The Football Connect

Malick Yalcouyé went viral yesterday after scoring against Chelsea, with fans stunned to discover he’s only 20 years old.

But what many didn’t realise is that Yalcouyé has chronic alopecia, which has caused him to lose his hair at such a young age.

The conversation should really have been about what he did on the pitch. ⭐

⚽️ 1 goal
🎯 2 shots on target
💪 77.8% duels won
🔥 80% take-ons completed
👟 47 touches
♻️ 2 recoveries

Another Brighton gem unearthed. Don’t be surprised if we’re talking about a £100M player in 18 months. 🇨🇮⭐

FACT: Koke has never played for another club than Atlético Madrid.

He arrived at the club at 8 years old.

🚨🔴 Liverpool have reached verbal agreement with Genk to sign 18 year old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, here we go!

Deal worth €35m package, expected to join in summer 2027 as � already got the authorization for medical.

Formal steps are yet to follow after medical. After .

Who is Lucca Brughmans, the young 18 year old Liverpool are looking to sign (surprise to me as it would be an actual smart move by �)

At 18, the young Belgian keeper is now the first choice at Genk, one of the biggest clubs in Belgium. That in itself says a lot about him as a player.

Despite his age, Brughmans is already very authoritative in his box, especially on crosses as he has a high claim rate of 8.2%, which is in the 71st percentile.

As for his line work, Lucca has shown really good shot stopping ability, even with his “low” number of saves per 90 (Genk typically dominates games). He over performs xGA and PSxG - GA. Ranking in the top 25% for both.

All of those are markers of a top class keeper, combine that with his passing ability as he has over 32 passes per 90, but more impressive is his long passing, with over 11 of them per 90 on 54.9% accuracy.

He’s primarily a safer player on the ball, not playing risky short passes, but he can hit some brilliant diagonals.

The obvious comparison is Courtois (same height and slim frame + Belgian). But that feels lazy for Brughmans, because he’s better with his feet and arguably better (at the same age).

Villa boss Unai Emery plays down a 'good relationship' with Chelsea 🤝❌:

🗣 "It is not a good relationship. It is a deal for money and players, and they will want to kill us. They are signing Morgan and Emiliano Martinez to kill us.

Of course, I am happy for the players. I am happy for Martinez, and I am happy for Morgan Rogers. But I am not happy for Chelsea."

🚨 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪: Romain Molina had claimed that Ibrahim Mbayé was forcing his departure from PSG DUE TO HIS PARENTS' DECISION. 🇫🇷❌

According to the journalist, his parents were demanding A STARTING SPOT for their son, considering him “better than Dembélé and Lamine Yamal.” 😳

Mbayé responded publicly and called Romain “A LIAR.” 🗣️❌

But just 24 HOURS LATER, Molina posted images of the player's mother inside Aston Villa's offices… wearing a club jersey with the surname MBAYÉ on it! 📸

And now, a month later…

IBRAHIM MBAYÉ HAS SIGNED WITH ASTON VILLA. ✍🏼

🤨 COINCIDENCE? Or did Romain Molina really know what was happening from the start?

⚫️⚪️ Yoanne Wissa: "Eddie Howe did a top job, we have to respect that. But the new manager Matthias Jaissle comes with a new identity. Every part of the game, we do precise. He's a really dynamic manager... he's the BEST signing for Newcastle." 🇩🇪👏 ()

Fulham made a late enquiry for Stefan Bajcetic but, since the start of the summer the Spaniard has wanted to return home due to family reasons.

� preferred a loan deal, however it was decided as a permanent deal with strong communication to insert a buy-back clause.

🚨🥇| Luis Enrique & his staff are not pleased with Lucas Digne’s performances so far. The Frenchman is yet to be up to the level the coaching team demand.

🗣️ PSG internal source: “He needs to wake up, he came in accepting the role of a back-up. That’s fine, but he's not on vacation or in pre-retirement. We can’t accept that.”

“He has to fight for his spot and try to be better than Nuno Mendes, because Nuno won't play every game. Lucas Digne has to fight for his place, that's part of his adaptation phase too."

However, the defender’s entourage have clarified that “There is no slacking off, he will fight to earn minutes and play full matches.

🚨 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪: Barcelona were close to signing Gabriel Jesus in 2016, when the Brazilian was just 19 and starring for Palmeiras.

· He even included a €25 million “Barça clause” in his contract.

· At the time, Barcelona saw Jesus as a young forward who could develop behind the legendary attacking trio of Messi, Suárez, and Neymar.