Gm football fans. Route One here, we’re like the German Autobahn - fast, direct and a whole lotta fun.

Today’s briefing is a ~4 min read:

• Dodgy deals could prove costly for Chelsea 🤕

• Training ground bust-ups and tears… John Terry reveals all 😬

• Extra time: Mo Salah might be from Belfast 😂

EFL CUP FIXTURES ⏳

Fourth Round - Today

7:30 pm

West Ham United vs Arsenal

Bournemouth vs Liverpool

Chelsea vs Blackburn Rovers

Everton vs Burnley

Ipswich Town vs Fulham

8:15 pm

Manchester United vs Newcastle United

🗞️ Morning Brief

DODGY DEALS 🥷

There are three certainties in life.

• Death.

• Taxes.

• Chelsea breaking transfer rules.

It has only been three years since Chelsea’s two-window transfer ban ended, but they might be on the brink of another…

The Premier League is now investigating transfer dealings during the Roman Abramovich era. 

The investigation is looking at secret payments made by the club when they signed Willian and Samuel Eto’o.

If found guilty of incomplete financial reporting, the club could face a points deduction…

So what really happened?

1/ The transfers of Willian and Eto’o were shady at best

Willian joined Chelsea in a £30m deal from Russian team Anzi Makhachkala… but was nailed on to join Spurs just before signing.

Eto’o took a £10m pay cut to be part of Jose Mourinho’s side.

Something didn’t add up…

2/ The financial records don’t add up…

The financial records apparently show transfer payments being made by Chelsea.

That’s fine… until the records show further payments that were allegedly sent to so-called ‘Russian entities’.

It doesn't take a genius to realise something’s up.

And that’s why Todd Boehly proactively self-reported Chelsea to all applicable football regulators.

As these allegations pre-date the club’s current ownership, it makes it more complicated.

How will the regulators penalise owners who no longer run the club?

It’s yet to be clear…

TRAINING GROUND BUST-UPS AND TEARS AT CHELSEA 😬

No one at Route One HQ thought that Samuel Eto’o would be mentioned TWICE in today’s newsletter.

But, here goes…

In case you didn’t know, Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah had spells at Chelsea earlier in their career.

While they’re now amongst the best to ever play in the league, they both failed to make their mark for The Blues.

And we finally have an explanation…

This week, former Chelsea defender John Terry revealed all on John Obi Mikel’s podcast.

Terry said that:

• De Bruyne was a ‘bad trainer’ during his 18 months at the club.

• He was ‘always angry and sulking’ because he wasn't getting enough game time.

• The Belgium midfielder had a fight with team-mate Samuel Eto’o on the training ground - after the latter was annoyed with his low standards.

• Mo Salah was brought to tears by Jose Mourinho during a half-time team talk.

While this is all very interesting, there’s just one thing we can’t wrap our heads around…

Who knew that John Obi-Mikel had a podcast?

EXTRA-TIME ⏱️

Yeovil Town is having a season to remember. Currently in the sixth tier of English football, Yeovil Town is unbeaten at home, has won ten games in a row and has made it to the FA Cup 1st Round. 👏🏼

Dorking Wanderers manager Marc White gives an inspiring pep-talk (explicit language). Well, that’s one way to put it. The non-league manager has zero tolerance for players who aren’t tactically astute…

Did you know that Mo Salah is actually from Belfast? OK, maybe he’s not. But this short clip had us in pieces. 😂

Former City captain Ilkay Gundogan keeps it real. He demanded more emotion from his Barcelona teammates after the club’s El Clasico loss.

City fan Noel Gallagher kicks the Man United team while it’s down. He said that Antony is a ‘moron’, Fernandes is ‘annoying’ and ‘not even that good’, and Manchester United are close to being a mid-table team. Derby bragging rights are in full swing.

MEME 😂