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Napoli, Chelsea discuss Osimhen’s swap deal

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Napoli, Chelsea discuss Osimhen's swap deal

Napoli, Chelsea discuss Osimhen’s swap deal

 

Napoli are reportedly ready to engage in talks with Chelsea over a player-plus-cash deal for Victor Osimhen this summer, as the Italian club seek solutions for the Nigerian striker’s situation.

The Blues have been on a spending spree this summer, with Enzo Maresca overseeing a significant squad overhaul at Stamford Bridge.

New signings include Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Renato Veiga, alongside promising youngsters Omari Kellyman, Caleb Wiley, and Marc Guiu. Brazilian wonderkid Estevao is also set to join from Palmeiras next year.

Despite these acquisitions, Chelsea are still in the market for attacking reinforcements. While Aston Villa’s John Dhuran and Lille’s Jonathan David have been linked with moves, a potential deal for long-time target Osimhen may now be on the cards.

 

 

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Napoli are “looking for solutions” regarding Osimhen, aware of his desire to leave. The Italian club are also keen on bringing in Romelu Lukaku, which could pave the way for a swap deal.

Napoli would expect a fee in addition to Lukaku, given Osimhen’s £110m price tag, and it remains to be seen if Chelsea are willing to explore this option.

 

 

Osimhen has made no secret of his desire to leave Naples and has already approved a move to Paris Saint-Germain. However, negotiations between Napoli and the Ligue 1 side have stalled due to disagreements over the transfer fee.

 

 

The Nigeria striker is reportedly free to leave Napoli, where new manager Antonio Conte has made it clear that he is not part of his plans, with the Italian eager to bring in Lukaku as a replacement and wants the situation resolved quickly.

As a result, the Nigeria international was notably absent from Napoli’s bench for their 4-0 pre-season friendly win over Egnatia on Sunday evening. Romano highlighted this exclusion on social media platform X, mentioning PSG and Chelsea as potential destinations for Osimhen but also noting that Arsenal could make a late bid.

Chelsea may look to capitalise on this impasse to address their goalscoring issues, which have been made more glaring during the pre-season after they drew with League One side Wrexham FC and also lost to Celtic.

However, Osimhen’s wage demands could pose a challenge, as the Blues have been cautious about offering lucrative contracts this summer.

 

 

 

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Cameroon star backs Lookman to win CAF Player award

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Cameroon star backs Lookman to win CAF Player award

Cameroon star backs Lookman to win CAF Player award

 

As the celebration for the 2024 CAF Africa Player award gears up, Cameroon international Flavien Enzo Boyomo is confident that Nigeria international and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman is the favourite to win the men’s best player award, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Lookman, who made history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a European club competition final during his club’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen last season, has been getting massive backing from teammates, stakeholders and fans since CAF announced the final shortlist for the award.

Boyomo is the latest to throw his weight behind the Nigerian to claim the honour when the winner will be announced at the CAF Awards 2024 on December 16.

Lookman faces competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Algeria’s Amine Gouiri, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.

 

Despite the stiff competition from other nominees, the Osasuna centre-back remains confident that the Atalanta man will win the award.

“I believe Lookman will win the African Ballon d’Or,” Boyomo was quoted saying by Actu Cameroon.

 

“He won the Europa League and he is the one who has the best chance of winning the trophy this year.”

 

Lookman’s nomination comes after a remarkable season that saw him emerge as Europe’s most productive attacking player in the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign, registering 14 goal contributions (eight goals and six assists) from April onwards, more than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues.

The former Everton striker’s stellar performances reached their pinnacle in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, where he netted a historic hat-trick to crown a season that saw him amass an impressive 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.

The former Everton man has continued with his impressive form this campaign, with the Nigeria international already notching nine goals and five assists in just 16 appearances for La Dea.

Aside from his historic and remarkable Europa League exploits with Atalanta, Lookman emerged as the overwhelming favourite for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award following his 14th-placed finish at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris in October where he was the only African player nominated for the award.

 

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France Beat Nigeria 2 – 1 In Women’s International Friendly

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France Beat Nigeria 2 - 1 In Women's International Friendly

Friendly: France Maintain Dominance Over Super Falcons After Securing 2-1 Win

Nigeria’s Super Falcons narrowly lost 2-1 to France in an international friendly game in Angers on Saturday.

It is now fourth wins in four games for France against the Super Falcons.

Eugenie Le Sommer and Amel Majri were the scorers for France while Ifeoma Onumunu got the Falcons ‘ goal.

Sommer broke the deadlock on 29th minute before Majri added the second in the 38th minute.

In three minutes of first half added time Onumonu pulled a goal back for the Falcons which was not enough to avoid defeat.

The Super Falcons welcome back Ashleigh Plumptre who missed the Paris Olympics due to injury.

Veteran defender Osinachi Ohale was sent off in the 97th minute after receiving her second booking.

In goal for the Falcons was Chiamaka Nnadozie while the likes of Christy Ucheibe, Gift Monday, Michelle Alozie, Jennifer Echiegini, Toni Payne, Rofiat Imuran featured for the Super Falcons.

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Asisat Oshoala, Paul Onuachu Nominated For 2024 FIFA Best Awards (Full List)

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Asisat Oshoala, Paul Onuachu Nominated For 2024 FIFA Best Awards (Full List)

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 nominees announced

Football fans from across the globe can now cast their votes in a host of categories, including The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11.

🔴Voting is now open for the ninth edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards™

🔴Fans can vote for The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11 for first time

🔴New FIFA Marta Award added to celebrate the best goal in women’s football

FIFA has announced the shortlist of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2024, which will recognise the leading lights in another thrilling year of women’s and men’s football at both club and national-team levels.

Voting is now open on FIFA.com across a number of award categories, with fans set to play a key role in choosing the winners. Voting for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper will be equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams, and media representatives.

The winner of the FIFA Fan Award will be chosen entirely by fans, while the recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award will be decided by an expert panel. Voting for the new FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award will be split equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends.

The biggest change in terms of voting for this year’s edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards is that fans will have their say in selecting The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11. They will be able to choose from a list of 77 nominated players – 22 defenders, midfielders and forwards apiece, plus 11 goalkeepers – slotting them into one of several preset tactical formations to build their team. Votes will be weighted equally between fans and an expert panel.

The FIFA Puskás Award has been redefined as being bestowed on the scorer of the best goal in men’s football regardless of championship or nationality. To honour the best goal scored in women’s football in any league around the world, the FIFA Marta Award, named after the Brazilian legend, will be presented for the very first time.

Voting is open on FIFA.com until 23:59 CET on Tuesday, 10 December 2024. The rules of allocation for all awards are available at the FIFA Digital Hub.

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