CHELSEA OPEN PRELIMINARY TALKS TO SIGN BOURNEMOUTH’S MARCOS SENESI ON FREE TRANSFER
Chelsea is reportedly leading the race to sign Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi on a free transfer following the return of Mamadou Sarr.
Chelsea is right in the thick of a transfer chase for a centre-back who’s about to hit free agency. After a pretty quiet winter window—no big signings, just a failed run at Rennes’ Jeremy Jacquet, who’s now set for Liverpool—the club still looks hungry for defensive reinforcements.
Instead of splashing out, Chelsea just brought Mamadou Sarr back from Strasbourg. That’s about as close as they got to fresh blood, and Liam Rosenior, who coached Sarr in France, rates him highly. Whether Sarr can really step up and change Chelsea’s mind about needing another centre-back, though, is still up in the air. Sure, Levi Colwill’s on his way back from injury, but Enzo Maresca wanted more depth, and the failed Jacquet move suggests Rosenior does too.
Now, reports say Chelsea sees a golden opportunity: signing Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi on a free. That could save them millions. Senesi’s been one of Bournemouth’s standouts under Andoni Iraola, racking up 24 league appearances this season. He’s left-footed, which always bumps up a defender’s value, and he looks set for a summer move.
Bournemouth have tried to lock him down with a new deal since last summer, but nothing’s been agreed. That’s put clubs on alert—Juventus, Chelsea, Everton, and Crystal Palace are all eyeing him, and Borussia Dortmund’s watching from Germany too.
Non-English clubs actually get a head start here—they can start pre-contract talks already. But let’s be honest, English clubs usually find ways to work around those rules and set up deals in advance, too.
Iraola, for his part, can’t say enough good things about Senesi. Asked about him earlier this season, he told the Bournemouth Echo, “I think Marcos has been very good. He was performing well even before I arrived. I remember watching him last season—he stood out. And now, whether he’s on the ball or off it, he really gets how we want to play. That’s huge for us. Honestly, it’s no big secret.”
SEASON OVER: JACK GREALISH UNDERGOES SURGERY FOR STRESS FRACTURE—EVERTON CAREER IN DOUBT
Jack Grealish confirms his season is over following foot surgery. Discover what this means for Everton's £50m transfer option.
Jack Grealish has confirmed he’ll miss the rest of the season after having surgery for a stress fracture in his foot. Tough news for Everton fans—he’s only been at the club since his loan move from Manchester City last summer, but he’s already a fan favourite.
Grealish posted an update from his hospital bed on Instagram. He didn’t sugarcoat things: “Didn’t want the season to end like this, but that’s football. Gutted. Surgery done, and now all focus is on getting back fit. I know for sure I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before.
"The support I’ve had since coming to this unbelievable club has meant the world to me. The staff, my teammates and especially the fans have been incredible, and I absolutely love representing this club.
"I’ll be backing the lads all the way and doing everything I can to get back as soon as possible. Thank you again for all the love; it means so much. UTFT"
Plenty of players chimed in with support—Erling Haaland left blue hearts and a praying emoji; Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sent a “Back soon” message; James Maddison, who’s also dealing with injury, dropped three white hearts.
Now, Grealish’s future is up in the air. Everton have a £50 million option to buy him, but nobody really knows if they’ll go for it, especially with the recovery still ahead.
Pep Guardiola spoke earlier in the season, saying, “I think he has a contract for one more year with us. The important thing is he is back. He’s a massive influence in the Everton games. After what’s happened, maybe Manchester City wants him back, but I don’t know. Many things are still going to happen. We’ll see. The important thing is he is playing again, a lot of minutes. This is the standard. I’m happy, really, honestly, that he’s back in, trying his best.”
It’s not just a setback for his club and transfer prospects. This injury pretty much ends any chance he had of joining England’s World Cup squad this summer, even if he does recover in time. That’s a shame, because his form at Everton had put him back in the conversation for an England recall. His last game for the national team was in October 2024, when Lee Carsley was in charge.
MIDFIELD MAESTRO: DISCOVER KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL’S STATS SINCE JOINING EVERTON FROM CHELSEA
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall inspired Everton’s 2-1 win at Fulham under Thomas Tuchel’s watch, marking the Blues' 6th away win of 2026.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played a huge part in Everton’s comeback win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. He got involved in both goals, helping the Blues turn things around after falling behind.
Since joining Chelsea this summer, Dewsbury-Hall has hit the ground running at Everton. He’s clearly loving life with the club and wants to catch the eye of England boss Thomas Tuchel, who watched from the stands with the World Cup coming up.
After the match, Dewsbury-Hall said, “If I keep scoring and helping the team, that’s all I can do.”
He added, “And hopefully, people in those positions keep watching and think there’s a spot for me.
“I know what I bring to England. I’ve always said, the better I do for my club, the better my chances with the national team.
“Hopefully, Tuchel keeps showing up if I keep scoring. He came to Old Trafford, and I scored there too, so maybe he should just come to all the games!”
Wearing number 22, Dewsbury-Hall couldn’t stop talking about how much he loves the club and the support he’s gotten from Everton’s travelling fans.
“I love it,” he said. “Honestly, it’s probably gone better than I expected. The fans have been unbelievable since I arrived, and it just feels good to be able to give something back. Being an Everton supporter and travelling to away games this season must be a thrill because you know we’ve got a real shot at winning.
“Credit to the fans—they really do help us out. Even when we were down today, you could hear them shouting and pushing us on. Turning that into celebrations at the end? That’s the best part.”
He also played a role in bringing Tyrique George to the club. George joined on loan from Chelsea on Deadline Day, six months after Dewsbury-Hall made his own move north.
Talking about George and what he brings, Dewsbury-Hall said, “I’m excited. Tyrique’s a really talented young player with a great attitude.
“You saw it today when he came on—he looked calm, not nervous at all.
“He’s got that confidence, not arrogance, just the right amount. If he settles quickly, he’ll be a big addition for us.
"I chatted a bit with the gaffer about him and gave my opinion. I didn’t really talk to Ty much before the move—he had to make his own decision. But I’m glad he picked us. I’ve been helping him settle in, just letting him know how things work around here.
“He’s fitted right in, honestly, from his first training session. If he gets up to speed fast, you’ll see goals and assists pretty soon.”