Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has suggested he might leave the Premier League club when his current contract expires at the end of this season. Despite the uncertainty, the Dutch defender has expressed that he is not worried about his contract situation. Speaking to Sky Sports, Van Dijk said, “I’m very calm about my future. I want to have another great season and continue to be an important player for the club. What happens next? We’ll see, but I’m not concerned. There’s no reason for me to think about anything else right now because I have the entire season ahead…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led England from 2001 to 2006, passed away on Monday at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to his agent. “He passed away peacefully this morning with his family around him at his home,” Eriksson’s agent, Bo Gustavsson, told AFP. Eriksson, who coached numerous high-profile teams and guided England to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002 and 2006, had announced in February 2023 that he was stepping back from public life due to “health issues.” In January, he disclosed to Sveriges Radio that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer…
Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has praised Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, comparing his style of play to Karim Benzema’s. On the Planet Premier League podcast, Fabregas noted that Zirkzee, who came off the bench to score the winner in United’s 1-0 victory over Fulham, excels by dropping deep and participating in build-up play. Fabregas remarked, “Manchester United were somewhat unconvincing against Fulham, but Zirkzee made a significant impact. As a striker, he plays like Karim Benzema—a false nine who drops deep and joins the attack late. He has a knack for finding the goal and is a great addition.”
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that he is still far from finalizing his preferred starting XI. Since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, Maresca has overseen two competitive matches: a 2-0 defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City and a 2-0 victory over Servette in the UEFA Conference League play-off. For these games, Maresca used different starting line-ups. As Chelsea prepares for their upcoming league match against Wolves on Sunday, Maresca emphasized the importance of daily performance in training when selecting his starting XI. He stated, “I decide the first XI based on how players train each day. If they…
Alex Iwobi netted the decisive goal in Fulham’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Craven Cottage on Saturday. It was Iwobi’s 225th Premier League appearance. He scored the winning goal with 20 minutes left on the clock, thanks to an assist from Antonee Robinson. Iwobi played the full match, as did his international teammate Calvin Bassey for Fulham. Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi also completed the game for the visitors.
Dani Olmo has been unveiled as a new Barcelona player, but he remains unavailable for selection due to registration issues. Olmo’s transfer from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig to Barcelona was officially announced on August 9, with the La Liga giants reportedly paying £51 million for the Spaniard. Despite the announcement, Olmo has not featured in any of Barcelona’s three matches this season. The delay in his debut is due to Barcelona’s ongoing financial difficulties, which have prevented them from registering the new signing. The club had hoped to finalize his registration before their league match against Athletic Club, but this…
Former AC Milan manager Fabio Capello has cautioned Atalanta against selling Ademola Lookman, warning that it could jeopardize the team’s chances of winning trophies this season. Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in Atalanta’s 3-0 UEFA Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen in May, has been named the club’s best player for the past two seasons. The Nigerian winger has recently been linked with moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. Lookman missed Atalanta’s Serie A match against Lecce after boycotting training due to PSG’s interest but returned to training on Thursday and is expected to play in their upcoming match…
Spain’s Euro 2024 winner, Mikel Merino, has completed his medical and is on the verge of becoming an Arsenal player. This news was shared by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, where he wrote, “Mikel Merino has completed his medical as a new Arsenal player, with clubs exchanging documents to seal the deal. €32m fixed fee, €5m add-ons, and a contract until June 2028, with an option for a further season.” Merino, who was in the final year of his contract at Real Sociedad, was reportedly eager to join Arsenal. He featured in all of Spain’s matches during their Euro…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has criticized three of his players following their 2-1 loss to Brighton on Saturday. After a 1-0 win in their Premier League opener, United traveled to the Amex Stadium looking to continue their good form. However, a first-half goal from former United striker Danny Welbeck gave Brighton the lead. Although Amad Diallo equalized, Brighton secured a late winner through Joao Pedro. United also had a goal from Alejandro Garnacho disallowed after Joshua Zirkzee was deemed offside. For Brighton’s winning goal, Antony’s weak attempt at a tackle allowed Simon Adingra to create space, while Diogo…
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has advised Aaron Ramsdale to seek a new club this summer. Ramsdale has not started a Premier League match for Arsenal since March 9, serving as a backup to David Raya, who was signed by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Martinez, who left Arsenal for regular playing time in 2020, spoke to the Daily Telegraph, saying: “It’s a different situation for Aaron since he joined for a significant fee and was initially the No 1 for Arsenal, which I never had. When a player of his quality drops to the bench after playing regularly, he should…
Chelsea are considering Everton’s 27-year-old England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a more affordable alternative to Napoli’s 25-year-old Victor Osimhen due to the Nigerian striker’s high wage demands (Sun). Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli has deteriorated after an altercation at a nightclub in Naples (Chronicle NG). Real Sociedad are in advanced negotiations to sign former Germany defender Mats Hummels, who is currently a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season (Athletic – subscription required). Everton forward Neal Maupay, 28, is interested in returning to France with Ligue 1 club Nice (Nice-Matin via Get Football News France). Brentford…
Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has commended Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya for his outstanding performance in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday. According to reports, Raya’s remarkable goalkeeping and quick reflexes prevented Villa from scoring in the 54th minute, with Neville describing his saves as the “moment of the match.” Raya’s heroics were on display when he saved two attempts in rapid succession from Amadou Onana and Ollie Watkins. Neville was particularly impressed by Raya’s ability to seemingly “come from nowhere” to make the saves, stating, “How Raya reacts, wow. He comes from…
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the fastest person ever to reach 30 million YouTube subscribers. Ronaldo’s YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, launched on August 21, and quickly gained over one million subscribers within 90 minutes, setting a record for the fastest-growing channel. As of now, the channel boasts 30.1 million subscribers. This impressive achievement has left both industry experts and fans amazed. Ronaldo’s online presence is formidable, with 112.6 million followers on X, 107 million on Facebook, and 636 million on Instagram.
Ilkay Gundogan has rejoined Manchester City from Barcelona, marking his return to the English side. Commenting on the move, Gundogan referred to his return as a homecoming to the “best club in the world” after re-signing on Friday. The former German international had a highly successful spell at City from 2016 to 2023, securing five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and 12 other major honors during his tenure.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has announced Robert Sanchez as his first-choice goalkeeper. Maresca confirmed this decision to reporters during Friday’s press conference ahead of the weekend’s match against Wolves. Sanchez started in Chelsea’s first league fixture against Manchester City, which ended in a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. In the UEFA Conference League play-off first leg against Servette, Maresca opted for Filip Jorgensen. Maresca stated that both goalkeepers will continue to be used in different competitions. “If the level remains consistent, Robert will likely be the starting goalkeeper in the Premier League, while Filip will play in the Conference League…
Arsenal’s transfer for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino appears imminent, with Real Sociedad manager Imanol Aguacil giving him an emotional farewell during a news conference on Friday. Aguacil said, “I said ‘thank you very much’ to Mikel. As a Real coach, I want this type of farewell. He arrived at the age of 22, not having fully made it yet, and he’s had six incredible years here. His performance was outstanding, winning a cup and participating in Europe five times. He has brought in over thirty million for the club, he truly feels part of Real, and now he is…
David De Gea Opens Up About His Emotional Return to Football with Fiorentina After more than a year away from the game, David De Gea has expressed his overwhelming “emotions and feelings” upon his return to football with Fiorentina. Following his departure from Manchester United, the Spanish goalkeeper remained a free agent until Fiorentina signed him this summer. Though he was benched for Fiorentina’s opening Serie A match, De Gea got his chance to start in the UEFA Conference League qualifying match against Puskas Akademia. In his first emotional message since his return, De Gea shared on Instagram, “What a…
The 2023/24 season was remarkable for African players, especially those excelling in European leagues. The reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, faced challenges in maintaining his previous season’s form. However, Victor Boniface emerged as a standout player in the Bundesliga. Boniface, along with several other players, is a top contender for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award. African players have made significant impacts this season, particularly in Germany. Victor Boniface has shone brightly, but Serhou Guirassy has also delivered outstanding performances for Stuttgart, quietly becoming one of the season’s stars. Osimhen, after an incredible 2022/23 season,…
Heartland FC players were involved in a terrible accident yesterday. The accident happened on Friday in Umunna, near Okigwe, Imo State, as the team was traveling to Abakaliki for the Ifeanyi Ekwueme TICO/SELECT Pre-season Tournament. Reports indicate that several players and officials sustained varying degrees of injuries. They received first-aid treatment at a nearby facility. The former Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) team confirmed the accident in a statement, which read, in part, “The accident occurred at Umunna, near Okigwe in Imo State. The vehicle, while trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle, collided with another car that was carelessly parked…
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has responded to Facundo Pellistri’s announcement of his departure from Old Trafford, conveying his best wishes to the departing player. Fernandes told Pellistri that he “deserves the best” following Pellistri’s move to Greek club Panathinaikos in a reported £6.8 million deal. The 22-year-old Uruguayan struggled to make a significant impact at Manchester United, particularly with competition from players like Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Amad Diallo. Pellistri bid farewell to Manchester United fans on Instagram, writing, “Dear Reds, my time has come to say goodbye. It’s been an incredible journey, full of unforgettable moments and…