Premier League
Nigerian billionaire Dozy Mmobuosi’s £115m Sheffield take-over heading for the rocks
After spending over £8.7million to support the financially-stricken Sheffield United club, Nigerian businessman Dozy Mmobuosi’s £115million takeover of the club is set to collapse.
The report is coming two days after reports that Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was reportedly in talks to acquire a 60% stake in French Ligue 2 side, Valenciennes FC for a fee of €10 million.
But according to UK’s Daily Mail in the case of Sheffield United, Mmobuosi’s relationship with the club’s current owner Prince Abdullah has broken down to such an extent that the ownership deal for the Championship side is in major jeopardy.
The African tycoon is said to have pumped close to £9million into the Bramall Lane club since November to help the cash-strapped Blades fulfil their financial obligations on the expectation his protracted buy-out would be ratified early in 2023.
However, Mmobuosi is now effectively at war with Prince Abdullah amid assertions he made substantial cash deposits in good faith to help preserve the club’s future.
It is claimed that on November 18, 2022, Mmobuosi and Prince Abdullah shook hands on a deal for the club worth £115m at London’s Dorchester Hotel.
As proof of his intentions, Mmobuosi is believed to have immediately transferred £1million.Three days before Christmas, he is said to have made a further £6.5million payment to help them avoid administration – an advance made on the proviso that the sale would be confirmed early in 2023.
It is also claimed that on January 24, 2023, Mmobuosi paid an extra £1.2million after the club pleaded with him to settle their HMRC bill which sources have indicated helped the Blades lift the transfer embargo placed on them in January.
However, United insiders insist the lifting of the embargo is not related to Mmobuosi’s takeover, but because of money raised from their FA Cup run and renegotiated transfer deals.
The cash injections made by Mmobuosi is understood to have been paid into United’s holding company, and not directly into club accounts.
Since Mmobuosi and Prince Abdullah struck an agreement in November, the Blades’ season has gone from strength to strength.
They are set to confirm promotion back into the Premier League and reached the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley where they eventually lost to champions Manchester City on Saturday.
The club’s impressive second half of the season has coincided with a delay in Mmobuosi’s proposed takeover.
Indeed, there have been reports in the previous 24 hours indicating Prince Abdullah is now open to listening to alternative offers for United.
With top-flight football within reach, the club’s value is likely to soar in the coming weeks.
It is understood Mmobuosi has been informed by the EFL that he has passed initial checks with regards their stringent owners and directors test ahead of his proposed Blades takeover.
Mmobuosi and Prince Abdullah had previously enjoyed a good relationship but that connection has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks given the delays in their original agreement being formally ratified.
It now remains to be seen whether the agreement can be revived, though there appears to be little hope that a sale will happen at the originally agreed price of £115m.
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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