The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chelsea

  • Omeruo passes Chelsea medical

    Omeruo passes Chelsea medical

    …Gets jersey number

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has passed his medical at English Premier League club Chelsea and has been handed jersey number 51.

    His Holland-based adviser, Chika Conleth Akujobi , told MTNFotball.com: “Kenneth has passed his medical test at Chelsea and his training shirt number is 51.

    “It’s the reward of our hard work and belief in the player since he was coming through the Nigeria U17s.”

    This is a massive break for the young central defender against a backdrop of doubts back in Nigeria that he does not figure in Jose Mourinho’s plans at Stamford Bridge.

    The 19-year-old Omeruo was not part of the Chelsea squad to a pre-season training tour of the United States and his arrival to London was delayed by the late issuance of an entry visa to the United Kingdom.

    The former Sunshine Stars of Akure defender has already been granted a five-year work permit in Britain.

    He was on a season and half loan deal from Chelsea to Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

    Early this year, the former Nigeria U17 and U20 star made his full international debut and went on to break into the first team as Nigeria won a third Africa Cup of Nations crown in South Africa.

     

  • Mikel listed for Chelsea’s U.S trip

    Mikel listed for Chelsea’s U.S trip

    Mikel Obi has returned to Chelsea to be part of the squad for the inaugural Guinness International Champions Cup in Miami, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The Nigerian international who has been a subject of transfer speculations this summer, is returning to ‘The Blues’ after he was given an extended holiday following his participation at FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    He will be looking forward to play his first game under Jose Mourinho on his second return.

    Chelsea will play its first game at the competition in Indianapolis against Inter Milan on Thursday.

     

    The full squad:

    Goalkeepers: Petr Cech, Mark Schwarzer, Jamal Blackman

    Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Thomas Kalas, Ryan Bertrandi

    Midfielders: Michael Essien, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata, Oscar, John Obi Mikel, Kevin De Bruyne, Mako van Ginkel, Eden Hazard

    Forwards: Fernando Torres, Victor Moses, Andre Schurrle, Romelu Lukaku, Demba Ba

     

  • Victor Moses seals Chelsea’s 4-1 victory

    Super Eagles forward Victor Moses opened his pre-season goal account  scoring in Chelsea’s  4-1 victory  over a Malaysia XI at the Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
    The Nigerian international who started the game from the bench scored the Blue’s only goal of the second half with one minute left in the game.
    Burkinabé international footballer, Bertrand Traore opened the floodgates in the fifth minute, tapping home a low cross from Kevin De Bruyne.
    De Bruyne doubled their advantage just before the half hour mark, while Romeo Lukaku put the tie to bed in first-half injury time with a near post finish to make it 3-0.
    There was drama in the final moments  of the match as Moses drove home a fourth for Chelsea in the 88th minute. The former Wigan striker received the ball on the left wing, and proceeded to drift inside and put the ball in the back of the net thanks to a wicked deflection and some calamitous goalkeeping. Malaysian substitute Mohammad Fadhli Shas however grabbed a consolation for the hosts to end the game at 4-1.
    The 22 year old striker, who has been included in the Super Eagles list released by Stephen Keshi to prosecute the Nelson Mandela Challenge against Bafana Bafana on August 14 in Durban, was however captured while being interviewed by Chelsea TV immediately after the encounter.
    An excited Moses then took to twitter to express his feelings towards his goal.
    “Great win today and good performance from the boys. Really pleased to get on the scoresheet too #Chelsea, ” he twitted.
  • KESHI TO MIKEL: Leave Chelsea now

    KESHI TO MIKEL: Leave Chelsea now

    Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi has advised Mikel Obi to consider leaving Chelsea if that would guaratee him regular playing time.

    The Big Boss said it would amount to nothing for the mercurial midfielder to be in Chelsea without commanding a regular shirt.

    “If I were to advise him, I would tell him to look elsewhere if he is not going to have the attention of the new coach.

    “Mikel is a good player, that many clubs would be desperate to have. There is no need for him to be in Chelsea without commanding a regular shirt,“ Keshi said.

    Mikel faces a tough battle for a starting shirt under Jose Mourinho because of the return of Ghanaian Michael Essien from a one-year loan deal at Real Madrid.

  • Anzhi joins Mikel race

    Anzhi joins Mikel race

    Big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala has joined the race for Chelsea ace Mikel Obi, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Anzhi, who parade Cameroon superstar Samuel Eto’o Fils, had kept close tabs on Mikel for some time now.

    Mikel was not part of the Chelsea squad that jetted out to South East Asia for pre-season training to further fuel speculations in the local media he is on his way out of the EPL side.

    And MTNFootball.com has since gathered that besides Turkish champions Galatasaray and free-spending Monaco, Anzhi has returned for the Nigeria midfielder, who is holidaying in Abuja.

    A top source who is part of the negotiations to take Mikel to Russia told MTNFootball.com: “Anzhi has come back for Mikel. The club has made the player an offer and he in turn has asked for an improvement. That is the latest on the Mikel situation.”

    Galatasaray had been in pole position to land Mikel after agreeing personal terms with him, but the Turkish giants has 13 foreigners presently and would need to get rid of four of these players to accommodate the Super Eagles midfielder.

     

  • Kurt Zouma happy to be linked with Chelsea move

    St Etienne’s Kurt Zouma says he is flattered by reports linking him with a move to Chelsea.

    The defender has previously been linked with Russian giants Anzhi Makhachkala but the Stamford Bridge club are said to be pondering a bid for the 18-year-old’s services.

    Zouma’s representatives held talks with QPR in the summer of 2012 but he remained with St Etienne, making 18 appearances for them in Ligue 1 during the 2012/13 season.

    Chelsea could face competition from Bayern Munich and AC Milan for the €12m (£10m)-rated Zouma, who is currently representing France at the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey.

    “If you hear of interest from Chelsea and a great manager such as Jose Mourinho, you take notice,” said Zouma.

    “It makes you happy, and it means you are on the right way to the top.

    “I am relaxed about all the fuss about me being linked with big clubs, at the moment my focus is on the Under-20 World Cup. We have to try to win that with our generation of good young players.”

  • Controversy: Mikel to quit Chelsea

    Controversy: Mikel to quit Chelsea

    Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has confirmed Galatasaray have made him an offer and he is ready quit his EPL club.

    “I’m very pleased with Galatasaray’s offer. I asked Drogba for advice and he told me that Istanbul is a fantastic city, that Galatasaray is a huge club and that I have to make the move,” Mikel told Turkish newspaper Sabah.

    “I have played at Chelsea for a long time and it’s now time for me to leave. I’m still only 26 and it’s great to receive an offer from a club [Galatasaray] playing Champions League football and doing well in the competition.”

    The Nigeria international said he does not expect any cash problems and Chelsea to stand in his move to Turkey.

    “Talks have reached an advanced level between Chelsea and Galatasaray. Chelsea won’t make the move difficult and regarding my salary there won’t be a problem. All that is left is for the clubs to reach an agreement,” he said.

    The 26-year-old defensive midfielder joined Chelsea from FK Lyn for €26 million in 2006 and has four years left on his contract.

    Mikel has made 277 appearances for Chelsea during which time he has won the Premier League title, four FA Cups and lifted the Champions League as well as the Europa League trophy

  • Mikel ‘ready’ to quit Chelsea

    Mikel ‘ready’ to quit Chelsea

    Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has said he is ready quit the Europa Cup winners after Galatasaray tabled an offer for him.

    “I’m very pleased with Galatasaray’s offer,” MTNFootball.com quoted Mikel as saying to Turkish newspaper Sabah.

    “I asked Drogba for advice and he told me that Istanbul is a fantastic city, that Galatasaray is a huge club and that I have to make the move.

    “I have played at Chelsea for a long time and it’s now time for me to leave.

    “I’m still only 26 and it’s great to receive an offer from a club [Galatasaray] playing Champions League football and doing well in the competition.”

    The Nigeria international said he does not expect any cash problems and Chelsea to stand in his move to Turkey.

    “Talks have reached an advanced level between Chelsea and Galatasaray. Chelsea won’t make the move difficult and regarding my salary there won’t be a problem,” he said.

    “All that is left is for the clubs to reach an agreement.”

    The 26-year-old defensive midfielder joined Chelsea from FK Lyn for €26 million in 2006 and has four years left on his contract.

    Mikel has made 277 appearances for Chelsea during which time he has won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and lifted the Champions League as well as the Europa League trophy.

     

     

  • Mikel ‘agrees’ to join Galatasaray

    Mikel ‘agrees’ to join Galatasaray

    Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has given his word to Turkish champions Galatasaray he wishes to join the team.

    Galatasaray sporting director Bulent Tulun said Mikel has agreed in principle to join them, according to a leading Turkey football website fotomac.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the Nigerian international is expected to replace Brazil star Fillipe Melo, who is on his way to either Brazil or Italy.

    Chelsea returning boss Jose Mourinho and both clubs are expected to decide on this transfer, said Tulun, who met with other top officials this week on the matter.

     

     

  • Mourinho okays Omeruo for Chelsea

    Mourinho okays Omeruo for Chelsea

    Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has moved closer to joining Chelsea following a seal of approval by returning boss Jose Mourinho.

    Representatives of Omeruo specially informed MTNFootball.com that the young central defender is now “95 per cent certain” to join the English Premier League club after he earned Mourinho’s approval.

    “It is now 95 per cent certain that Kenneth will finally team up with Chelsea for the coming season. Mourinho has said he wants to work with Kenneth after watching him at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in South Korea,” disclosed a representative, who declined to have his name in print.

    “He watched him against Didier Drogba at the Nations Cup and he said he liked what he saw.

    “He will therefore not be heading back to Dutch club ADO Den Haag, where he has spent the last one and half seasons on loan.”

    Omeruo’s inclusion in Nigeria final squad for this month’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil has enhanced his chances of joining the London club.

    MTNFootball.com specially gathered that Chelsea officials plan to apply the special talent case to get the 19-year-old Omeruo to England, just as they did in the case of compatriot Mikel Obi.

    Omeruo will not qualify for a work permit in England as he has not played 75 per cent of his country’s games in the last two years having only made his full international debut against Cape Verde in January.

    The young Eagles defender, who has represented Nigeria at U-17 and U-20 levels, played a total of 26 matches and scored two goals in his time at ADO Den Haag.