Jobe Bellingham headlines England Under-21 squad for the European Championship, but Chelsea block Liam Delap's selection ahead of the Club World Cup.
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Carsley names 23-man U21 squadBellingham & McAtee are inDelap pulls out due to CWC commitmentsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
England U21s boss Lee Carsley has unveiled his 23-player roster for the upcoming UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where the Young Lions will attempt to retain their continental crown. Two players from the triumphant 2023 squad, defender Charlie Cresswell and forward Harvey Elliott, have once again been included.
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One of the most notable names in Carsley’s squad is Bellingham. However, there are concerns that his participation could be in jeopardy, with Borussia Dortmund closing in on a deal to sign the 19-year-old. It has been widely reported that a £25 million ($34m) transfer is nearing completion, especially after he reportedly met with Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl in Ibiza last week. While a last-minute withdrawal remains possible if the move materialises quickly, the teenager is currently preparing to represent his country in Slovakia.
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The biggest blow to Carsley’s plans has come via Chelsea’s intervention. The club has declined to release Delap, prioritising his availability for the Club World Cup, which the Blues are preparing for this month. Delap isn’t the only high-profile absentee. Jamie Gittens of Dortmund, and also a target for Chelsea during this transfer window, is missing from the group, as are Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Manchester City’s versatile full-back Rico Lewis.
ENGLAND U21 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: James Beadle (Brighton & Hove Albion), Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea), Tommy Simkin (Stoke City)
Defenders: Charlie Cresswell (Toulouse), Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Brooke Norton Cuffy (Genoa), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton & Hove Albion), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)
Forwards: Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town), Sam Iling Jnr (Aston Villa), James McAtee (Manchester City), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jonathan Rowe (Marseille), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City)
