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.
Premier League
Maguire handed suspended prison sentence for 2020 brawl

England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace

Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
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