Monaco to make new bid for Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun amid Chelsea approach – Newstrends
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Monaco to make new bid for Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun amid Chelsea approach

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Folarin Balogun

Monaco to make new bid for Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun amid Chelsea approach

Monaco have reportedly submitted a £35m offer for Arsenal centre-forward Folarin Balogun.

The United States international was involved in his team’s preparations for the 2023-24 campaign but is yet to feature for Mikel Arteta’s side during the current season.

Balogun is officially out with a foot injury, but he is also out of favour, with Eddie Nketiah currently leading the line in the absence of Gabriel Jesus, who could be back from a knee injury next month.

Chelsea have recently been credited with an interest in the striker, with tentative talks believed to have taken place between the player’s representatives and officials from the Blues.

However, according to talkSPORT, Monaco are currently at the head of the queue for the 22-year-old, viewing him as the ideal signing during the current market.

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The report claims that the Ligue 1 team have placed a £35m bid on the table for Balogun, but Arsenal are believed to value him in the region of £50m.

The Gunners are in a strong position when it comes to any potential negotiations, with his contract having another two years left to run.

Balogun has been with Arsenal since 2008, progressing through the various youth sides at the club before making his first-team debut in October 2020.

The New York-born attacker has only scored twice in 10 first-team appearances for the Gunners, though, while he struggled during a loan spell at Middlesbrough in 2021-22, only scoring three goals in 20 outings.

Balogun excelled during a loan spell at Reims last term, though, scoring 22 times in 39 appearances, including 21 goals in France’s top fight.

Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday morning that there had been ‘positive talks’ with Monaco over a move to the club before the end of the transfer window.

The attacker is said to be open to returning to France’s top flight, having just enjoyed his best season in professional football while operating in the division.

Balogun has not yet been ruled out of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday, but he is unlikely to be involved amid the speculation surrounding his future.

Monaco to make new bid for Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun amid Chelsea approach

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Amusan sets new world record in 100m hurdles

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Tobi Amusan

Amusan sets new world record in 100m hurdles

World record holder, Tobi Amusan is now the fastest woman in the women’s 100m hurdles this year after running a blistering 12.40s to win the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston, winning the race ahead of Jamaican and world champion, Danielle Williams.

For most of the race, Amusan was behind reigning world champion Danielle Williams and America’s Nia Ali but surged ahead in the closing stages, beating the previous world-leading time of 12.42s set by Tonea Marshall of the USA on April 20.

The world record holder claimed the victory ahead of Williams, the world champion, who ran a season’s best 12.46 seconds, and American Christina Clemons, who was third with 12.54 seconds.

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The Nigerian has now taken over the world lead from American Tonea Marshall, who had run 12.42 seconds in late April.

Another Jamaican athlete, Yanique Thompson, secured fourth in 12.59s, while Ali slipped to fifth with a time of 12.65s.

Amusan and other prominent athletes snubbed the Doha Diamond League to attend the Jamaica Invitational.

The Nigerian ended last season on a high by winning the Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, for a third consecutive time, silencing critics about her disappointing performance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where she placed fifth and lost the title to Williams.

Amusan’s latest win comes two months before the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Amusan sets new world record in 100m hurdles

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Chelsea beat Forest to retain hope of European football

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Chelsea beat Forest to retain hope of European football

Two quickfire goals saw Chelsea come from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2, earning their first win from the four head-to-heads since the Reds were promoted to the Premier League.

There was a party atmosphere at the City Ground with defeats for Luton Town and Burnley during the three o’clock kick-offs leaving Forest all but safe. Chris Wood almost added to that when he was released behind early on, but Đorđe Petrović stood tall enough to stop the striker’s lofted effort.

Chelsea weren’t in the mood to enjoy that party as they chase European football, and having been so important to the Blues’ ambitions, Cole Palmer slid through a perfectly-weighted pass for Mykhailo Mudryk to run onto and calmly finish to end his 10-game goalless run across all competitions.

It took just eight minutes for the hosts to respond, as Murillo made a lung bursting run and was fouled for a free-kick that Morgan Gibbs-White clipped towards Willy Boly, whose header went in off Conor Gallagher.

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The game’s pace eventually slowed following that blistering start but there were still opportunities, with Wood heading off-target after Petrović failed to convincingly deal with Danilo’s corner before Palmer played Nicolas Jackson through, only for the striker to be denied by Matz Sels.

Both sides pushed to go ahead and Palmer was uncharacteristically wasteful when Moisés Caicedo found him shortly after. Even so, Forest were on top and Gibbs-White was left furious after heading onto the post, especially with Wood sending his follow-up off-target, and Thiago Silva suffered a similar fate with his flicked header also hitting the woodwork.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was equally unfortunate when his curling effort cannoned off the crossbar. Undeterred on his 100th PL appearance against his former club, the winger picked out the bottom corner with a similar finish shortly after.

However, Raheem Sterling swiftly responded in a similar fashion for his fourth goal in as many appearances against Forest.

A special moment followed as Reece James marked his first appearance since December by picking out Jackson for the striker to head in the winner for a breathtaking turnaround as Chelsea earned their third consecutive victory to go level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle United in the PL table.

While Forest are tantalisingly close to safety, they must wait for survival to be mathematically confirmed.

Chelsea beat Forest to retain hope of European football

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Accident: After brother’s death, Tijani Babangida’s son dies, wife loses eye

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Tijani Babangida

Accident: After brother’s death, Tijani Babangida’s son dies, wife loses eye

Former Nigerian international footballer, Tijjani Babangida, is facing immense sorrow as his family grapples with tragedy.

Following a fatal road accident on the Zaria-Kaduna road, which claimed the life of Tijjani’s brother, Ibrahim Babangida, his one-year-old son has succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.

The accident occurred on Thursday, April 10, 2024, involving Tijjani, his wife, brother, son, and maid.

While Ibrahim tragically passed away at the scene, Tijjani and the other occupants were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.

Sadly, Tijjani’s son lost his battle for life, succumbing to injuries sustained in the accident.

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Additionally, Tijjani’s wife suffered severe facial injuries, resulting in the loss of one of her eyes.

Both Tijjani and his wife’s injuries necessitated medical attention, with Tijjani undergoing surgery for a damaged knee and other injuries.

A close family friend expressed the profound difficulty of the situation, highlighting the emotional toll on Tijjani and his family.

He said “This is a difficult moment for our friend Tijanni and his entire family. After the death of Ibrahim, his little son, who was battling for life in the hospital with him, also passed away yesterday (Friday).

“Right now, he is traumatised by the death of his younger brother and his son, who was always with him. His wife has lost one of her eyes because a part of her face was damaged.

“The maid also suffered a fracture in her leg, the same as a young man who was hit by the ill-fated car.

“Well, Tijanni has since been transferred to a hospital in Abuja where he is to undergo surgery on his damaged knee and other injuries.

“All we can do is to pray for God to strengthen him to overcome the tragic situation,” he said.

Accident: After brother’s death, Tijani Babangida’s son dies, wife loses eye

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