Sports
Wazupnaija – Naija Entertainment blogs & Forums – Sports
Liverpool star reveals what Virgil van Dijk told him before Wolves clash
Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum has revealed that Virgil van Dijk requested him to score against Wolverhampton Wanderers before the match. The Reds moved to second in the Premier League, joint-top with Tottenham Hotspur and only separated by goal difference, after earning an emphatic 4-0 win over Wolves on Sunday at Anfield. Wijnaldum kept his promise by scoring on the night and also performed Van Dijk’s signature celebration – putting his hand under his chin and wobbling his fingers. The 30-year-old explained to the club’s website about the celebration: “I already said that every goal I score this year I will dedicate to him because we all miss him. “It was great to have him back. He said to me in the dressing room, “I want to see something today, I want a goal” so I said: “...
Report shares why Dembele is not part of Celtic’s first-team picture
According to The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin, many people at Celtic are a little disappointed with the situation of academy graduate Karamoko Dembele at the club. The 17-year-old made his debut for the Hoops under-20 aged 13 and has featured for both Scotland and England at youth level. Dembele has made four appearances for Celtic senior team, making his debut in May 2019. The teenager winger became the youngest player to feature for a Scottish side in Europe when he came on a substitute in Celtic’s 2-0 defeat away against CFR Cluj in December 2019, and has been widely tipped for the top given his huge talents and potential. However, there have been concerns about his physical development and Celtic are said to be worried over his application and attitude. It is why Dembele is not part of the...
Manchester United tracking La Liga duo for Aaron Wan-Bissaka backup
Manchester United have been linked with moves for Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier, as well as Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly looking for another option in the right-back spot. Aaron Wan-Bissaka currently holds that position, with the alternatives being Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Brandon Williams – both of whom aren’t specialists in that position – and Ethan Laird, a young talent who needs time to develop. Wan-Bissaka has started all but two of Man Utd’s games this season in all competitions. The packed schedule and likely deep runs into domestic and European competitions make rotation a necessity. Wan-Bissaka is Man Utd’s number one right-back Reports are now saying that the Red Devils will look to La Liga for a second option on the right side of th...
Chelsea Plan to Reject All Bids For Callum Hudson-Odoi
Chelsea are planning to keep youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi at Stamford Bridge this January, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic. Hudson-Odoi has been at Chelsea since 2007, and he made his professional debut for the club in January 2018 against Newcastle United after coming through the youth ranks. The 20-year-old has made 73 appearances for the Blues, scoring on 11 occasions in all competitions. This form has earned him three caps for the English national team. Hudson-Odoi playing for England However, the arrivals of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, as well as the end-season form of Christian Pulisic, have seen the young Englishman’s playing time limited this season, starting just one league game so far. Nonetheless, The Athletic report that Chelsea are determined to keep the winger a...
Milan Set to Begin Contract Talks With Franck Kessie Amid Premier League Interest
AC Milan are ready to open negotiations with Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie following reports that Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were interested. Kessie came to the San Siro in June 2017 from Atalanta, on an initial two-year loan with an obligation to buy. He has since featured 151 times, scoring 20 goals in all competitions. The Ivorian has become an important cog in Stefano Pioli’s unbeaten side, featuring in every Serie A game so far as Milan sit five points clear at the top of the table. Kessie has become crucial at the San Siro As a result of his form, the Rossoneri are now planning to offer Kessie a new contract in an attempt to ward off any potential buyers, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Milan Live). The report states that Kessie’s current deal is worth €2.2m per ...
Report: Arsenal can sign Spurs target for €25m…but must do so within the next 24 days
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, a host of clubs including Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Dominik Szoboszlai. The January transfer window is now less than a month away, and Arsenal could be heavily busy as they desperately need a few good signings. Mikel Arteta’s side have underperformed this season, with Sunday’s defeat against derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur meaning they have had the worst start to a Premier League campaign in the club’s history. The Gunners are looking to add quality in their attacking ranks, and have been linked with a host of players, including Dominik Szoboszlai. The prodigiously gifted Red Bull Salzburg playmaker is taking giant strides towards establishing himself as one of the most exciting youngsters in world...
‘Unrealistic’: Peter Crouch suggests the ‘one thing’ he has noticed about Spurs summer signing
Former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker Peter Crouch is confident that Spurs will challenge for the title this season, and Gareth Bale will play his part. In his column for the Daily Mail, Crouch made this statement while answering a question on whether Bale can get back to being the player he was at Spurs. This is what Crouch had to say about Bale: “It was unrealistic, Dave, for people to expect Gareth to come back from seven years in Spain and be the turbocharged winger who blew us away. In the years I played with him, I have never seen anyone who had such an engine — up, down, up, down at full pace for 90 minutes. “His last two years in Madrid were ruined by Zinedine Zidane effectively cutting him out and that much disruption has an impact on a player finding rhythm. One th...
Report: Liverpool planning to hand midfield duo new deals
According to The Guardian, Liverpool want to hand midfield duo Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum new deals following the roles they have both played since joining and in the side’s impressive start to the 2020-21 English Premier League campaign. Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently second in the table due to an inferior goal difference following seven wins, three draws and a defeat, level on points with league leaders Tottenham Hotspur, and the Brazilian and his Dutch teammate have been crucial to their form. Fabinho has played nine league games this term, with the majority of them coming as a makeshift centre-back following injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. With the former ruled out action due to a long-term knock, Liverpool have found the perfect cover in the 27-year-old, and he hasn...
Miralem Pjanic Admits Frustration at Playing Time
Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic has spoken out about his game time at Barcelona, admitting that he is unhappy with the situation. Pjanic arrived at the Camp Nou during the last transfer window from Juventus, in a move which saw Brazilian midfielder Arthur move in the opposite direction. He has made just one start in La Liga so far this season, although he has been in the starting XI for all five of Barcelona’s Champions League games. La Blaugrana play their sixth and final Champions League group stage game on Tuesday – against Pjanic’s former club, no less. If the Catalan giants can avoid defeat by two or more goals, then they will finish top of their group. Pjanic’s move to Barcelona has not gone to plan Ahead of his reunion with his former teammates, Pjanic spoke to La Gazzetta Dello S...
‘Getting a bit found out’ – Former PL player slams Everton signing’s recent performances
Former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has criticised James Rodriguez’s current form for Everton. The 29-year-old Colombian playmaker joined the Toffees from Real Madrid at the start of the season and he managed to make an immediate impact at Goodison Park. In his first six matches for the club, James Rodriguez scored three goals and picked up four assists. He was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch in most of those matches but his form has significantly dipped after that. Everton have lost three and drawn one of their last five matches in the Premier League and James Rodriguez has started in all of them. Despite his presence, Everton were lacking in creativity and sharpness in the final third. Furthermore, James Rodriguez’s lack of work rate has cost Everton defensively as ...
Report: West Ham keen on 22-yr-old midfielder who played for their rivals in the past
West Ham United are interested in signing the Vitoria Guimaraes winger Marcus Edwards. The 22-year-old winger has been quite impressive for the Portuguese outfit and he has been linked with several English clubs in the recent months. According to Team Talk, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Fulham, Brentford, Bournemouth and Swansea have all shown interest in his services and it will be interesting to see where he ends up eventually. The versatile attacking midfielder scored nine goals and picked up nine assists for Vitoria last season and he is likely to improve West Ham creatively and in front of the goal if he moves to the London club. Marcus Edwards knows the Premier League from his time at Tottenham and he might be able to settle in quickly and make an immediate impact at West Ham. The 22-...
‘Don’t ever start him’ – Some Man Utd fans react as agent claims Pogba’s time at the club is over
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba could be on his way out of the club at the end of this season. According to the player’s agent Mino Raiola, the French international’s time at Old Trafford is over. Raiola to Italian media: “I can say that it’s over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United.” Would United really be losing much by losing this constant circus especially given performances? Would any club even pay that much of a flat fee for him at this point? — Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 7, 2020 The Red Devils spent £89.3 million on the World Cup winner back in 2016 but the Frenchman has struggled to justify his price tag so far. Paul Pogba has not been able to showcase his true quality consistently at Old Trafford. It will be interesting to see what happens regarding the midfi...
