標籤: attacking

Chelsea have been tracking Cruzeiro youngster Felipe Moraes for months, and his initial move now provides important context for the latest developments in Brazil.

As we covered at the timeThe Blues offered €10m (£8.6m) for the 17-year-old attacking midfielder to test the waters. The approach comes despite the player already having a release clause of €100m (£86m) for international clubs. This was a typical low-entry move for a high-level talent.

At the same time, interest has not been limited to Chelsea. Atletico Madrid are monitoring the situation, while Barcelona previously made inquiries. It’s a crowded race being built around one of Brazil’s most promising teenagers.

Rising profile after international exposure

The rise of Felipe Morris makes that focus clear. He impressed for Brazil at the U17 World Cup, appearing in seven of eight matches and scoring twice. His impact came from his ability to drop deep, control pace and connect attacks.

That profile has been consistent throughout his development. Since joining Cruzeiro in 2017, he has progressed through every youth level at the club. He has played 72 matches in the academy system and scored 13 goals, often wearing the captain’s armband.

His role has also evolved. Initially a central midfielder, he now plays in multiple attacking positions. That versatility increases his appeal to clubs like Chelsea, who prefer an adaptable profile.

Cruzeiro has been aware of the growing interest for some time. Internally, the player has already been monitored by the senior setup, with a view to integrating him more regularly.

Cruzeiro responded with contract move

Following that increased attention, Felipe Moraes’ situation has now taken a clear turn.

Cruzeiro have made a move to secure the teenager with a new contract running until 2029, as reported globo esporte In Brazil. The deal retains the €100m (£86m) international release clause, strengthening the club’s stance.

From Chelsea’s point of view, this changes the short-term outlook. The previous bid established interest, but Cruzeiro’s renewal shows they are not ready for quick negotiations.

Instead, the Brazilian side appears focused on growth and value growth. With hopes of more first-team appearances, they are preparing Moraes for a big step up in the future.

what happens next

The Blues have already taken their first steps, which puts them ahead of the curve in terms of laying the groundwork. However, any immediate deal now seems unlikely given Cruzeiro’s situation.

If his trajectory continues, the €100m (£86m) clause could be more than a symbolic figure. At that point, Chelsea and the others must decide how far they are willing to go.

For now, Cruzeiro has regained control of the situation – and Chelsea are watching the next phase unfold.

On Sunday evening, the Golden State Warriors’ losing streak continued with a narrow road loss at the hands of the New York Knicks. The Warriors put in an admirable effort in this game, sidelining Stephen Curry and several other key players, but ultimately, they gave up a 21-point lead and suffered a tough loss.

At one point in the second quarter, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr yelled at rookie Will Richard after he was unable to block an overthrow pass from Brandin Podzimski on a fast break, leading to a turnover.

After the game, Kerr explained what he was thinking during that moment, and also expressed regret for his anger.

“It was a bad pass from BP. BP should have made a nice pass and Will should have dunked. Turned into a 5-point swing. I was angry at Will because I thought he could have turned the ball over and not made the throw. I thought he was trying to make a round-the-back pass for a score. I’m not sure, I could be wrong,” Kerr said, according to @jinttherty on Twitter. Said.

He said, “…I regret losing my composure there a bit because it’s my job to keep players forward, especially without so many players. That’s a big part of winning games like this. Making good decisions, understanding how valuable the ball is.”

It was indeed a bizarre scene, considering that the turnover originated from Podziemski’s pass, and there was nothing wrong done on Richard’s part.

Overall, the Warriors are currently 32-35 on the season, and have moved into a situation where they must win two elimination games to make the playoffs when the postseason begins today.

The Warriors next play against the Washington Wizards on Monday evening.

17-year-old Vasilije Kostov is fast becoming a star for Red Star Belgrade. The teenager is now attracting interest from Arsenal, with Inter Milan also battling for his signature.

At a young age, Kostov has played more than 30 times for the Serbian club’s first team. Impressively, he has already found the net 12 times and also picked up six assists along the way. Two of his goals have also come in the Europa League.

The young attacking midfielder made his debut in the 2024/25 season. This came as he also made quite an impression for Red Star’s youth teams.

Now attention is increasing on it. IT migration market Details regarding Arsenal’s interest in Kostov have been provided.

The Gunners have rejected the bid

The outlet reports that the teenager dreams of a move to the Premier League.

Arsenal are believed to be ‘very interested’ in him. The London club actually got to the point of making a significant €20m offer, which Red Star promptly rejected.

At the moment, the Serbian side aim to collect around €30m from the sale of the young player. It would be the biggest sale in their history, and would also put Inter firmly in the running.

Stankovic’s presence could blow up Arsenal

The report further adds that the Nerazzurri could have an advantage in the race. This is because club legend Dejan Stankovic is currently the Red Star manager and could push Kostov to the Italian giants.

Inter see the former midfielder as an ally who would help broker a potential deal to beat Arsenal. Stankovic is attempting to convince the midfielder to join the Serie A league leaders.

Furthermore, Kostov is represented by Nikola Kolarov, brother of ex-Inter player Alexander. He is currently an assistant to manager Cristian Chivu and could also play an important role for Inter over the next few months.

Juventus and Bayern Munich are also interested but it seems Arsenal and Inter are leading the battle.