PL : Chelsea target Virgil van Dijk hands in transfer request

Chelsea target Virgil van Dijk has officially submitted a transfer request to Southampton today, as shown in a statement made by the player.

The statement made by the Dutchman confirms that he is keen to depart the club with immediate effect, as he seeks a move to a top team this summer.
Chelsea have long been linked with a move for the former Celtic man, with Antonio Conte keen to bolster his defensive reinforcements further.

Van Dijk has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best central defenders since his move to England in 2015, and this has subsequently attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea.
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Saints have been adamant in their stance that Van Dijk will not be sold, but this transfer request could force their hand, and a bid from Chelsea could tempt them now. - Read Sport

Transfer updates : Jose 'ready to fight for Bale'

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is ready to "fight" for Gareth Bale's signature if Real Madrid leave the attacker out of the UEFA Super Cup.

Bale is part of the 24-man squad in Macedonia for the match between the Champions League and Europa League winners, but speculation continues over the Wales international's future.
There have been suggestions in Spain that Madrid are willing to part company with the 28-year-old as they move for Monaco's Kylian Mbappe, giving hope to long-standing admirers United.

Mourinho recently said it would be impossible to bring in Bale, but is now ready to pounce on any softening stance on Real's part.
"If he's playing tomorrow, well, no I wouldn't think of that possibility of signing on (Bale)," the United boss said in Macedonia ahead of facing his former club.
"If he is playing tomorrow, it is because he is in the coach's plans and in the club's plans and because he also has that ambition to continue in Real Madrid.

"So I haven't even thought of the possibility of signing him on our team.
"If he's not in the club's plans, if what you are writing right now is true - I am not sure whether it is or not - that the arrival of another player (would) perhaps (mean) Gareth would be on his way out.
"If he is on his way out of Real Madrid, well, I'll try to be waiting for him on the other side and try to fight with other coaches that would also like to have him on his team.

"But I think that if he plays tomorrow, it is probably the best confirmation that they'll keep counting on him during the season."
Meanwhile, Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs says he is confident his compatriot will move to Old Trafford at some stage in the future.
"I don't think it will happen in this transfer window but you can see it happening one day," Giggs said.

"If Bale ever comes back to England there are very few clubs who would be able to afford him or he would want to play for. After Real Madrid only a couple of clubs can really compete for prestige or history. - SKY

Transfer news : 'Liverpool won't keep Coutinho'

Liverpool won't be able to hold on to Philippe Coutinho if he wants to join Barcelona, says Graeme Souness.

Sky sources understand that the Brazilian midfielder would like a move to the Catalan giants this summer if a deal can be done amicably with the Reds, and Souness told Sky Sports News that a move will likely happen sooner or later.
"I don't think you can [keep him]," said Souness, when asked whether Liverpool will be able to hold on to Coutinho. "The chance to play for a team that would suit his style of play, I don't think he can say no to it, as hard as that is for Liverpool to accept.

"Ultimately if he wants to go he will go, as much as the club won't want him to. He's on a contract but if the big players want to go these days then they get their own way."
Souness also reckons Liverpool will be forced to pay over the odds to recruit players to replace Coutinho, as every club in the world will know that Jurgen Klopp's side will have money to spend.
"The problem they have is that they'll get so much money for him, that when they go shopping after that they'll pay a premium wherever they go," said Souness.

"I'm sure there are players out there who would influence their play as much as Coutinho. Would they come to Liverpool? For sure, but they're going to have a big war chest to spend."
Souness was joined in the studio by Jamie Carragher, who hopes Coutinho will stay at Liverpool for the sake of his old club and the Premier League as a whole.

"Not just as a Liverpool fan but as a Premier League fan you want to keep a player of that quality in our league," said Carragher.
"We've lost too many players over the last few years to the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Fingers crossed Liverpool can keep hold of him."

Divorce : Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich splits from wife Dasha Zhukova

The Russian billionaire and owner of Chelsea football club, Roman Abramovich, is splitting from his wife, Dasha Zhukova, the couple announced in a joint statement on Monday.

Abramovich and Zhukova, an art collector and gallery director, met in 2005 and have two children together.
“After 10 years together, the two of us have made the difficult decision to separate, but we remain close friends, parents, and partners in the projects we developed together,” said the joint statement.
A spokesman for Abramovich, 50, declined to comment further, or to say whether the couple planned a formal divorce.

Forbes estimated Abramovich’s wealth at $9.2bn (£7bn) this year, making him the 139th richest person in the world. He is known for his love of luxury, owning the world’s second-largest yacht and a portfolio of property in locations across the world.
Zhukova, 36, is the daughter of a Russian oil magnate, and was educated in the US. She was treated with some scepticism when she entered the international art world, opening her Garage gallery in Moscow in 2008 and famously declining to name a single artist she admired in an interview.
She courted controversy in 2014 and attracted allegations of racism after posing for a photograph sitting on a chair made from a mannequin of a black woman. She denied any racist intent and said the photograph had been taken out of context.

Zhukova has become a fixture on the international art scene, where rich Russians inject millions into the contemporary art market. Garage, in Moscow’s redesigned Gorky Park, has become one of the best museums in the Russian capital, featuring frequently changing exhibits and cultural events.
The couple’s joint statement said they “are committed to jointly raising our two children” and will continue to work together on joint projects, including Garage, and New Holland in St Petersburg, a formerly derelict and shuttered island in the centre of the city.

Abramovich has poured millions of dollars into New Holland, to turn it into a social and cultural space. The oligarch often contributes to government-backed projects, a requirement for billionaires who want to stay on the good side of the Kremlin.
Zhukova is the third wife of Abramovich. He announced a divorce settlement with his second wife, Irina, in 2007, amid reports of the blossoming relationship with Zhukova.
 - The Guardian 

Terrible country ! Terrible rulers !! Paris Club Refund: Court freezes bank accounts of Abia, Cross River, Delta states

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has issued an ex-parte order directing that the Paris-London Club Refund bank accounts of Abia, Cross River, and Delta states be frozen.

The accounts to be frozen are listed as follows: Abia state Paris and London Club Debit Refund, 1019892950, UBA Bank Plc; CRS Paris and London Club Debit Refund, 101989719, UBA Bank Plc; and DTSG CRS Paris and London Club Debit Refund, 1012906702, Zenith Bank Plc respectively

The court gave the order amidst allegations that the governors of the three states preferred payment to family members, friends, and cronies in the guise of settling the fees for consultancy services at the expense of the real consultant progenitor of the Paris-London Club Refund.
Abia state government reportedly owes the real consultant progenitor the sum of $11,325,000 and N1.72bn; Cross River state government owes the sum of $8,050,000 and N1.2bn; While, Delta state government owes $27,274,135 and N3bn.
According to documents exclusively obtained by DAILY POST, the court order
was sequel to an affidavit in support of ex-parte originating summons sworn to by Dr. Maurice Ibe, the Chairman and Managing Director of Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd, and filed before the court by his Counsel; Alex Marama, Charles Ude, and Kenneth N. Esq.

Ibe averred that there is an urgent need for the court to direct the third defendants (United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Zenith Bank Nig. Plc) in the suits CV/2470/17, CV/2536/17, CV/2469/17 and motions M/8777/17, M8780/17, M/8784/17 to, in the interim, stop further disbursement of the money already in or accruing to the respective Paris-London Club Refund accounts domiciled with them which belong to the three states respectively.

The Court also ordered the banks to set up an escrow account where the said funds will be deposited pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
Abia state government led by Theophilus Orji had engaged Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd on the 3rd of November, 2014 to pursue the refund of excess deductions on foreign loans and miscellaneous charges in exchange of 30 percent of any fund recovered.

Similarly, Cross River government engaged the same consultancy firm on the same date for the same purpose in exchange of 20 percent of any fund recovered.
Delta state government under governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan also engaged the services of Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd in exchange of 30 percent of any fund recovered.

Justice Halilu, while granting the order freezing the accounts, adjourned the suit to 7th September, 2017 for hearing. - Daily Post

Mega city ! Mega crime !! Badoo member nabbed after gang smashed woman’s head inside church

Suspected members of the Badoo cult at the weekend attacked the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Okin Parish, Igbo Agbowa, Ibeshe in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Three Badoo cultists had mixed with the congregation during the vigil.

As members slept, the assailants smashed stone on the head of a woman.
The victim raised the alarm, which woke up other church members and residents of the area.
A resident told Punch that the suspects were chased and one of them was apprehended.
The witness added that the woman had been admitted to a hospital.

He said: “After his arrest, he told us that they were three that attended the vigil. They pretended to be members of the church.
“People were exhausted after the service and slept off inside the church. During that period, they attacked the woman. She was seriously injured in the head.

“Two of them fled, but the third suspect was apprehended and taken to the Ipakodo Police Station. Some youths wanted to lynch him, but they were stopped.”
An elder in the community urged the police to arrest other fleeing members and their sponsors.

“The woman is in a critical condition at the hospital. It was assurances from elderly members of the community that justice would be done that made the youths hand over the suspect to the police.

“We have witnessed a situation where a suspect was caught like this and handed over to the police, but nothing came out of it.
“The police should ensure diligent investigation and prosecution. If justice is done, people will stop jungle justice,” he added.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has confirmed the incident.
The CP said, “We don’t want those ones that ran away to have an inkling of what we are doing. - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Man caught shooting video of married woman while she was bathing

A 29-year-old man of 234 Rujeko C Masvingo, Zimbabwe, Abraham Matenda, has been arraigned in court for shooting a video of his fellow tenant’s wife while she was having her bath.

According to Standard, Matenda appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Court for invasion of privacy/criminal insult as defined in section 95 (1) (b) of the criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 of the country

The police prosecutor, Nancy Makuvise, told the Peter Madiba-led court that, on the 30th July 2017, Matenda invaded the privacy of the complainant, Mapkae Asaweyi, by placing a phone under the bathroom roof and recording a video of the complainant while bathing.

Asaweyi told the court that after discovering that there was a cell phone shooting a video of her taking a bath, she took the phone to Abraham’s wife who identified the phone as her husband’s.
The complainant then showed the accused’s wife the video which she deleted after viewing.
Matenda’s wife went on to open the phone’s gallery and found it containing another video of the complainant bathing which she also deleted

In his defence, the accused denied all the charges levelled against him, arguing that on the same day in question he was not at home and he had left his phone charging.
However, the complainant told the court that she has an audio recording of the accused admitting to have recorded the complainant while bathing.
The case was adjourned to the 11th of August 2017. Daily Post

Leadership failure !!! Fayose: Boko Haram, Badoo, ritual killers, drug war… what is wrong with Nigeria?

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has raised concerns about the various manifestations of violence in Nigeria.

Fayose raised his concerns on Monday via his Twitter handle. He asked what had gone wrong with the nation.

His statement is a reaction to the shooting in a Catholic church in Anambra state on Sunday, which resulted in the death of eight persons, while many other were injured.

“Boko Haram in NE, Badoo in Lagos, herdsmen across the country, ritual killers everywhere, and now drug war,what’s wrong with us as a people?” Fayose asked.

“Where did we get it so wrong that we now kill one another at will?

“Killing fellow human beings is devilish, not to talk of killings in the house of God. I condemn the Ozubulu murder in its entirety.”

While commiserating with the church, government and people of the state, Fayose said it was time for the nation to have another look at its moral values.

He called on the police and other security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the shooting and bring the culprits to book. - Cable Nigeria

Lugard's expired kingdom !!! Quit Notice: Arewa youths/Igbo leaders peace parley deadlock

The 10-man Committee of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and Igbo Leaders in the North set up to find lasting solution to the quit notice issued to Igbos in the North by Arewa Youths appeared to have more responsibilities than envisaged as it has extended its sitting to the next 10-days.

However, beyond expectations that the Committee would have come up with a stand to call off the quit notice order Monday, The Nation gathered from impeccable sources within the Committee that there are more that meets the eye.
According to a source, “we sat for more than three times and we find out that there are more issues on ground that should be extensively deliberated upon if we really want to find a lasting solution that will settle the dust already raised.”
The Nation recalled that after a crucial peace-parley of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and Igbo leaders in the North last week, a 10-man Committee was set up to further find better ways of resolving the contentious issue.

However, after three days of brainstorming, the joint committee with five representatives from each side adjourned sitting to the next 10 days to make way for wider consultations.
According to a Press Statement issued by the 10-man Committee and made available to The Nation in Kano Monday, there was need for more time so as to enable the committee do a thorough job.
The statement was signed by Chief Chi Nwogu (representative of Igbo leaders), Alhaji Dauda S. Shamakiri (representative of the Coalition of Northern Groups) and Comrade Isa Tijani (convener of the peace parley).

It reads: “Reference to the peace meeting held on the 4th August, 2017 by leaders of the Coalition of Northern Groups and Igbo Leaders in the 19 northern states and the FCT which resulted in the formation of a 10-man committee to find a solution to the quit notice issued.
“The Committee sat and deliberated extensively and agreed that there is need for further consultations from both sides.
“Accordingly, the meeting adjourned to reconvene in the next ten days where a final resolution on issues will be achieved.”

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Groups in a Press Statement issued after their Town Hall meeting in Kano, accused the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of sowing the seed of discord in the corporate existence of Nigeria as a country.
According to the statement, “his (Nnamdi Kanu) recent action of forcefully grounding movement of people including those from other regions by shutting down most South-East cities notwithstanding the mild and ineffective condemnation by some Igbo political, cultural and religious leaders has foreclosed the avenues for an expected early peaceful resolution.

“It is further justification of our concern expressed in the Kaduna Declaration and subsequent correspondences with the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Community.
“These renewed threats contained in Kanu’s unwarranted utterances and actions compel us to push further for definite national and international action that would decide the Biafran matter to conclusion once and for all.

“In our usual truly patriotic aim to forestall the drift toward anarchy in Nigeria, and also to alert the international community as to where responsibility would ultimately lie if such momentous events ever came to pass, we have followed up our earlier effort by another round of initiatives of extending similar communications to relevant authorities.” - The Nation

Corruption kingdom : Court forfeits Diezani’s $37.5million Banana Island property to FG

A Federal High Court in Lagos has permanently forfeited to the federal government a $37.5million Banana Island property bought in 2013 by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

A vacation judge, Justice Chuka Obiozor, made the order Monday following a motion on notice argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge also ordered that the sums of $2,740,197.96 and N84, 537,840.70 realised as rents on the property be permanently forfeited to the federal government. - The Nation

Fraud : EFCC Intensifies Probe Of Suspect With 849 ATM Cards

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has stepped up investigation to determine how a suspect, Yasir Salihu Abdullahi, came by a total of 849 Automated Teller Machine cards of various Nigerian banks and the reason the cards were being shipped out of the country. Abdullahi was arrested at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Friday, August 3, as he prepared to board an Egypt Air flight heading for Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

He was intercepted after a scan of his luggage by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service revealed the suspicious items. The officers then alerted the EFCC’s office in Kano.
On arrival, operatives of the Commission discovered that he had:

490 Guaranty Trust Bank ATM cards,
287 ATM cards of Access Bank,
49 ATM cards of Eco Bank,
10 ATM cards of UBA,
6 ATM cards of Stanbic IBTC Bank,
4 ATM cards of Zenith Bank,
1 ATM card each of Sterling Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and First City Monument Bank.

Another suspected fraudster, Ma Yongbin alias Suleiman Yunusa, a 46-year- old Chinese National was also arrested on August 3 by Aviation Security at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport as he tried to board Egypt Air to China. He was arrested at the Baggage checking point where he was found to have in his possession the sum of N305, 000 (Three Hundred and Five Thousand Naira ) in N5 denomination.
He was eventually handed over to the commission for further investigation. 


The two suspects have made useful statements. They have also been granted administrative bail while investigations continue. - EFCC

PL : Wenger suggests contract 'mistake'

Arsene Wenger has admitted delaying a decision on his Arsenal future may have had a negative impact on the team.

The 67-year-old waited until the end of May to announce his new two-year deal at the club, following Arsenal's fifth-placed finish in the Premier League and FA Cup victory.
Key players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are still yet to commit to the Gunners beyond their current deals, which expire in the next 12 months, and Wenger conceded the uncertainty surrounding his own situation may have eked into the dressing room.

"It's down to us to put a positive atmosphere around the team," Wenger, who is nearing his 21st anniversary as boss, said after Arsenal's Community Shield win over Premier League champions Chelsea.
"A lot was created by my own situation. Maybe I made a mistake."
Arsenal begin the new league campaign against Leicester City on Friday, live on Sky Sports, and Wenger insists the club must not repeat their slow starts to previous seasons.

"Overall I believe that it's down to us," he added. "The trend has always to come from the team. We had some bad starts recently, the last four years, in the first game of the Premier League. - SKY

Callous senators !!! Sagay : Senators don’t need wardrobe allowance, they didn’t go to Abuja naked

Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay has condemned wardrobe allowance for federal lawmakers.

The legal luminary who spoke in Benin at the weekend, said such expenses, among others, was draining the economy.

Sagay said: “Politicians are killing themselves to be President, National Assembly members because all the monies are at the center.
“With that type of self-interest and a few people collecting everything that we have, why should we allow the centre to have all the resources and the state completely impoverish, which is what we have today?

“The senators have wardrobe allowance; but they did not go to Abuja naked. They have newspaper allowance and furniture allowance – about 50 items which they never talk about.
“They only talk about their salaries, which is about N1 million a month. But when you add all these allowances, we are hitting N20 million per month. If you have true federalism, that money will not be available for them to blow.

“These are besides budget padding, which is a stable means of drilling money from the poor people of this nation.” - Daily Post

Silly man ! Miserable country !! We owe looters obligation to respect their privacy - Lai

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, says the federal government owes indicted persons who have voluntarily returned their loot the obligation to respect their privacy.

Speaking on Channels TV on Sunday, Mohammed said some of those indicted in the anti-graft war had voluntarily returned their loot.
He said releasing their names was not “morally right”, adding that some of them were not aware that the money given to them was diverted.
He also said releasing the names of some looters, as ordered by a court, would slow down the anti-graft war.

According to him, the government’s priority is to recover stolen funds.
“There are some people who voluntarily returned the loot and explained that when the money was given to them, they never knew the source of these funds. Can you in good conscience name and shame that kind of person?” he asked.
“Those who has voluntarily returned the money, I think we owe them the obligation to respect their privacy. Because they said they did not know that this money was from a particular source and they returned it.

“Those people whose accounts have been temporarily forfeited, if you go to name them, they are going to hold you up in court for months or years. And we said that our major intention is to recover our loot first.
“Some people returned the money that was given to them for campaign when it has been established that that money was actually meant for the prosecution of Boko Haram. Such people, we do not feel that morally, it will be right to name them.

“Two, we don’t want to be bugged down by litigations. You name a person that he has stolen money or he has returned money, and you have fully recovered the money from him or you’re in the process of recovering it because probably there is just an interim forfeiture,…you’re going to be bugged down with all kinds of litigations.”
Mohammed also said corruption was fighting back – “and fighting back in very vicious manner”.

“And that is why today you see a person accused of graft, the person is charged to court, he goes to with five SANs while you as a prosecutor, can probably manage one or two SANs,” he added. - Cable Nigeria

Nnamdi Kanu should be arrested - Edwin Clark

Edwin Clark, Niger Delta leader and convener of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, has called for the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Clark said the IPOB leader should be locked away for declaring that an election would not take place in Anambra state in November.

A governorship election in Anambra has been scheduled for November 18.

But Kanu is insisting that no election would take place in the state until the government holds a referendum to determine if the south-east wants to remain a part of Nigeria.

In an interview with Vanguard, the Ijaw leader said Kanu did not know the implications of his demand for an independent state of Biafra.

“I think Nigeria is one country, we cannot break up. My advice to those beating the drum of secession is to take it easy. The war of 1967 to 1970 claimed so many lives and property, made some Nigerians to almost become second class citizens in their own country,” he said.

“These boys who are going around, and led by Nnamdi Kanu, some of them were not born at that time, and if they were born, they were very little children. I agree that President Buhari’s government has marginalised them.

“Okay. What of former President Jonathan’s government? I think the Igbo played a leading role in former President Jonathan’s government; they had every chance, every opportunity to develop their area. But some of them were selfish. The secretary to the government was an Igbo man.

“At a time, the chief of army staff was an Igbo man; the Igbo occupied very important positions in former President Jonathan’s government, so they couldn’t have said they were marginalised. Rather it was the Yoruba who were crying that they were being marginalised. And towards the end of Jonathan’s government, he decided to give them so many posts because we all belong to one country called Nigeria.

“So, these boys should be told the history of Nigeria from independence to let them know that the Igbo were not marginalised in the past, especially in the First Republic and, in fact, their kinsman, Ironsi, was head of state.

“Rather we the minorities have always cried of marginalisation and not the three major ethnic groups until 1966 when the coup of the young majors changed the face of Nigeria and the Igbo suffered in the war that followed, but the era is gone.

“There is nowhere that youths will take over the administration of a place and it is very irresponsible for Kanu to say there will be no election in Anambra state in November. He should be arrested and detained. There is a limit to their agitation and I am happy that the president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo has condemned them.”

“And they won’t say that during Shagari’s time in the second republic the Igbo suffered because an Igbo man, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was the vice president. If the Igbo are marginalised, they are being marginalised by the present administration and I am one of those who support them in their cries against marginalisation, but secession is not the answer. - Cable Nigeria

PL : Pick your Man Utd XI

Who would make it into your Manchester United XI for their Premier League season opener against West Ham?

The expectations will be high for Jose Mourinho's side after their transfer business this summer and they will be aiming to improve on last season's sixth-place finish this campaign.
Former striker Javier Hernandez will be among the opponents when West Ham visit Old Trafford on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League, but the home fans will be more interested in their own new arrivals.

Victor Lindelof strengthens the United defence, while Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku link up with Mourinho again to add to the coach's options in midfield and attack.
Getting the right service to Lukaku will be the challenge for Mourinho as he looks to find the right blend in the attacking midfield positions.
So what is the best role for Paul Pogba and who would be your picks for the game against West Ham?

We are giving you the chance to pick your preferred XI for United's opener. You can choose from a range of formations and even experiment with players in unusual positions.

Wenger : Sanchez left out due to lack of preparation

Arsene Wenger says he left Alexis Sanchez out of the Community Shield victory against Chelsea because the Arsenal forward was short of preparation.

Sanchez only returned to training on Tuesday, having initially been given a later start date due to his involvement in the Confederations Cup with Chile, which was then further delayed by illness.
Wenger explained the absence of the 28-year-old, who has been heavily linked with Manchester City with only a year left on his contract, while also allaying fears over Per Mertesacker's head injury after he had to come off in the first half at Wembley following an aerial clash with Gary Cahill.

Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, despite being without Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi.
"I left them all out because some are short of preparation like Alexis Sanchez," Wenger told reporters.
"Per had a cut on his forehead. It is nothing bad. It was just bleeding and open, but it is not bad."
Ozil (ankle) and Ramsey (calf) are doubts for Arsenal's opening Premier League match at home to Leicester City on Friday.
Asked if any of the players who missed the Community Shield would play, Wenger added: "Overall, we will see. - Goal

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PL news : Conte 'angry' with Arsenal repeat

Antonio Conte admits he saw red over Pedro's sending off against Arsenal and could have argued long after the Community Shield.

Chelsea went down 4-1 to Arsenal on penalties on Sunday, with Conte suffering another Wembley defeat at the hands of Arsene Wenger - after losing the FA Cup final in May in controversial fashion.
An offside dispute and Victor Moses' dismissal for diving was the reason for his angst on that occasion, and Conte was once again aggrieved this time around as Pedro was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Mohamed Elneny and referee Bobby Madley ruled Willian had dived instead of awarding the player a penalty.

"For sure, there is disappointment to finish for the second time with 10 men against Arsenal," Conte said. "Before the FA Cup, and now the Community Shield.
"I did not see the images [for the Pedro red card] and I did not see the yellow card for Willian. A lot of people told me the penalty was clear, so for sure there is a bit of frustration.
"We have to respect the refereeing decision but sometimes this decision makes you a bit angry."
Conte added: "He [Madley] tried to explain to me about his decision but there was no time because I also wanted to ask him why there wasn't a penalty and the yellow card for Willian. But then we would have spoken until 9 o'clock."

Chelsea's £70m summer signing Alvaro Morata had a competitive debut to forget, squandering an excellent chance to head the Blues in front in stoppage time before putting his penalty wide in the shootout, but Conte defended his new No 9.
"Morata needs to work but it is normal," Conte said following the game. "He has trained with us for only one week. It is very important to find a good physical condition and understand our idea of football. He needs a bit of time, but it is normal."

PL news : Chinese company denies approach to buy Man United stake

Chinese company Ping An Insurance Group has denied reports it has been in discussions to buy a stake in Premier League giants Manchester United.

It has been reported by the Sunday Times that a mysterious Chinese buyer has expressed an interest in purchasing a holding in the English club, who are owned by the Glazer family.
According to the report, some of United's independent shareholders have been contacted.
However, Ping An Insurance Group distanced itself from the rumours on Monday.

"The information is false. Ping An have not been involved in any discussion on purchasing a holding in Manchester United," Ping An spokesman Sheng Ruisheng said via the 21st Century Business Herald.
"And [Ping An's Chairman and CEO] Mr. Ma Mingzhe has never owned any shares in Manchester United.

"As a listed company, Ping An release all information in official statements. Please don't believe rumours." - Goal

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Transfer news : Liverpool do not need another centre-back - Klopp

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists his side do not need to sign a new centre-back, despite continuing to be linked with a swoop for Virgil van Dijk.

The Southampton defender appeared close to joining Liverpool in June until the Reds apologised and ended their interest in the Dutchman following a Southampton complaint to the Premier League alleging an illegal approach.

Liverpool are yet to bolster the middle of their back line in the transfer window but Klopp insists he is happy with his quartet of options in Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez, while the wait for a development over Van Dijk goes on.
Speaking after the 3-1 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao in Dublin, Klopp said: "We have four centre-backs. I don't think we need more.

"Just at the moment I'm fine. The transfer market is open until August 31. We cannot force the things and we would never get a centre-back just because [of the sake of it].
"Look out there and tell me five that would make us stronger. Five. Then you win a prize. It is difficult how it is.
"I'm happy. You can imagine we are still working on different things and we will see if it works. I am already here to work with this squad and not just always thinking, 'But if we don't get this or this'."

Liverpool have made three signings - Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Dominic Solanke - but Klopp wants more focus on some of his players who have impressed during preparations for the new season than speculation over who is coming in next.
"I'm really fine with pre-season so far," he said.
"What I said is the truth. There is all this talking about signings and then you see Alberto Moreno - what a pre-season. You saw it. He has matured 100 per cent.

"Ryan Kent looked unbelievable, Dom Solanke - yes maybe a few guys expected that, maybe not. That's cool and I cannot ignore it."

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Liverpool open their Premier League campaign away to Watford on Saturday. - Goal

Jose Mourinho outlines plans for Champions League

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is keeping his feet on the ground as his side gear up for Champions League involvement again this season.

The Portuguese boss led his men back into Europe’s most elusive club competition last term with an impressive victory in the Europa League. United beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm to secure their place in the Champions League ahead of the forthcoming campaign.
However, the former Chelsea manager is not getting ahead of himself, and has insisted that United will simply take the competition as it comes this season.

As quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Mourinho said this ahead of his side’s UEFA Super Cup final against Real Madrid:

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“It’s absolutely true that Manchester United are one of the top three football clubs in the world, no doubt about it, but the football club is one thing and the team’s credentials going into a competition are another thing entirely.”

“So we have a giant on our chest, one which is really heavy, but we don’t compare our potential to the biggest clubs in Europe right now. So we’ll take it step by step and be humble. The first step is to try to finish in the top three.”

“If we manage that, we’ll try to finish in the top two. Then, when you are in the Champions League last-16 draw, anything can happen.” - Read Sports

UK ready to pay up to 40 bln euros to leave EU

Britain is prepared to pay up to 40 billion euros ($47 billion) as part of a deal to leave the European Union, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported, citing three unnamed sources familiar with Britain's negotiating strategy.

The European Union has floated a figure of 60 billion euros and wants significant progress on settling Britain's liabilities before talks can start on complex issues such as future trading arrangements.
The government department responsible for Brexit talks declined to comment on the Sunday Telegraph article. So far, Britain has given no official indication of how much it would be willing to pay.

The newspaper said British officials were likely to offer to pay 10 billion euros a year for three years after leaving the EU in March 2019, then finalize the total alongside detailed trade talks.
Payments would only be made as part of a deal that included a trade agreement, the newspaper added.
"We know (the EU's) position is 60 billion euros, but the actual bottom line is 50 billion euros. Ours is closer to 30 billion euros but the actual landing zone is 40 billion euros, even if the public and politicians are not all there yet," the newspaper quoted one "senior Whitehall source" as saying.
Whitehall is the London district where British civil servants and ministers are based.

A second Whitehall source said Britain's bottom line was "30 billion euros to 40 billion euros" and a third source said Prime Minister Theresa May was willing to pay "north of 30 billion euros," the Sunday Telegraph reported.
David Davis, the British minister in charge of Brexit talks, said on July 20 that Britain would honor its obligations to the EU but declined to confirm that Brexit would require net payments.
British foreign secretary Boris Johnson, a leading Brexit advocate, said last month the EU could "go whistle" if it made "extortionate" demands for payment.

Last week the Bank of England said Brexit uncertainty was weighing on the economy. Finance minister Philip Hammond wants to avoid unsettling businesses further.
If Britain cannot conclude an exit deal, trade relations would be governed by World Trade Organization rules, which would allow both parties to impose tariffs and customs checks and leave many other issues unsettled. - Reuters

The cafe where men are charged more than women

A vegan cafe in Melbourne, Australia is taking the wage disparity between men and women into its own hands, UK's The Daily Mail reported, by charging male patrons more than females.

The Handsom Her, located in Brunswick, addresses the gender pay gap by charging men more, and granting women priority seats, according to the publication.
Men are asked to pay 18 percent more than women, but owner Alex O'Brien told the Mail the tax is optional. Thus far, O'Brien said nobody has refused to pay.

"If men don't want to pay it, we're not going to kick them out the door. It's just an opportunity to do some good," O'Brien told the Daily Mail.
O'Brien tells the newspaper the proceeds of the 18 percent premium will go to a non-profit women service's group. 
The report is just the latest spin on how some businesses are trying to tackle wage disparities. - CNBC