Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Benfica youngster Daniel Banjaqui following Reece James’ recent injury blow.

James’ fitness continues to be a major point of contention for Cheslea as the club confirmed the 26-year-old recently underwent a minor knee operation.

It’s now unlikely that we’ll see the Chelsea captain play for the club before the turn of the year.

According to TeamTalk, Xabi Alonso’s side are looking to the transfer market in order to provide more cover for James.

Chelsea have identified Benfica’s 18-year-old right-back Daniel Banjaqui as a leading target ahead of the January window.

It’s understood that Banjaqui’s current Benfica deal has a £38 million release clause included, and top clubs are starting to sniff around.

Arsenal and Liverpool are also among the clubs keen on the youngster.

Jude Bellingham has reportedly reached an agreement with Real Madrid over a new contract at the club.

Still only 23, Bellingham has been a remarkable success at Real Madrid, with 49 goals and 34 assists in his 150 games for the club.

According to Spanish outlet AS, Bellingham and Madrid have finalized an agreement to extend his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2031.

The midfielder initially joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023 on a deal running through to 2029.

It’s understood that Bellingham will be handed a much improved salary, reflecting his importance on the pitch for the side.

Michael Carrick said that Manchester United had “moved on” from Lisandro Martinez’s outburst aimed at the club’s hierarchy, stressing it was “really not a drama for us as a group”.

Argentina defender Martinez criticised the United hierarchy following their 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, saying Carrick had been left with an under-strength squad.

The centre-back criticised technical director Jason Wilcox, saying he had “100 percent” expected more investment during the summer transfer window after United finished third in the Premier League last season.

It is understood Martinez, who issued an apology on Thursday, has been fined for his outburst.

United manager Carrick confirmed during a pre-match press conference on Friday that Martinez would be in his squad for their Premier League match at bitter rivals Leeds on Sunday.

Carrick, under intense pressure after a terrible start to the season, was asked by reporters about Martinez’s comments and subsequent developments.

“We’ve moved on from that; it was one of those things,” he said. “I think Licha (Martinez) has come out and acknowledged the situation, and as a group we’ve moved on.

“It’s really not a drama for us as a group; I think the boys have trained really well. This morning there was a really good feeling around the squad.”

Martinez, 28, said in a statement he had held positive talks with the club’s leadership and Carrick.

“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity,” he said in a post on Instagram.

“The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”

Former United captain Roy Keane has branded the situation at his former club “a bit of a circus”.

Carrick was pressed by reporters on the nature of the apology from Martinez, which did not mention Wilcox by name.

“I think he (Martinez) has released his statement and he’s realised he’s made a mistake,” said the United boss. “I think that’s enough for all of us to move on with.”

“I understand the emotion at times. We ask for passion, we ask for emotion, we ask for fire, and we ask for players to care.

“There’s a way of doing that, and that’s already been acknowledged. We need to carry that. We need to carry that intensity and that willingness and that togetherness and that spirit and everything,” he added.

United have made their worst start to a league season in 40 years.

They are 13th in the Premier League, with just one win from six matches, but Carrick, a former United and England midfielder, deflected a question about the pressure on him personally.

“I don’t need results; we all need results,” he said. “It’s not about me. Manchester United is a lot bigger than any individual, bigger than me.

“Bigger than any player, anyone else who works at this football club. It always has been, and it’s not about me.”