How James Ocholi, wife, son died – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has explained how the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. James Ocholi, his son and wife were killed on Sunday 57 kilometers away from Kaduna.
FRSC said a rear tyre of the Jeep they were driving in bust, skidded off, and somersaulted several times into the bush.

Kaduna State Sector Commander, of FRSC, Francis Udoma told newsmen in Kaduna that the Minister and his son died on the spot, while the wife was rushed to the nearest Hospital, Doka General Hospital, about 15 kilomoters away from the accident scene where she also died.

“The rear tyre bust and the vehicle, somersaulted into the bush. The minister and his son died on the spot, the wife died in the government hospital in Doka, Kaduna,” he said.

“His driver, the Chief Detail, the Orderly and the P.A (Personal Assistant) were injured and are receiving treatment”, Udoma said.
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Kaduna Government To Acquire Peugeot, Targets 90,000 Cars Yearly


Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna says the state has concluded plans to acquire the majority shares of the comatose Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria, Kaduna.
Mr. El-Rufai said this at the ongoing Kaduna international Trade fair.
According to the governor, the state had already submitted its interest to Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) which manages the liabilities of the company.
“Our hope is that when we acquire the majority share of the company, we will restructure it to operate to full capacity of assembling between 90,000 and 100,000 cars yearly.
“We have the support of PAN as well as the government of France in this drive.
Mr. El-Rufai said PAN is a critical partner in Kaduna state’s industrial history, and now has gone down from assembling 90,000 cars per annum to merely 200 a year.
“We are determined to bring back all industries related to Peugeot established in Kaduna as part of plans to ensure that every youth in Kaduna State has something doing,” he said.
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NANS seeks payment of insurance to families of deceased students

The Senate Secretariat of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has decried the attitude of the Insurance Company saddle with the responsibility of paying compensation to families of students who lost their lives as a result of illness or ghastly accident, despite the exorbitant rate charged for Insurance Policy.

The group lamented the untimely death of its members nationwide, saying no effort had been made by Insurance Company in charge to pay claims to the families of the decease and called on Management of tertiary Institutions in the country to wake up to their responsibility or be held responsible for the liability.

NANS Senate President, Comrade Royce Odoh Ochai, stated this yesterday while briefing Journalists in Jos.

“We have watched with keen interest the recent happenings on our campuses, most especially the high rate at which we lost our beloved students through accident and sickness.

“It is a very sad development that virtually all campuses in Nigeria, both Federal and State Institutions, ranging from Monotechnics, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Universities receive huge amount of money from Nigerian Students compulsorily for the purpose of Insurance, but it is highly disappointing that such fee are not being used for what they are meant for.

“We lost many of our Students of recent and it is so disheartening that even at the exorbitant rate we paid for Insurance policy, the Management of Institution cannot compel these unseen Insurance brokers to pay claims or benefits to the victims of this untimely death.

“The Leadership of NANS shall henceforth take the bull by the horn as we shall not hesitate to demand compensation(s) from the School Management to the families of the victims if such occurs, or better still we shall demand that the School Management produce the Insurance Company in charge.

“We also call on the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) to deliver a proper health facilities on our campuses else we shall be force to send them packing from our various campuses,by so doing, we shall partner with a reputable Insurance company that will be more effective in service delivery”.
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Ambode confirm students’ rescue, arrest of kidnap leader

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday confirmed the rescue of three school girls of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, abducted by gunmen on Feb. 29th.
Ambode gave the confirmation at a news conference at the Lagos House, Alausa on the rescue of the girls by security operatives in Sunday morning.

He said that the girls had been re-united with their families.

“The Lagos State Government is extremely pleased to announce that the three students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu who were were rescued by security operatives in the early hours of today.

“The three girls have been safely re-united with their families and the government wishes to assure Lagosians that their security is top priority and it will not relent in ensuring that Lagos remains safe and secure,” he said.

Ambode that he was reliably informed that one of the suspected kidnappers, Emmanuel Arigidi, was arrested during the operation to secure the release of the abducted girls.

He commended the Lagos State Police Command, the Department of State Security and members of the armed forces who worked tirelessly to secure the release of the girls.

Ambode warned that kidnapping or any forms of crime would not be tolerated in the state.

“Let me warn that our position is clear and unambiguous, Lagos State has the capacity and the will to go after every form of crime and criminality in order to safeguard lives and property in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said that the girls were hale and hearty and were not molested by their abductors.

He said that the girls were rescued around Imota in Ikorodu.

Owoseni said that no ransom was paid to rescue the girls. (NAN)
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Manchester United: Marcus Rashford adds to shock graduates in Van Gaal youth club

  It was said with a wry smile, but Michael Carrick hinted at one of the few silver linings in a distinctly overcast season for Manchester United when discussing the crop of youngsters who have been forced to answer Louis van Gaal’s numerous SOS calls this campaign.
“That’s the beauty this season,” Carrick said. “We’ve played a lot of lads who maybe wouldn’t have been close to getting a chance, but they’ve got the chance and a lot of them have taken it.”
Marcus Rashford, the Manchester-born 18-year-old who was almost tempted away to Manchester City as a schoolboy, may make his Premier League debut against Arsenal tomorrow having marked his first senior appearance for United with two crucial goals in Thursday’s 5-1 Europa League victory against FC Midtjylland at Old Trafford.
But for Anthony Martial complaining of a tight hamstring in the warm-up – the French forward is 50-50 to face Arsenal – Rashford would have been consigned to the substitutes’ bench and unlikely to have stolen the show with two goals in front of the Stretford End.
“He has trained with us quite a lot this season, so I’ve seen plenty of him,” Carrick added. “He’s lively, he’s pacy and he is enthusiastic.
“To get two goals it’s the stuff of dreams, to see his reaction and what it means to him. They were massive goals for us and he stepped up
“He found out he was playing 10-15 minutes before the game, maybe that helped him a bit, he didn’t have too much time to think about it.”
When speaking to The Independent earlier this month, United manager Van Gaal did not hide from the reality that his decision to hand senior debuts to the likes of Rashford, plus the defenders Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Guillermo Varela, Donald Love and Joe Riley, had been forced by the loss of several senior players.
“I think it is very important to play young players,” Van Gaal said. “But I have taken a risk because when you have a lot of injuries, you have problems.
“But a player’s chances are not just about his ability, also about his attitude – how he deals with negative things because it is not always sunshine and hallelujah.”
The promotion of several youngsters to Van Gaal’s squad – centre-half Axel Tuanzebe is the next in line having made the bench at Crystal Palace earlier this season – has underlined the club’s view that their efforts to recruit the best young players will be bolstered by the opportunities offered to those who climb the ladder in the youth ranks.
Carrick, a graduate of West Ham’s famed youth set-up, admits that young players can been thrown into the firing line too early, but that the best ones always survive their early difficulties.
“I think Cameron [Borthwick-Jackson] is a prime example of that,” Carrick said. “If you ask him, he probably wasn’t hoping to be around the first team this season, but he gets his chance and he’s looked comfortable and at home.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until you throw them in. You don’t want to be throwing them in all at once, but I suppose you see who can deal with it and who can’t. Most of them have.”
With David de Gea set to return in goal against Arsenal, United would still be without 13 first-team players if Martial fails to recover from his hamstring problem.
The casualty list may diminish by the time Van Gaal and his players begin preparations for the Europa League last-16 tie against Liverpool – the first leg at Anfield looms large in less than a fortnight – but it is likely that the likes of Varela, Borthwick-Jackson and Rashford will remain part of the squad for that tie.
Jesse Lingard, another who has been promoted to the first team on a regular basis this season, has moved one step ahead of his younger team-mates, having dislodged the £25m summer signing Memphis Depay from Van Gaal’s starting line-up.
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Hiddink rules out Terry, mum on Conte

  Chelsea will be without captain John Terry when they visit Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday as the centre back is still recovering from a hamstring injury, manager Guus Hiddink said on Friday.

  Hiddink, in charge of the team until the end of the season, refused to comment on reports that he will be replaced by Italy coach Antonio Conte after this year's European Championship.
"You have heard more than me because that's your job," the Dutchman told a news conference.
"I'm not involved in this and that's all you'll get from me. I'm in favour that when things are done, you make it transparent."

  Hiddink replaced Jose Mourinho in December and has lost just once in 13 games in all competitions with the same squad that suffered their worst start to a league season since 1978 under the Portuguese.
Hiddink travels to St Mary's Stadium with his team in 12th place in the table to take on compatriot Ronald Koeman, whom he coached while in charge of PSV Eindhoven in the 1980s.

  Southampton, who are sixth in the standings, have gone six league games without conceding a goal and beat Chelsea 3-1 in the reverse fixture in September when Mourinho was in charge.
"You could notice at that young age (as a player at PSV) that he (Koeman) would have the possibility to go into management," Hiddink said.
"He is showing to be a very good manager. He has the age. You never know how a career can go but he's showing stability."
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Manyisa targets March return

  Orlando Pirates captain Oupa Manyisa is on the verge of a return to playing after sitting out the last five months with injury, the club sad on Friday.

  The midfield talisman could play by the end of March, strengthening Pirates squad and giving teammates a major confidence boost for the final two months of the campaign.

  Manyisa's absence in the middle of the park has been sorely felt since since he was injured against Polokwane City on September 22. He suffered a fibula fracture with complications in the ankle.
“He has been working really hard and doing a lot of recovery and rehab on that injury,” said Orlando Pirates rehabilitation specialist Stephen Plummer.
“The injury can take up to six months to heal. It is then about getting confidence back into running and running technique.
  There is the physical side of things but also the psychological sides of things too.
“For example, to get out on the field and get stuck into a tackle, you need to get your psychological confidence back up. But he is doing really well and is a really hard worker who is putting in a lot of effort.
“If all goes according to plan then we hope to have him fit again by early March, that is when he will be able to start training again with the team.
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Sturridge stirs in time for City reunion

  As the 22 players walk out onto the pristine Wembley turf for Sunday's League Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester City, Daniel Sturridge will have more to prove than most.

  The injury-plagued Liverpool striker, who will be facing his former club, is fighting to emerge from a mid-career slump that threatens to cost him a place in England's squad for Euro 2016.

  Having made just 11 Premier League starts since August 2014, the 26-year-old has disappeared from view at times and this week he issued an impassioned rebuttal to press reports he was considering his Anfield future.
"I don't think anyone will understand how much it means to me to play football and I'll continue to do my best and focus on Liverpool," he said.
"It has been a difficult time being injured, but it is part of football and now I'm looking forward to the future, of course with Liverpool."

  After becoming frustrated about his lack of progress at first City and then Chelsea, Sturridge did not begin to consistently showcase the staggering ability first glimpsed during his teenage years until he joined Liverpool in January 2013.

  An intelligent, technically accomplished and elusive striker, he scored 11 times in his first 16 games and contributed 21 goals to a mesmerising 52-goal partnership with Luis Suarez as Liverpool came agonisingly close to Premier League glory in 2013-14.
Fondly admired by England manager Roy Hodgson, he went to the 2014 World Cup with the number nine shirt on his back and scored in their opening game against Italy.

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  But since then a litany of niggling injuries has restricted him to 28 appearances from a possible 101 for Liverpool and kept him away from the international scene for over 18 months.

  He missed the entirety of England's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and with Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy now all above him in the pecking order, a place at the tournament in France is far from secure.

  Knee, foot and hamstring problems meant that he did not make his first appearance under Jurgen Klopp until late November and the Liverpool manager's annoyance showed when he said that Sturridge needed to learn the difference between "what is serious pain or what is only pain".

  When he has played he has proved effective, netting a classy double in a 6-1 League Cup rout of Southampton and being heralded as a "real striker" by Klopp after scoring in the 6-0 Valentine's Day thrashing of Aston Villa.
"It's not a surprise that he scores goals, but it surprised me how good he is with the team and his movement," Klopp said.
"It is good to see him fit and when he hides himself on the pitch he is really difficult to defend against because he is always somewhere and you don't know his next move."

  The player with the trademark goal celebration wiggle has now started three consecutive games for the first time since March 2015, lining up alongside Brazilians Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino in a new-look front three full of trickery and sleight of hand.
With Sturridge still seeking a trophy after three years at Liverpool, Sunday's reunion with City represents a golden opportunity for a player whose full potential remains frustratingly untapped.
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League Cup: Ignore the Liverpool boo boys, Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini urges Raheem Sterling

  Manchester City's Raheem Sterling has been urged by Manuel Pellegrini to ignore the inevitable boo boys at Wembley as he looks to secure his first medal with the club against former employers
Liverpool .

  England international Sterling should be part of City's squad for Sunday's Capital One Cup final against the Reds, despite not taking part in training with the main group on Friday when the winger, along with defensive duo Vincent Kompany and Bacary Sagna, was instead recovering following an impressive 90-minute performance against

  Dynamo Kiev in midweek.
It will be just the second time Sterling has faced Liverpool since his acrimonious exit from Merseyside in the summer and he was largely anonymous in his first reunion when City were thrashed 4-1 at home by Jurgen Klopp's men in November.
 
  A return to Anfield, and an even more hostile reception, is to come for Sterling on Wednesday, but Pellegrini has backed his player to block out any Wembley heckling with the domestic season's first piece of silverware on the line.
"I think that for every player it's not comfortable to play against their old team, everyone has friends inside the club," the City boss said.
"But he's a professional player, he came here to win titles. He wants to win and I'm sure that he will have a very good performance.
"I don't think that he must prove (a point). I hope that he will be focused just on having a good performance and not thinking about the boos that he may receive during the game or about what happened in the past. He's now a player of

  Manchester City ."
Sterling needs to score just once more to equal his tally for his final season at Anfield of 11, with Pellegrini insisting there is plenty more to come from the 21-year-old, even if he will not be around at the Etihad Stadium to see his career progress beyond this summer when he makes way for Pep Guardiola.

  The City boss has no regrets about splashing out nearly £50million to lure him away from Liverpool and thinks his first season in Manchester will be considered a success if he has a major role in delivering trophies.
"When we finish the season, if we win a couple of titles and Raheem has an important performance, it will be a good season for him," Pellegrini added.
"I don't think it's good to analyse his season in this moment. He has good things, bad things; he was a very important player the other day (against Dynamo Kiev).
"He is a very young player so he must improve every year. If you ask me if I am happy to bring him here this year - yes, for the moment I'm very happy. I think he will continue improving and giving a lot of things to our squad."
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If Arsenal beat Manchester United they’ll never have a better chance to win title, says former Gunner

Former Arsenal forward Niall Quinn believes victory over Manchester United will put them within their best chance of winning their first
Premier League title since 2004.
Arsene Wenger’s Gunners travel to Old Trafford on Sunday and a win could see them return to the league’s summit, providing results go their way.
The match is live on talkSPORT and United will continue to field an under-strength side with injuries to key men – but David De Gea (knee) could return between the sticks.
Quinn told Drive: “[ Arsenal] look better equipped to go into this game – as Arsene Wenger calls it ‘the key period.’
“This would be a big one if Arsenal can take the three points here, they’ll never have a better chance.
“But then Manchester United: A lot of young players, a lot of injuries in the United side that’s going to line out on Sunday.
“But they’ll know the history between these clubs, they’ll know that a lot of Manchester United’s poor form will be forgiven if they can halt Arsenal in their tracks.”
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Borussia Dortmund boss calls Tottenham tie a ‘super draw’ and is looking forward to facing ‘special coach’ Mauricio Pochettino

Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel is looking forward to facing Tottenham's "special manager"
Mauricio Pochettino after the two clubs were drawn against each other in the Europa League.
Dortmund are among the favourites to win the competition this season after disposing of Porto 3-0 on aggregate in the last 32, but their director of sport Michael Zorc feels they have been given the hardest possible draw in the next round.
Tottenham will travel to Dortmund for the first leg on Thursday, March 10 with the return match a week later in London.
Tuchel said: "I think it's a super draw. It's super tough, but also super attractive.
"We've got two exciting games to look forward to and I'm personally really looking forward to meeting a special coach and also the special atmosphere in the second leg at White Hart Lane."
Spurs eased past Fiorentina in the last round and will also fancy their chances of going all the way to the Basle final.
Zorc added: "They are the toughest team we could have got, but of course it is also an extremely attractive tie."
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NFF'S FAILINGS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECURRING COACHING WOES – ONIGBINDE

  The former Super Eagles coach has said that NFF are chief culprits in the ever present troubles bedeviling the team's previous coaches while appealing for lasting solutions.

  Chief Adegboye Onigbinde has blamed the administrative failures of the Nigeria Football Federation as being responsible for the recurring trend of coaching problems in the Super Eagles.
His comments follow the decision of Sunday Oliseh to throw in the towel and quit as the Super Eagles manager barely eight months in the saddle on Friday.

  Oliseh, a former Nigeria international, was named the Super Eagles gaffer in July 2015, his first major coaching job, following the sacking of his former team mate Stephen Keshi.
 
  His acrid comments following following the Eagles' early elimination from the African Nations Championship last month saw him enter into a running battle with his employers, the NFF.

  The 41-year-old gave reasons why he took the crucial decision that threw Nigeria into disarray citing his employers' lack of support and contractual failings - similar faults raised by former coaches.
In a soft backing, the former Nigeria coach said he suffered the same fate just as many after him, including Oliseh, stressing that the problems Super Eagles coaches had faced were administrative and not technical.
"It is not a new thing," Onigbinde began narrating his horrible experience as Super Eagles manager to Goal.
"I was the first coach to be directly appointed though some acted before me but this was a direct as head coach of the Super Eagles in 1983.
"And I went through hell but thank God I am alive today. My annual salary then was about 10,000 naira. My official vehicle was a [Volkwagen Beetle] car.
"Throughout my three years stay I did not have an official room as a residence. For a whole year I was not supplied with balls from January to December in 1983.
"With all modesty, if you see it as a national service to your nation you must be able to endure some things to make some sacrifice.
"I requested for 30 balls but the then chairman of NFA wanted to beat me up for requesting for more than two balls.
"The painful aspect of it was that if i was a white man requesting for 30 balls he would send someone to Germany to bring 100 balls.
"In one word, each time I'm saying the problem with our football is administrative, people tend to think I want to abuse them or expose them.
"What has been happening all through are they technical issues? No, they are administrative. And this is where it has gotten us to.
"So what we need to do now is to learn from the past and improve knowing that the beginning of lunacy is doing the same thing the same way all over and over and expecting a different result. We cannot get a different result."
He, however, urged the NFF to look at finding lasting solutions to the recurring administrative issues that are ruining the good prospect of the national team.
According to him, the NFF needs to act fast to avoid seeing the country missing out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
"It is unfortunate, but I usually don't bother my head with problems but solutions. What do we do from now?
"Once an event has taken place, we can't recall it. So what to do is to move forward. What should we do from now because the next important engagement before us is so short.
"The shortness is crucial but at the same time what matters is what we do between now and the next game against Egypt. That's why I believe the authority should get themselves together and find a  solution," he concluded.
Uncertainty now rocks the fate of Nigeria's qualification for the 2017 Afcon following Oliseh's sudden resignation with less than 30 days to its crucial duel against Egpyt.
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CAF Release Dates, Times For Nigeria Group’ s AFCON Qualifiers

  The Confederation of African Football have released dates for the third and fourth games for the qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

  In Group G Nigeria will host Egypt on 25 March at 4pm, while the return match will be in Egypt on 29 March at 7pm Egyptian time (one hour ahead of Nigerian time).
In the other Group G tie, Chad welcome Tanzania on 23 March at 3.40pm, with Tanzania hosting Chad on 28 March at 4pm.
Egypt lead the group with six points after victories over Tanzania and Chad, with Nigeria second on four points.

  In Group F Cap Verde play host to Morocco on 26 March at 4pm, while the return leg holds on 29 March at 8pm.

  In Group A Tunisia host Togo on 25 March, while the West Africans play hosts on 29 March.
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Gianni Infantino elected new FIFA President

  General Secretary of UEFA, Gianni Infantino, has been elected as the new FIFA President at the Extraordinary FIFA Congress.
Infantino succeeds Sepp Blatter.
 
  He defeated Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Gianni Infantino, and Jerome Champagne.
by

  Tokyo Sexwale withdrew his candidacy during the congress.
Born 23 March 1970 in Brig, Infantino holds both Swiss and Italian nationality
On 26 October 2015, Infantino received the full backing of the UEFA Executive Committee to stand for the position of FIFA president.
A multi-lingual lawyer, Infantino is married and has four children.
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Speaking after his victory, he said: “I cannot express my feelings in this moment. I told you I went through an exceptional journey, which made me meet many fantastic people, who live and breathe football, and many people deserve to see FIFA is highly respected.
“Everyone in the world will applaud us for what we will do. Everyone will be proud of what we will do.”
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Siasia, Amuneke replace Oliseh

  Barely 24 hours after Sunday Oliseh threw in the towel as the Head Coach of the senior national team, the duo of Samson Siasia and Emmanuel Amuneke have been announced as his replacement.

  The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, announced that Dream Team coach Siasia, Flying Eagles coach Amuneke, assistant coaches under Oliseh, Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu will be in charge of the team temporarily.
NFF made the announcement via its twitter handle on Friday.
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NFF drags Oliseh before FIFA for breach on contract

Following his sudden resignation as the head coach of the senior national team, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has dragged Sunday Oliseh before FIFA and the Court of Arbitration, CAS.
The NFF is accusing the former eagles’ skipper of breach of contract.
It was gathered that Oliseh dropped his resignation letter after collecting his backlog of salaries and allowances.
“The Lawyers are going to come up with those breaches but you know that he resigned with immediate effect without giving us the mandatory one month notice.
“He coached the Eagles from Belgium and it was explicitly stated in the contract that he must coach the team based in Nigeria.
“He already collected money for his accommodation when he never stayed here. It is left for those with Eagle eyes to come up with the breaches”, a source claimed.
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Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City to hijack Chelsea bid for Midfield star

Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City to hijack Chelsea ’s move for Dutch wonderkid Riechedly Bazoer.
The Premier League champions – poised to make Italy boss Antonio Conte their new boss – are already in advanced talks with Ajax over a £24million move for the 19-year-old midfielder.
Bazoer’s brother Irchandley, who acts as his agent, was at Chelsea’s Cobham HQ last week for talks with Technical Director Michael Emenalo.
He was left impressed by what he had seen and is understood to have had assurances about the future of the club with Conte expected to succeed interim coach Guus Hiddink.
But Bayern Munich boss Guardiola is also a fan of the teenager likened to the legendary Frank Rijkaard because of his maturity in midfield and would like to see him at the Etihad, where he takes over as manager in the summer.
Ajax have already rejected a £20million bid for Bazoer from Napoli while Chelsea themselves have twice tried to sign him in the past only to be told he wants to go to Barcelona.
Hiddink, however, was technical adviser at PSV as the teenager came through the club’s academy.
The Dutchman is his hoping his relationship with the player helps to stave off City’s interest and finally land him this summer.
After vacating his post as Holland head coach last year, Hiddink urged his successor Danny Blind to select Bazoer for the national squad.
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