Sports
Wazupnaija – Naija Entertainment blogs & Forums – Sports
Real Madrid star leads the mutiny as several Brazil players ready to boycott Copa America
The 2021 Copa America is under threat after it was reported that several Brazilian players were contemplating boycotting the tournament. According to reports from Spanish publication AS, several players from the Brazil camp are ready to walk out after the country was announced as hosts amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. The popular international tournament was supposed to be hosted by Colombia and Argentina. However, both were removed as co-hosts following street protests and a rise in coronavirus cases. Brazil were given the duty to host the tournament by CONMEBOL at the last minute after a bid from the United States was rejected. Brazil is one of the worst affected pandemic-hit countries in the world, with the death toll in the nation is over 470,000. The New York Times reports th...
Report: Euro giants looking to hijack Barcelona’s attempt to sign 74-cap int’l
Paris Saint-Germain are trying to hijack a move for Gini Wijnaldum. Barcelona have been trying to sign the 74-times capped Dutch international on a free transfer for months now. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has been regularly delivering updates on Twitter on the 30-year-old. His contract at Anfield expires at the end of this month, and he has already confirmed that his next destination would be somewhere else. Romano claims that Barcelona are “already planning” medicals for Wijnaldum, and they are hoping to tie him to a contract until 2024. However, according to ESPN, the French giants are looking to hijack their attempt to sign the midfielder. Wijnaldum is currently preparing for the European Championships with Netherlands, but clubs want to secure his signa...
Report: Tottenham eye move for 102-cap int’l who has won eight league titles
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly looking to add a defender in the summer transfer window. Spurs are without a manager at the moment, with the latest report from Sky Sports claiming that they have called off plans to appoint Antonio Conte after a breakdown in talks. However, Fabio Paratici is expected to join Spurs as the new director of football as early as next week. He has already accepted the offer from the north London club. Agreement reached, matter of details. Fabio Paratici joins Tottenham as new director of football, he’s expected to sign next week. He’ll be involved in the new manager decision – Paratici spoke with Levy and will accept the job despite Conte refused to join Spurs. ⚪️ #THFC — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 4, 2021 The appoin...
Barcelona are keen on Valencia star to challenge 32-year-old
Barcelona are interested in signing Valencia captain Jose Gaya as they look to improve their defensive options for next season, according to Mundo Deportivo. After finishing third in La Liga and failing to challenge for the Champions League, the Blaugrana are looking to make wholesale changes to their squad this summer. The club have already taken steps to improve their defence by signing Emerson Royal from Real Betis. If Gaya arrives at Camp Nou he will be competing with Jordi Alba, who has been a regular in the club’s first-team since he arrived from Valencia in 2012. Now 32-years-old, they need to bring in someone who can provide the Spaniard with competition while also serving as his potential long-term replacement. While Valencia finished 13th in the Spanish top-flight last season, Ga...
Report: Villa set to sign 24-year-old Arsenal target on a club-record deal
Aston Villa are set to sign Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City. According to reports from The Mirror, Villa are set to complete Buendia’s signing in the next few days. The news would come as a big blow to Arsenal, who are also interested in signing the Norwich City winger. The 24-year-old was named the Championship player of the season after helping the Canaries secure promotion with 15 goals and 17 assists. Understand Aston Villa have moved ahead in the pursuit of Emi Buendia. They are closer to meeting Norwich’s demands. — Charles Watts (@charles_watts) June 5, 2021 The report claims that Villa are set to complete the formalities within the next 72 hours. Villa paid around £28 million to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford last summer, but Buendia’s move would eclipse that fee. Accord...
Leeds United offered chance to sign £20m striker with a goal every 218 minutes – report
Leeds United have been offered the opportunity to re-sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah in the upcoming transfer window, Football Insider reports. Nketiah made 30 appearances for the Gunners last term, but most of his playing time came in the Cup competitions. He managed only 413 league minutes. With just a year left on his contract, the club are prepared to listen to offers of £20 million, and the Whites have been offered the chance to recruit him. Sportslens view: Nketiah had a positive loan stint with Leeds during the first half of the 2019/2020 season, bagging five goals and one assist from 20 appearances. The 22-year-old was largely used off the bench with just 663 minutes but played his part in the club’s promotion with some vital late goals. He scored three times in the Championship...
Copa America 2021 squads: A complete list of all 10 Copa America squads
You will find all Copa America 2021 squads below. Copa America 2021 kicks off on Sunday, June 13, 2021, with the final taking place on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Ten teams will be taking part in the tournament, with each team allowed 23 players by CONMEBOL for this year. Although the two AFC representatives Australia and Qatar were due to play as the guest nations, the calendar schedule forced the countries to withdraw from the competition. Suggested Article: Copa America 2021: Schedule, Odds & Live Streaming Copa America 2021 Groups & Teams Group A (South Zone): Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay. Group B (North Zone): Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela. Here are all the latest Copa America 2021 squads, as announced by each national team: Argentina C...
Leicester City enter race to sign Southampton target with 25 goal contributions last season – report
Leicester City have entered the race to sign Bournemouth winger Arnaut Danjuma during the upcoming transfer window, The Mail reports. The 24-year-old was hugely impressive for the Cherries in the recent campaign, registering 17 goals and eight assists from 37 appearances. He scored in both legs of the semi-final play-offs against Brentford, but it was to no avail as the club suffered a disappointing 4-2 aggregate loss. It is now reported that the Cherries face a fight to keep the Dutchman after missing out on top-flight promotion at the first time of asking. The Foxes are keeping tabs on the PSV Eindhoven graduate while there is interest from overseas from the likes of Lyon and Wolfsburg. West Ham United and Southampton have previously been linked with the forward, who won the Cherries’ Pl...
Barcelona transfer target has chance to shine in relatively easy Euro 2020 group
With the European Championships just days away, we’re having a look at the best players to watch from each nation. Perhaps the least glamorous group of the tournament is Group C. A faltering Netherlands side will be the headline act, while Ukraine, Austria, and North Macedonia will be there to cause an upset. While the superstar power might not quite be there, the group is wide open, with plenty of underdog potential. It should be an interesting watch. Austria – Sasa Kalajdzic Kalajdzic will be Austria’s main source of goals The Austrian squad has a strong Bundesliga contingent, and Sasa Kalajdzic is a part of that. The 23-year-old has just enjoyed the best season of his career, netting 17 in all competitions for a mid-table Stuttgart side. On top of this, he has been in good form on the i...
Five Bundesliga talents Arsenal can target this summer
With the transfer window set to open soon, Arsenal need to start looking everywhere possible to find the right players. Investment is needed to strengthen the squad to improve upon last season’s eighth-placed finish. This time we are looking at the Bundesliga and try to find players that can help the Gunners. There are many exciting talents present so, let us see who they might be. Ridle Baku The German has excelled as a right-winger for Wolfsburg but can easily slot in as a right-back as well. Kevin Mbabu along with the 23-year-old has formed a formidable partnership on the right flank and that can be replicated for the Gunners. At the Emirates stadium, the full-back will be required to provide the width lot of the time and a player like Baku would be perfectly suited to that. With incred...
Journalist: 25-year-old star open to joining Arsenal this summer
Andre Onana wants to join Arsenal in the summer transfer window. The popular Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romano, Onana is open to joining Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal this summer. Onana has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, and Romano thinks that the deal could go through. Romano said on The Arsenal Lounge: “Onana is absolutely open to joining Arsenal, but it’s not a done deal yet. They need to wait about the situation of the ban or the suspension, they are waiting for the court to see what’s happening with Onana, how many months he will be out.” Earlier this month, Dutch outlet NOS has claimed that the Gunners are readying an approach to sign the Ajax goalkeeper. Bernd Leno is the first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal, there is a genuine concern ove...
Report: Villa make enquiry for in-demand £15m Leeds target, club ready to let him go
Aston Villa are interested in signing Matheus Pereira from West Bromwich Albion in the summer transfer window. According to reports from Teamtalk, the Baggies are ready to offload Pereira if they get a fee in the region of £15 million. A host of clubs including Villa, Norwich and Brighton are interested in the 25-year-old Brazilian winger, who impressed last season in the Premier League. He has been one of the consistent performers for the Baggies since joining the club in 2019 from Sporting Lisbon. With West Brom relegated to the Championship, he is now certain to move on. West Brom have told Pereira that they won’t block his move away from the club once the valuation is met. The report claims that Norwich City are looking closely as they have earmarked him as a ...
