David de Gea was reportedly leaning towards seeking a transfer away from Manchester United at the end of last season until it emerged that Jose Mourinho would be replacing Louis van Gaal as manager. The Spain goalkeeper nearly joined Real Madrid a year earlier until the deal broke down at the last minute, which then prompted him to sign a new contract at Old Trafford. Still, De Gea continues to be targeted by the La Liga giants, who may be ready to put together another offer for him this summer once the distraction of Saturday’s Champions League final is out…
Author: David Folami
Liverpool are currently locked in negotiations with Roma over a potential transfer for Mohamed Salah, a source has told ESPN FC. Salah nearly joined Liverpool in January 2014 before Chelsea eventually won his signature. However, it appears the Reds’ interest has remained following his successful spells at Fiorentina and Roma in Serie A. . He would add much-needed pace to Jurgen Klopp’s side Aside from Sadio Mane and young Sheyi Ojo, Liverpool are severely lacking speed within their ranks. Klopp’s relentless, attacking style of play worked best when Mane used his pace to beat players and break through the last…
If this is Jose Mourinho’s pivotal transfer window at Manchester United, then it is off to a mixed start. Antoine Griezmann was considered one of the club’s top summer targets. But on Thursday it was revealed United had “cooled” their interest. A few hours later, the French forward tweeted “Now more than ever Atleti. All together.” It was interpreted as a commitment to the Spanish side and came hours after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Atletico’s transfer ban for breaching FIFA rules on signing underage players. Whether United’s move to pull back or Griezmann’s to stay came first…
There was an entertaining joke doing the rounds last season that Leicester City bought the Premier League title for €5.6 million and sold it to Chelsea for €32m. The subject of the wisecrack was the Blues midfield dynamo N’Golo Kante, whose departure from the King Power Stadium and arrival at Stamford Bridge proved pivotal in the fortunes of both clubs. Leicester’s star waned markedly enough for manager Claudio Ranieri — who had steered the Foxes to unlikely glory — to be sacked, while Chelsea, under the guidance of Antonio Conte, were transformed from also-rans to champions. Of course Conte’s football…
Manchester United are interested in signing Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, Sky sources understand. Jose Mourinho was in charge at the Bernabeu when Varane moved to Real in 2011, coaching the defender for two seasons at the club, and he has identified the France international as a target for United in this window as he looks to strengthen his defensive options. The 24-year old could claim his third Champions League winners’ medal on Saturday if Real can overcome Juventus in the final in Cardiff and would also become the youngest defender to do so, eclipsing Paolo Maldini, who managed the…
VICTOR LINDELOF has responded to transfer speculation linking him with Manchester United. But what the 22-year-old Swedish international has to say is not good news for Jose Mourinho. For the Benfica central defender hints that he would prefer to stay in Portugal. Nothing obviously happened then and Lindelof, nicknamed the Iceman, was instead handed a new contract at Benfica that takes him up to 2021. Now Lindelof’s name is hot news again with United thought to be keen on a double deal along with his Benfica team-mate Nelson Semedo. The pair could cost up to £83million but Lindelof told VLT:…
Gareth Bale fought through the pain, obliged to take pills to get him through training and matches, but he concedes that the Champions League final in his home city might still have come too soon for him to start. Real Madrid’s Cardiff‑born forward admitted that he returned too soon after surgery on an ankle ligament injury sustained in November and that he is not yet fully fit. He said he was prepared to play a substitute’s role in the match with Juventus at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, after six months of suffering. Bale’s ligament came away from his right…
Zinedine Zidane believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s inspirational leadership will be the decisive factor when Real Madrid bid for Champions League final history against Juventus on Saturday. Ronaldo is firmly in the spotlight as Zidane’s side try to become the first club to win consecutive European Cup finals since AC Milan 27 years ago. While some criticised Ronaldo for his erratic performances in Real’s Champions League final victories over Atletico Madrid, he still scored the winning penalty in last year’s showpiece and also netted in the 2014 title match. Ronaldo has been in transcendent form once again this season, reaching 400 career…
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says an “appointment with history” awaits his side and Juventus in Saturday’s glamour Champions League final at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Ramos is hoping to lift the trophy for the third time in four years, which would make Zinedine Zidane’s team the first to have successfully defended it in the Champions League era. Juventus, who have lost four finals since winning the tournament for a second time in 1996, are seeking to complete the first treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and European Cup crowns in their history. “We have an appointment with history,” Ramos told…
Nigeria kick-off their quest for a berth in the 2019 ANC on Saturday in Uyo after failing to make it to the last two editions in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Sacrilege for the west Africans considering how football crazy the country is and that they have appeared in 17 previous competitions and five World Cups. Facing them will be Bafana Bafana ranked 11th in Africa and 65th in the world and this in past would probably have prompted a snicker from the Nigeria faithful. After all South Africa has never beaten them in any competitive game and only once in…
Relations between Chelsea and Tottenham remain frosty to this day in no small part due to the way the Blues hijacked their rivals deal for Willian. The Brazilian was lined up as a target for Spurs as they looked to spend their ‘Gareth Bale money’, and a deal looked likely before Chelsea stole in to sign him. William has been a big success at Stamford Bridge but found his chances more limited under Antonio Conte, and now could do Tottenham an inadvertent favour. The Sun report Willian is being lined up by Bayern Munich in a £43 million deal to…
Barcelona are reportedly edging closer to completing a £43million transfer move for Benfica right-back and long-time Manchester United target Nelson Semedo. The 23-year-old has long been regarded as one of the most promising up-and-coming defenders in Europe, and would fill a problem position at the Nou Camp if he did make the move. Barca have also been linked with Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin and Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta in that position, after failing to adequately replace Dani Alves after his move to Juventus last summer. Still, United looked to be making progress on a move for Semedo alongside his Benfica team-mate Victor…
Chelsea are reportedly ready to walk out on a move for Monaco midfielder Tiemoué Bakayoko after growing frustrated by prolonged negotiations with ‘intermediaries’. The Blues have been in talks with the Frenchman for close to two months and had been believed to be close to agreeing a £42million deal. However, French publication L’Equipe claim Antonio Conte’s side are frustrated by intermediaries connected to the player that are dragging out talks. Chelsea are keen on Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso and held talks with Lyon’s president Jean-Michel Aulas last week in London. L’Equipe report that the Blues are ready to abandon their…
It’s the 15th anniversary of The Eminem Show, so Eminem is re-releasing the album on cassette for those that can’t resist collecting outdated modes of technology. As Pitchfork reports, the various packages went on sale on the rapper’s website last night. For varying amounts, fans can purchase the cassette, a t-shirt, and a poster in different combinations. A offer that included an autographed poster with the other items is all sold out already. Eminem has also reissued The Slim Shady LP on cassette, and, upon the 16th birthday of The Marshall Mathers LP last year, Eminem similarly sold the album…
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye West’s Adidas Yeezy sneakers released thus far can be grouped into two categories: low-top knit runner styles and suede-covered high-tops. But the rapper-designer’s footwear offerings could soon expand to new looks. West’s personal barber (and designer in his own right) Ibn Jasper took to Instagram Wednesday to share a look at what’s said to be sneakers from the upcoming Yeezy Season 6 collection. Conspicuously different from previous Yeezys drops, this iteration uses a mixed material upper which combines leather, suede and…
ABC’s intro leading up to Game 1 of the NBA Finals was masterfully put together. It featured highlights from past Finals, including the prior two Cavs-Warriors battles. The perfect touch was Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble” playing over it. The Kendrick theme throughout the playoffs was awesome. But this was a wonderful compilation to get you hyped for what hopefully is a thrilling series. Between the Warriors’ first championship in decades, and the Cavaliers capturing one for a city that was desperately thirsty for a title, you could feel the energy. The end with Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and LeBron…
Denrele Edun and Amira Ibrahim Alfa have been announced as red carpet hosts of the 2017 Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2017. The 2017 Africa Fashion Week Nigeria set to hold at the National Theatre on the 3rd to 4th June will witness over 50 designers showcasing new collections on the runway with a theme ‘Celebrating the Vibrant Pulse of Africa’ in place to celebrate the rich culture of Africa and her style with designers in tune with this presenting their new collection at the 2-day event. Designers including Modella, Kola Kuddus, Maufechi, Regalia, Zizi Cardow, Marobuk, Tash by Tasha, Linda…
BBN star Gifty has just revealed she’s giving Soma the cold shoulder. According to her, she no longer picks his calls as it was all part of her plan. She said, “Soma was an easy target who fell for my game plan during BBNaija. I no longer pick his calls.” Meanwhile, Gifty had kicked off what can be termed a relationship with fellow housemate Soma, who was evicted from the show on Sunday, February 5, 2017. Four days after Soma’s eviction, Gifty moved on to Bally, describing the Big Brother House as a dormitory during her diary session with Biggie.
Serena Williams has revealed that she’s keeping her baby’s gender a surprise. This comes after her sister Venus Williams’ dropped a bombshell on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. Venus seemed to have accidentally revealed that Serena was expecting a girl during an interview with Eurosport. “She’s going to call me ‘favourite aunt,” she said. “We’re all like, ‘Baby V, baby Lyn, baby Isha.’ We all want the baby to be named after us.” Serena, however, set the record straight in an Instagram post on Thursday, June 1, 2017. “I think the surprise of knowing what you are going to have on…
Internationally recognized music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba has announced the release of the official music video for his latest single, Holy Holy. He made the announcement on social media today. The track ‘Holy Holy’ was released in April 2016. 2Baba did the premiere live performance of the single at the grand finale event of the Big Brother Naija show in South Africa on the 9th of April. The song has received rave reviews for its lyrics, sound and delivery. Against speculations of whether the message of the song was directed at certain individuals, the ‘Holy Holy’ music…