Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz will undergo surgery on a knee injury sustained after the opening weekend of the Premier League season, but the German international is not expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The 26-year-old, who came off the bench in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening day, was absent for the 5-0 home win against Leeds United last weekend. It has now been confirmed that he requires a minor operation to correct the problem, though medical staff are optimistic that his recovery will be measured in weeks rather than months.…

Crystal Palace made history on Thursday night as they secured their first-ever appearance in the group stage of a European competition, edging past Norwegian side Fredrikstad with a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory in the UEFA Conference League play-offs. Oliver Glasner’s men arrived at the Nye Fredrikstad Stadion holding a slender lead thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s strike in the first leg at Selhurst Park. They clung onto that advantage despite a nervy and uninspiring performance in Norway, which saw them held to a goalless draw. Palace struggle to impose themselves The visitors failed to find their rhythm in attack, continuing a…

West Ham United’s turbulent start to the Premier League season has cast a long shadow over manager Graham Potter, with mounting concerns about results, recruitment, and the very direction of the club. The Hammers have endured three consecutive defeats, shipping 11 goals in just three games, a run that has plunged the side into crisis. Their latest loss, a Carabao Cup exit to Wolves, was made worse when captain Jarrod Bowen clashed with a fan at full-time, an incident emblematic of a toxic mood growing around the London Stadium. Former midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker summed up the mood, describing the situation…

England and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has challenged Arsenal to finally deliver a major trophy this season, insisting that their new squad depth leaves them with no excuses. The former striker, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, noted that Mikel Arteta’s side now boasts one of the most formidable squads in Europe following a busy summer transfer window. A Strengthened Arsenal Squad Arsenal’s summer business has transformed their squad. The arrival of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon provides the Gunners with the number nine they have lacked in recent years. His physical presence and goalscoring record…

Sevilla striker Akor Jerome Adams will miss Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa due to a long adductor muscle injury in his left thigh, suffered during Sevilla’s La Liga defeat to Getafe last weekend (Daily Post Nigeria, Yahoo Sports). At 25 years old, this represents a significant setback for both club and national team. Sevilla confirmed on Wednesday that Adams is unavailable not only for the qualifiers but also for this weekend’s fixture against Girona (Daily Post Nigeria, Yahoo Sports). The injury occurred in live action, prompting the club’s medical staff to rule him…

Fulham are moving decisively to secure a permanent transfer of Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan, with the deal reportedly valued at around €25 million and negotiations in advanced stages. According to Italian journalist Matteo Moretto, “Milan and Fulham are in constant contact to close a €25 million transfer,” comprised of a mix of fixed fees and add-ons (SempreMilan). Further confirmation from Football-Italia adds that Milan have officially set the asking price at €25 million, and Fulham are working swiftly to reach an agreement before the transfer window slams shut (Football Italia). The playmaker’s career trajectory has been somewhat…

Swedish former crime-club chief Fredrik Gardare has dropped a bombshell, alleging that multiple Premier League footballers are implicated in match-fixing—a claim grounded in evidence he says was seized during a 2021 raid but never pursued further by authorities. (The Sun, GB News) Gardare, who formerly headed a Swedish police unit tackling organised crime in sport, said his team raided an illegal casino in late 2021. Among the phones confiscated, one device reportedly contained extensive Telegram messages showing players discussing manipulations of match events—including yellow cards, corners, and other betting-relevant occurrences in both European leagues and international Nations League matches. (The…

A rare basketball card jointly signed by NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant has sold for a record-breaking $12.9 million (£9.56m), making it the most expensive sports trading card in history. The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card went under the hammer at Heritage Auctions in the United States, attracting a flurry of global interest before eventually being purchased by an anonymous bidder. The extraordinary sale has eclipsed the previous card record, held by a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which fetched $12.6m (£10.8 million) at auction in August 2022. While Mantle’s iconic…

Former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has expressed his concern after his son, Raja Jackson, was involved in a shocking incident at a wrestling event in California which left performer Stuart Smith, better known by his ring name “Syko Stu,” in critical care. The incident occurred during a Knokx Pro Wrestling show, where Raja, a 25-year-old professional mixed martial artist, unexpectedly intervened in a match. What was initially billed as a scripted stunt between Jackson and Smith spiraled into real violence, leading organisers to condemn the act as “irresponsible and reprehensible.” According to video footage streamed live on the platform…

The Football Association has opened an investigation after a banner displayed by Crystal Palace supporters at Selhurst Park depicted Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis holding a gun to the head of midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. The controversial banner was unfurled during Sunday’s 1-1 draw between Palace and Forest, overshadowing the Premier League encounter. Alongside the illustration of Marinakis pointing a firearm at Gibbs-White, the banner carried the words: “Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption!” The display has sparked outrage at the City Ground, with senior Forest sources describing themselves as “hugely disappointed” that such material…