Author: David Great

Aston Villa have reached a deal with Chelsea for Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, but the 31-year-old wants out of the Premier League. (Il Mattino, in Italian – subscription needed) Lukaku is keen to join Antonio Conte at Napoli and has accepted a wage cut to force a move away from Chelsea. (Chronicle NG) West Ham are closing in on the double signing of Borussia Dortmund and Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug, 31, and Leeds’ Dutch forward Crysencio Summerville, 22. (Sky Sports) West Ham have agreed personal terms to sign right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 26, but have yet to agree a fee with Manchester United, who want £18m rather than the £10m offered. (Sky Sports Germany)…

Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of Jota Silva, with the Portuguese international signing a four-year deal. The forward joins on his birthday, following a strong run of form back in his home country with Vitoria SC. “We can see how excited Jota is to continue his career outside of Portugal, where he had such a strong period in the Primeira Liga with Vitoria SC, which resulted in his debut for the Portuguese national team in March,” said director Ross Wilson. The details of the deal have not been revealed, but it’s reported that Nottingham Forest will pay seven million…

In a stark demonstration of the power of civic movements, the streets and markets of Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic hub, were eerily deserted today as fears of violence loomed over the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests. The protests, which have been gaining momentum over the past week, call for an end to widespread corruption, poor governance, and inadequate public services. Today, as demonstrators planned another major march, the usually vibrant city center transformed into a ghost town. Major markets, including the popular Balogun Market, Idumota Market, and Oshodi Market, were shut as traders and shoppers heeded warnings of potential unrest. Many businesses…

Russia has agreed on Thursday to free US reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-US marine Paul Whelan in major prisoner swap. Gershkovich is an American journalist and reporter for The Wall Street Journal who reporting from Russia. In March 2023, he was held by Russia’s Federal Security Service on espionage allegations, making him the first journalist from an American publication to be arrested on spying charges in Russia since the Cold War. On July 19, Gershkovich was convicted unusually swiftly on espionage charges that he denies. He was handed 16 years in jail and Russia has already confirmed talks about his…

Marseille would be willing to pay around £17m for Arsenal’s English striker Eddie Nketiah, 25, with talks expected to continue between the clubs over the coming days. (Telegraph) Leicester’s attempt to sign 24-year-old English winger Reiss Nelson from Arsenal is not currently progressing, with the player being out of the Foxes’ price bracket. (Leicester Mercury) Liverpool and England defender Joe Gomez, 27, remains open to leaving this summer after a move to Newcastle fell through last month. (Mail) Crystal Palace are open to letting 32-year-old forward Jordan Ayew leave at the right price this summer, with Leicester keen to sign the Ghana international. (Standard) Leeds have made a £2.5m offer for Fenerbahce’s English winger Ryan…

As Nigerians troop out in various states across the country to commence the 10-day hunger protest tagged #EndBadGovernance starting Thursday, ensuring safety during demonstrations is crucial. The protest, scheduled from August 1-10, will take place across the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory. The aim is to compel the government to address the severe economic challenges facing the populace. However, participation in any protest requires careful preparation to avoid potential risks. Here are key tips from Chronicle NG to stay safe before, during, and after a protest: – Avoid carrying handbags. – Bring power banks to…

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has warned the Nigeria Police Force against attacking protesters as they take to the streets nationwide to express their displeasure at the government’s handling of the economy which has in turned increased inflation and worsened the standard of living. In a poorly typed out message of X, Tinubu directed his message to the police, urging them to refrain from attacking protesters. “Police do not attack protesters. Your children are involved. Your lives are involved. You children’s future lie here,” he wrote. Chronicle NG reports that soldiers, police officers, and other security forces occupied Abuja’s iconic…

Nigerian nationals living in the United Kingdom on Wednesday morning stormed the country’s high commission in London to protest the long delay in issuing their international passports. In multiple videos sighted on X by Chronicle NG, the angry protesters were heard lamenting how the Nigerian agencies neglected them for more than six months after they applied for the passport. “Two weeks turn to six months. Enough is enough. No more delay,” one of the protesters said in the video. The protesters were also seen with several placards calling for the immediate cancellation of extra fees imposed on passport applicants by…

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned whether Democratic rival Kamala Harris is “Black” during a heated address at the country’s largest annual meeting of Black journalists. “Is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump said of his opponent in the presidential race, drawing a smattering of jeers from an audience of about 1,000 people. “She was Indian all the way, and all of a sudden she made a turn and became a Black person.” Harris, whose mother was Indian and whose father is Black, is the first Black and the first Asian American US vice president. “What he just…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has set up an Immigration Fraud Section in some of its Commands across the country to tackle immigration fraud and its accompanying reputational damage it is causing Nigeria. The chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede stated this on Tuesday, July 30 while receiving a delegation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), led by its Director General, Superintendent Rabhi Abdallah at the Commission’s corporate headquarters, Abuja. Olukoyede who further disclosed that the Section was established barely two weeks ago, stated that the Commission was motivated to set it up as a result of…