Vesper

https://metro.co.uk/2025/05/06/benjamin-sesko-responds-arsenal-transfer-interest-release-clause-increases-23034092/ Arsenal face paying a higher fee for Benjamin Sesko this summer as his release clause with RB Leipzig has increased ahead of the summer transfer window. Sesko is one of Arsenal’s top striker targets ahead of the summer window alongside Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyokeres. However, Mikel Arteta’s side face strong competition with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea also monitoring the 21-year-old’s progress in the Bundesliga. Sesko, who has scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga this season, is available this summer due to a variable clause in his deal with RB Leipzig which is linked with his appearances, goals and assists for the German club. According to Sky Germany, the clause started at £49.5 million (€60m) but it is now in excess of £66m (€80m) ahead of the summer window.

https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/Chelsea-now-plan-to-scout-86m-striker-this-saturday-he-has-33-goal-contributions-this-season/

Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea target Brighton’s Joao Pedro Exclusive: Industry insiders expect a busy summer in striker market and Brazilian forward is of interest to three of the biggest clubs https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/05/14/arsenal-liverpool-Chelsea-transfers-joao-pedro-interest/

Chelsea prepared to sell every player apart from Palmer and Caicedo as Blues face big financial hit https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/2055316/Chelsea-transfer-news-cole-palmer Chelsea are reportedly willing to consider offers for all but two of their stars in a potential rebuild this summer. The Blues do not want to risk ‘unrest’ when a large squad gathers for pre-season training at Cobham for the start of the 2025-26 season. Despite trimming their first-team ranks over the last couple of years, Enzo Maresca still oversees a large group of players. That will be bolstered further by the return of at least 12 loanees, in addition to any new signings. Chelsea are expected to be busy in the summer transfer window, with a new centre-forward reportedly high on their agenda. According to the BBC, only Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo are completely safe from the chop. Palmer, Chelsea’s best player for the past two seasons, recently signed a bumper contract extension until 2033. Caicedo has reported interest from Saudi Arabia but Chelsea do not want to sell the midfielder. He was a British-record £115million signing from Brighton two years ago. Offers could reportedly be considered for several other stars. However, there are some players for whom Chelsea will only accept astronomical fees. That is the case for Enzo Fernandez, who has interest from Real Madrid. It is claimed that the Spanish side will need to trump the £107m Chelsea paid to sign the Argentine from Benfica in 2023. Defender Trevoh Chalobah is said to be one of the players who could be sold. He was recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace in January, but he will likely only be a back-up option next season. snip

Ruud Gullit: Cruyff, Chelsea, Newcastle & Winning The Ballon d'Or | Stick to Football 81 In this episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, the team is joined by none other than Ruud Gullit — Ballon d'Or winner, footballing trailblazer, and one of the game’s all-time icons. Ruud takes us on a fascinating trip down memory lane, opening up about what it was like being the first Dutch manager in the Premier League, his time at the helm of Chelsea and Newcastle, and how he made the leap from player to manager — including all the highs, lows, and lessons along the way. Of course, we couldn’t let him go without chatting about his incredible playing career. From growing up under the influence of Johan Cruyff, to forming that legendary trio with Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard at AC Milan, Ruud shares stories that shaped an era of football. He also reflects on the cultural impact of his signature dreadlocks and how his unique style helped inspire a new generation of players. It’s a rare chance to hear from one of the sport’s true greats — a man whose passion for football still burns bright and whose impact is still being felt today. This episode is brought to you by Huel. Start every day off strong with Huel – the ultimate meal on the go.

Claude Makélélé REVEALS His BEST-EVER Chelsea Team-Mate!

predictions of doom: the only new CF we bring in is Emanuel Emegha the only new CB we bring in is Mamadou Sarr no new GKer the only new winger we bring in is Garnacho )or Gittens IF Dortmund bend the knee to swap deal plus cash for Carney) Maresca stays and, IF we blow the Conference League final, we end up back in the Conference League next year as we somehow bollocks up CL and even Europa League spots, perhaps by losing to both Manure and Forest we fail miserably in getting rid of a large part of our massive deadwood pile BlueCo continues to internally fight and next season it breaks up (I think Boehly bails, sells out)

The Republican Tax Bill Screws the Working Class Alas, if history is any guide, they’ll love it anyway. https://newrepublic.com/article/195220/republican-tax-bill-screws-working-people Donald Trump received 56 percent of the working-class vote in 2024, according to exit polls, up from 51 percent in 2020 and 49 percent in 2016. The bond between the president and these voters is sadomasochistic. The more Trump skews government policy against the working class (defined here conventionally as people who lack a college degree), the more votes Trump receives from it. Honoring this special relationship, the House Republicans’ latest tax plan (text; section-by-section summary) is the budgetary equivalent of a cat o’ nine tails. Time for a safe word. I propose bullshit. The most notable thing about the House plan is that it doesn’t include the very modest tax increase on income above $2.5 million, from 37 percent to 39.6 percent, that’s recently been bandied about. Trump has danced around the idea of a millionaire tax, first telling Time’s Eric Cortellessa that “I actually love the concept but I don’t want it to be used against me politically,” then saying, “It would be very disruptive, because a lot of the millionaires would leave the country” (no they wouldn’t, but never mind), then finally saying, “Republicans should probably not do it, but I’m OK if they do!!!” The through line is I want everyone to think I’m for higher taxes on the rich, but for the love of God don’t do it. Far from increasing taxes on the rich, the House bill cuts them by extending Trump’s 2017 income tax cut, which reduced the top marginal rate from 40 percent to 37 percent on income above $731,201 for married couples filing jointly and above $609,351 for single taxpayers. According to the nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 65 percent of the cuts go to the top 20 percent in the income distribution (i.e., households that earn more than $153,000) and 28 percent go to the top 1 percent (households that earn more than $787,712). Even more skewed, ITEP found, was a provision in the 2017 bill that gave a 20 percent deduction on “pass through” income: that is, income from a small business. Small businesses tend to receive favorable tax treatment because of what former TNR editor Michael Kinsley has called an anthropomorphic fallacy that small businesses are “owned by small people.” In fact, 92 percent of this benefit goes to the top 20 percent in the income distribution and 55 percent (i.e., most of it) goes to the top 1 percent. Half of the benefit goes to millionaires. During the 2024 campaign, Trump promised working-class voters that he’d eliminate taxes on tips and on overtime, and the House bill includes these proposals. I argued then that these were trivial changes intended to distract from Trump’s lousy regulatory record on tips and overtime. In the case of tips, Trump wouldn’t support eliminating the $2.13 hourly subminimum wage for tipped employees and instead giving them a $7.25 hourly minimum like everyone else. The $7.25 minimum is of course scandalously low—and Trump did nothing about that in his first term. In the case of overtime, Trump extended eligibility in his first term to about one million workers; Biden set that regulation aside and expanded overtime to four million workers. Biden’s rule was blocked after the election by two reactionary federal judges in Texas. The Trump Labor Department filed an appeal, but only as a placeholder while Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer finds out how much overtime coverage the White House will stomach. In the meantime, the appeals court has issued a 120-day stay. I noted last summer that exempting tips from taxable income would have little effect because tipped workers don’t pay much income tax in the first place. Thirty-seven percent of them earned sufficiently low incomes that they paid no income tax at all. The Joint Committee on Taxation confirms this by estimating that the lost revenue would only be about $40 billion over the next decade. Partly that’s because the tax break would expire after four years, when you-know-who will be out of office. But it’s also because tipped workers seldom earn enough income to pay very much in taxes. As expected, the tax holiday does not apply to the overwhelmingly regressive payroll tax that all workers pay. To most people, the income tax is virtually indistinguishable from the payroll tax; you typically have to earn about $200,000 to pay more in income tax than in FICA tax. Under the House plan, an existing FICA tax credit for tips would be extended for the first time to beauty parlors—but that tax credit is for employers, not employees. Exempting overtime pay from taxable income is much more expensive than doing so for tips. It will cost $124 billion over the next decade, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. As with the tax holiday for tips, this one will be short-lived, expiring after four years, and workers will still have to pay FICA tax on their overtime pay. Also, you don’t get the income-tax exemption if you earn more than $80,000, which happens to be below the household median. Trump also promised to exclude Social Security benefits from taxation, even though the median net worth for people aged 65 to 74 is more than twice that for the general population. People aged 70 and over own about one-third of the nation’s total wealth—and Baby Boomers like me, the youngest of whom are 61, own 52 percent. Hurray! So why did Trump promise us a tax break? Because America is a gerontocracy—dominated by older politicians, yes, but also by older voters. Not dominated enough, alas, for my age cohort to have denied Trump the White House; a little-noted fact about the 2024 election was that the Republican candidate for president failed to win the over-65 vote for the first time in a generation. Trump’s Social Security tax holiday was too expensive for the House to consider, so instead it expanded by $4,000 an existing over-65 tax deduction of $29,200 for married couples filing jointly and $14,600 for single people. None of which we over-65s particularly deserve. But the expansion is only for four years and it’s unavailable to couples earning $150,000 or more and single seniors earning $75,000. That keeps its cost down to $72 billion. In sum: If you’re working class, this tax bill has very little for you and quite a lot for people much richer than you. Think of it as a studded collar for your next visit to the dungeon, you naughty things. But I recommend, instead, that you recite your safe word, because, really, haven’t you had enough of this bullshit?

America Has Never Seen a President This Corrupt Trump’s brazen use of the White House to advance his family businesses should be one of the biggest scandals in the country’s history. https://newrepublic.com/article/195202/trump-corruption-qatar-plane-middle-east-gulf-tour-family-business Given the tumult in the Middle East, it makes sense that the first foreign tour of President Donald Trump’s second term would be to the region. The situation in Gaza is dire: Israel plans to “conquer” the territory and displace millions of Palestinians, who are facing famine and renewed military bombardment. The Trump administration may have reached a ceasefire with Houthi rebels in Yemen, who allegedly have promised to stop attacking U.S. ships in the Red Sea, but Israel is still bombing the Iran-backed militia. And the administration is negotiating with Iran itself about the fate of its nuclear program. Trump has sounded an optimistic note about those talks, but should they fail, he has made it clear that the United States could bomb Iranian facilities and possibly trigger a regional war. But Trump isn’t visiting the Middle East to push for peace or really to do much diplomacy at all. Instead, his visit to the Persian Gulf is, one Arab official told Axios, all about “business, business and business.” Yes, Trump is seeking investment in America: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who ordered the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi during the president’s first term, has already pledged $600 billion. But one increasingly gets the sense that it’s not America’s business that Trump is really there for: It’s his family businesses. This swing through three Gulf states, which kicked off on Monday, is the clearest and most damning instance yet of his approach to governance in his second term, where official business and personal business are fully intertwined. Trump’s trip was tainted by massive, historic corruption even before it began, when it was revealed that he would accept a “palace in the sky”—a luxury Boeing 747-8 worth $400 million—from Qatar, which he plans on using as Air Force One. “So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The Dems are World Class Losers!!!” But the proposed gift was criticized not only by Democrats but also by Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, podcaster Ben Shapiro, and far-right loon Laura Loomer. Plus, the Defense Department isn’t really getting the gift: Trump has indicated he plans on transferring the jet to his presidential library foundation at the end of his term, which likely means he can keep using it after he leaves office. There are no indications that the jet—which Qatari officials have said has not been officially gifted—is part of an explicit quid pro quo. That hardly matters, though. Qatar is buying favor with the president in an act of deep and brazen corruption. Trump wants to be treated as a king, and Qatar is playing ball. Will Qatar be rewarded by favorable treatment by the U.S. government for as long as Trump is president? Of course it will. This is exactly how Trump has always wanted to govern—via personal relationships, in which foreign leaders and business magnates grovel before him. This is exactly how he’s governing during his second term. Trump’s businesses have extensive ties in the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar (as well as nearby Azerbaijan). It would be shocking if Trump did not discuss his own business interests while encouraging investment in the U.S.—indeed, it is quite clear that he sees no difference between the two. For Trump, the business of America and the Trump family business are one and the same. Trump’s visit to the Gulf is following in the footsteps of his sons, Eric and Donald Jr. The pair have been jaunting across the region drumming up business, and in recent weeks “announced new overseas business deals involving billions of dollars, including a luxury hotel in Dubai, a high-end residential tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and a new golf course and villa complex in Qatar,” according to The New York Times. But the pair are most notable for introducing cryptocurrency to their family’s business portfolio. They are currently pushing to take public American Bitcoin, a crypto firm they co-founded, which would allow investors to directly finance a company with close ties to the president. Since assuming office, Trump has backed pro-crypto legislation and shuttered a Department of Justice unit devoted to investigating its use in fraud, money laundering, tax-avoidance schemes, and other crimes—all actions that benefit his own increasing financial stake in the industry. Most outrageously, he has repeatedly pushed crypto as a means of buying direct access to him. $Trump, a meme coin launched three days before his inauguration, has recently soared, thanks to the president inviting 220 of its top investors to dine with him in what he called the “most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the world.” That ploy led to a windfall—investors spent nearly $150 million buying the president’s meme coin—in a weeks-long sale that ended on Monday. Not all of the invitees are known, but they include a number of prominent cryptocurrency investors, including Justin Sun, a major Trump donor who saw a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation close after he spent $75 million on $WLFI, a separate meme coin peddled by the president during the 2024 campaign. Sun, who was born in China and is currently based in Hong Kong, is just one of many foreigners cashing in on the ability to influence the president. As with the Qatari jet, the absence of a quid pro quo is immaterial. These people are buying access so they can lobby the president on crypto regulation. The real estate and bitcoin ventures being pursued by the presidents’ children vastly exceed—by a tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, at least—the lobbying work done by President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, which Trump and many others on the right spent years insisting was a massive scandal. For Trump, this is what being president is all about: He is entitled to a massive windfall and a luxury jet because he is in charge of the world’s most powerful country. He explained the jet as a simple perk of being the commander in chief of the American military. “I think it was a gesture because of the fact that we help, have helped, and continue to, we will continue to, all of those countries: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and others,” he said on Monday. A $400 million jet he will use when he leaves office is simply a perk of the job—as are lucrative real estate and cryptocurrency deals. Trump calls it a gesture, but it’s clearly something more. What is happening now is unquestionably the biggest corruption scandal in American history. There are signs that the Democrats are waking up to it. The party recently blocked a bill to regulate stablecoin, one form of cryptocurrency, and are demanding that it include requirements barring elected officials from owning or promoting stablecoin ventures. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, pledged to put a hold on all Department of Justice nominees until “we get more answers” about the Qatari jet. In the meantime, Trump will be jetting around the Middle East making deals for himself and his children—and maybe, just maybe, for the country too.

11 Of The Best Sandwich Shops In London London’s sandwich scene is having a serious moment. From a century-old deli in Marylebone to a slew of openings that are turning out statement sangers, these are the hot spots to save for next time you’re hankering after a lunchtime sub. https://slman.com/culture/restaurants/sandwich-shop-london Crunch Soho On the corner of Dean Street and Old Compton Street, Crunch is a sandwich shop to get excited about. The team has built a cult following at Spitalfields over the past couple of years (they sell upwards of 15,000 sandwiches a month), but the new Soho site is their first permanent location – which means they are able to serve drinks and a breakfast menu for the first time. Each sandwich is made with homemade brioche-inspired bread, designed to hold firm against sauces and fillings. Our go-to? The Donald’s Duck – slow-cooked Gressingham duck leg, banana shallots, crispy onions and smoked apple sauce. Visit SandwichUprising.com Gerry’s Clerkenwell Wandering down Exmouth Street last year, the retro sign for Gerry’s Hot Subs caught our eye. The place was still in the building stages then, but is now a next-level sandwich shop from the man who made a success of Bodean’s. Independently owned, Gerry’s is built on a lifelong passion for American food and decades of experience in the restaurant world. The team slow-cooks, cures, BBQs and prepares all the fillings, and freshly bakes the subs. We can attest to the greatness of the Philly cheesesteak. Visit GerrysHotSubs.com The Dusty Knuckle Dalston Behind Dalston Junction station in a sunny courtyard, The Dusty Knuckle serves some of the best food in the area, and at great value. Predominantly offering pastries and bread, you can also order the likes of roasted beetroot, whipped goat’s cheese, toasted seed mix and salsa verde served in signature focaccia sourdough. Want to learn how to make your own? The Dusty Knuckle Bakery School hosts a selection of masterclasses – and you’ll go home with a dough scraper, recipe pack and some of The Dusty Knuckle’s sourdough starter so you can recreate fresh loaves at home. Visit TheDustyKnuckle.com Norman’s Tufnell Park Norman’s launched in north London in 2020 and quickly became an Insta sensation, with queues down the street at weekends, and its own line of branded football shirts. Its menu showcases British café classics – from a set full English to retro lunch staples including fish and chips, toad in the hole and steamed puddings – plated up simply and made using quality ingredients. That all said, we still have eyes for the simple sandwiches. Its bacon sarnies and chip butties – on the obligatory white slice, served with a mug of builders – hit the mark every time. Visit NormansCafe.co.uk Max’s Sandwich Shop Crouch End North London institution Max’s Sandwich Shop is the new-generation OG on this list. Headed up by fillings wizard Max Halley, the café redefined the humble sandwich with its rotating roster of inventive fillings. Signature creations include the 'Ham, Egg & Chips' – a combo of slow-cooked ham hock, fried egg, piccalilli and shoestring fries wedged between freshly baked focaccia – and the Et Tu Brute? which is filled with poached chicken, pickled grape and tarragon salsa, chicory, baby gem, garlic croutons and anchovy mayo. To recreate the magic at home, check out Max’s book. Visit MaxsSandwichShop.com Dom’s Subs East London The excellently named Dom’s Subs has swiftly become a lunchtime legend. Across locations at 262 Hackney Road, 8 Ludgate Circus and 7 Cullum Street, the team is famed for its homemade semolina sub rolls, which are generously filled with bold ingredients. Available for collection or delivery, sub combos on offer include the Habibi Club (homemade smoked turkey breast, swiss cheese, shrettuce and guacachile) and a meatball marinara that uses beef from Hill & Szrok. They can rustle up party platters if you’re in need of en-masse sustenance, and they also do a decent line of merch. Visit ImpeccableSandwiches.co.uk Rogue Sarnies Bethnal Green & South Bank Rogue Sarnies is no longer one of the capital’s best-kept secrets for next-level sandwiches. The two founders met working at Galvin La Chapelle, began hosting pop-ups on the side and quickly decided it was the direction they wanted to head in. A few lockdowns later – plus some viral creations such as a sausage and black pudding crumpet sandwich and slow-poached egg and smoked cheddar bun – the duo went permanent in Bethnal Green in 2023, and now have a site at Between Two Bridges on the South Bank. Today’s menu is a masterclass in bold combinations: the ‘OG Marmite Cheesy’ combines camembert, mozzarella, parmesan and sticky marmite glaze. We also rate the ‘Lord Nelson’ – sticky braised beef shin and caramelised onions, roasted beef topside drenched in gravy, pickled BBQ onions, horseradish cream and landcress. Visit RogueSarnies.uk Eric’s East Dulwich Eric’s is an independent bakery founded by former Flor head baker Helen Evans. The minimalist, yellow spot opens only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays – and the queues start early. Known for its exceptional sourdough, buttery viennoiserie and seasonal bakes (we can’t get enough of the confit potato scrolls), Eric’s has also carved out a niche for its elevated sandwiches, which are sold on Thursdays from 10.30am until they sell out. Built on the bakery’s signature tangy sourdough, the sandwiches use British produce and homemade condiments – a current hit is wild garlic pesto, tomatoes and baked Sussex sheep’s milk ricotta. Visit EricsLondon.com Paul Rothe & Son Marylebone Established in 1900, this family run deli and sandwich shop started out selling solely German produce but expanded to offer a range of European and British goods post-World War II. Today, the café-deli is known for its hearty, plate-filling sandwiches, as well as a cracking soup of the day. On the sandwich front, we like to keep things simple with a door-stopping egg mayo with chives and anchovies on brown bread. Make sure to peruse the honeys, chutneys and pickled bits and bobs; the cured meats – particularly the pastrami – are also a must-try. Visit @PaulRotheAndson Panzer’s St John’s Wood Since 1944, this iconic Jewish spot in St John’s Wood has been serving ‘everything’ bagels, salt beef sandwiches, and hearty chicken soup with matzo balls. It recently marked its 80th birthday with a refurb that’s deeply rooted in its history as a NYC-inspired deli. While it’s new sushi counter and pizza station are impressive, not much can tear us away from the original, incredibly filled, smoked salmon bagels. Visit Panzers.co.uk

Big Crown Pointer Date https://www.oris.ch/en-GB/product/watch/big-crown/new-big-crown/01-754-7798-4068-07-8-20-06 Reference 01 754 7798 4068-07 8 20 06 Size 40.00 mm Material Multi-piece stainless steel case

will be loaned out and then sold I wager may well never be seen in a Chels kit again, at least not for a competitive match

I rate him too

Aston Villa have reportedly decided against signing Axel Disasi on a permanent basis, with the French centre-back now expected to return to Chelsea at the conclusion of his loan spell. https://www.caughtoffside.com/2025/05/11/aston-villa-make-axel-disasi-decision/ According to The Athletic, the initial loan agreement between the two Premier League clubs did not include a purchase option, signaling a short-term stint for Disasi at Villa Park. Villa secured Disasi’s services from Chelsea for a £5 million loan fee with hopes that he would add depth and stability to Unai Emery’s defense. Despite the investment, Disasi struggled to cement his place in the starting line-up, with his recent omission from the squad against Fulham highlighting his limited role. Axel Disasi has no future at Aston Villa While there was initial optimism that strong performances might lead to a permanent deal, Disasi’s time at Villa Park has been largely underwhelming. Disasi’s return to Chelsea, however, is expected to be brief. Reports suggest that the Frenchman has been deemed surplus to requirements by manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea are keen to strengthen their squad and generate funds for summer signings, with Disasi now on the list of potential departures.

woot 2 2 FT and Leceister also scored 2 times after they drew even

we have to get there first I can easily see us stuck back in the fucking Confrence League again 1. we finish 7th in the EPL 2. we blow the Conference League Final final v Betis

when would we play them next? they are not in the FIFA World Club Cup

Real; CB no Rudiger (suspended) CB no Militao LB no Mendy RB no Carvajal insanely poor Real back 4 and also DMF

4 2 Raphinha on a hat trick now as well

no pen

pen on Barca Mbappe can get a one half hat trick unless VAR overturns it

Dani Ceballos is the worst often-playing Real Madrid MFer in the last 15 years or so just shambolic on both defence and offence

3 2 Raphinha wow