Daily Schmankerl: “Chelsea urged to pinch Davies,” Manchester United missed out on him, FIFA rewrites loan rules, and more!

Area man urges Chelsea to buy Alphonso Davies (Daily Star)

This transfer rumor is barely even a rumor. The esteemed Daily Star, perhaps the second-most-respected tabloid in the United Kingdom, literally published a story with the following title:

Chelsea urged to pinch Alphonso Davies from Bayern in summer transfer after UCL loss

That’s “pinch” as in “steal.” They add below the headline, “Chelsea transfer plans could include Alphonso Davies this summer after they failed to sign him in January.” Really? Tell me more!

Who, you might wonder, is doing all that “urging” so delicately phrased in the passive voice? Surprise! It’s ESPN pundit Janusz Michallik! I guess I’ll be nice since he’s a local Connecticut soccer personage, and honestly he was merely pointing out that Davies would be at the top of his target list if he had to find a better left-back for Chelsea.

Here’s what he said — it’s really a nice compliment for Davies:

First of all left full-back, they [Chelsea] desperately need to get somebody there.

Reece James on the other side is good, [Cesar] Azpilicueta can fill in still on both sides but they need that for sure.

Fonzie [would be my first choice], Fonzie Davies, right. They just saw what he could do, young and up-and-coming.

Maybe not the most experienced but I’d take him.

That is hardly any direct “urging” by Michallik, as if Chelsea even needed any. They’re well-aware of Davies’ talents — especially since this past Tuesday. Thousands of Bayern club members would undoubtedly descend on Säbener Strasse with torches and pitchforks if Bayern Munich even put Phonzie on market, let alone sell him to Chelsea for whatever sum!

Manchester United missed out on Davies (Express)

A report by The Times “pinched” by the Express revealed that Manchester United had already targeted Alphonso Davies right after he debuted in MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Davies was 15 years old and “valued at around £2m” by the Whitecaps. So what went wrong?

United were reluctant to pay up immediately, though, and instead asked Davies if he could spend two weeks training at Carrington in January 2018.

The Whitecaps blocked United’s request as Davies was called up by Canada Under-23s during that spell.

United eventually made an offer of £7.7m but it was dismissed as Bayern pounced to sign the youngster for £9m.

Smart move, Brazzo. Smart move.

FIFA changes loan rules (beIN Sport)

FIFA has moved forward with a plan to set a new international standard for loan rules. While it hasn’t been officially adopted at this time, it’s said to be just a formality. The rules only affect players 22 years or older.

The new system goes into effect this summer. The new rules set a max number of players allowed in and out of eight. That will decrease to six in 2022-23, with no more than three between same clubs.

The rule will, hopefully, stop some big clubs from stockpiling players only to send them out on loan over and over and over again.

Hertha rallies from 0-3 to split the points with Fortuna Düsseldorf

It was the ol’ Tale of Two Halves™:

Give credit where credit is due: despite all the chaos sown by Hertha’s management and Jürgen Klinsmann, the team has some fight in it. Matheus Cunha was, shall we say, “stoked” to have scored the 3-2?

Sané makes comeback for ManCity U23’s

Leroy played 57 minutes in a 4-2 win for Manchester City’s U23’s over Arsenal.

Still can’t get enough of this wonderful moment

Holy crap, no. 3

You think they’re talking about no. 6. Just wait.