Football News: Review Of The Day 24th December 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Middlesbrough left-back Marc Bola has signed a new contract which expires in 2024.

Bradley Dack has extended his Blackburn Rovers contract until 2023.

Polish international goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski has triggered a 1 year contract extension with Millwall to extend his spell with the Lions until the end of next season.

Brentford's Finnish forward Marcus Forss has signed a new five and a half year deal.

Transfers

Blackpool have taken goalkeeper Sam Walker on a 1 week emergency loan from Reading after Chris Maxwell tested positive for CV.

Bradley Wright-Phillips has joined Columbus Crew on a free transfer from Los Angeles FC.

Injury Round-Up

As well as their goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, Blackpool will be without former Liverpool midfielder Matty Virtue while the paid go into self-isolation after positive covid tests.

After five positive tests amongst the playing staff and backroom team, Portsmouth's next two matches have been postponed.

Burton Albion's on loan defender Sam Hughes has returned to parent club Leicester City for treatment after suffering a "long-term" knee injury. Brewers boss Jake Buxton revealed that they had been in talks to make the loan a permanent deal before his injury: "We gave him a great platform to play and he was putting in great performances. We had been in dialogue with Leicester about possibly taking him on a permanent deal and the chairman was fully in support of making that happen. Unfortunately, that now can't happen in the next window but it's something we would still look to do in the future as we believe Sam is a good player."

Rotherham United have postponed their Boxing Day clash with Middlesbrough after more positive covid tests.

Managerial Changes

League Two side Barrow have appointed Michael Jolley as their new manager to replace David Dunn. Jolley has been out of work since leaving Grimsby Town in November 2019.

Ian Holloway has quit as manager of League Two's Grimsby Town due to the imminent takeover. Holloway said he has decided to leave after majority shareholder John Fenty told him of his intention to sell up.

Disciplinary Charges

Northampton Town left-back Joe Martin has been banned for 1 match and fined £1,200 after admitting a charge of abusive language towards a match official in the Cobblers defeat at the hands of Crewe Alexandra.

Red Bull Salzburg's Malian international duo Mohamed Camara and Sekou Koita have both tested positive for banned substances. The pair failed the UEFA-administered tests after returning from Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November. Both RBS and UEFA are to launch an investigation after the players revealed that the banned substance, which is used to treat altitude sickness, was administered by Mali's medical staff while they were on international duty.

Atletico Madrid's former Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kieran Trippier has been given a ten-week worldwide football ban and fined £70,000 for breaching betting rules. The 30 year old was accused of seven breaches, which he denied, and was found guilty in four of the cases. He will miss 12 games for his club.

Burnley Takeover In Balance

After receiving no communication from current Burnley chairman Mike Garlick for the last six weeks, one of the two bids on the table for the Clarets has been removed. Egyptian businessman Mohamed El Kashashy and solicitor Chris Farnell had gone far enough along in the bidding process to be checked by the Premier League but they have now left the way clear for ALK Capital. ALK, an American sports investment firm, wanted a deal finalised in time to fund a transfer push in January.

Arsenal Are Relegation Rivals According To Allardicio

New West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that he considers Arsenal to be a relegation rival as he seeks to keep up his record of never being relegated from the Premier League. The Gunners sit four points above the relegation places in 15th place and lost heavily to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night. Allardyce said: "Getting beaten [by Manchester City], even though it is not in the Premier League, as it would do with ours, drains the confidence of Arsenal's players. They will be wondering what has hit them. They will be wondering why they are down there. They will be wondering what it takes to get out of that position. I know what it takes. I hope to convince my players to respond to that. I hope we can push at Arsenal, when we play them, because they have a lack of confidence. We will try to beat them, or anybody in the bottom eight."

Messi Breaks Pele's Record

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has broken Pele's world record for the most goals for one club after scoring his 644th goal for Barcelona in their victory over Real Valladolid. Pele scored 643 goals in 19 years with Santos.

Written by Tris Burke December 24 2020 06:10:01