Chelsea Close to Signing £25m Player with Links to Moises Caicedo

Chelsea are unlikely to make significant moves in the January transfer window unless the right opportunity arises to strengthen their squad.

After a heavy summer spending spree, the Blues successfully addressed key areas, with Pedro Neto emerging as an indispensable part of the first team. However, they refrained from investing heavily in defense, relying on their existing backline from last season.

The club did secure Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer, alongside young talent Renato Veiga, who has impressed at both club and international levels.

Chelsea's recruitment strategy appears focused on nurturing young, rising stars, with Joel Ordonez now being linked as a potential addition.

AFCON 2025: Full List of 24 Qualified Nations

The lineup for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is now finalized, with Mozambique claiming the last spot following a 2-1 win over Guinea-Bissau.

Scheduled to kick off in December 2025, the tournament will take place in Morocco, which qualifies automatically as the host nation.

This edition promises an exciting blend of established football giants and emerging teams, all vying to make their mark on Africa's premier football stage.

Liverpool's Progress Under Arne Slot: Martin Zubimendi Deal and Squad Updates

Liverpool are thriving in a new era under Arne Slot, who took over as head coach after Jurgen Klopp departed Anfield last summer following nearly nine years in charge. Slot has embraced the challenge of maintaining the club's legacy, aiming to deliver more success and silverware to Merseyside.

Under Slot's leadership, Liverpool have surged to the top of the Premier League table as of November's international break. The Reds hold a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City and are nine points clear of Chelsea and Arsenal, sitting in third and fourth, respectively.

Despite a relatively quiet summer transfer window, which saw two signings completed but only one joining the squad for the current season, Liverpool's early form suggests strong progress. It remains to be seen whether the club will pursue additional transfers when the window reopens in January.

EPL: Amorim Set to Break African Transfer Record with €100m Bid for Super Eagles Star

Manchester United are reportedly preparing a €100 million offer for Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Lookman has become one of the most sought-after players in Europe, thanks to his impressive performances. He played a pivotal role in leading Nigeria to the 2023 AFCON final and Atalanta to the Coppa Italia final.

The Nigerian forward further boosted his reputation by scoring a remarkable hat-trick that helped Atalanta secure the UEFA Europa League title. His exceptional form earned him a 14th-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings.

Paris Saint-Germain were linked with Lookman during the summer, but no deal materialized. More recently, Arsenal have expressed interest in signing the 27-year-old.

However, Lookman could now be on his way to Manchester United, with manager Ruben Amorim reportedly keen to make him a marquee signing. A €100m move would not only mark a significant addition to United's squad but also make Lookman the most expensive African footballer in history.

Despite being allocated a modest transfer budget, Amorim is eager to secure key players and views Lookman as essential to his plans for success at Old Trafford.

Arsenal urged to pursue Victor Osimhen as doubts arise over Kai Havertz's quality.

Arsenal have been advised to sign Victor Osimhen, with criticism directed at their current first-choice No. 9, Kai Havertz, who is considered "nowhere near" the world-class standard the club needs to compete at the highest level.

Last season, Mikel Arteta's team showcased an impressive attacking display, scoring 91 Premier League goals and finishing just behind Manchester City. However, their goals were distributed across the team, with Bukayo Saka leading as top scorer with 16 goals—far behind Erling Haaland's 27. Havertz, who often played in midfield, contributed 13 goals in his debut season at Arsenal.

This season, Havertz has been deployed as a No. 9 but has managed only four goals in 11 Premier League appearances, alongside strikes in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup. While his tally isn’t insignificant, it falls short compared to Mohamed Salah's eight and Haaland's league-leading 12 goals.

Former Arsenal captain William Gallas criticized Havertz's performance, claiming he lacks the elite quality Arsenal require to compete with Manchester City and Liverpool. Gallas called on the club to act decisively, saying it is "obvious" they need to bring in Osimhen to strengthen their attack.

"Kai Havertz has never been the right player to help Arsenal win the Premier League title. He's a good player, but he's not top class. I'm sorry, but he's nowhere near world-class level. Arsenal need to replace him at striker," Gallas told Genting Casino.

Robert Lewandowski recently shared how close he was to joining Manchester United in 2012, following an approach by Sir Alex Ferguson. At the time, Lewandowski was a rising star at Borussia Dortmund, having scored 30 goals during the 2011/12 season and helping the club win the Bundesliga title.

The Polish striker revealed that he had a phone conversation with Ferguson, who expressed a strong desire to bring him to Old Trafford. Lewandowski was eager to make the move, but the transfer fell through due to Borussia Dortmund's reluctance to sell one of their key players. Instead, he stayed at Dortmund for two more seasons before moving to Bayern Munich, where he cemented his status as one of the world's best strikers.

Now 36, Lewandowski has enjoyed a remarkable career, scoring over 400 club goals and winning numerous individual and team honors, including a Champions League title. Reflecting on the near move to Manchester United, he acknowledged how different his career might have been had the deal gone through.

Why Osimhen Currently Outshines Haaland

Victor Osimhen, 25, has been in exceptional form for Galatasaray, showcasing his sharp finishing ability in the Turkish Super Lig.

His impressive performances have established him as one of Europe’s most coveted

Real Madrid is reportedly open to selling Aurelien Tchouameni, a player they signed for up to $106 million (€100 million), with interest already coming from Premier League clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool. The report, shared by OK Diario director Eduardo Inda on the Spanish TV program El Chiringuito, cites anonymous sources.

Tchouameni joined Real Madrid in June 2022 after Los Blancos outbid Liverpool, securing his transfer from AS Monaco in a deal worth an initial $85 million (€80 million), with potential add-ons pushing the fee beyond $105 million.

His arrival at Real Madrid coincided with Casemiro's move to Manchester United. Now, two years later, with the Brazilian midfielder no longer at his peak, both United and Liverpool are reportedly keen to compete for the services of the Qatar 2022 finalist.

Pep Guardiola has officially agreed to extend his stay at Manchester City, signing a new contract with the option to remain at the club until 2027. This follows months of speculation about his future.

As first reported by The Athletic, the Catalan manager, who has won six of the last seven Premier League titles and guided City to their first Champions League and Club World Cup triumphs, will surpass a decade at the Etihad if he fulfills his new deal. Already the Premier League's longest-serving manager, Guardiola's extension brings him closer to Les McDowall's post-war record as City's longest-serving manager.

City’s leadership was always determined to retain Guardiola, believing he remains the best coach in the world. However, the decision ultimately rested with Guardiola, who had to consider his recovery from back surgery last season and his long-term aspirations, including managing an international team before retirement. After careful reflection, Guardiola is confident he has the energy and commitment to stay until at least 2026, with the option of extending further.

This news is expected to provide a morale boost to the team, currently on an uncharacteristic run of four consecutive defeats, as they look to recover their form early in the season. It also brings long-term stability, allowing Guardiola to collaborate with incoming sporting director Hugo Viana to rebuild an ageing squad and prepare for the outcome of ongoing investigations into City’s financial conduct.

While Manchester City declined to comment, a formal announcement is anticipated later this week. Guardiola's press conference on Friday, ahead of the Spurs game, is expected to focus heavily on his decision to stay.

"I chose Saudi Arabia over Arsenal to follow Cristiano Ronaldo, and I have no regrets."

Gabri Veiga, one of Europe’s most sought-after young players, caused a stir when he opted for the Saudi Pro League instead of the Premier League. The 22-year-old midfielder, previously linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, joined Al-Ahli from Celta Vigo in a £34 million deal last year, following stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the Middle East.

In an interview with Spanish outlet AS in March, Veiga stood by his decision. As quoted by Sport Witness, he stated: "Unfortunately, not everything that is reported is true."