Alejandro Garnacho has arrived at Chelsea’s training ground in advance of his reported £40 million ($54 million) move from Manchester United, Blues boss Enzo Maresca said Friday.

A deal was said to have been agreed between the two Premier League clubs on Thursday, with the 21-year-old no longer required by Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.

Garnacho was at Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, southwest of London, on Friday to undergo a medical and finalise terms.

“I know he is around here,” Chelsea manager Maresca told reporters. “I don’t know exactly where.”

Maresca, asked how the United academy graduate would fit into his team, replied: “He’s a winger. I see him as a winger.”

The Italian would not rule out the possibility of more arrivals and departures before Monday’s summer transfer window deadline.

“You can expect anything, the transfer window is open, anything can happen in and out,” he said.

Maresca also confirmed Cole Palmer will miss the game against West London rivals Fulham on Saturday with the groin injury which forced him to pull out of the game against West Ham.

Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia also remain sidelined with their respective injury issues.

“Cole we need to see day by day,” said Maresca, adding: “Romeo and Benoit – I don’t think they will be back after the international break but they will be closer.”

“Two years ago, he (Lavia) didn’t play any games. Last year, he played some games. The target is to give him more games this season. I don’t know (when he will be back).

“When Cole is not in the game, we need to find different solutions. Hopefully, tomorrow we can do the same.”

Chelsea head into the weekend fourth in the table following a goalless draw with Crystal Palace and 5-1 rout of West Ham.

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Ademola Lookman will face heavy sanctions from Atalanta after embarking on a two-week training strike in a bid to force through his desired move to Inter, a transfer that ultimately collapsed, with talks between player and club now scheduled following his return to Zingonia.

The Nigerian forward resurfaced at Atalanta’s training headquarters, where he met with CEO Antonio Percassi to discuss his future after Inter formally withdrew their interest according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The Nigerian forward has resurfaced at Atalanta’s headquarters in Zingonia,” the outlet reported, confirming that the highly anticipated move to Inter has now collapsed beyond repair.

The saga had dragged on for weeks, with Inter and Atalanta locked in tense negotiations.

Inter had already agreed personal terms with Lookman, offering him a five-year deal, but CEO Percassi stood firm, insisting that while he had promised to allow the player to leave in 2025, he would not sanction a sale to another Italian club.

This position infuriated Lookman, who accused the club of breaking their word. In protest, he staged a two-week strike, refusing to attend training or present a medical certificate, while also deleting all Atalanta-related photos from his social media accounts.

Atalanta, however, refused to bow to pressure and rejected Inter’s latest €45m bid. That prompted the Nerazzurri to walk away from the deal, with sporting director Piero Ausilio and president Beppe Marotta opting to shift focus to other areas of the squad.

“Negotiations with Atalanta are completely frozen,” transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported, confirming that Inter had told Lookman’s representatives the deal was “OFF.”

Lookman’s tactics left Atalanta deeply unimpressed. La Gazzetta dello Sport noted, “Lookman complicated matters further by going missing in recent weeks without informing the club or presenting a medical certificate.”

“Atalanta kept a low profile during his absence, despite Lookman removing Atalanta photos from his social media and openly requesting a transfer,” the paper added. But the Bergamo side are now reportedly preparing to take disciplinary action.

“They will not let it slide. Sanctions are coming,” La Gazzetta stated.

“The club will fine him for failing to notify his absence and dock his wages for the days he missed at Zingonia, applying the punishment at a time of their choosing.”

Calciomercato further reported that Lookman will be required to issue a public apology as part of the disciplinary process.

Despite the tension, Atalanta may choose not to push their star too far. Head coach Ivan Juric has privately expressed concerns about losing too much firepower after the shock sale of Mateo Retegui, Serie A’s top scorer last season.

Juric reportedly warned that the team would “lose 90 per cent of their goals” if Lookman were also allowed to leave.

This has left both Atalanta and Lookman in a delicate position, balancing discipline with pragmatism as the club cannot afford to diminish his market value or while he cannot also leave himself unprepared ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in December. As such, a reintegration plan remains on the table, with the possibility of restoring him to the starting XI once disciplinary matters are settled.

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Former Super Rugby and Māori All Blacks star, Shane Christie,  has d!ed at the age of 39 from suspected su!cide.

The respected flanker was found de@d in Nelson, New Zealand on Wednesday morning, with police confirming they attended a call-out for a sudden de@th, Stuff reported.

Christie played 29 Super Rugby matches for the Highlanders from 2014 to 2016, and also played 73 games for Tasman in addition to representing the Māori All Blacks on eight occasions.

‘It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Shane Christie,’ NZ Rugby said in a statement. 

‘Shane represented Aotearoa New Zealand in both the All Blacks Sevens and the Māori All Blacks jerseys. 

‘He played in our domestic competitions and Super Rugby, forging deep connections with the Tasman Mako and the Highlanders. 

‘He was passionate about coaching, holding coaching roles with Tasman, for both their women’s and men’s teams, and the Highlanders.

‘Any time the rugby community loses a member it is felt deeply. Shane’s passion for the game will be remembered always. Our thoughts are with Shane’s whānau, friends, former team-mates, and community at this incredibly difficult time.’

Christie said he suffered three or four concussions in just six weeks when he was playing for the Highlanders.

He said the head knocks left him with debilitating symptoms.

‘It feels like a bruise in your head, and when you’re walking, it hurts,’ he said.

‘So when you’re thinking, it hurts, when you’re trying to exercise, the pressure hurts, and you’re not as fast and can’t think as quick.’

Christie believed he was suffering from the deadly brain disease chronic traumatic encephalpathy (CTE), which results from repeated head knocks and has been a factor in the deaths of several high-profile football players across codes including rugby union, rugby league, and gridiron.

He became an advocate for players who suffered from the after effects of concussion and documented his struggles on social media.

‘Over the months of May to September 2023, I gradually exhausted my brain’s energy and cognitive capacity, pushing myself to a point where I became delusional and paranoid,’ he wrote after the death of another Kiwi rugby star, Billy Guyton, in May that year. 

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