How Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have been rocked by accidents suffered with ‘specialist’ private trainers as Crystal Palace examine Eddie Nketiah difficulty… plus the newest on Jarrad Branthwaite and Man United: the SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN

Crystal Palace are verifying the origins of a hamstring injury suffered by Eddie Nketiah amid concerns he has fallen victim to the developing trend of Premier League footballers appointing expensive performance ‘specialists’ separate from their clubs.

Eagles medics are trying to establish full details of the muscular strain suffered by their marquee £30million summer signing from Arsenal earlier this week, with suspicions the problem was sustained during a session away from Palace’s training schedule.

There is hope the injury isn’t serious and that Nketiah will be available to face Aston Villa immediately after the international break.

Nevertheless, Palace are deeply concerned that Nketiah may have suffered the issue away from their training ground in Beckenham, south London. Palace paid a huge fee for Nketiah, who earns in the region of £100,000 a week, to lure him from the Emirates in the summer window.

The fact Palace will be without him for Saturday’s clash against Fulham for an injury that, according to sources, was not caused on their watch has raised alarm. Indeed, Mail Sport understands Palace are already looking at implementing new internal structures to avoid players picking up injuries away from their supervision in the future, such is their unease.

Palace, however, aren’t the only side anxious about players seeking external expertise away from club control. Players now invest huge amounts in assembling their own teams of personal trainers, chefs, physios, psychologists and nutritionists in a bid to reach optimal condition.

‘It is not uncommon for players to pick up injuries when having their own personal training sessions away from the club,’ said a well-placed source from a top-half Premier League side. ‘We’ve accused players of being injured with their personal trainers, but proving it isn’t easy.

‘It’s coming from a good place, they just want to be the best they can be. But all their training and diet plans are meticulously tailored by the club.

‘For them to go away and do more work, as admirable as it might be, goes against the sports science.’

Among the clubs said to have similar issues are Chelsea and Arsenal. During the closing years of Harry Kane’s stay with Tottenham, there was significant apprehension about the England captain’s collaboration with Canadian-based sports medicine specialist Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco as the striker looked to cure his long-standing ankle issues.

Claraco never set foot in Tottenham’s HQ in Enfield despite his relationship with Kane. By all accounts he wouldn’t have been welcome either amid concern from Spurs medical staff who were understandably worried about losing full control of their star player’s well-being.

Certain adjustments Claraco would recommend to Kane were not well-received by Spurs staff. Yet there is very little clubs can do to control players’ post-training activities.

With increasing numbers of players making significant financial investments in such external appointments in search of physical improvements, it’s a matter clubs will be faced with far more frequently.

‘The best investment you can make, even if you are not earning crazy money – instead of taking private planes, great cars, spend the money on chefs at home, mental coaching, preparation,’ Cesc Fabregas told the BBC earlier this year.

‘If you are not happy with the level of the fitness coach, always get a little bit extra. Spend money on these things that can get value for your future.’

Sound advice. Not if you’re suffering injuries as a result, however.

‘It is crazy that some players would push it so hard with their personal trainers that they’d risk injury,’ said a source at another Premier League side.

‘They have got their “experts” and ultimately we can’t stop them but we are the ones to pick up the pieces if it goes wrong.’

Crunch time for Lopetegui

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui is under mounting pressure to arrest his team’s worrying slide, though the lack of a clear replacement and the cost of compensation could buy the Spaniard time.

The Hammers boss has endured a difficult start to his reign at the London Stadium, his side winning just three of their 10 Premier League matches since his appointment as David Moyes’ successor.

Defeat by fellow strugglers Everton this weekend would only serve to intensify the internal scrutiny on Lopetegui from within the club, with certain figures concerned not only by the results but the manner of the performances.

Owner David Sullivan has traditionally shown a reluctance to sack his managers, with skeptics believing his hesitation to pull the trigger stems from an unwillingness to fork out millions in compensation.

There are also reservations about who could step into Lopetegui’s shoes and make immediate improvements should the club decide to dispense with their head coach.

Edin Terzic, who led Borussia Dortmund to the the final of the Champions League last season, has support and would be open to taking the job.

Crucially, Terzic is available having left Dortmund in the summer meaning West Ham would not be required to pay another compensation package to release the German/Croatian from a club. Graham Potter may also be a candidate.

United consider reigniting Branthwaite interest

Manchester United are among the clubs monitoring Jarrad Branthwaite’s position in Everton head coach Sean Dyche’s plans ahead of the January window.

The £70million-rated centre-back, who missed the start of the season through injury, is available but has been left on the bench by Dyche for the team’s previous two games.

And the situation has alerted United and other Premier League sides ahead of the January market.

United tried to sign Branthwaite in the summer but refused to meet Everton’s valuation. However, INEOS may be willing to revisit their interest at the turn of the year – particularly if his first-team opportunities don’t improve – though the club’s PSR position could prove a stumbling block.

Dyche would not want to lose Branthwaite mid-season, but the money from any sale could be used to strengthen his squad ahead of what looks to be another fight against relegation.

It is understood Everton can’t afford to offer Branthwaite a new contract as things stand, and with his deal expiring in 2027, there maybe a temptation to sell sooner rather than later.

With John Stones and Harry Maguire both currently injured, the 22-year-old may have been a contender for the next England squad which is named today, but it is unlikely he will be selected given his lack of action so far this season.

Sesko’s Arsenal concerns

Red Bull Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko was reluctant to join Arsenal last summer amid concerns he would be second-choice to Kai Havertz.

Sesko emerged as a key target for the Gunners during the previous transfer window but the 21-year-old stayed in the Bundesliga, signing a new contract with Leipzig.

Arsenal retain an interest in the Slovenia international, who has scored seven goals for his club so far this season.

However, Sesko, it is understood, gave serious consideration towards joining in the summer but held reservations over whether he would be a regular in the starting XI with the Gunners making clear he would not be guaranteed to play ahead of Havertz, who finished last season strongly as a central striker.

Arsenal were minded to pay his release clause before Sesko’s initial hesitation became apparent.

Sesko currently has a buy-out clause of £55million, with the Gunners monitoring his progress closely ahead of the next two transfer windows.

Paratici still watching Spurs despite ban

Fabio Paratici continues to attend matches at Tottenham Hotspur this season.

The former Spurs managing director of football resigned from his £1.2million-a-year role in April last year after being hit with a 30-month ban for his role in alleged false accounting at his previous club Juventus.

The 52-year-old has been less visible at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium than he usually is, but it is understood that he has attended matches in north London at regular junctures this season.

He is believed to have attended matches as a guest of box holders rather than through the club, and reportedly continues to be a consultant for Spurs.

Begiristain not easing down at City

Outgoing Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain is not taking a back seat as he prepares to leave the Etihad.

The Spaniard – a key figure in driving City’s domestic and European dominance – will leave at the end of the season, when he will be replaced by Sporting’s Hugo Viana.

Begiristain is expected to work up until the climax of City’s involvement in next summer’s inaugural Club World Cup before leaving.

The 60-year-old, however, is not winding down as he continues to play a lead role in the club’s plans for the January and summer windows.

He remains as a key point of contact for agents and rival sporting directors and continues to have full involvement in executing the deals the club are looking to complete.

Begiristain will be inundated with work offers, initially on a consultancy basis, when he finally leaves City next year.

Palace deal edging nearer

Sportsbank, the group who have made an offer of around £230million for Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor’s 45 per cent stake, hope to tie up the deal by the end of next week.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed last Thursday that the investment vehicle – led by south London businessmen Zechariah Janjua and Navshir Jaffer – had tabled a bid for Textor’s shares.

And crucial discussions are scheduled to take place over the next few days aimed at wrapping up the transaction.

It is understood the fact Sportsbank is made up of individuals who support Palace is positive for Textor, as he heads into final discussions about selling his shares in the Eagles, with the American businessman keen to sell to a party with the club’s best interests at heart.

Full steam ahead towards football regulator 

PFA chief executive Maheta Molango is set to appear in Westminster in January as the Government accelerates plans to introduce a football regulator.

Part of the discussion forum that Molango is due to attend will centre around the legal reach of the regulator.