NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRE ALIKO DANGOTE SAYS BUYING ARSENAL STILL ON AGENDA

Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, has declared he is still interested in buying his beloved Arsenal.

Nigerian billionaire Dangote, an Arsenal fan worth $15.7 billion, has revealed he held talks with Arsenal five years ago about buying the club, only for the deal to fall through.

"I still hope, one day at the right price, that I’ll buy the team,” Dangote, 58, is quoted by Bloomberg.

“I might buy it, not at a ridiculous price but a price that the owners won’t want to resist. I know my strategy.”

Dangote, however, admits a Gunners takeover is unlikely to happen in the short term.

“We have $16 billion-worth of investments in the next few years,” he said. “Right now I want to take my own business to a certain level. Once I finish on that trajectory, then maybe” an offer will follow.

Mourinho targets French stars to boost Chelsea Champions League hopes

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho plans to go French this summer to strengthen his squad.
Mourinho guided Chelsea to the Premier League title yesterday thanks to victory over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
L'Equipe says Chelsea won't be standing still and intend to buy big again this summer as they prepare for a title defence and a serious tilt at the Champions League next season.
Atletico Madrid winger Antoine Griezmann, Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and Juventus star Paul Pogba are all on their shopping list.
Marseille midfielder Giannelli Imbula and Olympique Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette are also being discussed at Chelsea's Cobham training base.

Newcastle rubbish John Carver exit rumours but admit 'frank' discussions have taken place

Newcastle United have rubbished suggestions they have sacked John Carver - but admitted 'frank' discussions have taken place.
The Magpies put in a woeful display during the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Leicester City on Saturday, leading some to suggest the 50-year-old could be set for the chop.
Derby County boss Steve McClaren had been linked with the St James' Park top job, with some reports even claiming the former England manager may take over before the end of the season.
But the club have moved to quash those suggestions - and have backed Carver for the remaining three games of the campaign.
A statement read: "Following the result at Leicester City on Saturday, there has been two days of frank dialogue with John Carver and senior players.
"The outcome of those discussions is that the board, John Carver, his staff and players are absolutely focused on our current situation and the three hugely-important fixtures that remain this season, two of which are at St. James' Park.
"All parties accept responsibility for the current situation but are determined, together, to ensure this Club - your Club - retains its Premier League status.
"That is the only focus at this time."

Chelsea keeper Courtois reacts to Real Madrid rumours

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has cooled talk of a move to Real Madrid.
The former Atletico Madrid No1 is being linked with Real this summer.

But he told Cadena Cope: "I'm fine with the London club. I have a four-year contract
"I spent two wonderful years with Atletico Madrid. I have dreamed of saying thank-you to that club.
"I know they wanted me to stay, but in my career I have always aspired to the maximum."

Dominant Gunners increase Hull Tigers' relegation fears

 

An Alexis Sanchez brace helped to all but guarantee Arsenal’s Champions League qualification next season as the Gunners cruised to a 3-1 victory at relegation threatened Hull.
The visitors showcased their superiority in a blistering first half performance, striking twice in a devastating spell after the half hour mark through Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey.
Ramsey then turned provider for Sanchez to put the game out of sight before half time, as the Chilean rounded Steve Harper to make it 24 goals in a stellar individual campaign.
Stephen Quinn grabbed a second half consolation for the Tigers but it was all Steve Bruce’s side could muster, and their top flight status hangs firmly in the balance with just three games remaining.
The void between the two sides was apparent almost immediately, and Harper had to be sharp to deny Sanchez’s fierce low drive.
Arsenal’s top scorer, many pundits’ choice for signing of the season, wasn’t to be denied for long though, as his free kick wrong footed Harper via a cruel deflection off Michael Turner.
Santi Cazorla was instrumental to the visitors’ stranglehold on the game, and his arrowed pass from deep just four minutes later found Ramsey, whose shot was also deflected past the helpless Harper – this time off Robbie Brady.
Arsenal’s third, just before half time, lacked even a trace of luck though as the two goalscorers were central again; Ramsey finding Sanchez brilliantly for the Chilean to unerringly round Harper and slide into an empty net.
The Gunners’ dominance faded after the break, and Hull were handed a lifeline when Quinn headed home Ahmed Elmohamady’s fine cross to grab his first goal of the season.
A dramatic comeback failed to materialise for the relegation strugglers who remain just one point and one place above the bottom three, while Arsenal were further buoyed by the return of Jack Wilshere as a late substitute after five months out.
The result means the Gunners are now nine points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with a far superior goal difference, while they also moved level with Manchester City in the race to finish runners-up.

Mourinho is the best by a long way,’ hails Terry as Chelsea are crowned champions

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is the Premier League’s best manager ‘by a long, long way’, Blues captain John Terryhas told talkSPORT.

The Stamford Bridge outfit celebrated their first top flight title in five years on Sunday following a slim 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

After blasting their way to the top of the table with an emphatic first half of the campaign, Chelsea have come under fire in recent months for their ‘boring’ style of play, with Mourinho’s negative tactics often blamed.

But Terry, who has played every minute of every Premier League game this season on the way to claiming his fourth title with Chelsea, believes the Portuguese is still the ‘special one’.

“Jose deserves a lot of respect; he’s the best by a long, long way,” the Blues skipper told talkSPORT.

“We were the best side up until Christmas and after that teams make it diffuclt, but Jose has found a way to beat them.”

On Chelsea finally being crowned champions, thanks to Eden Hazard’s scrappy goal against a battling Palace side, Terry added: “I’m delighted.

“We’ve been a different class this season and it’s even more special when we do it in front of our own fans.

“We set it up last week with a win at Leicester and it was a tough game today, but we managed to get over the line and we’re champions; it’s how we wanted to do it.

“We can enjoy this now. We’ve got a few days off now so we’ll go and enjoy it, for sure.”

Tottenham ready to battle Roma for Andre Ayew

Tottenham are ready to battle Roma for the signature of Marseille forward Andre Ayew.
Roma remain favourites to sign the 25-year-old, whose contract with Marseille expires next month, but Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino intends to fly out to France when the season ends to try and persuade him to move to north London.
According to Mercato365, Marseille have made an initial deal with Roma to allow Ayew to join them if they secure Champions League qualification.
The Giallorossi currently occupy the third and final Champions League spot in Serie A but are just five points ahead of Napoli in fourth with five games to play.
Should Roma fail to qualify, Spurs will be ready to pounce on the highly-rated Ayew, who has scored 58 goals in 188 appearances for Marseille.

Mayweather produces boxing masterclass to defeat Pacquiao

He calls himself ‘the best ever' and, while that remains open to debate, there is no doubt Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter on the planet right now.
He produced a defensive masterclass as he won a unanimous points decision against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to extend his unbeaten record to 48-0.
With the WBO, WBA and WBC welterweight belts all on the line, the American dominated the centre of the ring throughout the contest, largely negating the high pressure, come-forward style of Pacquiao.
The Filipino enjoyed sporadic successes when he managed to back his opponent onto the ropes but, for the most part, Mayweather used his razor-sharp reflexes to stay out of trouble.
And when he did find himself out of his comfort zone, the 38-year-old was more than happy to grab and hold Pacquiao. It might not have been pretty, but Mayweather was completely nullifying the threat of the naturally more aggressive Pacquiao.
Most experts predicted a fast start for Pacquiao and reckoned he would be ahead at the halfway stage, but the reality proved very different as Mayweather took control from the opening bell.
And it was a control he never looked like relinquishing as Pacquiao found it impossible to impose his all-action style on the fight.
Mayweather was never in trouble throughout the night and, while he never looked like forcing a stoppage – nor in having any real interest in trying to – he was certainly never in danger, either.
It was far from the explosive bout the 16,000 fans in the MGM arena, and the millions watching on PPV around the world were hoping for, but it left no one in any doubt as to the identity of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Suarez hails special Messi gesture during Cordoba rout

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez hailed teammate Lionel Messi's gesture during victory at Cordoba.
The Uruguayan lauded Messi who, despite being in a tight race for the Pichichi, ceded a penalty kick to Neymar.
"It was a wonderful gesture that shows how he puts the team and his teammates before himself," said Suarez.