Football News: Review Of The Day 5th January 2021

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Transfers

Preston North End are in talks to take Ched Evans on loan for the rest of the season from Fleetwood Town. The striker in unwanted by Fleetwood due to "disciplinary and behavioural issues".

Veteran winger Gary Roberts has re-signed for Accrington Stanley on a contract until the end of the season.

Chris Brunt, another veteran, has left Bristol City after tearing his calf. The 36 year old has been ruled out for most of the rest of the season and his contract expired in the summer.

Aden Flint has returned to parent club Cardiff City after Sheffield Wednesday cut his loan spell short.

Queens Park Rangers have recalled Dillon Barnes from his loan stint with Hibernian.

Arsenal defender William Saliba has joined OGC Nice on loan.

Ghana forward Abass Issah has joined Twente Enschede on loan from 1.FSV Mainz 05.

Torino have loaned Vincenzo Millico to Frosinone.

Saint-Etienne have sacked Stephane Ruffier. The club legend veteran goalkeeper had refused to be back-up goalkeeper, which had led to a legal battle between the club and his agent. The 34 year old had caused a rift with St-Etienne's manager Claude Puel by repeatedly turning up late for training and been banned from the training ground. Puel dropped Ruffier and then told Canal Plus: "I have informed the two players. The one (Jessy Moulin), that he was going to be starting the season, the other (Stephane Ruffier) that he was going to be the second choice. And the second confirmed to me that he would never stand to be second fiddle to Jessy Moulin. That is why we have constructed a trio in which Stephane is not included." Even being the club's record appearance holder could not save him from the axe, as this club statement explains: "After the disciplinary proceedings against the player, AS Saint-Etienne decided to terminate Stephane Ruffier's contract, which ended on June 30, 2021. Stephane Ruffier is therefore free from any commitment. ASSE regrets having come to this decision, made unavoidable by the attitude of the player who undermined the institution."

Sead Kolasinac has completed his loan move to Schalke 04 from Arsenal.

Almeria have signed Ivanildo Fernandes on loan from Sporting CP.

Spanish left-back Aaron Martin has joined Celta Vigo on loan from 1.FSV Mainz 05.

Club Brugge have completed the £3.6m signing of Bas Dost from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Atalanta have paid nearly £10m for Joakim Maehle from KRC Genk.

Udinese striker Cristo has joined Mirandes on loan.

Real Oviedo have signed Borja Valle on a free transfer from Dinamo Bucharest.

Siem de Jong has joined Heerenveen on a free transfer from FC Cincinnati.

Former Watford midfielder Brice Dja Djedje has signed for Samsunspor.

Former Liverpool and Chelsea forward Fabio Borini has joined Karagumruk.

Lincoln City have taken Morgan Rogers on loan from Manchester City.

Injury Round-Up

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has tested CV positive and will be missing for their next couple of games.

Juventus' full-back Alex Sandro has also been ruled out with a positive virus test.

Celta Vigo's captain and former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas has been ruled out for at least a month with a thigh injury.

Barcelona cancelled training on Monday after two members of the first team coaching staff tested positive for the virus.

Managerial Changes

Port Vale have sacked manager John Askey and his assistant Dave Kevan. Vale have gone six games without a win and lost 4-0 at Mansfield Town on Saturday, dropping to 17th in League Two.

Darren Fletcher has joined Manchester United's coaching staff. The 36 year old had been coaching the under-16s squad since October but has now been promoted into the first team.

Fleetwood Town have sacked manager Joey Barton with the club in 10th place in the League One table.

Former Denmark international defender Bo Svensson has been appointed the new head coach of Mainz 05. Svensson played for Mainz under both Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, eventually joining the coaching staff after retiring from playing. He then went to Austria to become head coach of second tier Liefering in July 2019. Mainz have now called upon to rescue them from relegation.

Disciplinary Charges

Uruguay's players' union (AFU) have asked the Football Association to overturn Edinson Cavani's 3-match ban. A letter of support was sent by the AFU: "Edinson Cavani has never committed any conduct that could be interpreted as racist. He merely used a common expression in Latin America to affectionately address a loved one or close friend. The sanction shows the English Football Association's biased, dogmatic and ethnocentric vision that only allows a subjective interpretation to be made from its particular and excluding conclusion, however flawed it may be. We request the FA to immediately overturn the sanction imposed on Edinson Cavani and reinstate his good name and honour in the world that has been so unfairly tarnished by this reprehensible decision."

Games Off

Wigan Athletic's next two League One matches have been postponed due to positive CV tests. Their games against AFC Wimbledon and Hull City will have to be rearranged.

Pele Claims New Landmark

Just hours after Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo broke Pele's record for goals scored in his career by reaching 758, Pele updates his social media bio to claim he is the leading goalscorer of all time with 1,283 goals. Pele, like his previous club Santos after Barcelona legend Lionel Messi broke his one-club scoring record a few days previously, seems to have included goals scored in friendlies and charity matches.

Written by Tris Burke January 05 2021 05:12:45