Ghanaian international Thomas Partey will remain in England for an additional week to focus on his recovery as the club embarks on their pre-season tour to the USA.
Partey has been actively training with the Gunners for several weeks now, having returned from a brief break in Ghana.
Although he participated in Arsenal’s recent 3-3 draw against Nurnberg, the midfielder has been excluded from the squad traveling to the USA due to an injury.
However, it is anticipated that Partey, along with Emile Smith Rowe, will join their teammates in the United States next week.
In order to ensure their full recuperation, the Premier League giants have made the decision to keep the pair behind until they are ready to rejoin the team in the North American country.
Arsenal will face MLS All-Stars team at Audi Field, Washington D.C on Wednesday, July 19.
The Gunners are expected to play Manchester United in the MetLife Stadium on Saturday, July 22 in New Jersey before the wrap up their tour with a game against Barcelona on Wednesday, July 26 at SoFi Stadium.
The altercation occurred when Nketiah attempted to waste time while Arsenal was in the lead.
Rice acknowledged the incident but assured that their relationship has since improved, stating that all is well between them now.
He expressed excitement about the opportunity to play alongside his new teammate.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Rice said, “I played with Eddie from under-nines to under-14s. We were both released on the same day and it’s crazy where football takes you, your journey.
“He’s made it through the ranks at Arsenal, I made it through the ranks at West Ham. Now we get to link back up again.
“I’ve always loved Eddie, even though we had that little altercation on the pitch before! I’ve always loved him and been close to his family. His dad is a top, top guy who used to come on all the tours with us as kids, so I’m really looking forward to seeing Eddie again and of course the other boys.”
The midfielder, who completed a move to Arsenal on Saturday for a club-record transfer fee of £105m ($137m), is now looking forward to a reunion with the Arsenal striker.
Mikel Arteta’s charges have started their pre-season training and played two friendly games on July 8 and July 13 against Watford and Nurnberg.
They will now travel to the USA to face Manchester United, Barcelona and Monaco.
The National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) has urged the government to capitalize on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand the market for Ghana’s tuna industry in landlocked nations.
With the AfCFTA, which is headquartered in Ghana, estimated to boost intra-African trade by over 52 percent through the creation of a single market for goods and services, trade expenses can be reduced.
Mr. Richster Nii Amarh Amarfio, Secretary of NAFAG, highlighted that, until a substantial market for tuna is established within Africa, the European Union has been the primary intermediary for trade concerns in the industry.
Mr Amarfio said that as a component of the media platform known as “Blue Gold: Ghana’s Economic Transformer,” which was started by the Ghana News Agency, Tema Regional Office, and intended to serve as a comprehensive journalistic interaction with participants and other stakeholders in the blue economy arena,
Additionally, “GNA-Tema Blue Gold: Ghana’s Economic Transformer” connects investors to the blue economy value chain, investigates untapped potential in the sector, and helps policymakers comprehend the difficulties that blue economy participants face.
Even though Ghana has enough tuna to meet all domestic and international demand, according to Mr. Amarfio, a former secretary of the Ghana Tuna Association, the EU market continues to be the industry’s only source of survival.
“Europeans eat a lot of tuna, both raw and canned, so the majority of it goes to the EU market; that’s why they have enough control over us,” he claimed.
According to Mr. Amarfio,Ghana may decide to use the AfCFTA as an opportunity to bypass these restrictions by developing the required market on the continent.
He urged the government to keep the industry alive because doing so would have an impact on both people who were directly involved in it and others who were dependent on its operations for a living downstream.
“I have not seen hotels in Ghana use tuna in their dishes other than the canned tuna they use for salads,” Mr. Amarfio said “creating an internal market could also come in the form of developing dishes that would use tuna.”
BeforeDele Alli’s interview last week, his biological mother said she had “no idea” the Everton midfielder had been molested as a child.
In an emotional conversation with Gary Neville, the England international disclosed that when he was six years old, he had been assaulted by a friend of his mother.
When he was 12 years old, Dele, now 27 years old, moved in with Alan and Sally Hickford.
He now refers to them as his adoptive parents. He is no longer in touch with his natural parents.
“I have not been able to stop crying since I heard my son describe the abuse he suffered as a child. I had no idea he’d been molested,” his blood mother told The Sun.
“I’m so sorry. It breaks my heart to think that someone I allowed into my house might have betrayed my trust in the worst possible way. I cannot put into words how upset I am. I no longer have contact with my son – and only hope I’ll have the chance to see him again.”
The ex-Tottenham star went into further detail about his upbringing, which included selling drugs at the age of eight and being hung off a bridge by a man at just 11 years old.
“I haven’t really spoken about that much, to be honest. I mean, I think there were a few incidents that could give you kind of a brief understanding,” he said.
“So, at six, I was molested by my mum’s friend, who was at the house a lot. My mum was an alcoholic, and that happened at six. I was sent to Africa to learn discipline, and then I was sent back.”
Dele emerged as one of England’s hottest prospects at Spurs but his career has since gone into decline and he was sold to Everton in 2022.
His time at the Toffees did not go well, though, as he was eventually loaned out to Besiktas last summer, featuring 15 times for the Turkish giants due to injury issues.
Dele spent six weeks in a rehab clinic in the United States until June and is now back at Everton as they prepare for theupcoming Premier League season.
Harry Kane has been among those to voice support for the player since his brave interview with Neville.
Thomas Quaye, aged 57, passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the 37 Military Hospital after battling with a cerebrovascular accident for several months.
Until his untimely demise, Quaye served in the Sports Department of the Ghana National Fire Service.
His final funeral rites took place at the St. Francis of Asisi Catholic Church in Anyaa, Accra, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
Quaye began his football journey at Ken Harrison in Mamprobi and went on to play for various teams including the State Transport Company Soccer Team, Tejitex, and eventually joined Hearts of Oak’s youth side, Auroras FC.
In 1987, he made his debut and sole appearance for Accra Hearts of Oak alongside notable players like Benjamin Adjei, Shamo Quaye, Ebenezer Dugbatey, Joe Addo, Samuel Ablade Kumah, and Ezekiel Alamu.
This team, known as the famous Accra Hearts of Oak’s Musical Youth of the late 1980s, went on to win the Ghana First Division League in the 1989/90 season.
During his time at Hearts of Oak, Quaye also played alongside renowned players such as Yaw Preko, Sam Johnson ‘Foyoo’, Opoku Agyemang ‘Oduro’, Emmanuel Armah ‘Senegal’, Emmanuel Quarshie, Henry Acquah, and Stephen Appiah.
Quaye’s exceptional skills as a defender earned him recognition at both national and international levels. He represented Ghana in the national under-17 team (Black Starlets), under-20 team (Black Satellites), and the senior team (Black Stars) in 1987, 1988, and 1989, respectively.
After retiring as a professional player in 2002 due to several injuries, Quaye ventured into coaching. He obtained coaching certificates including the Basic Certificate (2000 & 2005), Intermediate Certificate (2006), and the UEFA Certificate (2006) from the National Sports Council and the Ghana Football Association.
Throughout his coaching career, Quaye worked with various teams such as Universal F.C., Five Star FC, Subway FC, Third World FC, Fire Rehoboth FC, and Fire Service FC.
Thomas Quaye is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their five children: Thomas, Frank, Bernard, Kevin, and Karen.
The Fire Service Band gave him a befitting farewell at his funeral.
Paris Saint-Germain has officially announced the re-signing ofXavi Simons from PSV in a cost-effective deal worth €6 million (£5m/$7m).
At the age of 20, Simons will be leaving the Dutch club after spending a single season there, as PSG exercised their option to repurchase him at a reduced price. PSV confirmed this development on Sunday.
Simons initially joined PSG from Barcelona in 2019 but had limited opportunities, making only 11 appearances for the French champions before moving to PSV last summer.
During his time in Eindhoven, the young Dutch international showcased his talent by scoring 19 goals and providing eight assists in 34 Eredivisie matches.
According to Fabrizio Romano, he will stay at PSG if either Kylian Mbappe or Neymar leave. If both players remain in the French capital, Simons will be sent out on loan.
The youngster has left PSV’s training camp and will join up with hisPSG team-mates as he awaits news on his future.
Ilkay Gundogan has provided insight into his decision to join Barcelona from Manchester City, expressing his desire to contribute to the development of the club’s young players.
Gundogan departed City after achieving a treble under Pep Guardiola’s guidance last season, joining Barcelona as a free agent following the expiration of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
He has elaborated on his enthusiasm for collaborating with a youthful squad and his goal of supporting the growth and success of players such as Gavi, Pedri, and Ansu Fati.
Speaking after arriving at Barcelona, Gundogan said: “It’s a dream come true. I remember myself being a child and watching the Barca under Pep and (Frank) Rijkaard, and since then I’m following the club for nearly all the seasons through.
“Obviously, I’ve been here a few times, been at the stadium a few times, I’ve played here and came also as a spectator and now I feel very proud and I’m very happy to be part of this club.
“I expect great football, I think there’s a lot of potential in the team, we have a very young squad and I hope that I can, with my experience, help the younger players to bring them to the next level, I think the base is there, the potential is there, we just need to show it next season and that’s why I came, that’s why I joined. I’m full of motivation and dedication.”
Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, Anna Bjerde, has urged the Ghanaian government to implement an emergency action plan to tackle the country’s energy challenges.
Bjerde emphasized that the World Bank is dedicated to providing technical assistance to ensure that Ghana’s energy sector contributes to economic resilience. These remarks were made during a press conference held in Accra.
Bjerde acknowledged that while Ghana is not alone in facing energy difficulties, prompt action is necessary.
She cautioned that failure to address these issues could result in financial burdens for the state, diverting resources from other critical areas.
“The problems that Ghana is experiencing are not unique to Ghana, but they are very serious because if they are not addressed they will get worse and worse.
“If not arrested and addressed with really an emergency action plan it will get worse and it will cost the state more to keep the energy sector running at a time when they need to spend money on other things.
“The World Bank is providing first of all technical advise on what needs to be done, so the metering, the billing, the collection and making sure that you have an account set up so from which all the different flows of the revenues collected flows to where it needs to go so that those who are generating the electricity are paid.”
Newcastle United has reportedly made a bold £82 million offer for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the talented winger from Napoli.
The 22-year-old Georgian player garnered attention from top clubs across Europe following his impressive performances last season, during which Napoli won the Serie A title.
According to the Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Newcastle has presented a substantial bid to test Napoli’s determination to keep Kvaratskhelia.
Manager Eddie Howe is eager to bolster his squad with players of European caliber in preparation for the club’s first Champions League campaign in 20 years.
Having recorded two goals and four assists in the prestigious European competition during the 2022-23 season, Kvaratskhelia certainly meets the desired criteria for Newcastle.
Napoli are keen to keep the former Dinamo Batumi talent at the club and are planning for next season with him in their ranks.
Should they reject the bid, the Toon are willing to increase to £85m in the hope the Italian champions decide to cash in.
Mike Dean is preparing to step down from his position within the Professional Game Match Officials Limited,the referee’s governing body.
Following his retirement from on-field refereeing at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, Dean transitioned into becoming a dedicated VAR official and also took on coaching responsibilities for match officials.
Having started his officiating career in 1985, the 55-year-old progressed through the ranks to become a referee in both the Football League and Premier League.
He oversaw more than 550 matches in the top flight and was also included on FIFA’s international list.
Notably, Dean officiated the 2008 FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff at Wembley, establishing himself as one of the most recognizable officials in English football.
A statement said: “PGMOL would like to place on record its recognition of Mike’s achievements as well as his immense contribution to refereeing and the game as a whole.
“We thank him for his dedication to the organisation over a sustained period of time and wish him every success for the future.”
The management of theKoforidua School for the Deaf and Individuals with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) has highlighted how insufficient infrastructure is preventing them from admitting more special students who have been on a waiting list for several years.
The school’s management expressed concerns over the lack of beds in the dormitory, inadequate modern toilet facilities, and insufficient food supplies, which are all hindering effective teaching and learning.
Assistant Headmaster of the school, Morgadzi Daniel Kwami, brought attention to these challenges during a donation event where students from the Koforidua Technical University Faculty of Engineering provided food supplies to the school.
“We have a challenge with the students’ beds. What we have are wooden beds, so we need metal beds. We also have a vocational department that we want to equip. We need materials like sewing machines.
Our fence wall has been broken for about six years, which has made the place exposed to humans and animals. We need toilet facilities and dormitories that will enable us to keep the number of students we have and the more who will come,” he stated.
Mr. Kwami said that they would be grateful for help from individuals and institutions. He also thanked the students from the Koforidua Technical University Faculty of Engineering for their gesture.
A senior lecturer at the Koforidua Technical University Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Samuel Anim Ofosu, who noted the importance of these basic infrastructure, also appealed to the government, non-governmental organizations, and corporate Ghana to immediately assist the school.
“I would like to use this opportunity to ask everyone to come in and support them. The government is doing its best, but it requires everyone to come on board so that these people with special needs can be supported to be meaningful and applicable to society,” he added.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has expressed its intention to appeal a High Court decision that invalidated its report against A.B. Adjei, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
The Court found that CHRAJ violated the principle of fair hearing by substituting parts of the original complaint lodged by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) with its own allegations.
Furthermore, it determined that CHRAJ did not provide A.B. Adjei with the chance to cross-examine the witnesses summoned during the investigation prior to reaching its conclusions
But speaking to journalists in Accra, Commissioner of CHRAJ, Joseph Whitall said the Commission will appeal the ruling.
“I’m waiting for the written judgment, in order to study it, and take the necessary action, I have not had the judgment itself, our lawyers are waiting for the judgment on the basis of when we study the judgment, the possibility of appealing in the court of appeal is very high.”
Liverpool have omitted midfielder Fabinho from the squad heading to their training camp in Germany following the receipt of an official bid for the player.
According to reports from the PA news agency, Al-Ittihad, one of the Saudi Arabian clubs owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund, has made a £40 million offer for the Brazilian international.
Receipt of a “serious, official” offer prompted discussions within the club which resulted in a decision, taken in consultation with Fabinho, to withdraw the player from the squad which flew out on Saturday.
Captain Jordan Henderson, who has been linked to a reported £700,000-a-week offer from Al-Ettifaq, managed by former teammate Steven Gerrard, has accompanied the squad to the training camp.
This is because no bid has been received for him so far.
Liverpool is undergoing a midfield overhaul this summer, with the experienced James Milner departing for Brighton and the contracts of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita expiring.
The offer for Fabinho, who will turn 30 in October, is seen as another opportunity to rejuvenate the midfield.
The club have been looking for a long-term successor to the Brazil defensive midfielder as although the 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic impressed in a short spell before injury last season, he needs time to grow into the role having made just 19 senior appearances.
Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, at 19, was also under consideration but the pending immediate departure of Fabinho is likely to prompt a change in targets with the need to recruit a ready-made replacement.
A number of names have been linked this summer but Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, whom the Seagulls value at £100million-plus, is not an option.
Henderson’s uncertain future means the need to bring in experience is now a priority for Liverpool.
Their new recruits were likely to have meant reduced playing time for the 33-year-old, who has lifted every elite trophy during his captaincy of the club and – while he remains an integral part of the dressing room – Liverpool are not averse to selling.
However, they would look for a figure closer to £20million-plus for a player who has two years remaining on his contract.
Manchester City star, Bernardo Silva, has reportedly chosen Barcelona as his next club and is willing to reject other offers while waiting for the Spanish champions.
Despite the potential for a new contract with City and a lucrative offer from Paris Saint-Germain, the 28-year-old Portuguese midfielder and winger has his sights set on joining Barcelona.
Silva has spent the past six years at Manchester City and had previously been linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia this summer.
However, his intention appears to be holding out for a transfer to Barcelona.
However, it remains uncertain whether Barcelona, given their precarious financial situation, will make a substantial offer that satisfies Manchester City.
Silva has another two years left on his City deal, but Mundo Deportivo state that Pep Guardiola wouldn’t stand in Silva’s way, granted the transfer fee is acceptable to City.
Silva will have to wait until Barcelona find the money to make a suitable offer for him. More economic levers may have to be pulled in order for the Catalans to be in a position to afford signing him.
Lawyer Ernestina Obboh Botchwey has issued a public warning, urging people to exercise extreme caution when purchasing items.
She emphasized that individuals can face imprisonment for up to fifteen years if they make wrongful purchases, such as buying stolen goods from unauthorized or unlicensed sellers.
Ms. Botchwey, an Assistant Public Defender at the Legal Aid Commission, previously explained on her YouTube channel that Ghanaian laws dictate that individuals who knowingly receive stolen items, such as those obtained through theft or robbery, will be punished similarly to those who committed the actual crimes of theft or robbery.
She cited an example that the crime of robbery with an offensive weapon carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Therefore, individuals who knowingly receive or buy stolen goods involving an offensive weapon can also face the same minimum sentence after the courts have considered all factors and convicted them for the offense of dishonestly receiving.
Supporting her argument, she mentioned that she personally knows someone who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for purchasing a phone from an inappropriate source.
“I know someone who is in prison for 15 years because he bought a phone at the wrong place. Please be careful in your trading,” she admonished.
On July 14, 2023, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, inaugurated the 2023 Ghana Mining Expo.
During the opening ceremony, he emphasized the importance for mining stakeholders to invest in the complete value chain to maximize the benefits from the country’s abundant mineral resources.
“It is trite learning that the real value of these minerals lie in value addition. For example, the difference between the prices of bauxite and aluminium ingot, which is produced from bauxite, is over three thousand percent (3000%)” He added.
The Minister touted that it is for the same reason of value addition that the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has since 2017 pursued a number of policies aimed at adding value addition to the country’s mineral resources.
Citing some examples to this effect, the Minister said through a Public Private Partnership, the government has established a Gold Refinery, and is currently working to secure a London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Certification, to enable Ghana easily trade gold refined in the country on the International market.
The government, he said has also established the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), to promote and develop integrated aluminium and iron and steel industries in the country.
For green minerals, the Minister disclosed that the Cabinet that is currently considering, a policy proposal for the exploitation, management and utilisation of these minerals. The country’s goal he said is to ensure that, as much as possible, “we retain a significant proportion of the value chain of these future and other critical minerals in our country.”
The Minister in his speech also called for the diversification of Ghana’s mineral resource base to exploit other lesser-known minerals, including the critical minerals required for the green energy transition.
The Ghana Geological Survey Authority he pointed out has conducted considerable geological investigations into these minerals, and the global energy transition makes investment in these minerals very viable.
Touching on the theme for the event; “Sustainable Mineral Resources Development and Well-Being of Mining Communities” Minister Jinapor stated that the theme calls for an examination of some of the most important issues in the mining industry, that is, responsible and sustainable mining, and leveraging on that for sustainable development and the well-being of peoples, particularly those affected by mining operations.
“It brings to sharp focus issues of value addition, maximisation of value chain development, environmentally-responsible extraction, formalisation, best practices, upscaling of exploration, and above all, optimising all stages of the mining value chain as an anchor for sustainable, inclusive and wholistic national development.” He continued
Speaking on the Domestic Purchase Programme, under the umbrella of Ghana’s Gold for oil policy, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addision, said the it has helped to stabilise prices on the market, increased the foreign exchange reserves and has contributed highly to the economic growth of the country.
He said it’s the expectation of the Bank that through the efforts of this Expo and as much as possible, all activities of illegalities will be reduced to the barest minimum in the country.
The Governor gave the assurance that the Bank is determined to provide the programme with all the needed support to make it a success now and in the future.
The Chairman for the event, Awulae Angamatu Tuagyan, The Paramount Chief of Gwira Traditional Council lauded the organisers of the programme for highlighting the needs of Mining communities but asked for more developmental projects to be pushed into such areas.
He stressed on the need to take into account the long term mining impact of the actions of miners in local communities and also called for local participation in the decision making on mining activities.
In his welcome address, the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah opined that this year’s programme seeks the collaboration of all stakeholders to analyse the state of corporate social responsibility of mining companies in Ghana and their impact on the host communities to come up with best ways these companies can contribute positively in the lives of these communities.
He also disclosed that as part of the consolidated idea of the Ghana Mining Expo initiative, partners Ghana Gold Expo Foundation, together with the Western Regional Coordinating Council have secured a partnership of corporate social responsibility with the Oxford University.
The objective of this partnership he said is to setup leadership and workshop programmes to offer some technical knowledge to mining institutions on their Corporate social responsibilities. This initiative he belives this a step in the right direction and assured would be continued and sustained.
Ghanaian midfielder, Bernard Mensah, has completed his move to Al-Tai in the Saudi Professional League.
He has signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year, following his departure from Turkish club Kayserispor.
Mensah had a fruitful and exciting time at Kayserispor, initially joining on loan before securing a permanent transfer in 2019.
During his tenure, he also had a successful loan spell at Besiktas, where he achieved remarkable success by winning the domestic double.
However, with his contract at Kayserispor expiring recently, Mensah has now finalized a deal with the rapidly growing Saudi Professional League team, Al-Tai.
He will now join a host of stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Ngolo Kante, and Kalidou Koulibaly among others who all joined various teams in the competition this year.
Saudi Arabia is an appealing option for the gifted midfielder. The move to Al-Tai would allow him to demonstrate his abilities in a new footballing setting while contributing to the team’s success.
Mensah has previously had stints in the Spanish La Liga with former champions Atletico Madrid and Getafe.
Romelu Lukaku transfer saga has taken another turn with Juventus entering the picture by making a bid for the Chelsea striker.
While it appeared that Lukaku’s return to Inter was inevitable, with the player rejecting other offers and expressing his desire to rejoin the Champions League finalists, Juventus has now matched Inter’s bid.
They have offered €37.5 million (£32m/$41m) plus bonuses, which could reach €40m (£34m/$45m).
According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Lukaku is now refusing to communicate with Inter directors.
Juventus has informed Chelsea that they need to sell Dusan Vlahovic before finalizing the deal for Lukaku.
They hope to complete the Vlahovic transfer before August 4, which means the Lukaku saga might extend for several more weeks.
While there has been significant speculation surrounding Vlahovic, there is little concrete news regarding an actual bid for him at this time.
Chelsea would like to wrap the Lukaku deal up as soon as possible and would prefer to continue dealing with Inter.
Juventus need to sell Vlahovic before they can buy Lukaku, whereas Inter will have the funds to sign him once Andre Onana completes his move to Manchester United.
Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, a major integrated sugar business predominantly owned by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, has announced its intention to merge with Nascon Allied Industries Plc and Dangote Rice Limited, both of which fall under the umbrella of the Dangote Group.
Should the merger receive approval, it has the potential to bring about a significant transformation in the Nigerian food and consumer goods industry. The consolidation of these businesses is anticipated to reshape the market landscape and open up new avenues for growth.
The proposed merger, involving Dangote Sugar, Nascon (a salt-processing company), and Dangote Rice, will be a focal point of discussion during the upcoming Board of Directors meeting scheduled for Friday, July 28.
The objective of this merger is to establish a colossal food conglomerate with a diverse range of products, including sugar, rice, salt, vegetable oil, tomato paste, seasoning, and other savory items.
The board of directors will review the terms and potential benefits of the merger, anticipating a significant impact on the Nigerian sugar industry and the overall market.
The strategic move aims to consolidate the resources and operations of the three companies, enhancing market position, operational efficiency, and profitability.
Dangote Sugar and Nascon recently reported impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2023. Dangote Sugar’s profit rose from N8.87 billion ($11.4 million) in Q1 2022 to N12.8 billion ($16.5 million) in the corresponding period of 2023. Similarly, Nascon witnessed a 325.28 percent increase in profit, from N386.37 million ($498,600) in Q1 2022 to N1.64 billion ($2.11 million).
Investors on the Nigerian Exchange have reacted positively to the planned merger, with shares of bothDangote Sugar and Nascon experiencing a surge in demand.
As of the time of reporting, shares of Dangote Sugar and Nascon were trading at N29.85 ($0.0385) and N25.5 ($0.0329), respectively, representing a 9.94 percent and 9.91 percent increase from their opening prices this morning.
This surge in share prices has resulted in a market capitalization of N330 billion ($425.7 million) for Dangote Sugar and N61.5 billion ($79.3 million) for Nascon.
The gold medal won by Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m athletics team at last year’sCommonwealth Games has been revoked due to a doping violation, and it has been awarded to England instead.
The Nigerian team, comprised of Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Grace Nwokocha, had made history by securing the gold medal at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, becoming the first Nigerian women’s relay team to accomplish such a feat.
However, the celebration was short-lived as it was later discovered that Grace Nwokocha had tested positive for banned anabolic steroids. This revelation raised doubts about the legitimacy of Nigeria’s achievement, which was accomplished with an impressive time of 42.10 seconds, setting a new African record.
Consequently, the Commonwealth Games Federation officially disqualified the Nigerian team, resulting in the elevation of the English quartet as the new gold medalists.
The English team, comprising Asha Philip, Imani-Lara Lansiquot, Bianca Williams, and Daryll Neita, had originally finished second in the final but now ascend to the top of the podium.
The decision to disqualify Nigeria and award the gold medal to England was made after the confirmation of Nwokocha’s positive doping test, which revealed the presence of two banned anabolic agents in her sample.
Consequently, Nwokocha’s results from the 100m, 200m, and sprint relay have all been nullified.
The matter has been referred to the Athletics Integrity Unit for further investigation and potential sanctions.
This development serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to maintain fairness and integrity in sports, as doping violations tarnish the achievements of athletes and undermine the principles of fair competition.
The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, confronted lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata during a court session due to Tsikata’s objection regarding the AG’s failure to announce himself.
As reported by Asaaseradio.com, the AG retaliated by highlighting Tsikata’s own history of intentionally withholding his name during court proceedings.
This incident occurred during the trial of James Gyakye Quayson at the High Court on July 14, 2023.
While Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah announced his presence in court on behalf of the Attorney-General, Tsikata concluded his submission and requested the court to halt the proceedings.
Tsikata had previously filed an application at the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court’s rejection of his request to suspend the proceedings.
Additionally, he filed a judicial review application at the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling of the High Court.
Upon the arrival of Godfred Dame, the Attorney-General, he immediately opposed Tsikata’s application, arguing that there were no substantial grounds to justify staying proceedings based on the pending applications at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Dame emphasized that there existed no legal provision, rule of practice, or precedent that mandated the court to halt proceedings in such circumstances. He further criticized Tsikata for failing to cite any supporting authorities throughout his argument.
In response to the AG’s opposition,Tsikata raised his concern in open court, pointing out that the AG did not announce himself before addressing the court, which deviated from normal practice.
He expressed his hope that the court would not entertain such deviations. However, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh noted that the AG’s name was already displayed on the screen, rendering Tsikata’s issue moot.
In a counterattack, Godfred Dame expressed his surprise at Tsatsu Tsikata’s complaint regarding the proper announcement of counsel’s presence, highlighting Tsikata’s own consistent violation of court rules by deliberately withholding his name.
Dame pointed out that his presence had been duly recorded and displayed on the screens for all the lawyers present, as acknowledged by the trial judge. Thus, he deemed Tsikata’s complaint baseless.
Justice Yanzuh, taking exception to Tsikata’s reply to the AG’s response, admonished him to be mindful of his language when addressing the court.
Following the exchanges, the judge ruled against Tsikata’s application for a stay of proceedings based on the pending Court of Appeal case, citing the absence of any legal requirement mandating such a stay.
The court also adjourned the ruling on the application for judicial review pending at the Supreme Court to Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to announce its decision on November 22 of this year regarding the constitutionality and legality of the presence and situation of street children.
The case has been brought before a seven-member panel of the court by the non-governmental organization Child Rights International (CRI).
The court will determine whether the plight of street children violates various articles of the 1992 Constitution, including Articles 25(a), 28(1)(a), (d), (2), (3), (4), 13(1), and 37.
CRI, led by its Executive Director Bright Appiah, argues that the 1992 Constitution safeguards the rights of children.
By permitting children to become victims of streetism, the government allegedly infringes upon their constitutional rights to education, health, human dignity, and their social and economic well-being.
Streetism refers to the situation where children live and work on the streets due to a lack of family support.
In some cases, these children are trapped in exploitative relationships where their guardians or parents use them to financially support the household through various activities conducted on the streets.
The applicant, whose work seeks to protect and safeguard the social, educational and constitutional rights of children, is asking the court for a number of reliefs and declaration.
Among these are the declaration that theGovernment of Ghana is in breach of Articles 25(a), 28(1) (a), (d), (2) (3) (4), 13(1) and 37 of the 1992 Constitution for not taking urgent steps to ensure that children do not engage in work that constitute a threat to their health, education or development, and that children are not deprived of medical treatment, education or any social or economic benefit.
Again, the applicant is seeking an order directed at government to define by law penalties for child exploitation for begging or other forms of economic exploitation to punish all those who may try to benefit or gain money from children’s work; an order directed at government to improve the law on healthcare, by defining by law the provision of free primary health services to all poor children, children living in street situation or children in emergency situations.
Additionally, the applicant is seeking an order directed at government to provide rules and procedures to be followed for the provision of free basic medical services to poor children, children in street situation or children in emergencies.
Again, it wants mechanism to include agencies that can ask for this help on behalf of children and an order to implement mechanisms to control and enforce the legal framework guaranteeing education for all children.
It is further seeking order directed at the government for procedures related to school enrolment of children in street situations and their provision with the necessary didactic material; and also, an order for government to submit to the court, not later than three months from the date of final judgment, a plan of action detailing all the steps, strategies, and measurable targets by which the defendants undertake to obey and perform the orders contained in the reliefs the applicant is seeking.
Moreover, the applicant is seeking an order directed at government to submit to the court, two years from the date of final judgment and thereafter every six months until the expiry of the three-year plan of action, a report particularising all the steps taken, and targets met in obeying the orders of the court.
Dutch and former Barcelona forward, Memphis Depay, has joined numerous players incongratulating Benjamin Mendy, the France and Manchester City defender, after he was acquitted of all rape charges following a lengthy two-and-a-half-year trial.
In a recent tweet, Depay posed six questions pondering the future of Mendy’s life and career, revealing that he had spoken to him once via FaceTime while he was in jail.
“I’ve never touched on this subject because I didn’t know all the details, but I’ve spoken to him once true FaceTime while behind bars and faced him on the pitch a couple times.. I didn’t see any evil in the man,” his tweet read in part.
He stressed that it was time athletes stood up against such cases. “We can’t accept this to happen to us as athletes..”
Mendy could not hold back his tears after he was cleared of all rape charges in a retrial on July 14, 2023.
Reports by the British media indicates that the French footballer was cleared by a jury of six men and six women at Chester Crown Court after three hours of deliberation.
Mendy was cleared of the remaining two counts of rape – one in October 2018 and the other in October 2020.
He was initially cleared of 8 counts in September 2022 in his first trial. However, the jury could not reach an agreement on the other two rape counts and thus adjured for a retrial.
The 28-year-old has now been cleared of all the charges after three years since his first arrest.
All cases dismissed. So what are we doing now? Who is going to help this brother heal? Who’s going to be Responsable for the damage on he’s name? How he’s going to have he’s career back? Many years of investment to become a professional football player…. Now what!? I’ve never touched on this subject because I didn’t know all the details, but I’ve spoken to him once true FaceTime while behind bars and faced him on the pitch a couple times.. I didn’t see any evil in the man. We can’t accept this to happen to us as athletes.. Who’s going to stand up for us in the time of need not when the damage is already done? Don’t turn your head people.
Central Bank has implemented stricter regulations for the sale of gold in order to tackle the negative impacts of artisanal mining activities
During the opening of the 4th Ghana Mining Expo in Takoradi, Dr. Ernest Addison, theGovernor of the Bank of Ghana, revealed that the central bank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has implemented stringent measures to combat environmentally harmful artisanal small-scale gold mining and its associated trade.
He commended the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry and the organizers of the expo for their efforts to promote responsible and sustainable mining.
He also urged the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) to ensure that its purchases are guided by the measures to prevent unapproved mining practices and operation of unlicensed miners.
“The Bank of Ghana has put into place a rigorous due diligence process for aggregators, including checking for criminal records and site visitation to ensure that registered mines are complying with the relevant environmental standards,” Dr. Addison said. “It is our expectation that purchases by the PMMC will also be guided by a similar rigorous process.”
He added that the Bank of Ghana will work closely with the PMMC to adopt and integrate its Responsible Sourcing and Due Diligence Framework in their operations. The Bank will also work with key stakeholders and the mining regulator to improve the standards of community mines to be an important gold supplier. Finally, the Bank will lend support to the current efforts towards LBMA certifications for local refineries.
Dr. Addison also re-emphasized the benefits of the Gold for Gold Programme to the Ghanaian economy.
“Since its inception,the Gold for Oil has yielded significant results,” he said. “Specifically, it has provided foreign exchange resources to meet petroleum products importation, led to increased competition among market players and lower ex-pump petroleum prices, and provided some stability in the FX markets. These positive developments have contributed to easing price pressures and thereby supporting the central bank’s efforts to bring down the high inflation levels.”
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, who officially launched the expo, said that it has become a critical platform for strategic discussion for the growth of the extractive sector.
“It is fast establishing itself as one of the most important mining conferences in the West African Region, providing a multi-sectoral platform for the exchange of ideas on investment opportunities and challenges in the African mining sector, with the aim of implementing strategies for accelerated growth in mining, while ensuring resilience on all fronts, and at all times, as Africa’s economic bedrock,” he said.
The minister said that the theme of this year’s expo, “Sustainable Mineral Resources Development and Well-Being of Mining Communities,” is particularly important, as it highlights the need for responsible and sustainable mining practices.
“The mining sector has the potential to contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic development,” he said. “However, this can only be achieved if we ensure that mining is done in a sustainable manner that does not harm the environment or the communities in which it takes place.”
The minister outlined a number of government initiatives to promote sustainable mining, including the establishment of a Gold Refinery and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC). He also said that the government is working to secure a London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Certification for theGhana Gold Refinery.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, said that the recovery of the Ghanaian economy is highly dependent on the mining sector. He called for a doubling of production in the mining sector, saying that this is the only way to create wealth and reduce poverty.
The 2023 Ghana Mining Expo will come to a close on Saturday, July 15th. Several mining sector players are expected to speak and exhibit at the expo.
Ghana Cocoa Board, COCOBOD, has invited holders of its cocoa bills (short-term debt securities) to voluntarily exchange them for longer-term debt securities.
The exchange program includes bonds with an extended principal maturity date.
While eligible holders have the option to participate in the exchange, COCOBOD retains the sole discretion to settle the eligible bills either fully or partially.
The subscription to receive new bonds is also voluntary for eligible holders.
COCOBOD is offering Eligible Holders accrued and unpaid interest (“Accrued Interest Payable”) on their Eligible Bills validly tendered and accepted by the COCOBOD, calculated from and including the last interest payment date up to, but excluding, the Settlement Date, which amount will be paid to such Eligible Holders in the form of capitalized interest (rounded down to the nearest GHS1.00) added to the principal amount of the New Bonds and distributed across the New Bonds in the same proportion as the Exchange Consideration Ratios (as defined) set forth in the table below.
Eligible Holders whose validly submitted Offers are accepted by the COCOBOD will receive on the Settlement Date the New Bonds with an aggregate principal amount (rounded down to the nearest GHS1.00) equal to the principal amount of Eligible Bills tendered plus Accrued Interest Payable, which aggregate principal amount will be allocated in accordance with the consideration ratios described in the New Bonds and Exchange Consideration per principal amount of Eligible Bills tendered (including the Accrued Interest Payable in respect thereof).
Eligible Holders whose offers or exchange instructions are accepted will receive the five New Bonds in the above-mentioned ratios, each maturing on a one per year basis consecutively from and including 2024 through and including 2028.
As is customary with listed corporate securities, the New Bond Documentation does not restrict the ability of the New Bonds to be traded or transferred in the secondary markets.
There are reports suggesting thatSadio Mane will leave Bayern Munich this summer and join Al-Nassr, where he would be reunited with Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a news outlet called Ariadhiah.
Allegedly, the two parties met on Thursday to discuss a potential deal.
Mane, who has had a challenging time adjusting to life in Germany after six successful years at Liverpool, is said to be considering the move.
However, the timing of this potential transfer is peculiar due to Al-Nassr currently being banned from registering any new players.
This ban stems from their failure to pay the promised fee for former Leicester striker Ahmed Musa.
Therefore, if Al-Nassr wants to secure the services of Mane or any other prominent player, they would need to resolve the issue with Musa’s fee first.
FIFA have confirmed the ban will be lifted “upon the settlement of the debts being confirmed by the creditors concerned.”
It seems discussions with the Saudi Arabian side will continue into the coming days but he’ll be remaining at Bayern Munich unless Al-Nassr‘s ban is lifted.
Ghanaian international, Tariq Lamptey, has commenced training with Brighton and Hove Albion as they prepare for the upcoming 2023/24English Premiership season.
Lamptey had been sidelined due to a knee injury sustained in a league match against West Ham in March, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
Unfortunately, the former Chelsea right-back was also unable to participate in Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola in March.
In his absence, Kingsley Schindler, a German-born player, was selected by Black Stars coach Chris Hughton to fill the void.
Lamptey was also unavailable for Ghana’s AFCON qualifier against Madagascar on June 18, 2023, in Antananarivo.
Now, Lamptey has returned to training with Brighton and Hove Albion, aiming to regain fitness and contribute to the team’s efforts in the upcoming season.
Tariq Lamptey made 23 appearances in all competitions in the just-ended season, scoring just a goal.
The Brighton and Hove Albion man through the Tariq Lamptey Foundation, donated items including, jerseys and football boots to kids in Asamankese in the West Akim Municipal District, in the Eastern Region on Friday, May 30.
Recently, Haaland was photographed alongside Kim Kardashian at a Dolce & Gabbana event, where he was accompanied by rapper Future and singer Doyoung.
Indeed, the D&G brand ambassador has been ridiculed by some for his outlandish outfit choices, with one fan writing: “Bro you need a stylist tf!! “, while another added: “Grandma wants her dress back .
However, at an EA Sports event in which Haaland was pictured in a garish green outfit, it was the City striker who had the last laugh, beating TikTok influencer Iran Ferreira 7-2.
Haaland’s gaming updates were part of the official reveal of the new EA SPORTS FC game on July 13.
The new rebrand of EA Sports’ famous football video game series will follow tradition by being launched in autumn 2023, amid a huge amount of hype from fans of the franchise. Currently, it’s rumoured that the game will be launched on September 29.
Haaland might be getting plenty of attention for his fashion choices and celebrity video gaming adventures right now, but soon he’ll be in the thick of an intense pre-season training camp with Manchester City.
The club fly over to Asia next week to play fixtures in South Korea and Japan, with the first friendly taking place at Tokyo’s National Stadium against Yokohama F Marinos on July 24.
Penalty kicks are defining moments in games that can cause a moment of joy or sadness depending on the outcome.
However, it also depends on the toughness of players who take bold steps to convert from the spot while others also find it difficult to take penalty kicks due to their low self-esteem.
Most players have their trademark in football and that is to score from the spot in all games they have featured.
Let’s take a look at five players who have created a niche in taking penalty kicks.
Yaya Toure From a statistical perspective, the former Ivorian international holds the distinction of being the most lethal player from the penalty spot. Throughout his eight-year tenure at Manchester City, he successfully converted all 15 penalties awarded to him.
Ivan Krstanović
According to UEFA, by all accounts, Ivan Krstanvic never missed a penalty in his career, as he told UEFA.com that “It’s at least 30 goals” from the pot for the Croatian. The forward spent majority of his career playing for clubs in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ovidiu Herea
The former Romanian international has won a total of 38 penalties. Qvidiu Herea has a brilliant 100% record without missing a single penalty. He is currently the assistant coach of CS Concordia Chiajna in the Romanian Ligue II.
Vladislav Stoyanov
The former Bulgarian goalkeeper scored 24 from 24 top-flight penalties in the 1980s and 1990s with PFC Chernomorets Burgas and PFC Lokomotiv Sofia.
Ledio Pano
The former Albanian midfielder is one of the few players to ever take more than 50 penalties and score from each of them. Anyway,according to UEFA, Ledio has a record of a 100% conversion rate in more than 50 penalties he took in his career in Greece and Albania.
Tottenham Hotspur has included Harry Kane in their pre-season Asia-Pacific tour, while club captain Hugo Lloris will remain behind as he seeks to finalize a transfer to a new club.
Kane, the England captain, is in the final year of his contract with Spurs and has garnered interest from Bayern Munich, who reportedly made an official offer.
Kane, along with several other international players, resumed pre-season training on Wednesday, where new head coach Ange Postecoglou is expected to outline his plans for success to the club’s top scorer.
Spurs confirmed veteran goalkeeper Lloris had been granted permission not to travel on the tour “in order to explore prospective transfer opportunities”.
Tottenham’s stance on Kane, though, has not changed since Manchester City tried to sign the forward in 2021.
City’s advances were turned down and the north London club plan to reject any bids for the forward this summer, despite his contract now entering its final 12 months.
Another player expected to depart is Croatia winger Ivan Perisic – one of the travelling tour party – as Postecoglou trims down a bloated squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign, which starts at Brentford on August 13.
Tottenham fly out to Perth in Australia – with new signing James Maddison making the trip after the England midfielder’s £40million switch from Leicester – ahead of an opening fixture against West Ham on July 18.
Spurs will play Leicester in Thailand on July 23 before the Singapore leg, which will take in a fixture against local side Lion City Sailors on July 26 after previous opponents AS Roma,managed by Jose Mourinho, pulled out of their planned trip to Asia.
Several Tottenham players are still sidelined by injuries – with goalkeeper Fraser Forster (back), defender Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (knee), Bryan Gil (back) and Troy Parrott (groin) all continuing their rehabilitation.
Ex Chelsea star, Christian Pulisic said on Wednesday that he wished he had been given more of an opportunity to prove himself at Chelsea but that his move to AC Milan can help him reach another level as a player.
The United States star signed a four-year contract with Milan this week to end a stay at Chelsea that never quite lived up to initial expectations after his €64 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2019.
Speaking to ESPN’s Graham Hunter after signing his contract in Milan on Wednesday, Pulisic was asked whether he could have been given more opportunities to prove himself at Stamford Bridge.
“Of course. I’d like to think so,” he said. “Of course there are definitely times where I wish I could’ve gotten more of an opportunity and been that guy, but yeah, for whatever reason, that’s not the case, and like I said, I’m just so excited for this new challenge and I’m definitely ready and up for it.”
Pulisic made 145 appearances across his four seasons with Chelsea, scoring 26 goals and adding 21 assists.
His highlight came in the 2020-21 season when he scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals en route to the London club lifting the trophy for the second time.
But, with Pulisic hampered by injuries and amid frequent managerial changes, his impact and his role has declined in recent seasons.
Last season he scored one goal in 30 games in all competitions — both his lowest single-season totals with Chelsea.
In contrast, Pulisic said he was reassured by his initial conversations with Milan manager Stefano Pioli.
“I think he made me feel like he wanted me here, he wanted me to be a part of this team and he saw me fitting into this team, and that’s what I wanted to hear,” he said.
“Obviously I want a fair opportunity like everyone else to have the chance to come here. I still need to earn my place, of course, but it felt like I was wanted here and I have a great opportunity, if I show good effort, good attitude every day and train well, that I’m going to get the opportunity to go out and perform.”
The player from Pennsylvania has continued to be a key figure for the USMNT, twice guiding his country to win the Concacaf Nations League, as well as helping to lead the side to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup.
In total, Pulisic has played 60 times for the U.S., scoring 25 goals.
In AC Milan, he joins one of Europe’s most successful clubs.
The Rossoneri’s tally of seven Champions League/European Cups is second only to Real Madrid’s 14, and they have won 19 Serie A titles, with their most recent triumph in 2022.
Last season they reached the Champions League semifinals, where they lost to city rivals Inter Milan.
Pulisic said he is confident that playing for the Serie A giants will only make him more of a force on the international stage.
“I think it’s just another massive opportunity and experience for me to learn and grow as a player,” he said.
“Playing in a new league, a new challenge for me, it’s just going to test me that much more, and when those big moments like Copa America and stuff come around, I’m just going to be that much more battle tested, and that’s how I feel with coming to a new club, getting to play in all different types of new games and playing new teams.
“Massive opportunity for me to really step up and go to another level as a player. And when those things come around with the national team, I know I’ll be in top form and be ready.”
Pulisic will be greeted by some familiar faces at Milan. Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has also been transferred from Stamford Bridge to the San Siro this summer, and U.S. teammate Sergino Dest spent last season on loan there from Barcelona.
He’ll also be reunited with former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, who Pulisic said helped persuade him to accept Milan’s offer.
RB Leipzig has officially completed the signing of Belgium striker Lois Openda (23) from Lens, a Ligue 1 team.
The Bundesliga club confirmed the transfer on Friday, with Openda signing a five-year contract.
Although the exact transfer fee remains undisclosed, Germany’s Bild newspaper reported that the deal amounts to 43 million euros, along with an additional six million euros in potential add-ons.
This surpasses Leipzig’s previous season’s payment of 25 million euros for defender David Raum (25) from Hoffenheim.
“We stayed within our planned framework with the transfer fee, and if success-oriented bonuses occur on top of that, it means above all that we were able to celebrate the sporting successes together with the player,”Leipzig’s sports director Max Eberl said.
Openda scored 21 goals in 38 league appearances for Lens last season, leading them to a second-placed finish. He has nine caps for Belgium, scoring twice.
Leipzig sold last season’s top scorer Christopher Nkunku (25) to Premier League Chelsea in June.
They finished third in the Bundesliga to earn a place in the Champions League group stage.
Following his acquittal of the remaining charges in his rape case, French international footballerBenjamin Mendy expressed his gratitude by saying “Alhamdulillah” (Thank God) in an interview with SkySports.
The jury, consisting of six men and six women at Chester Crown Court, took three hours to reach the verdict.
Mendy faced a retrial for one count of rape and one count of attempted rape involving two women, with incidents alleged to have occurred in October 2018 and October 2020.
These two charges were the final ones out of the total of 10 counts, as he had been found not guilty of eight counts in September of the previous year.
The jury’s inability to reach a unanimous decision on the remaining two charges necessitated a retrial.
The 28-year-old has now been cleared of all the charges.
Benjamin Mendy was released byManchester City after his contract ended in June 2023 after he was suspended after his arrest in 2021.
Borussia Monchengladbach announced on Friday that they have secured the services of Czech Republic forward Tomas Cvancara (22) from Sparta Prague.
The player has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga club.
While the exact transfer fee has not been disclosed by the clubs, reports suggest that the amount involved in the deal is approximately 10 million euros.
“Tomas is a striker that poses a real threat on goal, coupled with plenty of pace,” Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus said in a statement.
“He’s still young but has been playing professionally for several years and broke into the Czech Republic national team this season.”
He made his Czech Republic debut scoring a goal in a Euro 2024 qualifying 3-1 win over Poland in March.
Cvancara started his professional career at Czech top-flight side Jablonec in February 2018 before moving to Sparta Prague in January 2022, where he played nearly 50 games and scored24 goals in all competitions.
Former Manchester City defender, Benjamin Mendy, was overcome with emotion as he was declared not guilty of all rape charges during a retrial on July 14, 2023.
According to reports from the British Media, a jury consisting of six men and six women at Chester Crown Court deliberated for three hours before reaching the verdict.
Mendy was acquitted of the two remaining counts of rape, one allegedly occurring in October 2018 and the other in October 2020.
In his initial trial in September 2022, he had been cleared of eight counts but the jury had been unable to reach a unanimous decision on the other two rape charges, leading to the retrial.
The 28-year-old has now been cleared of all the charges after three years since his first arrest.
Benjamin Mendy was released by Manchester City after his contract ended in June 2023 after he was suspended after his arrest in 2021.
1.Maastricht University 2024-2025 Fully funded Holland-High Potential Scholarship, Netherlands. The Scholarship programme offers 24 full scholarships of € 30,000 (including tuition fee waiver and monthly stipend) each academic year for highly talented students from outside the European Union (EU) who have been admitted to a master’s.
Deadline: February 1, 2024
Posted: July 11, 2023
2. University Of British Columbia 2024 Fully Funded Schmidt Science Fellows program, Canada. It provides the world’s best emerging scientists with new skills and perspectives to develop novel solutions to society’s challenges, become scientific and societal thought leaders, and accelerate ground-breaking discoveries.
Deadline: Not Specified
Posted: July 6, 2023
3.European Commission 2023 Youth4Regions Program for Aspiring Journalists in EU and Neighboring Country Citizenship.Youth4Regions is the European Commission program helping journalism students and young journalists to discover what the EU is doing in their region. APPLY NOW!
Deadline: July 10, 2023
4.Boston University (BU) 2023 Trustee Scholarship, UK
Every year, BU welcomes approximately 20 outstanding students to the Trustee Scholars Program. Many of our current Scholars had perfect 4.0 grade point averages in high school and ranked in the top of their class. In addition to exceptional academic credentials.
Deadline: December 1, 2023
5.University of Manchester 2023-2024 Humanitarian Scholarships
Social responsibility lies at the heart of our University and we are committed to playing our part in helping those fleeing conflict and persecution by offering the opportunity to study at Manchester. Set up in 2022, our Humanitarian Scholarship programme supports individuals at immediate risk.
Goalkeeper Michael McGovern expressed his eagerness to join Hearts and reunite with familiar faces, following his departure from Norwich.
The 39-year-old, who previously played for Ross County, Falkirk, and Hamilton, had spent seven years at Carrow Road.
Having earned 32 caps for Northern Ireland and represented his country at the Euro 2016 finals, McGovern is acquainted with the Hearts management team, including head coach Frankie McAvoy, technical director Steven Naismith, and sporting director Joe Savage.
He is also familiar with his new teammate,Northern Ireland striker Liam Boyce, as well as former Hearts player and fellow compatriot defender Aaron Hughes.
McGovern has signed a one-year contract with the option for a further year, making him Hearts’ first signing of the summer.
He told HeartsTV: “I’m delighted. Hearts are a massive club, I’m excited to be here and looking forward to getting started.
“It’s pleasing to be back because I loved my time in Scottish football.
“I loved the passion that the fans have and I’m looking forward to getting back into it, being in front of crowds and enjoying the atmosphere.
“I played with Naisy at Norwich and worked with both Frankie and Joe at Hamilton and Norwich. There are a lot of familiar faces and once the opportunity to come here came about, I was desperate to be a part of it.
“I want to be involved at a big club in Scotland. Hearts are among the biggest and it’s not something I could turn down.
“I spoke to Boycie the other day and had a chat with Aaron Hughes, who I still speak to now and again.
“They spoke really highly of the club. Hopefully I can contribute and be one of those players people speak about in the future.”
McGovern will join fellow stoppers Zander Clark and Craig Gordon – who is working his way back from a long-term injury – and he said: “It’s a really good group.
“Craig’s making his way back from injury and he did really well last season – playing fantastically.
“I’ll be pushing them both, trying to get into the team, because I’m wanting to play.
“Even if I’m not, I want to be supporting whoever is playing and trying to be a positive member of the group. That’s the way I do things.”
McAvoy said: “Michael is someone who I know very well from our time together at Hamilton Academical and then Norwich City.
“He’s got great character but, most importantly, he’s a first-class goalkeeper and you only need to look at the career he’s had to see that.
“He’ll push Zander all the way in the training as we head towards the start of the season and I’m certain our young goalkeeper will find his experience invaluable.”
Naismith said: “I played with Michael at Norwich City so I know first-hand how good of a goalkeeper he is and he has the right characteristics to fit into this group of players.
“With departures from lastseason and Craig Gordon working hard on his rehabilitation, we were a bit short in the goalkeeping department so when the opportunity came up to bring someone of Michael’s pedigree in, it was really a no brainer.
“The experience he’s amassed playing at the highest level in Scotland, England and internationally will be massive benefit to the squad as a whole, but particularly our goalkeepers.
“We’re excited about Harry Stone’s prospects and Michael coming in allows him to get even more game time, be it with the B team or a loan move, with a view to him coming into the first-team squad.”
Timber spent nine years at Ajax after joining the Dutch giants at youth level from arch-rivals Feyenoord in 2014.
His switch to North London will feel particularly special after revealing his love for the Gunners from a young age.
In his first interview as an Arsenal player, Timber said: “I’ve always been a fan of Arsenal.
“It was because of my brothers. They were always Arsenal fans and I just loved seeing Arsenal play. They had big players, the way they played, the style. I just love the club.
“I had this from a young age but my brothers kind of put that in me. I liked watching Robin van Persie of course, and Thierry Henry. They were my favourite players.”
Netherlands international Timber played 121 games in total for Ajax, winning three trophies.
He was also named the Eredivisie Player of the Year in 2021-22 as the Amsterdam outfit won their 36th league title.
His ability to play as a centre-back or right-back will add some much-needed depth to the Arsenal squad ahead of their return to the Champions League.
After finally sealing the deal for Timber, West Ham captain Declan Rice is expected to be Arsenal’s next arrival as Arteta continues to bolster his squad.
UEFA has imposed fines onBarcelona and Manchester United for violations of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, as confirmed by European football’s governing body on Friday.
Barcelona has been fined €500,000 for inaccurately reporting “profits on disposal of intangible assets” in 2022.
Meanwhile, Manchester United has been fined €300,000 for minor breaches of break-even deficits.
“While disappointed by the outcome, Manchester United accepts this fine for what UEFA acknowledges to be a minor technical breach of its previous Financial Fair Play rules,” United said in a statement to British media.
Cypriot side APOEL and Turkey’s Konyaspor were fined 100,000 euros each for the same offence as United. Turkish clubs Istanbul Basaksehir and Trabzonspor, Belgian champions Royal Antwerp and Anderlecht were among other teams to receive fines.
The decisions follow the last round of monitoring using FFP rules that have been replaced by new sustainability regulations announced last year.
A group of high-profile European clubs including Paris St Germain, AC Milan and Inter Milan, who agreed settlementswith UEFA in September last year, have fulfilled targets set for the financial year 2022.
UEFA added that these clubs will continue to be monitored for compliance next season.
Mexican international Rodolfo Pizarro has an agreement in place to join AEK Athens, enabling Inter Miami to free up a Designated Player spot for Lionel Messi according to sources.
Pizarro is expected to finalize the remaining details of his contract and officially sign with the team led by former Chivas and San Jose Earthquakes coach Matias Almeyda, as he travels to Europe over the weekend.
Last week, Pizarro was linked with a potential trade to the LA Galaxy, and he acknowledged the possibility of Miami transferring him to create space for the arrivals of Messi and Sergio Busquets.
“I have a contract. I didn’t know. I could be traded anyways. It’s a bit strange. I think this is the only league [MLS] in the world that does this,” Pizarro said.
Pizarro joined Inter Miami as the team’s first Designated Player for its inaugural 2020 season. Before the 2022 season, he was loaned to his former team Monterrey.
Pizarro returned to MLS this year after the Liga MX side declined the permanent transfer option.
Miami began the year with the maximum three Designated Players on its roster, meaning the club needed to free up spaces for the arrival of Messi and Busquets.
Midfielder Gregore is expected to have his contract restructured to a non-DP deal using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), while the exit of Pizarro would allow for both formerBarcelona players to join the roster alongside third DP Leonardo Campana.
Messi, who arrived in Florida earlier this week, is set to be presented as an Inter Miami player during an event billed as “The Unveil” at the club’s DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday.
Sources told ESPN that Messi attended training and met with his future teammates on Thursday.
The club has targeted a Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Cruz Azul on July 21 for Messi to make his debut.
Liverpool managerJurgen Klopp has expressed his satisfaction with the impact made by new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai on the squad. The Reds invested almost £100 million in securing the midfield duo from Brighton and RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window.
Klopp expects Mac Allister and Szoboszlai to play crucial roles in revitalizing Liverpool’s midfield. He revealed that the first team members were excited to witness the arrival of these highly-rated players, highlighting their potential contributions to the team.
Speaking about his summer acquisitions to Liverpool’s official site, the 56-year-old said: “Very happy [to have signed them]! Two very good players.
“I was immediately thinking about nicknames and I thought it would be great nickname for Alexis — Gary [McAllister]! He plays pretty good football, obviously, the same as Dom.
“I was pretty clear in the moment we signed them, the public reception was pretty good, internally it was outstanding, the boys know about football so they were immediately like, ‘Oh my God’ so that’s really good.
“Now they are here and didn’t take long to impress on the pitch as well, so that’s good.”
The Reds trained as a full group for the first time on Thursday ahead of five pre-season friendlies over the next month, starting with a clash against Karlsruher SC in Germany next week.
Liverpool’s summer signings have begun pre-season training with their new team-mates
Klopp is pleased with the attitude shown so far by his players, who are determined to make the new season a success after an underwhelming 2022-23 campaign.
He added: “We are all full of energy, I think we can say that. It was a good break, it was an important break as well, but it was a long enough one as well.
“Now we are back and the boys are really ready to work, that’s the first impression I got.
“Absolutely [there’s a real buzz]. We don’t have to say it now too often and all the time, but we all know that we want to show a reaction.
“And the reaction doesn’t start on the first matchday, it starts with the first training day.
“That was clear, that’s how we left and that’s how we came back. Yes, there was a proper buzz when everybody was here again.”
Wolves have become the first club to be sanctioned by the Football Association solely over a homophobic chant of ‘Chelsea rent boy’ by their fans.
The Premier League side have been hit with a six-figure fine and imposed with an action plan by the FA after supporters chanted the slur during a fixture against Chelsea in April.
While the FA has always condemned the use of the term, a statement from the governing body in January confirmed to clubs they could now be charged with disciplinary action if their fans engage in discriminatory behaviour – including the use of the term ‘rent boy’.
Wolves have accepted breaches to FA rule E21 following incidents where written reasons for the charges stated: “a chant by a large number of supporters for a prolonged period of approximately 20 seconds each in the 61st and also in the 71st minutes.”
Three arrests were made by West Midlands Police for alleged homophobic chanting during the game.
We have been fined £100,000 by the @FA for the homophobic chanting during our home match against Chelsea.
Homophobia, like all forms of discrimination, has no place in football or society.
Wolves have been fined £100,000 and issued an 11-point action plan as it was deemed their reaction and response to the homophobic chanting was inadequate.
In its written reasons for the charges, an Independent Regulatory Commission said a public announcement made 10 minutes after the chanting was heard was “weak” while the lack of reaction from matchday stewards was also condemned.
It was noted that the post-match response from Wolves deserved praise but the commission said there had been “a clear and significant break down between taking on board what The FA has said in its statement about the Chant and actually doing anything about it.”
Included in the action plan imposed alongside the fine and to begin from the 2023/24 season, the club has to communicate the outcome and response to the charge on their website, social media and in the next matchday programme.
In their response on their official website, a Wolves statement said: “We will continue to campaign for inclusivity in football and society and to tackle discriminatory abuse whether inside stadiums or online.
“Furthermore, Wolves will not cease in its work with supporters, communities and local stakeholders to driveLGBTQ+ inclusion and ensure the game we love is a place where everyone is respected and can feel safe playing or supporting their team.”
Other points on the action plan called for a full review of steward management, development of educational programmes, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work and a zero-tolerance media campaign.
Wolves will also have to review ticket sales policies, deploy announcements and messages to target the prevention of discriminatory chanting and have an FA compliance officer present at their next home game against Chelsea – currently scheduled for December 23.
There were 106 reported incidents of hate crime involving sexual orientation at matches in England and Wales during the 2021-22 season, according to Home Office figures released last year. That represented a 186 per cent increase on 2018-19, the last full season unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic, when there were 37 such incidents reported.
Last season the ‘rent boy’ chant was heard at Chelsea’s matches against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, and also at the Manchester United v Everton FA Cup match, where it was aimed at then-Toffees boss Frank Lampard, a former Chelsea player and manager.
Earlier this week, a Fulham supporter was been banned from football for three years and fined after admitting a public order offence relating to homophobic chanting.
The expert has called for increased education within the sport to address this issue.
Alli recently shared his personal struggles in an emotional interview with Gary Neville, revealing his addiction and recounting experiences of childhood sexual abuse.
He also disclosed that he had sought rehabilitation to confront his problems.
Alli’s revelation adds to a growing acknowledgment that sleeping tablet misuse is prevalent among football players.
Former Football League defender Ryan Cresswell previously highlighted the issue, describing it as a significant problem among his peers in an interview with PA news agency last year.
Sleep expert James Wilson, who has worked with various football clubs such as West Ham, Rotherham, and Lincoln, shares the concern regarding sleeping tablet misuse. He emphasizes that such pills are counterproductive to achieving good quality sleep.
“You hear stories from players and members of staff that say, ‘You should go and work with this club because every single first-team player is taking sleeping pills every single night’,” he told PA.
“They are not generally good for your sleep and they are not good for recovery so that is why they are not a good idea in football. The fact they are addictive is the cherry on the cake in saying why we should not be using sleeping pills, especially as a first line of defence.
“In society in general we don’t understand the use of sleeping pills. The use is more rife in football because the job itself contributes to poor sleep, the night after a midweek game in particular footballers find it harder to sleep.
“There are two issues, one is which Dele has highlighted is that they can be addictive, depending on what type of pill it is.
“But also the sleeping tablet doesn’t give you sleep, it knocks you out. Sleeping pills impact on REM sleep and that is the stage where you go through an overnight counselling session, where your brain files the information from the day before.
“Without that REM sleep, the sleeping pill without him knowing will have contributed to him not being able deal with his mental health issues he was living with.”
Wilson attributes no blame to club doctors for prescribing sleeping pills, citing a lack of training, and says more education and a cultural change is needed across football.
“It is about education, we need to be educating players younger about sleep and we need to support players around their mental health,” he said.
“Often poor sleep can be caused by things going on in the players’ lives and I think within men’s football in particular we are not great at supporting men’s feelings. There needs to be more done there.
“There needs to be better-trained staff. It is more about nutrionisits, physios, or sports therapists having a better understanding of sleep so they can advise better.
“There also needs to be a cultural change. If senior and successful players are taking them then younger players look up to them and it becomes a myth.
“The problem in football is that we approach sleep like we approach training: the harder I try the better I get. If I put X, Y, Z in, I’ll get X, Y, Z out but sleep is not like that.
“It is about being in the right physiological state, dropping the heart rate, dropping core temperature. It is about being emotionally and physically secure. Natures of the job cannot create that. The more we accept that, the better our sleep will be.”
The Ballon d’Or, organized by France Football, continues to be the most highly anticipated award for footballers, especially after the conclusion of the World Cup in the previous football season.
Despite FIFA’s The Best awards attempting to compete with it, the Ballon d’Or is still widely regarded as the most prestigious individual prize in global football, at least for the time being.
Lionel Messi, who has won it seven times, is a major contender to receive his eighth gong, but Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe also look good to claim the prize this year.
Ballon d’Or: Date, time, venue
The Ballon d’Or is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 30, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
Organisers have suggested that event will start at exactly 8 pm local time, although that is subject to change, as per One Football.
How to watch?
The broadcasting rights owner for the ceremony is yet to be named, but the 2022 edition was seen on media channels on YouTube.
The other place the awards were able to be viewed was the Eurosport website and app. One Football reports that there is no reason at this stage to believe that the situation will change for the 2023 edition.
Schedule
6:30 PM: Doors Open – Red Carpet
7:00 PM: Cocktail Reception
8:00 PM: Start of the Ballon d’Or ceremony
10:00 PM: End of Ceremony: Cocktail reception in the receptive spaces of the theatre, Cornucopia reports
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community in Paris on Thursday during his visit to France.
He emphasized the strong bond between India and France while also highlighting the increasing popularity of French footballer Kylian Mbappe among Indian fans.
Modi stated that Mbappe has a larger fanbase in India than in his home country of France.
The Prime Minister further noted that the young Indian players consider Mbappe a tremendous success. His remarks were made during his tour of France.
Narendra Mod on Mbappe
French football star Mbappe is a superhit among the youth of India.
Quoted by Sportskeeda Modi said:
“Indians know Mbappe more than people in France,”
According to Indian Prime Minister, Modi, Kylian Mbappe is incredibly popular among the youth in India. PM Modi suggested that Mbappe may be more widely recognized in India than in his home country of France.#SportsGist Bernardo Cancelo Lasmid Malo Gusto pic.twitter.com/v7FLDj2GsY
The audience received the Prime Minister’s words with applause.
Mbappe’s rise to stardom
Mbappe, 24, shot to fame at AS Monaco during the 2016/17 campaign as an 18-year-old.
He registered 26 goals and 14 assists in just 2633 minutes of action, spread across 44 appearances.
He also led his team to a memorable Ligue 1 triumph and the UEFA Champions League semi-final stage, beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on the way.
Following a stellar season-long loan spell, the Frenchman permanently moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a fee of €180 million ahead of the 2018/19 season.
Before starting the campaign, he guided France to their second FIFA World Cup victory in Russia, bagging the Young Player Award in the process.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mbappé’s spectacular performance made him more popular. The forward was the top scorer in the tournament with eight goals.
With a hat-trick in the final, Mbappe was able to mount a tough challenge against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Later, Mbappe’s France lost the title in a penalty shootout.
John Berylson, an American businessman who had been serving as Millwall chairman since 2007, died in a car accident in the United States on July 4 at the age of 70.
James Berylson, who has been a member of the board of directors at Millwall since 2010, will now step into the role of chairman as the club prepares for the upcoming 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship season.
In a tribute to his father on Millwall’s website, he said: “It is with sincere and immeasurable pride that I take on the chairmanship of this great football club.
“It is what my dad wanted, and I am so thankful for his mentorship since I joined the board of directors in 2010 and blessed by his trust and faith in me.
“This will mark the start of a new era, one in which we will strive to fulfil dad’s legacy.”
France, often considered underachievers in women’s international football, are aiming to salvage their World Cup campaign with the appointment of Herve Renard as coach.
Despite a turbulent few months that threatened to derail their progress, the late appointment of Renard is hoped to make France genuine contenders.
Renard made the decision to leave his lucrative contract with the Saudi Arabia men’s team in order to respond to his country’s call after Corinne Diacre was dismissed in March.
Diacre had been in charge since 2017 but faced criticism after France’s quarterfinal exit as hosts in the previous World Cup in 2019, losing to the United States.
Leading players’ revolt further contributed to Diacre’s departure, rendering her position untenable.
Captain Wendie Renard had effectively said she would not go to the World Cup, which starts next week, if Diacre stayed because she could “no longer support the current system”.
Fellow stars Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto followed her lead in making their dislike for Diacre clear, and a change had to be made if Les Bleues were to stand any chance of going far in Australia and New Zealand.
The 54-year-old Renard, who is no relation to the France skipper, accepted a deal which will also see him lead the team at the Paris Olympics.
He immediately set about turning the page on the mutiny that cost his predecessor her job.
“I am focused on the present and the future,” he told AFP.
“I have not looked at what happened in the past. I have a fresh view on things having come from outside,” added the man who led Saudi to a stunning victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the group stage of theQatar World Cup.
Big paycut
Renard knows what it takes to win a major international tournament, having lifted the Africa Cup of Nations twice, with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015.
He admitted to taking an enormous pay cut to leave the Saudi position.
“If we are talking after tax it is 20 times less,” he said, before adding: “I never hesitated. That is not what will allow me to progress in football, even if it is important.
“What matters to me is the challenge and this is one I have taken on for other reasons. I am convinced I was right to take it.”
France will be expected to advance to the last 16 as group winners as they aim to at least match their best Women’s World Cup performance yet, of fourth place in 2011.
They have gone out of the last two World Cups in the last eight and lost in the semi-finals of last year’s Euro.
If they are to do better this time they will need to overcome injuries, especially to Lyon winger Delphine Cascarino, who was voted the best player in the French league last season.
She is out of the World Cup with a ruptured ACL.
“The absence of Delphine is a huge loss,” admitted Renard.
Prolific striker Katoto has also not recovered from a knee injury in time, while PSG midfielder Oriane Jean-Francois pulled out with an adductor problem.
Leeds United has officially confirmed the transfer of their former club record signing, Rodrigo, to Qatari team Al-Rayyan.
The Spanish forward was acquired by Leeds for a fee of £27 million from Valencia in 2020, shortly after the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
Rodrigo signed a four-year contract with the club.
During his time at Leeds, the 32-year-old made 97 appearances across all competitions and found the back of the net 28 times.
A statement on the Leeds website said: “We thank Rodrigo for his efforts and wish him all the best for the future.”
Rodrigo’s departure to the Qatar Stars League comes as relegated Leeds prepare for next season in the Sky Bet Championship under new manager Daniel Farke.
The summer transfer window has already seen defenders Diego Llorente and Robin Koch and midfielder Brenden Aaronson leave United on season-long loans, joining Roma, Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin respectively.
Ghana’s U20 national team,Black Satellites have been eliminated from the 2023 WAFU Zone B U20 Cup of Nations tournament following a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast on Thursday.
To progress to the semifinals of the sub-regional tournament, Samuel Boadu’s team needed a victory.
However, they fell short in their final Group A match held at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan.
As a result, the Black Satellites finished third in their group with a total of two points, concluding their underwhelming campaign.
Burkina Faso secured the top spot in the group with nine points, advancing alongside Ivory Coast.
Ghana’s journey in the tournament began with a 1-1 draw against an underestimated Niger side, with a late goal conceded in that particular match.
In their second game, they were humiliated by Burkina Faso 2-0 and also finished the game with 10 players before Thursday’s draw with the host nation.
This is a second successive WAFU B tournament the Black Satellites have failed to make a mark.
A 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso, AGAIN, in May 2022 in their final group game denied Ghana the opportunity to defend their title in the2023 U20 AFCON.
Following Inter’s Serie A victory in 2021, Lukaku initially returned to Stamford Bridge for a second stint but subsequently went back to the San Siro on loan last season.
Despite having two bids rejected by Chelsea, Inter is determined to secure the services of the striker. A look at what will take to finalise the deal
Chelsea valuation
Inter’s opening offer of £23million for Lukaku was reportedly rejected, as was an improved bid of £26m.
Chelsea are said to be holding out for £40m, having already dismissed the notion of allowing the forward to leave on another loan deal.
That valuation might seem like a lot of money for a goalscorer who recently turned 30 but it is worth remembering that the West Londoners paid £97.5m to bring him back to Stamford Bridge only two years ago.
Inter are not too far away from the Blues’ price tag and might be able to seal the transfer once they have brought in funds from a major sale.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana is on the brink of moving to Manchester United after a fee of £47m was agreed for the Cameroonian.
That transfer getting over the line could be key to Lukaku returning to Inter permanently.
Romelu Lukaku scored eight Premier League goals for Chelsea in 2021-22
Other suitors
Inter are not the only club said to be interested in signing Lukaku this summer.
He has been linked with a move to Juventus as a possible replacement for Dusan Vlahovic, should the Serbian depart Turin.
Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal are also thought to be in the mix and have offered the Belgium international a three-year contract worth a reported £26m per season.
So there is pressure on Inter to complete a deal, with Lukaku once again a wanted man, despite a very mixed campaign in 2022-23.
The striker missed most of the first half of the season with injury, punctuated with a disastrous 2022 World Cup with Belgium in which he looked far from his best.
Yet in the closing weeks he found form, with his last seven Serie A games seeing him score seven goals and assisting four more.
That spell no doubt played a major part in convincing Inter to buy Lukaku but it also ensured that they would have competition and that Chelsea could request a relatively high fee.
The trump card that Inter have when it comes to getting this deal done is that Lukaku loves the club.
Shortly after exiting the San Siro to join Chelsea in 2021, he revealed that he had not wanted to leave the Nerazzurri and that he hoped to one day return.
He said: “I want to say a big apology to the Inter fans because I think the way I left should have been different.
“I really hope in the depths of my heart to return to Inter, not at the end of my career, but at a still good level to hopefully win more.”
&w=707&quality=100)
