Football News: Review Of The Day 20th January 2018
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Review of the Day
Jose Confirms Alexis Talks
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Manchester United are in talks to try and sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal. Just in case there is somebody out there that did not already know that. The question he really could have done with answering is - why is it taking so long? This transfer really feels like it is dragging on and on.
Derby Disappointed By Draw
Friday night's match in the English Championship saw second placed Derby County held to a draw by 5th placed Bristol City, who have moved up to 4th with that point, for now at least. The big talking point was the late decision by the referee to book Cameron Jerome for diving when Bristol defender Aden Flint clearly made contact with him in the box, though there is no question he exaggerated his fall. Wolverhampton Wanderers still top the divison, by 9 points from Derby, with a game in hand. Bristol are a further 5 points back.
Cardiff Face Financial Penalties If Grujic Does Not Play
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has confirmed that the Bluebirds will face a financial punishment from Liverpool if their new loan signing Marko Grujic does not play in at least 14 games this season. "We won't get punished if he gets injured and things like that. We've got 19 league games, and hopefully he'll play in all of them. A lot of clubs take players from the Premier League and don't play them. Well that's a waste of time. Same as me sending someone out, if they make up the numbers it's pointless. We'll have to look at penalising clubs if they don't play them for a percentage of games." Is this the way forward for loans, to put loaning clubs under financial pressure to ensure the loaned players get games?
City Boosted By Fernandinho
Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has signed a 2 year contract with Manchester City, which sees his deal run out in 2020. Now 32 years old, he arrived from Shaktar Donetsk in June 2013 for a fee of £30m and is now fully established as Pep Guardiola's holding midfielder of choice. In fact Pep described him as "one of the best three holding midfielders in the world".
Benitez Already Knew Takeover Had Failed
Rafael Benitez has admitted that he knew three or four weeks ago that the Amanda Staveley led takeover of Newcastle United would not be happening in January. "I knew three or four weeks ago when I was talking with Mike Ashley," said Benitez. "He told me that the takeover will not go through [this month]. So, for me, this has changed nothing." Benitez added that he was looking to sign 3 or 4 players in the January transfer window.
Burnley Agree Lennon Deal
Former England winger Aaron Lennon is close to a move to Burnley after they agreed a deal with his current club Everton. The 30 year old has been made available by Sam Allardyce, who does not see him as part of his plans for the Toffees. Lennon has struggled with his mental health since moving to Everton from Tottenham Hotspur, with the pictures of his signing being seen as a big joke at the time, but now seem poignant as the sign of a deeply unhappy individual who needed an arm around his shoulders and instead got jeered and laughed at. With the culture of Sean Dyche at the Clarets being very much about putting his arm around shoulders and even making club discipline a fun part of the weekly routine, hopefully Lennon will really begin to enjoy his football once more.
Carrick To Take Up Coaching Role
After suffering a heart problem in September, which necessitated a cardiac ablation due to an irregular heart rhythm, Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has agreed to take up a first team coaching role at the club at the end of the season. The 36 year old has not played since the heart problem was discovered, but he has been back in training since November.
Transfer News
14 years after first leaving his boyhood club, Robin van Persie has returned to the Netherlands to re-sign for them. The 34 year old striker left Fenerbahce to sign for Feyenoord on a free.
Brighton and Hove Albion have smashed their transfer record to sign striker Jurgen Locadia from PSV Eindhoven. They will hope the 24 year old Dutchman, who has 9 goals in 15 games this season, will end their goalscoring problems. They have scored just 17 goals in 23 matches so far this season, only Swansea City, bottom of the Premier League, have scored less.
Leon Goretzka has agreed a deal to join Bayern Munich in the summer on a free transfer. The Schalke midfielder will be able to make the switch on a Bosman free deal.
Pele Hospital Reports Fake News
Pele's spokesperson has dimissed news of his hospitalisation as 'fake news'. The legendary former Brazilian international, now 77 years old, had withdrawn from a dinner to be held in his honour by the Football Writers Association in London. Immediately news flooded the internet that he had been rushed to hospital after collapsing due to exhaustion. "He just didn't want to make a long and stressful trip to London, in and out of who knows how many planes and airports," said Jose Fornos Rodrigues. "That's all."
Schurrle Claims Rumours Are Affecting Dortmund
After filling in for absent Borussia Dortmund frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during last night's 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin, former Chelsea player Andrea Schurrle has claimed that the rumours circulation around Aubameyang are hindering the team's performance. "It's been a big issue in the team," Schurrle said. "It's caused unrest, and left us shaking our heads. It hasn't been easy to concentrate on football because there's only been one topic off the pitch."
Conte Admits Pedro Dived
In a refreshing, but sadly all too rare, piece of honesty from the world of football, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has admitted that one of his players dived in the FA Cup replay win over Norwich City. The game saw 3 Chelsea players booked for 'simulation' and now Conte has admitted the decision to book Pedro was correct. However he does still believe that the other 2 bookings were 'mistakes'.
Lambert Calls Butland One Of The Best In Europe
New Stoke City manager Paul Lambert has ruled out the possibility of goalkeeper Jack Butland leaving the club in the January transfer window: "I saw that lad play against United. He is one of the best, I don't care what anybody says. That boy is one of the best goalkeepers I've seen. He's got the stature, he's got great kicking, and he made saves at Old Trafford that were great. He had no chance with the goals, absolutely none whatsoever. It's not just him who has conceded the goals, it's everywhere. He's only a young lad but he is definitely one of the best. Jack Butland in my opinion is one of the best around, without a doubt - not just in Britain, in Europe." This despite Butland conceding 43 goals in his 20 Premier League appearances, as part of the worst defensive unit in the Prem, which is in large part responsible for them being sat in the drop zone. Added to his consistent injury problems, it is hard to believe there is any chance of him moving simply because no one would be willing to risk shelling out money for a keeper who misses so many games a season.
Wallace Has Hernia Op
Rangers captain Lee Wallace is hopeful of a swift return to action after having an operation to fix a hernia problem that has kept him out since September.
Written by Tris Burke January 20 2018 05:46:28
