The 2023-24 Championship season unfolded an electrifying contest for Premier League promotion, with Leicester City and Ipswich Town emerging triumphant, securing the top two spots for automatic promotion. As the curtain falls on an eventful campaign, let’s delve into the contenders for promotion and their prospects in the upcoming Premier League season. Leicester City, steered by manager Enzo Maresca, clinched the Championship title with an impressive 97 points and a formidable goal difference of +48. Despite grappling with challenges throughout the season, including a late-season stumble, Leicester’s possession-oriented approach and the pivotal contributions from goal scorers like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Stephy…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Forest’s statement following Liverpool’s victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage drew criticism from Sky Sports, with Neville urging former Premier League referee Clattenburg to step down from his role. Neville stated, “Mark Clattenburg must resign tonight. If he saw those words go out which question the integrity of a referee and claims someone is a cheat for supporting another club then he’s supporting what is being said. He would lose all credibility with referees in the game. He should stand down tonight and distance himself from that statement.” Expressing his dismay, Neville likened Forest’s statement to a “mafia-gang statement,” labeling…
Mercy Akide Udoh made history as the first African woman to play professional football globally. Her groundbreaking achievement came when she joined the now-defunct Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) league in the United States, recognized as the world’s inaugural women’s football league. Akide’s entry into the sport marked a significant milestone for Nigeria and African women’s football, earning her recognition from FIFA as “The most renowned figure in African women’s football and one of the most formidable attacking players of the previous decade.” Born in Port Harcourt in 1975, Akide began her football journey by playing with boys in her…
Chelsea, one of the titans of the English Premier League, has opened discussions with Napoli in their quest to secure Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen ahead of the forthcoming summer transfer window. According to reports from Di Marzio, Chelsea is ready to make a substantial financial offer to secure Osimhen’s services for the upcoming season. The proposed bid being discussed between the clubs is said to fall within the range of €80-90 million. In addition to the monetary offer, Chelsea is reportedly willing to include Romelu Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Roma, as part of the deal, along with…
On Sunday, during Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Tottenham, Mohamed Salah, the winger extraordinaire, matched a milestone previously set by Wayne Rooney. At Anfield, Salah, along with teammates Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo, and Harvey Elliott, found the net before the hour mark, keeping Liverpool’s slim title aspirations burning bright. In addition to netting the opener, Salah, often hailed as the ‘Egyptian King’, provided the assist for Elliott’s remarkable goal. This latest performance boosts Salah’s season tally to 18 goals and 10 assists. Remarkably, Salah now holds the distinction of being the first player to achieve both 10+ goals and 10+ assists…
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou is confident that the club will support his “drastic” plans for player sales and acquisitions during the upcoming summer transfer window. Despite starting their first season under Postecoglou with an unbeaten Premier League run until November, Tottenham’s recent poor performances have dimmed their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. While Spurs may consider the 2023/24 campaign a relative success, Postecoglou is aiming for more and is advocating for significant changes within the club. “We need change. Change has to happen,” Postecoglou stated at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool.…
According to reports, Thiago Silva has made the decision to return to his former club Fluminense once his contract with Chelsea expires this summer. The veteran defender announced earlier this week that he would be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2023/24 season after four years with the Blues. Despite interest from various clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia, multiple reports, initially from Brazilian outlet Globo, indicate that Silva has agreed to rejoin Fluminense. The deal with Fluminense will not be officially announced until Chelsea’s season concludes out of respect, as Silva is currently sidelined with an injury…
David Moyes disclosed that West Ham came close to signing Cole Palmer last summer before the midfielder opted for Chelsea. The Hammers pursued Palmer’s signature at the end of the previous season following his departure from Manchester City. However, they lost out to Chelsea in the transfer battle. Conversely, Manchester City showed interest in West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta during the summer. Still, they withdrew from the deal due to an investigation into potential betting breaches by the midfielder. Reflecting on West Ham’s failed attempt to sign Palmer, Moyes suggested that Paqueta’s collapsed move to City played a role in the…
Bayern Munich’s search for a new manager has encountered two new hurdles as both Roger Schmidt and Roberto De Zerbi have publicly dismissed the possibility of joining the club. Following unsuccessful pursuits of Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, and Ralf Rangnick, Bayern’s quest for a successor to Thomas Tuchel, who is set to depart at the season’s end, has faced setbacks. Schmidt, currently coaching Benfica, reiterated his commitment to his current role, stating, “I’m not available. I’m fully dedicated to Benfica and content with my position. I don’t require any invitations. My stance is crystal clear.” Similarly, De Zerbi expressed his…
Erling Haaland showcased his extraordinary talent on Saturday evening, netting four goals to propel Manchester City to a commanding 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. With Arsenal securing three points against Bournemouth earlier in the day, City needed a win to keep pace in the title race. They displayed composure and dominance, with Haaland completing his hat-trick before halftime. Although Hwang Hee-chan threatened to ignite a Wolves comeback early in the second half, Haaland swiftly extinguished any hopes with a stunning fourth goal. Julian Alvarez sealed the victory late on, ensuring City’s stronghold in the Premier League title chase. Game Recap:…
Real Madrid secured the 2023/24 La Liga title on Saturday evening following Barcelona’s unexpected defeat away at Girona. Los Blancos had earlier triumphed over Cadiz with a 3-0 victory, extending their lead over Barcelona to 14 points at the time. Xavi’s squad needed to win all their remaining games to stand a chance of overtaking Madrid, but their loss against Girona dashed those hopes. This marks Real Madrid’s 36th La Liga title, placing them nine ahead of Barcelona’s 27 victories. Reclaiming the title from Barcelona was a top priority for Madrid this season. They demonstrated their intent early on, with…
Barcelona suffered a stunning 4-2 defeat against Girona on Saturday evening, consequently gifting the La Liga title to Real Madrid. With Carlo Ancelotti’s team securing a 3-0 victory over Cadiz earlier in the day, Barcelona understood that anything less than a win against Girona would hand their rivals the coveted title. Despite initially taking a 2-1 lead, Xavi’s side relinquished their advantage in spectacular fashion, allowing Madrid to clinch the championship. The Match Recap: Barcelona wasted no time asserting their dominance, as Christensen found the net just three minutes into the game with a remarkable volley from the edge of…
Manchester United has engaged in discussions with Getafe regarding the extension of Mason Greenwood’s loan spell with the Spanish club, as per a recent report. Greenwood embarked on a 12-month loan agreement with Getafe last summer, following the dismissal of charges of rape and assault against him. During his time in Spain, the 22-year-old has thrived, tallying ten goals and six assists in 32 appearances. Although his loan arrangement doesn’t include an option for a permanent transfer, Getafe, having secured a 20% sell-on clause, have expressed their keenness to retain Greenwood for the upcoming year. According to The Athletic, talks…
Ivan Toney’s tenure at Brentford could be winding down, with only two games potentially remaining in his career at the Gtech Community Stadium. However, there’s also the possibility of him staying for another 40 matches or so. The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Brentford this summer, as his contract expires in 2025. Both Toney and the club have been quick to dispel such speculation. Last season, Toney’s future seemed bright, with prospects of joining a European or title-chasing club, despite facing an eight-month football ban. However, interest in him is waning, and the option to…
According to BBC Sport, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has secured the Premier League’s Golden Glove award following Luton’s goal against Everton’s Jordan Pickford on Friday. Raya has maintained 14 clean sheets in 29 league appearances this season since joining the Gunners on loan from Brentford last summer. Before Friday’s match, Pickford was the sole contender who could have surpassed Raya in the Golden Glove race. However, Pickford’s chance to clinch the honor outright vanished when Elijah Adebayo scored the equalizer for Luton in their 1-1 draw. Despite having two games left, Pickford remains two clean sheets behind Raya and can,…
The recently appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, Finidi George, has expressed no intention to collaborate with his former teammates, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke. Finidi has yet to finalize his backroom staff since assuming his position earlier this week. Amokachi and Amuneke are said to be contenders for the assistant coach role. Both of them had also applied for the head coach position of the Super Eagles. Reports suggest that Finidi prefers to select his own assistants rather than working with the two former players. The NFF had previously stated that the new Super Eagles coach would have…
Arsenal extended their winning streak in the league with a commanding 3-0 victory over Bournemouth in a crucial match between the two clubs. The North London-based side dominated proceedings throughout the game, securing a win in today’s EPL clash. Goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Declan Rice sealed the win for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. In the first half, Arsenal created numerous scoring opportunities but only managed to take a narrow lead into halftime. After the break, The Gunners intensified their attack, adding two more goals to secure a comfortable victory. Arsenal boasted 56% possession, 8 shots on target,…
Against all odds, Ipswich Town has clinched promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the Championship season. Despite low expectations following their promotion from League One in 2023, the Tractor Boys defied predictions, fending off Leeds United to secure a second-place finish. Ipswich only needed a point on the last day, facing Huddersfield Town at a packed Portman Road. They delivered a convincing 2-0 victory, sealing their promotion. Had Ipswich faltered, Leeds had a chance to overtake them with a win against Southampton. However, Leeds now find themselves in the playoffs. Under the guidance of former Manchester…
Erik ten Hag has acknowledged his desire to have Frenkie de Jong alongside Casemiro at Manchester United in order to replicate his successful Ajax tactics. De Jong, who departed Ajax for Barcelona in 2019, was Ten Hag’s primary target upon his arrival at United in 2022. However, despite their efforts, a deal for De Jong couldn’t materialize, leading to United’s acquisition of Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70m. Ten Hag expressed his belief that having De Jong and Casemiro together would have been instrumental in implementing his preferred style of play at United. “When asked why he believed United couldn’t…
According to reports, Chelsea is closely monitoring the situation of Tosin Adarabioyo, an out-of-contract defender from Fulham, in anticipation of the summer transfer window. Adarabioyo is set to depart Craven Cottage as his current contract nears its end, attracting interest from various clubs. Fabrizio Romano indicates that both Chelsea and Newcastle United have been informed about the conditions required to secure Adarabioyo’s signature for the upcoming season. However, they face competition from European clubs, including Monaco and Milan, who can offer pre-contract agreements. Last summer, Tottenham Hotspur pursued Adarabioyo but failed to secure his transfer. Instead, they signed Radu Dragusin…