SPORTS UPDATE

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Premier League targets June 8 restart
April 19, 2020

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June 8 has emerged as the best-case scenario for when the Premier League season could restart.

Premier League clubs remain keen to finish the season, but the proposal of completing the campaign by June 30 was not raised in their meeting on Friday.

All top-flight clubs were represented on the video call, with the focus on different models for completing the season.

Clubs were shown different models for games restarting and being played in June, July and August, but the Premier League reiterated that the season will not resume until the government declares it is safe to do so.

Each club has either nine or 10 games left to play and it is thought all remaining matches could be played in a five-week period.

The government said on Thursday the lockdown would be in place for at least another three weeks, until May 7. If the government advised clubs could start re-training soon after that date, then it is possible games could start again in early June, with training controlled to make sure players were kept a safe distance apart.

One option is for players to drive to their training grounds in their kits so they spend less time in contact with other players.

Games would be played behind closed doors with all players, coaches and match officials having been tested for coronavirus.

These protocols would only be adopted when tests are more readily available to key workers and the public.

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NFF sheds light on 'use of Nigerian currency clause' in Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr's new contract







The Nigerian Football Federation has revealed more details about Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr's new proposed contract where he is supposed to start earning his new salary in Nigerian Naira rather than US Dollars.
 

NFF President Amaju Pinnick recently revealed he had tabled a new contract to Rohr with three new clauses namely; -  He must reside in Lagos or Abuja - He must agree to be paid in Nigerian currency so as to strengthen the Nigerian naira and - He must watch Nigerian league games in order to choose home-based players that can play for the Super Eagles and become international stars.
 
 
The tactician's new contract will see him receive a salary worth $55,000 monthly in local currency.
 
Football lovers in the country criticized the NFF President for talking publicly about an employee's contract during negotiations saying they wanted to grandstand while looking for a way to force the Franco-German out of his job. 
 
The NFF vice president Shehu Dikko has now spoken out on the situation of the clause as the saying the Nigeria Football Federation inserted the naira payment condition in compliance with the government rules on foreign exchange as set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“There is absolutely no issue whatsoever as everything is going through its normal due process and all required levels within the NFF,” Dikko told NationSport.

“What the NFF president said in his TV interview with regards to some key terms NFF want to deepen in the new contact being worked on was nothing new as he has said the same things several times this year.

“Recall there was even a ban on the transaction with foreign currency within Nigeria and even recently CBN have issued other further regulations which further banned the transfer of dollars that is paid to any account in cash.

“So you can only transfer dollars that come into your account through transfer or something like that; paying Rohr in Naira actually made things easy for both parties as he will simply take what he wants to spend here and spend; then formally go through CBN official channels to transfer what he wants to transfer abroad.

“This is how CBN regulates it so everything will be documented. So it doesn’t hurt anybody to pay him in naira but makes it all easier and clear to monitor within the CBN regulatory framework.

 

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Yakubu Aiyegbeni for the first time speaks on his 2010 World Cup open goal miss and how people still insult him about it






Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has opened up on his much criticized open goal miss at the 2010 World Cup.

Aiyegbeni admitted that missing an open goal in the World Cup clash against South Korea ten years ago was the weirdest moment of his career.
 
            
 
Nigeria could have advanced to the round of sixteen if Yakubu had scored in the 66th minute in front of an open goal even though Nigeria lost their first two matches to Argentina and Greece and now the former Everton and Portsmouth striker says that moment was the weirdest of his career as he still gets insulted up till today because of the miss.

 "Missing one of the chances of the decade of the World Cup in South Africa 2010, I still get messages everyday about it, sometimes some of them are being nice, sometimes some of them are being rude. ' Yakubu told South African journalist Carol Tshabalala via Instagram live.

"I just ignore them, some of them are looking for attention. In football you miss chances, they are thinking about the miss, they are not thinking of the joy you bring to people's lives when you play.

"You miss chances in your clubsides and you still play the next game and people forget about it, but going back home you miss chances and people still think about it."
 
Yakubu also named Everton striker Daniel Amokachi as his role model growing up.

"Growing up watching Amokachi was something nice, I call him sexy big brother. He's a nice guy. He was the assistant manager of the national team as well when I was in the national team, so it was an honour to be with him in the same team, we didn't play together there, we were very close.

"Watching him on TV, the way he bullied the defenders, the way he scores goals, you can see the smile on his face and the dedication is there.

"Watching him, Kanu and Jay-Jay is unbelievable,"
 

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Ronaldo is a killer, but Messi will torture you before he kills you.- Wayne Rooney weighs in on world's best player debate







Manchester United and England's highest goalscorer, Wayne Roone, has given his input into the debate on who is the world's best player.


Since 2007, Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi have gone on to win the World's Best Player prize 11 times between them, with Luka Modric the only player to snatch the award, and that was in 2018 following an extraordinary World Cup campaign in Russia
 

 
Rooney, who is friends with Ronaldo and was his former teammate at Manchester United says he believes Messi is better than Ronaldo and should be considered the best on the planet.

On Sunday, the Derby County captain wrote in his Sunday Times column: "Ronaldo wasn't as focused on goals when we started playing together but you could see that all he wanted was to be the best player in the world.

"He practised and practised and began to produce. Cristiano has become an incredible scorer and he and Messi are arguably the best two players the game has seen.

"But despite my friendship with Cristiano, I'd go for Messi. It's for the same reason I loved watching Xavi and [Paul] Scholes: it's the different things in Messi's game.

"I've talked about composure and I can't remember seeing Messi score when he has hit the ball as hard as he could. He just rolls them in, makes it so easy," he added.

"Ronaldo is ruthless in the box, a killer. But Messi will torture you before he kills you. With Messi you just get the impression he is having more fun.

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'I have 300m in the bank and an island.. If anyone speaks I'll kill them!' - Footballer Pedro reveals how Zlatan Ibrahimovic threatened players during his time at LA Galaxy







Joao Pedro,  a former teammate of football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed the extent to which the former PSG, Man United and Barcelona striker could go, to instill a sense of fear while bragging to his teammates.

Pedro played alongside Ibrahimovic at LA Galaxy in the US and during that time Ibrahimovic broke records, scoring 52 goals in 56 appearances during the two years he played in America after leaving Manchester United.
 

 
According to Pedro, there was a time his team suffered a painful loss, which made his Galaxy team-mates soon find out that Ibrahimovic was never afraid to say his mind 

"We had an away clash against Houston Dynamo," Joao Pedro, who is currently back in his native Portugal with Tondela on loan from the Galaxy, told Record.

"We went 1-0 up, they came back, we levelled at 2-2, in the last few minutes they scored to make it 3-2. At the end of the game [Zlatan] gave us a roasting.

"[He said] 'Look, if you came here to go to the beach, walk around Hollywood, just say so, tell me now. I have 300 million in the bank, an island, I don't need this at all.

"'The first person to open their mouth I will kill him, I will really kill him.'"


Keen followers of Ibrahimovic know that the striker puts up a god-like personality when on and off the pitch.

"I think I am the best ever to play in MLS. And that, without joking," he stated in September after breaking LA Galaxy's season scoring record.

"I'm here to perform and show everybody what the game is about. I think the two years I've had here, I've done good things. Amazing things. Perfect things."


Pedro also recalls that even in training Zlatan always wanted to be the centre of attention.

"We were about to play a kickabout match, 11 against 11, and someone asked, 'Who is kicking off?' Our assistant said: 'Joao Pedro, because it is his birthday today,'" he explained.

"Ibrahimovic turned to him and said: 'Every day is my birthday. Give me the ball.' And he laughed."
 

[Edoman]

John Mikel Obi celebrates his 33rd birthday with his partner and twin daughters at their home (photos)







Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi clocked 33 today, and he is celebrating the special day with his Russian partner Olga Diyachenko and their twin daughters, Ava and Mia while they are all quarantined at home together.  
 
In one of his posts, Mikel wrote: 'Thank you for all the kind messages and wishes! And thank you my love @olga_allegra for organising the most special surprise.' 
 
See more photos below. 
 

 

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[Edoman]

Footballer Douglas Costa shocks his teammates and fans by saying teammate Cristiano Ronaldo isn't the best player at Juventus






Juventus footballer Douglas Costa (pictured top right) has snubbed his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Portuguese captain isn't the best player at the club, rather opting for Paulo Dybala (pictured middle) as the club's best player.
 
Ronaldo's goals assured Juventus of the 2019 league title as he was crowned the Italian league's Most Valuable Player award.
 
Ronaldo is the club's top scorer this season with 21 goals in Serie A, three times as many as Dybala, yet Costa claims Ronaldo is only second best behind Dybala, although he has a close friendship with the Argentina striker.
 
When asked over the best player at the club in an Instagram Q&A, he said: 'The strongest companion is Paulino, Dybala. Then of course also Ronaldo'.
 
Costa speaking to AS also insisted Dybala was the better player: "The strongest partner is Paulino [Dybala]."
 
But judging by statistics Ronaldo is the better player.
The Portuguese has smashed in 25 goals in 32 appearances, with 21 in 22 in the league, and three assists.
While Dybala has managed 13 strikes and seven assists in his 34 matches, only 23 of which have been starts.
 
  
 

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'It is just unlucky'' - Yakubu Aiyegbemi blames bad luck and injuries as reason ex-teammate Victor Anichebe never reached his full potential







Former Super Eagles and Everton striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has blamed injuries as the major reason his then teammate at Everton, Victor Anichebe, never realized his full potential despite having the world at his feet from a very young age. 
 
After breaking into Everton's first team from the club’s youth academy, Anichebe was chased by both England and Nigeria's national teams due to the apparent talent he had in front of goal. He chose to represent Nigeria but a string of injuries limited his game time for club and country.
 
                            
 
After spending seven years at boyhood club Everton, Anichebe was sent to West Bromwich Albion before signing for Sunderland after three years at West Brom which also saw him play inconsistently due to injuries.
 
Sunderland were relegated and in order to trim the wage bill, Anichebe was shipped to second-tier Chinese outfit Beijing Enterprises in 2017 before he left the club.  

He is currently a free agent as a lot of clubs are wary of signing him due to his injury history and Yakubu feels Anichebe would have had a different career had it not been for injuries.

“I remember when I moved to Everton, he was very young and was like 16 or 17 years old,” Ayegbeni told Goal.com
“He is big and strong and I know he has the talent, it is just a shame he didn’t push it from there because of injury.

“Whenever he is fit, he plays so well and whenever he is injured, he is out for at least two months before returning again. He is a good boy and he is just unlucky.

“For Anichebe, I’m sure he misses football because he has the qualities as a football player.

“Whenever he is always out injured, I miss him because I know his ability and what he is capable of doing.

“He is a kind of player that wants to show everybody that he is really good but he never had the chance because of injury, and I’m sure he will feel bad about that.

“Football is about proving your ability week in week out not just one week and being on the sidelines for two months. All the same, I really enjoyed my time with him at Everton.”

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[Edoman]

I do what I like with my money, I don't donate - Emmanuel Adebayor says he will not be donating to his country during Coronavirus pandemic







Former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Togolese International, Emmanuel Adebayor, has revealed why he hasn't made any humanitarian or relief donations during the Coronavirus pandemic.
 
Adebayor, regarded as one of Africa's richest footballers with a choice collection of cars and mansions in Africa and Europe, says he won't be joining his African compatriots like Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba in donating cash or relief materials to his home nation.
 

 
Adebayor who was earning as much as £175,000 a week while at Man City, says he decides whatever he wants and will decide to do as he pleases with his wealth as he didn't bring the virus to Africa.
 

 
'For those of you who say I don't donate, let me be very clear, I don't donate. It is very simple,' Adebayor said in a Facebook Live video

'I do what I want and eat what I want. Later, there will be people who will criticise me for the fact that I did not make a donation in Lome (capital of Togo).' 
 
He also dismissed rumors that he was the one who brought the disease to Togo, after leaving his clubside in Paraguay.
'Some think that I was the one who introduced the virus in Lome,' he added. 'It is very unfortunate, but this country is like that.' 

“I'm sorry that people compare me to Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba by asking me why I don't have a foundation or why I don't donate, as if I was the one who brought the coronavirus to Togo.

“I am neither the one nor the other, I am me, Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor and I will always do what I want. A word of advice for the guys regarding donations, I will not do that. Everything is clear and very simple. Thank you and good day.”
 
As at Thursday, Togo has 88 confirmed cases with six deaths
 

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[Edoman]

Germany's Bundesliga to resume on May 9 with just 322 people per game allowed into stadiums amid the Coronavirus pandemic 







Germany's Bundesliga is set to become the first major European league to resume amid the Coronavirus pandemic. 
 
The decision was made during a video conference on Thursday April 23, between representatives of all 36 clubs in the top two divisions decided to restart games on May 9, after the remaining league matches were initially suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak. 
 
According to Mail Online Sport, matches will take place behind closed doors with a maximum of 322 people allowed in and around stadiums for top-flight Bundesliga matches and 270 for second-tier games.
 
The publication also reported that drastic changes will be made with hygiene precautions to be put in place with widespread testing of players and coaches at an estimated cost of £2.2million, while protective masks will be mandatory for some in attendance.  
 
The German football federation (DFL) has estimated that 25,000 coronavirus tests at around £90 each will be needed to check each player on at least a weekly basis.
 
DFL CEO Christian Seifert said: 'The Bundesliga is ready to resume, no matter whether on May 9 or a later date. But it's not up to us to find a date. The political decision-makers decide.
 
'We have not defined an exact date today. The fact that we are even able to think about resuming games underlines the performance of the German authorities.
 
'It would be presumptuous for the DFL to name an exact date for the restart.
 
'It's not in our hands if we return or when. We have several options. If the signal comes in the next week that it can be May 9, then it will be May 9.' 
 
On the issue of testing, Seifert added: 'Professional football would not even consume 0.4 percent of the available test capacity in the country.' 
 
He said there had been 14 positive Covid-19 cases among 1,100 licensed players and all had recovered. 
 
The next federal government conference, which could give the green light for the plans, is scheduled for April 30.  
 
According to Worldometers, Germany has 150,729 recorded cases of Coronavirus with 5,315 deaths, while 91,612 people have recovered from the disease. 
 

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Neymar's mother 'dumps 23-year-old toyboy after discovering he had dated a string of men'







Neymar's mother, Nadine Goncalves has reportedly dumped her 23-year-old toyboy, Tiago Ramos who is a self-confessed fan of her footballer son. 
 
Nadine had publicly disclosed her romantic relationship with 23-year-old Tiago Ramos few days ago, but she reportedly ended the relationship after discovering that he had dated various men prior to their first meeting.
 

 
Recall that the footballer's mum had posted a picture of herself cuddling up to Tiago alongside the caption: 'The inexplicable cannot be explained, you live it...' followed by a love heart emoji. Neymar then left a heartfelt comment under the post, which read: 'Be happy mom. Love you.'
 
Tiago who is six years younger than Neymar allegedly dated the PSG and Brazil star's personal chef Mauro and a famous Brazilian actor and stand-up comedian, Carlinhos Maia. 
 

Neymar's mum
 
Daily Mail reported that the toyboy is back with his family in Brazil after being kicked out of Nadine's mansion.  He posted a video on Instagram of himself playing a computer game with his mother and sister on Wednesday April 22. 
 

 
O Dia reporter, Fabia Oliveira also claimed Nadine had been urged by her family to end the brief romance before eventually doing so. Nadine was married to Neymar's father and agent, Wagner Ribeiro for 25 years - but they split up in 2016.
 
 

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[Edoman]

Coronavirus: EPL matches to resume within weeks

 April 25, 2020


The Premier League is set to return in a matter of weeks, the UK Sun reports.



This follows plans to play matches behind closed doors, but for games to be shown for free on TV.
Ever since the fixtures were suspended, there has been debate about how the 2019/2020 campaign should be concluded.



All the top flight teams are believed to be desperate to finish the season no matter what it takes.
With the UK still in lockdown, it is unlikely supporters will be allowed in stadiums before next year.

It is also thought games could be streamed on terrestrial channels, amid worries that friends will gather at each others’ houses, if they do not have access to Sky Sports or BT Sport.



The news comes after the Bundesliga announced they were prepared to resume their season again by May 9.

Holland and Belgium are however among the nations who have decided to cancel their campaigns.

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I slept at T.B Joshua’s church’s altar for weeks, got no miracle – Daniel Amokachi


 April 25, 2020



Former Super Eagles forward and Nigeria’s soccer ambassador, Daniel Amokachi, has revealed that he slept at the altar of Prophet T.B Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations for weeks in search of miracle but to no avail.

Amokachi had flown back to the Lagos-based Synagogue Church of All Nations, while attempting to relaunch his career after suffering a protracted knee injury he sustained ahead of the 1998 FIFA World Cup.


‘The Bull’, as fondly called, told Brila FM on Friday that he was not healed even though he saw miracles at Synagogue.

According to the former Everton star, “I was at the church on invitation of a friend who is a member. 

My friend, at that time, told me about the man of God and that I could meet my miracle if I met with the Pastor.
“At first, I wasn’t giving to it, but I later agreed and flew down to Nigeria from England to see the Pastor.

“I slept by the church’s altar for several weeks to receive healing. I was not healed, but I saw lots of miracles that happened to people.”

His football career more or less ended after he left Turkish side Beşiktaş in 1999.

He failed medical test after signing with 1860 Munich and the contract was cancelled.

[Edoman]

[b]Javier Zanetti: Taribo West's Prayer Sessions Frustrated Us 




Taribo made us pray for hours – Zanetti[/b]

Former Inter Milan defender, Javier Zanetti, has revealed how former Nerazzurri teammate, Taribo West, invited himself and other colleagues over for dinner but turned it into a prayer session, much to the frustration of the players.

Zanetti revealed the hilarious incident during an Instagram live session with Christian Vieri, another former Inter star.

The former Nerazzurri captain added that after Taribo made them pray for hours, they had to leave without waiting to have the dinner they came for.

He said, “A month disappeared in January. He returned after a month and said ‘I got married; a month of vacation is expected in my country’.

“Another time he invited us to dinner, we arrived at 8-9 and he prayed. An hour, two hours, three hours. We went away without dinner.”

Taribo and Zanetti both shared the same locker room between 1997 and 1999 at the San Siro, where the defender turned pastor made a total of 44 appearances and was able to find the back of the net on one occasion.

He won the 1997-98 UEFA Cup for Inter Milan in an all-Italian final against Lazio, being their third title in eight years in the competition.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/taribo-made-us-pray-for-hours-zanetti/%3famp=1

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Montpellier midfielder, Junior Sambia placed into a Coma after testing positive for Coronavirus







Montpellier and French football star, Junior Sambia has been placed into an 'artificial coma due to the severity of his symptoms' after he tested positive for Coronavirus.
 
The 23-year-old defensive midfielder is the first player in Ligue 1, the top division in France, to be diagnosed with the deadly virus.
 
Sambia's agent revealed that his symptoms became so severe that after he changed hospital, staff made the decision to put him into a coma.
 
'His condition is stable this Friday. It has not deteriorated, nor improved,' his agent Frederic Guerra told Le Parisien. 
 
'It is tough. He really respected confinement. He did everything well. He must have contracted the virus while shopping.
 
'He suffered three days of severe diarrhoea - like gastroenteritis. Then, on Tuesday morning, he went to the hospital. I reached him when he was on an IV. 
 
'He had just received the COVID-19 test result. This one was negative. He was due to leave on Wednesday, then his condition worsened with his lungs.
 
'It grew more complicated in transit. He went back to the same hospital, then he changed hospitals twice before being placed in an artificial coma.'
 
Montpellier had earlier released a statement announcing that one of their players had been hospitalised due to 'digestive and respiratory problems' but the club did not make any link to the Coronavirus. 
 
Sambia is a defensive midfielder for Montpellier and has made 22 appearances in all competitions for the club this season, netting one goal before the French league was suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
 

[Edoman]

Lampard takes decision on bringing Mertens to Chelsea

 April 25, 2020


Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, has reportedly decided to bring Napoli forward, Dries Mertens to the Stamford Bridge.



DAILY POST recalls that Mertens had emerged as a shocking transfer target for Chelsea.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Blues boss has held talks with Mertens to discuss a potential move to Chelsea this summer.



The Italian newspaper reports that there has been “direct contact” between Lampard and Mertens in the past few days, and the former England midfield maestro has not given up hope of signing the Belgium international.
Mertens’s current contract with Napoli will expire at the end of June.

The 32-year-old had scored 12 goals in 29 appearances for Napoli so far this season before the Italian Serie A was suspended due to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the world.



Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho has since hinted at Chelsea’s possible move for Mertens.

Jorginho played alongside Mertens at Napoli before he was signed by former Chelsea coach, Maurizio Sarri in 2018.

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Transfer: LaLiga President, Tebas clears air on Barcelona’s move for Neymar, Lautaro

 April 25, 2020


LaLiga president, Javier Tebas, has insisted that Barcelona are not negotiating deals for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar or Inter forward Lautaro Martinez.



Barca have been heavily linked with moves for Neymar and Martinez, with speculations rife they could land one or both.

However, Tebas played down the rumours, saying the Catalans have other priorities.



“It’s not true that Barca are currently in negotiation processes in the signing of these two players,” he told the Adea Conecta forum on Friday.

“They are most focused on when the season can resume as opposed to new acquisitions. There will be swap deals in the short-term future, but transfers are not high on the priority of European clubs at present.

“They want to limit the damage caused by the halt in activity, but everything is still on hold. No Neymar nor Lautaro, these names are not high on the priority list at present for Barca.



“The club at present don’t have the capacity to make these signings, at present it’s completely impossible.”

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Coronavirus: Chelsea-bound Ziyech blows hot as league is cancelled

 April 25, 2020


Hakim Ziyech has blasted those who feel AZ Alkmaar would have deserved the Eredivisie title more than Ajax, after the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) decided to cancel the season without naming champions or relegating teams.



The KNVB on Friday, announced that the 2019/2020 campaign was void, with Ziyech’s Ajax side at the top of the table ahead of AZ only on goal difference.

AZ have beaten Ajax twice in the league this season, but some feel Alkmaar would have been worthy champions.



“Come on, what nonsense I have heard?

“We are at the top anyway. All those stories that AZ deserved more because they defeated us twice. So the goal difference, as it always is, doesn’t count now?
“Bullsh*t of course. How did PSV become champion in 2007? Exactly, on one goal. 

That we are not official champions, well. Of course, I would also have preferred to have won the title on the field, but if you have to choose one club as champion, that is Ajax to me,” Ziyech told AD.



The end of the Eredivisie season also means Ziyech’s time in Holland is over, as he agreed to join Chelsea since February.

[Edoman]

Chelsea ready so snatch Aubameyang from Arsenal
April 25, 2020

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Chelsea are interested in signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and believe Arsenal will be forced to sell the striker this summer, according to reports.

Aubameyang will have just a year remaining on his contract in June and he has not yet agreed a new deal with the Gunners.

Chelsea, Barcelona and Inter are reportedly confident that Arsenal are now in a position where they will be forced to offload the 30-year-old in the next transfer window. Top articles 1/5 Chelsea target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal’s rivals believe striker will be sold.

One of Frank Lampard’s priorities is to improve his attacking options after failing to sign a striker in the January transfer window and Aubameyang is on Chelsea’s shortlist.

Meanwhile, Barcelona attempted to sign Aubameyang in January but refused to meet Arsenal’s asking price, which was in excess of £50 million.

The Spanish champions are still interested in Aubameyang but are now understood to favour a move for Inter’s Lautaro Martinez.

The Telegraph report that Arsenal are ‘reluctant’ to offer Aubameyang a significant rise on his existing £200,000-a-week deal as they are wary of the situation they found themselves in after offering Mesut Ozil a contract worth £350,000 a week.

Mikel Arteta has said that he will do ‘as much as he can’ to convince Aubameyang to stay at Arsenal. Since joining Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in a £56m deal in January 2018, Aubameyang has scored 61 goals in 97 games for the Gunners.

[Edoman]

[b]Arsenal To Return To Training Next Week But Players Will Train Individually [/b]


Arsenal's players will be allowed to return to their London Colney training ground next week, but will continue to train individually in accordance with government health guidelines

Access for Mikel Arteta's players will be limited, carefully managed, and social distancing will be maintained at all times.

Squad members will travel alone, do their individual workout, and return home afterwards. All buildings at the Colney centre will remain closed.

Arsenal's players have been partaking in training sessions from home as a result of the disruption caused by coronavirus.

Earlier this week, the club contacted its first-team players to remind them of their responsibilities during the lockdown, after David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe and Granit Xhaka all broke social distancing guidelines.

Meanwhile, Arteta, the majority of the Gunners' first-team squad, and core coaching staff members have all agreed to 12.5 per cent pay cuts.

Uncertainty remains over the Premier League's resumption this season, with top-flight football currently indefinitely suspended.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8256975/amp/Arsenal-squad-return-training-week-players-train-individually.html