Sports
Wazupnaija – Naija Entertainment blogs & Forums – Sports
Everton have been in talks with 23-yr-old’s agents, Toffees weighing up a bid now
Everton have been linked with a move for the Juventus defender Merih Demiral in recent weeks and it appears that the player’s agents have been in talks with the Premier League club for weeks now. According to Corriere Torino (via Sportwitness), the 23-year-old Turkish defender will be up for sale this summer and the Toffees are weighing up a bid of around €25-30 million for him. Apparently, Juventus are hoping to recoup as much as possible for the young centre half because of the interest in him this summer. The likes of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are thought to be keeping tabs on the player as well. However, Demiral will wait until after the Euros before making a concrete decision on his future. The 23-year-old is highly rated across Europe and he could prove to be a superb lon...
Thomas Tuchel confirms double Chelsea injury blow, discusses Gilmour’s playing prospects
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed a double injury blow for the Blues ahead of the Premier League meeting against Fulham on Saturday. Mateo Kovacic has been absent for the past five games with a hamstring injury, and he has now suffered a setback in training before the London derby. Speaking in a press conference, Tuchel confirmed Kovacic’s absence and said that he could be doubtful for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final tie against Real Madrid. Rudiger also won’t feature against the Cottagers after picking up a knock in Madrid. However, Tuchel was optimistic about the centre-back’s availability for the return leg. He told Chelseafc.com: “Unfortunately, he’s still injured. He trained with us, but he’s still not fully confident. He felt something at the end of the tr...
Leicester City to rival Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign in-demand £40m star
Leicester City could compete with Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham this summer, Football Insider reports. Abraham has had another good campaign with the Blues, registering 12 goals and six assists from 31 appearances in all competitions. However, he has fallen out of favour since Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as the manager in January. He has played just three minutes since March. It was recently reported that he could be sold for £40 million this summer, and it appears that there could be plenty of competition to sign him. Villa and Wolves are keeping a close watch on his situation, and the Foxes are ready to compete with the Midlands clubs for the striker’s services. Sportslens view: Abraham appears likely to leave the Blues this s...
Report shares why manager Spurs want because of Kane will consider the job, talks held
England manager Gareth Southgate is thought to be flattered by Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in him, according to Standard Sport. However, he would only consider the role if he is sacked by the England FA following a disappointing European Championship campaign. Southgate currently has no plans to walk away from the Three Lions job to manage Spurs, but that could change after this summer. Chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly considering the 50-year-old for the job due to his relationship with star striker Harry Kane. The England international has huge respect for Southgate, and appointing him could help Tottenham retain his services. Spurs have also been linked with RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann and Ajax’s Erik ten Hag, but the duo are no longer available for the job. The German h...
Spurs set for major boost, 89-cap international close to signing a new deal
South Korean international Heung-min Son is expected to sign a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur. According to Daily Star, the attacker is close to an agreement with the Londoners. The 28-year-old has been in exceptional form, contributing 15 goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season. The 89-cap South Korean international is one of the best players at the club, and tying him down to a long term contract should be a top priority for chairman Daniel Levy. Son was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich earlier in the season, but it seems that the player is prepared to stay with Spurs. The Premier League club are yet to appoint a long term replacement for Jose Mourinho, with three targets already ruled out of the running. Julian Nagelsman, Jesse Marsch and...
Report suggests 26-yr-old Aston Villa player will be told to find a new club this summer
Aston Villa are willing to cut their losses on Belgian defender Bjorn Engels. According to Football Insider, the West Midlands club will inform the defender that he is free to find a new club in the summer. Villa paid around £7 million for Engels in 2019 but they are unlikely to recoup their outlay as he has been a major disappointment at Villa Park. The defender has not featured in the Premier League this season, with Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa ahead of him in the pecking order. The 26-year-old has not played for Dean Smith’s side since the 4-0 defeat at Leicester City in March 2020 and a summer move appears to be on the cards. Reports in Belgium have linked Engels with a return to his home country, with Royal Antwerp and Club Brugge thought to hold an interest. Engels has three yea...
Spurs hoping to land managerial target by offering to triple his wages
Tottenham Hotspur are determined to lure Brendan Rodgers away from Leicester City this summer. According to Football Insider, the London club are prepared to offer him a bumper contract which would triple his wages. The Leicester manager has done an excellent job at the King Power Stadium, and it is no surprise that Spurs are looking to appoint him as a replacement for Jose Mourinho. Rodgers is close to guiding the Foxes to Champions League football, but he has recently claimed that he will not be taking over at Spurs. However, the Londoners are not prepared to abandon their pursuit, and they will be eager to convince Rodgers to change his mind. He has done well to implement a free-flowing attacking style of football at Leicester and is excellent at nurturing young talents. Raheem Sterling...
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs Everton: Smith to make three changes, 23-yr-old to start
Aston Villa face Everton in the Premier League this weekend, and they will be desperate to bounce back from their abysmal run of form with a victory at Goodison Park. Villa have won just one of their last six league matches, and manager Dean Smith is under pressure to turn their form around. Everton have an excellent recent home record against Villa, racking up a nine-game unbeaten run on their own patch. The Toffees head into this game on the back of a win against Arsenal, and they will be full of confidence here. That said, Carlo Ancelotti’s men aren’t exactly in great form. Before their victory over Arsenal, they failed to win five Premier League games in a row. However, they will be confident of beating a Villa team that is shorn of the services of Trezeguet, Morgan Sanson and Jack Gre...
Predicted Newcastle XI vs Arsenal: Bruce to make one change, 29-yr-old to start
Newcastle United host Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday and will be aiming to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation. The last time these two sides met earlier this season, the Gunners recorded a 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners have an exceptional head-to-head record against Newcastle, winning 15 of their last 17 meetings. However, the Magpies will be eager to upset the odds this weekend as they strive to pull clear of the relegation zone. Newcastle head this game on the back of three draws and two wins in their last six Premier League matches, and Arsenal cannot afford to underestimate them. Steve Bruce’s side bagged a 1-1 draw at Liverpool last weekend, and they will fancy their chances of defeating the Gunners on Sunday. Predicted Newcastle starting line-up: Dub...
‘One of the best players’: Manchester City star raves about £156m Liverpool target
Manchester City winger Bernardo Silva has showered heaps of praise on Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe. Pep Guardiola’s side beat PSG 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, and they managed to keep Mbappe quiet. The French striker was prevented from having a single shot on goal during the game. However, Silva was full of praise for his former Monaco teammate, saying playing against him is a challenging task. He has hailed him as one of the best players in the world at the moment. Silva said about Mbappe, as quoted by Manchester Evening News: “It’s tough to play against him. I have played with him and against him. It’s much better to play with him on your side. He is a great player. “I wish him all the best, except in this round against us! I’m very happy to...
UCL-winning German boss reportedly interested in becoming Tottenham next manager
Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick is thought to be interested in becoming Tottenham Hotspur’s next boss, despite being linked to the German national team job, according to The Telegraph. However, Spurs have not reciprocated the interest despite their desire to appoint a top-class replacement for Jose Mourinho. Their search has not gone smoothly to date, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy thwarted in his attempts to replace the Portuguese. Levy wanted RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann to succeed Mourinho, but Bayern Munich pipped him to the 33-year-old. Spurs turned to Ajax Erik ten Hag, but the Eredivisie giants handed their manager a new contract until 2023 today. Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers is also on Levy’s radar, but it will potentially cost around £70 million to recruit t...
Securing Champions League football will not impact Harry Kane’s decision to remain at Tottenham
Interim Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ryan Mason has insisted that failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League will not impact Harry Kane’s future. Addressing the media before his side’s Premier League clash against Sheffield United on Sunday, Mason was quizzed about the matter. He said: “I don’t think so. Harry Kane loves this football club. That’s been proven over the last seven or eight years. “He’s one of the best strikers in the world. Everyone knows that. We know that, and I’d like to think Harry knows that as well.” SL View: Are trophies required to justify Kane’s world-class status? Harry Kane’s Carabao Cup disappointment could spark the beginning of the end for his Tottenham career Few would disagree with Mason’s comments regarding Kane’s world-class status, with the...
