Football News: Review Of The Day 16th January 2023

Review of the Day

Contracts

Real Madrid's shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines has been renewed for a price reported to be over £60m.

Transfers

Bournemouth have used their new owner, Bill Foley's, attempts to sign Lorient to help them sign winger Dango Ouattara from the French side.

Chelsea have signed Ukrainian international winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk for £62m + a potential £27m in bonuses. Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov has pledged to donate £22m of the transfer fee to the Ukrainian war effort. Part of the deal also includes a friendly between the two sides at the Donbass Arena in Ukraine.

Leeds United have paid a club record transfer fee of up to £36m with potential add-ons for Georginio Rutter from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The initial fee is around £25m for the young French forward.

Following a second trial period at the club, Livingston have signed Dominican Republic defender Luiyi de Lucas, who was a free agent after leaving Finnish side Haka.

Jake Young has joined Barrow on loan from Bradford City.

Mansfield Town have paid an undisclosed fee to Swindon Town for midfielder Louis Reed. Leaving the Stags is George Lapslie, who has signed for Gillingham.

Hertha Berlin full-back Deyovaisio Zeefuik has joined Hellas Verona on loan. Leaving Verona is Alessandro Cortinovis, who has signed for Cosenza on loan.

Arsenal youngster Arthur Okonkwo has joined Sturm Graz on loan.

Real Sociedad have sent Jon Karrikaburu to Leganes on loan.

Real Betis have paid nearly £5m to sign 50% of the rights to Brazilian full-back Abner from Athletico Paranaense. They have an option to pay under £2m for another 20% of the rights, which would leave his former club in Brazil with, in effect, a 30% sell-on clause if he leaves Betis.

Aston Villa have agreed a deal with Chicago Fire to sign teenage striker Jhon Duran.

Borussia Dortmund have told Kicker that they have received no offers for Jude Bellingham so far, despite rumours of offers from Real Madrid in the media.

OGC Nice have sold Lucas Da Cunha to Como.

Injury Round Up

Former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Enock Mwepu, who was forced to retire from playing at the age of 25 in October after an hereditary heart condition was discovered, is in hospital after falling ill. Mwepu, who has just been appointed to coach in Brighton's youth academy, was driving in his native Zambia and fell after parking his car. Reports from the country claim he has suffered a suspected heart attck, but BHA stated that he is still undergoing precautionary checks to ascertain what the problem was.

Juventus's former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has returned to training. The French star has yet to play for Juve in his second spell at the club due to a knee problem.

Broussia Dortmund's former Paris Saint-Germain right-back Thomas Meunier is to be sidelined with a torn muscle fibre.

Job Changes

Former Olympique Lyonnais head coach Peter Bosz has revealed that he held talks with both Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers this season when their head coach position was vacant but both clubs chose to go a different direction. The Dutchman has been out of work since being sacked by Lyon in October.

Following a humiliating 8-2 defeat at the hands of Atalanta, Salernitana have sacked head coach Davide Nicola. It was the club's fourth loss in five matches.

Salernitana's Serie A relegation rivals Cremonese have also sacked their head coach, Massimiliano Alvini. They immediately moved to appoint Davide Ballardini as a replacement.

Disciplinary Charges

Tottenham Hotspur have stated that they will give an "immediate ban" to the Spurs fan who tried to kick Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the back following the North London derby.

Wycombe Wanderers have criticised thir fans for "innapropriate comments and chants from the terrace" during their home game against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. They are also searching CCTV footage to identify a fan who threw an object at a Wednesday player during the match to give them a lengthy stadium ban.

Police in France have confirmed that they have launched an investigation into Montpellier fans over homophobic banners and throwing objects, including fireworks onto the pitch during their match against Nantes at the weekend.

Pointless List Of The Day

Club World Cup draw (to be held in Morocco):

First Round
Al Ahly (Egypt) v Auckland City (New Zealand)

Second Round
Seattle Sounders (USA) v Al Ahly/Auckland City
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) v Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

Semi-finals
Flamengo (Brazil) v Wydad Casablanca/Al Hilal
Seattle Sounders/Al Ahly/Auckland City v Real Madrid (Spain)

Final
TBC (11 February)

San Siro To Stay?

Both Inter and AC Milan have agreed to tear down the San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza being its official name) stadium, that they have been sharing since 1947, in 2024 and to replace it with a brand new modern design. The plan has proved to be controversial in Italy, with a number of groups protesting against the planned demolition. Not Italy's Undersecretary for Culture, Vittorio Sgarbi, has told Corriere della sera that he thinks it will not be torn down, though he gave no reasons for the comment.

Written by Tris Burke January 16 2023 15:08:00