Sports
Chelsea ready to sign Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if Barcelona allow both players to leave
Chelsea are ready to sign Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if Barcelona allow both players to leave this month.
Manchester United agreed a £72m fee to sign De Jong last month but he is owed £17m in deferred wages and will not agree to leave until he is paid. Barcelona want him to stay but only if he agrees to take a significant pay cut and accept a £6m settlement for his deferred wages.
Chelsea are willing to match United’s £72m offer and unlike United, they can offer De Jong Champions League football.
Aubameyang moved to Barcelona on a free transfer from Arsenal in January. He has three years left on his contract. Although Thomas Tuchel has been reluctant to talk about Aubameyang in public he is keen to work again with a player who scored 79 goals for him in two seasons at Borussia Dortmund.
Tuchel’s priority is to sign a centre-back and a forward this month and Chelsea are increasingly confident that they can agree a deal to sign Leicester defender Wesley Fofana and are preparing a third offer. Leicester do not want to sell Fofana but they would find it difficult to turn down an offer close to £80m.
Meanwhile Inter Milan are asking Chelsea to pay £12m for 19-year-old midfielder Cesare Casadei – even though he has not yet played for their first team.
Chelsea have a twin-track approach of buying players for now and the future this summer. Last week they signed 18-year-old midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa in a £20m deal. They have also signed 18-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire and 18-year-old winger Omari Hutchinson from Arsenal.
Is Aubameyang really a disruptive character?
Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy:
“A lot of people who know Aubameyang would say they have nothing negative to say about how he conducts himself, just that he can be a little bit tardy, not that he’s disruptive on purpose or tries to bend the rules.
“It’s just part of his character, he’s a bit flamboyant. And he was actually quite popular in the dressing room.
“I understand Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was trying to create a culture of excellence and he couldn’t have somebody – especially the captain and a senior player at the club – consistently flouting the rules.
“So he had to make a stand there and the direction he wanted to move in was to go with a younger squad.
“Thomas Tuchel has said in the past he’s got nothing but happy memories of the player and that he enjoyed their time together.
“Jurgen Klopp has also called him a lovely player, warm-hearted and a great guy.
“It makes sense for Chelsea.”
Manchester United, meanwhile, have continued to work on all midfield options as a deal for De Jong has been a complicated one to do.
United have not given up on de Jong and there is still a belief there is a deal to be done. Central midfield has been a priority position all summer for United, who have a broad agreement in principle for the signing of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Signing both Rabiot and De Jong has not been ruled out.
AS Roma join Manchester City and Galatasaray in the race to sign Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina, whose contract ends in six months
Serie A giants AS Roma have expressed interest in signing Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina, joining a growing list of clubs targeting the in-form Nigeria international.
According to Italian outlet *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the Italian side has already initiated contact with Aina’s representatives.
The full-back, who has just six months remaining on his contract with Nottingham Forest, has also attracted attention from Premier League champions Manchester City and Turkish club Galatasaray.
Aina has been pivotal to Nottingham Forest’s campaign this season, playing in all 20 of their Premier League matches.
His performances have earned widespread acclaim, including being named the Reds’ Player of the Month for December. Additionally, Aina secured the Goal of the Month award for December, underlining his impact on the pitch.
AS Roma’s interest could reignite the 27-year-old’s ties with Italian football, as he previously played in Serie A with Torino.
The lure of reuniting with the league might prove tempting, particularly with Roma looking to strengthen their defensive options.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s reported interest signals the high regard in which Aina is held, with Pep Guardiola potentially seeking to add depth to his squad. Galatasaray’s pursuit also highlights the defender’s appeal across European leagues.
With his contract nearing its conclusion, Aina will be free to negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs. Nottingham Forest may face a tough decision in January: sell the player to secure a transfer fee or risk losing him on a free transfer in the summer.
West Ham United has sacked Head Coach Julen Lopetegui following disappointing results in the 2024/25 season, initiating a search for a new manager.
West Ham United has confirmed the dismissal of Head Coach Julen Lopetegui after a difficult beginning to the 2024/25 season.
The club issued a statement earlier today, revealing that the results in the opening months of the campaign had failed to meet the ambitious expectations set by the Board, prompting an immediate managerial change.
Alongside Lopetegui, several key members of his coaching staff have also been relieved of their duties. Assistant Head Coach Pablo Sanz, Head of Performance Oscar Caro, Head Analyst Juan Vicente Peinado, Fitness Coach Borja De Alba, and Technical Coach Edu Rubio will all depart from the club, effective immediately.
This unexpected shake-up has sent shockwaves through the West Ham community, particularly as the Hammers had hoped for a revival under the Spanish manager’s leadership.
Despite Lopetegui’s impressive track record, including a successful stint at Sevilla, he was unable to replicate that form at West Ham, with inconsistent results leading to his departure.
The Board expressed gratitude for Lopetegui and his team’s dedication, acknowledging the difficulties they faced but reiterating the club’s commitment to achieving its long-term objectives.
“We thank Julen and his staff for their hard work and wish them the best of success moving forward,” the statement read.
With the managerial vacancy now open, West Ham confirmed that the process of appointing a new head coach is already underway.
The club will be looking for a leader who can guide them back into contention and restore hope to fans who have been disappointed by the season’s early struggles.
West Ham supporters will now be eagerly anticipating the announcement of their new manager as the search for a fresh approach to reviving the club’s fortunes begins.
Yewande Balogun, Super Falcons goalkeeper, announces her retirement from football, expressing gratitude for her journey and support along the way.
Yewande Balogun, the goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Super Falcons, has officially announced her retirement from professional football.
The 35-year-old made the announcement on social media, reflecting on her illustrious career and expressing her gratitude for the support she received throughout her journey.
In a heartfelt message posted to Instagram, Balogun shared her decision with her fans and followers:
“My body is telling me it’s time to close this chapter and hang up the boots, but I thank God for every step of this journey.
I’m forever grateful to the beautiful game and all it has given me, so here’s to continuing to find ways to give right back. Thank you for all of the love and support along the way,” she wrote.
Balogun’s career saw her playing for several clubs, with her most recent stint at French D1 Arkema club Saint-Étienne.
She was also part of the Super Falcons squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she made one appearance for the nine-time African champions.
Her retirement marks the end of an era for the Nigerian goalkeeper, who made significant contributions to her national team. Balogun’s legacy is one of perseverance, dedication, and passion for the game.
Fans and colleagues in the football community have since paid tribute to her outstanding career, with many expressing their admiration for her skill and sportsmanship.
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