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A BRIDGE TOO FAR?

Who’s next? Can they convince Craig Gordon to reverse his recent retirement? Invite Bolo Zenden back for a second spell at Stamford Bridge? Get Kieran Richardson to replace Marc Cucurella? Chelsea really have cooked up a fascinating transfer policy: to recreate the Sunderland XI that triumphed 3-0 at the Bridge in November 2010. Danny Welbeck, 19 and on loan from Manchester United, sealed victory that day; Jordan Henderson, 20 and days away from his England debut, ran things in the middle alongside Lee Cattermole. Sixteen years later, Welbeck and Henderson are teammates once again, brought together by Chelsea’s sudden realisation that Alan Hansen had a point.

Henderson continues to surprise with his post-Liverpool career path, swapping Dammam for Amsterdam before exploring the different corners of west London, all in the space of three years. How can one say no to the charms of Xabi Alonso? “Given the size of the club, the manager, who I have great admiration for, and the quality of the ⁠players, this was a huge opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Henderson bellowed, before awarding BlueCo a medal for participation. “I was also so impressed with how much the ownership want Chelsea to be successful and move in the right direction.”

It’ll take some time getting used to Henderson in blue, though you wonder just how much we’ll see of him on the pitch, his reputation nowadays less focused on what he does with the ball at his feet. Now it’s all about his role as The Standard Setter, the peace lily that brings a dressing room together. “The best guy I’ve ever come across I think in football,” cooed Morgan Rogers while on duty for England this summer, a view also taken by Jude Bellingham. Chelsea’s new record signing will surely welcome the soothing instructions of Hendo at Cobham.

The club’s pivot in transfer strategy is, of course, incredibly amusing: spending gargantuan sums on young talent before clocking on to the grand idea that not all of your first-team players should be eligible for a railcard. And even then, old habits die hard: the signing of Welbeck is yet another from Brighton, following the same path taken in recent seasons by Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo, Robert Sánchez and João Pedro. It all makes for a spectacular act of plagiarism, with Alonso’s Chelsea combining the Tony Bloom project down south with a flavour of Steve Bruce’s Sunderland. Football Daily looks forward to reading about Nedum Onuoha in Wednesday’s Rumour Mill.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports. The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity” – Arsène Wenger, these days Fifa’s chief of global development, puts a metaphorical moat between himself and his president, Gianni Infantino. Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafström, Infantino’s No 2, has also called the failed World Cup private investment plan a “sad and reproachable series of events”.

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FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

“Whoever wrote the Uefa statements over the weekend deserves a pay rise. Crystal clear messages, each line dripping with contempt and – for once – speaking for millions of football fans. ‘Thou shalt not pass’ at its best” – Gabriele Weber.

“The sublime Marcus Stewart scored for Huddersfield at Wolverhampton in September 1999, the game’s only goal, with a Panenka. Steve Bruce, his manager, said that, if he ever tried to do that again, he’d chip him. He took the warning seriously and didn’t try another even after Bruce left the club. Please give this a little space in your diary; not for my sake, but for Marcus’s, as he contends with the most appalling illness” – Richard Askham.

“Has anyone ever seen Infantino and The Hood from Thunderbirds in the same room?” – Craig Fawcett.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Gabriele Weber. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.

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It’s David Squires Day, baby! Our resident cartoonist imagines some of the crisis talks at Fifa as Gianni Infantino scrambles for support after a botched World Cup plan.

GO WELL, FRANCO

The great and the even greater turned out in Milan this morning to pay tribute to the mighty Franco Baresi, who died last week aged 66. Marco van Basten, Paolo Maldini, Dejan Savicevic, Clarence Seedorf, Roberto Baggio, Roberto Donadoni and Alessandro Costacurta were among those to attend the service, which was held at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan. Thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects to Baresi, captain of the extraordinary Milan team of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The modern-day Milan are in Australia, where they plan to honour Baresi before a pre-season friendly against Internazionale on Wednesday.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Exclusive: a number of Concacaf countries are considering following Europe’s lead by formally removing their support for the Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Matt Hughes and Nick Ames have the story.

Just like the Pointer Sisters and Olivia Colman receiving her Oscar, Dominik Szoboszlai is feeling quite excited, specifically about Liverpool under Andoni Iraola, although the midfielder does suggest the Reds could do with some more signings. “If they decide not to [sign any more players], then we have to do something special with this squad,” roared the midfielder.

Coventry have signed Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth for a club-record fee of around £22.5m. Rushworth was one of the stars of Coventry’s promotion season while on loan from Brighton. “It’s great to have Carl back with us on a permanent basis,” high-fived Frank Lampard. “He’s a top professional, a great character and he had a huge impact on the team to help us get promoted last season.”

Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier says the team will “stick together” after the sudden departure of their head coach Marc Skinner. “It was nice that he was able to say goodbye,” said Le Tissier. “We can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done, the hard work and the passion that he’s put into leading this team.”

Charlton’s US owners have put the club up for sale just three years after taking over at the Valley.

Mykhailo Mudryk could return to action following 20 months on the sidelines on Wednesday after being named in Chelsea‘s squad to play Juventus in a friendly in Hong Kong. Mudryk’s appeal against a four-year suspension for failing a drug test was resolved last week.

Anthony Taylor, who cited constant scrutiny as one of the reasons for his decision to retire as a referee last month, has embraced the quiet life by taking up a post as director of elite refereeing with the Turkish Football Federation.

The Old Firm are keen on Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis. According to reports, Celtic (£6m) and Rangers (£8m) have both had offers rejected. A WWE-style tussle between Martin O’Neill and Derek McInnes has not been ruled out.

And Newcastle have rejected Arsenal’s £70m offer for Bruno Guimarães. Potential spoiler alert: he (probably) joins them in the end.

STILL WANT MORE?

Vinícius Júnior to Arsenal doesn’t make sense. That’s why it may work, muses Jonathan Wilson.

Alverca have shot up the Portuguese pyramid, thanks in no small part to shrewd scouting and a co-owner called Vinícius Júnior, writes Luke Entwistle.

Marc Skinner may have been a Marmite manager but Manchester United’s budget was spread thin, writes Tom Garry.

Mauricio Pochettino’s new US contract is risky, expensive and probably unnecessary, thinks Leander Schaerlaeckens.

And the Rumour Mill includes news/tall tales about Cody Gakpo and Mykhailo Mudryk.

MEMORY LANE

On this day in 1999, Mexico won the Confederations Cup after beating the holders Brazil in a pulsating final at the Azteca. Miguel Zepeda scored twice for the hosts, who led 2-0 and 4-2 but had to hang on for the last 27 minutes when Zé Roberto made it 4-3. The decisive goal was ultimately scored by Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who had also scored a golden goal against the USA USA USA in the semi-final. The Brazil side, while not at full strength, also included a young Ronaldinho, Dida (though he was badly at fault in the final), Serginho, Emerson and Flávio Conceição. And they had reached the final by walloping Saudi Arabia 8-2 in the semis. You can watch a short video on a memorable Confederations Cup here.

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