Home » Sports » Page 1060

Sports

WazupnaijaNaija Entertainment  blogs & ForumsSports

Newcastle linked with a surprise move for 49-yr-old Premier League manager

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce is under tremendous pressure because of his side’s abysmal run of form, and he could be out of a job at the end of this season. According to Daily Mail, the Magpies are looking at Sean Dyche as a potential replacement. Dyche has done well at Burnley over the past few seasons but may relish the opportunity to manage what is perceived as a bigger club. SL View: Dyche a suitable replacement? The 49-year-old’s appointment might not go down too well with the fans who are unhappy with their team’s playing style under Bruce. Dyche employs a similar defensive style of football. Newcastle are currently two points above the relegation zone, and the fans will be desperately hoping that their side can beat the drop to the Championship. In addition to having a devas...

‘Tough one to take’ – Arsenal striker reacts to international heartbreak

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has taken to Instagram to react as England were dumped out of the European Under-21 Championship this evening. While the young Lions secured a 2-1 win over Croatia, it was not enough as they needed to win by two clear goals to progress to the quarter-finals. Aidy Boothroyd’s side suffered costly defeats to Portugal and Switzerland in their first two Group D games, and they had to beat Croatia by two goals and hope that the Swiss would lose to the Portuguese. The Croats secured a place in the last-eight of the competition due to a superior goal difference, and the result left Nketiah heartbroken. The Gunners academy graduate won a penalty for his side 12 minutes into the game, going down under the challenge of Bartol Franjic in the box. Crystal Palace’s Eberech...

Everton starlet a wanted man as Championship clubs circle

Everton youngster Rhys Hughes is attracting attention from the Championship, according to a report from the Liverpool Echo. The Welsh starlet has impressed in Everton’s youth system, with the 19-year-old making 18 appearances for the under-23 side this season. Hughes has racked up two goals and five assists this season – a solid return for an attacking midfielder. As a result of his performances, clubs are already looking to sign him for next season. According to the report, Hughes is ‘attracting interest from the Championship following a breakout season at under-23 level.’ The club could choose to send him on loan in the summer to get some senior football under his belt. It is claimed they may wait until the next January transfer window before deciding to send the Welsh youngster out...

Alasdair Gold: Spurs eyeing 6ft 4in centre-back duo, one is an England international

According to football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on bolstering their defence this summer and are keeping tabs on Fulham’s Joachim Andersen and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Lewis Dunk. Sportslens View Spurs looked at Andersen when he was at Sampdoria but they did not move in time, and he ended up joining Lyon instead in the summer of 2019. The 24-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Fulham, featuring in 24 Premier League games and weighing in with a goal and an assist. The Craven Cottage outfit do not have an option to buy the player in the deal, but they will definitely be keen to retain his services if they escape the drop. Relegation for Fulham would boost Spurs’ chances in the race for the Denmark international, but he definitely would not come...

Bayern Munich chairman rules out Erling Haaland move

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has dismissed reports that the club are eyeing up a move for Norwegian striker Erling Braut Haaland. Bayern currently own the world’s most prolific striker in Robert Lewandowski. The Poland international has scored 97 goals over the past two seasons and could break the Bundesliga single-season record if he hits six more league goals this term. Lewandowski has been brilliant this season However, Lewandowski is set to turn 33 in the summer, and a long-term replacement will be needed. Haaland has been touted as his successor. Rummenigge has played down the links to the 20-year-old, insisting that they are not looking to replace Lewandowski just yet. Speaking to German outlet Bild, Rummenigge said: “I don’t know where the rumours have come from. I c...

The incredible amount Newcastle United spent on agent fees in 2020/21 season

Newcastle paid over £11 million to agents and intermediaries over the past 12 months, it has been revealed by the Football Association. Figures from all football clubs in England’s top four divisions were published by the FA on Wednesday, with Newcastle forking out the ninth highest fee in the Premier League. The Magpies signed Callum Wilson for a £20m last summer before securing the signings of Ryan Fraser and Jeff Hendrick on free transfers. Jamal Lewis also signed from Norwich on a five-year deal. The £11,349,953 Newcastle spent is a record fee for the club and is a drastic increase from the £9,010,554 they spent in the 2019/20 accounts. Chelsea paid the most of any team in England, paying just over £35,247,822 in intermediary fees following a season of big-money sig...

NSF: Borno to participate in 13 sports – official

Borno is to participate in 13 sports in the coming National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled for April 2 in Benin. The Information Officer of Borno Sports Council, Mr Ibrahim Tukur, made this known on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri. Tukur said the sports comprised football, handball, badminton, tennis, cycling, volleyball, taekwondo, wrestling, Kunfu, Karate and traditional sports like langa, local wrestling and dambe. Tukur said that the state is sending a contingent of 150 people, including sportsmen and officials. “In compliance with directive, samples have just been taken from all those going to for the Festival including the Commissioner for Sports for COVID-19 test,” Tukur said. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are look...

‘Save us’, ‘You’re our only hope’ – Some NUFC fans react to 29-yr-old’s social media post

Newcastle United could be set for a major injury boost with striker Callum Wilson hoping to return to action soon. The 29-year old suffered a hamstring injury against Southampton last month and the Magpies have struggled to score goals without him. The former Bournemouth striker joined Newcastle at the start of the season and he has established himself as a key player for Steve Bruce. Wilson has 10 goals to his name so far this season and he will be crucial to the Magpies’ survival hopes. The striker was initially expected to be ruled out for a couple of months but it seems but he could be back sooner. Wilson has already returned to the training pitch last week and he is working separately on his rehabilitation with coach Cristian Fernandez as per the Chronicle. The Newcastle United f...

West Ham and Everton initiate contact with 29-yr-old’s agent ahead of summer move

Serbian defender Nikola Maksimovic is set to leave Napoli at the end of this season. According to Nicolo Schira, several European clubs are thought to be interested in the player and the likes of West Ham United and Everton have already been in touch with his agent Fali Ramadani. Apparently, the two Premier League clubs have requested information from the player’s agent and it will be interesting to see if they follow up with a concrete offer for the defender this summer. SL View: Ideal bargain for Moyes and West Ham? Maksimovic has fallen down the pecking order at Napoli and he has started just 11 League games so far this season. The 29-year-old needs to play regularly at this stage of his career and a move to West Ham could be ideal for him. The Hammers could definitely use more dep...

Barcelona back in for Lautaro Martinez

Barcelona have revived their interest in Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez, claims Spanish newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness). Martinez joined Inter Milan from Racing Club in the summer transfer window of 2018. His time at the Nerazzurri has been successful, scoring 46 goals in all competitions. Lukaku and Martinez have been key to Inter’s success this season This season, his partnership with Romelu Lukaku has been a key part of Antonio Conte’s system. The two have scored 33 Serie A goals between themselves, making them the most productive strike duo in the league. Last summer, Martinez was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, following the departure of Luis Suarez. However, in the midst of financial difficulty, the Catalan giants failed to seal the transfer. Sport are now claiming...

Report shares what various sources think of Spurs potentially appointing Ralph Hassenhuttl

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a couple of managers of recent following the team’s struggles under head coach Jose Mourinho. What will happen to the Portuguese if Spurs end the campaign without a trophy and outside of the European places remains to be seen, but chairman Daniel Levy is definitely preparing for the worst-case scenario. RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann, Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers and Belgium’s Roberto Martinez have all been linked with the Tottenham job, and Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhuttl has been mentioned as a potential option too. However, his playing style could prove to be a stumbling block. According to The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke, various sources wonder whether the Austrian’s intense style would translate well to the bigger-name dressing room at...

Carlo Ancelotti outlines where his Everton side must improve

Carlo Ancelotti has outlined where his Everton players must improve while also emphasising that he must continue to improve as a manager. Everton have impressed under the Italian manager this season and are well placed in the race for the top six with a game in hand over many of their rivals. However, the Toffees have stumbled somewhat in recent weeks. Having been on a run of three straight wins, they were beaten by Chelsea at the beginning of March before being stunned by Burnley in their last fixture before the international break. Both performances were poor, and with games against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, West Ham United and Aston Villa to come, there is an urgent need to turn around their fortunes. Ancelotti has now outlined where Everton need to improve, with a particular emphasis...