Category: Sports

Former Arsenal star, Paul Merson, has advised manager Mikel Arteta to make significant changes ahead of their Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday.

Merson believes it is time to shake up the starting XI by introducing Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli after Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United last weekend.

Arteta had left Gyokeres and Martinelli out of the lineup against Manchester United, choosing to start Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Trossard instead.

“Leeds away won’t be easy, no doubt about it,” Merson stated during an interview with Sportskeeda.

“Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli should come into the starting line-up for this game.

“Leandro Trossard will give you a bit of guile, but I think Martinelli’s pace will be really useful against Leeds.”

EPL: Paul Merson tells Arteta to drop two Arsenal players from starting XI

Manchester United legend, Roy Keane has named three options who should be the club’s manager.

Micheal Carrick is currently the caretaker manager but Keane believes the 43-year-old is not the best option for the Red Devils.

Keane wants United to go for Thomas Tuchel, Luis Enrique or Diego Simeone.

“I don’t think it is the right decision [for Man United to appoint Carrick as permanent manager], but good luck with it,” Keane said.

“Caretaker manager is a different animal from being manager of United trying to win league titles over the next two, three, four, five years. I think you can get a better manager than Carrick, absolutely.

“There are better options out there. It could be Tuchel, it could be Enrique. I like Simeone. Go and get the best.”

EPL: Roy Keane rejects Carrick, names three better options

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen has labelled both Ademola Lookman and Pape Gueye as ‘very good players’ amid the January transfer window.

Lookman and Gueye have been linked with a move to Galatasaray.

Lookman currently plays for Atalanta, while Gueye plays for Villarreal.

Discussing Galatasaray’s transfer interest in the pair, Osimhen, however, admitted that he doesn’t know whether the Turkish Super Lig champions are going to make any move on the players.

“Lookman and Pape Gueye are very good players,” Osimhen told Now Spor.

“But I don’t know what the club is doing in the transfer market right now,” he said.

This is coming after Galatasaray’s Champions League defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday.

They’re very good players – Osimhen on Galatasaray interest in Lookman, Pape Gueye

Arsenal legend, Paul Merson has provided his prediction for the Premier League match-day 24 taking place this weekend and on Monday.

Arsenal will face Leeds United in an away Premier League clash on Saturday evening.

Chelsea will host West Ham United on Saturday evening, while Liverpool will tackle Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday night.

Fulham will clash with Manchester United on Sunday, and Tottenham Hotspur will tackle Manchester City on Sunday.

Sunderland will face Burnley at home on Monday night.

Stating his predictions, Merson said via Sportskeeda:

Leeds United 0-2 Arsenal
Wolves 1-2 Bournemouth
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Everton
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford
Manchester United 2-1 Fulham
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester City
Sunderland 3-1 Burnley

EPL: Paul Merson predicts Chelsea vs West Ham, Leeds against Arsenal, other fixtures

Fenerbache officials are in Italy to finalise the deal for Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman, DAILY POST reports.

Director of sport, Devin Ozek is leading the team, according to Football Italia.

The Turkish Super Lig giants are also willing to offer Lookman €9m per season.

Atalanta recently signed Giacomo Raspadori from Spanish giants, Atletico Madrid, and are now open to selling Lookman.

Fenerbahce have proposed a loan with an obligation to buy for the Nigeria international.

The Yellow Canaries want to pay €5m loan fee with another €35m later in the summer.

Lookman pushed to leave Atalanta for Inter last summer.

Transfer: Fenerbahce pushing to sign Lookman from Atalanta 

Kwara United have received a timely boost with the return of midfielder Philip Ozor ahead of their midweek fixture against Kun Khalifat FC.

Ozor returned from the injury that has kept him out since December.

He was listed in the travelling squad for the trip to Owerri.

Ozor has featured in 14 matches for Suleiman Ashifat’s side this season.

Kwara United will do battle with Kun Khalifat FC at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Yahaya is the only player that has been sidelined from the game due to injury.

NPFL: Kwara United get Ozor boost ahead Kun Khalifat clash

Akwa United Chairman, Joseph Eno, has expressed optimism that his team will secure qualification to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

The Promise Keepers currently top their group with 19 points from nine matches.

Eno believes that with collective efforts from stakeholders, the team can achieve their target.

“With the support of the government, our fans, and dedicated stakeholders, Akwa United is firmly on course for a swift return to the Nigerian Premier Football League,” Eno told the club’s media.

Akwa United will square up with Rovers FC in their opening fixture of the second stanza.

The second stanza is expected to commence on February 14th, 2026.

NNL: Akwa United eye swift return to NPFL

The duo of Arinze Ogbonna and Victor Adeoye have left Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side, Kwara United, DAILY POST reports.

Ogbonna and Adeoye are reported to be close to a move abroad.

Both players featured regularly for the Ilorin club this season.

Ogbonna and Adeoye have 35 appearances between them for for Kwara United in this campaign.

Adeoye won the 2025 President Federation Cup with Kwara United.

The players’ departure is coming as a potential blow to Kwara United, who are battling relegation.

They have lost their last three league games.

Kwara United dropped into the relegation zone following a 1-0 defeat to Ikorodu City in Lagos last weekend.

They will take on Kun Khalifat on Thursday (today).

NPFL: Kwara United duo set for move abroad

Ifeanyi Ekwueme has stepped down from his role as Sporting Director of Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, side Enyimba.

Ekwueme said he took the decision to concentrate on his personal business interests.

The former Super Eagles winger was appointed Enyimba’s Sporting Director ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Ekwueme worked with his former international teammate, Nwankwo Kanu, who is the chairman of the club.

Enyimba have endured difficult campaign after a positive start.

Experienced tactician, Stanley Eguma was sacked by the Aba Giants last year.

Deji Ayeni is currently in charge of the team.

NPFL: Ekwueme resigns as Enyimba sporting director

Former Chelsea and Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho, has slammed his critics following Benfica’s victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage match on Wednesday night.

He said he hopes his critics were not committing suicide jumping off balconies when they saw his team’s performance against the Spanish big teams.

Benfica defeated Real Madrid with a score of 4-2 and advanced to the Champions League knockout play-offs.

The game in Lisbon was really thrilling, and Real Madrid scored first when Kylian Mbappe netted in the 30th minute.

Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis both scored goals, giving the home team a 3-1 advantage, but Mbappe then scored to cut Real’s deficit to just one goal.

The Spaniards needed to draw the game in order to have a chance of advancing to the top eight in the Champions League.

Benfica thought they were already in the top 24 and would make the play-offs, but after seeing other results, they needed one more goal to improve their goal difference and make it through.

Raul Asencio and Rodrygo received red cards towards the end of the game for Real Madrid.

In the last few minutes of the game, Benfica earned a free-kick just before the match ended.

Their goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, left his goal to get the ball and headed it into the net, scoring the key fourth goal in the 98th minute.

Benfica are 10 points behind the leading team in the Primeira Liga, Porto and for this Mourinho has been facing some pressure, but he took the opportunity to address the criticism following their fantastic victory.

The former Chelsea manager said to reporters, “The only thing I want it to do is bring a little respect. I hope they are not committing suicide or jumping off the balconies. Calm down.

“Benfica will lose, and they’ll have another chance to beat us. The only thing I need is a little respect. The team is the same.”

UCL: ‘I hope they’re not committing suicide’ – Mourinho slams critics after Benfica beat Real Madrid