SPORT : Transfer, Arteta to move for Barcelona midfielder in January

 Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, is considering a move for Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig when the January transfer window opens.

Puig has been made available for loan following a falling out with Barca manager Ronald Koeman, according to The Athletic.

Arteta is in the market for a creative midfielder, with the likes of Lyon’s Houssem Aouar and Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt on the shortlist.

However, a more opportunistic option has emerged in the shape of Puig.

The 21-year-old was watched on several occasions by Arsenal’s scouts before they were made redundant and will be allowed to leave Camp Nou when the window reopens.

Puig has struggled to impress Koeman and has only made an appearance in La Liga this season – a three-minute cameo against Getafe.

He has not been handed a start at all in any competition, with Koeman rather scathing in his assessment of the young midfielder recently.

SPORT : English Premier League, Interesting games to watch on Match Day 16

The Premier League continues to roll in mouth-watering games across various match venues in the English topflight.

And it will be a great feat to witness the games involving Chelsea and Liverpool as both sides look to make-up in this Day 16 fixtures.

Arsenal returned to winning ways against Chelsea while Leicester City drew 2-2 with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.

The Citizens were spot on beating the Magpies 2-0, thanks to strikes from Ferran Torres and Ikay Gundogan.

This week promises to be even more interesting as Match Day 16 clashes begin.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

It promises to be a grand finale of a game to envisage at Stamford Bridge as the Blues go head to head against London rival Aston Villa.

Dean Smith’s men would be confident ahead of this match after claiming a 0-3 away win at the weekend even as Chelsea are in desperate measures after losing 3-1 at the Emirates.

The festive period seems to have been a tough period for Frank Lampard and his wards as they continue from one London derby to another, having faced West Ham United and Arsenal in the last two games.

Visitors, Aston Villa would fancy their chances away from home since they’ve nothing to lose playing against Chelsea on the road.

It could be an uphill task for Chelsea who is expected to make changes to the side owing to their defeat on Boxing Day against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

Everton vs. Manchester City

Manchester City would be in the quest to beat Everton but the home side could be somehow the favourite going into this match owing to the threat they’ve got going forward.

Their form suggests they are in the best possible shape to claim the vital points since they are at home in the contest.

Carlo Ancelotti would be aiming for a win against Pep Guardiola as pride would be at stake between the two managers.

Everton claimed a 0-1 home against Chelsea thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson early Penalty goal.

And they would be confident they can achieve the same against Pep Guardiola’s men though Sergio Aguero is available for the Sky Blue side in this all-important Premier League clash.

Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

It will be a mouth-watering encounter when both sides clash at Old Trafford. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be gunning for the three points at home after dropping two points at the King Power Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers’ men pushed United to the limit before they were able to get their goal for the equalizer thanks to Jamie Vardy who forced an own goal from Axel Tuanzebe with few minutes remaining.

On the Wolves side, they managed to crawl their way back in the match against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur side and they would have the ultimate believe that they can get something out of this game.

The Red Devils side has shown some level of inconsistency in the Premier League especially at (Old Trafford) and it will interest the visitors as they aim to pull off an impressive display away from home in this one.

Man Utd vs Wolves, Solskjaer hints at Cavani’s future

 

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has hinted that Edinson Cavani Uruguayan could extend his stay at Old Trafford.

The 33-year-old joined as a free agent on a one-year deal in October, after seven years with Paris Saint-Germain.

Although Cavani has mainly been given cameo roles so far, Solskjaer is confident there is more to come from the forward.

“He’s definitely a starter, you don’t classify a player of his quality as anything else,” Solskjaer said.

“I trust him and that’s the thing, we have good competition for places but he’ll probably start more games than he won’t.”

Solskjaer also believes the Uruguayan forward could have an impact not just for the rest of this campaign but beyond as well.

“He’s so meticulous, professional, his habits – everything about him shows why he has had the career he has had,” Solskjaer added.

“At the moment it looks like he has got a few years left in him – even at the age he is, he is still one of the fittest players we have got.

“I wouldn’t say anything else other than he has made a great impact when he has come here and let’s just focus on improving everyone.”

SPORT : Chelsea vs Aston Villa , Lampard’s squad for EPL clash confirmed

 

Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard, has named the Blues’ squad to tackle Aston Villa in today’s Premier League fixture.

According to Football London, Lampard has released a 26-man list to face West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea head to the game after losing 3-1 against Arsenal in their previous Premier League encounter on Boxing Day.

Chelsea is currently in the 8th position on the Premier League table with 25 points from 15 matches.

Chelsea’s full squad against Aston Villa:

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Willy Caballero and Karlo Ziger.

Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori, Marcos Alonso, Ben Chilwell and Emerson Palmieri.

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Faustino Anjorin, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic.

Strikers: Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner and Olivier Giroud.

The kick-off time for the game is 6: 30pm, Nigerian time.

SPORT : Aguero to possibly return as Manchester City meets Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton

 Everton welcomes Manchester City at home in one of the star matches of the Premier League this week.

The Citizens would come into the match after winning three games in a row while Everton will be looking to make it five straight wins in the Premier League.

It will be a managerial tussle between two of the best coaches in the world. Guardiola may not have to rotate his side who secured the 2-0 win against Newcastle at home as things stand.

Joao Cancelo was largely the best player in the victory over Newcastle United and he could continue at right-back since Kyle Walker is out of the side due to Coronavirus.

Benjamin Mendy would come in to form a back four while John Stones and Ruben Dias could feature in the central defence.

Eric Garcia is absent, in midfield, Rodri played a part for the last half-hour against Newcastle and could start though Fernandinho may replace Ikay Gundogan in the team.

Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling could be available, while Riyad Mahrez could come in for Bernard Silva.

The major focus ahead of this match is Sergio Aguero. The former Atletico Madrid striker came on from the substitute bench against Newcastle United. But he could make his first League start for two months when they play against the home side, Everton.

Gabriel Jesus is unavailable for this one due to Coronavirus.

Manchester City’s predicted eleven against Everton

Ederson; Joao Cancelo, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Benjamin Mendy; Rodri, Fernandinho; Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling; Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero.

SPORT : Lampard could rotate his squad against Londoners, Aston Villa

 Chelsea would be aiming for a win against Aston Villa when both sides meet on Monday after losing 3-1 against Arsenal on Boxing Day.

The Blues have now lost three of their last four outings in the English topflight and their quest for the title is at risk ahead of the home fixture against Villa.

Lampard is supposed to ring changes to the Chelsea side that lost against Arsenal as it would barely be only 2 days before facing Londoners Aston Villa.

Goaltender, Edouard Mendy is expected to keep his spot but the Blues could field an entire changed defence line. Full-back pair of Ben Chilwell and Reece James was 

struggling with fitness concerns prior to the Arsenal game. So Emerson Palmieri and Cesar Azpilicueta could come in for both pair respectively.

Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva should be given a break, meaning Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger could come in as their replacement.

In the centre of the park, the only player that could start is N’Golo Kante. Though Jorginho could pick a spot as the deep-lying playmaker not minding his penalty miss against Arsenal.

German playmaker Kai Havertz may also be given another to redeem himself regardless of his poor start to the season.

In the attack, Olivier Giroud would come in for Tammy Abraham while Frank Lampard has relatively confirmed that Callum Hudson-Odoi will start against Villa.

On the opposite wing, Christian Pulisic or Timo Werner may be given a run in the side. Hakim Ziyech is back but will likely start from the bench.

Chelsea’s predicted line-up against Aston Villa

Edouard Mendy; Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Emerson Palmieri; Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz; Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Olivier Giroud.

ENTERTAINMENT : Lin Qi, billionaire Netflix producer dead after alleged poisoning

 

Lin Qi, Chairman of Yoozoo Games and a Netflix producer is dead.

He passed away after days of illness reportedly caused by a poisoned tea.

The Chinese billionaire, 39, created Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming game.

In 2015, Yoozoo Group purchased the rights to Chinese sci-fi trilogy, The Three Body Problem.

In September, Netflix announced it would adapt the books into an English series with Game of Thrones creators, David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.

Shanghai police have detained a man for the alleged poisoning. Local media identified the suspect as Lin’s colleague, Xu Yao.

Lin founded Yoozoo in 2009. Hurun China Rich List puts his net worth around 6.8billion yuan.

“Goodbye youth. We will be together, continue to be kind, continue to believe in goodness, and continue the fight against all that is bad”, the company said in a statement.