SCRAPING THE BARREL NOW

Chelsea interest in free transfer of Kian Best

This will surely encourage the Blues to monitor the market for more free transfer opportunities, and it has been reported that they are doing just this in the form of defender Kian Best.

The 19-year-old is set to leave Preston North End after this campaign when his contract comes to an end, and he is being linked to a number of Premier League sides.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, Chelsea are one of those considering making a move to sign Best, with him surely set for a loan move away if he commits his future to the Blues.

Despite a promising future in the game, the 2024/25 season was not one to remember for Best at Deepdale.

After appearing off the bench on the opening day of the season, he didn’t make another appearance in the Championship as his time at the club approached its end.

There has been plenty of positives in the early stages of his career though. Former teammate Liam Lindsey described him as ‘amazing’ (Deepdale Digest).

Best made the news recently when he claimed that he had found out his contract was not going to be renewed through social media.

The potential addition would not have the immediate effect that Tosin did, however would present the club a chance at making some profit on the books if they decided to move him on again.

Looks like it’s happening

https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/chelsea-now-close-to-agreeing-deal-for-former-championship-star-following-liverpool-interest/

So he was essentially released from a Championship club and we are signing him? Obviously we see it as making profit again...

7 minutes ago, STATS said:

So he was essentially released from a Championship club and we are signing him? Obviously we see it as making profit again...

He'll be in the "youthful potential" group then ... i.e. lower down the pecking order than the bomb squad LOL

I'm sure this is the cheap hidden gem the SDs have been looking for.

Chelsea close to signing English defender for free

This has to go down as one of Chelsea's most confusing moves in recent times. A player released by Preston North End, who finished 20th in the Championship last season, ends up joining the Blues.

It does feel like we are missing something in this entire saga though. It has been claimed that Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United had shown interest in signing Best as well. So, why would Preston North End release him?

He can play as a left-back and a centre-back. Overall, he made 17 appearances for Preston North End. Best was sent out on loan to Bohemians in the second half of last season but made only a solitary appearance for them. Also, he has played five times for England at the U19 level.

Ok, but if we sign him, I'm going to call him Ian.

Kian? Woke nonsense.

I would rate him as a Michael Hector/10

He is also George Best's grandson, or at least we should probably make people believe that he is.

Looks like the reason he was released was he told his club he wasn't signing a new contract about a year out, so they sent him on loan for a few months then just let him leave, as they knew he wasn't going to accept being transferred. Basically get his wages off the books.

14 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

I would rate him as a Michael Hector/10

He is also George Best's grandson, or at least we should probably make people believe that he is.

"Where did it all go wrong, Kian?"

Hello everyone. I just signed up to give some insight into Kian Best from a North End perspective and from our end.

So, Kian is a local lad and came through our youth set up. He came through as a central midfielder, but as he got older, he was moved to LB/LCB/LWB. He has a lovely left foot and pretty good delivery from a set piece. He got a chance in our first team, at LWB, a couple of years ago at the start of the season. Not so much because he earned it, more that we had nobody else fit. He did ok and got a call up to the England youth team. When the injuries eased he was struggling to even make the bench as rumours began to circulate regarding his attitude.

Towards the end of the summer ‘24 window the club received a bid from a Saudi club. The club deemed it good business and we’re happy to accept it. Kian and his ‘representatives’ decided against the move but, being in the last year of his contract, decided to use it as leverage and were allegedly seeking parity with seasoned Championship earners within the squad.

Paul Heckingbottom walked into the club, as Ryan Lowe had left after the first game of the season, just before the Saudi bid came in. One of the problems for Kian is, Heckingbottom wants his plays to be fit. Whilst Kian was allegedly demanding senior pro money, our 47 year old manager, outperformed him in the fitness tests he conducted when he arrived.

Kian was now struggling to get games for what is essentially our reserve team. Come January the club had a loan bid from Dundee, Kian and his ‘representatives’ rejected it. The club then sorted out a move to Bohemians in Ireland and Kian joined them. He barely played over there. During a fan meeting, our director Peter Ridsdale, was asked about Kian. Ridsdale said that he’s not here because his attitude was dreadful and that was also the reason he wasn’t getting games for Bohemians.

Kian was released and his ‘nobody told me’ Instagram post made Sky Sports News. The club swiftly put out a statement to say all players and agents were aware of their contract situations. Kian deleted his post.

There is a player in there but he never displayed anything to suggest he was going to be good enough to be a Premier League player, never mind a player of Chelsea’s level. As I say, he has a wonderful left foot but he’s not particularly big, he’s not really got any pace, he’s not particularly good in the air, he’s not particularly strong. His biggest problem though is seemingly his attitude. Sort that out and maybe you’ll sell him for a couple of million if he can get a few decent loan spells lower down.

Ultimately, I suppose it’s a relatively low risk for you guys. Chuck him in a youth team and see how he does.

52 minutes ago, NorthEnder said:

Hello everyone. I just signed up to give some insight into Kian Best from a North End perspective and from our end.

So, Kian is a local lad and came through our youth set up. He came through as a central midfielder, but as he got older, he was moved to LB/LCB/LWB. He has a lovely left foot and pretty good delivery from a set piece. He got a chance in our first team, at LWB, a couple of years ago at the start of the season. Not so much because he earned it, more that we had nobody else fit. He did ok and got a call up to the England youth team. When the injuries eased he was struggling to even make the bench as rumours began to circulate regarding his attitude.

Towards the end of the summer ‘24 window the club received a bid from a Saudi club. The club deemed it good business and we’re happy to accept it. Kian and his ‘representatives’ decided against the move but, being in the last year of his contract, decided to use it as leverage and were allegedly seeking parity with seasoned Championship earners within the squad.

Paul Heckingbottom walked into the club, as Ryan Lowe had left after the first game of the season, just before the Saudi bid came in. One of the problems for Kian is, Heckingbottom wants his plays to be fit. Whilst Kian was allegedly demanding senior pro money, our 47 year old manager, outperformed him in the fitness tests he conducted when he arrived.

Kian was now struggling to get games for what is essentially our reserve team. Come January the club had a loan bid from Dundee, Kian and his ‘representatives’ rejected it. The club then sorted out a move to Bohemians in Ireland and Kian joined them. He barely played over there. During a fan meeting, our director Peter Ridsdale, was asked about Kian. Ridsdale said that he’s not here because his attitude was dreadful and that was also the reason he wasn’t getting games for Bohemians.

Kian was released and his ‘nobody told me’ Instagram post made Sky Sports News. The club swiftly put out a statement to say all players and agents were aware of their contract situations. Kian deleted his post.

There is a player in there but he never displayed anything to suggest he was going to be good enough to be a Premier League player, never mind a player of Chelsea’s level. As I say, he has a wonderful left foot but he’s not particularly big, he’s not really got any pace, he’s not particularly good in the air, he’s not particularly strong. His biggest problem though is seemingly his attitude. Sort that out and maybe you’ll sell him for a couple of million if he can get a few decent loan spells lower down.

Ultimately, I suppose it’s a relatively low risk for you guys. Chuck him in a youth team and see how he does.

Thanks for this.

Another sh*t-stained feather in our sporting directors' caps if he ends up signing for us then LOL