Author: David Great

Ajax said on Thursday they had signed Dutch international and former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst on a two-year contract from Championship outfit Burnley. Weghorst has won 39 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 12 goals, notably a winner in the 83rd minute of their opening Euro 2024 match against Poland. Oranje coach Ronald Koeman has used Weghorst as a “super sub”, the striker famously hitting a dramatic 101st-minute equaliser in stoppage time against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final. Ajax technical director Alex Kroes said Weghorst would provide an “absolute top sporting experience.” “He is a high-scoring striker who is…

Sampdoria have sacked Andrea Pirlo as manager after over one year at the club, the Serie B club said on Thursday. The Serie B side started the season with one draw and two losses, leaving them second-bottom on the table. Pirlo, who won the World Cup as a player with Italy in 2006, had one year as Juventus coach in 2020-21 after briefly coaching their under-23 team. Pirlo was appointed as manager in June 2023 and although they had their moments, the side has not been consistent. Sampdoria finished second in the second tier last season and their poor start…

Napoli have signed Belgium international Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, the Serie A club said on Thursday. Financial details of the transfer were not revealed by either club but British media reported Napoli paid £30 million ($39.47 million) for the 31-year-old. “Romelu is proud to be one of us,” Napoli wrote on its social media account. The move reunites Romelu Lukaku with manager Antonio Conte, the coach under whom he thrived at Inter Milan from 2019 to 2021. Chelsea insist on £36m for Romelu Lukaku, Napoli confirm Osimhen exit Lukaku returned to Chelsea in 2021 for 97.5 million pounds but spent…

Interim England manager Lee Carsley has named his first squad ahead of UEFA Nations League fixtures against Ireland and Finland – including a few surprise selections. The core group from the Three Lions’ 2024 European Championship campaign remains the same, with the likes of Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka all featuring. Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has been handed a surprise call-up, alongside Manchester City forward Jack Grealish. Madueke has had a fine start to the season, netting a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-2 thrashing of Wolves, while Grealish is still struggling for regular minutes at City. Madueke hits hat-trick…

The Federal Government has approved a 50 per cent subsidy for the electricity consumed in hospitals across the nation. This followed a promise by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that the Federal Government would subsidise electricity in hospitals and universities, even if they are on Band-A feeders. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced on Thursday that the Federal Government has approved the 50 per cent electricity subsidy for public hospitals. According to him, this gesture aims to reduce the running costs for public hospitals and alleviate the impact on patients. Alausa made…

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency has apprehended four suspects linked to the August 13 attack on a Bus Rapid Transport. The Chairman of the task force, Chief Superintendent of Police, Tayo Akerele, in a media conference on Wednesday in Lagos, noted that the bus was en route from Orile-Iganmu to Alaba Suru, when it was attacked. Mr Akerele listed the suspects as Ilesanmi Kazeem, Ibrahim Lawal, Daniel Abati and Mohammed Ali. Recall that a bus belonging to the state-regulated BRT with the identification number 240216, travelling from Mile 2 Terminal to Lagos Island, was attacked on August 3…

The Katsina State Police Command says it has foiled an attempt by bandits to kidnap a girl in Faru village, Jibia Local Government Area of the State. This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq. He said, “Today, August 29, 2024, at about 0115hrs, a distress call was received at the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters on a bandits attack on Faru village, Jibia LGA, kidnapping one person. “Instantaneously, the DPO Jibia mobilised a joint team of operatives in collaboration with members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps , members of…

Kepa Arrizabalaga kicked off an expected exodus of out-of-favour Chelsea players in the final 48 hours of the transfer window by joining Bournemouth on a season-long loan on Thursday. The Spanish international remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time after his £71 million move from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018. However, he has struggled to establish himself as number one at Stamford Bridge ever since and spent last season on loan at Real Madrid. He made 20 appearances as the Spanish giants won the Champions League and LaLiga but lost his place to Andriy Lunin before Thibaut Courtois’…

Napoli’s Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 25, who is a target for Chelsea, has been offered a four-year deal by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli worth £25m per year. (Sky Sports) England winger Jadon Sancho, 24, is set to move to Juventus from Manchester United on loan with an obligation to buy. (RMC Sport) Aston Villa will move for Roma’s England forward Tammy Abraham, 26, if Colombia striker Jhon Duran, 20 leaves the club before the transfer deadline. (Football Insider) Crystal Palace have agreed a deal with Wolfsburg for French defender Maxence Lacroix, 24, as a direct replacement for Denmark centre-half Joachim Andersen, 28, who has joined Fulham. (Sky Sports) Liverpool have turned down an approach from Bayer Leverkusen for England Under-21 midfielder…

The Carabao Cup holders Liverpool will begin their League Cup defence at home against West Ham in the competition’s third round. The game at Anfield is one of three Premier League matches in the Carabao Cup third round, with Everton hosting Southampton at Goodison Park and Brighton facing Wolves at Amex Stadium. Barrow, who advanced to the third round for the first time since 1967-68, will face beaten 2024 finalists Chelsea, while AFC Wimbledon, who defeated Premier League club Ipswich on penalties in the second round, will play Newcastle. Arsenal play Bolton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium, while Manchester United welcome…