Bayern Munich have signed former Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnabry from Werder Bremen on a three-year contract, the German champions said on Sunday. The 21-year-old scored 11 league goals for Werder last season and was also the joint top scorer at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Germany were silver medallists. “We’re pleased that in Serge Gnabry another young German international is coming to FC Bayern. Serge has developed a lot at Bremen,” Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement. Gnabry will join the Bundesliga champions on July 1, boosting manager Carlo Ancelotti’s options on the wings alongside Arjen Robben, Kingsley…
Author: David Folami
Didier Deschamps on Monday hailed the fabulous destiny of former France teammate Zinedine Zidane, who lead Real Madrid to consecutive Champions League titles. “It’s fabulous, no-one had done it,” said France coach Deschamps of Zidane’s achievement. “He was two-time European champion in a year and a half as coach. I’m very happy for him. It caps a season (in which he was) champion of Spain and champion of Europe. It’s hard to do better.” Deschamps — winner of the 1998 World Cup alongside Zidane — coached Monaco to a runner-up spot in the 2004 Champions League. “He (Zidane) took his…
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said on Sunday that he hopes to be fit for the start of the new season after recovering from the cruciate knee ligament injury that has prevented him from playing competitive football this year. The 26-year-old Germany international impressed in his first season for the club, playing 16 games before sustaining the serious injury against Watford on December 14. Gundogan returned to light training last week, working with the ball for the first time. “I think I’m in a good way,” he told the club’s official website on Sunday. “I’m working hard. So hopefully I…
England goalkeeper Joe Hart does not think Manchester City will hamper his chances of winning a move away from the Premier League club by putting a massive price tag on him, the 30-year-old has said. Hart, who joined City in 2010, completed a year-long loan spell at Italian side Torino last season, making 36 appearances as the club finished ninth in Serie A. Hart is looking for a permanent move away from the Etihad after being replaced by Claudio Bravo last season under manager Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard also signed Ederson from Benfica last week, so Hart is likely to…
Fewer top clubs should get automatic spots in the lucrative group stage of the Champions League, the umbrella organisation representing Europe’s domestic leagues (EPFL) said on Tuesday. EPFL chairman Lars-Christer Olsson said he wanted more teams from the biggest leagues to play their way through the qualifying competition instead. European soccer body Uefa last year announced that it would give more slots to teams from the four biggest leagues, effectively England, Spain, Germany and Italy, while cutting those allocated to sides from smaller countries. Those changes will come into effect for the 2018-21 cycle but Olsson told reporters he was…
Senator Dino Melaye has hit back at his predecessor, Smart Adeyemi for making claims of corruption against him. The representative of the Kogi West senatorial district has been under the spotlight again after Sahara Reporters leaked a tape last week of a telephone conversation that allegedly involved him and Justice Akon Ikpeme, the chairperson of the Kogi State Election Tribunal. The tape has sparked talks of illegal dealings between the two, and Adeyemi called for a thorough investigation of the matter on Sunday while addressing newsmen in Abuja. While speaking on the subject, Adeyemi had said, “I hereby call for…
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank, has appealed to Northern region leaders, Governors, Emirs and political leaders to advise youths of the region against making inflammatory statements. Frank in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to a call by Northern youths to Igbos to leave the region, said such call could build tensions across the country. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to take necessary steps to douse tension that may have been generated as a result of the threat. Frank also cautioned youths across the country not to give in to…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered five new political parties. They are: Young Progressive Party (YPP), Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP), All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) and Action Democratic Party (ADP). According to Punch, INEC, in a statement issued by its Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Prince Adedeji Soyebi, said “At present, 95 Associations have applied to the Commission for registration as political parties. Two of the associations voluntarily withdrew their applications. “The Commission today approved the applications of five of the associations which have fulfilled the constitutional requirements for…
Osagie Ize-Iyamu has lost his appeal against Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, at the Appeal Court in Benin City. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate’s appeal suit against Obaseki’s victory in last year’s gubernatorial election was dismissed by a five-man panel led by Justice M.B Dongban-Mensem. Ize-Iyamu challenged the outcome of the election, accusing Obaseki and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the process. The aggrieved PDP candidate claimed that the September 28 election was marked by corrupt practices, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of not complying with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act…
Nnamdi Kanu has received a huge honour in his hometown. According to several sources, the leader of the pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been given a look-alike statue in his home in Afara, Umahia the capital of Abia State. The statue was reportedly done by a sculptor and IPOB member named Mazi Okwuchukwu Njoku. He presented it to Kanu in the presence of family and members of IPOB. The IPOB leader, who is among the four defendants standing trial on charges bordering on Biafra agitation, is currently out on bail. However, the Federal Government revealed plans…
Head coach of South Africa’s national team, Stuart Baxter, has opened up on how his side claimed their first win over Nigeria in a competitive game. Two second half goals courtesy of Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau, saw Baxter’s side claim a famous away victory. “We opened up the game in the first half but unfortunately we did not score. Beating Nigeria is very interesting. “Nigeria is a very good side but my boys prevented them from scoring. We are trying to develop our boys and expose them,” he said after the match. Quit notice on Igbos: Fani-Kayode reveals real…
Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho is joining the battle for Sporting CP winger Gelson Martins. O Jogo says Barcelona and Real have been keeping tabs on the playmaker – as has Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. But the £52 million buyout clause might put off some suitors after the club tied him down to a lengthy contract in February. United need attacking reinforcements after Zlatan Ibrahimovic left and they returned to the Champions League thanks to their Europa League triumph. The Portugal international only scored six league goals last season but he laid on nine assists, the most in the Portuguese…
According to Stuart Pearce, Liverpool can still sign Virgil van Dijk this summer if they pay the £70 million that Southampton are demanding. It’s safe to say that there is very little clarity on where Liverpool stand as far as Virgil van Dijk is concerned. After being reported to the Premier League by Southampton for “tapping up,” Liverpool issued a public apology and retracted all interest in the Dutchman. So, where does that leave Liverpool? Well, the official statement that was issued on Monday leaves very little room for manoeuvring as it plainly states that the Reds are no longer…
Liverpool have been offered encouragement in their pursuit of Roma winger Mohamed Salah. The two clubs have spent the week haggling over a fee after Salah struck personal terms with Liverpool. Il Messaggero says Roma have identified former Newcastle flop Florian Thauvin as the winger’s replacement. The relatively cheap arrival of Thauvin from Marseille could offer Liverpool a glimmer of hope. Salah has told fans in Egypt he hopes to join Liverpool.
Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is being tracked by Juventus, sources in Italy have said. Juventus are closely monitoring Matic’s situation at Chelsea, with the midfielder yet to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge as he enters the final two years of his contract. Questions over Matic’s future at Chelsea have also been raised over the club’s reported pursuit of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko. Sources have said that Matic, who made 40 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last season, could be tempted to move on this summer if he finds himself down the pecking order in Antonio Conte’s plans.…
Antonio Conte has been urged to sign Alvaro Morata ahead of Romelu Lukaku for Chelsea by former Arsenal striker Paul Merson. The Premier League champions are believed to be closing in on a deal for the Everton striker, who has rejected a superior offer from Manchester United in favour of a return to Stamford Bridge. Morata, meanwhile, was wanted by Conte at Chelsea last summer and even held talks with the Italian about a move to the Premier League. But the Real Madrid striker has now reportedly agreed to join United, although Jose Mourinho’s side are yet to agree a…
Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is expected to be in London today for talks with Chelsea. The Daily Mail says Bakayoko is flying over to London this weekend with a move to Chelsea appearing imminent. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a fan of the 22-year-old, who would fit into their midfield alongside the ever-reliable N’Golo Kante. L’Equipe reports ASM and Chelsea are close to reaching an agreement over the midfielder’s fee, believed to be near the €40 million (£35m) mark. Discussions between the Blues and Bakayoko’s representatives have gone on for several weeks and a move seems very likely now. It…
It has not been a simple decision to leave Real Madrid, but Alvaro Morata wants to feel important and to have minutes in decisive matches, something that Jose Mourinho will give him at Manchester United. The striker is fed up with playing only when others need to take a rest and for this reason, he told the Los Blancos hierarchy of his intentions on Friday morning. Before Juanma Lopez, his agent since the age of 14, passed through the offices of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the player received a call that cleared any doubts he might have had regarding what…
Jose Mourinho desperately needs to bolster his attacking options this summer. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has suffered a long-term injury and is leaving Old Trafford. Meanwhile Wayne Rooney has struggled for regular match action and has been linked with a move to the MLS. Starsport understand United have turned to Morata after accepting defeat in their pursuit of Evertonstriker Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku was Jose Mourinho’s preferred choice to replace Ibrahimovic. But the Belgian bruiser looks set to snub United in favour of Chelsea United are baulking at Real’s £70m demand for Morata and have said £60m is their final offer. The Independent…
Manchester United are hopeful of doing a double striker deal for Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Torino’s Andrea Belotti in the next two weeks, after agreeing terms with the Spanish striker and submitting a bid of around £70m for Belotti. Manager Jose Mourinho has been keen to completely upgrade his forward line, especially with the anticipated departures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, and The Independent understands that the Portuguese has decided to press away with trying to sign two forwards – as well as three other players. United in the end agreed personal terms with Morata “very quickly”, and…