Football News: Everton Get Big Money Investor After He Sells Arsenal Shares, Gerrard Gets Galaxy Training Times Changed To Watch The Cup Final And More

1. Transfer round up
Yuchen Zhou, Shandong Luneng Taishan to Heibei China Fortun, on loan (£10,000 fee)
Zhunyi Gao, Shandong Luneng Taishan to Heibei China Fortun, on loan (£10,000 fee)
Tryggvi Gudmundsson, Njardvik to Framherjar, free
Pavel Londak, FK Bodo/Glimt to Rosenborg BK, free
Samir Merzic, Velez Mostar to Sloboda Tuzla, free
Rudnei, Avai to Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard, free
Robbie Findley, Toronto FC to Rayo OKC, free
Leandrinho, Jeonnam Dragons to Santa Cruz, free
Qiang Hao, Beijing BIT to Zhejiang Yiteng, free
Dimitrios Kiliaras, GAS Ialysos to AS Sparti, free
Vadim Minich, SKA Energia to FK Tambov, free
Guja Rukhaia, KamAZ to FC Sibir, free
Luis Prieto, Ayacucho to San Lorenzo, free
Sergio Ariel Escudero, Jiangsu Suning to Kyoto Sanga, free
Yongchi Lei, Henan Jianye to Liaoning FC, free
Oleksandr Volkov, ? To Olimpik Donetsk, free
Vyacheslav Kirillov, Baikal Irkutsk to Baltika Kaliningrad, free
Bogdan Sandru, Pandurii Targu Jiu to Universitatea Cluj, on loan
Mirel Bolboasa, Petrolul Ploiesti to Universitatea Cluj, free
Georgios Kapnopoulos, Psachna to Krya Vrysi, free
Alex, Cruzeiro to Mirassol, on loan
Sean Okoli, New England Revolution to Cincinnati, free
Jose Embalo, Rapid Bucharest to Fjardabyggd, free
Jakub Cesarek, Dolcan Zabki to Pogon Grodzisk Mazowiecki, free
Armin Imamovic, NK Krivaja Zavidovici to Celik Zenica, free
Victor Aparicio, Liverpool FC Montevideo to ?, free
Saeid Ezzatolahi, Atletico Madrid to Rostov, free
Sanjin Lelic, Dinamo Zagreb to FK Olimpic, free
Daniel Mustafa, Nublense to Cerro Largo, undisclosed fee
Julian Gorius, KRC Genk to Changchun Yatai, undisclosed fee
Jianjun Lu, Henan Jianye to Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, undisclosed fee
Luke Foster, Southport to Harrogate Town, undisclosed fee
Aleksandr Ryazantsez, Zenit St Petersburg to Ural Sverdlovskaya Oblast, on loan
Inal Getigezhev, Rubin Kazan to Gazovik Orenburg, on loan
Jianfei Yang, Baotou Nanjiao to Shenzhen Renren, undisclosed fee
Yuri Kendysh, Zalgiris Vilnius to BATE Borisov, undisclosed fee
Vasili Lukichev, Strogino Moscow to Tosno, undisclosed fee
Igor Gubanov, FC Sibir to Zenit Izhevsk, undisclosed fee
Marin Glavas, Zlate Moravce to Ararat Yerevan, undisclosed fee
Telmo Castanheira, Felgueiras to Gondomar, undisclosed fee
Rafal Wolski, Fiorentina to Wisla Krakow, on loan
Armin Begic, NK Jedinstvo Bihac to NK Borac Izacic, undisclosed fee
Roman Sobtsenko, FC Flora to FC Infonet, undisclosed fee
Carlos Small, San Miguelito to Guria, on loan
Fredrik Krogstad, Lillestrom SK to Ullensaker/Kisa, on loan
Paul McMullan, Celtic to Greenock Morton,
Georgi Kupenov, Botev Plovdiv to Septemvri Sofia, on loan
Dario Arcuri, unattached to Marsala Calcio
Ilsinho, unattached to Philadelphia Union
Bruninho, unattached to Rio Branco
Bin Gu, unattached to Shanghai Shenxin
Fabricio, released by Juventude
Daivison, unattached to America RN
Kai Chen, unattached to Nantong Zhiyun
Gustavinho, released by Vila Nova
Emmanuel Mast, NE Xamax to SR Delemont, on loan

2. Neymar Sr dismisses new contract story
Barcelona star Neymar Jr was reported by ESPN to have signed a new contract with the club, but now his father Neymar Sr, who also acts as his agent, has dismissed the reports, saying that no new deal has been signed. In fact, according to Senior, talks have been held off because of the legal issues Junior is involved in. "We hope that Neymar renews his contract," Neymar Sr. said. "He still has two more years left and the fans can be relaxed during this time. Now we will begin to talk, but we have not sat down yet. We have spent so much time defending ourselves from accusations that it was too early to talk about renewing the contract. We are relaxed with all that we are doing at Barcelona and I believe the club are too. We will speak with [Barca president Josep Maria] Bartomeu in May and come up with a path for Neymar and Barca to take together." Neymar Sr also confirmed that Barca had rejected offers for his son: "Barcelona received a proposal last year and they rejected it," he said. "These offers are returning now and Barca are prepared to reject them. But these offers are coming not just for Neymar, also for [Luis] Suarez and [Lionel] Messi... [Madrid] have not contacted us," he said. "And the club has not spoken with them either. This is speculation, we have been living with this since Neymar was 16. Now we have more experience and we must wait until May or June. Neymar is very happy at Barcelona, the fans should be relaxed."

 

3. One of the best put downs of all time
Jack Whitehall compares Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp with Robin van Persie:

4. Tigers confirm Arsenal approach knocked back
Hull City manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that Arsenal rejected an approach to sign on loan midfielder Isaac Hayden during the January transfer window. Bruce, looking to shore up his side with a return to the Premier League in mind, was hoping that Hayden, who is currently at the Tigers on loan for the season, could be acquired on a permanent deal after he impressed in the early stages of the campaign. "They weren't interested in January but it is something that we will prolong and see what happens in the summer," Bruce said when quizzed on a potential permanent deal for Hayden.

 

5. Everton get investment
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has been searching for investment in the Toffees for around ten years now, and finally he has managed to find what he hopes will be a man to take the club forward.

BREAKING: The Club is to have a new major shareholder in Farhad Moshiri who brings the promise of new investment. More to follow. #EFC

— Everton (@Everton) 27 February 2016

Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri sold his shares in Arsenal to Alisher Usmanov on Friday, then agreed a deal to buy 49.9% of Everton, conditional on Premier League approval. An Everton statement said:
Everton Football Club today announces that the Club will have a new major shareholder who brings the promise of new investment. Farhad Moshiri will acquire 49.9% of the Club, conditional only on the Premier League approving his investment. Chairman Bill Kenwright said: "After an exhaustive search I believe we have found the perfect partner to take the Club forward. I have got to know Farhad well over the last 18 months and his football knowledge, financial wherewithal and True Blue spirit have convinced me that he is the right man to support Everton." Moshiri commented: "I am delighted to take this opportunity to become a shareholder in Everton, with its rich heritage as one of Europe's leading football clubs. There has never been a more level playing field in the Premier League than now. Bill Kenwright has taught me what it means to be an Evertonian and I look forward with excitement to working with him to help deliver success for Everton in the future."

6. Killie player makes police complaint over abuse from Hearts fans
Kilmarnock's Josh Magennis has made a complaint to the police over alleged abuse he received from the stands during his side's 1-0 defeat against. A Hearts statement on Saturday evening said: "The club can confirm that following this afternoon's game, a complaint was made to Police Scotland by a Kilmarnock player. The Kilmarnock player alleges that an abusive comment was made relating to his nationality by an individual seated within the home end at Tynecastle. The alleged abusive remark related to the player being Irish. The player is from Northern Ireland. To clarify, this allegation does not involve the player's colour, religion or sexuality. Senior figures from both clubs were present when the player made the complaint and discussed the matter fully thereafter. Heart of Midlothian FC has a number of players of different nationality playing in the current squad and is very proud of the international make-up of our team. We will fully support any police investigation into reports of abuse such as the one which has been reported today." A police spokesman said: "We can confirm we have received a report of racial abuse from today's match at Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh. Inquiries are ongoing."

 

7. Wenger blames players being tapped up for title failures
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied his side are chokers, instead coming up with excuses for their regular failures at the key moment of each season. With his team once again within reach of a Premier League trophy, pundits have suggested that they will once again fail when it counts. The Gunners manager believes that this season will be different: "We have lost once or twice the championship but you could say that about Manchester United as well, and any team," Wenger said. "We usually finish strongly in the second part of the season." This season Arsenal are five points behind leaders Leicester City, but with a game in hand to play against Manchester United, however they have thrown away their chances from a similarly close proximity in the past. In 2011 they were second and four points behind Man Utd in February, only to end the season in their usual fourth place with a twelve point deficit to United. "At that time we were losing momentum, this time it's the opposite: we are chasing and gaining momentum," Wenger said. "We had two difficult games recently [a 0-0 draw with Hull City in the FA Cup and a 2-0 defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League] but overall the psychological situation is different. Also, we were very young at that time ... and the mood of some players was more to get the next contract somewhere else than to win the championship because at the time we had to sell our players. When we went into April some of the players were tapped up to go somewhere else and it was difficult to maintain the focus. That's not the case at the moment. All the players are focused and want to win and have great solidarity. It's down to showing how good we are. The psychological situation is different today. Spirit-wise, I cannot criticise. In 2010, I would say we lost it because the spirit was not what it should be because of individual tap-ups." Wenger added: "We have lost once or twice the championship but you could say that about Manchester United as well, and any team. We usually finish strongly in the second part of the season." Surely being tapped up should be used as a way of driving the players on? After all, if they are being offered money to leave when the club has won nothing, how much would they get offered after a league title?

8. Gullit criticises Depay over attitude
Former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit has hit out at Memphis Depay over his attitude. Gullit believes Depay is too busy trying to build an image off the field, rather than concentrating on his performances on the field. Gullit has said he thinks that Depay is trying to become a 'style icon'. "What I see with Memphis is a boy who wants two things at the same time," Gullit told the Sunday Mirror. "He wants to become a really good footballer, but at the same time he wants to be a global superstar and a style icon. I think to myself, 'boy oh boy, do it in the right order. You have to perform, perform and perform again.' Once Memphis has won a lot of trophies then I don't care if he wants to be as crazy as Dennis Rodman - or even crazier. My question to him is: how do you want to be remembered in life? As an odd character with a hat and a Rolls Royce? Or as a footballer?"

 

9. Blackpool forced into apology to Bradford
Blackpool faced Bradford City in a League One clash on Saturday, with relations between the two clubs already at an all time low. The two clubs fell out after the end of last season when a protest on the final day caused a match with Huddersfield Town to be abandoned. Bradford chairman Mark Lawn was furious with Blackpool as The Tangerines would have owed a payment of around £100,000 to them if Nahki Wells has scored a goal in that game. Instead Blackpool's majority owner Karl Oyston called off the match with Wells left on 14 goals and no matches left to trigger the transfer clause. With the Valley Parade fire, which killed 56 supporters in May 1985, back in the news due to allegations of arson surrounding the events, there was shock in the stands as Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start The Fire' was clearly heard being played over the PA system at the club. A Blackpool club statement read: 'The club would like to apologise for any unintentional offence caused by a song played at today's match.'

10. Galaxy reschedule flight and training so Gerrard can watch Cup final
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was gutted to discover that he was set to miss his beloved Reds face Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final. The 35 year old has expressed his gratitude after LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena understood how important it was to the Scouser to watch his team and changed training and flight times to allow Gerrard to to see the match. "When I told Bruce the kick-off time, he pushed training and our flight to Mexico back an hour on Sunday to ensure I didn't miss it," Gerrard said. Have they prepared for extra time and penalties? That could test just how far MLS side Galaxy are prepared to indulge their star midfielder.

Written by Tris Burke February 28 2016 05:14:02