FOOTBALL: 14 players to leave Barcelona this summer

 

At least, 14 players are expected to leave Barcelona this summer, with the club prepared for a “summer revolution”, Mundo Deportivo reports.

The LaLiga side will either sell, loan or terminate the contracts of some players to reduce the wage bill.

Among those likely to leave are Samuel Umtiti, Philippe Coutinho, Martin Braithwaite, Neto, Matheus Fernandes and Junior Firpo.

Miralem Pjanic is also expected to be sold, especially if Ronald Koeman remains the manager next season.

When it comes to the exit of players with big salaries like Sergi Roberto, Barca will take a decision on their future after the end of the season.

Joan Laporta has big plans in terms of new arrivals, but will have to sell as much as he can before bringing new faces.

FOOTBALL: Barcelona prioritize Haaland over Messi

 

 

Barcelona will prioritise a move for Erling Haaland over re-signing Lionel Messi this summer, the UK Sun reports.

The Spanish giants are in a tight financial situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barca may not be able to afford the transfer Borussia Dortmund will demand for Haaland and a new contract for Messi.

Should they be forced to choose one, Barca are leaning towards Haaland.

Haaland is 13 years younger than Messi and is currently the hottest property in European football.

The Norway striker is also wanted by Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea.

 

FOOTBALL: FA Cup John Terry identifies Leicester player that will trouble Chelsea

 

England legend, John Terry has warned Chelsea to be wary of defender, Jonny Evans ahead of their FA Cup final against Leicester City on Saturday.

Leicester parade other defenders such as Wesley Fofana who has made an instant impact at the club following his £36.5 million move from Saint-Etienne last October, and Caglar Soyuncu whose solid presence has not gone unnoticed.

Chelsea could secure their first trophy of the season on Saturday as they face Brendan Rodgers’ men at Wembley.

Terry identified Evans as Leicester’s key man in defence following his series of consistent performances for the Foxes.

Terry described Evans as the most “underrated defender in Premier League” in an Instagram post on Saturday, but Leicester are, however, sweating over the fitness of Evans ahead of the final

Evans has missed the last two Premier League games for Leicester due to a heel injury, but Rodgers is ‘hopeful’ that the 33-year-old will be fit enough to feature on Saturday.

“We’ll give him another day, he’s progressed really well in this last 24 hours,” Rodgers said on Friday.

“He was outside today and he looked really good. We’ll see what the reaction is after that and then we’ll make a final decision on that tomorrow, but we’re really hopeful.”

FOOTBALL: Chelsea vs Leicester. Brendan Rodgers highlights Thomas Tuchel’s advantages over Lampard

 

Brendan Rodgers has highlighted the differences between Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard going into Leicester City’s FA final clash against Chelsea on Saturday.

According to the Leicester City boss, Thomas Tuchel’s experience of working with world-class players has helped the Blues’ transformation after Lampard’s sack.

Lampard was sacked and replaced with former Paris Saint-Germain boss, Tuchel in January.

And the former Borussia Dortmund manager has taken the club to finals of the Champions League and FA Cup and is also on course to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Rodgers backed Lampard to become a ‘fantastic manager’ in the future but believes his successor’s clear vision has aided Chelsea’s improvement.

“Frank passed on a very strong squad of players and from his perspective he’ll go on to be a fantastic manager,’ Rodgers told the press ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

“Early in his career, he showed a great level at Derby and then moved to Chelsea. He did really well with a group of players he was still finding out about.

‘But with Thomas coming in you see the benefit of experience. You see someone who has been around the game for a while, worked with top players.

‘His philosophy is defined and that makes it easier when you go into a club and you have that philosophy you’ve spent 10-plus years defining and working, you go in and give real clarity and real purpose to the team if you know exactly what you want.

‘You’re seeing his experience there in what he’s been able to do with structure. They are doing what top teams do.’

NEWS: Lebanese arrested for allegedly sleeping with 14 underaged girls in Jos

 

The Plateau State police command has arrested a Lebanese national, simply identified as Simo for allegedly sleeping with 14 underaged girls in Jos.

According to Africa Independent Television, AIT, the Lebanese lured the underaged girls to his residence in Abattoir community, a suburb of Jos.

Seven of the victims are allegedly pregnant.

The command’s spokesman, ASP, Gabriel Ubah, confirming the arrest said the Lebanese was apprehended after the family of an 11-year-old girl filed a complaint that he allegedly molested her.

The complaint further led to the discovery of his other victims in the community, a situation which led to protest from youths in the community who stormed the Police Station, calling for justice for the victims.

Ubah noted that an investigation is ongoing and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

BIAFRA NEWS: 2023 presidency. Bello can’t rule even a pig farm – Deji Adeyanju mocks Kogi gov

 

Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based right activist has mocked Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State over his remark of running for the presidency.

Adeyanju, who is the co-convener of Concerned Nigerian Advocacy Group said Bello lacks the capacity to be president of a “pig farm,” let alone, ruling Nigeria.

Bello had hinted on running for the 2023 presidency when he pledged not to disappoint Nigerians.

The governor had said some Nigerians were asking him to run for President in 2023.

He had said: “Nigerians, the youth and women including very objective elites, are asking me to run for President in 2023.”

Reacting, Adeyanju said Bello cannot be Nigeria’s president because the governor has neglected the Kogi State civil servants.

The rights activist insisted that Kogi State remains the worst governed state in Nigeria.

In a tweet, Adeyanju wrote: “NEWS: All Nigerians are asking me to run for President in 2023, I will not disappoint – Yahaya Bello

“ME -Yahaya Bello is not fit to be president of a pig farm. Kogi State is the worst governed state in Nigeria. Civil servants are feeding from dustbins.”

BIAFRA NEWS: Police arrest 5 suspected IPOB members over alleged killing of policeman

 

The Police Command in Imo State have arrested five people suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenious People of Biafra (IPOB) over the alleged killing of Mr Joseph Nwaka, a police sergeant.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, made this known in a statement on Saturday, NAN reports.

Ikeokwu said that an AK 47 rifle with breech no 56-258115 and 15 Rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

“Other items recovered were four locally fabricated weapons, six live cartridges and a large quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

“The killers of also made away with his AK 47 rifle,” he said.

According to him, one of the suspects, Onyekachi Mmadufor, of Umudurukwe, Isu LGA confessed to being a member of the IPOB who, along with his cohorts carried out attacks and killings of police and other security personnel.

“The CP commended the operatives for “a job well done” and enjoined them to sustain the tempo so as to ensure lasting security and safety of Imo residents and Nigerians at large,” he added.

 He, however, urged the general public to support the Police and the state government in their efforts to ensure peace and tranquility of the state.