Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer has played down speculation linking the club with a move for Erling Haaland, insisting that the German champions have sufficient attacking options even if Manchester City are relegated from the Premier League over their ongoing financial charges case.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He made the remarks during an interview with German newspaper BILD on Sunday when asked whether Bayern would consider signing the Norwegian international if Manchester City were forced out of the English top flight.

“We have Kane, Olise, Diaz and more. We scored over 120 goals last season. So, I think we are very well equipped in attack,” Hainer said.

Bayern’s attacking options include England captain Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz. Hainer expressed confidence that the existing squad has the quality needed to continue delivering goals.

However, the club president did not completely dismiss the possibility of pursuing Haaland in the future, suggesting that circumstances could change in the coming years.

“If we’re talking about the future in a few years, then there will be a new situation, and we’ll see,” he added.

Manchester City continue to face scrutiny over financial charges, with possible sanctions, including relegation, remaining a subject of speculation as the case and any appeal process unfold.

Meanwhile, concerns have reportedly emerged among senior figures in English football over the possibility of Manchester City competing in next season’s UEFA Champions League even if they are relegated from the Premier League for financial breaches.

The issue centres on the possibility of City winning the Champions League, which could allow them to qualify for the following season’s competition as holders, regardless of their position in the English football pyramid.

According to a BBC Sport report, there is no automatic mechanism preventing a club from participating in a UEFA competition if it qualifies on sporting merit.

The report also states that an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of charges relating to the alleged inflation of sponsorship revenue by £830 million through sham contracts and the concealment of a further £90 million in expenses.

The commission reportedly concluded that City would have breached the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules in all nine seasons between 2009–2010 and 2017–2018 without the alleged financial manipulation.

Manchester City have strongly denied wrongdoing, describing the outcome as a “Premier League conspiracy”. The club lodged an appeal against the verdict last week.

Questions have also reportedly been raised about whether City could retain their UEFA licence if the verdict is upheld and the club receives significant punishment.

One source said the issue of the club’s licence “had been raised”, adding that a solution “would require the sort of joined up thinking that’s been a bit lacking so far”.

The Football Association issues UEFA licences, although the process is delegated to the Premier League. Licensing decisions are based on current information and do not take historical sanctions or breaches into account.

Under the existing rules, a club that satisfies all minimum admission criteria cannot have its licence refused. The principal grounds for rejection include overdue payments to other clubs or players and outstanding tax liabilities. Match-fixing convictions within the previous 10 years and certain conflicts involving multi-club ownership can also affect eligibility, although neither reportedly applies to City.

Another source questioned the grounds for refusing the club a licence, stating that “licences are awarded on the basis of current financial performance, so the grounds to refuse one are unclear”.

If Manchester City lose their appeal, they could face severe sanctions, potentially including a substantial points deduction, a heavy fine and transfer embargoes.

However, the hearing to determine the appropriate punishment has yet to be scheduled.

A points deduction could prevent City from qualifying for the Champions League through their Premier League position, although qualification through cup competitions could remain possible.

Immediate expulsion from the Premier League is also reportedly among the possible options.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strengthened its presence in Sokoto State following the defection of a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Aminu Ibrahim, to the ruling party.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He explained that his defection was motivated by his desire to contribute to the development of Sokoto State, particularly in education and other key sectors of the economy.

The former rector said he considered it a responsibility to deploy his academic knowledge and professional experience towards improving the welfare of the people.

Reacting to the development, the Sokoto State APC Chairman, Haruna Sarkin-Gobir Adiya, welcomed Ibrahim into the party, describing his arrival as a significant boost to its membership.

Adiya urged the new member to work closely with other party leaders and members to strengthen unity and cooperation as the APC prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed allegations that the ruling party protects its members from prosecution and conviction over corruption and other offences.

Yilwatda made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

He argued that the party could not support the denial of anyone’s fundamental human rights, including the right to participate in an election, through what he described as strict prosecution.

He said, “Nobody is protected in the APC. I don’t want to mention names, but I know members of our party (APC) who are undergoing prosecution – who appear in court every day. As APC members, we can’t use strict prosecution to go ahead and deny people their fundamental human rights.”

The APC chairman also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would win the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2026, citing the party’s internal polling results.

According to him, the APC had conducted assessments across the states and its findings indicated that Tinubu was in the lead.

“We have done fact-finding; we are leading. We have done our polls. We have our own polls that give us the real statistics across the states,” he said.

When asked whether the polls indicated that Tinubu would win, Yilwatda responded, “Of course!”

He further maintained that the APC was not intimidated by opposition parties, arguing that the ADC and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) had an electoral disadvantage because, according to him, they had not won any elections before 2027.

On the tax reforms introduced by the President, Yilwatda said the new tax regime had benefited the poorest Nigerians by expanding the tax base and increasing government revenue.

Addressing the power sector, he also claimed that the APC-led government had enabled state governments to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

The Kwankwassiyya Movement has said the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will take advantage of the available legal provisions and engage the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the omission of its deputy governorship candidate in Kano State, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the commission’s final list of candidates.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

It would be recalled that Kwankwaso and his principal, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, were left out of the list released by INEC. The NDC has described the omission as an error and said it is working to have the situation corrected.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, the spokesperson for the Kwankwassiyya Movement, Habibu Mohammed, said there was no clear justification for excluding Kwankwaso from the list. He added that the movement would engage the electoral commission to resolve the matter.

Mohammed maintained that Kwankwaso completed his registration with the NDC within the stipulated timeframe.

He said, “It came as a shock because there had been no issue with INEC. Kwankwaso, a former deputy governor, is registered with the NDC and met the stipulated deadline.

“Electoral provisions give candidates 14 days to seek redress if their names are omitted from the list. We will explore that opportunity and engage with INEC.

“Actually, we believe there is no particular reason for the omission. INEC itself has not advanced any reason. We believe it may be an administrative error or something else because we do not have any pending judgment or court order.

“This is a man who has already served as a deputy governor, so we cannot even question his qualification. We also believe he was duly registered with the NDC within the stipulated period.

“Therefore, the omission came as a shock. However, in politics, we have seen many things, and we believe there are always ways to resolve issues. There is also a provision in the Electoral Act.

“If he is not on INEC’s list, I believe the Kwankwassiyya Movement, being law-abiding and committed to doing things the right way, will explore that opportunity and engage INEC. We are confident that the matter will be resolved because we see no reason why it should be otherwise.”