Watford striker, Odion Ighalo could join fellow compatriot, Mikel Obi in China. The Nigeria International is reportedly negotiating personal terms with Chinese club after Watford agreed £20m deal with Changchun Yatai.
The 27 year-old has been in ordinary form this season, scoring just once in 18 Premier League appearances, he is yet to reproduce last season’s form when he netted 16 in 37 matches.
Neymar launches emoji app
Brazilian/Barcelona forward, Neymar has launched his own emoji app called “Neymoji“. The new application offers users the chance to send emoticons and stickers with the player’s face showing different expressions via texts, emails and social media. The app is expected to be purchased on Android and iOs phones from February.
Developed by StarMojis, Mike Bundlie,Founder said the former Santos player is a very expressive person. “It wasn’t about displaying his face, but his personality. In each game he shows surprise, anger, joy… He is very expressive. This helped us a lot, because he has a gesture for every occasion”.
Adam Lallana has been named England Player of the Year 2016.
Liverpool midfielder, Adam Lallana voted English Player of the Year for 2016 ahead of Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. Nathan Redmond was named Under-21 Player of the Year. He made 10 appearances for England last year and netted thrice.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy finished second in the vote among the England Supporters’ Club, Wayne Rooney coming in third.
The excited recipient told the TheFA.com, “This award is a huge honour. The last three winners were Rooney (2015), Rooney (2014) and Steven Gerrard (2012) so that just goes to show what a great achievement this is. Things have been going well this season for my club so that always helps.
He continued, When you’re playing well for your club then hopefully you can transmit your form into the national team and help out. That’s what has been happening but I don’t want that to be for just one season – I want to continue that for as long as possible. Off the back of a disappointing year for England as a whole, I’ll be looking to definitely improve in 2017 and hopefully we can build on how it has started under Gareth Southgate, as there have been plenty of positives.”
Dimitri Payet completes Marseille move
France Forward, Dimitri Payet has completed his £25m move to Marseille from West Ham.
Recall that Payet, who left Marseille in 2015 to join the Premier league club, refused to play against Crystal Palace two weeks ago and told West Ham he wished to return to his former club. The English club were initially not going to allow him go but they made a u-turn after accepting a fee or more than they paid for him, they however expressed disappointment at his decision.
“The club would like to place on record its sincere disappointment that Dimitri Payet did not show the same commitment and respect to West Ham United that the club and fans showed him, particularly when it rewarded him with a lucrative new five-and-half-year deal only last year. “I would like to make it clear that we have no financial need to sell our best players and that the decision to allow Payet to leave was in accordance with the wishes of the manager and the interests of squad unity.
To be frank, my board and I would have preferred for him to have stayed in order to make an example of him, as no player is bigger than the club.” David Sullivan, club Chairman said on their website.
Wayne Rooney presented with a golden boot to mark his record-breaking 250th Manchester United goal
Before kick-off of the game between Manchester United and Wigan which ended 4-0 in favour of the Red Devils, Old Trafford Legend, Sir Bobby Charlton presented Wayne Rooney with an award for becoming Man Unite’s all-time leading scorer. Rooney wrote his name into more history books a week ago after netting a sublime freekick against Stoke City, breaking Sir Charlton’s record in the process.
Manchester United’s all-time top scorers:
1. Wayne Rooney (250)
2. Sir Bobby Charlton (249)
3. Denis Law (237)
Serena Williams wins Australian Open with victory over Venus Williams
Serena Williams claimed her 23rd Grand Slam today after victory over her older sister, Venus Williams in the Australian Open final 6-4 6-4. She becomes the oldest woman (35 years, 124 days) to win a Grand Slam in the open era.
Most women’s singles Grand Slam titles [Open Era]:
23: Serena Williams
22: Steffi Graf
18: Chris Evert
18: Martina Navratilova
Serena will be looking to beat all-time leader Margaret Court by one major later in 2017.
Chelsea lack identity – Avram Grant
Former Chelsea manager, Avram Grant reckons that Chelsea’s habit of changing coaches has made them lack identity. Now the current coach of the Ghanaian national team, Grant led Chelsea to the Champions League final after replacing Jose Mourinho in 2007 but was fired by the club afterwards. The Blues have however appointed 11 players after he left.
He told ESPN FC, “I think the problem is that Chelsea don’t have an identity of how they play. Arsenal have, Pep Guardiola has; they don’t. They want to buy players and win titles but they cannot have an identity because they change coach every year or two. On the other hand they have the director of football Michael Emenalo doing a good job, buying good young players, so the squad is fantastic — the most balanced in England. The one thing that is stable there is the owner Roman Abramovich, Marina Granovskaia, a club director and the director of football. If they changed Marina and Michael every year, they couldn’t do well.”
Grant also praised Chelsea’s current coach, Antonio Conte, adding that he came at the right time, at the time when the players were ready for change.
“It was so bad the year before, the football, the relationships, The players are good players — Eden Hazard didn’t forget how to play at 24, none of them did. So Conte came at the right time; the players were ready for the change and wanted the change.
“With a lot of respect to Jose, I didn’t like that the media said he was the king of the world and a genius — he was not, and nor is he as useless as they say about him now . He’s a good coach, with problems like any other person.
“I think Conte started out trying to please the supporters. He played 4-4-2 and he’d never played like this in his life, I’ve followed his whole career. I think the best thing to happen to Chelsea was losing 3-0 to Arsenal, then he came back to his roots and they now play a system that is also good for their players.
“They are doing great and I can only respect Conte. He’s not stubborn like others, and said ‘OK, it’s not going well, let’s change it’. I know the players were not happy at the beginning but this is what leadership is about. He’s doing a really good job and Chelsea are playing very well.”
Source: ESPNFC.com
Southampton FC in talks with Chinese investors
Southampton FC have revealed that they are in talks with Chinese investors, Lander Holding, who indicated interest in buying a stake in the club, a day after the Premier League club reached the EFL Cup final with victory over Liverpool. Club owner. Katharina Liebher has however written an open letter to the club’s fans addressing any concerns the club’s supporters may have over the deal.
“I am writing to you in relation to an announcement made in China today about Southampton Football Club and Lander Holding.
“Please understand that I can only make limited comments regarding this process but I can assure you that any steps we do take will be in the best interests of the club.
“A potential partnership would need to clear multiple approvals and fulfil strict criteria before being confirmed.
“The Premier League is increasingly competitive; we need to keep moving forward and look to new markets for commercial growth, innovation and to share our journey.
“Together we have had many years of progression and success, and ensuring this continues is the main focus of any possible partnership.
“I cannot thank you enough for the continued support you give Southampton Football Club, and it makes me so proud to think we will soon be experiencing a major final together at Wembley.
“I hope you enjoy what will be a brilliant day for our club and look forward to a successful future together.”
Real Madrid have made a slight change to their logo
Spanish club, Real Madrid have made a slight change to their logo and it is almost unnoticeable.
The cross at the top of their crest for shirts has been removed from merchandise that are to be sold in the Middle East. They believe the movie will boost revenues (shirt sales)in the Muslim-dominant region.
“We need to be mindful around certain areas in the Gulf. There is a certain sensitivity towards products which have a cross.” Khaled al-Mheiri, the vice-president of Marka, the company that holds the right to distribute Real’s jersey in Middle East explained.
‘I am big enough to say I am not right’ – Arsene Wenger accepts FA charge
Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger has said he will accept his Football Association misconduct charge. Recall that the frenchman had an altercation with a match official and got punished for it .
The 67 year-old was charged with verbally abusing and pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor after being sent off in the closing stages of the game involving his side and Burnley few days ago.
“Yes, I answered that in the press conference, I have little more to add. I am big enough to stand up for what I do. When I don’t behave like I think I should behave, I am big enough to say I am not right. I’m a passionate guy and I believe that I am completely committed in my job and want to win the football games.” He said