INSIDE SPORT: Why Premier League stars are turning to TAKEAWAYS over in-house nutrition, why David Beckham has trademarked his name in RUSSIA, and how the EFL could be set to take over China

Much has been made of the impact of diet and nutrition on performance in the modern sporting world. 

However, insiders at one particular Premier League club believe that that things may have gone a little too far inside their own building. 

A new arrival in the medical department has taken to measuring out portions for every player at the club’s canteen – and is doing likewise for meals to take home. 

It has led to some disgruntled and famished members of the squad, according to the source, being left to order takeaways. 

‘If everyone is ordering curries and Chinese it kind of defeats the object,’ the insider added.

City supported by peers 

Manchester City are understood to have received messages of support from multiple clubs following their latest legal victory over the Premier League on sponsorship rules.

Beckham’s trademark move

Sources close to David Beckham have insisted that the decision to trademark his name in Russia is not a signal that they are about to do business with the country. 

Instead, the move has been taken as a pre-emptive strike aimed at stopping others there from using his name or his brand.

 EFL set for Chinese mega-deal

The EFL has recently concluded an agreement to screen its competitions in China. Brokered by Pitch International, the agreement is significant as it marks the competition’s return to this vast market, having been absent for the past few seasons. 

The new arrangement is with agency Beijing Sports Rights Management for the remainder of this season and the 2025-26 season. Matches will be broadcast on Douyin (which has 400million users) and other platforms.

David Beckham has trademarked his name in Russia to prevent people from using his name or brand

The EFL will be screened in China until the end of next season for over 400 million people

Cricket stars catch padel bug 

The England cricket team’s love of golf is well documented, but Inside Sport understands that there is a new kid on the block. 

Padel is, apparently, all the rage among Brendon McCullum’s squad, with Jos Buttler said to be the best player. 

The sport’s potential for growth has also caught the eye, with Joe Root said to be investing, while former captain Michael Vaughan has backed a Padel club in well-heeled Wilmslow, Cheshire.

USA welcomes trend-setting training facility  

A potentially trend-setting development in the US earlier this month, where a first-of-its-kind purpose-built training centre for both Portland’s women’s football and basketball teams was announced. 

The site is to be created by Spurs stadium designers Populous – who are also overseeing work on at least one Premier League club’s training facilities. 

It will no doubt be monitored in the UK, as clubs look to find cost-effective ways they can enhance facilities for their women’s teams.

England’s cricket team have caught the padel bug, with Jos Buttler said to be the best player

Padel is the UK’s fastest-growing sport and has attracted stars such as Andy Murray

Meanwhile, Populous’s European MD Christopher Lee, the man responsible for Tottenham’s stadium among others – has been named global head of design at the outfit, which may have an involvement in a new home for Manchester United.

British basketball set for Premier League-style breakaway 

Inside Sport reported two weeks ago on the crisis within Super League Basketball (SLB) given the news that the British Basketball Federation (BBF) has awarded ‘preferred bidder’ status to a US-led investment consortium to run the league after this season without consulting its nine member clubs. 

It can now be disclosed that the Premier League style breakaway hinted at IS now on the cards. 

The consortium is fronted by Marshall Glickmann, an American who stepped down as CEO of Euroleague basketball after just nine short months in 2023. 

The clubs, who have invested more than £15m to create a viable league following the fallout from the disastrous tenure of one-time Everton suitors 777, are also deeply concerned by the involvement of Glickman’s co-investor Arjun Metre. 

The BBF has pledged to the clubs that Glickman and Metre are acting independently. 

But Metre is listed online as head of sports investments for a company called Tennor. 

The BBF has awarded ‘preferred bidder’ status to a US-led investment consortium to run the domestic league 

His boss there is Lars Windhorst, who sold German football club Hertha Berlin to 777 in 2023 for just a fraction of the £312m he paid for the club in 2019. 

Windhorst’s private UK office is also the subject of an HMRC winding up order over unpaid taxes. 

Given the potential links to 777 the SLB clubs are in no mind to deal with Glickman with one source describing their bid as “more basket case than basketball”. 

The UK government are also understood to be watching the situation with close interest.