Author: David Great

Nigeria has approved a phased plan to refinance 4 trillion naira ($2.61 billion) in electricity sector debt to help stabilise the nation’s ailing power industry and improve supply, its finance minister said. The debt, primarily owed to 27 power generation companies for outstanding invoices between 2015 and 2023, has stifled investment in the industry and exacerbated chronic power outages in Africa’s most populous nation. President Bola Tinubu vowed to settle the claims following a recent verification. He approved the plan on Wednesday. Speaking after a cabinet meeting in the capital Abuja, finance minister Olawale Edun said the refinancing would be…

Manchester City are considering hijacking Chelsea’s move for RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old Netherlands winger Xavi Simons. (Talksport) Manchester City have added Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche to their list of targets and will rival Bayer Leverkusen for the signature of the 23-year-old French winger. (Florian Plettenberg) Fulham are willing to break their transfer record of £34m to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s 22-year-old Brazilian winger Kevin. (Sky Sports) Bayern Munich have offered £52m, add-ons and a share of any resale for Germany striker Nick Woltemade, but Stuttgart are demanding £65m. (Sky Sports Germany) Roma are in talks with Aston Villa over a deal for Leon…

Manchester City have held talks with Paris St-Germain over a deal for Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 26, with personal terms not expected to be an issue. (RMC Sport – in French) Galatasaray have made an approach for Manchester City’s 31-year-old Brazil goalkeeper Ederson, which would clear the way for Donnarumma to move to Etihad Stadium. (Fabrizio Romano) Liverpool have no intention of selling France defender Ibrahima Konate, 26, in this transfer window, despite working on moves for two centre-backs to strengthen their squad. (Mail – subscription required) Bayer Leverkusen are the latest side to express an interest in Brighton’s Facundo…

Newcastle United have told Sweden striker Alexander Isak he will not be sold this summer and will not be allowed to join Liverpool, who have had a £110m offer for the 25-year-old rejected. (Telegraph – subscription required) Newcastle tried to sign a replacement for Isak and had bid £65.5m for Benjamin Sesko who joined Manchester United. (Chronicle NG) Newcastle United have agreed a deal to sign AC Milan’s Germany defender Malick Thiaw, 24, in a deal worth 40m euros (£34.6m). (Mail) Liverpool are the favourites to sign England defender Marc Guehi if the 25-year-old leaves Crystal Palace this summer. (Telegraph…

Bayern Munich have enquired about 24-year-old Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea value at £48m, and is also a target for Newcastle United. (Sky Sports Germany) Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has not ruled out the possibility that Nicolas Jackson will leave the London club. (New York Times) Aston Villa have rejected an £18m offer from Everton for Scotland midfielder John McGinn, 30, who is also attracting interest from Newcastle. (Sky Sports News) Manchester City have turned down an offer from Roma for Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri, 19, as they want to loan him to Girona, who are under the City…

Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko staged a breathtaking comeback on Thursday to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 2-6 6-4 6-1 to win her first WTA 1000 title at the Canadian Open. The 18-year-old staged a remarkable comeback after losing the opening set to the Japanese former world number one, who had established a 3-0 lead as Mboko struggled with costly service errors. However, the home favourite found her rhythm in the second set, breaking serve to establish a 5-2 lead. Osaka struggled to catch up, and her poor returns allowed Mboko to level the match and force a decider.…

RB Leipzig’s Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, 22, is playing Newcastle and Manchester United off against each other in a game of transfer poker. (Bild – in German) Newcastle have reportedly put in a bid of £65.5m for Sesko but Leipzig are yet to agree a deal. (Chronicle NG) Newcastle are set to revive their interest in England defender Marc Guehi with a £40m offer, while Crystal Palace value the 25-year-old at £50m. (Times – subscription required) Everton manager David Moyes wants up to six more signings, including two central midfielders and two wide players. (Telegraph – subscription required) Tottenham are…

Newcastle United have submitted a £65.5m bid for Slovenia and RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, 23. (Sky Sports) Manchester United remain in talks to sign Sesko, who is yet to decide between a move to Manchester United or Newcastle. (Fabrizio Romano) Liverpool will submit a second bid for Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25, if Newcastle secure a replacement. (Daily Mail) Arsenal considered a move for Isak before signing compatriot Viktor Gyokeres but had doubts about the Newcastle forward’s fitness record (ESPN) South Korea forward Son-Heung Min, 33, has agreed to join Major League Soccer side LAFC after deciding to leave…

West Ham United have signed former Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson as a free agent on a one-year contract, the Premier League club said on Saturday. The 33-year-old has had 111 direct goal involvements in 239 Premier League appearances, including 49 in 130 games for Newcastle, where he failed to agree a new contract. The former Bournemouth forward has played nine times for England, scoring twice. “I’m excited to be joining a massive football club like West Ham. A club that shares a similar passion to mine, hard work, dedication and also I strive for success so I’m glad to…

Atalanta have rejected a £36.5m bid from Inter Milan for Nigeria winger Ademola Lookman as they hold out for at least £43.5m for the 27-year-old. (Fabrizio Romano) Atalanta insist that they will not be selling Lookman for cheap after the forward helped them to a Europa League trophy in 2024. (Chronicle NG) Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck, 24, has rejected a move to Crystal Palace, who had a £28m bid accepted for the German. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian) Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle are monitoring the situation of Paris St-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, 26, after the French…