Chelsea bid €64m for Marco Verratti

Chelsea offered £55m (€64m) to bring Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain, but the Italy star is also wanted by Juventus, Inter and Milan.

According to The Sun, Antonio Conte is “desperate” to have the midfielder at Stamford Bridge next season, especially after winning the Premier League title and entering the Champions League.


It’s believed PSG won’t even listen to any proposal below €80m for the 24-year-old, who is under contract until June 2021.


Verratti has repeatedly stated he is happy in Paris and does not want a transfer, but his agent Donato Di Campli regularly complains to the media that the club must win more than just Ligue 1 – something they didn’t even manage this season.

Juventus are among the main candidates should Verratti leave PSG, as he is a self-confessed Bianconeri supporter.

Inter, Milan, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also options.

football-italia.net

Footballone

Victor Moses becomes highest-paid Nigerian footballer in Europe with new Chelsea deal

Nigerian forward and Chelsea wing-back, Victor Moses on Wednesday penned a new deal with the Blues reportedly worth over 100, 000 pounds a week.

By this he becomes the highest paid Nigerian player in Europe.

The 26-year-old former Wigan Athletic player has established himself as a regular in the side this season, playing an integral role in the club’s pursuit of silverware under Italian gaffer, Antonio Conte.

The two-year extension deal will see him stay at Stamford Bridge until 2021.

He said after signing the contract, “I feel very excited. I’m delighted to be here for another few years now and to sign a new deal. Now it’s time to concentrate on the team and keep working hard to make sure we win games and try to win the Premier League this season.

“We’re having a great season, I’m enjoying my football and we have a good manager here that has given every single one of us confidence. I just want to keep on enjoying it and working hard for the team.”

Also Chelsea’s Technical Director, Michael Emenalo, noted, “We are extremely pleased Victor has chosen to extend his contract with us. He is enjoying an excellent season and, under Antonio’s leadership, has proved to be an important member of the squad.

“This new contract is testament to Victor’s hard work and dedication to succeed at Chelsea and we believe he will be a big part of our future success.”

Pep Guardiola: It was a perfect day for our performance

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has set his sights on a third-place finish after comfortably dispatching West Brom and moving ahead of Liverpool in the race for Champions League football.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Kevin de Bruyne and Yaye Toure propelled City two points clear of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, who occupy fourth place in the Premier League.

Victory in their final match of the season at Watford on Sunday would guarantee City third place, which in turn would avoid the Champions League qualifying round next term which the team finishing fourth would be required to navigate.

“It was a perfect day for our performance, victory and three points, which help us be closer to our target,” said Guardiola.



“We are third and it’s in our hands to finish third, so we have to travel to Watford and win the game.”

City opened the scoring on 27 minutes when De Bruyne latched onto a cheeky Sergio Aguero flick and picked out Jesus for a simple tap-in.

Seconds later De Bruyne doubled the lead as City poured forward, angling a first-time curling effort from the edge of the penalty area beyond helpless West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster.

The hosts all but settled matters shortly before the hour mark when Toure exchanged passes with Aguero before slotting clinically past Foster.

The Baggies notched a consolation strike on 87 minutes as Hal Robson-Kanu netted from close-range finish following Allan Nyom’s centre.

cityam.com

Atletico’s Hernandez extends contract to 2022

Atletico Madrid extended the contract of 21-year-old centre-back Lucas Hernandez to 2022 on Monday, hoping to ward off interest from a host of Europe’s top clubs.

“I am very happy to renew with the club I have spent my whole life with,” said the French under-21 international who has made 20 appearances this season.

“It is great news for all Atletico fans, he is a player with enormous potential with a spectacular future to come,” said Atletico’s sporting director Jose Luis Caminero.

Hernandez looks set to start Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, first leg at Real Madrid with Atletico missing Jose Maria Gimenez, Sime Vrsaljko and Juanfran through injury.

His brother Theo Hernandez is also in high demand after a stellar season on loan at Alaves from Atletico with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City among those willing to pay his 24 million euros ($26 million) release clause.

The pair’s father Jean-Francois Hernandez also played for Atletico between 2000 and 2001.


AFP

Knee injury ends Enyeama’s season

Nigerian international goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will miss the last four games of the season with a knee injury, his Lille coach Franck Passi said on Thursday.

Enyeama, his country's most capped player with more than 100 appearances for the Super Eagles, was injured against Rennes on April 15.

Passi said Enyeama, 34, would undergo an operation next week to "clean up" the knee.


"It will therefore be difficult for him to play again before the end of the season because he needs two to three weeks (rest) before returning," said Passi.


Get free 100 Swisscoins »»»

Wenger soothed by simplicity of Arsenal’s task

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side know exactly what they must do in the Champions League qualification race after watching them gain a 1-0 win over Leicester City.

With time slipping away at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, Wenger threw on Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud to finish with four strikers on the pitch.

His side eventually prevailed courtesy of a late own goal by Robert Huth.

Arsenal remain outside the Champions League places, but Wenger said: "We have one advantage -- the advantage of clarity.


"We have to win our games, so that's why we cannot be happy with a 0-0.
"We absolutely have to take a gamble to try and win the game at any cost. We took the initiative tonight."

With only 72 hours to recover from Sunday's gruelling FA Cup semi-final extra-time victory over Manchester City, Wenger praised the resilience of his players.

"We lacked penetration and a change of pace," he told reporters.

"You could see that we had some heavy legs and we lacked a bit of speed in our game to get Leicester out of position.

"They defend well, but in the end I think the win rewards the team which took the initiative during the game.

"Let's not forget as well that we played on Sunday afternoon. Leicester didn't play at all over the weekend, so we knew we had a little handicap on that front."

Wenger promised Arsenal will approach Sunday's north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur purely as another step towards Champions League qualification, not a chance to halt their rivals' title charge.

"We play for us," said the Frenchman, whose future at Arsenal remains up in the air.

"In life you work for your own achievements, not for those of others."

Wenger played down a touchline incident between Alexis Sanchez and Christian Fuchs that occurred shortly after Nacho Monreal's wayward 85th-minute shot had deflected in off Huth for the decisive goal.

Sanchez twice prevented Fuchs from taking a long throw-in by standing too close to the touchline.

Infuriated, Leicester's Austria international threw the ball into Sanchez's shoulder, only for the Chilean to fall to the ground clutching his face.

Wenger said: "I think Alexis didn't know that he had to be further away. As well, the referee didn't tell him that he had to move away so he thought he was in the right position.

"He got the yellow card because he didn't respect the rules. I accept that.

"But on top of that, Fuchs was lucky not to get a yellow card because he threw the ball at him on purpose.

"If you know Alexis, he doesn't worry about what happens on the pitch. He will be the same tomorrow and on Sunday."

Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare also refused to condemn Sanchez's histrionics.

He was more concerned by a late defeat that means his side remain closer to the relegation zone than is comfortable.

"I think Christian was well entitled to take the throw-in, but we're in the referee's hands for that," said Shakespeare, whose side remain six points above the relegation places.

"It is down to Arsenal to deal with Sanchez. It would be wrong of me to talk about other players. I need to concentrate on my own players and leave Arsene to deal with his own players."

Reflecting on the game, he added: "We defended really resiliently for 85 minutes and we had to against a very good side in Arsenal.


"We'd like to have attacked a bit more, but to lose in the manner that we did is very, very disappointing.
"It was a cruel deflection because the shot wasn't even on target. It happened so quickly that Robert couldn't get out of the way.

"We have to recover quickly from this because we've got another tough away game at West Brom on Saturday."




Get free 100 Swisscoins »»»

Man Utd drumbeat booms for flagging Guardiola

Jose Mourinho has an opportunity to score a seismic victory over his old foe Pep Guardiola when his Manchester United side visit misfiring Manchester City on Thursday.
Guardiola oversaw a one-sided 2-1 win when he and Mourinho resumed hostilities in September and was generally felt to have made a bigger impact than the Portuguese in the season's early months.

But having been condemned to a trophy-free first campaign at City by Sunday's FA Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal, Guardiola will lose his hold on a top-four place if United prevail at the Etihad Stadium.


"If we finish fifth and they finish sixth and we are above them, it means nothing," Mourinho said on Wednesday.
"If they finish third and we finish fourth, they are above us, but it means a lot.

"This is not about Pep, this is not about City; it is about fighting for objectives. We want to play Champions League football and we still have two doors open."

Mourinho was alluding to the fact United can also qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, ahead of their two-legged semi-final against Celta Vigo next month.

But victory on Thursday would help to shut off City's only path to Europe's top club competition.

It would also raise the prospect of United finishing above City for the first time since 2013 and provide proof that Mourinho has made a quicker start to life in Manchester than Guardiola.

United have struggled for fluency this season, drawing no fewer than 12 games, and spent four months grimly locked in sixth place in the table.

As the days grow longer, however, the prospects of a successful end to the season appear to be getting brighter.

Their stunning 2-0 ambush of league leaders Chelsea showed they are a match for anyone and they are seeking to equal a club record by going 24 top-flight games unbeaten.

Fatigue aside, the only dark cloud on United's horizon is injuries.

Marcos Rojo and top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been ruled out for the rest of the season, while Paul Pogba will miss Thursday's game with a muscular problem sustained during Sunday's 2-0 win at Burnley.

Centre-backs Chris Smalling and Phil Jones remain sidelined, along with Juan Mata, who scored the winner when the teams met at Old Trafford in the League Cup fourth round in October.

Ibrahimovic's injury has opened the door for Marcus Rashford, who netted the game's only goal when United last visited the Etihad in March 2016.

Anthony Martial will also hope to start after scoring one goal and making the other for Wayne Rooney at Burnley.

Mourinho and Guardiola had a sulphurous rivalry during their time at the helms of Real Madrid and Barcelona, but Guardiola says their relationship is a courteous one.

"We are neighbours, but no," the Catalan said when asked if he and Mourinho had ever bumped into each other in Salford, where they both live.

"When we see each other, (it's) 'Hi, hi.'"

Guardiola says David Silva is a "real, real doubt" after the Spanish schemer sustaining a hamstring injury during City's 2-1 loss to Arsenal at Wembley.

But he had more positive news about Sergio Aguero, who trained on Wednesday after picking up a knock against Arsenal.

John Stones, Bacary Sagna and Fernandinho are also injury doubts, but January signing Gabriel Jesus could feature following his return from a broken foot.


Mourinho said it would be "naive" for any rival to think United will be unduly diminished by their injuries and Guardiola concurred.
"Ibra is a great player, but they also have lots of good players like Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Marcus Rashford and they find spaces between the lines," he said.

"They are good rivals, with good quality, in good form and have a big series without defeat in the Premier League. I'm looking forward to the game."




Get free 100 Swisscoins »»»

Tottenham ready to take the fight to Chelsea, says Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino claimed Tottenham's gritty 1-0 win at Crystal Palace showed they were ready to pounce if Chelsea stumble in the title race.

Pochettino's side closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to four points with five games left after Christian Eriksen's late strike clinched a victory that looked unlikely for long periods at Selhurst Park on Wednesday.

Well below their best as they struggled to shake off the frustration of last weekend's FA Cup semi-final loss to Chelsea, it seemed Tottenham were about to squander a chance to keep pace with Chelsea before finally recovering their composure.


It was exactly the kind of pressure-packed situation that was Tottenham's downfall last season when they allowed Leicester to wrap up the title after briefly threatening to overhaul them.
But Pochettino is convinced the way his team saw off a formidable Palace outfit bodes well for their chances of being crowned champions for the first time since 1961.

"We showed great character and personality after a very disappointing weekend," Pochettino said.

"It was important to show we are focused and try to fight.

"We are showing we learnt a lot from last season. That is so important.

"We were fantastic last season and it was a big challenge to improve again.

Get free 100 Swisscoins »»»

"A big part of that was the mental attitude, we improved that a lot.

"We are showing we are ready to fight."

Tottenham's eighth successive league win was the perfect response after Chelsea had opened up a seven-point lead with a victory against Southampton 24 hours earlier.

Keen to keep his players from getting ahead of themselves, Pochettino has told them to forget what Chelsea do and focus on their own performances.

"When we are playing we are not thinking about what happened with Chelsea or what will happen in the future," he said.

"We closed the gap again. It's not important to send a message to Chelsea.

"The most important is the victory builds confidence, that's the only way to catch them."

Tottenham will be guaranteed to finish above Arsenal for the first time in 22 years if they beat their bitter rivals on Sunday.

That will be a sweet moment for Tottenham fans after so long in Arsenal's shadow.

Pochettino isn't concerned with the squabble for local bragging rights because he has his sights set on the far more significant target of bringing the title to White Hart Lane.

- 'Important to be calm' -
The Argentine knows emotions run high when it comes to the derby, especially in what may well be the last north London clash at White Hart Lane before the stadium is rebuilt.

Asked if the chance to ensure supremacy over Arsenal might fire up his players too much, Pochettino called for calm.

"It's Arsenal, we know what that game means, but we are not thinking of being above them, we want to think of bigger things than that," he said.

"It maybe the last derby at White Hart Lane, but now is important to be calm.

"We have to get ready for what should be a very tough match

"We want to close the gap on Chelsea again. We want to win big trophies achieve big things, the mentality must be thinking bigger.

"We can speak about finishing above Arsenal at the end of the season."


Palace are virtually safe despite the defeat, but Mamadou Sakho, on loan from Liverpool, faces an anxious wait to see if his season is over after he was carried off with a serious-looking knee injury.
"It's a ligament, which one we don't know. I certainly hope it's not a cruciate," Palace boss Sam Allardyce said.

"It looks like a hyper-extension. We'll have to wait until he has a scan."

Get free 100 Swisscoins »»»

Enyeama free to return to Super Eagles, says NFF

• Speculations about Rohr’s salaries not true



The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has expressed dismay over a recent statement made by former Super Eagles goal keeper, Vincent Enyeama, that he is not ready to grant the request by coach Gernot Rohr to return to the Super Eagles squad because of some issues he had with the NFF.

Speaking with The Guardian in Lagos, NFF Spokesman, Ademola Olajire, stated that the federation had never at any point had problem with Enyeama, adding that NFF was not aware if Enyeama is nursing any form of grievances against the board.

He noted that Rohr’s decision to consider invitation to Enyeama ahead of the 2019 AFCON and 2018 World Cup qualifiers is a welcome development for
progress of the team.


Click here to get free 100 Swisscoins


Olajire further stated that the body had given Rohr the nod to invite any player he wishes can deliver for the Super Eagles. But he declared that Enyeama’s comments against the NFF was false, added that the federation was working round the clock to give all necessary assistance to Rohr to transform the team.
“NFF has never had any problem with Enyeama and I don’t understand why he made such statement that the NFF is the only reason he can’t return to the Eagles. The only issue I can recall that lead to his retirement from the team, was when he had problems with former coach Sunday Oliseh. Enyeama or any player that Rohr needs to make the Eagles fly is welcomed to the national team.

“I want to add that the issues of Rohr’s salary has been kept secret since he assumed working with the federation. We are in cordial relationship with him, and any information you get regarding payment of Rohr salaries is false because the NFF stand is not to make it public”.

Click here to get free 100 Swisscoins

SINKING FEELING: 7 Nigerian Players Whose European Clubs Face Relegation

As some of the top leagues in Europe gradually draw to a close this season, let's examine the survival chances of some Nigerian players whose clubs could be relegated…





LEON BALOGUN (Mainz 05: German Bundesliga)



Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun could be plying his trade in the German Bundesliga 2 next season if Mainz do not pick up the needed points in their five remaining games in the top flight.



Mainz are currently 15th in the 18-team league on 32 points and are just above the drop zone on better goals difference from Augsburg who are 16th.



Amongst Mainz's five remaining games of the season is an away trip to the Allianz Arena this Saturday against league leaders Bayern Munich.



Their other four games will see them face Borussia Monchegladbach (home), Hamburg (away), Frankfurt (home) and Cologne (away).



UCHE AGBO (Granada: Spanish LaLiga)



Uche Agbo's Granada are currently swimming in relegation waters as they are 19th in the Spanish LaLiga table.



Granada have 20 points and are seven points adrift of safety with six games remaining.



For Granada to escape relegation, they must secure vital points in their remaining six games against Sevilla who are aiming to pick a Champions League ticket, Malaga, Real Sociedad, Espanyol, Osasuna and Real Madrid who are in a title race with Barcelona.



VICTOR ANICHEBE (Sunderland: English Premier League)



Sunderland face the prospect of going down into the English Championship as they are rock bottom in the English Premier League table.



Victor Anichebe and his Sunderland teammates have 21 points and are nine points away from safety.



With six games left, Sunderland must negotiate against fellow relegation threatened teams, Swansea, Bournemouth, Middlesbrough, Hull, league leaders Chelsea and top-four hopefuls Arsenal.



GODFREY OBOABONA, NOSA IGIEBOR, BRIGHT EDOMWONYI (Rizespor: Turkish Super Lig)



Nigerian trio Godfrey Oboabona, Nosa Igiebor and Bright Edomwonyi could all go down to the Turkish second division with their club Rizespor.



Rizespor are in the relegation zone in the 16th position on 23 points in the 18-team championship.



But it is not all doom and gloom for Rizespor as they are just four points adrift.



They have seven games left to turn around their season and remain in the top flight. And the seven teams they must try and get positive results from are Istanbul Basaksehir, Fenerbahce, Bursaspor, Kasimpasa, Gaziantepspor, Osmanlispor and Alanyaspor.











TAIWO AWONIYI (NEC Nijmegen: Dutch Eredivisie)



Taiwo Awoniyi, who is on loan from Liverpool, could see NEC Nijmegen could drop down to the second tier of Dutch football if results do not improve with three games remaining.



Though currently in the relegation play-off zone on 17th spot in the 18-team league, Nijmegen have lost their last five league games and are five points above bottom team Go Ahead Eagles.



They have two home games against Excelsior and AZ Alkmaar before an away trip in their last game against Heerenven.

Pogba eyes Chelsea revenge mission

Paul Pogba says Manchester United will be motivated by revenge when they face Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday at Old Trafford.

United have suffered two painful defeats against Chelsea already this season, losing 4-0 in the league and 1-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Although United manager Jose Mourinho insists his old club Chelsea’s visit doesn’t come with added emotion, Pogba begs to differ.

The France midfielder, who has endured an erratic season since his world record move from Juventus, says Mourinho’s men would dearly love to damage Chelsea’s title hopes and boost their bid to finish in the top four in the process.

“Well, this season Chelsea have beaten us two times and, obviously, we don’t want that to happen a third time. We want to win,” Pogba said.

“Obviously they are ahead of us, they’re playing for the title and, for them, it’s important to win this game.

“For us as well because we’re playing for the top four as well, so it’s going to be a game that’s really important for each team.

“We have to be focused and get ready and show them revenge, it’s revenge for us. So, let’s be positive about it and hopefully go and win this game.”

United have gone unbeaten in 21 league matches since being thrashed at Stamford Bridge in October, but 10 draws during that run leaves them scrapping for Champions League qualification rather than the title.

Chelsea’s far superior cutting edge means the league leaders are 18 points better off than fifth-placed United, although Pogba believes the west Londoners’ turnaround this season should offer Mourinho’s side hope for the future.

“They have a great team and everybody knows that,” Pogba said.

“When you’re playing in the Premier League you have to have a bit of luck as well but you create the luck.

“They have a manager who pushes them and they have players who want to show the world that Chelsea are still alive and, last year, that didn’t happen.”

Joshua aims to become first boxing billionaire

Anthony Joshua says he is determined to become boxing’s first billionaire before his career comes to an end.

                   

Joshua holds a perfect record of 18-0-0 (KO18) but is set to come up against his toughest opponent yet when he takes on Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight titles at Wembley on April 29.

The 27-year-old, who is arguably the most marketable heavyweight in the world, insists his primary focus remains on winning titles but admits he also has ambitions of becoming the highest-paid boxer in history.

“When I first started, the aim was to become a multi-millionaire,’ Joshua told GQ.

“But now there are ordinary people, grandmas and granddads, who are worth millions just because of property prices. So the new school of thought is that I need to be a billionaire.

“Being a millionaire is good, but you have to set your sights higher. If I’m making £10m from my next fight, my next target has to be making 10 times that.

‘And if I get to £100m-150m, why not go for the billion? I know self-made billionaires. It’s hard, but it’s possible.'

Joshua is continuing to train hard for his clash with Klitschko and took to social media on Monday to post a picture of himself jogging through a park, alongside the caption: ‘Thinking about the fight.’

Klitschko has appeared to try and force a reaction from Joshua after taking to Twitter to ridicule the British fighter’s aim of becoming a billionaire.

‘On April 29th I’m going to fight a wannabe billionaire. Fellas, how many wannabe billionaires did you “fight” in your life? I’ve none,’ said Klitschko.

‘How many of you 90,000 that night at Wembley and millions around the world are billionaires?,’ added the Ukrainian former world champion.

Musa will still play for Leicester City – Shakespeare

Leicester City manager, Craig Shakespeare, has insisted that Super Eagles winger Ahmed Musa, is still in his plans despite his limited playing time this season.

Musa has only started 13 games for the Foxes all season, with seven of those coming in the Premier League. He has scored four goals in all competitions.

Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton in the Premier League, Shakespeare also played down recent reports of Musa’s domestic row with his wife.

“I have spoken to him and he assured me there wasn’t a lot in it. It was a police matter that has been cleared up,” he told the club’s website on Saturday.

“He has been fine in training. We are there to support him if he needs anything, but he has also been reminded of his conduct within the club.

“They’re all in my thoughts, Musa being one of them. He’s trained very well in the last couple of days.

“Players will tell you they want a run of games. When you come on this side it’s very hard to give them a run of games because sometimes there are other people in front of them.

“He’s shown glimpses and we have to make sure they’re all ready.”

World Cup qualification: It’s not a done deal yet – Dalung

The Minister of Sports, Mr . Solomon Dalung, on Thursday said the nation ’s appearance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup holding in Russia was not yet a done deal despite topping the qualification group .

Dalung said this while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja .

The minister said there was the need for the country to do more if it must qualify for the mundial.

He said he also used the opportunity of the briefing to update Buhari of other developments in the sports sector.

The minister said, “ I came in to brief the President on the development in sports since he went on vacation and returned. I also informed him of the successes recorded so far in CAF where a Nigerian has been elected an executive member of the board .

“ I updated him on the need for us to intensify our mobilisation efforts for the World Cup qualifier. Although we are topping the group , it is not yet Uhuru for us. We need to do more.
“ I drew his attention to the fact that we have received the Queen ’s Relay baton which kickstarts the mobilisation for Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2018.
“ The baton is a commonwealth tradition which is always flagged off by the Queen and she did that in March . It has been to six African countries with Nigeria being the seventh and it will proceed from here.
“ The significance of the baton is its wake up call to countries to begin to prepare for the games. Nigeria has always performed very well in the games. There is a need for us to try and surpass our record in the next games. ”
Dalung said Buhari assured him that despite the economic challenges facing the country , his administration remained committed to the development of sports.
“ The President appreciated the briefing and congratulated Nigeria for clinching the seat of the executive member of CAF and the progress so far in sports .
“ He promised that even though we are economically constrained , government will do everything possible to ensure that it continues to support the progress of sports generally , ” the minister concluded.


Punch