Xabi Alonso said he wants players that “feel a desire to play” for Chelsea after Enzo Fernandez was left out of the squad for Thursday’s win over Luton.

It’s understood that there had been no formal contact from Manchester City over a proposed move for the Argentina international.

Chelsea’s asking price of £120m, placed on Fernandez in May after he told the club he wanted to leave, is also understood no longer strictly to apply following the expiry of a deadline for offers imposed by the club on 13 August.

Chelsea believe that market valuations have risen following a number of deals in the Premier League and in Europe struck for more than £100m. So far there have been three transfers for a fee exceeding that figure, set to rise again after Liverpool agreed a £120m deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola.

Should Fernandez be sold this late in the window, it would leave the club with very little to time to seek out a replacement and at risk themselves of being charged a premium by selling clubs, understood to be a further factor that could raise the price should City make their move.

The door is not closed on the player’s exit. Chelsea are open to his departure before Tuesday’s deadline but only if it leaves them with options to strengthen, likely meaning they will demand more than the £120m asked earlier.

Alonso has dismissed reports in Argentina that Fernandez asked not to be involved in the game against Luton, which the Blues won 2-0 thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck on his home debut and an own-goal by defender Hakeem Odoffin.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game at home to Brighton, Alonso said: “We need the players that are in the best situation to play.

“We need to take everything into consideration, players that are in good moments, players that are not feeling that energy to play. For me it’s very important that they feel that desire to play and to have good preparation.

“We talked, and we decided that (for Luton) it was better not to be part of the squad. He’s a top player, there’s no doubt about that.”

Asked whether Chelsea would re-enter the market before Tuesday should Fernandez leave, he said: “We have to be ready always.”

There has been a raft of departures from the club in recent days with defender Mamadou Sarr the latest to leave, joining Real Sociedad on loan. Liam Delap was sold to Nottingham Forest for £50m on Thursday.

Alonso, who previously said his squad size needed to be drastically cut, said: “We are quite close to the plan that we had. We will see where we finish, if it’s fully executed or there are some things still to be done.

“But overall the balance of what we have is going to be good. We need to see how the last few days develop.”

By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and RACHEL SHARP, CRIME CORRESPONDENT

Updated: 15:38 BST, 28 August 2026

The jury in Lindsay Clancy‘s murder trial were called back into court on Friday for a question as intense deliberations continue. 

As jurors, family, and members of the public gallery returned to the courtroom, Judge William R Sullivan appeared to hold up two clear Ziploc bags of Clancy’s medication, suggesting the question was about her use of the prescription drugs. 

Twelve jurors are deliberating the Massachusetts mom’s fate after the court heard closing arguments from the prosecution and defense yesterday.

A total of nine women and three men, selected from 18, will decide if Clancy is guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, or not guilty by reason of insanity.

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Clancy strangled her children Cora, 8, Dawson, 5, and Callan, eight months, to death at their family home in Duxbury in January 2023.

The former labor and delivery nurse has pleaded not guilty in her trial, citing postpartum depression and psychosis as a result of overmedication. Clancy had been prescribed at least 13 different psychiatric medications at the time of the killings.

Clancy and her ex-husband, Patrick, filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against her former care team as a result of the tragic incident.

Prosecutors are angling to convict Clancy on the basis that the killings were deliberate, and that the mom was in control of her actions in the moment.  

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Judge calls for a sidebar

Court briefly resumed, and the judge immediately called for a sidebar with the attorneys.

During the sidebar, Judge Sullivan held up clear Ziploc bags that appeared to contain Clancy’s medication as he spoke to the prosecutors and the defense attorney.

It seemed that the jury had a question about the pill bottles. They are not present in the room.

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After speaking for approximately seven minutes, the sidebar ended, and the judge ordered the court in recess while deliberations continue.

Clancy’s prescriptions took center stage during the trial, where her defense argued she was suffering postpartum depression and psychosis as a result of overmedication.

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Patrick Clancy and new wife’s secret crisis: As he weighs big move ahead of Lindsay trial verdict… those closest to him speak out

As Lindsay Clancy’s trial nears its end in Massachusetts, her ex-husband is hundreds of miles away trying to rebuild a life that keeps being dragged back into the spotlight.

Patrick Clancy, 38, was seen this week touring apartments in a quiet neighborhood of Manhattan as he and new wife, Dr Rachel Danis, seek to escape the glare of publicity.

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What happened to the Clancy children?

On January 24, 2023, Clancy announced she’d had an exhausting day looking after their three young children so she asked husband Patrick if he didn’t mind going out on an errand. He just needed to pick up some children’s medicine and a takeout dinner order as she’d been too tired to cook, she told him.

Patrick, 36, who worked in software sales for Microsoft, was happy to oblige. But when he returned to their home in the well-to-do Boston coastal suburb of Duxbury less than an hour later at around 6pm, he discovered that their happy family existence had been snuffed out in an act of almost unimaginable violence.

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After going upstairs to find his wife, who he imagined was giving the children a bath, he discovered their second-floor bedroom door was locked and had to force his way in. Inside, there was blood on the floor, a bloody knife on the nightstand and the room was chilly as a window had been left open.

He ran downstairs to find his wife lying barely conscious outside. She had cut her wrists and neck before jumping out of the window, falling some 20ft onto frozen ground. She told him she’d tried to kill herself, adding – when he asked – that the children were in the basement.

Patrick stayed by her side for the next 10 minutes after dialing 911, convinced that she might die before the paramedics arrived.

Only when they turned up did he hurry inside to find the children – five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and Callan, just eight months. They were indeed in the basement – they had all been strangled with resistance bands.

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Legal experts warn of ‘disaster’ ending no one saw coming for America’s saddest trial

According to several legal experts who spoke with the Daily Mail, while many are asking whether the jury will deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty, there’s a very real possibility that this high profile, tumultuous trial is heading towards a third outcome: a mistrial.

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Members being called into the courtroom

The prosecution and the Clancy family have returned to the courtroom.

A court officer told the media they were returning to the courtroom.

At this time, it is unclear why.

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Lindsay Clancy spectator slammed for bringing her dog named Chorizo into court

A spectator sparked a social media uproar for bringing her pet dog to the Lindsay Clancy trial.

The unidentified woman wore a red shawl and her dark hair pulled into a ponytail, as she sat in the back of the courtroom with her emotional support pug, Chorizo.

Chorizo was seen in a blue harness, leashed to its owner and sitting quietly by her feet.

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Lindsay Clancy’s shocking plan to celebrate her freedom

The former labor-and-delivery nurse is looking at two starkly different futures: a life behind bars or potentially years inside a state psychiatric hospital, which could end in her release if she is no longer deemed mentally ill.

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Look back at all the major moments from ‘America’s saddest murder trial’

The Lindsay Clancy jury is now working to decide her fate

We’ve been in court since day one of ‘America’s saddest murder trial.’

While the world waits for their verdict, take a look back at our coverage of all the major moments from the gripping trial.

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Kevin Reddington arrives at court

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Lindsay Clancy’s family arrive at court

Lindsay Clancy’s parents, Mike and Paula Musgrove, as well as her sister, Allison Ozga, walked into court for the second day of jury deliberations.

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Inside the courtroom

Clancy’s parents have gone into the courtroom. Her sister Allison Ozga is also with them today.

Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham is wearing a navy-blue bow in her hair.

Clancy sits at the defense table in a green T-shirt. Reddington just walked over to her, opened his tin of mints, and poured some on the table in front of her.

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The jury did not appear to look at Clancy as they entered. She watched them closely.

The judge quickly asked the jury his usual questions about whether they could fulfill their duties, then sent them back to deliberations.

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Inside Lindsay Clancy’s home: Disturbing photos show scene of unimaginable horror… as jury decides her fate

It was a bright, sunny day in the South Shore of Massachusetts – typical of late July when visitors and locals flock to the picturesque coastal towns for summer vacations.

But the weather contrasted with the mood as the 18 men and women with the grueling task of deciding Lindsay Clancy’s fate were taken to the scene where she strangled her three young children.

Clancy is accused of murdering Cora, five, Dawson, three, and Callan, eight months old, inside the family home in the affluent suburb of Duxbury, Massachusetts, on January 24, 2023.

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The former delivery nurse strangled the children with exercise bands in the basement then tried to kill herself – cutting her wrists and neck before jumping from the second-floor bedroom window.

It is a case where postpartum mental illness and criminal responsibility have taken center stage.

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PARIS (AP) — Celine Dion blew kisses and made a love-heart shape with her hands as she swept into Paris on Friday for her first series of concerts since revealing her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome.

Fans yelling “We’re so happy to see you” and “We love you” crowded with journalists outside a Paris hotel as the Grammy-winning star settled in to prepare her residency of 16 shows in September and October at the Plenitude Arena in the French capital’s western suburbs. The first show opens on Sept. 12.

“I am ready and I’m a bit uptight of course because it’s been a long time,” she told French broadcaster BFMTV, wearing a beige trench coat, high heels and dark shades.

“I have always felt supported from the first day and because it’s a story that continues. It’s true that this is my second home,” the Quebec-born singer said.

Asked which song she’d sing first, Dion replied: “I can’t say, it’s a big secret!”

The Paris concerts, to be followed by 10 more next May, mark a major milestone for 58-year-old Dion after years away from touring due to the rare neurological disorder she disclosed in 2022.

With nearly 260 million albums sold worldwide, Dion remains one of the bestselling and most decorated artists in pop music history, known for hits including “My Heart Will Go On” and “Because You Loved Me.”

The concert series, titled “Celine Dion Paris 2026-2027,” will feature her catalog of hits in English and French.

Dion has largely stepped back from performing since canceling her Courage World Tour as her condition progressed. She wowed with a brief but widely watched return at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024, singing “Hymne à l’amour” (Hymn to love) atop the Eiffel Tower in the rain.

The Plenitude Arena has a capacity of 40,000 spectators and was one of the venues used for the Paris Games.

President Donald Trump reportedly plans to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the Pentagon, not Ground Zero in New York City – in part because he cannot give a speech.

The president had initially intended to join former presidents and other officials in Manhattan on September 11, but those plans were changed after memorial planners seemingly reminded Trump’s team that politicians are barred from speaking at the site to maintain its nonpartisan stance, the New York Times reported.

Instead, Vice President JD Vance will represent the White House in New York City while Trump goes to the Pentagon, which also came under attack on September 11, 2001.

White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement: “On the 25th anniversary of this tragic day, the President will remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans.”

She added, “As a proud New Yorker, President Trump has spoken about his own experiences watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001.”

The president and First Lady Melania Trump also marked the September 11th anniversary at the Pentagon last year. At the memorial, Trump spoke about those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, while peppering in brags about his administration and agenda.

“In America we take blows, but we never buckle. We bleed, but we do not bow, and we defy the fear, endure the flames and emerge from the crucible of every hardship stronger, prouder and greater than ever before,” Trump said during remarks last year.

The president then added: “Last year we were a dead country, now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world” – a statement he repeatedly shared during rallies and press conferences.

Later that day, Trump flew to New York City to attend a New York Yankees game.

Since 2012, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum has prohibited politicians from speaking at Ground Zero – the site of the Twin Towers.

That decision was made after a series of political battles over the construction of the memorial site angered families who felt the political issues were overshadowing the memory of those who died that day.

The last time Trump attended a 9/11 memorial in New York City was during the 2024 presidential race when he joined then-president Joe Biden, then-vice president Kamala Harris and other officials at Ground Zero.

The politicians shook hands and stood side-by-side as they remembered the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attack.

This year, several notable politicians are expected to attend the 25th anniversary at Ground Zero, including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani; former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton; former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush; and former President Barack Obama, officials familiar with the planning told the New York Times.

There are other reasons the president will mark the day from Washington, D.C., instead of New York City.

The president is planning to travel to his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland, the following day and it’s easier to leave from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland than the tri-state area airports, the New York Times reported.

Commander Claire Smart, gold commander for Notting Hill Carnival, said: “Our message is simple: come and enjoy carnival, look after one another, respect the event, the communities hosting it and the police officers, stewards and other emergency services working to keep people safe.

Since 2020/21 overall real terms benefits spending is forecast to have increased by approximately 16%. As a percentage of GDP, benefits spending is lower than it was in 2020/21 (though it is worth noting that the UK’s GDP was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in that year), but it has been increasing since 2022/23.

Gatwick Airport has been left without a water supply for the second time this summer during peak travel season.

The UK’s second busiest airport has been gripped by another water outage just weeks after every restaurant at the hub was forced to close in July after water ran out.

While flights are currently unaffected, some passengers have reported being turned away from restaurants due to the problem.

Gatwick confirmed this afternoon that a problem with the water company SES Water’s supply is affecting the airport.

One passenger claimed online that ‘all toilets are closed and all restaurants, bars, cafes are not operating, no hot food or drinks available anywhere.’

He added that there are ‘no notices’ about the issue anywhere at the airport.

Gatwick Airport said: ‘A water issue is causing some disruption in the local area. The problem is affecting water supply in both terminals and is currently under investigation by SES Water.

‘At present, there has been no impact on flights. We will provide further updates and apologise for any inconvenience to passengers.’

Have you been affected? Please email webnews@metro.co.uk

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

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MORE: Stowaway found frozen to death in plane landing gear at Gatwick Airport

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The Met Office has issued a warning until 9pm today (August 28).

A spokesperson said: “While many areas will miss the heaviest downpours, heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop during Friday afternoon and evening.

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“The focus of showers and thunderstorms over will be northern England and much of Wales during the early afternoon before extending over central and eastern England through the afternoon.

“Thunderstorms will bring 10-20 mm of rain in a short period in a few places with 30-40 mm possible should anywhere see repeated downpours.

“Lightning and hail will be additional hazards in a few locations. Heavy showers and thunderstorms will gradually ease during Friday evening.”

Today (August 28) will see showers developing more widely through the day, often heavy with a risk of thunder in places, but temperatures will remain around normal with a maximum of 21 degrees.

Tomorrow (August 29) will see showers ease off with late evening sunshine and mild weather, with Saturday (August 30) starting dying then rain will become widespread for the rest of the day.

From Sunday (August 31) to Tuesday (September 1), the unsettled weather looks set to continue with outbreaks of rain and showers – which the Met Office says will be “occasionally heavy with the risk of thunder”

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Ola Jordan shared her first update since it was confirmed she had split from her husband, James

Ola Jordan has hailed her daughter for being a “ray of sunshine” during what she called her “darkest days” as she shared her first update since it was confirmed she had split from her husband, James Jordan.

The professional dancers, who both starred on BBC’s Strictly, first met in 1999 at a dance competition in Blackpool, before officially starting to date in 2000. They tied the knot in 2003, before welcoming their daughter Ella who they conceived through IVF in 2020 after a three-year fertility struggle.

However, it was confirmed earlier this month that the couple had gone their separate ways after 22 years of marriage, with their separation being “trialled” some time ago.

A statement addressing the news was first shared by their manager, before James and Ola took to Instagram to issue their own comment, in which they said they were working through “very difficult personal challenges”, and that James moved out of the family home some time ago.

Now, Ola has shared her first update since the statement. She took to Instagram with a photo of herself and daughter Ella, now six, and wrote to her followers: “There have been moments this summer when my heart has felt heavier than I ever imagined it could [broken heart emoji]. Life has changed in ways I never expected, and some days have been incredibly tough.

“But through all of the uncertainty, one thing has remained constant, my beautiful girl Ella [heart emoji]. Spending these summer holidays with my baby girl, making memories, having cuddles, laughing until our tummies hurt and simply enjoying every precious moment together has been my greatest comfort. She may not realise it now, but she has been my little ray of sunshine through some of my darkest days [sun emoji].”

The mum-of-one added: “This summer hasn’t been the one I imagined, but I’m choosing to focus on what truly matters – her, our memories, and all the love between us [heart emoji]. And to everyone who has sent me messages, checked in on me, shown me kindness or simply reminded me that I’m not alone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your love and support have meant more to me than you will ever know.”

Ola was soon flooded with messages of love and support. @clairebishop06 said: “Sending you so much love. Tough times don’t last….tough people do! Take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself.2 @butterworth.lynne commented: “Beautiful girls. One day at a time Ola.”

@misshayleyd13 wrote: “Sending so much love Ola.” @elainegreen18 replied: “Sending love Ola – you will come out the other side so much stronger with your beautiful daughter.” @carolejones636 posted: “Stay strong Ola! Just one day at a time.” @2060dar added: “Lovely picture of you both. Never feel you are alone; it’s a difficult path to walk, it will get easier in time. The future will be bright no matter what occurs. Stay strong you are loved and needed. Take care.”