Price and run ARSENAL in for Mbappe.

ARSENAL TO BREAK WORLD RECORD FOR MBAPPE?
‘ARSENAL are ready to make a real statement of intent and increase their offer for Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe to a world record £95 million,’ says the ‘world exclusive’ in the Sunday Express. Alarm bells start ringing when the bylines in the newspaper and online are different and then ring even louder when we read lines like this:
* ‘Monaco have already knocked out an offer of £105 million.’
* ‘The teenager is the hottest property in European football this summer after playing a starring role during Monaco’s run of the semi-finals of the Champions League.’
* ‘He is also on the radar of the Manchester giants United and City but Arsenal are seeking to steel a march on both of them.’
* ‘Monaco are determined to keep hold of their most prized asset but it seems that their won’t be any let up with the bids from clubs wanting to sign him.’
* ‘And the best way would be to land a marquee signing like Mbappe who has been likened to a Thierry Henry to Wenger helped shaped into a Gunners legend.’
It’s not been written by somebody with a basic grasp of English so we are struggling to believe they have inside knowledge about Arsenal suddenly breaking the world transfer record.

DE GEA COULD BE DE MAN FOR £80M
 that Manchester United’s interest in Raphael Varane could see lines of communication open with Real Madrid, and on Sunday the claim in the Daily Mail is that United are willing to sell goalkeeper David de Gea…for a hefty price ‘close to £80m’.
It is expected that Real will make a £40m move and United will raise their hands upwards in a bid to get mega-money for the Spaniard, though the bait of Alvaro Morata or Varane could force the price down. This is going to be a long, long old summer.

SZCZESNY TO LEAVE GUNNERS FOR JUVE
You would think that somewhere in north London, somebody at Arsenal would be wondering why Champions League finalists Juventus want their keeper Wojciech Szczesny to be Gianluigi Buffon’s long-term replacement, while they – who finished fifth in the Premier League – want to sell for just £14m.
Elsewhere, Marca repeat their usual claim that Hector Bellerin is Barcelona’s prime target for the right-back position, though they admit that Arsene Wenger’s decision to stay makes things more complicated. But they still believe a deal can be done for somewhere in the region of £43m.

VALENCIA WANT HERRERA
This is an odd one. We imagine that Valencia do want Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera, but we cannot think of a single reason why they would believe that a) United would sell and b) Herrera would join. He is a key part of a United side that will return to the Champions League next season, so even the lure of working with Valencia coach Marcelino again is unlikely to hold much sway. And United would want rather more than £30m.

AND THE REST
Manchester City have had an initial offer for defender Benjamin Mendy rejected by Monaco…Everton are keen on West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang…Brighton boss Chris Hughton is ready to make a £2m move for Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald…Watford are considering a move for 22-year-old Montpellier forward Steve Mounie, who is also a target for West Brom…Sevilla want to sign Manchester City forward Nolito…Lazio winger Keita Balde will turn down a move to Liverpool in favour of signing for Juventus.

TAM ABRAHAM SET TO REPLACE LUKAKU AT EVERTON.

Chelsea wonderkid Tammy Abraham has emerged as a summer transfer target for Premier League side Everton.

Standard Sport says the Toffees have identified Abraham as one of the best talents outside the Premier League.

Chelsea are interested in Romelu Lukaku as replacement for Diego Costa, and Abraham might be used as a bargaining tool to bring the Belgian ace to Stamford Bridge.

The England U21 international has been prolific in the Championship this season, scoring 22 goals for Bristol City, where he is on loan until the end of this season.

Everton did transfer business with a London club in January, signing English-born Nigerian striker Ademola Lookman from Charlton Athletic.

The 19-year-old Abraham has also been linked with Leicester City and Galatasaray ahead of the opening of the transfer window.

BREAKING:UGO EHIOGU DIES AFTER HEART ATTACK
 Tottenham Hotspur have announced the death of English-born Nigerian defender Ugo Ehiogu, their U23 coach.

On Thursday, Ehiogu suddenly lost consciousness after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Training Center and was transferred to hospital, where he passed away in the early hours of this morning.

Head of Coaching and Player Development John McDermott said : “Words cannot express the shock and sadness that we all feel at the Club.

“Ugo’s immense presence will be irreplaceable. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Gemma and his family.”

Ehiogu, who was 44 years, previously represented West Brom, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Rangers and Sheffield United, before joining Spurs as a youth team coach in July 2014.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has explained why he made few adjustments to his team for tonight’s Premier League tie against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Nigeria international Victor Moses was among the players named in the Blues provisional squad along with Ola Aina, but the right wing-back failed a late fitness test and watched on from the stands instead.

With no experienced like-for-like replacement for Moses, Conte handed a rare start to Kurt Zouma in central defense, Cesar Azpilicueta started at right wing-back and Pedro was part of a three-man attack.
“I think I decided for this starting eleven because there is still a miss of Moses and we finished the game with some problems for some players, ” stated Conte.

Moses, 26, had played 22 consecutive games as a right wing-back in the Premier League before his spell on the sidelines.

NIGERIAN PLAYERS WATCH...
 Moses In The Stands; Dele Stars; Ibe Returns To Liverpool Published: April 05, 2017 Catch up on the performances of players of Nigerian descent in the English Premier League on Wednesday night.

Alex Iwobi watched proceedings from the bench as Arsenal returned to winning ways, beating West Ham 3-0 in a London derby at the Emirates. Italy international Angelo Ogbonna is out for the season and didn’t feature for the Hammers.

Arsenal had no breakthrough at the halfway stage, but Ozil’s goal on 58 minutes started an excellent second half, Walcott got the second goal ten minutes later and Giroud rounded up the scoring with seven minutes left.

Injured Moses Odubajo was missing as Hull City recorded an impressive 4-2 victory over Middlesbrough at the  KCOM Stadium.

Alvaro Negredo gave the visitors the lead after five minutes, only for Lazar Markovic to restore parity on 14 minutes. Baye Oumar Niasse and Abel Hernandez scored to give Hull City a two-goal advantage, but Marten De Roon replied just before the end of the first half.

Harry Maguire put the game to bed when he scored with a header in the 70th minute.

Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat Swansea City 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium. The Londoners were a goal behind until the 88th minute when Dele Alli scored and the England international provided the assist for Eriksen’s third goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The Spurs number 20 logged ninety minutes, teammate Josh Onomah was a non-playing substitute.

Olufela Olomola wasn’t involved in Southampton’s 3-1 home win versus Crystal Palace. The visitors struck first through Benteke, but goals from Redmond,Yoshida and Ward-Prowse secured a win for the Saints.

Chelsea remain in pole position for the title after a 2-1 win against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Victor Moses failed a late fitness test and watched the match from the stands, Ola Aina and Dominic Solanke didn’t make the Blues 18-man squad. City number 72 Kelechi Iheanacho was frozen out for the second game in a row.

Eden Hazard scored two goals, including a 35th minute winner. Sergio Aguero had restored parity in the 26th minute.

Sheyi Ojo and Ovie Ejaria were not in Liverpool’s 18-man squad against Bournemouth. Jordon Ibe started against his former team and subbed out on the hour mark.

Joshua King rescued a point for the Cherries when he equalized in the 87th minute. Coutinho and Origi had found the net for the Anfield side after Afobe’s goal in the seventh minute.

MUSA MOHAMMED'S DAYS IN EAGLES IS NUMBERED

As coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr continue his search for options at right back, Musa Mohammed could be the odd man out according to Owngoalnigeria.com Michael James.
James who watched the duo of Tyronne Ebuehi and Ola Aina during the Super Eagles practice session in London reckons they could be the solution to the right back woes of the team.
” Ebuehi is highly technical, forget about what you read about his lack of physical attributes. He makes up for it with a near perfect reading of play and he is a modern day wingback. A cultured Dutch full back”, James wrote.
” The thing I like about Ebuehi is the speed at which he turns defence into attack and his coverage, but that said Aina is a hell of a talent to have at our disposal.
” Tall, quick and very confident. Never shy of getting stuck in, as a matter of fact he loves getting into tackles and in the air boy is very good as well.
” Their emergence will cost some players their spot in the team, particularly Musa Mohammed, for now he is fourth choice right back. Kenneth Omeruo, Aina and Ebuehi are all ahead of him talent wise, he could lose his spot”.
* Daniel Martins

Rohr Runs The Rule Over Chelsea Starlet Aina As Super Eagles Team A Play 1-1 Draw With Team B

Published: March 27, 2017 Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho was on target for Super Eagles Team A as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Team B in a practice game held at the Hive Stadium on Monday evening.

Trabzonspor midfielder Eddy Onazi captained Team A while Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo led the other team.

Iheanacho opened scoring in the first half before Austria Vienna striker Olanrewaju Kayode restored parity in the second half.

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr ran the rule over Chelsea right wing-back Ola Aina, who lasted the entirety of the game for the Team B, plus ADO Den Haag defender Tyronne Ebuehi.

The Super Eagles would have been playing their second friendly against Burkina Faso tonight, but the Stallions were unable to secure entry visas into the United Kingdom for the entire squad.