Arsenal star Granit Xhaka is in advanced talks to sign for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window. Arsenal are in advanced talks with the German side over a deal that could be worth in the region of around £13 million for Xhaka. The 30-year-old Swiss footballer has only one year remaining on his current Arsenal contract and there is no expectation that the club will look to extend that deal. There is, however, an option of an extra year, which will help to protect the midfielder’s transfer value this summer. Xhaka who has been at Arsenal since 2016, has scored seven goals and grabbed seven assists from 45 appearances in all competitions this season. Remaining at Emirates Stadium beyond the summer would have seen him enter the final 12 months of his contract, with the club also holding an option to extend that by another 12 months. The Swiss football star has endured some turbulent times during his career at Arsenal, most notably in 2019 when he was stripped of the captaincy following an outburst at fans when substituted during a game against Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium. The midfielder was ready to leave during that January transfer window and had agreed terms with Hertha Berlin. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who enjoys a good relationship with Xhaka, persuaded him to stay after showdown talks. Roma were also interested in Xhaka last summer. The Gunners are planning to revamp their midfield in the coming months due to lack of depth, and they are targeting two new signings. West Ham captain Declan Rice is their No1 target, but Arsenal are also fans of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Chelsea’s Mason Mount.
“At 14, my math teacher predicted Mavin would sign me” – Ayra Starr recounts
Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr has recounted how her mathematics teacher in secondary school predicted that her record label, Mavin would sign her. The singer whose real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, revealed this while speaking during the recent edition of “Afrobeats Intelligence” with Joey Akan. Ayra Starr revealed that her mathematics teacher believed in her talent and even predicted that Mavin would sign her one day.
According to her, she was only 14 years old at the time, and because he believed in her, she was motivated to join the choir and improve her singing. The teacher was also the one who encouraged her to share her videos online for people to see. Just as he predicted, she was signed to Don Jazzy’s record label, Mavin years later. In her words; “I have a teacher that literally inspired me. He said I was going to be signed to Mavin. It’s crazy. I was 14 then, and he said, ‘Mavin is going to sign you. Start making videos.’ He would just inspire me. He was even Muslim, but he would tell me to go to church and join the choir. He was my math teacher.”
You should leave your relationship if you see this sign
Nigerian media personality, Uti Nwachukwu pens a piece of advice to ladies on when they should leave a relationship.
The 40-year-old took to the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, where he revealed that women should know when to leave their relationship. Uti noted that once there is someone who consistently causes quarrels between a lady and her partner, then it’s her cue to leave. He further added that men are intentional and “love and respect, they would never let another human’s presence consistently make their woman unhappy” He wrote: “Dear women, KNOW THIS AND KNOW PEACE –
Once there’s a consistent person in ur partner’s life that seems to be causing U guys to quarrel, ITS UR SIGN TO LEAVE. Men are intentional! With love and respect, they would NEVER let another human’s presence consistently make u unhappy”
“I got Olamide to sign Adekunle Gold to YBNL”
Nigerian music producer cum singer, Pheelz has revealed that she got Olamide to sign Adekunle Gold to YBNL.
Pheelz shared in an interview how he got singer, Adekunle Gold signed to Olamide’s label, YBNL. Pheelz, whose real name is Phillip Kayode Moses shared how he knew Adekule would be a star. According to him, he got to know Adekunle as the “king of photoshop” back in the day. However, his cover of one direction’s “Story of my life” blew his mind.
Pheelz said: “I told Olamide Sign this guy, no worry.” The singer also shared that he is still very much into graphics, as he does all his graphic work by himself. See video below;
Chelsea to sign Nigerian-born PSV winger Noni Madueke in £29m deal
Chelsea has reportedly reached an agreement to sign British-Nigerian winger, Noni Madueke from PSV this January. The 20-year-old England youth international is now set to arrive at Stamford Bridge for his medical after a £29m deal was reached with his club. There are still final details to sort out in the deal but the player is preparing to travel to England. Chelsea opened talks for the signing of the 20-year-old last week, but PSV were adamant they were not going to sell Madueke. However, there’s been a breakthrough in talks to get the former Tottenham youngster’s signature. The Blues have already completed deals for David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix, and Mykhailo Mudryk this month. Madueke has established himself at the senior level and as one of Europe’s most promising young wide players since leaving Tottenham aged 16 to join PSV in 2018. The winger was born in Barnet and spent time in the youth ranks at Crystal Palace and Tottenham before moving to the Netherlands, where he came up through the academy at PSV.
Chelsea to sign Benoit Badiashile for £34 million
Chelsea has reportedly reached an agreement with Dutch club, Monaco, to sign Benoit Badiashile for £34 million.
The Athletic reported that the two clubs have reached a “total agreement” for the transfer of the 21-year-old French footballer, and the London-based club is now scheduling his medical ahead of an official announcement.
Badiashile who is expected to sign a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge after completing his medicals, is Chelsea’s second signing of the January window. The Blues had signed Ivorian striker Datro Fofana from Molde for a reported £10 million.
Chelsea currently sits ninth in the Premier League after 15 games and they will be hoping that Badiashile, along with other January signings, can give them fresh hope in the race for Champions League football.
It is also speculated that Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos and Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez are on the English club’s radar.
Frank Lampard reveals he tried to sign Erling Haaland before being sacked by Chelsea
Everton coach Frank Lampard has revealed that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was one of the players he tried to sign while still in charge at Chelsea.
Addressing reporters ahead of Everton’s match against City today, December 31, Lampard disclosed that Haaland who was playing at Salzburg at the time has always been an amazing player.
He said;
“[Haaland] is an amazing player and the ultimate top-level players generally can do what he does in a top-level league. I coached against him in a pre-season game when he was playing for Salzburg. I tried to sign him for Chelsea and it was not to be.
“It was clear in our pre-match preparation what this boy was. Fair play to him. We are going against him and I respect those at the top of their game. I watched the World Cup final with [Kylian] Mbappe and [Lionel] Messi and Haaland has got himself in that bracket at a very young age.”
Lampard’s disclosure might be a bitter pill to swallow for most Chelsea fans, as the west London side has struggled for consistently prolific strikers for several years.
Wolves sign Cunha on loan with obligation to buy at end of season
Wolves on Christmas Day (December 25) confirmed the loan signing of Atletico Madrid and Brazil’s forward, Matheus Cunha.
Wolves knocked off local rivals Aston Villa to secure the Brazilian’s signature with a deal that includes an obligation to buy at the end of the season for a fee that could rise to £35m.
Cunha who is now Julen Lopetegui’s first signing since taking over at Molineux, will join the club from January 1 subject to work permit approval.
Confirming the signing, Wolves said in a statement;
“The Brazilian international flew to the UK and completed his medical earlier in the week, finalising a loan move which will automatically become a permanent deal until 2027, should certain clauses be triggered.”
Cunha has started only two games in La Liga this season and has registered two assists in 370 minutes. He has eight senior caps for Brazil and has made 11 appearances in all competitions for Atletico Madrid this season.
#DTT: American Music Makers Sign ‘Art On Trial: Protect Black Art’ Petition
Chelsea sign Koulibaly on four-year deal
Kalidou Koulibaly, widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in world football becomes the second player to join Chelsea this summer.
The defender arrives from Napoli and has signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
Koulibaly, who is a captain of Senegal widely dubbed a natural leader and a strong character.
Speaking immediately after completing his move, Koulibaly noted that he is fulfilling a dream with his £33.8 million move to Chelsea.
Expectations now believe Chelsea will finally begin to replenish their backline following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
The deal is Chelsea’s second signing of the summer following the addition of Raheem Sterling earlier in the week.
The former Man City star signed a five-year contract after the Blues agreed to a £45 million deal that could rise to £55 million with the Premier League champions.