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The former Blues man insists the Spaniard must not be sold if they are to continue competing for the game's biggest trophies Chelsea would end their chances of winning the Champions League if they opt to sell Cesc Fabregas at the end of the season, according to Ray Wilkins. Fabregas has only started 10 Premier League matches under Antonio Conte this season, with N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic the preferred pairing in centre midfield. That has prompted speculation linking him with a £30million move to clubs including AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United. But Wilkins, a former Chelsea player, assistant manager and caretaker boss, thinks the Blues would be making a huge mistake if they opt to cut ties with the 30-year-old, particularly with their return to the Champions League next season in mind. "You can't let him go," Wilkins said to  Sky Sports  of Fabregas. "For Chelsea to progress to the latter stages of competi

Getty 0 The 24-year-old has found game-time difficult to come by in Madrid and United could make their move after their Swede's major injury Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is considering making a summer approach for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata following Zlatan Ibrahimovic's anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Old Trafford boss admitted recently that long-term knee injuries to Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo had affected his plans for the summer transfer market, saying: “Yes, if I don’t have the players for a long period of time, obviously it affects plans.” Their search for forwards has been ramped up dramatically, and Real Madrid star Morata is one of the players being considered as an alternative in the No.9 role to the Swede, who's bagged 28 goals in 2016-17, as a result of his major surgery. Mourinho’s working relationship with the 24-year-old during his spell in charge at the Bernabeu is thought to be a ke

Why Ronaldo Didn’t Celebrate His Hattrick Against Atletico Madrid With His Teammates Real Madrid Captain, Sergio Ramos has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo was not around to celebrate his hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid because he was forced to take a random drug test. UEFA drug testing suits did not care about his feats, and while Ronaldo’s mates celebrated taking a giant step towards next month’s final in Cardiff, the Portugese International was giving a urine sample to official. Ronaldo did not complain this time, however he did show his displeasure in 2015 when picked to be drug tested after a Champions League draw with Paris Saint-Germain. Ronaldo was heard saying “always me” when UEFA officials ushered him towards the drug testers, moments after the final whistle in Paris.

Valery Hache The Ligue 1 leaders are under no obligation to sell their leading stars this summer, although "a couple" will be allowed to move on Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has said that the club will not sell teenage prodigy Kylian Mbappe. Reports have circulated that Manchester United had an €85 million bid for the young attacker rejected by the Ligue 1 leaders, who are said to want upwards of €110m for the 18-year-old France international. Vasilyev, however, has rejected the notion that the forward could be sold. “Mbappe has no price,” he told  Gazzetta  dello  Sport.  “He is like a son. “We are proud that he is already at this level with our jersey. We would like him to stay and I think he also wants that.” Indeed, Vasilyev is optimistic that Monaco will be able to retain much of the squad that has reached the Champions League semi-final, although he did admit that there will be changes. These will not, however, be imposed on the club. “A cou

Getty Images The Blues came through what could have been a stern examination at Everton and took a giant step towards finishing first It wasn’t a Fat Lady singing at the end. It was blokes. Big London blokes. “We’re gonna win the league,” the Chelsea supporters bellowed from the cramped away section at rickety old Goodison Park. Their team had just inflicted upon Everton only their second home defeat of the season and their heaviest loss since the 5-0 drubbing handed out to them in November by Antonio Conte’s men. That win came fifth in a sequence of 13 in succession, a run that earned Chelsea 39 points out of 39. That run had put the crucial momentum behind Chelsea this season and handed them the initiative in the title race. They've never surrendered it. Their form has been less superhuman since then. They dropped points in five of their next 13 fixtures but the gap had become insurmountable. Conte maintained his focus on the tasks at hand

Failure to conclude high-profile corrupt cases a huge concern, Obasanjo says Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the country’s failure to successfully prosecute high-profile corruption cases remains a great cause for concern both for citizens of the country and the international community. Obasanjo stated this when he delivered an inaugural lecture entitled, “Leadership, Governance, and the Challenges of Development in Nigeria: The Way forward” and organised by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in Abuja. “Nigeria’s poverty, insecurity, lack of unity and cohesion, youth restiveness and seeming directionless are conscious and unconscious choices made by Nigerian leaders. The impact of corruption on the Nigerian society and economy has been devastating. It continues to affect the government’s ability to provide basic services and has negatively impacted on the well being of the population. “The lack of successful prosecution of high-pr

Reps say Osinbajo’s position on Senate rejection of Magu is a move towards dictatorship The House of Representatives has lashed out at the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over a statement credited to him on the Senate rejection of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ibrahim Magu. The lawmakers stated that Osinbajo’s assertion is capable of grinding down the doctrine of separation of powers, with its obvious implication of instituting a dictatorship in the country. The Rep members therefore called on the Presidency to seek the interpretation of the EFCC Act before a court and cautioned that the executive must try and shun making utterances that imply usurpation of the judiciary’s powers. Osinbajo had in a speech recently, ruled out the possibility of President Buhari replacing Magu with another nominee. But, in a motion on Thursday at the House plenary by Leo Ogor on the need to prevent erosion of the Doctrine of Separation of Power, the lawmake

LONDON: Man armed with knives arrested near Parliament Square Police in London have arrested a knife-wielding 27-year-old man near the  House of Parliament , on suspicion of intention to carry out an attack. According to London’s Metropolitan Police Service, the man who was in possession of knives was frisked following a stop-and-search operation and arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Cops cordoned off Whitehall and Parliament Street, where the suspect was arrested, and later detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody at a police station in south London. Last December, a stabbing incident occurred at a Tube station in east London when a knife-man shouting “this is for Syria” attacked people at Leytonstone station. The man was arrested after being Tasered by police. One man suffered serious knife injuries while two others received minor injuries.

Julio Cesar Agu Even if the reigning French champions offered him a salary 10 times more than the one he is currently on, he would not move to the Parc des Princes France international striker Andre-Pierre Gignac says that he “would rather die than sign with” Paris Saint-Germain. The 31-year-old is a huge fan of PSG’s rivals Marseille, where he played for five seasons before moving to Tigres, his current side, in Mexico during the summer of 2015. If the attacker, who hit the post in the final of Euro 2016 with France still locked 0-0 with Portugal, was offered the chance to return to his homeland, he would not even consider a move to the Parc des Princes. “I hate PSG – I’d rather die than sign with them,” he told Life and Style. “If PSG offered me 10 times more money, I would not go there.” Gignac has revealed his joy when the Parisians were knocked out of the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona, conceding three goals in the fin

The Spain international striker has made his 19 league goals count for his table-topping side in 2016/17 If Chelsea go on to win the Premier League title this season, Diego Costa's goals will be a big reason the Blues top the table. The Spain international scored two more goals on Tuesday, leading the Blues to a crucial 4-2 victory over Southampton at Stamford Bridge.  Chelsea's win at least temporarily extended their lead to seven points over second-placed Tottenham. That cushion can be significantly attributed to Costa, who has managed to earn a league-best 15 points from his 19 Premier League goals. 15 - Diego Costa's 19  @premierleague  goals this season have been worth 15 points - more than any other player in the division.  Costa is tied with Alexis Sanchez for the third-most goals in the league this season. Harry Kane (20) and Romelu Lukaku (24) occupy the top two places in the race for the Golden Boot.  

Again, suspended NIA DG, Oke appears before Osinbajo’s panel Posted by:  Editor   in  Politics   April 25, 2017 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led panel on Monday for the second time in a week, had the suspended Director-General (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, appear before it. Oke had also on Wednesday last week appeared before the committee which was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate him and the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal. The NIA DG is answering questions on his claim that the money the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos belongs to the agency. His second appearance on Monday is suspected to be in response to the submission of the EFCC acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who on Friday, appeared before the committee to give evidence on what his commission discovered about the money, the own

The Founder of the One Love Family, Satguru Maharaji ji, a self-acclaimed saviour after Jesus, Mohammed and others has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek salvation in him and he will save him from his undisclosed protracted illness. Maharaji ji stated this Monday while addressing journalists after seven days program of celebrating the 30 years of existence of Maharaji ji Village along Lagos – Ibadan expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. According to him, the president does not need to seek his assistance because he doesn’t know God. “He supposed to seek help from black man and not white men in London. “Remember the last time he was going out of the country for medical attention, I was the only one said he would come back safe. What I’m saying is that let’s harness our power here to save ourselves. You cannot seat down and be saying Maharaji ji is not a Muslim or Christian. Is God a Muslim? So, if he can come to me, I’ll heal him”, he said. Also while reacti

Businesswoman, 51, arraigned for attempting to jump into lagoon A 51-year-old textile dealer at Balogun Market, Titilayo Momoh, who                      attempted to jump into the lagoon on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, was on Monday               hauled before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court.     The accused, who was arraigned on a charge of attempting to commit suicide, pleaded not guilty.     But the prosecutor, Kehinde Omisakin, insisted that the accused committed the offence on March 24 at about 10.00 a.m. on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.     He said the businesswoman was, however, prevented by security operatives from committing                  suicide.     The News Agency of Nigeria learnt the accused had been having sleepless nights since she was a           allegedly duped of N18.7 million by a Bureau-de-Change operator sometime in 2015.     The offence contravened Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.     The accused

Former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday struck out a suit by a former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, against the EFCC over its seizure of his properties. The other applicants are: Obanikoro’s wife; Fati, his sons Gbolahon and Babajide and his wife, Moroophat. Obanikoro and his family had sued the commission through their lawyer, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), seeking a court’s declaration that the forceful seizure of their personal effects constitutes a gross violation of their rights. The applicants had prayed the court for an order to set aside the forceful seizure of their properties on June 14, 2016. They had demanded an “unreserved public apology”, as well as seeking the award of N100 million as general damages against the commission, as well as an order restraining the EFCC from arresting them or entering their premises again to seize their properties. Besides, the applicants had also raised qu

Confusion As Isiaka Adeleke’s Body Is Returned To Hospital For Autopsy  The lifeless body of Senator Isiaka Adeleke was returned to the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for an autopsy. This is against the expectation of sympathizers who waited as the body was earlier being prepared for burial, according to Islamic rites. The autopsy option, sources say, is being taken following rumors that he was poisoned at a political meeting on Saturday. Mr. Adeleke was preparing to run for the Osun governorship election in 2018 before his death on Sunday morning. He was earlier brought home from the hospital amidst wailing and weeping by supporters and family members. The development has resulted in a traffic gridlock across the streets of the town. Supporters are also lighting bonfires across the town to register their anger, raising fears of possible violence.

Oby Ezekwesili Reveals How Buhari’s Govt Is Disrespecting Nigerians The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has been accused by Co-Convener of the Bring Back Our Girls group, Oby Ezekwesili, of disrespecting Nigerians. Ezekwesili, had last week, while reacting to Minister of Defense, Mansur Dan Ali’s statement that it could take years to rescue the missing Chibok girls, said the government was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians. The former Minister of Education insisted that government had all it takes to bring back the Chibok girls. Her words: “The government has all the tools. Whatever it used or deployed in order to get the 21 girls released on October 13, let it deploy it maximally. Let it be seen to be actively engaged. “Let it be seen to actually be even having respect for the parents of our Chibok girls. These parents come asking our group about the progress on the efforts of the government. How can you be disdainful of your people? How? “The