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Transfer Gossips around the world: Manchester United close in on Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona to sign Andre Ayew’s Al Sadd teammate Bounedjah

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Transfer Gossips around the world: Manchester United close in on Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona to sign Andre Ayew’s Al Sadd teammate Bounedjah

Welcome to Sports Wednesday’s Edition of Football Transfer Gossips and latest team news of your favorite European football leagues and clubs

24/11/2021

Take a seat and read all the transfer rumours and gossips coming from all angles of the world within two minutes

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka would be open to returning to Borussia Monchengladbach.(Daily Mail)

Manchester United have opened talks with former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde as they look to appoint an interim manager until next summer.(The Guardian)

Real Madrid’s hopes of signing Kylian Mbappe in the summer could come to an end if Mauricio Pochettino leaves PSG and is replaced by Zinedine Zidane.(The Sun)

Real Madrid are keen on signing Manchester City left-back Pedro Porro, who has been sent out on loan ever since he joined the club in 2019 and is yet to make a first-team appearance.(The Sun)

Jesse Lingard is one of few Manchester United fringe players who still want to leave Old Trafford in the wake of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure as manager.(Daily Mail)

Leeds United expect to complete the signing of Espanyol’s teenage forward Mateo Joseph in the early stages of the January window and remain keen on Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley.(Daily Express)

Barcelona’s new boss Xavi wants to bring striker Baghdad Bounedjah to the Nou Camp from his former club Al-Sadd.(Daily Star)

Manchester United are ready to abandon their search for an interim manager if they can get Mauricio Pochettino from Paris St-Germain now.(Guardian)

Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, another possible United target, wants to take over at PSG if Pochettino leaves for Old Trafford.(Telegraph – subscription required)

Former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who is a director on the club’s football board, will have no role in their search for a new manager.(ESPN)

Liverpool, Leicester and Newcastle are monitoring 20-year-old Guinea striker Aguibou Camara, who plays for Olympiakos.(Sun)

Barcelona are looking at Chelsea’s Morocco international Hakim Ziyech, 28, and Germany striker Timo Werner, 25, are alternative options to Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling, 26.(ESPN)

Borussia Dortmund are preparing a new deal for striker Erling Braut Haaland, 21, in a bid to convince the Norway international to stay.(Sky Deutschland, in German)

Newcastle are interested in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel, 32, and the Belgium international, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is open to a move.(Sport1, in German)

The Magpies also want to sign England full-back Kieran Trippier, 31, from Atletico Madrid.(Mirror)

Belgium’s 26-year-old forward Divock Origi, who is a target for Newcastle, will not be allowed to leave Liverpool in January.(Northern Echo)

New Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has sanctioned the January sale of Burkina Faso international Bertrand Traore, 26.(Football Insider)

Gerrard wants to sign Spain centre-back Pau Torres, 24, from Villarreal.(Fichajes – in Spanish)

But Torres, who turned down a 60m euro (£50.4m) move to Tottenham in the summer, is happy to stay at his hometown club for now.(Guardian)

Liverpool and Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara, 30, has dismissed speculation linking him with a move back to first club Barcelona.(Liverpool Echo)

Arsenal and Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka, 29, would be interested in returning to Borussia Monchengladbach when his contract ends in 2024.(Mit Geredet, via Mail)

Burnley, Brighton, Norwich, West Brom, Sheffield United and Blackburn have all watched English striker Rhys Healey, 26, who plays for Ligue 2 club Toulouse.(Team Talk)

Asamoah Gyan insists the penalty awarded to Ghana against South Africa was ‘TOO EASY’

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Asamoah Gyan insists the penalty awarded to Ghana against South Africa was ‘TOO EASY’

The country’s all-time top scorer has insisted that Daniel Amartey went down too easily in the World Cup qualifiers against Bafana Bafana

Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan says the penalty awarded Black Stars to qualify over South Africa to the playoffs of 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers was quite an easy type.

According to the 36-year-old, Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey went down too easily after the challenge by the South African defender and because there was a high tempo in the game, it forced Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye to award Ghana a penalty.

Andre Ayew who was making his 100th cap for Ghana finished off the penalty beautifully as he sent the goalkeeper to the wrong side.

“I think the incident was a bit casual,” Gyan told Asempa FM in an interview.

“There weren’t many cameras on the day to give us different angles unlike what we see in other league matches elsewhere but from where I sat and how I saw it, the infringement was debatable. I think Daniel Amartey went down too easily.

“This is my thought based on where I sat and how I saw things. However, the referee was closer to the spot and probably had he a better view of the situation.

“Remember also that the tempo of the game was also high and that could have influenced the referee’s decision to award the spot-kick to Ghana

“We all Ghanaians and support the Black Stars to win games so I always follow them even though I’m not part of the squad. I’m always supporting them to qualify to the World Cup. If I compare the game against Ethiopia and South Africa, I would say the Black Stars were better against South

“In the game against Ethiopia, Black Stars were dominated throughout but they improved their performance against South Africa,”

Gyan further revealed that he is working tediously to lose weight since he wants to return to club football in January.

“Currently, I’m training and working so hard in order to lose some weight. Just like I’ve been saying all the time, I want to be back in January to play club football so I’m working hard on my fitness.

“I have to lose weight so that I can play competitive football next year because I believe there are a lot of things that I can do on the field before I hang my boots,” he added.

Gyan has scored 51 goals for Ghana since making his debut in 2003. He is the first ever player to score in nine consecutive tournaments including Africa Cup of Nations and Fifa World Cup.

Inside Adako Jachie: Mubarik returns as Kotoko train with 29 players ahead of Karela United clash [pictures+video]

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Inside Adako Jachie: Mubarik returns as Kotoko train with 29 players ahead of Karela United clash [pictures+video]

The Porcupine Warriors held a successful training session at the Adako Jachie complex on Tuesday with a full house ahead of their trip to Ainyinase

Ghana Premier League leaders Asante Kotoko continued their preparations at the Adako Jachie training ground on Tuesday ahead of matchday five fixture against Karela United at Ainyinase on Sunday

Defender Mubarik Yussif was present at training after missing the game against Techiman Eleven Wonders last weekend. However, the centre-back did not join the first team during the training session as he was seen having personal training on the sidelines.

Mubarik was diagnosed with malaria and failed to pass late fitness test last weekend and coach Prosper Ogum Narteh believes he must fully recover before he rejoins his teammates hopefully on Thursday.

Meanwhile, with Kotoko likely to miss midfielders Richmond Lamptey and Mudasiru Salifu due to injury and accumulated cards respectively, the technical team opted to alter their usual game plan which has seen them winning four games on a row.

Per the training session, midfielder Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ will obviously be deployed as the defensive shield to the back four while Fabio Gama drops to back to take over the role of suspended Lamptey if he fails to pass late fitness test.

It is likely that either Stephen Amankonah, Dickson Afoakwa or Sherrif Mohammed will come in the starting line up against Karela as Kotoko are expected to change their set up in midfield.

During the training session, defender Imoro Ibrahim scored twice just like Dickson Afoakwa, Mfegue Rodrigues and Joseph Amoako.

Meanwhile, Mbella Frank Thierry Henry and Solomon Sarfo Taylor bagged a goal each.

There will be no morning or afternoon training session for the players on Wednesday. However, they are billed to face third-tier side Kenpong Academy in a friendly game at the Atonsu Astro Turf in order to be conversant with the tactics and formations that will be deployed against Karela since the game at Cosby Awuah Memorial Park in Ainyinase will be on a similar pitch.

Asante Kotoko to miss Mudasiru and one other player against Karela United

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Asante Kotoko to miss Mudasiru and one other player against Karela United

The Porcupine Warriors will be without two decisive players ahead of their trip to Crosby Awuah Memorial Park in Ainyinase this weekend

Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum Narteh will have to switch his attention to other fringe players ahead of their game against Karela United in matchday five of Ghana Premier League.

The Porcupine Warriors, despite having a flying start to the season after picking four wins on a row and currently top the log, will miss the services of midfielders Mudasiru Salifu and Richmond Lamptey.

Salifu has been suspended ahead of the game due to accumulated yellow cards. The box-to-box midfielder has picked up three yellow cards after four games with the latest one against Techiman Eleven Wonders last weekend.

Also, Lamptey is expected to miss the game due to injury concerns. The offensive midfielder picked up a hamstring injury against Eleven Wonders and was replaced by George Mfegue Rodrigues.

As a result, Prosper Ogum will have to alter his tactical formation and per reports from the club’s training session on Tuesday, Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ will take the role of Mudasiru while one of Stephen Amankonah or Mfegue replaces Lamptey against Karela.

Cameroonian striker Etuoga Mbella Frank Thierry is in line to make his debut against Karela after consistently been named in the club’s matchday squad.

Last season, Kotoko picked up their first ever win away at Karela under the tutelage of former coach Johnson Smith and they would hope to repeat such feat this term.

Karela were defeated 2-0 by Medeama on Monday and they are under pressure to return to winning ways against Kotoko.

“Fatawu Issahaku is new Abedi Pele and needs referees’ protection,” says Karim Zito

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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“Fatawu Issahaku is new Abedi Pele and needs referees’ protection,” says Karim Zito

The youngster has taken the league by storm and his coach insists he needs protection from referees

Dreams FC coach Abdul Karim Zito has called on Ghana Premier League referees to do more to protect Abdul Fatawu Issahaku after the young star appeared to be targeted by opponents.

The 18-year-old has been in fine form since joining Dreams from Steadfast FC in a one-year deal.

After four games, Fatawu has bagged four goals including a brace against Great Olympics last weekend and his coach believes referees must protect him from dangerous tackles and provocations.

“Fatawu is the next Abedi Pele and the referees have to guide him and this is what they do in Europe especially when a player comes out.

“Definitely clubs would come with a plan against him just to injure him and at the end of the day Ghana loses and I pray God to protect him from injuries,” he said.

Issahaku has been drafted into Ghana’s senior national team and he is expected to play in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in January 2022 in Cameroon.

“Bechem United is built around Augustine Okrah; Mingle blames Okrah for defeat to Accra Lions

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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“Bechem United is built around Augustine Okrah; Mingle blames Okrah for defeat to Accra Lions

The Hunters boss believe his star player was not at his best despite scoring a consolation goal in their second away defeat

Bechem United coach Kassim Mingle Ocansey believes they failed to defeat debutants Accra Lions last weekend in matchday four of Ghana Premier League because of their star player Augustine Okrah.

Although, Okrah scored a consolation goal after Christopher Acheampong and Rauf Salifu scored two goals, the coach believes the team failed to come to the party since their star man hugely failed to impress as the team evolves around him.

Okrah rejoined Bechem from Kotoko in a one-year deal after a botched move to Algerian giants Raja Casablanca.

“Okrah has been helping us in all the three matches that we played this season but in the game against Accra Lions he did not play at all,” Mingle said.

Okrah scored his second goal of the season through a header

“He is part of our downfall; he did not play and when he is not playing, the team is not moving.

“We built the team around him so once he was not playing at all, obviously things were not going to work for us,” he added.

Okrah has scored two goals and provided one assist after four games this season. He is expected to improve his performance next weekend when Bechem welcome Dreams FC to Fosu Gyeabour Park on matchday five.

Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah reviews Fabio Gama’s performance and explains why his deal included his wife and kid

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah reviews Fabio Gama’s performance and explains why his deal included his wife and kid

The Brazilian has become an instant hit with the Porcupine Warriors after just a season and the club’s chief executive officer has detailed what went into his arrival

Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has revealed that the club took a big gamble to sign Brazilian midfielder Fabio Gama last season but believes they are vindicated after just one year.

The 28-year-old signed a two-year contract with Kotoko and it was later revealed that the deal included his wife and child.

Although, some section of the fans and football pundits raised red flag upon knowing the details of his deal, Gama has become a cult hero at the club.

Earlier in November, the Brazilian was named the most attractive player in the Ghana Premier League by the African Sports Centre (ASC), per findings of their annual Ghana Premier League Report survey.

“We also had to dig deep into Fabio Gama, of course it was a huge risk,” Amponsah said during ASC’s Ghana Premier League Webinar with the Johan Cruyff Institute.

“One of the things we had to do for Fabio Gama to succeed was to bring his family with him. He had to come with his wife and child.

“That meant extra cost that could have put us off, but we felt that for him to settle, and also not to have destructions, it was important that we did that for him, and it paid off.

“So, in terms of the commercialization, in every decision we take in Asante Kotoko, you cannot take it out. Every step is well calculated, we don’t always get it right but because we are very meticulous and very considerate of these factors, most at times we get it right.”

Gama, who happens to be the only third Brazilian to have joined Kotoko has become a cult hero because of his footwork and sense of awareness although Kotoko are yet to win a trophy with him.

“This is a player with big history. He played for Brazil U-17, U-20, couldn’t make it to the very top as expected. He was playing in Europe, Sweden, had never come to Africa, you know you need to dig to find out whether he will adapt, his adaptation,” Amponsah continued.

“And if you remember, when Fabio Gama came in, there was a lot of pressure on us to play him. Because some said he was a carpenter, some said we had brought in a farmer.

“But we had to be patient to give him at least one month of preparation, despite the pressure to ensure that he had trained properly, he had adjusted to the weather, and then he was ready before we unleashed him. And you realized that when we unleashed him, it paid off.

“It could have gone either way, but we weighed the risk factors and we believed that we had about 75%-85% chance of him performing,” he added.

Kotoko have won their opening four games of the new season and currently top of the log with 12 points, three points above King Faisal who occupy second position.

They travel to Ainyinase this weekend to face Karela United.

Ghana’s Samir Bastir reveals what he did for Floyd Mayweather Jr to defeat his opponents

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Ghana’s Samir Bastir reveals what he did for Floyd Mayweather Jr to defeat his opponents

The Ghanaian has shed light on how he met the world renowned boxer and what he contributed to his victories over Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana

Ghanaian heavyweight boxer Bastir Samir has highlighted his meeting with former WBO and WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr few years ago and he he was very instrumental in his title defence.

Bastir recounts meeting Mayweather when he was preparing to face Mexican international Canelo Alvarez and Argentine superstar Marcos Maidana and reveals that he played several roles for the American including becoming a sparing partner to help him fine tune.

After the vigorous training with Mayweather, the American boxer went on defeat Alvarez thanks to a majority decision after 12 rounds by the three judges on September 14, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.A

He went on to defeat Marcos Maidana back to back in separate bouts to successfully defend his title.

“Yes. I met Mayweather and I was sparing with him ahead of the bouts with Canelo Alvarez and the back-to-back fights with Marcos Maidana,” Bastir said.

“I think my association helped him to win the bouts and he was happy with me. He is a good boxer,” he added.

Samir despite representing Ghana at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, became a popular figure in the country after he defeated loudmouth Braimah Kamako aka Bukom Banku in a well-publicised bout few years ago.

Asante Kotoko and NLA sign $163,181 (GH₵1,000,000) sponsorship deal until 2022

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Asante Kotoko and NLA sign $163,181 (GH₵1,000,000) sponsorship deal until 2022

The Porcupine Warriors have secured another sponsorship deal with the biggest local lottery company in the company

National Lottery Authority and Ghana Premier League side Asante Kotoko have signed a one-year sponsorship deal worth 1,000,000 million cedis which is subjected to renewal, AshesGyamera con confirm.

The deal which was brokered and officially signed at the Golden Tulip on Monday, was witnessed by NLA boss Sammy Awuku and Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah.

Others present were former Kotoko CEO and legend Opoku Nti, Papa Arko, George Kennedy and former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah and 1978 African Player of the Year Abdul Karim ‘Golden Boy’ Razak.

The deal will see Kotoko earning an improved money next year if they are able to help NLA with the needed presence they hope for at the moment.

Ghana FA president Okraku’s father dies at age 96

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Ghana FA president Okraku’s father dies at age 96

The man who born and raised an astute football administrator has finally bid the world farewell after close to ten decades of existence

Father of Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has been confirmed dead on Sunday, AshesGyamera.com understands.

Mr. George Offei Okraku, who is affectionately called by close relatives as Decide, kicked the bucket during the late hours of Sunday in Accra after battling illness for a couple of months.

The 96-year-old had lived a life worth emulated as a lot of people believe he was a decent, well-mannered and open hearted man.

Ghana FA president Okraku penned an emotional message following the hearing of the demise of his father.

“DECIDE!!!
So finally u decided to answer the call to go back to your maker. Thank you for teaching us to be grateful at all times,” Okraku wrote on Facebook.

“Tonight, I want to tell you how grateful I am for all that you shared with us whilst on earth…Thank you , thank you thank you….
Dad, Rest in Peace….
Love you,” he added.

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