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Chelsea start a massive week with a win at Turf Moor, so is momentum starting to build?

On Saturday lunchtime, the Blues proved to be simply too strong for Burnley, prevailing 2-0, with Pedro Neto heading home Jamie Gittens’ cross on the cusp of half time, before Enzo Fernández lashed home the clinching second right at the end.

​​​​​The match was significantly more comfortable than the scoreline would suggest, with the Clarets creating only one big chance and accumulating a miserly 0.44 xG, rarely threatening Robert Sánchez’s goal.

This made it three successive Premier League victories for Enzo Maresca’s side, who’ve now won five of their last six in the league, ahead of a massive week, with both Barcelona and then Arsenal visiting Stamford Bridge over the next eight days.

Despite victory in Lancashire, a few Chelsea players came in for some criticism, one in particular compared to a player who departed for pastures new over the summer.

Why Chelsea sold Noni Madueke

In one of the surprise moves of last summer, albeit this is now a well-trodden path at this point, Noni Madueke departed Chelsea during the Club World Cup to sign for Arsenal for a reported fee of £52m.

Last season, the England international scored 11 goals across all competitions for the Blues, including seven in the Premier League, a tally only bettered by talisman Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, another who was parachuted out.

Thus, it was certainly a surprise that Madueke was the one Chelsea decided to sell, but that has been the business model since Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club and, having signed him from PSV Eindhoven for £28.5m in January 2023, Todd Boehly and the other owners simply view that as a quick profit.

Nevertheless, on the pitch, it could be argued that Maresca’s side have missed Madueke’s direct running and pace, even if he’s not featured for Arsenal since September due to a knee injury.

Having said all of that, a frequent criticism from Chelsea supporters of Madueke was that he was selfish, often going for goal when passing to a teammate would be the better option.

Well, to support this zeitgeist, Madueke attempted 80 shots in the Premier League last season, behind only Palmer, but had the lowest goals – xG figure of any player in the Blues’ squad, ending up with -2.6.

Meantime, he registered just three assists and created only six big chances, suggesting that perhaps the view of supporters – and Martin Keown – was not too inaccurate.

So now, which current member of the Chelsea forward line showed similar levels of selfishness at Turf Moor?

Chelsea's Madueke repeat at Turf Moor

Since the days of Didier Drogba, Chelsea feel as though they’ve found themselves in a never-ending search for a reliable centre-forward; they even twice signed Romelu Lukaku in an attempt to solve this issue.

This summer, after freezing out Jackson, as already mentioned, they put a lot of faith in Liam Delap, making it not ideal that he then missed six successive Premier League matches due to a hamstring injury, as well as another following a red card at Molineux in the EFL Cup on the day of his return.

Back now, Delap has started the last two Premier League matches either side of the international break, but is yet to score since netting against Espérance Sportive de Tunis during the Club World Cup, for what that is worth, and his display on Saturday did not earn rave reviews, with the numbers underlining why.

As the table documents, Delap did not have much impact on the afternoon’s proceedings at Turf Moor.

He attempted zero dribbles, completed just eight passes and won only two of the eight duels he contested, while, in 67 minutes on the pitch, he touched the ball only 20 times, which is 28 fewer than goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, while only one more than his replacement Malo Gusto.

Simon Johnson of The Athletic noted that it is obvious that “Delap is still not fully up to speed post hamstring injury” while, as noted by Taha Hashim of the Guardian, there were multiple occasions when Delap failed to play the ball to a teammate after an opening had presented itself.

Considering Chelsea’s array of attacking options, when Delap is the centre-forward, one of his key responsibilities has to be facilitating attacks and linking up with teammates, as well as score goals of course, neither of which he is doing at the moment.

Chalkboard

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

If he continues to be both ineffective and selfish, you can bet your bottom dollar that Delap won’t be in the team much longer, because Boehly will probably just buy three other players in his position in January.

Their next Caicedo: BlueCo have signed a "world-beater" for Chelsea

The sensational talent could become Chelsea’s next Moises Caicedo.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 18, 2025

Tottenham are already making some progress on their transfer plans heading into 2026, with ‘very advanced’ discussions being held on the player side.

Tottenham make plans to sign new attacker

Spurs are believed to be ramping up their pursuit of attacking reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window, with Thomas Frank desperate to address the creative issues plaguing his side right now.

The Lilywhites were once again unconvincing against Newcastle on Tuesday, despite nicking a 2-2 draw courtesy of captain Cristian Romero’s brace.

Romero’s diving header and overhead kick in added time were Spurs’ only shots on target the entire game, so it remains clear that the north Londoners could do with that extra injection of quality going forward.

FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa has reportedly emerged as one of the club’s primary targets, with Spurs ‘intent’ on signing the 21-year-old, according to some reports.

The Spain international has impressed again this season with six goals and one assist in 11 league games for Porto, while his overall record stands at 37 goals in 62 appearances since joining the Portuguese giants from Atlético Madrid last year.

Dominic Solanke has been plagued by ankle problems since the start of 2025/2026, undergoing surgery in early October and remaining sidelined, with Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani arguably failing to set the world alight.

Tottenham could prove 'irresistible' to manager who Levy was urged to hire before Frank

He’s on the verge of leaving his current club.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 2, 2025

Kolo Muani’s also suffered injury issues which have limited his availability, but the Frenchman did put in a stunning shift against parent club PSG in the Champions League last week.

He bagged a brace and an assist during the 5-3 defeat as Spurs’ shining light, though he needs more support with Richarlison proving inconsistent and Mathys Tel still pretty raw.

That being said, with Solanke nearing a return, Tottenham are reportedly more likely to sign a wide forward than a central striker in January.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye are both rumoured targets to bolster Tottenham’s attack, with the former’s contract containing a £65 million release clause which will be active in early January.

However, Man City are just as keen on Semenyo as Spurs, meaning Frank’s side could face an uphill battle against the Premier League title contenders.

A potential alternative to Semenyo, according to Sky Sports Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri, comes in the form of RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.

Tottenham in 'very advanced' discussions with Diomande's camp

As per the reporter, Tottenham are in ‘very advanced’ discussions with Diomande’s representatives — positioning themselves alongside Liverpool as frontrunners in the race for his signature.

Spurs have monitored the Ivorian for months, and Tavolieri says that both the north Londoners and Arne Slot’s side are pressing in negotiations with the 19-year-old’s camp, though no club has yet made formal contact with Leipzig.

Diomande joined Leipzig for £17.5 million from Spanish side Leganes last summer and has quickly impressed, with the Bundesliga side now slapping a reported £88 million price tag on his head to ward off suitors.

The left-winger has scored four goals and racked up four assists in 14 appearances across all competitions this season, establishing himself as a star regular in Ole Werner’s attacking setup.

The promising talent only made his first senior club appearance in March and has enjoyed a meteoric rise since then, with Leipzig now poised to demand a fee which could eclipse their record sale of Josko Gvardiol to City for £79 million.

Barcelona have also expressed rumoured interest but haven’t opened negotiations with his agents, putting Liverpool and Tottenham in the driving seat.

Both Premier League clubs are even considering a January move, according to some reports (Foot Africa), though Leipzig are fully aware of the growing interest and haven’t yet held talks with any club.

For Frank, the signing of Diomande could be a risky one, as he’s only burst on the scene very recently and may cost serious money.

Monaco midfielder Paul Pogba has surprised the sporting world by purchasing a stake in Al Haboob, the first-ever professional camel racing team, with the World Cup winner revealing a passion for the sport nurtured on YouTube and stating an ambition to one day own the world's most expensive camel to complete a "beautiful full-circle moment" in his career.

• Pogba enters a new sport

  The French international has never been one to shy away from the spotlight or unconventional career moves, but his latest venture has taken him from the manicured pitches of the Champions League to the dusty tracks of the Middle East. Pogba, currently plying his trade in Ligue 1 with Monaco, has been announced as a strategic investor in Al Haboob, a ground-breaking outfit in the world of camel racing.

  While the crossover between elite European football and the traditional Bedouin sport may shock some, the 32-year-old insists he is fully committed to the sport. His interest in the "techniques and strategies" of the race track resulted in hours of online study.

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• AFP
  

  Pogba's YouTube research and 'dedication'

  Speaking about his decision to invest, Pogba revealed that he has become an avid spectator of the sport, using his downtime to educate himself on the nuances of a discipline that commands massive cultural significance in the Gulf region.

  "I've watched my fair share of [camel] races on YouTube and spent time doing research in my spare time trying to understand the techniques and strategies," Pogba explained.

  For a player who has won the biggest prizes in football, including the World Cup with France and multiple Serie A titles, the midfielder recognises elite application when he sees it. He was keen to draw a parallel between the commitment required in his primary profession and the rigours of his new investment.

  "And what stood out to me is how much dedication it takes from everyone involved," he added. "At the end of the day, sport is sport. It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork.

  "People might not realise it, but sport always connects in some way," Pogba said. "Whether it's football, camel racing, boxing – the foundations are similar. You need determination, you need focus, you need discipline and grit. That's what makes champions at the end of the day."

• Chasing the 'most expensive' title again

  Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the announcement was Pogba's reflection on his own history with price tags. In 2016, he became the most expensive footballer in history when he returned to Manchester United for £89 million. It was a label that brought immense scrutiny, but one he now views with a sense of perspective.

  "Being the world's most expensive footballer was an honour, but it also came with a lot of hard work, pressure and responsibility," he admitted.

  Now, he has a new financial milestone in his sights, albeit in a very different marketplace, as he dreams of replicating his footballing record in the animal kingdom.

  "Owning the world's most expensive camel one day would be a beautiful full-circle moment – something fun, something meaningful and something that excites me," he said. "Maybe one day we make it happen."

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  A 'transformational' partnership

  For Al Haboob, having a global superstar like Pogba on board is a major coup. The team are aiming to modernise and globalise a sport often viewed through a purely traditional lens. Omar Almaeena, a key figure at Al Haboob, believes the arrival of the Monaco star will change the perception of the sport entirely.

  "Paul's involvement is transformational," Almaeena stated. "His influence, leadership, and passion for cultural storytelling reflect exactly what Al Haboob stands for. This partnership is about more than racing; it is about sharing a heritage that deserves global recognition."

  As Pogba continues his season with Monaco, fighting for domestic and European honours, he will now have one eye on the race schedule in the Gulf. Whether he achieves his dream of owning the world's most expensive camel remains to be seen, but his entry into the sport has undoubtedly already achieved Almaeena's goal of global recognition.

Australia’s stand-in captain laughs off exchange of words during heated spell

Matt Roller07-Dec-2025Steven Smith played down his confrontation with Jofra Archer as nothing more than “good banter” after the latest instalment in their engrossing head-to-head battle. Smith raced to 23 not out off just nine balls to take Australia to an eight-wicket win at the Gabba, and was involved in a heated back-and-forth with England’s fast bowler picked up on stump microphones.On Test debut at Lord’s 2019, Archer hit Smith on the neck with a ferocious bouncer that knocked him off his feet, and ultimately ruled him out of the following Test due to concussion. But Smith has otherwise dominated their match-up in Tests: after Australia’s win in Brisbane, no bowler has bowled to Smith as much as Archer (33.2 overs) without ever dismissing him.With only 65 runs to defend, Archer charged in during Australia’s run chase and regularly hit speeds of 93mph/150kph in the quickest spell of the match. Smith decided to take him on in the knowledge that there were impending storms in the area, pulling the first ball he faced from Archer for four and then missing an attempted uppercut.