $10 million, or £7.5 million. Like Garcia, Flowers is currently developing with Dallas’s reserve side, North Texas SC, in MLS Next Pro. He made his debut in that competition at 14 in March.
The two players have also crossed paths internationally, having both represented the U.S. at under-15 level and collected multiple call-ups.
Chelsea’s interest in emerging talent from MLS is not without precedent. American goalkeeper Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina joined from the Chicago Fire in 2022 for a reported base fee of $10 million, shortly after his 18th birthday. Since moving to west London, Slonina has featured for Chelsea’s U-21s and spent time on loan in Belgium and in England’s League One. Garcia and Flowers could follow a similar route after joining Chelsea.
