Sports

Simon Jordan and Eni Aluko Involved in Heated Live Radio Interview

Published

5 months ago

February 10, 2026

admin

Coiled-up talkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan destroyed Eni Aluko to her face during an explosive live radio segment on Tuesday morning. In an interview with BBC’s Woman’s Hour last April, Aluko accused Ian Wright of “blocking” opportunities for female broadcasters on television and said the former Arsenal and England striker is “dominating” the women’s game.

To the shock of many, she reignited that feud this week by doubling down on her criticism, despite having previously apologised for her comments. She slammed the ITV and BBC’s choice of pundits for England’s Euro 2025 final last summer, while also promoting herself as a deserving candidate, citing her achievements (such as her 102 England caps) as evidence that she should have been chosen over others, like Wrighty and Nedum Onuoha.

Aluko’s comments were slammed by former colleague Laura Woods, who tweeted that “caps don’t win automatic work” and said that her thinking will “drag women’s sport backwards” and “drag women’s punditry in all forms of the game backwards”.

Simon Jordan Launches Explosive Criticism of Eni Aluko

Pundit and former player Eni Aluko before a match — Premier League – Aston Villa v Manchester City – Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain – December 6, 2023. Amazon Television pundit and former player Eni Aluko before the match. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers.

“The sheer weight of self-entitlement you seem to have would sink the titanic.” Those were the brutal words used by the former Crystal Palace owner when given an opportunity to give his opinion on the Aluko-Wrighty drama. “I think we live in a society where people don’t have the experience and substance, don’t know what they’re talking about [and are] masquerading as experts,” Jordan continued.

“With all due respect to women in men’s football, I think they have zero expertise in men’s football. I think they can talk about tactics, but the two games are vastly different – the speed, the scale, the pressure, the physicality. They are vastly different games. I’ve encountered Eni in short form and long form, we had a conversation about the commerciality of football which I thought Eni talked with no commercial sense.”

“That is my opinion, she probably disagrees. I’ve seen her talking on podcasts where she’s ideologically aligned with a perspective that overrepresentation is on merit and underrepresentation is based on structural racism. I find that a difficult circle to square.

“As far as expertise is concerned, the times that I’ve listened to her – I don’t think that she’s particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic. I don’t think she comes across particularly likeable but that’s my view, but some people have the same view of me.”

It’s important to highlight that Jordan did agree with Eni Aluko’s idea to have the main pundit roles go to women for women’s football coverage and vice versa. But she looked visibly taken back by the rest of the assessment, replying: “It’s an opinion, which we’re all entitled to. I put value on them, everybody has them.

“I’m not going to listen to a mob on X who have never put themselves in a situation to do anywhere close to what I’ve done. I listen to the professionals, the people who have hired me for the last 11 years, the biggest broadcasters in the world. By default, if I’m working with the people who are considered brilliant broadcasters, if I’m next to them, then by default I’m considered also a brilliant broadcaster.

“I appreciate what you’re saying, but in reality, I’ve been good enough for 11 years and as I said, I’m the person to go and seek out feedback, for someone to go: ‘I think you’re struggling’…it’s never happened.

In an attempt to further clarify her comments, she answered questions from Jim White about what changes she believes ought to be made. Speaking on talkSPORT, Aluko said: “I think it’s more about clarifying and saying look, I think 270 caps represent experience and the insight you can bring to the game.

“What I wasn’t saying is that 270 caps justifies an instant pick, of course, you need a skillset to be a pundit. The point I was trying to make is, that in women’s football, my opinion is that where there’s a choice, I want to see that level of experience on the main panel for women’s football.

“That’s not at the exclusion of Nedum Onuoha or Ian Wright, I’m saying. Can we have a situation where women are the main faces of women’s sport and then the men play more of a supporting role? That might be…Ian Wright could do 10-minute hits before the game, a bit of colour, bit of context, then back to the main studio and bang, you’ve got the faces of the game, whoever the three female pundits are.”

Her Response to Laura Woods

Laura Woods richest British sports presenters

Aluko also had another opportunity to address Laura Woods’ comments, who hit back at her comments about female pundits in women’s football, and acts as the perfect contradiction to her former ITV partner’s points about women in football being restricted. “I respect Laura’s opinion and always have done,” she said.

“I think it’s helpful for her to outline a lot of the attributes that go into a brilliant pundit. Caps are part of that, as I explained, it’s not the decider, but it’s an objective way to say this person has enough experience to talk about this specific game. Now, it’s interesting because Laura is one of the people I would consistently go to, we got on like a house on fire, I’d go to her and say: ‘How do you think it went? What do you think?’.

“Laura consistently – and I had to look at the messages again and go hold on, I feel a bit gaslit here – said to be, I think you’re a brilliant broadcaster, I think you’re a brilliant pundit. So, I think there’s a little bit of serving an argument at this point, which I respect, she doesn’t agree and that’s fine, but I think there’s an insinuation in there, that you don’t have the standard.

Former England players Jill Scott and Eniola Aluko ahead of England vs France at the 2022 World Cup. — FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Quarter Final – England v France – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar – December 10, 2022 ITV sports presenter Laura Woods with former England players Jill Scott and Eniola Aluko by the pitch before the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

“Again, I’ve worked too hard for people to conclude that because you’re not seeing me on screen you’re not good enough, that’s not true. She mentioned about the camaraderie in the group, we had loads of that, that’s the funnest part for me. I’m not the person that’s difficult to work with behind the scenes, me and Laura got on, everyone gets on.”

Jim White then raised the ‘gaslit’ comment again, with Aluko saying: “Well, not gaslit, I don’t want to say that. She has a view and I appreciate her view… she mentioned about little boys being important as well, I agree, but when I see little boys coming to the games now, they’ve got women on their shirts, they don’t have men pundit names on their shirts.

“I think that there’s an insinuation there that if you’re sat in the stands then you don’t meet the things that make a brilliant broadcaster.

“But as I said, privately, she’s told me and reassured me that I’m a brilliant broadcaster, which I thought I’d forever appreciate from Laura.”

Sports

Arsenal Told They Can Sign ‘Magnificent’ Wan-Bissaka for Just £25m

Published

17 minutes ago

July 7, 2026

admin

Arsenal now know how much they will have to pay to snap up an experienced Premier League right-back. Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are carefully crafting their summer recruitment strategy, keen to improve as they look to bridge the gap to PSG, but they must be careful not to disrupt what is already a very good team.

There are one or two areas Arteta wants to strengthen, with the left-wing and number 8 roles the biggest priority, in that order, while the Spaniard will also want a little more depth at right-back, given Ben White’s injury troubles, and then it will be about replacing any squad players who are lured away by the opportunity to start regularly elsewhere.

Wan-Bissaka price tag emerges

One of Arsenal’s less expected summer targets is said to be West Ham star Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who will be hoping to stay in the Premier League despite the Hammers being relegated. Wan-Bissaka did well with DR Congo in the World Cup this summer, and he has proven himself a solid defender at Premier League level.

The former Manchester United star is not going to be seen as a starting option for Arsenal, but he can certainly be a deputy at the position, and his pace means he can offer something different off the bench. That pace on the right is arguably something Arsenal don’t have enough of between White and Timber.

According to The Athletic, West Ham will commission a Wan-Bissaka sale this summer, but they are asking for a £25million asking price to be met. The 28-year-old is likely to want a move, but he is under contract until 2031, giving West Ham plenty of control over his future.

The Hammers are set to make £10million on their initial £15million investment.

Wan-Bissaka is ‘the best’ at one particular skill

Wan-Bissaka has regularly been dubbed the best one-on-one defender in the Premier League over the years. James Maddison once said: “AWB is ridiculously good at 1 v 1 defending. Probably the best in the world bar none. So many wingers run out of ideas when playing directly against him.”

Martin Keown added back in 2020: “He’s a magnificent defender, simply the best one-against-one defender in the Premier League. He’s patient, look how close he gets to his opponent. Sterling has got electric pace but it doesn’t matter because he goes in. He takes charge of things.

“People thought I was good and I think this guy is ahead of me. He has got that arrogance and great pace. He picks his moment, it’s brilliant defending. His teammates know he is their best defender.”

‘World-Class’ Arsenal Transfer Target Hands in Transfer Request

The Gunners have the chance to land a top winger

Sports

Oscar Piastri Considering Activating His Release Clause and Terminating His Contract

Published

40 minutes ago

July 7, 2026

admin

A shock seat swap in Formula One could be on the cards for next season.

The F1 season has been full of its usual twists and turns, both on and off the track. The latest reports, however, suggest one of the most dramatic transfers could well unfold. And this rumour appears to have more substance than the usual ‘Silly Season’ gossip.

As F1 approaches its summer break, the drivers and their camps plot out potential moves. As it becomes clear which constructors have the fastest cars and which driver in their pairings has priority, tensions and frustrations can rise. This has been particularly true in the McLaren camp.

While they produced the fastest cars last season, they have been off the pace this year. That, in addition to their ‘papaya rules’, has led Oscar Piastri to become increasingly upset with the team. The Australian has been linked with a move away since the end of the 2025 season, when he lost out on the championship to his teammate Lando Norris.

Driver Unhappy With His Current Team

Piastri and his team believe he has been treated unfairly under the papaya rules. These are a set of guidelines that are intended to foster clean racing by allowing them to race, but must do so without any contact.

However, it has caused some controversy, particularly due to its inconsistent application in situations where McLaren have issued team instructions to Piastri, ordering him to allow his teammate Norris through. This has caused a strained relationship between his manager, Mark Weber, and the team.

F1 Driver Shocked Paddock With What He Said to Netflix Cameras at British Grand Prix

It was so out of character for the driver…

With speculation mounting, it may be that his decision has now been made. The 24-year-old has a contract with the Woking outfit until 2028, but it has recently been revealed that he has an exit clause that could see him leave should he be outside the top five by summer break. Piastri currently sits in sixth with two races to go.

A report by Grande Premio claims that he is weighing up ‘activating his release clause and terminating his contract.’ The papaya rules, the 2025 season, and an underwhelming performance in the current season, have fractured his relationship with McLaren and ‘exposed internal friction’ between Webber and the British outfit’s leadership.

If Piastri is to leave, it would free up the possibility of F1’s biggest shock since Lewis Hamilton‘s move to Ferrari: Max Verstappen to McLaren.

Driver Swap Could Take Place

Like Piastri, Verstappen has cut a frustrated figure at his outfit. He has been transparent about his anger at the new regulations and has openly criticised the RB22 on multiple occasions. Amid speculation that he plans to leave Red Bull, or potentially even F1, rumours have spread linking him to McLaren.

Verstappen has a similar exit clause in his contract allowing him to leave should he finish outside the top two by the summer break. That condition has been fulfilled as the Dutchman cannot mathematically catch George Russell in second.

Should both claims come to fruition, the most likely outcome is a swapping of the seats, which would see Verstappen race in the orange of McLaren while Piastri would join Red Bull.

With McLaren, alongside just about every outfit, longtime admirers of Verstappen, and Red Bull viewing Piastri as a successor to the Dutchman, this move makes a great deal of sense for all parties involved. However, nothing is concrete yet, with Webber also talking to Audi over a potential deal for his driver.

Sports

Fabrizio Romano Says Chelsea Already Have ‘Agreement’ with Pep Chavarria

Published

1 hour ago

July 7, 2026

admin

Chelsea are said to be pushing ahead with their next deal after their big-money signing of Marco Palestra. The Blues are backing Xabi Alonso this summer as they look to strengthen this squad to the point of being clear top four candidates after a season that saw them miss out on Europe altogether.

Chelsea were better than their final league position, but it was a chaotic season at the club, leading to two managerial sackings, and most were left wondering how differently the season would have ended had they simply stuck with Maresca, but relationships were splintered, leading to his sacking.

Alonso is now in charge, and there is excitement about the new playing identity the Spaniard will give the Blues. But that identity is not going to come without new signings, and right-back Palestra was the first to arrive, not including the pre-planned signing of Geovany Quenda.

Chelsea pressing ahead with Chavarria deal

Chelsea’s next main target is Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria, who is being seen as the Mar Cucurella replacement. Fabrizio Romano believes a deal is close, with the Blues set to return with a fresh approach.

“For Chelsea, we have to keep a close eye on the situation of Pep Chavarria, because Pep Chavarria is ready to go to Chelsea,” Romano said on his YouTube show.

“There is an agreement of personal terms between Rayo Vallecano and Chelsea. From what I understand, they are ready to send a new official bid, so Chelsea will return to the table with a new proposal for Chavarria, and he could be the next signing for Chelsea in terms of full-backs, after Marco Palestra on the right.”

Chavarria is said to have a release clause worth £21.5million, and Rayo are said to be demanding the full clause is reached and paid if they are to sell.

Chavarria a player who always wants to learn

Xabi Alonso smiles in a press conference while working as Real Madrid manager

Now former Rayo Vallecano boss Inigo Perez, who has since joined Villarreal, said that Chavarria was “a luxury to have in the team,” with the full-back helping the Vallecas side to the Conference League final last season.

Speaking about his own progress, Chavarria said late last season: “I’m not the same player as when I arrived. I have learned a lot. The boss has helped me progress in what I needed to improve and I’m very happy because I keep learning every day.”

“My mentality year after year has been growing, and now as a reward, you find yourself in the Conference League quarter-finals and you are able to win.”