Transfer, Arsenal eye Lamptey as Barcelona line up Bellerin transfer

 

Arsenal are closely monitoring Brighton’s full back, Tariq Lamptey, with Barcelona preparing to move for Hector Bellerin, according to the UK Mirror.

Bellerin featured for the Gunners on Boxing Day, as they beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates.

The Spaniard started his youth career at Barcelona, before making the switch to Arsenal in 2011.

Bellerin has gone on to become a mainstay in the first team in recent years.

However, he was linked to the likes of Barca and Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, with Mikel Arteta previously admitting he feared the defender would leave the club.

It is now understood that Barcelona are now lining up a move for the 25-year-old for next summer with Joan Laporta, the favourite to be club’s next president, a big admirer of his.

Arsenal are also looking at Tariq Lamptey as a potential replacement at right-back given the 20-year-old’s dramatic rise this season.

Lamptey left Chelsea in January of last season and has impressed for Brighton as an attacking right wing-back.

Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on his development.

Messi reveals two clubs he can never play for

 

Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi, has vowed never to play for Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

Messi almost forced his way out of the Nou Camp last summer and his current deal expires in six months.

This has led to more speculation about the 33-year-old’s next move in his career.

With negotiations over a new contract yet to begin, Messi has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

However, there are two teams he would not consider signing for.

“It’s impossible for me to leave for Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid. I’ve always said I’d like to enjoy the experience of living in the United States. But I don’t know if it will happen or not.”

“If I ever leave, I would like to return to Barça and Barcelona. When I retire, I would like to return to the club to contribute my knowledge,” Messi said in quotes posted on Barcelona’s official website.

Mourinho slams Tottenham players after 1-1 draw with Wolves

 

Tottenham Hotspur boss, Jose Mourinho, has accused his players of lacking “ambition”, following their 1-1 draw at Wolves on Sunday.

Spurs missed the chance to move up to third and close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to four points, after Romain Saiss’ 86th-minute header cancelled out Tanguy Ndombele’s goal.

Mourinho’s men failed to build on their early lead, failing to record a single shot on target after the 21st minute.

It means Spurs, who have now gone four games without a win, sit fifth after they failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s draw earlier in the day.

“I am frustrated with the result, we had control of game, we had 89 minutes to score more goals and we didn’t,” Mourinho said.

“It’s not just about not scoring but also not being dangerous and ambitious and for me that’s the problem.

“But I don’t think is very, very obvious to go in that direction and not to go in other directions. The other direction for me is you score a goal in the first minute, you have 89 minutes to score more goals and we didn’t.”

Chelsea vs Aston Villa, Tuchel to become Blues boss if Lampard is sacked

Thomas Tuchel could be set to make a quick return to the dugout following his sack by Paris Saint-Germain, BILD reports.

The 47-year-old was fired by PSG last week, just four months after leading them to the final of the Champions League.

Former Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino, will now replace him at the Parc des Princes.

Tuchel has received a pay-off of £5.4million and would be free to take over at another club right away.

It is understood Chelsea could be that club if Frank Lampard cannot arrest their downturn in form, that has seen three defeats in four Premier League matches ahead of Tuesday’s home fixture against Aston Villa.

Tuchel would be interested in the job if the opportunity arose and would relish the opportunity to work with Germany internationals Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Antonio Rudiger.

There was contact between Chelsea and Tuchel when he left Borussia Dortmund back in 2017.

Ronaldo named Player of the Century ahead of Messi

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Juventus forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been named Player of the Century at the Globe Soccer Awards which held in Dubai, UAE.

Ronaldo picked up the prize in person at a ceremony held at the Armani Hotel on Sunday, beating eternal rival Lionel Messi to the award.

The 35-year-old, who has won domestic league titles in Spain, England and Italy and Euro 2016 with Portugal, spoke about his pride at receiving the accolade, given to the player judged the best between 2001 and 2020.

“It’s a pleasure to win titles. It’s not easy to be top of the game for so many years.

“I am really proud, but without a team, great coaches and clubs it is not possible,” Ronaldo said.

Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, was also honoured for a managerial career which has seen him win league titles in Spain, Germany and England, as well as the Champions League twice.

ENTERTAINMENT : End your fights, set example – Music producer, Paulo begs Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid

 

A Nigerian music producer known as Paulo has appealed to singers Davido, Wizkid and Burna boy to reconcile their differences. youtube channel

Paulo in an Instagram post on Monday begged the trio to end their fight to advance the Africa music culture.

His post read: “Please Afrobeat heroes, you all have super powers, use them to unlock greatness, set an example, lead the way.

“Dear Sons, African Giant, Baddest OBO, and biggest Star Boy. I love you guys, You all have made monumental strides to advance African culture around the world. Your music has helped to change the face of Afrobeats and turned it into one of the most popular music genres today.

“You all have worked so hard to achieve this status and we are proud of what you have contributed to music, as talented musicians, and most importantly as African men.

“This year has taught us all valuable lessons about life, love, friendship, work and passion. Let’s not forget the reason we all started.

“2020 showed us pepper, but with determination, love and togetherness we are here today reflecting.”

He urged Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy to take lessons from 2020 and remember how “temporary life is, how much more there is to achieve and how far they have come.

According to him, music unites people, heals the soul and makes people dance.

“Let’s think about our family, our loved ones for a minute. if something goes wrong???

The music producer’s message is coming after reports of an alleged brawl between Davido and Burna Boy in Ghana emerged.

According to reports on social media, Burna Boy and Davido had engaged in a physical fight at a night club in Ghana.

COVID-19, South Africa records more than 1 million cases

 

South Africa has reached the one million mark for coronavirus cases, with 9,502 new infections announced on Sunday night.

Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, who made the confirmation, said the total number of people who have been infected with the virus now stands at 1,004,413.

Mkhize said 214 deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of fatalities to 26,735.

According to the health minister, the new figures indicate that South Africa is experiencing a second wave of the pandemic.

He further revealed that the government would need to consider further restrictions in other to curb the spread of the virus, NAN reports.

Here in Nigeria, the government has also announced a partial shutdown for the next five weeks, in a bid to stem the second wave of coronavirus across the country.

The PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, issued the advisory on Monday at the PTF briefing in Abuja.

According to Mustapha, President Muhammadu Buhari had authorised the Presidential Task Force to engage with the states and the Federal Capital Territory to assume full ownership of this stage of the response.

He said that bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres, and recreational venues were considered super-spreaders of the virus.

States and the FCT are to shut down all informal and formal festivity events including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities.

He also ordered that Churches and Mosques should not be filled beyond 50 per cent of their installed capacity during worship and prayer time, while face masks and social distancing are compulsory.