player target for Arsenal this month

Forwards were always going to be a priority for Arsenal in the January transfer window even before Theo Walcott's season-ending injury but who will they try to sign? Here are the star attackers and a key midfielder who could move to Emirates Stadium this month...

ALVARO MORATA

Age: 21
Nationality: Spain
Club: Real Madrid
Position: Striker
Estimated Value: £1.2m loan fee / £9m permanent
Alternative Targets: Alexandre Pato (Corinthians), Salomon Kalou (Lillie), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United) & Antonio Sanabria (Barcelona)


Magic Morata
Arsenal have been widely reported to have been in talks with Real Madrid for some time regarding Spaniard Alvaro Morata.

Arsene Wenger's latest approach is said to be to try and sign last summer's European Under 21 Championship top scorer on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal. However, the loan alone might cost as much as £1.2million.

Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also thought to be interested and Morata, whose contract expires in 2015, might be keen to move having had to make do with a fringe role at Real. Speculation also suggests Real will sign a big-name striker in the summer, which would push Morata even further out of the frame.

MARIO MANDZUKIC

Age: 27
Nationality: Croatia
Club: Bayern Munich
Position: Forward
Estimated Value: £23m
Alternative Targets: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Pedro (Barcelona) & Mirko Vucinic (Juventus)


Mandzukic the predator
Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic is standing out as potentially one of the biggest Premier League deal of January. Arsenal, along with Manchester United, are rumoured to be after the Croatian amid reports he will be available due to Robert Lewandowski's imminent summer move to Bayern from Borussia Dortmund. As is the norm in any transfer window, club (Bayern) publicly insist player (Mandzukic) is not for sale and there has even been the usual mention of extending his contract beyond its current end in 2016.

But Arsenal are still rumoured to be showing strong interest, maybe even for a loan, in a player who scored 15 goals in last season's Bundesliga.

JACKSON MARTINEZ

Age: 27
Nationality: Colombia
Club: Porto
Position: Forward
Estimated Value: £33.2m
Alternative Targets: Salomon Rondon (Rubin Kazan), Alexandre Pato (Corinthians), Antonio Sanabria (Barcelona)

Depending on the reports, Jackson Martinez and Morata are interchangeable as Arsenal's first-choice target and fall-back option in the transfer window. It is rumoured that if Arsenal cannot strike a short-term deal for Morata, they are prepared to spend big on Porto star Martinez, who is said to have a £33.2m buyout clause in his contract.

Martinez has admitted in the past he is an Arsenal fan and would be interested in a move to Emirates Stadium and he has pedigree having scored seven goals so far in the Portuguese top flight this season.

DIMITAR BERBATOV

Age: 32
Nationality: Bulgaria
Club: Fulham
Position: Striker
Estimated Value: £2m
Alternative Targets: Demba Ba (Chelsea), Mirko Vucinic (Juventus), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Llorente (Juventus)


Wenger plays down Berbatov link
The possibility of signing Dimitar Berbatov is a rumour which is refusing to go away despite Wenger previously denying his interest in Fulham's former Tottenham star. It would be a short-term option given Berbatov's age but he would reportedly also be available in a cut-price £2m deal.

Berbatov is speculated to be unhappy at struggling Fulham and a move across London would mean little to no disruption to his personal life. Arsenal remain the favourites to sign the Bulgarian if he does leave Craven Cottage and he would give Wenger's squad experience along with strength in depth.

JULIAN DRAXLER

Age: 20
Nationality: Germany
Club: Schalke
Position: Midfield
Estimated Value: £37.5m
Alternative Targets: Juan Mata (Chelsea), Alen Halilovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Koke (Atletico Madrid) & Clement Grenier (Lyon)


Draxler scores sublime winner
Schalke wonder-kid Julian Draxler is a player Arsenal have been trying to sign for what seems like an eternity. The latest reports suggest Wenger will finally complete a deal this January after the creative midfielder, who is already a star despite his young age, was supposedly given a tour of Arsenal's training ground.

Draxler will not come cheap with a rumoured £37.5m contract release clause and Arsenal are of course not short of midfielders but he is a unique talent. However, even if a deal is agreed this month, it would be a surprise if Draxler moved before the summer given Schalke are facing Real Madrid in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League while youngster is thought to want to avoid the disruption of moving away from Germany before a World Cup in which he is expected to be a prominent member of his country's squad.

Globacom CAF Awards: Ugbade salutes Eaglets, Iheanacho

An Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets
Nduka Ugbade, on Friday congratulated members of the Golden Eaglets and Kelechi Iheanacho for wining laurels at the 2013 Globacom CAF awards.
Ugbade said in Lagos on telephone that it was a dream-come-true for the U-17 and Iheanacho.

The U-17 won the youth team of the year while Iheanancho won the most promising youth player.

The 2013 Globacom CAF Awards was held on Jan. 9 at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Akinjide Idowu (C) of Nigeria and his team-mates celebrate their victory with the trophy during the FIFA World Cup UAE 2013 Final between Nigeria and Mexico at Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium on November 8, 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The coach said that the award would spur the players to greater heights.
He reminded the players that they could only attain a true height in life through hard work.
“Believe me, it is a good development and I’m happy the team clinched the award and made Nigeria proud.
“I want to believe that this will make others in the team sit up and be noticed in future for such an award.
“Such a laurel does not come on a platter of gold but only through hard work and I implore others in the team not to relent on their oars,’’ he said.
Golden Eaglets won the fourth U-17 World Cup title at the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in 2013.
The Eaglets took the title after a 3-0 defeat of Mexico who they had earlier beaten 6-1 in the preliminary stage

Lightning strike kills three on beach in Buenos Aires, Argentina

A lightning strike has killed three people and injured more than 20 others in a coastal town of Argentina.

Reports from Villa Gesell, south-east of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, say the victims had been sheltering from a storm on the beach when the lightning struck.

Eyewitnesses spoke of a “terrible noise” and said some people were thrown in the air by the powerful bolt.

Many of the injured have suffered burns, two of them seriously.

“Most are out of danger, but there are two adult women in intensive care,” said Juan Chamorro, the head of a local hospital.

Those who died were aged 17, 19 and 21.

The beach town of Villa Gesell is located about 300 km (200 miles) from Buenos Aires.

Iyetade Soyinka's body finally laid to rest

The burial service for the daughter of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Ms Iyetade Soyinka, was held on Friday at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan, with the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, Wife of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola, and wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunke Amosu amongst those who were in attendance. Iyetade’s remains were interred at the Ultimate Gardens, Ibadan.

At the funeral service, Rev Olufikayo Oyelade reminded the people of the vanity of life and the importance of showing interest in the lives of other people, which he said Iyetade exhibited in life. He also called on those present to be of good courage, saying that the deceased had only completed her mission on heart.

He said, “For believers, death is not the end but an end to a journey. To those who do not believe in God, life on earth is best; but for Christians, it is different, Death is gain. We gain an immortalised body and have escaped all the sorrows that the world has in it. We gain a better body that cannot be sick or die.

“Iyitade can’t battle with sin again, she is free. Death is real and there is no way one can stop it. So why do we continue to live as if we are not going to die again? No matter how long we stay on earth we will stay longer in heaven.”

The children of the deceased Oreofe and Adeoto Omolaolu expressed sadness over the death of their mother whom they described as their guardian and best friend.

Oreofe, who is the elder, said, “You were always there for advice, guidance and assistance whenever the need arose. Mom, no matter how I write and write, it can never adequately describe just how much I miss you. You will be forever and ever loved by us. But I know that God has His reasons for everything. I am happy that you are now resting in heaven without worry about the cares of this world. I know that you will always be watching over Adeoto and me.”

Seven die in Kwara, Lagos clashes

About seven people died in clashes that occured in Lagos and Kwara states.

In Kwara, four people were feared dead after clashes between suspected two rival cult groups at Baboko in Ilorin, on Thursday.

Though the immediate cause of the clashes was not certain, a source told our correspondent that the suspected cultists fought over an unnamed lady.

As of the time of filing the report, only one of the dead victims had been identified as Babatunde Sulyman.

It was learnt that Sulyman’s corpse was taken to a hospital. It was also gathered that the corpse was accompanied by policemen from the ‘C’ Division of the Kwara State Police Command.

It was also learnt the suspected cult members engaged in another orgy of violence at same Baboko.

After the second clash, three people were said to have died.

 A relative of Sulyman, who pleaded anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that the man was killed by yet-to-be identified people allegedly from the Adabata area of Ilorin.

He said, “Sulyamn died after being hit by a bullet during the first clash. The cultist shot indiscriminately into the building where the deceased was sleeping.”

The  Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Command, Mr. Okasanmi  Ajayi, said only Sulyman was reported dead. He stated that the police had restored normalcy in Baboko.

He said, “About seven patrols of combat policemen were sent there and they are still there as I speak.

“There was a kind of misunderstanding between two groups of miscreants and in the course of the trouble, one of them, Babatunde Sulyman was injured and was rushed to the hospital. But unfortunately, he later died.

“About 17 people have been identified as being responsible for the trouble and we are on the verge of arresting them. Investigation is still on. Effort has also been made to make sure that nothing happens again.”

Meanwhile, in the last one week, three persons have reportedly lost their lives to a clash between two major rival gangs in the Mushin area of Lagos State,

The gangs- the Akala and Fadeyi- were said to have been trailing one another  to areas where they could kill.

A resident told some journalists, on the condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked, that those being killed were former members of the Akala group, who had shifted allegiance to the Fadeyi group. One of such persons identified simply as Obama had earlier escaped an attempt on his life in July 2013, shortly after his release from prison.

Obama, however, ran out of luck on January 3, 2014, when he went to Ajisegiri Street, Ilupeju, on the invitation of some of his old friends.

The source said, “It happened between 7pm and 8pm. Unknown to Obama, the invitation was an ambush. He was shot to death around the Vono area of llupeju.

“Another person too was killed at Oyebola Street, Onipanu, on New Year eve; his name was Amuda. He was gunned down by the same people who killed Obama.”

It was gathered that another person, identified as Sule, aka Captain, was on January 6, 2014, killed in the presence of his wife at Owokoniran Street in the Idi-Oro Olosha area.

Sule was said to be on his way home from his shop when the incident happened around 11.30pm. He was allegedly attacked with machetes by a group of armed men from the Akala faction.

It was said the passersby and other residents fled to safety. In the process one of the gunmen was reportedly hit by an oncoming vehicle. He was reportedly abandoned by his colleagues in their haste to escape the scene.

The yet-to-be identified gunman was said to have been apprehended and handed over to the Alakara Police Division.

Calls made to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, rang out, while a text message to her telephone was not replied as of the time of going to the press.

Police arraign 32 year old lady for stealing N2.2m from bank

A 32-year-old woman, Funmilayo Opeyemi, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N2, 290, 000 from a microfinance bank.

Opeyemi, who resides on Gbelekale Street, Ado Ikosi area of Lagos, was said to have taken up a part time job as a marketer of the Wealth Bank Microfinance Bank.

 She was said to be an intermediary between the bank and some traders who deposit and take loans from the financial house.

However, the police said on August 2012, Opeyemi approached the Ikorodu branch of the bank to take a loan on behalf of the customers to the tune of N2.2m.

She was said to have told the management that the customers requested the loan for their businesses and would pay back in due time.

When the loans were due and the customers did not pay, some of the bank officials were said to have challenged the traders for not paying back the loans.

They reportedly denied taking any loan, which made the Managing Director of the bank, Amaka Ubajekwe, report the matter at the police station.

The defendant was then arrested and arraigned on one count of stealing.

The charge read, “That you, Funmilayo Opeyemi, sometime in the month of August, 2012 about 9am, at Wealth Bank Microfinance Bank Limited, Km 145, Lagos Road, Ikorodu, in the Lagos Magisterial District, being a marketing officer with the said bank, did dishonestly steal the sum of N2,290,000, property of your employer and thereby committed an offence.”

The police prosecutor, Inspector Frank Inah, said the offence was punishable under Section 285(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

Opeyemi pleaded not guilty and elected summary trial.

The magistrate, Mr. A.O Komolafe, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till February 5, 2014.

Duncan Mighty acquires brand new 2013 Porsche Cayan worth of N12.5 M

Port Harcourt first son, singer and businessman Duncan Mighty has reportedly purchased a brand new 2013 Porsche Cayman with the estimated cost about N12.5 million.

Duncan Mighty previously acquired Rolls Royce Phantom not quite long, but this time decided to add a more appealing ride to his fleet. Hmmm! He's really living life to the fulliest.

Port harcourt first son tweeted the photo of his cool ride on January 5, 2014. The tweet also promoted an upcoming hit-song by Duncan Mighty, which has been described as "the best wedding song ever".

Former Glo ambassador and nollywood star Mike Ezurunoye signed by Airtel

After he was relieved as a Glo Ambassador late last year, actor Mike Ezuronye has pitted his tent with another telecommunications giant, Airtel.

The popular actor featured in the brand’s TVC to launch Come Alive, a new thematic campaign targeted at youth.

Ezuronye, who was at the launch held in Lagos earlier in the week, said he was happy with the Airtel family, claiming that the network is the best in Nigeria.

Speaking at the unveiling of the new campaign, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, said the company was committed to empowering young Nigerians with the latest and most innovative package and exciting digital experience.

 According to Ogunsanya, Nigerian youths are highly talented, resourceful, innovative, hardworking and resilient people. He also noted that Airtel was well-positioned to enable young Nigerians and the youth-at-heart to create success stories for their life ambitions.

Ogunsanya added, “We have come a long way in preparing for this moment that Nigerians can be proud of. As a youth-focused, mobile internet network, actualising dreams can only be more realistic with us.”