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Wesley Fofana believes Chelsea fans have only seen 10-20% of his real potential since he arrived at the club according to Fabrizio Romano.
Fofana made the switch from Leicester City in 2022 in a deal worth an initial £70m but his time at Stamford Bridge has been plagued by injury issues.
The France international missed the entire of last season with an ACL injury but has got himself fit again and has featured regularly under Enzo Maresca.
The 23-year-old has started all five of Chelsea’s games in the league and is part of Maresca’s first choice defensive pairing alongside Levi Colwill.
The Blues conceded a club record amount of goals last season and conceded two goals in each of their first two league matches.
However, it appears they are showing signs of improvement in that department after keeping back to back clean sheets against Bournemouth and West Ham, with Fofana a key part of that.
The Frenchman admitted earlier this summer he considered an approach from Marseille before turning it down and Romano has provided an update on Fofana.
“Wesley Fofana decided to continue at Chelsea in the summer, he feels fans have only seen 10-20% of his real potential,” he told The Here We Go Podcast.
“He feels it will take time after the injury, but he wants to be part of the project. He wants to repay Chelsea, and also the club trusts him and didn’t want to sell him.”
This season is crucial for Fofana as he looks to get his Chelsea career back on track after a long spell on the sidelines.
When fit and playing at his best Fofana is arguably Chelsea’s best centre back and Maresca will need to manage him carefully throughout the season as he continues his comeback from a serious knee injury.
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Green Bay Packers Former 1st Round Pick Has Been The Star Of Training Camp
Green Bay Packers fans have every reason to feel optimistic as the team moves through training camp. One of the players everyone is keeping an eye on is edge rusher Lukas Van Ness. The former first-round pick is making waves with his standout performances in one-on-one drills and his growing potential as a dominant pass rusher. Throughout camp, Van Ness has been a consistent source of buzz, and it’s no surprise considering the raw talent and athletic energy he brings to the field. Green Bay Packers Lukas Van Ness Standing Out in Training Camp Training camp serves as the proving ground for rookies and veterans alike, and Lukas Van Ness is seizing the opportunity to showcase his growth. On just the third day of camp, Van Ness made headlines by going 3-0 in one-on-one pass-rushing drills. He demonstrated his ability to overpower opposing offensive linemen, including former first-round pick and teammate Jordan Morgan, who was twice bested in their matchups. These drills have been a reliable barometer for evaluating defensive linemen, and Van Ness has consistently stood out. His explosiveness off the line, combined with his refined upper-body strength, makes him nearly unguardable in short-yardage scenarios. This early knack for dominating such settings has coaches and players alike buzzing about what he can offer not only in practice but also when the curtain rises on the regular season. Filling a Key Role in the Packers’ Defense Lukas Van Ness’ immediate impact isn’t exactly what the Packers hoped for when they drafted him 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Van Ness has been largely a disappointment in his first two years. It is important for fans to remember that he was a project coming out of Iowa, and he may have just needed a little time to blossom into an elite pass rusher. His presence not only offers the potential for an improved pass rush but also adds an element of unpredictability to the Packers’ defensive line. Strengthening the Pass Rush The Packers’ pass rush has been inconsistent in recent years, largely due to injuries and personnel changes. Van Ness offers a solution. At 6’5” and 272 pounds, his mix of size, speed, and raw strength stands out even among NFL athletes. What’s more, his versatility allows him to line up both on the edge and along the interior defensive line. This flexibility enables defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to scheme more creatively, exploiting mismatches based on Van Ness’s ability to overwhelm blockers. His success in one-on-one drills suggests that Van Ness could quickly become a third-down menace—an edge rusher capable of collapsing pockets and forcing quick decisions from opposing quarterbacks. That’s a skill set the Packers desperately need in the NFC North, which features highly capable offenses led by players like Caleb Williams and Jared Goff. The Excitement Around Van Ness What makes Lukas Van Ness such an exciting prospect isn’t just his physical gifts; it’s also his work ethic and hunger to improve. Training camp reports note that Van Ness is constantly refining his techniques, working with coaches to expand his toolkit as a pass rusher. Chief among his attributes is his motor. Van Ness doesn’t quit on plays. Couple that relentless pursuit with his power and explosiveness, and you have a player who can make a difference on every snap. Even in drills, he’s consistently displayed drive and adaptability, reading offensive schemes and making rapid adjustments to cut off running lanes or disrupt passing plays. Team insiders compare his temperament to that of Rashan Gary, another high-energy player who developed into a key piece of Green Bay’s defense. If Van Ness follows a similar trajectory, it’s not hard to see the Packers’ defensive front emerging as one of the league’s most imposing units. Final Thoughts Lukas Van Ness has been one of the most exciting storylines of the Green Bay Packers’ training camp, and his standout performances are setting the stage for a successful third year. His dominance in drills and his opportunity to work with the first team have made it clear that he has the tools, energy, and potential to excel in Green Bay’s defense. If Van Ness can build on the momentum he’s created in camp, he won’t just be a bright spot this season—he’ll be a game-changer for years to come. Keep your eyes on No. 90 this season. If his training camp buzz is any indication, Lukas Van Ness is ready to make his mark.
Pitcher bizarrely faces old team on same day of trade
Seranthony Dominguez certainly had an eventful day on Tuesday. The veteran MLB reliever began the day on the Baltimore Orioles and was with his teammates in the dugout during the first leg of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays. The O's went on to win, 16-4, at Oriole Park in Baltimore, though Dominguez did not pitch during the game. But the day took a bizarre turn when the two teams agreed to a deal in the middle of the doubleheader. The Orioles traded Dominguez to the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitcher Juaron Watts-Brown. That led to a strange scene where Dominguez switched clubhouses after being traded, walking across the hallway to get to the Toronto side. Things got even weirder during the second leg of the doubleheader. Dominguez got the call to pitch for the Blue Jays against his former team. He had to walk past his ex-Baltimore teammates to get to the Toronto bullpen, and then entered the game in the seventh inning to pitch. Here is the unusual spectacle that saw Dominguez pitch against the guys that he began the day as teammates with. The whole thing was so bizarre that it even looked like Dominguez received a hastily-made Blue Jays jersey with the “8” in his No. 48 apparently stuck on backwards. Dominguez, a 30-year-old in his seventh MLB season, ended up striking out two in a scoreless frame against his former team. We have certainly seen instances of MLB players getting traded in the middle of games before, but that had to be the first instance of a player starting the first half of a doubleheader on one team and then pitching in the second half for the other team.
Seattle Mariners Set to Promote Triple-A Standout to Big-League Roster
According to multiple reports, the Seattle Mariners are set to promote minor league first baseman Tyler Locklear from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday. Locklear was removed from the Rainiers game in the fifth inning on Tuesday night, leading to speculation that he was being traded. It no longer appears that that's the case. There's been no indication as to what the corresponding move will be at this time, but there's certainly a few different things potentially in play. Is Luke Raley being traded? After the Mariners acquired Josh Naylor, Raley is no longer needed at first base. That pushes him to the outfield, where the team has clearly favored Dominic Canzone. Raley hasn't started a game since Naylor arrived. He's hitting just .220 this season with four homers, and he also missed more than a month with injury. However, he's under team control through 2028, so he would certainly have appeal to other teams. The Mariners are in the market for relief help and help at third base, so this is possible. Is Raley injured? Some internet sleuths noticed Raley wearing a back brace while the team was in Anaheim over the weekend, leading to speculation that he's hurt. The future of Donovan Solano? With Naylor in the fold, Solano's right-handed hitting first base ability hasn't really been needed. He's only hitting .243 with an 83 OPS+ this season. Is the team prepared to move on from him in order to give Locklear his chance at the backup first base job? And how about Dylan Moore? Keeping Solano and Locklear would seem redundant, but Moore is in a 2-for-56 slump (entering play on Wednesday), leading to speculation about how long he'll be around for. Locklear, 24, made his major league debut last season and hit .156 in 45 at-bats. He's hitting .316 at Tacoma this season with 19 homers and 18 stolen bases. He was just named the PCL's Hitter of the Week.
Jakorian Bennett: The Odd Man Out For The Raiders?
The cornerback carousel in Las Vegas is spinning faster than ever, and one name keeps popping up on social media this week—Jakorian Bennett. Once regarded as a promising young starter, Bennett now finds himself in a challenging situation. With Pete Carroll’s arrival and the reconstruction of the Raiders’ secondary, it seems increasingly likely that Bennett could be the odd man out. However, it should be noted that this is pure speculation—for now. NFL analyst Moe Moton stirred the pot with a post on X/Twitter that raised eyebrows among Raider Nation: “I think it’s a possibility that Bennett gets traded if he doesn’t start this year. Teams will inquire about him. He has starting experience on the outside and played well before suffering that season-ending shoulder injury last year.” In short—if the Raiders don’t have room for Bennett, somebody else will. Would the Raiders actually trade Jakorian Bennett? Additionally, Jesse Merrick of Silver Black Sports Network echoed the sentiment, noting that Bennett has been bouncing between first-, second-, and third-team reps during camp. That’s rarely a positive sign. Even more telling is Merrick’s observation that Bennett doesn’t match the “size profile” Carroll historically prefers at cornerback. If you look at Carroll’s track record, especially in his Seattle days, there’s a certain frame he looks for. In fact, the Super Bowl-winning squad from 2013 heavily featured corners that were over six feet tall. Translation? The 5-foot-11 Bennett may not be the long-limbed, press-happy prototype Carroll covets. Let’s not jump to conclusions… Bennett isn’t just another camp body. His rookie tape showcased significant potential—physicality, closing speed, and a talent for playing the boundary. If it weren’t for the shoulder injury last year (his second season), he might have secured a role by now. However, the Raiders have revamped their roster with larger players and veteran additions, leaving Bennett in a precarious position. The upside? Bennett’s value hasn’t plummeted. He’s still on a rookie contract and has live NFL snaps under his belt—precisely the type of profile that could draw interest from CB-needy teams once the preseason dust settles. Should he indeed be the odd man out in Vegas, it is likely that trade discussions will commence sooner rather than later. Whether Bennett remains on the team or is traded, one thing is certain: the Raiders’ cornerback competition is one of the most captivating position battles of the summer. While Bennett may not be a starter by Week 1, he could very well become a valuable asset for another team. However, this is merely conjecture.
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