All posts by h716a5.icu

Looking to follow up their recent deal to sign Emanuel Emegha in 2026, Chelsea have reportedly joined the race to sign a teenage gem ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Chelsea agree deal to sign Emegha

Once again using BlueCo’s connection to Strasbourg – another club that they own – Chelsea have officially announced a deal to sign Emegha. The talented striker will join the club in 2026 after one more season in France and represents the fifth player to move to either Chelsea or Strasbourg in the last 12 months.

Emegha’s pending arrival will lead to questions about Nicolas Jackson’s future once again. The forward is currently on loan at Bayern Munich, but even though that deal has an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met, Bayern chief Uli Hoeneß recently made it clear that it is unlikely that he reaches those conditions.

He told reporters: “It’s not a €16.5m loan fee, because the player and his agent are contributing €3m, so that leaves €13.5m. And there will definitely not be a permanent contract. That only happens if he plays 40 games from the start. He will never do that.”

Outscoring Palmer: Chelsea sold the "closest thing" to Hazard for just £18m

A former Chelsea attacker who was tipped to be the next Eden Hazard has now been outscoring Cole Palmer in 2025.

ByBen Gray Sep 12, 2025

If that proves to be the case, Chelsea will have as many as four strikers at their disposal in 2026 with Jackson’s sale still on their list of priorities. That’s not to say their spending is about to end, however.

The Blues have now reportedly turned their focus towards Enzo Maresca’s midfield, joining the race to sign a teenage sensation ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Chelsea racing to sign Jorthy Mokio

According to TeamTalk, Chelsea are now racing to sign Jorthy Mokio from Ajax after sending scouts to watch the 17-year-old midfielder. Compared to Declan Rice and former Stamford Bridge star N’Golo Kante, the Belgian is certainly one to watch in the next 12 months. As ever, Ajax have helped develop an incredibly impressive talent after securing his signature from KAA Gent last summer.

Compared to Kante by TeamTalk thanks to his exceptional recovery ability and positioning during transitions, Mokio could yet follow Jorrel Hato’s path by swapping Ajax for Chelsea as a rising star.

Described as “quick & agile” as well as “intelligent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango last May, Mokio has only improved ever since. Now, as several Premier League sides chase his signature, the midfielder, who can also play centre-back, has a decision to make.

Harry Kane has been hailed as "inspirational" by Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus after becoming the fastest player in Europe’s top five leagues to score 100 goals for one club. Matthaus believes the England striker’s blossoming partnership with Serge Gnabry could see him topple Robert Lewandowski’s record this season as Kane continues his ruthless run.

Kane milestone sparks praise

The England captain Kane struck twice in Bayern’s 4-0 win over Werder Bremen to bring up his 100th league goal for the German giants. Remarkably, the English superstar reached the milestone in just 104 appearances, making him the fastest player across Europe’s top five leagues to do so. The landmark underlined Kane’s consistency since joining from Tottenham, with his form already pushing him into record-breaking territory.

AdvertisementGetty/GOAL'superlatives will run out' – Matthaus

Matthaus believes Kane’s brilliance extends beyond goalscoring, pointing to his intelligence and ability to adapt within the team’s system. He pointed to his partnership with Gnabry, who is excelling in a new role this season, with the German netting three goals and providing two assists so far in the league.

“Harry Kane has been talked about in Germany for two years. Ultimately, the superlatives eventually run out. He inspires people with his actions, but also with his intelligent style of play,” he in his latest column for .

“Kane likes to drop back sometimes, instinctively, to do it at the right moment, but of course also in consultation with the coach." 

What makes this approach so effective is the presence of Gnabry, whose natural tendency to push forward creates constant movement in Bayern’s attack. “He has Serge Gnabry behind him, who also goes forward. This naturally changes the situation for Kane, as the two can alternate. This also makes it much more difficult for the opponent to defend,” Matthaus added.

Lewandowski record in sight

Kane’s start to the Bundesliga season has inevitably reignited talk about whether he can threaten long-standing scoring records set by Bayern icons including former striker Lewa and legend Gerd Muller. The England captain has already struck 10 times in his first five league games of the campaign, matching the Polish striker’s blistering haul in the opening rounds of 2019-20, a season in which the Pole eventually racked up 34 goals.

"Five games have been played, and he’s scored ten goals. I’m not making any predictions, as many factors come into play," Matthaus added. "But if things continue like this, he stays free of major injuries, and the team’s passion and desire remain, then I could imagine Robert Lewandowski’s and Gerd Müller’s records being broken.”

Muller’s benchmark of 40 goals in 1971-72 stood for nearly half a century before Lewandowski finally broke it in 2020-21 to set a new record of 41. Kane, who came close with 36 goals in his debut Bundesliga campaign, has shown signs he could launch another assault on those legendary tallies.

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Getty Images SportKane’s form pushing the Bavarians to new heights

Kane admitted even he was astonished at the pace of his century. “Scoring my 100th Bayern Munich goal in just my 104th appearance for the club was crazy,” the striker said. With 15 goals already in all competitions this season, the 32-year-old is on course for another Golden Boot challenge. 

Bayern sit top of the Bundesliga after five straight wins, and their focus now turns to the Champions League clash with Pafos in Cyprus. Kane will once again spearhead the attack, with Gnabry and Luis Diaz in support. If his current scoring rate holds, the England captain could etch his name even deeper into Bundesliga history, chasing down records once thought untouchable.

Bowling coach is disappointed that the team came up short during “key moments”

Shashank Kishore27-Apr-20253:13

Jaffer on RR’s woes: When you lose, you start doubting yourself

Rajasthan Royals aren’t out of the playoff race yet, but with 14 points unlikely to be enough in IPL 2025, bowling coach Shane Bond hopes the squad uses the remaining five games to lay a strong foundation for next year.”We’re probably out of the tournament, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to play for,” he said ahead of Monday’s home fixture against Gujarat Titans. “We want to make sure we finish the season strong and continue playing well.”Also, for individuals there’s a lot to play for. For next season, wanting to stay with the franchise, there’s always that up. For me it’s been really disappointing. I think we’re all competitive, we want to win and when you’ve got a bunch of people who have worked really hard like our guys have, I don’t expect them to just turn up and go through the motions.”RR are looking to snap a five-match losing streak, with three of those losses coming in chases they appeared to control – twice falling short needing nine off the final over and once needing just 18 off 12 with two set batters. Citing these missed chases, Bond strongly rejected suggestions that RR’s bowling, barring Jofra Archer, looked “toothless”.Related

Bruised RR look to avoid knockout blow against fluent GT

Parag: We didn't show enough intent against the spinners

“Toothless might be a little bit harsh,” he said. “The last three games, perhaps we should have chased and won. We’ve played pretty well over the last three games; we just haven’t won a couple of key moments. And so that’s why we’re sitting at the rear end of the table where perhaps we could have sat somewhere more in the middle.”We’ve had some big overs, there’s no denying that. We’ve had some bowlers who have had some tough days, but that’s probably been the same for a number of bowlers and teams throughout the tournament. So when you say toothless, what do you mean? I think collectively the bowling unit, especially over the last three games, have done a pretty good job and kept the opposition to scores perhaps we should have chased down.Shane Bond is hurting from Rajasthan Royals getting into winning positions and then losing•SA20″I suppose the stuff that’s hardest is that for 35 overs of games we’ve played really well and in fact have been in control in some games and probably got into positions where we should have won. So you have to give credit to the opposition. They were good enough in those tight moments to go over the top of us and win those games. I suppose that’s what hurts.”After their seventh defeat two nights ago, Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming traced his side’s struggles to their auction. Bond didn’t think RR’s was a case of a poor auction as much as it was a case of missed opportunities.”I suppose that’s something you work through at the end of the season,” Bond said. “I think you also look at that perhaps at the end of an auction cycle. You look at the last three years cycle for Rajasthan, it was a great cycle. We made a final, made the playoffs, and were in contention all the time.”It’s not an ideal start [to the new auction cycle], but then at the end of the year that’s what you do. You look at your squad, you look at who’s performed, how do you make improvements and changes. I think every team does that.”In terms of whether it’s been a poor auction or not, I don’t really think about that too much to be honest. I’m not really involved in that process, but what you would say is I think we’ve played pretty good cricket, we just haven’t been quite good enough. As I said, if we seized a couple of key moments, it could very well look different on the table and we may not be having this conversation.”With Sanju Samson still recovering from an abdominal injury, Riyan Parag will keep captaincy of the side.”No, I don’t see him taking up on a permanent basis,” Bond said. “Obviously, we’ve lost our captain, which has hurt us a little bit. We’re a pretty young team. We’re an inexperienced team. Riyan – I know he’s been around the IPL for a while, but he’s pretty young to come in and lead the team. He’s actually done a really good job. We’re really happy with what he’s doing.”He would admit himself that he’s still learning the role, and we’ve got some good support around him. But so far, he’s got a very sharp cricketing brain. I think the stuff that he’s done on the field with the bowlers and the changes that he’s made have been really good. For us, I suppose the upside is you’ve got someone else who’s gained a little bit more leadership experience for next year as well.”I think when Sanju’s on the field, he’s been excellent. We’ll go into next season with two people who have got that captaincy experience, and I think that’s going to be good for the team in the long term.”

Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Bojan Miovski scored what will hopefully be the first of many goals at Ibrox in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Saturday.

The Macedonia international arrived at Ibrox during the summer transfer window with a view to adding a big goal threat to Russell Martin’s side, but it had been a slow start to his career in Glasgow.

Miovski failed to find the back of the net in his first two starts in the Scottish Premiership, against Celtic and Hearts, and only managed two shots in those matches, per Sofascore.

However, the left-footed marksman was able to get his name on the scoresheet against Hibernian at the weekend, converting from close range after Mikey Moore’s ball across the box fell into his path.

Supporters will now be hoping that the 26-year-old centre-forward can kick on and prove himself to be a consistent goalscorer for the Light Blues, having scored 32 league goals in two seasons with Aberdeen in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.

Miovski will be hoping to emulate Alfredo Morelos in a positive sense, as the former Gers number nine ended his career at Ibrox with a fantastic goalscoring record.

The duality of Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

The current Rangers striker will want to go down the same path as Morelos at Ibrox in the sense that the Colombia international was a prolific scorer for the club for many years.

In 269 appearances for the first-team, the powerful centre-forward racked up 124 goals and 57 assists, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he offered a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals throughout his time at Ibrox.

Topically, with a clash with Genk at Ibrox coming up this week, Miovski will also hope to emulate Morelos’ excellent return in front of goal in Europa League matches for Rangers.

Europa League qualifiers

23

13

7

Europa League

33

15

10

Champions League qualifiers

2

1

0

Champions League

5

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the Colombian marksman scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists in 56 Europa League games for the club, including qualifiers, which shows that he was lethal on the European stage.

These statistics prove that Morelos was a reliable figure at the top end of the pitch in Europe for Rangers, which Miovski will be hoping to be, starting with the game against Genk on Thursday.

Where Miovski will not be hoping to be like Morelos is with how the striker’s career at Ibrox ended, because he left on a free transfer in 2023 after previously being linked with big-money moves.

Rangers rejected an offer of more than £16m from Lille in 2020 and a bid of £10m from Porto in 2021, which shows that there was plenty of interest from top teams in Europe during his pomp at Ibrox.

The Light Blues opted not to cash in when his value was high. The striker went on to leave for nothing before going to sign for Santos in Brazil, exiting European football, in 2023.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

It is far too early to judge which direction Miovski will go in at Ibrox, but there is another player in the squad who is in danger of following Morelos in the wrong direction.

Mohamed Diomande is in danger of losing his way in Glasgow unless he can turn his performances around and get back to his best under Martin this season.

Why Diomande is in danger of becoming the next Morelos

The Ivorian central midfielder caught the eye with some fantastic displays for the Light Blues, despite a disappointing season as a club, in the 2024/25 campaign.

Diomande, who was described as “complete” by analyst John Walker, proved his worth in the middle of the park in the Premiership with a return of four goals and seven assists in 36 appearances in the division, per Sofascore, whilst also winning 57% of his duels on the ground.

The left-footed star, who signed on a permanent deal last summer after an initial loan spell at the back end of the 2023/24 campaign, has shown that he can be a difference-maker in midfield.

Diomande’s impressive form for the Scottish giants led to interest from elsewhere this summer. Six Premier League clubs, including Everton, were said to be interested in the midfield star and Besiktas had an offer of £6.5m rejected by the Gers.

This shows that, as was the case for Morelos at his peak at Ibrox, there was significant interest in the Ivorian star because of his performances on the pitch last term.

Rangers, however, opted not to cash in. They will now be hoping that it is a decision that they do not live to regret, as the midfielder has endured a difficult start to the current campaign.

Appearances

36

5

Sofascore rating

7.19

6.38

Goals

4

0

Assists

7

0

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

0.6

Ground duel success rate

57%

49%

Aerial duel success rate

48%

17%

As you can see in the table above, Diomande’s performance level in and out of possession in the middle of the park has dipped significantly in the Premiership from last season to this one.

The Everton and Besiktas target has been too weak off the ball, losing duels on the deck and in the air too regularly, and has not offered anything at the top end of the pitch to win games for his side.

That has contributed to the club’s worst start to a league season in 47 years, with no wins, four draws, and one defeat after five matches in the Premiership.

This is also why Diomande is currently in danger of becoming the next Morelos at Ibrox because he may not find himself with enough suitors to attract a big-money exit from Glasgow if his performances do not improve.

Rangers must regret losing star who was "like Lionel Messi" for nothing

Rangers had a star who was compared to Lionel Messi and allowed him to leave for nothing.

ByDan Emery Sep 22, 2025

Therefore, the central midfielder could be the next player whom the club fail to cash in on at their peak value before losing them for less money later down the line.

The Coventry City striker took charge when his national team needed him most, scoring once in each half to seal important win

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – For the first half hour of Tuesday's friendly against Australia, it was doom and gloom for the U.S. men's national team. They'd conceded a goal, and a poor one at that. Christian Pulisic, the team's captain on the day, was forced off with an injury.

Despite dominating the play, the U.S. were down a goal and a star at the half-hour mark. Mauricio Pochettino's side needed a spark. It came from Haji Wright, who brought his scoring boots from England right on over to Colorado. Given the start ahead of the prolific Folarin Balogun, Wright made the difference for the USMNT, making one hell of a statement in his first USMNT appearance since his Gold Cup injury.

Behind Wright's brace, the USMNT went on to win 2-1 on Tuesday night. Following Jordan Bos' scrappy opener, Wright took over, netting one on either side of halftime, and continuing his torrid scoring streak – he now has 11 goals in his last 11 games for club and country.

The first came as he ran onto a line-splitting pass from Cristian Roldan. The second came as he ran onto a long ball from the very same man, and that Roldan-Wright combination effectively decided the game.

“I believe in myself and the players around here make it easy," Wright said. "I’ve known these guys my whole life, almost my whole soccer career. So getting back on the field with these guys, it feels like home to me. And playing back in the U.S. feels great… I’m not just stuck in the nine as a typical striker. I’m allowed to move and be free-flowing and create chances and score chances."

Earlier this international break, Pochettino explained what he wants from his strikers: the ball in the back of the net. The rest is all a bonus, he said, and the key unit of measurement in this striker race will always be goals. On Tuesday, Wright got two of them at a crucial time, helping the USMNT turn a poor start into a banner night of momentum building.

“We conceded a goal that we should not concede," Pochettino told TNT. "I was happy the way finished the first half. We controlled the game after 20 minutes. After we conceded, we started to play more natural. It’s a new team, the first time they’ve played together, and they were thinking too much, then started to play more natural.”

Now unbeaten in three games after an up-and-down summer, the U.S. continues to move in the right direction. On this occasion, Wright was the man who made it so.

GOAL rates the USMNT's players from Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense

Matt Freese (6/10):

Not much he could have done about the goal. Didn't have to do much outside of punching away a corner kick or two.

Tim Weah (7/10):

Played as an actual wingback this time around, and he did just fine in the role. Was dangerous, particularly in the first half, and tracked back in the moments where the USMNT needed him to.

Mark McKenzie (6/10):

Had one massive block on one of Australia's few chances. Nothing too crazy either way outside of that.

Chris Richards (5/10):

At least partially at blame for the goal, although that was certainly a team effort. Really helped set the tone of the game after, though, by adding some fight after several hard Australia fouls.

Miles Robinson (6/10):

Was beaten a few times, but also had one sequence where he tracked back to prevent a chance. 

Alex Freeman (6/10):

Was more free than in past appearances, as the Orlando City star was, at a few points, the player highest up the field. His teammates didn't find a few of his better runs, but it was still good to see him offer more on that attacking side.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

James Sands (5/10):

His mishit clearance helped lead to the goal but he generally settled into the game as it went on. Still, he'll be frustrated about that one mistimed swing of his foot.

Cristian Roldan (8/10):

Was also a part of that messy Australia goal, but the Seattle Sounders star then set up Wright's two finishes. Overall, a good reminder that he brings more than vibes; he's also a pretty damn good player, too.

Getty ImagesAttack

Weston McKennie (6/10):

Played a good ball for the hockey assist on Wright's first but, otherwise, wasn't quite as good as he was against Ecuador on Friday. Still, you can see the vision with him in this free role.

Christian Pulisic (6/10):

Was far and away the USMNT's driving force during his time on the field. Unfortunately, that time was cut short due to his first-half injury.

Haji Wright (9/10):

Didn't get many opportunities, but he buried the ones that came his way. His first finish showed decisiveness. His second showed calm. Both went in, which is something we've seen a lot of from him lately with club and country.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Diego Luna (7/10):

The game immediately changed once he came in and, while that wasn't all his doing, he surely played a part. Provided what he usually does: energy, creativity and nearly a goal towards the end, too.

Folarin Balogun (6/10):

A tough spot to be thrown into as he replaced a guy working toward a hat-trick. Not quite as dangerous as Wright, obviously, but his runs through Australia's defense definitely gave them some problems in the game's final 20 minutes.

Brenden Aaronson (7/10):

It looked like a big moment passed him by, but Aaronson picked out Luna for what could have been, and arguably should have been, a goal. Decent work from the Leeds midfielder.

Tanner Tessmann (6/10):

Didn't get too many touches in the midfield with the U.S. largely on the front foot.

Aidan Morris (6/10):

Didn't have much time to work, but was generally clean and involved in the heart of midfield.

Max Arfsten (N/A):

Came on late and hardly got a touch of the ball.

Mauricio Pochettino (8/10):

Got just about everything right. The Australia goal was fluky and largely down to individual mistakes but, outside of that one moment, the USMNT dominated possession and the overall flow of the game. He'll be happy, too, to see his team erase another deficit, showing some of that fight

The rest of the tournament will be played at six venues

ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-20254:40

What happened to home advantage in IPL 2025?

IPL 2025 will resume on May 17 and end on June 3, as per the revised schedule announced by the BCCI on Monday night.The remainder of the tournament, which was suspended on May 9 for a week due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, will be played at six venues: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.The venues for the playoffs will be announced later, but the matches will be played on the following dates: Qualifier 1 on May 29, the Eliminator on May 30, Qualifier 2 on June 1 and the final on June 3. A total of 17 matches will be played after the resumption, with two double-headers, both of which will be played on Sundays.The revised schedule features 13 league games and the four playoff matches. This means that the Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Delhi Capitals (DC) game, which was called off midway through the first innings on May 8 in Dharamsala, will be played again, on May 24 in Jaipur, which will be the temporary home base for PBKS.ESPNcricinfo LtdTwo days later, PBKS will play against Mumbai Indians (MI), a match they were originally meant to play in their second home base of Dharamsala on May 11. The match that will restart the tournament on May 17 will be played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru.On the first of the two double-header days, Rajasthan Royals (RR) will meet PBKS in the day game (3.30pm IST) on May 18 and DC will take on Gujarat Titans (GT) in the evening (7.30pm IST). The next Sunday – May 25 – will see GT take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the day game in Ahmedabad and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) meet KKR in Delhi at 7.30pm IST. The last league game will be between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and RCB on May 27 in Lucknow.The change in venues also means that three teams – PBKS, CSK and SRH – won’t get to play on their original home grounds anymore. With CSK and SRH out of the playoffs race, PBKS will count themselves unlucky to be playing two of their home matches at a neutral venue. With 15 points from 11 matches, PBKS were third on the points table before the tournament was suspended.The official release said the BCCI held “extensive consultations with government and security agencies, and with all the key stakeholders” before finalising the resumption of the tournament.The delayed finish of the IPL, which was originally scheduled to end on May 25 in Kolkata, means it will now coincide with the entire ODI series between England and West Indies starting on May 29 in Birmingham and ending on June 3 at The Oval. It will lead to a clash for Romario Shepherd (RCB), Shamar Joseph (LSG) and Sherfane Rutherford (GT), who have all been picked in the West Indies ODI squad. England have not named their squad yet but the players likely to be affected are Jos Buttler (GT), Phil Salt (RCB), Jacob Bethell (RCB), Liam Livingstone (RCB), Will Jacks (MI) and Reece Topley (MI), depending on which teams make the playoffs.6:21

Has Pant been LSG’s biggest letdown?

The revised IPL schedule also squeezes the gap between the IPL final and the WTC final to just seven days, with Australia and South Africa set to contest the Test world title from June 11 at Lord’s. Both Australia and South Africa are scheduled to announce their squads on Tuesday. The players who are currently part of the IPL teams and are likely to be picked for the WTC final are Australia captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head (both SRH), Mitchell Starc and Tristan Stubbs (both DC), Josh Hazlewood (RCB), Marco Jansen and Josh Inglis (both PBKS), Aiden Markram (LSG), Kagiso Rabada (GT), Ryan Rickelton (MI) and Kwena Mphaka (RR).The revised schedule will also potentially impact the India A tour of England, which is scheduled to begin from May 30, for two unofficial Tests in Canterbury and Northampton. Several fringe India players, some of whom are likely to be part of the India squad for the five-Test series starting on June 20 in England, will now be part of the IPL when the A matches begin.For now, the biggest challenge for the 10 IPL franchises will be to re-assemble their squads and bring back overseas players and support-staff members who had begun flying back home over the weekend. The team that could find it easiest to get back together will be GT, currently on top of the table, who had seen only two of their overseas players fly back: Buttler and Gerald Coetzee. The rest of their squad was continuing to train in Ahmedabad. MI could also benefit from the revised schedule, as their first game is on May 21, four days after the tournament resumes.

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente has found himself at the centre of controversy after defending his use of tinted glasses. His detailed Instagram post about light exposure, melatonin, and “protecting biology” sparked online debate. However, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has surprisingly come to his defence, showing support for his views.

Llorente’s defence of his tinted glasses sparks debate

The Spaniard took to Instagram to clarify why he wears tinted yellow and red glasses, but what began as a simple explanation has quickly turned into a viral talking point. Responding to public confusion and mockery, Llorente wrote that his glasses are not a fashion statement but a biological safeguard. He further explained that blue light exposure emitting from phones, screens, and artificial lighting can disrupt natural melatonin production and affects mitochondrial function. 

“If you don’t care about your health, you can keep scrolling,” he asserted, insisting that his choices are rooted in science and are not just vague opinions.

Llorente elaborated on the biological role of melatonin, calling it “the most powerful antioxidant in the body” that helps regulate inflammation, immunity, and cellular processes. He insisted that modern environments “trap people away from the sun and surround them with harmful LED lights.”

AdvertisementHaaland steps in to defend Llorente

Amid the criticism, Haaland’s public show of support came as a surprise. The City star commented “Well done” under Llorente’s post, signalling his approval of the Spanish midfielder’s perspective. 

Llorente on chem trails conspiracy

Beyond his views on light and melatonin, Llorente has also voiced skepticism about airplane contrails, often referred to in conspiracy circles as chemtrails. 

He previously commented on a post saying: “Disinfection on channel 2,” implying that the skies are being intentionally sprayed. In another message, he wrote: “These skies I have never seen before. Normal, to me, it is not,” accompanied by footage of plane trails captioned “Enough now.”

This ties into the chemtrail theory which is a long-standing internet conspiracy that claims governments or corporations release chemical or biological agents from aircraft for secret programs like weather control, population influence, or geoengineering.

His wife, sharing his outlook, stated that those who believe the trails are harmless “choose not to look at the sky, or at the BOE/AEMET, or the WMO.” Together, the couple have hinted that these trails may involve bioengineering or disinfection activities, though no credible scientific evidence supports such claims.

In reality, scientists have repeatedly debunked the theory. The visible streaks behind planes are contrails which are condensation trails formed when hot exhaust meets cold, humid air, creating ice crystals.

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AFPAtleti star blurs wellness and conspiracy

From diet control to light therapy, Llorente long experimented with methods to enhance performance. But his latest statements blur the boundary between wellness advocacy and fringe science. While his arguments on melatonin and light exposure draw from real biological research, his endorsement of chemtrail theories has pushed him into a different spotlight. Still, Llorente remains unapologetic, adding in his Instagram post: “Nothing I share I make up. It’s not a personal opinion. It’s biology.”

Thomas Frank has made an impressive start to life as Tottenham Hotspur manager, suffering only one defeat within his first nine matches since his appointment in the summer.

The Dane’s only defeat came against Bournemouth in the Premier League on gameweek three and are now currently enjoying a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

However, it’s not all been straight-forward for the 51-year-old, with the Lilywhites having to come from two goals down to draw with Bodo Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

His side have scored 17 goals across all competitions in 2025/26, averaging nearly two goals a game to date, highlighting the impressive form of the side in the final third.

Such a record could’ve certainly been bolstered further had the hierarchy kept hold of one player who was sold during Frank’s first window in charge this summer.

Heung-min Son’s successful spell at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, few Spurs fans would’ve predicted the superb spell forward Heung-min Son would have at the club after joining from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

The South Korean spent a decade in North London, often being a first-team regular, subsequently racking up incredible figures which made him a huge fan favourite.

The winger racked up over 450 appearances between 2015 and 2025, scoring 173 times, which ranks him fourth in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.

Despite not starting the Europa League final, he lifted the trophy as captain and helped end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy in his final outing for the football club.

Son would leave the side this summer in a £20m deal, subsequently joining MLS outfit LAFC, leaving new boss Frank with the near-impossible task of landing a replacement.

Mohammed Kudus was brought into the club during the off-season, but his addition was undoubtedly made to strengthen the options on the opposite flank.

However, the Dane may already have his own version of Son in the near future, with such a talent already on their books in North London – potentially saving the club millions in the process.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s heir to Son

Spurs have a number of impressive young talents within their ranks at present, highlighting the impressive work of their academy and their recruitment team over recent days.

Graduate Mikey Moore is just one of the players who has made the rise through the youth levels, making 19 senior appearances for the Lilywhites last season despite being just 17.

The injury crisis last season gave him the chance to stake his claim, but he’s been sent on a season-long loan to Scottish side Rangers in an attempt to gain consistent game time to aid his progression.

However, he’s only featured for a total of 215 minutes across all competitions for Russell Martin’s side, with just three of his appearances coming from a starting position.

He’s not alone in being sent out on loan to try and gain valuable experience, with South Korean forward Min-hyeok Yang also spending the 2025/26 out on loan.

The 19-year-old joined the Lilywhites from Gangwon FC back in January, undoubtedly being brought into the club for the future years rather than the present.

Such a deal was undoubtedly an exciting one, with the youngster scoring 12 times in his 38 appearances for his homeland club, prior to his switch to England earlier this year.

Yang would spend the second half of last season on loan at QPR, scoring twice and registering one assist in his 14 Championship outings at Loftus Road.

However, he was once again shipped out to England’s second tier, this time joining Portsmouth on a season-long loan, even netting his first goal for the club against Watford on Wednesday night.

Given his recent spells away from North London, he’s yet to make a single senior appearance for the club, but that could certainly change in the years ahead, given his tender age.

Games played

3

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

75%

Touches in opposition box

5.6

Fouls won

2.8

Recoveries made

4.5

Shots on target

1.7

Chances created

1.1

At just 19, Yang has plenty of time to live up to the potential he’s arrived with, potentially being the perfect option for the first-team off the left-hand side for many years to come.

Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by his compatriot at Spurs, it would be yet another phenomenal piece of business and one that could save them millions if he turns into a potential world-beater.

Spurs flop is proving to be their biggest waste of money since Ndombele

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have made a huge mistake in signing one talent in recent years.

2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 2, 2025

Vinicius Junior has addressed the events of an intense El Clasico on Sunday, which saw Real Madrid beat Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. But the Brazilian himself stormed off when substituted, and was involved in a post-match brawl that was sparked by Los Blancos players Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois angrily confronting Lamine Yamal.

Vini Jr reacts to early substitution

Vinicius Jr didn't react well to being withdrawn by coach Xabi Alonso with just under 20 minutes, plus stoppage time, left of the Clasico – being replaced by Rodrygo when it was all still to play for. Instead of taking a place on the bench with his team-mates, the furious 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up exited altogether and made for the dressing room. Eventually, he did return to watch the rest of the contest unfold. When others went to confront Yamal over his pre-match jibes, Vinicius clashed with Alejandro Balde as pushing and shoving ensued between both sets of players. But the winger later sought to defend his actions, suggesting that "passion" and the heat of the moment were ultimately responsible for his lack of self-control.

AdvertisementGetty'This is how the Clasico is'

Vinicius openly addressed Real Madrid fans in comments made afterwards. "I have a message to all Madridistas, especially those who came to Bernabeu and supported us passionately," he said. "This is how the Clasico is; there are many things happening on and off the pitch. We try to maintain balance, but that's not always possible. We didn't want to offend anyone, neither the young players nor the fans. We know that when we step onto the pitch, we have to play our role, and that's how it was today. Hala Madrid."

During the game, Vinicius is alleged to have goaded Yamal, with whom he was sharing a side of the pitch, about Barcelona's limited creativity, supposedly asking the teenage superstar why so many of his passes were having to go backwards.

Alonso defends Vini Jr's behaviour

When unsurprisingly asked to respond to Vinicius Jr.'s actions, Alonso chose to focus on what the player had done well and showed understanding.

"The only thing Vinicius was missing was a goal," he told reporters. "It's true that he came off the pitch when he was feeling best and I could have waited a bit to replace him, but I understood that we needed fresh players to maintain control. Vinicius wanted to stay on because he was feeling good.

"Franco [Mastantuono] wanted to carry on playing too. He said to me, 'Are you taking me off?' And I said, 'Yes'. Something similar happened with Vini. He wasn't very happy, but neither was Franco. It happens to everyone, but I'm very happy with Vinicius's performance. The schedule is demanding and we have to keep going."

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AFPWhat comes next?

The good work that went into beating Barcelona will be undone if Real Madrid don't also follow it up with another victory to further consolidate at the top of the table. Alonso's side put five points between themselves and the reigning champions and are now due to face Valencia next up on November 1. Anything less than three points from that game would be a shock, given that Los Che are struggling in the relegation zone so far this season.

The greater test for Real Madrid will be the subsequent visit to Liverpool in the Champions League on November 4. That match has particular significance for Trent Alexander-Arnold as it means a swift reunion with the club he spent 20 years with until a split in June that saw some Liverpool fans accuse the England international of betraying his boyhood team.

Alexander-Arnold has been in a race against time to be fit after suffering a hamstring injury just five minutes into an earlier Champions League clash with Marseille. Plenty of eyes will also be on Vinicius Junior to see how he handles the intensity of a famously hostile atmosphere at Anfield. It perhaps helps that Liverpool have been a dreadful run of form in recent weeks.

Third win of the season keeps Surrey firmly in line for a fourth straight Division One title

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Jun-2025Nathan Smith’s exceptional six-wicket haul inspired Surrey to a dominant Rothesay County Championship win inside three days, as the reigning champions made light work of lowly Worcestershire.Surrey dismantled Worcestershire for just 125 in their second innings, taking the home side’s final five-wickets for just thirteen runs, as Matt Fisher continued to impress with 4 for 47.Requiring just 49 to win at Visit Worcestershire New Road, Surrey just needed 15 overs to secure an emphatic nine-wicket victory.A third win of the season keeps the Kia-Oval based outfit firmly in the hunt for a fourth straight Division One title, as Worcestershire’s relegation woes deepen.After surviving the late Surrey barrage on day two, Worcestershire pair Adam Hose and Ben Allison started the morning in buoyant fashion, adding 66 for the fifth wicket.Smith continued his memorable return to New Road, picking up the wickets of both Allison, 27, and Hose, 40, in consecutive overs, as Surrey strengthened their grip on the match.When Matt Fisher feathered the top of Ethan Brookes’ off-stump and trapped Tom Taylor lbw 11 balls later, Worcestershire were floundering at 133 for 7 with a lead of just 36.Smith made light work of the final two Worcestershire wickets, as his ruthless performance saw him finish with exceptional figures of 11-2-38-6.Ably supported by Fisher, who helped himself to seven wickets in the match, Surrey’s seam duo swept aside Worcestershire.Surrey lost Dom Sibley during the chase, but Ryan Patel and Rory Burns led their side to a dominant win, collecting 20 points in the process.