Football News: Review Of The Day 27th January 2018

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Review of the Day

Bakambu's China Move Held Up By Tax Wrangle

Cedric Bakambu's looming transfer to Beijing Guoan from Villareal is being held up by Chinese tax rules. The Beijing side are trying to find out if the deal falls outside of the 100% levy on any fee over around £3m as Bakambu paid his own release clause of 40m euros. "They are still in negotiation about the tax but as soon as they have a decision, the contract will become official," sports consultant Leveel, who works with Bakambu on image-related contracts, told BBC Sport. "The deal will conclude by the end of this weekend." Bakambu has already signed a 5 year deal with Guoan as a free agent and has begun training with his new team-mated in a Portugese training camp. If the tax does apply, then this would immediately become the highest transfer fee ever paid for an African player at 80m euros. The record is currently held by Naby Keita's pre-agreed move to Liverpool set for the summer. Incidentally, Liverpool have also paid the 2nd and 3rd highest fee for African players with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Bent Transfers

Former England striker Darren Bent has joined bottom of the Championship side Burton Albion on loan as manager Nigel Clough desperately looks for a way to keep the Brewers in the division. Bent has not played a first-team game for parent club Derby County this season after suffering a hamstring injury in a pre-season friendly.

Eco-friendly vegan club Forest Green Rovers have signed goalkeeper Cameron Belford following his release by Stranraer. The keeper is contracted to League Two side Forest Green until the end of the season.

Yeovil Town have signed striker Alex Fisher from Motherwell on a free transfer. Fisher had failed to score in 19 appearances after joining the SPFL side in the summer.

Crystal Palace's exciting young forward Sulley Kaikai has signed for League One side Charlton Athletic on loan for the rest of the season.

Bradford City have made a triple signing as Australian defender Ryan McGowan from Al-Sharjah on a free transfer and former England international Stephen Warnock and midfielder Matty Lund both on loan from Burton Albion.

Free agent Navid Nasseri has signed for Gillingham until the end of the season. The Iranian U21 international had been on trial with Gills before agreeing the deal to join until the end of the season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have brought in Danish goalkeeper Andreas Sondergaard from Odense Boldklub for an undisclosed fee. The 17 year old will join their U23 squad. Wolves have also sent striker Duckens Nazon on loan to Oldham Athletic until the end of the season.

Arsenal midfielder Ben Sheaf has joined League Two side Stevenage on loan for the rest of the season.

Mallik Wilks has left Leeds United for a loan spell with Grimsby Town. The 19 year old striker will spend the rest of the season there, having spent the first part of the season at Grimsby's League Two rivals Accrington 'who are they' Stanley.

Another League Two side has bolstered their team with a double signing. Carlisle United have added striker Cole Stockton on a free transfer from Hearts and Millwall's Canadian international midfielder Kris Twardek on loan.

Hamilton Academical have sold defender Michael Devlin to Aberdeen, despite the player having a cruciate ligament injury that has kept him out of the game since May. It is likely to be March that he returns to fitness. Aberdeen have also rejected a third bid from Hull City for Scott McKenna.

In France's Ligue 1, Olympique Lyonnais have signed France Under-21 star Martin Terrier from Lille, though he will spend the rest of the season on loan with RC Strasbourg Alsace. Lyon confirmed that they had paid Lille an initial fee of 11 million euros for Terrier, with the fee rising to a maximum of 15 million euros including bonuses. Terrier was already on loan at Strasbourg from Lille.

Espanyol Make Complaint About Barcelona Taunts

After comments made following Barcelona's victory over Espanyol in the Copa Del Rey saw them through to the next round, Espanyol have asked the Spanish Football Federation's anti-violence commission to rule whether there is evidence that Barcelona "incited violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance". The comments being questioned were made by Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets, which came on the back of ill-feeling following Espanyol's first leg win. Pique said: "It isn't that we suffered so much in this game, but Espanyol de Cornella always make it difficult for us." Asked why he referred to the rival club in that way, Pique replied: "Yes, Espanyol de Cornella, they are from Cornella right?" Espanyol's name is actually Espanyol de Barcelona but they are based in the suburb of Cornella. In normal circumstances it would be seen as akin to calling Manchester United by the name Salford United, for example. However, with the rising tensions of Calatan attempts for independence, and Espanyol seen as the team of the union of Spain and Catalan, the comments could be said to have more meaning. Even so, especially in light of the complaints about Busquets comments, it does smack of sour grapes and oversensitivity from Espanyol. "In Cornella it was a more insane game," Busquets said. "They celebrated in Cornella as if they had passed the round, but the tie lasts 180 minutes and we put things in their place." The Espanyol statement said about Busquets: "In relation to the statements of Mr Busquets, it is inconceivable an athlete declares a rival cannot celebrate a victory, achieved with effort and in a fair fight, like the one that our team got in the first leg of the tie. We consider the declarations of Busquets can generate violence and intolerance." Feels a lot like a storm in tea cup, or should that be a del Rey cup?

Lennon Flattered By Scotland Links

With the role of Scotland's manager still available following Michael O'Neill's decision to reject it, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has put forward the name of Hibernian boss, and former Celtic manager, Neil Lennon as the ideal candidate. Lennon has said that he is flattered to have been suggested. "I'm not speaking from a personal point of view, but it's a great job," said Lennon. "If an approach comes, and it's a huge if, then we will deal with it accordingly but until then there's no further comment. It's very flattering from someone of Brendan's stature in the game and I appreciate the sentiment, but I am the Hibs manager." Lennon has recently agreed a new Hibs deal that runs until 2020.

Liverpool Warn Supporters Over Ticket Purchases

Liverpool's chief executive Peter Moore has warned fans of the dangers of buying tickets from touts, after a number of people have been suspended by purchasing tickets and attending games recently. "We are working extremely hard to protect supporters from getting caught out with fake or unofficial tickets," Moore said. "One way to help immediately is to stop purchasing tickets from unofficial sources. We will continue this work and are committed to looking at new ways how we can help to stop this illegal trading."

Conte Dismisses Speculation

Despite media rumours to the contrary, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has said he is happy at the club. On Wednesday, following the defeat to Arsenal in the EFL Cup semi-final, Conte's comments suggested a strained relationship with the board as he said that the club "decides every single player" that is signed and sold. This led to stories appearing of assistant Carlo Cudicini acting as a go-between with the board. Conte has now tried to shut down the stories as he said: "I would be very happy to continue to work with my players. I'm happy to try every day to put all myself for this job. I would be very happy if there are some new players. I'm repeating always the same thing - I'm the coach. My task is to try to do the best for this club, to try to improve my players for this club." It could be said that his initial comments were more about deflecting comments about signings in the window than any suggestion of discontent anyway.

Wenger Accepts Arsenal To Blame For Sanchez Missing Drugs Test

After Alexis Sanchez missed a random drugs test on Monday, due to being away finalising his transfer to Manchester United, his former manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that it was Arsenal's error that led to him missing the test. "It is just a bad day for him to be tested," Wenger said. "Honestly, on the administration side it would still be our responsibility because he had not moved. The most important is the intentions are right. The intention of Alexis was certainly not to hide, nor was our intention to hide anything. We have nothing to hide. I pushed always for football to do more against doping, so I don't see why we should not co-operate. We try our best, but this was a special day. On Monday there was a lot going on, it is a special day for Alexis Sanchez - you have to do paperwork and travel."

Liverpool Unlikely To Make More Signings

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that more January signings are now unlikely, despite the record sale of Philippe Coutinho. "It's not really likely," Klopp told a news conference on Friday. "Should I say 100 per cent no? But that would kill all the rumours and I don't want to do that. Come on, we should enjoy it another five days."

Hibs Drop Stokes Over Disciplinary Issues

Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon has confirmed that Irish striker Anthony Stokes will not face former side Celtic after a number of off-field disciplinary issues. Stokes has been out of favour with Lennon since 30th December last year.

Anderlecht To Be Punished For Overcharging Bayern Fans

It seems even UEFA have their limits on how much money can be asked of from the fans as they have announced that RSC Anderlecht are in breach of their safety and security regulations. Anderlecht were charging 100 euros a ticket to the travelling Bayern Munich support, which led to anger and protests from the away fans. As well as banners protesting the price, the Bayern fans threw fake 100 euro notes onto the pitch. Bayern Munich themselves were fined 20,000 euros over the banners and fake money, despite having given their fans a 30 euro subsidy for the tickets. The raised ticket prices for big away supports has become a problem around European football, with Liverpool complaining to UEFA over Porto charging away fans three times the amount they were charging their home fans for comparable seating this season as well.

Klopp Confirms Sturridge May Go

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told Daniel Sturridge that he is not guaranteed first team football if he stays at the club. "I have never in my life promised a player game time for the next few months. It is not possible. We have mentioned all the things like it was so far." Klopp said. "When Daniel is fit, training in shape he is still an outstanding striker there is no doubt about that. But he did not play the last few weeks - for different reasons. Of course one of them was Roberto Firmino's performance, then Dom Solanke's development. And Daniel was in and out of training. In general more in than out in training, but the time he was in he was a little unlucky with games. That was the situation, not more." He then went on to say that he was unsure if Sturridge would remain at Liverpool when the transfer window closed.

Simeone Gets Three Match Touchline Ban

The familiar sight of Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone on the sidelines will be missing in next season's Cope del Rey, after the Argentine was handed a 3 match touchline ban. Simeone was found guilty of misconduct towards a referee in the competition after being sent off during Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Sevilla for protesting a decision. That would have earnt him a one match touchline ban but the ban was extended by two more games after he mockingly applauded the referee when he was dismissed.

Baggies Hit By Flu Bug

West Bromwich Albion's task of beating Liverpool in the FA Cup 4th Round has got harder as manager Alan Pardew has confirmed that six of the first team squad have been hit by a flu bug. Ben Foster, Ahmed Hegazi, Gareth McAuley, Jay Rodriguez, Sam Field and James McClean are all struggling with the effects of the virus and may be forced to miss out. "We've got a little bit of a flu bug in terms of a few players," Pardew told reporters on Friday. "McClean, Rodriguez, Foster, Hegazi and G-Mac, so there's a few. But certainly, there are enough players available to not make too many changes. I'd rather be in a stronger position in the league to attack the cup. Having said that we take less pressure into this game." G-Mac? Am I the only one cringing when reading about Pardew saying that?

Ronaldo Wants Madrid Stay

Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted he wants to stay at Real Madrid due to his love for the club. Asked if he likes living in Madrid, Ronaldo said: "Of course I like living here. I've lived in this city since 2009 and I love the weather and the people. It's close to Portugal and you can get there by car. Spain is a great country, I love it. Of course I want to stay here, I love this club." He also told a Chinese football app that he is not thinking about going into coaching after his retirement: "Being a coach is not part of my plan, but you also know that people change their minds. For the moment I don't want to be a coach."

Written by Tris Burke January 27 2018 06:02:33