Chelsea have reportedly agreed to sell left-back Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa, following his loan stint at Borussia Dortmund where he featured prominently, including in the Champions League final last month. Despite impressing at Dortmund and Chelsea’s need for a reliable left-back, Maatsen is poised for a permanent transfer to a Premier League competitor. The move will see Chelsea earn a substantial fee for the academy-developed player. During his loan at Dortmund, there was an unused £35 million release clause option. According to The Athletic, Aston Villa has now agreed to acquire Maatsen for a fee slightly above that amount…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Liverpool has announced the first three coaches to join Arne Slot’s new backroom staff following his arrival from Feyenoord. Among those departing alongside former manager Jurgen Klopp last month were long-time assistant manager Pep Lijnders and elite development coach Vitor Matos, both now with Red Bull Salzburg. Goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has also moved on. Slot’s new coaching team includes Sipke Hulshoff, who has worked closely with him at Feyenoord since 2022 and previously assisted Ronald Koeman with the Netherlands national team. Joining from Feyenoord as well is Ruben Peeters, appointed as lead physical performance coach. Fabian Otte, previously with…
Leicester City has announced the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new manager ahead of their Premier League return. Cooper takes over following Enzo Maresca’s departure to Chelsea after guiding the Foxes to the Championship title last season. After discussions with Graham Potter and Carlos Corberan, Leicester has reached an agreement with Cooper, marking his return to the Premier League since leaving Nottingham Forest in December 2023. “I am thrilled and honored to be appointed as Leicester City’s First Team Manager,” said Cooper upon signing a three-year contract. “This is a remarkable club with a rich history and passionate supporters.…
Arsenal is prepared to offer €100 million for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, though this falls €30 million short of Napoli’s recent contract release clause, according to Italian journalist Ciro Venerato. Venerato suggests that Osimhen could likely end up at Arsenal, given Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis’s stance on not considering offers below the release clause, citing Arsenal’s recent record-breaking £105 million transfer of Declan Rice. Venerato further explains, “[Arsenal] will now try with the Nigerian [who dreams of the Premier League], but not by paying the onerous amount of the clause, but a lower sum. Napoli will have to evaluate…
Chelsea’s summer transfer dealings are in the spotlight as they prepare an improved offer following the rejection of their initial €40 million bid for a striker, while another potential deal teeters on the brink of collapse. The club’s pursuit of the promising striker hit a snag when their first bid was turned down, prompting Chelsea’s management to regroup and devise a new strategy. Sources close to the negotiations indicate that Chelsea remains steadfast in their pursuit, with plans underway to submit a higher offer that aligns with the selling club’s valuation. Simultaneously, another transfer negotiation that initially showed promise is…
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has endorsed Real Madrid’s Vinicius as his choice for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award. Aguero highlighted Vinicius’s stellar 2023/24 season, where the Brazilian international clinched both the La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles. “I believe the award should go to Vinicius. He had an outstanding season, securing the La Liga title and contributing crucially to the Champions League victory,” Aguero stated in an interview with Stake. “Bellingham started strong but his form tapered off towards the end, especially after his injury,” Aguero added. Vinicius notably scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists across various…
The Nigeria Football Federation has refuted reports alleging that Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been banned from playing for the Super Eagles. The supposed ban circulated in several online publications on Wednesday. NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi clarified that the organization has not taken any steps to impose a ban on the talented forward. “We urge the media to collaborate with us in resolving issues constructively and maintaining focus on the bigger picture, rather than unnecessarily escalating matters. There has been no official communication from the NFF, yet some have already started discussing Osimhen’s supposed ban from the national team.…
Earlier this month, Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Brentford, Brighton, Aston Villa, and 11 others, voted to retain VAR for the upcoming season, despite acknowledged flaws. Wolverhampton Wanderers was the sole club to vote against its continuation. The Premier League will maintain the Video Assistant Referee system while implementing six significant changes to enhance its effectiveness. The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has outlined six VAR amendments for the 2024/25 season: 1. Maintaining a high intervention threshold to minimize interruptions. 2. Streamlining semi-automatic offside technology to reduce delays. 3. Introducing stadium announcements following…
Germany has secured the first qualification for the Round of 16 at Euro 2024. They achieved this after a 2-0 victory over Hungary in Wednesday’s second match. Jamal Musiala scored in the first half, with captain Ilkay Gundogan adding another goal in the second half. The hosts have now won consecutive matches in the tournament, following their earlier 5-1 triumph over Scotland. Hungary, on the other hand, faces imminent elimination after losing 3-1 to Switzerland in their opening match. Switzerland has the opportunity to advance to the next round if they defeat Scotland later tonight.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have dropped eight places in the latest monthly FIFA ranking released by the Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA) on Thursday. The three-time African champions fell from 30th to 38th position. This decline follows their slip of two places in the previous FIFA ranking. The drop in ranking coincides with the team’s disappointing results in the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The West Africans managed a 1-1 draw at home against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Benin Republic’s Cheetahs. Despite this setback, the Super Eagles remain among the top five…
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has officially confirmed that the 2024 Nigerian FA Cup final will be held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja. Scheduled for Saturday, June 29th at 4:00 PM Nigerian Time, this highly anticipated match highlights the stadium’s status as a premier football venue in Nigeria. Located in the nation’s capital, Abuja, the stadium boasts modern facilities and ample seating for thousands of enthusiastic fans. Teams from across Nigeria have fiercely competed throughout the tournament to earn their spot in the final showdown. Football enthusiasts and supporters can expect an electrifying atmosphere as the top teams…
Currently, Reece James continues to serve a suspension stemming from a red card received in a match against Brighton late last season, causing him to miss the opening match against Manchester City. With Chelsea preparing to host the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge on August 18, James’ absence due to suspension will be a significant setback for newly appointed head coach Enzo Maresca. The 24-year-old defender was handed a four-match ban for his red card incident against Brighton, where he was sent off for kicking out at Joao Pedro in an off-the-ball altercation shortly before full time. As a result,…
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has expressed his happiness with the club’s decision to retain Erik ten Hag as their manager. The young player also expressed optimism about Manchester United’s chances of winning more trophies under the former Ajax boss. The future of Erik ten Hag had been a topic of discussion at the end of the season, with INEOS conducting a review to determine whether he would continue in his role. Speaking via mufcMPB, the 19-year-old praised the Dutchman and credited him for the opportunity to play for the senior team at Old Trafford, saying: “He’s already won two…
Cristiano Ronaldo made history as he became the first player to participate in six European Championships, leading Portugal to a 2-1 victory over Czechia to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign. The legendary forward debuted in Euro 2004 with just seven caps, but arrived at this summer’s tournament boasting a remarkable 207 appearances for his country. Despite his prolific career milestone, Ronaldo did not score in his 208th cap, as Portugal struggled to secure their 2-1 win over Czechia on Tuesday evening. Portugal dominated possession early on, with Bruno Fernandes orchestrating from midfield and Rafael Leao posing threats down the…
Argentina star Rodrigo De Paul expressed his apprehension about the eventual retirement of Lionel Messi from international football during an interview with American television channel Telemundo. Messi, the iconic former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, holds numerous records for Argentina, including the most goals (108), assists (57), and appearances (182). His influential presence has been a source of inspiration for a generation of Argentine players, including De Paul, who currently plays for Atletico Madrid. In an interview with All About Argentina, De Paul shared, “I’m afraid of the day Messi no longer plays for the national team. I discuss this…
Turkey midfielder Arda Guler has shattered Cristiano Ronaldo’s longstanding record by becoming the youngest player to score on his Euro debut. The Real Madrid teenager scored a stunning goal from long range to make it 2-1 in the second half. Guler’s strike is a strong contender for Goal of the Tournament, leaving Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili grasping at air as the ball soared into the top corner. At 19 years and 114 days old, Guler now holds the record previously set by Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored at 19 years and 128 days during Euro 2004 in a match against Greece.
Former Nigeria national team coach Finidi George revealed in an interview the unprofessional manner in which the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) terminated his contract. After a disappointing international break, the Super Eagles’ prospects for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are in serious jeopardy. Nigeria was held to a 1-1 draw at home by South Africa and suffered a 1-2 defeat against Benin Republic in Abidjan in June. With only 3 points from 4 games, the NFF deemed it necessary to overhaul the coaching staff without informing Finidi George that he would no longer be the coach. “They met…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) plans to commence disciplinary proceedings against Victor Osimhen following his outspoken criticism of former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George. Osimhen, the Napoli striker, launched a vehement attack on Finidi during an intense Instagram Live session. He expressed anger over alleged comments questioning his commitment to the national team after withdrawing from the last two 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury. Reports indicate that Finidi George’s supposed statement, which Osimhen reacted to, was misleading and fabricated. According to Vanguard, the NFF intends to charge Osimhen for misconduct in the coming days over his verbal…
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes admitted to making “a lot of mistakes” during his team’s 2-1 victory over Czech Republic at Euro 2024. Fernandes played a key role as Portugal secured the win on Tuesday night, with Francisco Conceicao scoring the decisive goal in Leipzig. In his post-match interview, Fernandes acknowledged, “We made a lot of mistakes in the first half, especially me. Taking risks has its pros and cons. Midfielders take more risks.” He added, “But when I find the opportunity to pass, I have plenty of quality ahead of me to score goals. So, I’m not concerned about making…
Three contenders are currently in the running to take over from Finidi George as the head coach of the Super Eagles. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is urgently seeking a replacement for George, who resigned recently. Time is of the essence as the Super Eagles have upcoming fixtures scheduled for September. According to Soccernet, the NFF is evaluating three potential coaches for the position. First on the list is Antonio Conceicao, known for his tactical acumen and player development skills honed during his tenure with CFR Cluj in Romania, as well as coaching stints in Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. He…