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Showing posts from January, 2023

MIKEL ARTETA NOMINATED AS PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE MONTH

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Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta, has been nominated for the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award for January. It is the fourth time the Arsenal boss has been on the shortlist for the division’s monthly prize this term and is looking for his third success of the season after scooping August and November/December’s prizes. In a tough month that saw Arsenal boss go up against three teams vying for a place in the top four, Arsenal remained unbeaten – drawing 0-0 with Newcastle United before a memorable 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby. That was followed up by last weekend’s 3-2 success over Manchester United to restore their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Arteta is up against Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper, who saw his team rise from 19th to 13th after claiming eight points from four games, as well as Roberto De Zerbi who saw his Brighton & Hove Albion side net nine goals in three matches. Unai Emery is another contend...

JURGEN KLOPP'S LIVERPOOL REBUILD IS LONG TERM

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The confirmation that this is no ordinary Liverpool slump came with Jurgen Klopp's teamsheet against Chelsea last weekend, not that there have been many slumps under his tenure of course. In leaving the likes of Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho out of the starting XI there was a tacit suggestion from the Liverpool manager that all is not well, and that major changes are needed. In came Joe Gomez, Naby Keita and most intriguingly of all Stefan Bajcetic, the latter fresh from a stellar performance in the FA Cup win at Wolves and in for his first Premier League start. And he did well, about as well as it was possible for anyone to do in such a disjointed game that left no-one in any doubt about the state of flux that is currently surrounding both clubs. New, expensive faces may be appearing at Chelsea every five minutes, but at Liverpool there is already a sense of the long game being played, and even perhaps of this season being written off as merely an audition f...

LEON EDWARDS DEFENDS HIS UFC WELTERWEIGHT TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME

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Leon Edwards has insisted he won't be chasing another highlight-reel knockout against Kamaru Usman in their trilogy fight. Edwards, 31, defends his UFC welterweight title for the first time since winning against Usman when they meet for the third time at UFC 286 on March 19. 'Rocky' knocked out Usman last August with a Hail Mary head kick after losing the majority of the fight, becoming just the second British champion in UFC history after Michael Bisping first achieved the feat in 2016. The Brit thinks the high altitude of Salt Lake City, where his second fight against Usman was held, was detrimental to his performance. Edwards is predicting a better performance from himself this time around and doesn't care how he beats Usman, as long as he leaves the octagon with the 170lb belt around his waist. “I can see it being a totally different fight from the second fight, it’s also about how can he come back after the knockout," Edwards said. ...

ROMA SQUAD CELEBRATE JOSE MOURINHO'S BIRTHDAY

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Jose Mourinho was treated to a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' from his Roma squad on Thursday, January 26 to celebrate the Portuguese manager's 60th birthday. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United and now Roma manager was serenaded by the assembled side in their dressing room, accompanied by numerous members of his backroom staff, and was given a cake to mark the occasion.

ERIK TEN HAG URGES STRIKER TO EXTEND CONTRACT AND REMAIN AT THE CLUB

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Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag has urged Marcus Rashford to sign his new contract and remain at the club. Ten Hag also promised the attacker that he (ten Hag) can 'construct the best team in the world'. Rashford is arguably Manchester United's best player this season, scoring 17 goals and producing six assists in 28 games. The Red Devils triggered a one-year extension on Rashford's contract in an attempt to stave off Paris Saint-Germain who have long held an interest in the 25-year-old. With just 18 months now left on his deal, the Dutch boss wants the player to commit to the club. "I think he understands Man United is his club," Ten Hag said during a press conference on Tuesday. "I think he is playing his best football. Then, I would say this is the best place to be because we want to construct the best team, first in England, then in Europe, then in the world. "Definitely he is important for us and if we want to get th...

CHELSEA WINGER EAGER FOR A FRESH START IN ITALY

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Chelsea want to sell winger Hakim Ziyech to AS Roma and not to a Premier League rival, The Sun reports. The Blues are holding out for Roma to buy out-of-favour Ziyech in an effort not to sell the Moroccan to a Premier League rival. Ziyech, who enjoyed a productive 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, has attracted interest from several top-flight clubs across Europe, including Roma, Tottenham, Newcastle and Everton. His frustrating two-and-a-half-year spell at Stamford Bridge is expected to come to an end by the close of the January transfer window next Tuesday. The 29-year-old is reportedly eager to move to Italy for a fresh start. However, Roma are currently looking to sell highly-rated youngster Nicolo Zaniolo in order to raise the £25million to sign Ziyech. It is believed Chelsea are happy to wait for Roma to find sufficient funds and are keen not to offload the former Ajax star to another top-flight club in England.

LIONEL MESSI SET TO LEAVE LEAGUE 1 CHAMPIONS

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Lionel Messi is unwilling to put pen to paper on a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain and could leave the Ligue 1 champions in the summer. The 35-year-old is out of contract in June, but he was expected to sign a one-year extension with PSG. Marca reports Messi is not motivated to win more titles in France or the Champions League again, after winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. He may return to Argentina or move to the MLS, with David Beckham's Inter Miami interested. Barcelona aren't expected to try and re-sign their greatest ever player due to their financial woes. Messi would need to agree to a significantly lower salary if he returns to Barca, but that is also the case if he moves to Argentina. An emotional return to his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys has been rumoured. Miami would also not be able to match Messi's salary at PSG, but in the past, he has previously spoken about playing in the MLS and owns a property in Miami.

ARSENAL DEFENDER TO GO ON LOAN AT FULHAM

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Fulham have struck a deal to take Arsenal defender Cedric Soares on loan for the rest of the season, with his playing opportunities at the Emirates extremely limited. The 31-year-old has not started a Premier League game yet this season, making just two substitute appearances in the top flight, while he has only made two other appearances in cup competitions. The Portugal international is primarily a right-back but can fill in at left-back and even the centre of defence, but despite his versatiltiy he has found playing time very hard to come by under Mikel Arteta this season. Fulham manager Marco Silva worked with Soares at Sporting and has been keen to reunite with the defender at Craven Cottage. Silva's side are enjoying a fantastic season after promotion from the Championship, currently seventh in the Premier League and in contention for European football. ESPN report that a deal has been agreed for Soares to move across London on a six-month loan with no option or o...

IGHALO NAMES HIS GOAT

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Former Manchester United and Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo, has described Cristiano Ronaldo as his Greatest player Of All Time (GOAT), adding that he admires the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Ighalo plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia while Ronaldo recently joined Al-Nassr. Both teams are the most successful in the Saudi Arabian football league. Despite the fact both teams will be fighting for trophies and both players will compete for the Saudi league golden boot, Ighalo says he has too much respect for Ronaldo. "Ronaldo is a legend. He is the best, for me, he is the GOAT," Ighalo told Oma Sports TV. "I have too much respect for him, admiration for him. "He is going to play for his own team and he will score goals and me, I am going to play for my own team and I will score goals. "So we will see how it goes. I wish him all the best in Al-Nassr, then I will do my job for Al-Hilal and we will see at the e...

VICTOR OSIMHEN'S MOVE TO NAPOLI UNDER INVESTIGATION

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The Naples Public Prosecutor’s Office has reportedly requested a six-month extension for their investigation into the transfer of Victor Osimhen from Lille to Napoli.  The Nigerian forward joined the Partenopei in September 2020 from the Ligue 1 outfit in a deal worth €72m, plus €10m in various add-ons.  Prosecutor Francesco De Falco, working alongside Assistant Prosecutor Sergio Amato, believes that Napoli may have produced false communications in their financial statements for July 2020 to June 2021, based on that Osimhen transfer.  Should new evidence emerge, sporting proceedings could be reopened against the Partenopei, similar to the situation Juventus are currently dealing with.

NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL QUITS WATFORD

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Nigerian international, William Troost-Ekong, has announced his exit from club, Watford FC. He made the announcement on Monday via his Instagram account. The Nigerian defender said, "The moment has come for me to move on from #watfordfcofficial after three special seasons shared with everyone involved. From everyone at the restaurant, security workers, volunteers at the stadium to the medical & office staff and all the rest you have made my time what it was. The coaches and most of all my teammates, I can only say thank you!!! "The Pozzo family for believing in me and the important five years of my career at both clubs with the highlight the promotion and a chance to achieve my boyhood dream of playing in the Premier League." He is set to join Serie A club, Salernitana, in coming days.