Football News: Review Of The Day 17th February 2020
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Review of the Day
Transfers
Ajax agree a deal to sign Antony from Sao Paolo in the summer for a fee of around 16m euros up front plus bonuses.
Sporting Kansas City have signed New Zealand centre back Winston Reid on loan from West Ham United.
Chicago Fire have signed Boris Sekulic from Gornik Zabrze.
Injury Round-Up
Stoke City winger James McClean is set to spend "several weeks on the sidelines" after injuring his medial knee ligament against Preston North End.
Hull City's James Scott has been ruled out for the season after picking up an injury in his very first training session with the club. Scott joined from Motherwell on transfer deadline day. There was better news for the Tigers as duo Eric Lichaj and Herbie Kane look like they could well return before the season ends after finding out they do not need surgery on their ankle injuries.
Andre Gomes is set to make his return to playing for Everton in a practice match on Sunday. The 26 year old suffered a fractured dislocation to his ankle which it was feared would rule him out for the season.
Werder Bremen defender Kevin Vogt is ruled out for the next couple of weeks with a knee tendon injury suffered on Saturday against RB Leipzig. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt said: "The knee is thankfully stable, and the MRI scan showed no damage to any ligaments. Despite that, it's still a very painful injury. The knee will still take time to recover, but we don't think he'll be out for more than a few weeks. He definitely won't play against Dortmund or Frankfurt though."
Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba has suffered an injury to his groin.
Newcastle United have worries over defender Ciaran Clark after he left the Emirates Stadium on crutches. Manager Steve Bruce said: "He's got a bad one. It doesn't look good. By the state of his ankle, it looks pretty serious. We'll know more in next 24-48 hours."
Managerial Changes
Stevenage manager Graham Westley has quit with the club sat bottom of the English Football League. Former player Alex Revell has been given caretaker charge, while Mark Sampson is staying on as first-team coach. Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace said: "We are uncomfortable making yet another change as Graham has worked tirelessly for the club since the day he arrived, setting up procedures and bringing some good quality new faces in. But, with six straight defeats and one win in 13 league games, we are running out of time and we have to try something new. Alex knows the squad, knows the players strengths and weaknesses and we are hoping his energy, dedication and enthusiasm will rub off on the lads and bring us the wins we need to survive. It's a reversal of the management team we had in place before Graham came, but Revs has done brilliantly and deserves his chance."
RBL Deny Werner Talks
RB Leipzig have denied that there is any ongoing talks over the transfer of Timo Werner to Liverpool. Leipzig's ceo Oliver Mintzlaff said: "We hear these reports all the time. Someone makes something up, and everyone else copies it. Werner is happy here and wants to play the rest of the season."
Air Quality Forces Match Postponement
After a landfill site near Eibar collapsed earlier this month, it caused fires and trapped two workers (who are still missing). The fires have led to serious air pollution, with the local Basque government recommending people not "perform outdoor sports activity" due to "high levels of chemical compounds detected in the air". Because of the toxins, around 40 times the normal level, the match between Eibar and Real Sociedad scheduled for Sunday has been postponed.
Haaland Wins Player Of The Month
Borussia Dortmund's new signing Erling Braut Haaland has been chosen as the Bundesliga Player of the Month for January, despite only playing 59 minutes in total. The Norwegian joined Dortmund in the January transfer window and managed to notch up 5 goals in those 59 minutes as a substitute.
Guti Denies Party Rumours
Almeria manager Jose Maria 'Guti' Gutierrez has dismissed rumours that he was out partying with his players in a nightclub in Almeria. The Andalusian team lost for the third time in four matches amidst rumours of Guti and the players partying in a nightclub together. Guti denied the rumour saying: "It has been hard days for my family and for me. If someone finds an image of me, with the players or alone, in a nightclub in Almeria, I submit my resignation and, not only that, but all the money that Almeria has paid me I return it. It is very painful that just because someone says that it is a rumour, it already goes viral throughout Spain and goes out everywhere. It's the burden that I have been being Guti, but life has made me strong. I lead an orderly life, focused only on my work as a coach of Almeria and my family."
Ajax Confirm Interest In Vertonghen
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that the Eredivisie club are keen on bringing Belgian international defender Jan Vertonghen back to the club at the end of the season. Vertonghen is a free agent when the season ends and has been linked with a move to a number of clubs including Inter Milan and now ten Hag has thrown Ajax's hat in the ring. Ten Hag said: "He is a player that interests us because he already has an important past with Ajax."
Toffees Announce Early Sponsorship End
Everton are to end their sponsorship deal with SportPesa at the end of the season. An Everton spokesperson said: "This has been a difficult decision but one that allows us to best deliver on our commercial plan and to grasp the new opportunities now open to us. The Club would like to thank SportPesa for all of the work that has been done together. Our partnership has seen our first team visit Africa on two occasions, as well as former players and Club staff take part in numerous activations in the region. This has allowed us to grow our own footprint in Africa and further strengthen our special relationship with the continent."
Written by Tris Burke February 16 2020 21:30:47
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