Paris Saint-Germain are pushing ahead with their move for Jerome Boateng and Watford have made a late bid for Goncalo Guedes, a source close to the club have confirmed. A source recently said an agreement has already been reached with Boateng over a move to PSG after talks began prior to the start of the World Cup. Sport Bild reported that Boateng will be represented by agent Christian Nerlinger in talks with PSG sporting director Antero Henrique on Thursday as a deal moves closer. And a source confirmed a report from Le Parisien that PSG and Bayern could agree a…
Author: David Folami
Manchester City will aim to improve their performance rather than beat last season’s record-breaking Premier League tally of 100 points, manager Pep Guardiola has said. “People ask ‘can you improve on 100 points?’ and I say no because we are not here to do that. However, individually the players can improve,” Guardiola said during the Sky Sports Premier League launch. “Of course we can improve. If I felt we could not improve the team I would call my chairman and say: ‘I leave.’ But still, we believe we can do better and dominate more. Will it happen? I don’t know…
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be missed by Real Madrid as a new-look side takes shape under Julen Lopetegui, Dani Ceballos has said. And speaking after the 2-1 win over Roma in New York, playmaker Ceballos said Madrid’s other attacking stars had stepped up in the Portugal captain’s absence. “We are playing in a different way, using the ball differently, taking up different positions on the pitch,” Ceballos said. “This Madrid scores goals. [Gareth] Bale is plugged in, Karim [Benzema], Marco [Asensio] … you will not notice Cristiano’s absence.” Ceballos, signed from Real Betis last summer, started all three ICC games…
Tottenham have become the first Premier League club to go an entire summer without signing a single player since the transfer window was created in 2003. Thursday’s deadline passed without Spurs signing any new players, either permanently or on loan, so coach Mauricio Pochettino will open the club’s new stadium with the same squad that finished third in the Premier League in May. In addition to being the first Premier League team in 15 years to make a summer signing, Tottenham are also the only club in Europe’s top five leagues and England’s top four tiers without a new player…
Thibaut Courtois has said it would be “fantastic” if Eden Hazard could one day join him at Real Madrid during his unveiling at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday. “He is very happy that I am here because he knows how important it was for me to come to Real Madrid,” Courtois said. “He is a wonderful player. I’d love to play alongside him again and we’ll have to see what happens in the future. If he ends up here one day, that would be fantastic.” Courtois signed his six-year Madrid contract before addressing the media, and he voiced his delight…
Barcelona maintain that Ousmane Dembele is not for sale this summer despite reported interest from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, sources have said. Journalist Kike Marin reported on Thursday that Arsenal had made an offer worth €100 million for the France international, hours before the transfer window closed in England. Earlier in the day, reports in France had suggested Dembele was also a target for PSG, who have until the end of the month to complete a deal. However, Barca have said throughout the transfer window that their plan is to keep hold of the forward and insist that…
Sanchez has said he expects the Brazil midfielder to be a great addition to the squad, which finished second in the Premier League last season. “The truth is that [Fred] impressed me a lot in his first game,” Sanchez said. “It’s what the team lacked — someone who plays ‘jogo bonito,’ as they say in Brazil. And Andreas Pereira too. I think they are two players who have quality and they could help me a lot.” Sanchez signed for United in January, and has so far struggled to replicate the goals and attacking threat he consistently displayed during his three-and-a-half…
Chelsea’s club-record signing, Kepa Arrizabalaga, insisted his £71.5 million price tag is not on his mind as he was unveiled at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. “In terms of the price, it’s something I don’t think about,” Kepa said via a translator. “I’m just going to be myself and try to give my best. “It’s not in my mind. Chelsea has made a great bet in taking me. I’m really happy to be here and I’ll put everything in to repay the trust in me. “I don’t think there will be additional pressure [from the price tag]. The only pressure I…
Jamie Vardy has signalled his intention to see out his career with the Foxes as he signed a new contract until June 2022. Vardy, 31, has scored 88 goals for Leicester since his arrival from Fleetwood Town in 2012 and netted 20 during the 2017-18 Premier League campaign before heading to the World Cup with England this summer. “Everybody knows how I feel about playing for this Football Club and it’s a great feeling to know that I can look forward to another four years as a Leicester City player,” he said. “The journey that me, the team and the…
Uche Secondus has said that Senator Godswill Akpabio has endangered his political career. Akpabio formally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party on Wednesday, August 8, 2018. The PDP chairman also said that it was a pity that the Senator will move to a sinking ship. Secondus said that Akpabio defected to the ruling party without the blessing of Akwa-Ibom state people. He said “I cannot fathom any reason why on earth Senator Akpabio should work against the tide, moving at opposite direction to a place reasonable persons are escaping from. “How on earth can anybody who…
Yemi Osinbajo has said that President Buhari has been growing the Nigerian economy despite the many challenges the country is facing. According to Punch, Osinbajo also said that all the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), put together cannot defeat Buhari. He also called on the people of Akwa-Ibom state to have faith in Buhari’s administration, adding that things will soon be alright. “I came to thank Akwa Ibom people for their remarkable show of solidarity. I came to tell you that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari loves the people of Akwa Ibom. “I want to put…
GoldCoast, mother of the governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, is dead. The Governor confirmed the passing on of his mother on Thursday, August 9, 2018. She was 72 years old. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, the Governor said the late GoldCoast died of cancer at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas where she had been receiving treatment. Governor Dickson expressed appreciation to the Centre especially the team of medical professionals who did their best to save the life of his mother. Governor Dickson also thanked family members, friends,…
Yemi Osinbajo has described the current political happenings in Nigeria as a battle between the good and bad elements whose aim was to continue suffocating the nation by milking it dry. He reeled out the achievements of the administration focused on transforming the nation infrastructure like roads, rail lines, agriculture, education, health, security and the fight against corruption. “We will not relent,” he said, adding that no amount of blackmail will stop the government. He used the occasion to call on the electorate in Daura north senatorial district to vote for the APC, noting that the election was necessitated by…
Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said his mission as new All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Kwara is not to contest any elective position in 2019 but to rescue the state from hawks. He said the recent defection from APC by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and his followers had presented auspicious opportunity for the people to liberate the state from those who had held it to ransom. “What an auspicious time for all of us! Never before, have we had a great opportunity like we have now to take our state back from the rapacious few, who have…
Bola Tinubu has warned lawmakers planning to impeach President Buhari in the National Assembly to desist from the plot. Tinubu said this in Akwa-Ibom during a rally held to welcome Senator Godswill Akpabio to the APC. According to the APC National Leader, Nigerians gave PDP a chance to rule for 16 years and they failed. Reports have it that Tinubu said “We believe in government of the people, for the people and by the people; but the conservatives believe in government of sharing. “We say Nigerian money belongs to Nigerians. We say Nigerians must be given development. We believe in…
Mr Ibrahim Idris has called for a closer working relationship between the Police Force and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to reposition the force. Idris also pledged the loyalty of the force to Smith and also requested for his support and assistance to move the Nigeria Police Force forward. A statement by the commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said Idris made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the PSC, Mr Musiliu Smith, on Thursday in Abuja. Responding, Smith assured Idris that the commission under his administration would do its best…
All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Bukola Saraki is not fit to be Senate President. In a statement signed by its acting publicity secretary, Yekini, Nabena, on Thursday, August 9, 2018, the APC described Saraki as selfish politician. “In every democratic country, the position of the Senate President is one of the highest political offices one can attain. It is a position reserved for the best of the best, experienced and exemplary politicians who by their character and conduct in public offices, the younger generation look up to as role models. “In terms of exemplary personage, the reverse is the…
The United Nations on Thursday inaugurated Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, as an Advisory Board Member of the United Nations Road Safety Trust Fund (UNRSTF), at the UN Secratariat in Geneva, Switzerland. He said that as a member of the UNRSTF Advisory Board, Amaechi will play an important role of collaborating to reducing the number of accidents and casualties; and making a real impact on global road safety. Ibeleme said that the discussions and decisions at the meeting will greatly shape the operationalization of the UN Road Safety Trust Fund. “The UNRSTF was established in April 2018 to address…
The Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) Deaf Group on Thursday commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for his administration’s strides in the state and his support for the less-privileged. The Chairman of the group, Mr Fatai Adisa, gave the commendation in Ikeja when he led members of the group on a rally to Alausa, the seat of power in the state. He said Ambode had recorded phenomenal achievements in the area of infrastructure and had given the vulnerable, particularly people with disabilities, a sense of belonging with his programmes. He said facts available revealed the governor had the interest of residents at…
Issa Rae won a Peabody Award for her Emmy–nominated series Insecure. But even she gets a little tongue-tied in front of Rihanna. On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Rae explained she ran into Riri at the Met Gala. Although the two have already met, it didn’t stop Rae from getting a bit flustered. “I just saw her sitting at the table and I had had a few drinks,” explained Rae around the 1:50 mark above. “So I was like ‘Rihanna’s over there, let me go say hi, she knows me, we homegirls.’ And I went up to her and…