The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Premier League

  • Ki Sung-yueng to miss start of the season

    Ki Sung-yueng to miss start of the season

     

    Swansea have confirmed Ki Sung-yueng is expected to miss the start of the Premier League season through injury, though the club are closing in on the signing of another midfielder.

    Ki has undergone a minor knee operation in South Korea having sustained the problem on international duty last month during the World Cup qualifier with Qatar.

    Swans’ medical staff visited Ki in Asia and will allow the South Korea captain to recover there before he comes back to Wales after Paul Clement’s side have returned from their pre-season trip to America.

    The club do not believe Ki’s problem is a long-term one, yet they have not revealed a concrete timetable for his recovery.

    Despite losing one midfield option, Swansea are hopeful of completing the signing of Las Palmas midfielder Roque Mesa in the coming days.

    Press Association Sport understands Swans are getting closer to agreeing on a deal that could be worth £11.5million for the 28-year-old.

    Contrary to some reports, it is understood Mesa is not on these shores yet to finalise his switch but it appears the Premier League side are edging towards the Spaniard’s capture.

    Mesa finished this past season with a 91.4 percent pass completion rate, which was the fourth highest in LaLiga.

    Last week Swansea made their first signing of the summer when free agent Dutch goalkeeper Erwin Mulder arrived on a three-year deal.

    Boss Paul Clement is also expected to add Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham to his ranks on a season-long loan deal.

    The England Under-21 international has taken some time off after the tournament in Poland and should seal his move once he returns.

  • Chelsea to sign 16-year-old defender Ampadu

    Chelsea to sign 16-year-old defender Ampadu

     

    Chelsea are set to complete the signing of 16-year-old defender Ethan Ampadu, with the Premier League champions negotiating a fee with Exeter City.

    Wales-born Ampadu made 13 appearances for Exeter last season but the teenager was free to discuss terms with other clubs.

    Exeter have confirmed talks with Chelsea are ongoing, although a tribunal may be required to decide the fee paid for the teenager, who made his debut for the League Two side at the age of 15.

    “Everyone at Exeter City fully supports Ethan’s decision to sign for Chelsea,” Exeter manager Paul Tisdale said. “He had many options available to him and has decided that Chelsea provides him with the best opportunity to develop the next step of his career. We wish him the very best of luck.”

  • Chelsea launches new home and away kit

    Chelsea launches new home and away kit

     

     

    Chelsea have officially unveiled their new home and away strips for the 2017-18 season, with the Premier League champions launching the first set of Nike kits in their illustrious 112-year history.

    The Blues ended their kit sponsorship deal with adidas in May after the pair decided to terminate their current deal early, cutting all ties with the German sportswear giant after an 11-year partnership.

    The west London outfit are proud to now be sponsored by Nike, who bought adidas’ previous contract worth up to £30million-a-season six years early, while Chelsea’s £200million sponsorship deal with Yokohama Tyres continues to offer the main feature across the centre of the shirts.

    The new home kit has a minimalist aesthetic but the stylish blue shirt has a modern feel, accompanied by traditional blue shorts with white stripes on the flanks and white socks.

    The strip is also rooted in the club’s history, with an integral part of the creation involving the designers taking an original shirt from the 1970s and ensuring the blue was a perfect match for the club’s specific shade.

    The shirt comes with all the latest breathable material with the Nike AeroSwift technology used to ensure maximum comfort to optimize performance.

    Fans of the shirt can look forward to the finer details upon purchasing either an authentic or replica version, with the round neckline including a white trim with ‘CHELSEA’ knitted into the back of the neck.

    ‘THE BLUES’ is written inside the cuff of the right sleeve and the left sleeve is adorned with ‘EST. 1905’, referencing the year of the club’s formation.

    The away kit provides another classic offering, with the all white strip containing elements of silver to resemble the unprecedented success the club has enjoyed since the beginning of the Roman Abramovich era.

    As with the home kit, Chelsea specific references are included in the fabric, with the v-neck shirt containing a fusion of technology and the club’s rich heritage.

    Blue is the secondary colour which adorns the strip which was also modelled by Gary Cahill with white socks.

  • Wenger grabs full back Sead Kolasinac for free

    Wenger grabs full back Sead Kolasinac for free

    Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer.

    The Bosnian previously attracted interest from top clubs in the Premier League and across Europe and was the subject of a failed bid from Chelsea in January. Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton, Juventus and AC Milan were also keenly monitoring the defender.

    But Arsene Wenger has been tracking the Bosnia and Herzegovina international for some time and the Gunners, after opening negotiations in April, staved off fierce competition to land their man on a five-year contract.

    Kolasinac was born in Germany, has a German passport and represented the country from under 18 to under 20 level before switching his allegiance to Bosnia. He can also play at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder.

    He joins a group of Arsenal left-backs currently including Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs, with the latter recently linked with a move away from the club.

    The defender is due to meet up with his new team-mates in July for the start of the club’s pre-season programme.

    Speaking for the first time as an Arsenal player, Kolasinac said: ‘It feels really good and I’m pleased to be here. I’m happy to have signed at Arsenal for five years and I’m really pleased.

    Arsenal has a huge tradition and I followed the club as a young boy, in the days of Jens Lehmann and Thierry Henry. Arsenal has always been a club that is well recognised in Europe and I’m pleased to be here.

    “Jens Lehmann played at Schalke too, which is where I’ve come from. As a young kid, I followed his career and I always thought he was a good goalkeeper. I’ve been able to meet him and looking back, he was a really good goalkeeper.

    “I think my main strength is my mentality. I’m a player who will try to help the team as well as I can. My strengths are my mentality. There are different positions but I think left back is where I feel most comfortable. I can play as part of a three at the back too or further forward. I’m really flexible.”

    Arsenal broke the news of their first summer signing with a creative social media post, as they tweeted a list of nine Gunners players signed by Wenger, with the first letter of each of their surnames ordered to spell out Kolasinac.

    They then posted a video of a 10th player, which turned out to be Kolasinac, with the newest Gunner greeting fans by saying: ‘That’s right, it’s me. Come on Arsenal.’

  • Ndidi’s award excites Amiesimaka

    Ndidi’s award excites Amiesimaka

    Ex-Green Eagles Winger, Adokiye Amiesimaka, says recent young player award bestowed on Wilfred Ndidi by English Premiership Club, Leicester, is a big plus for Nigerian football.

    Ndidi, 20, a Super Eagles midfielder and former Nigerian youth international, joined the EPL side from Genk FC of Belgium.

    Amiesimaka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the award by the former league champions showed that Ndidi was a top quality player.

    “For him to be given such an award by Leicester who won the Premier League only last season is obviously a plus.

    “It means he is a top quality player and its impact on us here is good, by virtue of the fact that he is a member of the national team,’’ he said.

    Amiesimaka, former Chairman, Sharks FC of Port Harcourt, said the award was also an indication that Nigerian football had a quality player in one of the best organised leagues in the world.

    “Even more importantly is what we’ll do with that plus, how do we make the most of that in the national team and how will it benefit us?’’ he said.

    He said that the derivation of the award should be translated to his optimal use in the national team to achieve good results in major national and international matches.

    Amiesimaka said that the welfare of Ndidi and other members of the national team should be a priority to excel in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.

    NAN reports that Ndidi started his career playing for the Lagos-based Nath Boys Academy in the Lagos Junior League (J-League) and won numerous accolades.

    He then played as a central defender for Nigeria’s youth team, the Golden Eaglets in 2013 for the African U-17 Championship.

    He later played for the Manu Garba U-20 youth team of Nigeria that played in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    Ndidi was called up to the Senior Nigeria team, the Super Eagles, on Oct. 8, 2015, making his debut in the friendly game against DR Congo.

    He also played again a few days later in the 3-0 win against Cameroon, when he replaced Mikel Obi in the 63rd minutes.

    He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

     

  • Meet the game changers in Chelsea’s squad

    Meet the game changers in Chelsea’s squad

    Chelsea needs just three points from their last 3 League games to secure their sixth EPL title in history; Chelsea has had an astonishing season.

    The club manager Antonio Conte has transfigure the fortunes of the blues who ended 10th in 2015/16 season to put them at the top of the pile in the English top flight.

    Chelsea have been competing with local rivals and a resilient opponent – Tottenham, however, they now look almost assured and confident of becoming champions once again.

    Players like David Luiz, Gary Chaill, Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso, Victor Moses, Willian, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro have all been very necessary condiment in the impressive Chelsea’s potpourri.

    N’Golo Kante, France international, has been Chelsea’s best player this season and he is the Premier League’s best transfer of the season, having made the £32 million move from Leicester City in the summer.

    He has picked up both of this season’s PFA Player of the Year and the FWA Player of the Year awards, despite his defensive role in the team.

    He made 289 tackles since he moved to England at the start of last season more than any other player. He is the most defensive player to with the PFA’s award since Terry and his impact has been huge in allowing his side to control games in a title winning season.

    Kante scored only two goals this season; both goals came against Manchester United, but goals aren’t what he is measured by. Nonetheless, he ranks among the highest in the league for tackles and interceptions.

    Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s most exciting player and has produced several moments that have been vital to his side’s resurgent season. His 19 goals match his haul from the 2014-15 season in which Chelsea claimed the title. He earned individual glory by being awarded the PFA Player of the Year award.

    Conte has got the best out of the Chelsea team especially the Belgian playmaker, Eden Hazard, in the 3-4-3 formation. Hazard plays an integral part in the new formation the blues. The Belgium, being a gold fish have become the darling and envy of most top ranked clubs in Europe.

    Real Madrid have made the blues ‘play maker’ their number one target and are willing to lure him to the santiago bernabeu making him part of los blancos dressing room.

    He is the second most fouled against player in the league this season having been brought down 89 times as he attempts, on average, four dribbles-per-game.

    Lastly, it is important to beam our light on Azpilicueta, who has also shown impressive leadership on the field of play. Ever since John Terry stepped back from his almost default starting role, and Gary Cahill assumed the role of captain, the Chelsea defender has consistently played and defended for his team in a way that is nothing short of commitment and leadership.

    The versatile defender has been utilised in five different positions this season and has excelled in almost every one. He has played as both a wing back and full back on both sides, as well as adapting brilliantly to being a right sided centre-back in Conte’s three man defence.

    He is the only Chelsea player to have played in every single minute of their league campaign and he has produced more passes than any other player in the Premier League, so far, this season.

    Conte and his coaching staff have improved greatly improved on their teamwork especially when it comes to ball possession; Conte currently ranks seventh for completed balls this year.

  • Moses credits Conte for reviving his career

    Moses credits Conte for reviving his career

    Chelsea’s Victor Moses has credited manager Antonio Conte for reviving his career at Stamford Bridge by converting him into a wing back during their Premier League title charge this season.

    The 26-year-old Nigeria international was previously sent out on loan for three consecutive seasons by manager Jose Mourinho before Conte arrived this season and changed Chelsea’s main formation to 3-4-3.

    That reshuffle brought Moses back into the starting lineup, and has helped make him one of the most consistent performers this season, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

    “He (Conte) didn’t say to me, ‘Do I fancy playing wing back?’ He just put me in there, and after that he just kept on encouraging me,” Moses told British media.

    “He went through what the position was all about, constantly talking to me in training to make sure I was improving in it. I took that in and I didn’t look back,” he said.

    “I have been learning a lot defensively. And when I play against a winger…I understand what they are going to do before they try and go past me, so it makes it a lot easier.”

    Moses said the position has added responsibilities at both the attacking and defensive ends, but he is enjoying the experience with every game.

    “You need a lot of stamina to be able to play that position, and it’s a responsibility for me as well,” he added.

    “I have never played that position before, but I am enjoying it.. The more games I play, the better I get.”

    League leaders Chelsea hold a seven-point advantage over Tottenham Hotspur and can seal the title if they beat West Bromwich Albion away on Friday.

  • Chelsea’s Kante wins PFA player of the year award for 2016-17

    N’Golo Kante has won the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award for 2016-17.

    The Chelsea midfielder, 26, beat Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez in the vote by his fellow players.

    Kante was key to Leicester’s surprise Premier League win last year and could become first player to achieve the distinction of winning successive titles with different clubs if Chelsea can stay ahead of Spurs in this season’s race.

    Since signing Kante in July, Chelsea have gone from a mid-table finish to the top of the pile with six games to play.

    In his absence, Leicester have largely struggled to replicate their heroics of last season and are still not safe from relegation.

    France international Kante has played every minute in the league this season apart from the Boxing Day game against Bournemouth, when he was suspended, and the final 11 minutes against Tottenham on Jan. 4.

    Kante said: “It’s a huge honour to be chosen by the other players. It’s the biggest honour to get this award.”

    The midfielder is on course to win the Premier League with Chelsea, having done so last season at Leicester, and added: “My first two seasons were very beautiful.

    “Last season was very beautiful. This season so far, we have had a good season but we have to finish well.”

    Tottenham’s Dele Alli won the young player prize for the second successive year, while Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze won the Women’s Player of the Year award.

    Birmingham’s Jess Carter was named Women’s Young Player of the Year.

    Former England captain David Beckham received the PFA’s Merit award for his contribution to the game during the ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday.

    Also, former England women’s captain Kelly Smith – who became England’s first female professional footballer when she joined American side New Jersey in 1999 – landed the PFA Special Achievement award.

     

  • Lampard lauds Terry as greatest Premier League defender

    Lampard lauds Terry as greatest Premier League defender

    Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has hailed John Terry as the English Premier League’s greatest ever defender.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Premier League leaders on Monday had announced that their captain would leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

    The 36-year-old former England international, who made his Chelsea debut in 1998, played more than 700 games for the club and has been their most successful captain.

    He won the 2012 UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups and the Europa League with Chelsea.

    Lampard, who was capped 106 times for England, is Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer with 211 goals in over 400 appearances in all competitions.

    “The last man standing of an incredible era for @chelseafc,’’ Lampard wrote on his instagram account. “What a pleasure to play with the greatest defender in the @premierleague history.

    “He led the club both on and off the pitch from the moment he made his debut.

    “He set standards for everyone, whether it was demanding excellence in training, fighting for every win or respecting how fortunate we were to play for such a great club.’’

    Terry has started only four league games this season under manager Antonio Conte as the London outfit lead the league standings, four points clear with six games to play.

     

  • Liverpool fined and handed ban

    NationSport can report that Liverpool has been fined £100,000 by the Premier League and handed a two-year ban on signing academy players from other clubs for a rule breach.

    It relates to the club’s approach to a 12-year-old academy player at Stoke City in September last year.

    Liverpool will be banned from signing any academy players who have been registered with a Premier League or EFL club in the previous 18 months. This second year of the ban will be suspended for a three-year period.

    In September 2016 Liverpool made an application to register the Stoke City Academy player and compensation was agreed. But the application was rejected by the Premier League Board.

    An investigation by the Premier League found that Liverpool spoke to the youngster and his family before they should have and also paid for him and some of his family to attend a game at Anfield.

    Liverpool also offered to pay the player’s school fees, which were being paid by Stoke at this time, but this was a breach of newly-introduced regulations which state a benefit can only be offered if it is applicable to all youngsters across the club’s academy and this was not the case.

    Premier League rules ban the offer of any inducements from clubs to encourage a move. Liverpool have admitted the rule breaches.