Fairy-tale has no happy ending with the endearing 65-year-old carrying the can for this season's under-performance and with relegation a real threat,Desperate times call for desperate measures.

And with their Premier League status at stake, champions Leicester City have taken the nuclear option.

Claudio Ranieri – only nine months on from leading the greatest underdog story ever told - has been sacked.

While many will decry the decision, they are not the ones who have to live with the consequence of inaction.

It is clear that Ranieri has lost the ability to lead the squad that won the league by 10 points last season. The recent defeat to Swansea was a case in point.

At that stage of the season – with that much at stake – Leicester were unable to pull one performance out of the fire when at this stage last season they had pulled about 15. Something had to be done.
Short of dismissing the entire overpaid yet under-performing first-team squad, this was the only option available.

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Jack Wilshere My Asernal Role Model -Iwobi

The asernal forward has hailed Jack Wilshere's role in his development after reaching 50 appearances in all competitions for the club.

Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi has singled out Jack Wilshere as the player who has had the biggest influence on him, although Francis Coquelin has taken up that role this campaign following the England international's loan move to Bournemouth.

wobi has developed into an important first-team member since making his debut in October 2015 and recently made his 50th appearance for the Gunners.


He is determined to keep improving in the years to come and has thanked Wilshere for his role in his development so far.


"The biggest influence on me would probably be Jack Wilshere, but he has not been around recently," the 20-year-old told the Arsenal website.

"He talks to me off the pitch because he has been through the same system as me. I just watch what he does, especially as I grew up as a number 10 and he’s a number 10.


"Now I would say it is Francis Coquelin, he is always talking to me. After the Watford game he told me what I did well, and what I need to improve on. He is definitely one who keeps me in check.



"I never thought I would be here at the age of 20, it is an amazing feeling to have made more than 50 appearances for Arsenal.


"It is just the start of my career basically, so I just need to get more goals, more assists and make more appearances and do my best for the team."

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'Did Mourinho call?' - Embolo refuses to open up on reported Man Utd interest

There are rumours Jose Mourinho contacted the Switzerland forward about a move to the Red Devils, but the striker will not go into details

Schalke striker Breel Embolo has refused to confirm or deny he was the subject of a transfer bid from Manchester United.

The Switzerland international joined the Bundesliga club from Basel in June for a reported fee of €20million, which could rise to close to €30m depending on bonuses.Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel claimed in July Jose Mourinho had been "desperate" to sign Embolo and there are rumours he called the player to persuade him to wait for a move to Old Trafford rather than accept offers from Schalke or RB Leipzig, another interested party.

When asked about the alleged approach from Mourinho, the 19-year-old asked Blick: "Did he call?"

He then added: "I don't talk about other clubs. I'm glad I'm with Schalke. I decided on Schalke, that's all that matters for me."

And Embolo has insisted he made the right decision by choosing to move to Veltins Arena."It was very important to me to make the right move," he said. "I wondered what would be the best for me and the result was that Schalke was the perfect club."

Embolo suffered a serious ankle injury in October, a problem that is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.

He managed three goals and two assists in 10 appearances prior to sustaining the injury against Augsburg, forcing him to undergo surgery.

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How Arsenal's Iwobi celebrated Boxing Day

After helping the Gunners defeat the Baggies in a tension-soaked encounter, the Nigerian took his time out to mark the christmas season.

Alex iwobi celebrated Arsenal 1-0 victory over West Brom on Boxing Day by taking his girlfriend Clarisse Juliette to the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

The 20-year-old who has established himself in Arsene Wenger's team as a regular player this season made his ninth league appearance in the starting line-up for the Gunners on Boxing Day but was later replaced by Lucas Perez in the second half of the encounter.

Iwobi visited the Winter Wonderland with his partner as they celebrate Olivier Giroud’s late header which handed Arsenal their 11th league win of the season.

"Winter Wonderland with my girl," Iwobi tweeted.

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mikel may be on his way to china as well.

John Obi Mikel has offers from at least two Chinese clubs, as well as clubs in Europe, as he is yet to enter talks with Chelsea over a new deal,Kenddys blog

 understands.

The Nigeria captain's contract is due to expire on June 30, 2017 and he is free to talk with clubs in January, as is normal for players with only six months remaining on their contract.

The 29-year-old could follow Oscar, who is set to break the transfer fee record for a player leaving Chelsea, after Shanghai SIPG offered around £52 million to secure the play-maker from west London ahead of the January window. 

Marseille and two clubs in China are among those who have made contact with Mikel, who's yet to 

make a single appearance in the matchday squad for Chelsea since Antonio Conte took charge at Stamford Bridge. 

Fenerbahce have also added him to their shortlist, while Manchester United have been linked with Mikel, who hasn't played for Chelsea since he travelled to Anfield to face Liverpool under Guus Hiddink last season. 

Mikel is thought to want to make the move that best suits his family and had previously spoken about an interest in playing football  in the united states. 

Conte insists that Mikel is available and could yet play for Chelsea, while Mikel remains open to renewing his contract if he gets certain assurances. 

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LEAKED: The reduced fee Chelsea paid for Hazard & his incredible Player of the Year bonus.

French outlet Le Soir published a series of reports from website Football Leaks revealing the financial aspects behind the 25-year-old's contract

Chelsea paid a transfer fee of €35 million to Lille for the services of Eden Hazard, rather than the €40 million that was originally reported, while the Belgium international received a €2.4 million bonus for being named PFA Premier League Player of the Year in 2015, according to Le Soir. 

The French outlet published a series of reports from Football Leaks revealing the financial aspects behind the 25-year-old's contract and his international colleagues. 

As well as the fee paid by Chelsea in 2012, Hazard's salary was also leaked; the diminutive playmaker earning €4.71 million in his first season at Stamford Bridge, upping to €5 million in the second year.

Then, when the Belgian signed a new deal in 2015, his pay jumped to €12.5 million a year.

“The first contract of Eden Hazard at Chelsea tells us little," the Le Soir report begins. "Firstly because it dates from 2012 and has since been extended.

"Next because it is less detailed. We discover however that the transfer fee between Lille and Chelsea is not €40m and is instead €35m.

"Aside from that, it also details the star’s gross salary at Chelsea for the first years (4.71 million Euros for the first season and 5 million Euros for the second).

 But this salary does not represent the reality because Hazard had extended his contract by three years in February 2015 (doubling, according to certain outlets, his salary, going from €5m to €12.4m)."

Hazard's 19 goals in 52 appearances for the Blues during the 2014-15 season helped Chelsea to the Premier League title and earned him the accolade as the best player in the division. As such, he triggered the only clause in his contract - a €2.4 million bonus.

“However," the report continues,"his first contract indicates that there was only one clause that enabled him to win a bonus and that it was quite well chosen because it stipulates that: 'if he is chosen as player of the year, he will earn a bonus of €2.4m.'"

Following a disappointing season last time out, Hazard has struck eight goals in his 14 Premier League appearances this season under new Blues boss Antonio Conte, helping the Blues to the top of the table. 

Hazard, who was named Premier League Player of the Month in October, has been described as 'the point of reference' by Conte, who has been impressed with the 25-year-old since his arrival in London.

"I like to see my players always involved in the project when we are playing," Conte previously told a press conference at Cobham Training Centre. "You can see Eden is always involved in the game, not calm and off during the game.

"He always stays in the game and he's always a point of reference for his team-mates. I think he's fantastic for this. It's great for us, for his team-mates to see Eden is always in the right position to receive a pass.

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Florence Omagbemi credits Super Falcons' fighting spirit

Nigeria women coach Florence Omagbemi has appluaded her players for their determination and loyalty shown in winning the2016   african women cup of nations title at the expense of cameroon .

Omagbemi watched her side defeat the hosts in the packed Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde to win their record eighth African title.

The 41-year-old insists her side played for pride and prestige to survive their various opponents inspite many challenges faced enroute this year's continental showpiece.

"I want to thank the Cameroonian team and the coach for giving us a good game. It was a great final to watch seeing the best two teams in Africa competing and the scoreline," Omagbemi said in a post match press conference.

"As regards to our journey to the tournament, I will give my players all the credits for achieving these despite all odds because they deserve it. 

"It was a long journey from Nigeria to the final, our preparation and the way we got our team together to come to this tournament even though we realized we're defending champions, we still try to step up our game and our game plan.

"At the beginning of our game against Mali, we took it one game at a time and that was my communication in all my press conference as we must give other teams some respect as they were all here to compete for the trophy."

"Against the Mali game, it was a good result though most people [saw] we had a good score margin against the Malian team as we didn't take them for granted," she continued. 

"Against the Ghana team, we got a good result but most people didn't believe in our performance.

"I use to say it that we were here to defend our title. All the way to our game against Kenya - the scoreline was different and we keep asking the question of what is wrong with our team. 

"Even though to the semifinals we played against South Africa, it was a different approach and we came out victorious. 

"As a defending champion, you have the pride and the prestige - the players understood all this pressure, stick to plan and playing together as a team because every game we play comes with different expectation. 

"Even though with the crowd here, at the end of the day we came out victorious and even though we only saw one or two chances, all I care about is the victory and that's all that matters right now and I want to celebrate that with everyone."

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