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August 1, 2017

Super eagles attacker, Kelechi Iheanacho
FeaturedNIGERIAN FOOTBALL

Kelechi Iheanacho closes in on Leicester city move

by Brila
written by Brila

 

Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho is set for a medical at Leicester today after being made surplus to requirements as Pep Guardiola looks to radically overhaul his squad

The young attacker is on the verge of joining Leicester City for a fee of £25 million, Goal understands.

The Nigeria international had attracted interest from a number of clubs this summer but he was left out of City’s pre-season tour of the United States in July as Leicester emerged as front-runners to land his signature.

Kelechi Iheanacho listening to instructions from Pep Guardiola

Kelechi Iheanacho listening to instructions from Pep Guardiola
Photo credit: The Sun

The principles of the £25m deal have been in place for some time but the move was held up due to an image rights issue between Kelechi Iheanacho and his former representatives.

The striker will now have a medical in the East Midlands on Tuesday and the move is set to be completed this week.

City have insisted on a buy-back clause in the deal and it has been reported that the Etihad Stadium outfit will be able to re-sign Kelechi Iheanacho for a fee of around £35m.

Kelechi Iheanacho emerged onto the scene under Manuel Pellegrini during the 2015-16 season but struggled for regular playing time under Pep Guardiola last term.

Guardiola made it clear to Iheanacho that he would have to find a new club at the beginning of the summer as City aim to recoup at least £100m in player sales this summer.

Midfielder Fernando is also on the verge of a move away from the Etihad, with Galatasaray heavily linked.

The sales of Iheanacho and Fernando will take the total amount of players sold by City this summer from around £30m to over £60m. Nolito, Enes Unal, Aaron Mooy and Aleksandar Kolarov have all been sold so far, while Fabian Delph is thought to be close to a move to Stoke City.

Buyers are yet to be found for Samir Nasri, Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfried Bony and Jason Denayer.

The Blues have already spent in excess of £200m this summer and they remain determined to bring in at least one new forward and a centre-back.

The citizens kicks off their 2017-2018 premier league season on Saturday, 12th August, 2017 away against newcomers, Brighton & Hove Albion at the East Sussex.

credit: Goal.com

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England's Euro goalkeeper, Karen Bardsley
FeaturedNIGERIAN FOOTBALL

England’s Euro 2017 hopes dealt blow as goalkeeper Karen Bardsley ruled out

by Brila
written by Brila

 

It had been hoped Bardsley would still be able to feature for the England’s Euro team in the tournament but the full extent of the injury has now become clear following a medical assessment.

England’s Euro 2017 hopes have been dealt a significant blow with the news that goalkeeper Karen Bardsley has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a broken leg.

The FA confirmed the worst and that the Manchester City player suffered a fractured fibula during Sunday’s quarter-final win over France.

It had been hoped Bardsley would still be able to feature in the tournament but the full extent of the injury has now become clear following medical assessment.

The news is a blow ahead of Thursday’s semi-final against host nation Holland but Bardsley had already been rated highly doubtful for the match in Enschede.

England's Euro 2017 lioness squad

England’s Euro 2017 lioness squad
thefa.com

Liverpool’s Siobhan Chamberlain, who played the closing moments against France and started the group clash with Portugal, is set to take over.

It means manager Mark Sampson will be forced into at least two changes with midfielder Jill Scott also ruled out through suspension.

Sampson nevertheless is convinced his side are prepared for anything including penalties. Having made impressive progress through the tournament. The Lionesses have scored 11 goals in their four games and conceded just one.

Sampson told BBC Radio Five Live: “From our point of view you want to get the job done in 90 minutes. If not 90, 120. But the players have prepared for every scenario.

They’re very clear on their penalty process and they’ve done what they need to do to feel very confident should that moment come.

“This team feel like we’re ready for anything that can be thrown at us and we can find a way to get the result we want. If that is penalties, so be it.

Whatever it takes to get in this final we’re willing to get it done. We have worked hard to make sure we’re going to be at our best when that moment comes.

culled from independent.co.uk

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Premier League trophy
FeaturedNIGERIAN FOOTBALLPop Shop

What are your Expectations ? It’s 10 days before the start of the premier league season

by Brila
written by Brila

The 2016-2017 season of the Premier League proved to be another exciting one, although Chelsea’s march towards the title couldn’t quite match Leicester’s shock win of the season before for drama.

10 days before Premier league return

Photo credit: Skysports

At the other end of the premier league table, Sunderland’s regular relegation battle finally ended in defeat, with Hull City and Middlesbrough making the drop alongside them. This article will take a look at the expectations from the newly promoted and top teams that have spent heavily on recruitments.

The premier league’s three newly promoted teams are Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town with the first of these facing the highest expectations.

Under Rafael Benitez, Newcastle are expected to survive comfortably having a massive premier league as a manager and have started bringing in players already. Christian Atsu was first through the door, but the club has expected is following this up with further signings.

They should have enough to compete, but for Brighton and Huddersfield – the latter playing in the top flight for the first time ever. It will be a battle to stay in the premier league division. Each of these teams have been Securing experienced players who can help them survive in the top flight though.

Elsewhere, Manchester United will be expected to make a serious title challenge this season, having secured the services of Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and most recently, Nemanja Matic. Although the two trophies secured last year put a gloss on a disappointing premier league campaign.

Pep Guardiola will also be under pressure across the city, after Manchester City finished an underwhelming third and failed to win any trophies last season.

The citizens have been really busy over the transfer window anyways, bringing in new faces and top lads to further strengthen the team’s depth.

Premier League champions

Champions Chelsea
Photo credit: Premierleague.com

Whether the Manchester clubs can mount a real challenge for the EPL title this incoming premier league season could determine whether managers Jose Mourinho and Guardiola remain in place.

Both managers seems to be in top form all through the ongoing pre-season tour. Being two of the top spenders during the transfer window.

The pressure unarguably will be mounted keenly on top teams who’s management has broken the bank to bring in players during the transfer window, Such teams will be expected to justify the funds that were spent on players recruitment.

The premier league resumes actions on friday 11th August, with Arsenal taking on Leicester city at the Emirates Stadium.

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Floyd mayweather vs conor mcgregor
FeaturedOPINIONOTHER SPORTS

Will the Floyd Mayweather’s fight with Conor Mcgregor happen in front of empty seats ?

by Brila
written by Brila

The epic fight of Floyd Mayweather vs Conor Mcgregor has been billed as the most lucrative event to happen in the history of combat sport. But is this Floyd Mayweather’s fight next month with Conor McGregor in danger of becoming a complete flop?

floyd mayweather vs conor mcgregor

photo credit: Mirror

Tickets for the Floyd Mayweather’s fight with Conor Mcgregor first went on sale on Monday 24 July in a blaze of publicity, with fans clamouring to snap up the cheapest seats, priced at £390. But after an initial rush, ticket sales have slowed dramatically, with hundreds still available to buy.

That might be because of the astronomical prices set by promoters — the cheapest original tickets on Ticketmaster have a face value of $3,500. Or both Floyd Mayweather and Conor Mcgregor’s fans are just waiting for the right time to buy, hoping the price will go down.

Either way, promoter Leonard Ellerbe isn’t terribly concerned. He says the fight will not only sell out, but break records for the richest gate.

floyd mayweather vs conor mcgregor

floyd mayweather vs conor mcgregor
Photo credit: Gettyimages

That record gate was a $72,198,500 gate set by Floyd Mayweather in his 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao. That live gate was more than three times bigger than any previous boxing gate.

Still, five days after tickets first went on sale, seats throughout the arena are widely available. They are not, however, for anyone a little light in the wallet.

There’s fairly little sales going on in general,” said Chris Leyden, a content analyst for SeatGeek.com. “I think a lot of it has to do with where prices are now. I think people are a little uncomfortable paying this much or maybe even more.”

The situation is much the same at StubHub, where demand for tickets is lower than it was at the same time before Mayweather’s fight with Manny Pacquiao two years ago.

“We’re not necessarily seeing demand levels for the fight yet,” said Johnna Hoff, a StubHub spokeswoman. “The encouraging part is people are buying some tickets.”

A UFC spokeswoman did not return calls for comment. Ticketmaster replied to an email by saying it will “decline to comment at this time. So, should the bookmakers be worried ?

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