Delap opts for Chelsea over rivals | Is Hong Kong trip detrimental for Man Utd? | Humphries beats Littler to claim first PL title!
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Welcome to Back Pages, bringing you everything you need to know about the biggest sports stories making the headlines in the morning's newspapers. I'm Teddy Draper and joining me are Jonathan Loo from The Guardian and Charlie Wyatt from The Sun. Welcome to you both.

Well, let's start with Liam De Lappe's move to Chelsea. And Charlie, come to you with the Telegraph. The headline, De Lappe opts for Chelsea over United. Is that your understanding? And is that a common sense decision based on Champions League or something more deep about the state of the clubs?

Yeah, absolutely. I think Chelsea have been confident of getting their man for some time, even though there's been unbelievable interest in De Lappe from Manchester United and Everton and Newcastle. Because, you know, he's 22, he's had a good season with Ipswich.

tailed off a bit towards the end, I thought, but got 12 goals. But he's seen as a real talent. And it's been a decent few days for Chelsea, hasn't it? Of course, having won a European trophy, not one competition they really wanted to be in. But nevertheless, they've also got Champions League football. And now it looks as though they've got a really good striker, certainly a forward with real potential. It'll be really interesting to see how he gets on.

Of course, he's played for Enzo Moresca before at Manchester City at the academy. He's played with Cole Palmer before in the academy at Manchester City. And I think that has maybe swayed his decision, along with the fact that comparing Chelsea and Manchester United at the moment, well, there is no comparison, is there?

So I can see why he's made that choice. No, indeed. And he scored 35 goals in 36 games, the under-21s, under Maresca's point out. John Percy and Mike McGrath in the Telegraph. Let's go to the Times, continue with the same theme, Jonathan. £30m delapse set for Chelsea. Peter Rutzler and Paul Hurst with the story there for them. What is this? Is this a sign of...

great potential or a bit of a gamble? What do you make of Liam Dillap, the coveted attention he's receiving at 22 years of age? Yeah, well, I mean, obviously he's not the finished article as a striker, but he has so many of the attributes that

A lot of players of his age don't have. If you are a club of Chelsea's size and you're shopping in the market for a number nine or a striker, you want the physical aspect. You want someone who can hold the ball up. You want someone who works hard off the ball. And you want someone with Premier League experience. And those players don't exist. If you're looking for an English or a Premier League experience, number nine who's getting games at 21, 22, 23,

They just aren't around. De Lappe is very much in a class of one in that respect. And yeah, he probably needs to work on elements of his game. He's still a developing player. Ironically, given his size, he probably needs to work on his aerial game a little bit, but...

He has shown so much class and shown so much heart and character with Ipswich this season. And his game has come on so much. Basically, they signed him as a winger almost. He was playing as a winger last season in the championship. But he's learned that number nine role. He's added levels. He's added physicality to his game. And for that fee...

I think it's an absolute... I mean, yes, it's obviously a gamble in the sense that all talent is a gamble, but for that fee, you're not getting a striker anywhere near that class for anywhere like that kind of fee. So I think for Chelsea and their ownership, it's just a no-brainer. Attractive release clause, isn't it, Charlie? In the mirror, the headline, DELAP OF HONOUR. What's your take on what happens next season, Charlie? Could he be the starter or do you think he'll be understudied to Nicholas Jackson?

Well, I think he needs to be given time. And, you know, it is a step up for him, you know, particularly in the Champions League. But as Jonathan says, you know, he's got the attributes to do so. You know, he's still a few parts of his game he needs to work on. But yeah, I mean, in today's, you know, bonkers world of silly transfer fees, £30 million.

I mean, it's an unbelievable deal. Obviously, it's not been the greatest transfer for Ipswich in terms of the fact that they signed him for 15 million, rising to 20, had a clause of 40 million, but that has gone down to 30.

so they've not actually made a huge profit on actually giving him the chance of playing in the Premier League, having been at Hull the previous season. So it's not exactly been a lucrative one for them, because they'd spent 140 million in total. But for De Lappe, yeah, it's a real opportunity for him. And I'm sure Maresca, having worked with him before,

we'll know how to get the best out of him. And yeah, as you mentioned, a brilliant scoring record for the under-21s. And maybe by moving to Chelsea, by having a really good season next year, that could get, he could force his way into the senior squad for the World Cup next year.

It needs to be a long-term success to Harry Kane. That's a really interesting point, isn't it? In a reunion with Cole Palmer at club level two. Let's go to the other side of Manchester. We mentioned Manchester City there. Manchester United, the Guardian in your paper, Jonathan. Explain this story, if you will. It sends a negative signal. Simmons hits out at Ratcliffe over United women remarks.

Yeah, Kelly Simmons, the outgoing head of women's football at the FA. And she has made these quite outspoken comments, but I think quite true, to be honest, at the Fair Game conference about Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who I think has made no bones or been pretty unequivocal about

since he's joined the club and the fact that the women's team is not remotely his priority. He's used phrases like it's not what drives the dial, it's not the core part of the business. And quite apart from being...

you know, really kind of boneheaded from a, from a visuals and an optics and a PR point of view, given the, the fact that the women's team have been far more successful than the men's team really in the last few seasons. It's also bad business as clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal and Barcelona are discovering you invest now in your, in your women's team and,

as a long-term investment, because this is a game that is growing rapidly. It's a game that has no ceiling, really, in terms of the potential market it can reach. And investors are getting that. Sponsors, commercial outlets, broadcasters are managing to grasp this. But for Jim Ratcliffe, who's still kind of pinching the pennies at Carrington and getting rid of free lunches and

making cuts to the club's community budget. It's very much a narrow-minded, short-term kind of thinking. It's difficult to pass out exactly how bad the finances are at Manchester United, isn't it, Charlie? As Jonathan says, they're an era of frugality, austerity at Carrington, but he should be going to the Women's FA Cup final, shouldn't he?

Should be supporting it, of course it should. And let's not forget Manchester United were disgracefully late to the party in terms of taking women's football seriously. Most of the other clubs had proper setups way before United decided they were way behind.

So they've got a lot of catching up to do. Obviously, they had some success on the pitch. But as Jonathan says, while in the past women's football has lost some money, in a financial point of view, the teams were taking it seriously.

It's going to be profitable and you know that there's endless opportunities. So it's I think it's crazy from Jim Ratcliffe to say what he has equally in terms of his focus. He will argue that the women's team is not losing anywhere near as much money as the men's team. So that would be his worry and it's all about money. And of course at the moment that first team at Manchester United is hemorrhaging cash, which is why of course

they've gone to the Far East to play an absolutely ridiculous post-season tour just to earn £7.5 million. We'll come on to that in a second. Do you want to get your sense, Jonathan, on just the future of women's football? Because you've got this fascinating prospect. I know your colleague Tom Gary has written about that. London City Lionesses coming up to the WSL, broke away from Millwall Football Club. We know they have a really rich backer behind them in Michelle Kang. But I just wonder, is there a future where we see women's teams as separate entities? Is there a sense that

that there is a holding back that happens with the affiliation with the men's? Yeah, I mean, it's really interesting. You talk to people within the game and within the women's game, and they do say, like, London City Lionesses, they're not really a serious prospect. They are trying to make big-name signings and smart, you know, signings to help them stay in WSL next season. But it's also a really interesting model for how the women's game progresses because it's really a bet on the fact that,

If you're a women's football team, you either have the big backing and the big fan base that a big men's club can give you, or you try and break out and establish an entirely new brand, an entirely new team, and basically try and find new fans that weren't really going to the game before. So if they do succeed with that, I think it unlocks all kinds of exciting new markets. The women's game probably, you know,

needs to try and attract if it's going to grow to the extent that its investors would like it to. Interesting. I remember Doncaster Bell's been the top team when I was a boy. Interesting to see how that situation develops in women's football. Let's talk about the development of Manchester United, mainly the men, I suppose, here in the Telegraph with Mike McGrath. United's tour de farce feels like purgatory, he reports from this post-season tour, Charlie. Players and manager want to heal wounds and rest up after Torrid's season, but instead are trapped on cash transfers.

driven jaunt. Do you think it's been an ill-advised trip? It's been an absolutely terrible trip from start to finish. You know, it's the last thing they needed, of course. None of those players wanted to go there.

While Ruben Amrim has explained the reasoning behind it, to a degree he's got to be seen to support it, it's not really helping anybody. As I said earlier, £7.5 million to send the players over there. They've been booed in their first game. There's been other issues as well. We've now got Harry Maguire and a couple of the other players, they're having to fly to India.

rather than play the second match in Hong Kong. So, you know, they're going to be returning to Manchester in a few days' time, wanting a rest, but, you know, barely getting one because, you know, a lot of them are all going to be reporting with their countries next week for the internationals.

Yeah, it's insane that United have chosen this tour, but they're not the only ones. Tottenham and other clubs have done it before. They complain about too many games and then they do these tours at the end of the season or have long ones at the start of the season.

of the summer. It's a great top line here, Jonathan. Manchester United's money-generating trip, writes McGrath, is fast becoming the most infamous Far East tour since Paul Gascoigne and his dentist chairs escapades almost three decades ago. At least that looked fun for at least some of the people involved in that. What do you make of this bleak trip and how detrimental could it be for Manchester United as Amarim tries to rebuild after what was a pretty torrid season?

Yeah, I mean, there was a great long read by Laurie Whitwell in The Athletic about this a few days ago. And what he was saying is that there were really serious internal discussions at United about whether or not to go on this deal, whether they should...

you know at the end of what's going to be a really long season whether they should try and just stay local and save a bit of money and and try and uh you know regroup you know a lot of people at this club just want the season to end they don't want to be to be prolonging it in the far east uh but obviously commercial commercial factors have overridden that in the end and and obviously this promotional tour to india as well which i think you know a lot of players wanted to go on because it means they go home a few days earlier that's where we're at now

I think, you know, obviously it's funny, haha, it's Manchester United, they're in a pickle and we're supposed to sort of poke fun at this. But, you know, if you look at the players that have gone on this trip,

They're kind of at the end of their tether. It's been a season that has been horrific in so many ways. And on a real human level, I feel sorry for them in a way. I know a lot of them, they've got a great job and they're playing professional football. But I think a lot of them seem a bit dead behind the eyes. And they just need a sun lounger and they need some time with their families. And instead, they have to go on this ridiculous jaunt. The Sun Online Talk Dark.

So Luke Humphries beats Luke Littler in a thriller to win the title for first time. Jonathan, is it fair to say both weren't necessarily at their best, but this rivalry is becoming ever more compelling?

I think that's pretty fair, yeah. I mean, there was a really long leg in the first half. I think, you know, Littler went, he threatened to go 4-0, 5-0 up at one point. Humphreys wasn't really at his best. The second half after the break, it's some of the best stuff I've honestly seen Humphreys play in any form in a game because Littler was pretty much at his top level. He did not lie down. He put a hell of a lot of pressure on him.

And Humphries kind of withstood him. I think he would have said himself he was second favourite going into the playoffs, going into this final and going into the second half of that game. And he showed real, real steel there. And he's now won all of the kind of the triple crown events, as you call it, the Premier League, World Championship match plays, also won the Grand Slam. And I think legitimately, these two are streets ahead of everyone else at the moment.

Luke Littler, of course, has brought so much attention to the sport, Charlie. Do you feel he needs this dance partner in Luke Humphries, though, that brings it even more attention, that there is this serious rivalry?

It is absolutely vital for the sport to have this rivalry because Luke was obviously going to be around for a very long time. And yeah, I mean, these two are box office now, aren't they? 15,000 in there tonight. I'm sure they could have sold many, many more times than that. You know, everyone knew that the darts was on to,

today. Interesting afterwards that it sounds as though Phil Taylor was also giving some advice to the winner as well. So he sort of got involved as well, but it's a friendly rivalry, but I think it's an important one and I think that will thrive

And I think it will probably in the long term be good for Littler as well to have someone still there because I think it would be boring for the sport as we've seen in other sports if you've just got one bloke who's miles better than everybody else. It's intriguing psychologically, Jonathan, isn't it as well? Because they team up for the World Cup of darts, but as Charlie says there, they're good friends too. It's quite a kind of interesting relationship.

Yeah, and frankly, good luck to everyone else there. I know Van Gerwen's missing out for Holland as well, which affects their chances. So yeah, I think it is good for the sport that they get on. I mean, Humphries, even though he's not the world champion anymore, has been a fantastic ambassador for the sport. I think everyone will say that. Generally, few people on tour have a bad word to say about him. Littler, obviously, he's box office, he brings the eyeballs, and he raises the standard as well, because I think a lot of people have had

have had to play at their very best, have found an extra level to try and compete with him. So, yeah, it is really exciting times. You just want to see the bit of the chasing pack, how they respond to this kind of duopoly. Absolutely. We're going to watch that and see what the reaction is in the world of darts. So let's talk cricket, Jonathan, because I stay with you, with your paper. Brooks' captaincy up and running is the Guardian headline. 400 runs on your first game in charge. Not bad. What was your assessment?

Yeah, really, really encouraging. I mean, as much with the ball, actually, with guys like Jamie Overton and Saqib Mahmood coming through, as with the batting innings, where I think we know that England have got a pretty...

pretty stacked batting lineup. They've got runs all the way down. They've got aggression all the way down. Jacob Bethel has really added something, I think, to the lower middle order. And I think, yeah, I mean, England really do have to pull their finger out in white ball cricket. The results have just, you know, they obviously weren't acceptable under Joss Butler. And if they don't, you know,

managed to string a few wins together, they're in a position where they might actually have to qualify for the next World Cup, which two editions after winning it on home soil in 2019 would be pretty humiliating. So yeah, this is a pretty...

courageous and solid start from them. As seems compulsory now, we have to put Ball onto the name of the new captain, so it's welcome to Brook Ball in the Times. They report New England captain off to winning start as attacking style leads to 238-run trouncing of the West Indies in first ODI at Esch. Can we say there's a distinct style? What was the opposition like? Do we take that into account?

I mean, the West Indies are kind of in transition. I think they have a little bit further to fall, to be honest. But you can only beat what's put in front of you. England were losing to all comers at the last World Cup. And I think this is where we're going to see the effects of McCullum taking over the white ball team as well. This is where we're really going to see whether that's going to bear fruit.

Yep, we'll see that with interest with England. Good start. Three ODIs in total against the West Indies. Brilliant test series coming up against India as well. Let's talk football again, Charlie, with your paper. And Manchester City, Khaldun Alma Baric being interviewed and says, we'll be back. Harland at heart of our 10-year plan to dominate. We lacked aggression in the summer transfer market. Now we'll splash out big before Club World Cup. I noticed the word aggressive is used

by Alma Baric. Charlie, what did you make of this? Came out punching, didn't he? Yeah, and I think most City fans and probably even Pep Guardiola would agree with him. Obviously, a hugely disappointing season. He's saying in that interview it's been their most challenging season since the 2008 takeover. And, yeah, I think they're looking to really make amends and make some signings now, like in the next week. They've got the Club World Cup coming up.

And it looks as though Tiani Reinders from Milan could be going there, 55 million, the midfielder. So he could be the first player, but there'll be a few more underdogs

after him. But it's strange, there's almost mixed messages at the moment because Pep Guardiola is saying one stage he wants to bring quality in and then a few days later he's saying his squad's too big. But quite clearly the City chairman wants to invest, invest heavily. And don't forget they signed four players in January. But yes, City will be looking to come back big. But I

I think it'll be tough for them to challenge Liverpool next year because they've fallen so far behind. Yeah, it's got Erling Haaland, haven't they, pitched in the Terminator get-up, Jonathan? Also, tongue-in-cheek, the Sun says no mention of those 130 charges, which, of course, Manchester City deny those charges, waiting for a ruling to be announced on that. What do you think of the season ahead, Jonathan? How challenging a one for Pep Guardiola? Maybe one of the most in his career?

Definitely. I mean, I think they were actually pretty impressive in the second half of this season where it looked at times like the wheels were going to come off completely. But I think where Khaldun's comments are quite interesting, he talks about aggression in the transfer market. It's not just about aggression.

backing your targets and identifying your targets and scorched earth in the transfer market. It's giving Guardiola the squad he wants and letting go of people, trimming the squad down and trimming the right people. Reiner is a good player. Mateus Nunes was a good player. Sabinho is a good player. Are any of them better than Cole Palmer, who they let go for 40 million? So it's striking that balance between giving Guardiola the streamlined squad he wants, making the right decisions in the transfer market, not just buying players for the sake of it,

And I think that's what's going to define not just City for the next season, but the next few seasons, because they are trying to rebuild this team. And it's a big test for Hugo Villar, the new sporting director. A lot of young players have left, haven't they, Charlie? What's your expectation, anticipation of what we're going to see building up to this Club World Cup? How frenetic is it going to be for Manchester City, maybe Chelsea as well?

Yeah, well, you know, it looks as though, you know, De Lappe's going to be on his way eventually. And as we've just said, Reinders as well. And I think that's leading into a tournament, by the way, that I actually think is going to be intriguing.

I actually think it'll end up being a big success. I think a lot of people will get into it. And of course, all the players out there, they're all going to want to win it. So, yeah, I think it will be more of a success than what people think. And I think City and Chelsea would both obviously love to be the first team to actually win. Well, yeah, they've won it before both of them. They've been under this new tournament that's going to go on for a month.

But, yeah, it will be intriguing. It'll roll into the new season. Jonathan, we've got about 10 seconds. How excited are you about the Club World Cup? I'm going on holiday. I couldn't care less. Going to have a break as well. Flamenco, Tunis, Esportif, Chelsea and Los Angeles in Group D. We'll see how it gets on. Jonathan and Charlie, thank you very much for now.