Chelsea is nearing the finalization of a record-breaking £117 million deal for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. The 23-year-old England international, who recently returned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arrived for his medical today, July 20, and is expected to sign a six-year contract with an option to extend until 2033. Chelsea secured the transfer by outbidding Arsenal, who were unable to match the required fee.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In response to this change in their midfield, Aston Villa has been active in the transfer market:

• Joao Gomes: Villa has signed the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder from Wolves in a deal valued at up to £38 million, consisting of £34 million upfront and £4 million in potential add-ons. Gomes, who was also targeted by Atletico Madrid, joins after making 130 appearances for Wolves.

• Johan Manzambi: The club previously completed a signing for the Swiss international from Freiburg in a deal worth over £50 million.

• Squad Adjustments: These moves address significant midfield changes, including the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United for £35 million and a long-term knee injury to Amadou Onana sustained during the World Cup.

Big Brother Naija ‘PepperDem’ winner, Mercy Eke, recently expressed strong views on relationships and household responsibilities during an appearance on Toke Makinwa’s Toke Moments podcast.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Relationship Expectations: Eke stated that she would neither date nor marry a man who expects her to cook for him on a regular basis.

• Perspective on Cooking: She clarified that she only cooks when she feels “in the mood” and argued that love is not a sufficient reason for her to perform daily domestic chores.

• Suggested Alternatives: She suggested that men who require fresh meals daily should hire a chef, as she is not the type of woman to handle such tasks.

• Compatibility: Eke emphasized the importance of marrying someone whose expectations align with one’s lifestyle, noting that if a partner insists on avoiding “overnight food,” she is not the right person for them.

• Respecting Differences: While maintaining her stance, she acknowledged that other women might be happy to fulfill those roles, which she considers acceptable.

In a significant development at the Federal High Court in Abuja, two alleged commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group have entered guilty pleas regarding a 32-count charge.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Plea Change: The defendants, Mahmud Usman (also known as Mahmud Al-Nigeri) and Abubakar Abba (also known as Abu Baraa), appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday to formally change their pleas from not guilty to guilty.

• The Charges: The 32-count charge includes accusations of terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, and the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additional allegations involve coordinating sleeper cells, planning attacks, and maintaining connections with terrorist organizations across the Maghreb and Sahel regions.

• Previous Legal Status: During their initial arraignment, Usman had pleaded guilty to only one count related to illegal mining, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence, while denying the other 31 charges. Abba had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.

• Next Steps: Following the new guilty pleas, the prosecution requested that the court convict the defendants on all 32 counts. Defense counsel urged the court to consider the defendants’ expressions of remorse and repentance when determining their sentences.