Chelsea winger/midfielder Pedro Neto continues to be linked with a move away, despite the fact that the summer transfer window is now closed. That’s because the Saudi Arabia window remains open until October 12. That said, we still think Neto will stay put at Chelsea, and we selected him for our starting XI prediction at Arsenal on Sunday. Neto reportedly drew a lot of interest from the biggest clubs in England, before the British transfer window closed, on Tuesday.
Chelsea FC at Arsenal FYIs
Kickoff Time: 4.30 p.m. BST, Sunday, Sept 6
Location: Emirates Stadium, London, UK
Team News: Chelsea FC Arsenal
Starting XI Predictions: Chelsea FC Arsenal
Speaking of the transfer window, Chelsea now have a hole to fill, in the middle of the park, after their move to Lamine Camara collapsed in the 11th hour of deadline day. Camara was pegged to be the replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who was sold for a British transfer-fee tying record £125m to Manchester City.
But with Camara not happening now, Chelsea can look to the free agent market to try and fill that role.
Watch this space.
As for Sunday’s blockbuster of a fixture, a very highly anticipated London derby, we’re expecting manager Xabi Alonso to include three of his summer transfer window signings in his first team. It would be four if Marco Palestra was fit, and maybe even five if he was going to go with Danny Welbeck to lead the line.
But those are if and then propositions. Let’s look at who Xabi Alonso is more likely to actually select.
Predicted XI
Emiliano Martinez; Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix, Levi Colwill; Pedro Neto, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Jorell Hato; Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.