Juventus are reportedly on the brink of finalising a major signing, with the club submitting a €15 million bid for Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa.

The bid, which outbids Sporting CP’s €12 million offer, is expected to be accepted by Vitória SC within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Juventus have also agreed to a five-year deal with Costa, marking the club’s serious intent to bolster their defensive options.

READ MORE: JUST IN: Dangote Hails Tinubu&’s Crude For Naira Swap Deal

Football expert, Fabrizio Romano confirmed the imminent deal via his X account on Monday, stating: “Juventus are closing in on Alberto Costa deal, exclusively revealed two days ago. Official bid sent to Vitória worth €15m package, more than Sporting with €12m. Agreement in place also with the Portuguese RB on five-year deal. Juve want to get it done in 24/48h.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea are preparing to part ways with Renato Veiga, with the club opting for a permanent sale rather than a loan.

Veiga, who has expressed a desire to play as a center-back instead of a left-back, is valued at €30 million.

Borussia Dortmund has reportedly reached an agreement with the player on personal terms, positioning them as the frontrunner for his signature.

“Renato Veiga, expected to leave Chelsea as the club opened the doors to permanent exit — not loan. Chelsea want around €30m for Veiga to leave accommodating his request to go and play as CB, not as LB. Full agreement Borussia Dortmund-Veiga on contract/project, in place,” Romano confirmed.

Over at Southampton, the club is working hard to retain the services of defender Kyle Walker-Peters, whose contract is set to expire in just six months.

The Saints are making a final attempt to extend his deal before the January transfer window closes. If no agreement is reached, the 26-year-old could leave for free in the summer.

Finally, Swiss forward Noah Okafor is set to complete a move to RB Leipzig on a €1 million loan deal, with his salary fully covered.

The deal includes a non-mandatory buy option worth €25–28 million. Okafor is expected to arrive in Leipzig today to finalize the move, marking another key addition for the Bundesliga side.

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has approved the renaming of the Honey Badgers FC of Makurdi to Benue Queens, following the successful takeover of the club by the Benue State Government (BSG).

The approval, conveyed in a letter signed by NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, followed a rigorous verification process confirming that the BSG met all requirements for the takeover and name change.

Consequently, effective immediately, Benue Queens will take over all fixtures, points, and standings previously held by Honey Badgers in the NWFL Premiership.

ALSO READ: Cybercrimes Act Abuses: SERAP Drags FG, States To ECOWAS Court

On the development, Shabi said, “After submitting to the very rigorous process put in place to ensure that only serious, business-minded individuals and corporate groups are admitted to club ownership, the NWFL is satisfied that the Benue State Government has substantially met all requirements and has been granted approval to take over Honey Badgers.”

She further lauded the potential positive impact of the transition: “The Benue State Government has demonstrated its commitment to operating and funding the club in line with NWFL regulations, which are designed to protect the integrity of the league and safeguard the interests of players and other stakeholders involved in the NWFL.”

The takeover comes as Honey Badgers celebrate a historic milestone, having earned promotion to the NWFL Premiership this season, marking their rise from the lower divisions to the top tier of Nigerian women’s football.

The Makurdi-based outfit will face tough competition from seasoned teams, including Naija Ratels, Ibom Angels, Adamawa Queens, Delta Queens, Bayelsa Queens, and Rivers Angels in Group B.

Their campaign will kick off with a highly anticipated clash against the formidable Robo Queens in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on January 15, 2025, marking their debut in Nigeria’s top-flight women’s football league.

Everton Football Club has parted ways with Sean Dyche, ending his tenure as manager after less than two years.

The announcement, made on Thursday, comes just hours before the Toffees are set to face League One side Peterborough in the FA Cup third round.

In a statement, the club confirmed that under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman would step in as interim managers for the fixture.

Four members of Dyche’s coaching team—Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard, and Billy Mercer—have also departed their roles.

READ MORE: Adeleke Distributes Relief Materials To Disaster Victims In Osun State

“Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect,” the club’s statement read.

“Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have also left the Club.

“The process to appoint a new Manager is underway and an update will be provided in due course.

“Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.”

Dyche’s departure follows a string of poor performances in the Premier League. The club currently sits 16th on the table, just one point above the relegation zone. A dismal 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday, where Everton failed to record a single shot on target, marked the latest in a series of underwhelming results. The team has managed only three wins in 19 league matches this season.

As the search for a new manager begins, Everton fans will be hoping for swift improvements to avoid another relegation battle.