Chelsea’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has reportedly turned down a move to Aston Villa in favor of reuniting with his former Inter coach Antonio Conte at Napoli. Despite Chelsea agreeing on a fee with Villa, Lukaku’s desire to work with Conte again means his focus is solely on a move to the Serie A champions. Lukaku, who has had two separate loan spells in Serie A with Inter and Roma, is not part of Chelsea’s future plans. Both Inter and Roma have decided against making moves for him, leaving the striker to seek a new club. With a €35 million…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Italy’s Angela Carini abandoned her Olympic bout against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif within 46 seconds, stating, “I had to preserve my life.” Khelif is one of two athletes cleared to compete in women’s boxing in Paris after being disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships for failing to meet eligibility criteria. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which did not organize the World Championships but is running the boxing event at Paris 2024, said welterweight Khelif was disqualified in India due to elevated testosterone levels. After receiving a bye in the first round at the Olympics, the 25-year-old Khelif, who also…
Conor Gallagher is nearing a departure from Chelsea after turning down two contract offers this summer, according to multiple credible reports. With one year remaining on his current contract at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher has been a subject of transfer speculation for much of the past year. Although Tottenham Hotspur showed significant interest last summer, Atletico Madrid is now leading the pursuit, having had a £33.8m bid accepted by Chelsea. Recent reports indicate that Chelsea extended two contract offers to Gallagher in the past few months. The first offer was made in June, around the time the club rejected an approach…
Speaking to journalists at his side’s training camp, Wesley Fofana defended Enzo Fernandez, asserting that he is not a racist. Fernandez is back in the Chelsea team. Fofana said: “He [Fernandez] arrived [on Monday] and we talked with the manager. We talked together. I explained why I didn’t like the video. He [Fernandez] explained, he said sorry because he did not want to hurt French fans or anyone. He did not understand when singing it. “I trust him because I know him. I know he is not racist. The act…I felt a little bit upset. But now, it is done.…
Arsenal are close to signing Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, according to reports. The Gunners have intensified their search for a new midfielder this summer and are now focused on Merino. 90min first reported last week that Arsenal would increase their interest in Merino following Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival from Bologna. Fabrizio Romano now states that Arsenal and Merino have reached a ‘verbal agreement’ on personal terms, with only the transfer fee remaining to be finalized. Real Sociedad are seeking over £25m for Merino, who is entering the final year of his contract. Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing. Merino,…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted that his team was not clinical enough in their 2-1 loss to Liverpool in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday night. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho gave the Reds a two-goal lead before Kai Havertz pulled one back for the Gunners. Despite several chances to equalize or win, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, and Eddie Nketiah were unable to convert their opportunities. “When you’re in those spaces in the box, it’s about putting the ball in the net,” Arteta said about his team’s missed chances. “We created the situations. We had two or three more…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that he chose Christopher Nkunku as his designated penalty taker. In a pre-season friendly on Wednesday night, the Blues defeated Club America 3-0, with Nkunku opening the scoring from the spot. Marc Guiu then doubled Chelsea’s advantage before Nkunku won another penalty in the second half. This time, Nkunku allowed Noni Madueke to take it, making it 3-0. “I have decided, which is why Christopher took the first penalty. Noni was close to taking it, but I told Tosin to inform Noni that Christopher had to take it. “I am the one who decides…
Chelsea have agreed to sell midfielder Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid. The Premier League club has been negotiating with the LaLiga side over the sale of the England international for the past few days. According to talkSPORT, the Blues have “reached an agreement in principle” to sell the 24-year-old for £33 million. With just one year remaining on his current contract, Chelsea had already given their new manager, Enzo Maresca, the green light to sell Gallagher and other players this summer transfer window.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has praised the qualities of Nkunku. Nkunku was among the scorers as the Blues defeated Club America 3-0 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday night. The forward also won the penalty that Noni Madueke converted for the final goal of the night. After the game, Maresca expressed his admiration for Nkunku, saying: “I knew Nkunku before I joined… I love him! “He can play in the pocket, as a nine, and as a winger. He’s a very good fit for this system.”
Two important players for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United will be sidelined for the first few months of the forthcoming Premier League campaign. With new defender Leny Yoro sidelined for three months and striker Rasmus Hojlund ruled out for many weeks, Manchester United has been dealt a twin injury blow. Yoro, who cost £52 million to sign when he moved from Lille, will be sidelined for three months due to an injury he suffered against Arsenal on Saturday. There were concerns about a potential major injury when the 18-year-old was seen on crutches and a protective boot at United’s training…
Jürgen Klopp has stated he will not take the England job, despite being considered a leading candidate to replace Gareth Southgate. Having concluded his nine-year tenure at Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season, Klopp announced his intention to take a break from football. During his time at Anfield, he won nine trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League. Although Klopp will be out of work next season, he has confirmed he will not be pursuing the England position, which remains vacant following Southgate’s resignation after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. In response to speculation about…
Manchester City has been fined by the Premier League for 22 violations of kick-off rules during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. The Premier League confirmed that sanctions have been imposed on City for multiple instances of delaying first and second-half kick-offs without valid reasons. A statement released on Wednesday noted: “The Premier League and Manchester City FC have reached a sanction agreement after the club admitted to breaching Premier League Rule L.33, which governs kick-off and re-start obligations.” The breaches pertain to several Premier League matches over the two seasons. The rule ensures the competition’s organization maintains high professional standards…
Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos has praised the club’s new signing Endrick, calling him a “complete player.” Carlos made the remarks following Endrick’s recent unveiling as a Real Madrid player over the weekend. The 18-year-old Brazilian joined the La Liga champions from Palmeiras. Carlos commented on the young attacker, stating (via @MadridXtra): “Power, speed, intelligence. A complete player. Young and complete.” Endrick will join Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Kylian Mbappe at Los Blancos.
Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong could be set for a move to Saudi Arabia this summer. According to BBC reporter Oluwashina Okeleji, three Saudi clubs have shown interest in the centre-back. Troost-Ekong impressed during pre-season with PAOK and has fully recovered from the injury he sustained at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The 30-year-old was previously linked with a Saudi club during the AFCON finals held in Côte d’Ivoire, where he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Recently, he scored the decisive goal in PAOK’s 3-2 victory over FK Borac Banja Luka in the UEFA Champions League qualifying…
Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho is set to sign a two-year contract with La Liga club Sevilla this week, according to DAILY POST. Iheanacho is expected to arrive in Spain on Tuesday for his medical examination, with the contract to be finalized afterward. The 27-year-old will join Sevilla on a free transfer after leaving Leicester City last month when his contract expired. Iheanacho will reunite with fellow Super Eagles player Chidera Ejuke, who also joined Sevilla as a free agent.
Arsenal is preparing to challenge Chelsea’s bid for Victor Osimhen, according to Corriere Dello Sport. Although Arsenal showed interest in the Nigerian striker last summer, manager Mikel Arteta initially shifted focus to pursuing Benjamin Sesko this year. With Sesko opting to remain at RB Leipzig, Arteta is now exploring other options. Chelsea is currently proposing a loan and swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku moving to Napoli and Osimhen joining Stamford Bridge. In response, Arsenal is re-entering the race for Osimhen, though no formal offer has been made yet. Alternatively, Arteta is also considering Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyökeres, who scored…
Enzo Fernandez has apologized to his Chelsea teammates upon joining the squad in the United States, following a racism controversy involving the midfielder. This month, Fernandez faced backlash after sharing an Instagram video allegedly showing him and his Argentina teammates participating in a chant targeting the France national team during Copa America celebrations. The incident was described as “uninhibited racism” by Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, and while FIFA continues its investigation, Chelsea’s internal disciplinary review has concluded. Fernandez publicly apologized for the video, which the French Football Federation claimed contained racist and discriminatory content. He met with his Chelsea teammates…
A recent adjustment to Viktor Gyökeres’ contract clause has significantly enhanced Liverpool and Arsenal’s chances of securing him this summer. Both Premier League clubs are seeking a new striker to bolster their squads as they aim to compete with Manchester City for the title. Gyökeres, who has been one of the most sought-after strikers after scoring 43 goals and providing 15 assists last season for Sporting Lisbon, has caught their attention. Reports on Monday revealed that Arsenal scouts were present to observe Gyökeres’ performance against Athletic Bilbao over the weekend. It is now understood that Sporting Lisbon is willing to…
Manchester United forward Shola Shoretire has finalized his transfer to Greek Super League club PAOK. The club announced the move on their website Tuesday. The 20-year-old’s contract with United expired, paving the way for his departure. Shoretire made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Newcastle United in 2021 and is the youngest player to have appeared in European competition for Manchester United, featuring against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. However, he had limited playing time under manager Erik ten Hag.
Victor Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has refuted claims about his client’s potential loan move to Chelsea. Earlier on Tuesday, The Athletic reported that Chelsea was pursuing a loan deal for Osimhen with an option to buy, with Romelu Lukaku potentially moving to Napoli as part of the arrangement. Calenda has since dismissed these reports, stating on X, “I read about ‘fantasy exchanges’ involving Victor, as if he were a package to be delivered quickly. This ‘package’ is the top scorer of Napoli’s third Scudetto. Respect and stop spreading fake news!”