NIGERIA'S YOUNGEST REFREE TO OFFICIATE IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Confederation of African Football (CAF) have appointed two Nigerian referees to officiate in the First Round, Second Leg matches of continental club competitions, Complete Sports reports. The youngest referee in the Nigeria Professional Football League, Quadri Ololade Adebimpe, has been appointed by CAF to officiate in the CAF continental club competitions. Nigeria’s youngest referee Adebimpe set to officiate in Champions League The 24-year-old, who is a FIFA badged referee, will oversee the CAF Champions League Second Leg game between AS FAN of Niger Republic and AS de Tanda of Ivory Coast in Niamey on Saturday, February 18. Adebimpe will be assisted by Samuel Pwadutakam, Isah Usman and Abubakar Ago for the Champions League tie. He is from the Lagos Referees Association. Also, Abdullahi Shuaibu from Katsina State Referees Association got a CAF Confederation Cup appointment. He will oversee the second leg tie between Racing de Micomiseng of Equatorial Guinea and Etoile du Congo in Malabo on Sunday, February 19 at the Estadio De Nkoatoma in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.. Shuaibu will have Efosa Igudia, Tejiri Digbori and Benjamin Odey as assistant referees for the encounter. Meanwhile, CAF has also picked former NFF President, Brigadier- General Dominic Oneya (rtd) and NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi as match commissioners for CAF club competition assignments. While Oneya will serve as Match Commissioner for the CAF Champions League clash between FC Johansen of Sierra Leone and Fath Union Sport (FUS) of Morocco, taking place in Freetown on Saturday, February 18, Sanusi will be Match Commissioner for the CAF Confederation Cup first round, first leg match between Bechem United of Ghana and Mouloudia Club D’Alger of Algeria, scheduled for the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi on Sunday, February 12. COMMENT PLEASE

ALL PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST NEWS,TRANSFER

the biggest transfer talk from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga and beyond MAN CITY WILL SANCTION MASSIVE DELE BID Manchester City are prepared to sanction a record-breaking move for Tottenham star Dele Alli, according to the Sunday Express . The England international is seen as the potential long-term heart of the squad as Pep Guardiola seeks to overhaul his team with an emphasis on homegrown players. MAN CITY HAVE EDGE IN DYBALA RACE Manchester City have an edge over Real Madrid in the race to sign Paulo Dybala this summer as Juventus would rather sell to the Premier League, according to the Sunday Mirror . Pep Guardiola's side are planning to offer around £21.3 million plus a player in part-exchange but are prepared to make a flat cash offer of £25.5m instead.. BENITEZ ON SHORTLIST TO REPLACE WENGER Rafa Benitez is the surprise name on a four-man shortlist drawn up by Arsenal of those who could replace Arsene Wenger if the Frenchman leaves this summer, claims the Sunday Mirror . The Newcastle boss is joined on the list by Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Tuchel and Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, as well as Monaco's Leonardo Jardim, who is regarded as the outsider for the job. AGUERO WANTS OUT OF MAN CITY Sergio Aguero wants to leave Manchester City because he is unhappy with Pep Guardiola's style of management, according to the Sun . The Argentine striker hinted recently that he could quit the club, with Brazil sensation Gabriel Jesus having started ahead of the 28-year-old in City's last two matches. JUVE & INTER BATTLE FOR ALEXIS Serie A giants Juventus and Inter are both battling to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, according to Corriere dello Sport . Inter had been linked with a move for the Gunners star, who has yet to agree a contract extension at the club, but now face competition from Italian rivals Juventus to seal the Chile international's signature. SPURS INTERESTED IN GRAY Tottenham have revived their interest in signing Leicester City winger Demarai Gray, according to the London Evening Standard. Spurs have been aware of the player since his Birmingham City days, and are set to make a move this summer as Mauricio Pochettino looks to add pace to his forward line. WEST HAM EYE SAGNA West Ham are planning a summer move for Manchester City full-back Bacary Sagna, according to the Daily Telegraph. The France international is out of contract at the end of the season, and Slaven Bilic has identified him as the perfect player to solve the Irons's crisis at right-back. BENZEMA TO BE OFFERED NEW DEAL Real Madrid will offer Karim Benzema a new contract at the end of the season which could tie him to the club for another five years, AS reports . The striker has scored just five goals in 15 Liga games this term, leading to criticism, but the Champions League holders are willing to offer a substantial salary hike to ensure he is still in the Spanish capital by the time he is 34. TUCHEL TOPS ARSENAL SHORTLIST Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel tops Arsenal's shortlist for a new manager should Arsene Wenger leave this summer, according to the Daily Mirror . Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri, Bayer Leverkusen's Roger Schmidt and Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim are also being considered as the Gunners prepare for life after Wenger. JUVENTUS TURN TO DE GEA Juventus are set to make a move for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea if they miss out on Gianluigi Donnarumma, acccording to The Sun . The Bianconeri see Milan teenager Donnarumma as the natural successor for veteran Gianluigi Buffon, but the San Siro outfit are reluctant to sell. And that has led to Juve looking for alternatives, with De Gea top of their wishlist should they fail to land their No.1 target. GRIEZMANN WANTS CL FOOTBALL Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann will turn his back on a move to Manchester United if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, according to The Sun . United have offered to make the France international the highest-paid player in the club's history, but the deal depends on the Red Devils being involved in Europe's premier club competition next term. ALLEGRI TO QUIT JUVENTUS Massimiliano Allegri has agreed to quit Juventus at the end of the season, according to an exclusive report from Calciomercato . The Italian manager has been widely tipped to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in the summer, but Juventus chiefs had rejected claims he would leave Turin. New reports, however, suggest that the decision to leave Juventus was made in January and was agreed on both sides, though the Italian champions have stressed it will not have a negative impact on the club's title hopes. LIVERPOOL & MAN CITY TO FIGHT FOR CARVALHO Liverpool and Manchester City are ready to go head-to-head for Sporting midfielder William Carvalho after learning the Portuguese side are ready to sell, according to A Bola, via TalkSport. Sporting are enduring a difficult season, currently sitting 10 points behind title rivals Benfica, and are looking to raise funds in order to strengthen their squad, with selling their star player their first port of call. LIVERPOOL EYE RAMIREZ Liverpool are lining up a surprise move for Middlesbrough midfielder Gaston Ramirez, according to Tuttomercatoweb. Jurgen Klopp is keen to add more attacking depth in the summer and the Reds have already made informal contact with the Uruguayan's representatives. BAYERN IDENTIFY LAHM SUCCESSOR Bayern Munich will step up their pursuit of Benfica right-back Nelson Semedo ahead of Philipp Lahm's retirement, according to O Jogo . The Germany legend has announced he will finish his playing career at the end of the season, leaving Carlo Ancelotti searching for reinforcements on the right side of defence. MAN CITY LEAD RACE FOR WONDERKID Manchester City lead the race to sign Real Mallorca teenager Alpha Dionkou, according to the Manchester Evening News. The 15-year-old is also in the sights of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona but looks set to become the latest youngster to join City's academy setup. MADRID IN BELOTTI TALKS Real Madrid have opened talks over a summer move for in-demand Torino striker Andrea Belotti, according to Gazzetta dello Sport . Torino president Urbano Cairo has travelled to the Spanish capital to discuss the potential transfer, with Madrid willing to pay the Arsenal targets €100 million release clause. ARSENAL TO MOVE FOR HART Arsenal are the latest club to show an interest in signing Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart this summer, according to the Daily Mail. The Gunners are looking to replace Petr Cech as their No.1, and while Liverpool are also keen on the England international, Arsenal are hopeful of completing a deal. COMMENT PLEASE

SUPER MANE SPARKS LIVERPOOL TO LIFE

The Senegal international tortured Spurs in a first-half display that produced two goals and helped his side rekindle their early season stardust COMMENT It couldn’t have been more idyllic even in Jurgen Klopp’s dreams. Liverpool, after a first league win in 2017, summoned their swashbuckling football of last year to completely shock and sever Tottenham in the most stunning way. WATCH: Cavani scores sublime volley The Reds boss wanted “a performance that will make Anfield smile,” and the home fans were already soaked in euphoria by the 18th minute on Saturday evening as they watched Sadio Mane absolutely torment Spurs in a 2-0 victory. The Senegal international’s display was the kind opponents pick out as their answer to the ‘toughest player you’ve had to deal with?’ question - he was direct, menacingly quick, determined to win back possession and relentless. His first materialised after Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino pressed to fine effect, before Gini Wijnaldum sent a wonderful pass in his direction. He paced past Ben Davies at an angle from the right and lifted high into the net to lift Klopp off the ground. WATCH: Studs Up – Goal’s brand new football show The German had barely finished celebrating that goal, before Mane had stolen the ball off a dithering Eric Dier. He motored into the area and squared for Adam Lallana, whose effort was thwarted by Hugo Lloris. Firmino’s follow-up from the rebound was also snuffed out by the Frenchman, before Mane twisted and smacked in a second. That he did not become the first Liverpool player to score a hat-trick against Tottenham since Phil Boersma in 1974 at the same ground was unfortunate - a milestone he was only denied through desperate last-ditch defending and stellar goalkeeping. With Mane in the mood, superbly supported by Philippe Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino, the Reds kept coming and Spurs could not find the solutions to jar their attacking juggernaut. "You need somebody who scores at the end! He did fantastic and could have scored a third one," Klopp said of his speedster. "It’s no problem for me to talk about such a wonderful performance from Sadio tonight but, actually, Roberto Firmino… I’m not sure I’ve seen a lot of better games from a striker without scoring. He had sprints after 92 minutes, over 60 or 70 yards – that’s unbelievable. That’s very important. "All the midfielders, everybody. Joel Matip improved in the game, you could see first half [he] struggled a little bit. [It was] important then that he stayed in the game, a little bit more concentration, getting more used to the situation." The contest should have been over by half-time, such was the authority of the hosts, and it was largely thanks to Lloris that Mauricio Pochettino could still salvage his team talk at the interval. PLAY The visiting boss will wonder what might have been: he had targeted both Mane and Wijnaldum, who combined to dazzling effect for the opener, in the summer. The pair were bowled over by Klopp's charisma and chose Anfield as their preferred destination instead, giving the Argentine a reminder of his regret under the stadium's floodlights. "We were poor. They were better. No complaints," said Pochettino, who admitted "we started the game very sloppy. It is difficult to understand, I am very disappointed in our first-half display." Spurs made more of a fist of it in the second 45, but the damage had long been done with Liverpool cleverly strangling the game after an intense first stanza. "It was a really good performance in the second half," Klopp agreed. "I saw a lot of good individual performances tonight, but that’s of course important, otherwise you cannot win against a team like Tottenham. I think it was deserved and that’s the only thing I’m really interested [in]." They did not allow a shot on target after the break and picked up a first league clean sheet since the New Year’s Eve ousting of Manchester City. Given the question marks over Liverpool's defence and the debate as to whether Loris Karius should replace Simon Mignolet, their doggedness at the back would’ve been an especially welcome sight for Klopp. The Reds’ form since the turn of the year - their only other victory came in an FA Cup replay at Plymouth Argyle - has rightly courted scathing criticism. But the rush to declare their season over and conclude that the same players, labelled the most exciting in England just three months ago, were no longer any good was premature and flawed. Allegri hoping for 'another 400 games' as Juventus boss Klopp’s unwavering belief that his team would ‘find their flow’ again was evidenced in his selection for this fixture. The 49-year-old made just one change to the XI that had been dire in a 2-0 defeat to Hull City last weekend, as Wijnaldum - incisive in possession and so intelligent out of it - was restored in midfield at the expense of Emre Can. His charges were quite clearly determined to reward his faith in them. And, with the fatigue and disruption of nine January games out of the system, Coutinho and Mane having a full week of training to get back to full sharpness following ankle ligament damage and Africa Cup of Nations exertions, plus Tottenham not simply barricaded in front of Lloris, the Merseysiders were back to their scintillating best. When Liverpool remember their capabilities and have the space in which to showcase it, they are frightening. Klopp’s pre-match verdict had been accurate. “The boys are still really good players,” he reminded. “I am still an absolutely okay manager. That didn’t change because of a few bad results.” Liverpool must now ensure those off- days are in the past as they push to finish the season as strong as possible, with Champions League football secured.

ARSENE WINGER REVEALS WHEN HE WILL LEAVE ARSENAL

After 20 years since he became the manager of Premier League club Arsenal in which he won three Premier League titles, Arsene Wenger has told club's legend Ian Wright that his reign as Gunners' boss is coming to an end. Former Arsenal star Ian Wright Wenger who became Arsenal's gaffer in 1996 will have his contract expire at the end of the current League season in the EPL, and there has been lots of speculations that the 67- year-old Frenchman might not be given a renewal. Gunners' fans have also expressed their frustration which was shown after Arsenal's embarrassing defeat at Chelsea in their last Premier League fixture. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Ian Wright however explained that he spoke with Wenger on Thursday, February 7, 2017, claiming the former Nagoya Grampus 8 coach would dump the Gunners at the end of the current campaign. "I get the impression that that's it because he looks tired. You just feel that he looks winded. I feel that he will go at the end of the season. "He actually mentioned that he is coming to the end. I have never heard him say that before. The players have let him down badly,'' Wright told BBC Radio 5. Meanwhile, Arsenal have no or limited hope of winning the Premier League title this season as the Gunners presently occupy fourth position on the log with 47 points, and they are 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.

BAYERN SNATCH WIN AT THE DEATH POINT

Robert Lewandowski was guilty of missing the best chances for the visitors, who still got all three points with the late heroics of his team-mates Bayern Munich were nearly unable to capitalise on RB Leipzig's loss to Hamburg as they needed Arturo Vidal and Arjen Robben's injury-time goals for a 2-0 win at Ingolstadt on Saturday. The latest round of fixtures saw the champions open up the gap to seven points at the top of the Bundesliga, but they nearly failed to come away with all the spoils. Die Roten star Robert Lewandowski was culpable as he saw his shot cleared off the line by Marvin Matip in the first half. The Pole then had the chance to win it with four minutes left on the clock but his ferocious 25-yard effort cannoned back off the woodwork. However, there still proved enough time for Vidal to net a dramatic opener from Thomas Muller's cross in the 90th minute, before Robben put the gloss on a deserved win.

LUCKY ARSENAL MUST CHANGE- AND FAST

The Gunners were finally handed a bit of good fortune against Hull as they recorded a crucial win in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium Arsene Wenger described this week as a “difficult” one after the back-to- back defeats for Arsenal in the Premier League. Alexis’ ‘Hand of Dog’ goal’ Having bemoaned Chelsea’s contentious opening goal against the Gunners last weekend, luck was on Wenger's side as a flatter-than-usual Emirates Stadium atmosphere witnessed Alexis Sanchez guide them to a hard-fought 2-0 win over Hull City. Alexis appeared to bundle the ball over the line with his hand for the opening goal on 34 minutes following a fluid attacking move involving Mesut Ozil and Kieran Gibbs. The latter was rewarded with a surprise start, but was given the runaround by Hull’s best player Lazar Markovic on several occasions, and it is likely that Nacho Monreal will be back in position for Wednesday’s Champions League clash away to Bayern Munich. Markovic almost found success down Arsenal’s left-hand side in the second half and was hauled down by Gibbs when through on goal shortly after the break. The left-back can count himself lucky that he was only booked for the incident as further luck came Wenger’s way. Hull looked continually dangerous on the counter attack and only a better final ball was the main difference between them pulling a goal back. The library-esque atmosphere during the opening stages in north London can be put down to a week of social media discontent and murmurings around the future of Arsenal’s longest-serving manager. Under- pressure Wenger, serving the final game of his four-match touchline ban, watched the edgy encounter from his seat in the directors' box - a place that he could become even more familiar with if he decides to take a back-seat role at the club next season. Allegri hoping for 'another 400 games' as Juventus boss Patience was key against Marco Silva’s outfit. The Portuguese guided Olympiakos to a 3-2 victory at the Emirates last season and his counter- attacking approach could have seen a repeat of the previous two league games when Arsenal’s midfield and defence collapsed when they were needed most. Arsenal’s upcoming game in Munich will represent an even bigger test of their mental qualities and it would be typical of Wenger’s men to force a surprise result at the Allianz Arena against all the odds, but they will need a drastically better performance than this. They’ll need an improved Ozil to flourish in the No.10 role and Alexis to continue his fine European form, but anything is possible with this Arsenal team whose inconsistent qualities make them the Premier League’s biggest enigma right now.

EURO PAPER:PARTEY TO PL

Could Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey be on his way to the Premier League? Despite the transfer window only shutting for most European clubs less than two weeks ago, the European newspapers are still speculating about the futures of many top stars. Our friends at Football Whispers have looked at Europe's top media outlets to see what's making people on the continent talk this morning. Spain AS West Ham and Middlesbrough will go head to head for Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey in the summer. MARCA Valencia midfielder Enzo Perez could leave the club, with his fathe admitting he dreams of playing for River Plate. SPORT Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes could be part of Julen Lopetegui's next Spain squad. Italy CORRIERE DELLO SPORT Juventus will enter the race for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez in the summer, with CEO Giuseppe Marotta keen on bringing the Chilean to Turin. But they will face tough competition from Inter Milan. TUTTOSPORT Juventus want to buy mainly left- sided players in the summer and have set their sights on Schalke's Sead Kolasinac, who was subject of interest from Chelsea in January. Germany SPORTBILD Bayern Munich have lined up Bayer Leverkusen's Benjamin Henrichs, who has attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, to replace the retiring Phillip Lahm. Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti has backed Renato Sanches to prove himself in Germany. The 19-year- old midfielder is yet to score since his summer move to the Bundesliga. France NICE MATIN Paris Saint-Germain will make a move for Nice midfielder Wylan Cyprien in the summer, but his current club also expects interest from the Premier League. CANAL + Fabio Capello says he was approached by PSG about coming to the club in 2013 when he was Russia manager. Portugal A BOLA Swiss club Young Boys will go back in with an attempt to bring in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Ryan Gauld on loan before their transfer market closes on Wednesday. Youn Boys have already had a loan bid rejected this month for the 21-year old Scot. RECORD Benfica striker Jonas and his agent want to meet with president Luis Filipe Vieira to discuss Beijing Gouan's offer for the Brazilian, which could see him earning €6m a season.