Football News: News Round Up As Klopp Makes First Liverpool Signing And MLS Spanking Sacking Hits Federal Court

1. Jones heads to the Gulf
Trinidad and Tobago forward Kenwyne Jones has headed away from Cardiff City to join Arabian Gulf League side Al Jazira on a six month loan deal. Speaking on his Facebook page, Jones said: "I am really appreciative of the opportunity to have worked with a great team at Cardiff, and to play in front of some of the most passionate fans in Wales. This decision was made based on the opportunities presented to me. I would like to say thank you the Bluebird staff and players - I wish them all success in their future endeavours. I also extend a special thank you to the amazing Bluebird supporters. It has really been my absolute pleasure, and I will never forget you." Abu Dhabi side Al Jazira are currently struggling in 10th in the UAE league and brought in Jones to replace injured Montenegrin forward Mirko Vucinic, who suffered a season ending knee injury in November. They have also added a Spanish winger Angel Lafita from Getafe.

2. Prem target agrees new deal
Despite the speculation surrounding him, linking him with the likes of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, Olympique Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi has signed a new contract with the Ligue 1 club. The 22 year old has been building a big reputation for himself over the last couple of seasons and is now contracted to Marseille until 2020. The Belgium international is second only to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Ligue One scoring charts.

 

3. Saints recall another youngster
Southampton forward Sam Gallagher has had his loan spell with English Championship side MK Dones ended early over a lack of playing time. He has made fifteen appearances for the Dons, but nine of those appearances came from the bench and so he has been called back by the Premier League team. "Sam's attitude has been spot on and he's always given everything," MK Dons boss Karl Robinson said. "It's unfortunate that things haven't worked out. He's found opportunities limited and it's vital, at his age, that he is playing games on a regular basis and we never want to stand in the way of a young player doing that." The 20 year old joins Jack Stephens in making an early return to Saints after struggling to get first team opportunities.

4. Eto'o replaced by Morais
Samuel Eto'o had been a temporary player-manager for Turkish Super Lig side Antalyaspor, after Yusuf Simsek left last month. Now he has been replaced by another former Chelsea employee, Jose Morais, who left the Blues along with Jose Mourinho in December. Morais had been a long term assistant manager to his fellow Portugese Mourinho, working with him at Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid as well as Chelsea. Now he has his first chance to be the manager, rather than the assistant. Eto'o is expected to stay with the team as a player only.

 

5. Klopp completes first Liverpool signing
Jurgen Klopp has convinced Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic to sign for Liverpool on a four year deal. The 19 year old will join in the summer, after spending the rest of this season on loan with Red Star. "I'm very excited and so proud to be here and a member of Liverpool Football Club. I can't wait to get started, play at Anfield and train at Melwood," Grujic told liverpoolfc.com. "I was thinking about my progress in my next period and decided it was good for me to come here and try to be the best I can. I want to play in front of one of the loudest set of fans in Europe at Anfield. I also like the atmospheres at other stadiums, the crowds are very good. I like to play under pressure and that's why I've come here - because it brings out the best in me." "We're very pleased because Marko is a big talent and we've seen him a lot of times," said Klopp. "When I came here, our scouts showed me some footage of a very skilled player from Red Star Belgrade. We watched it, we spoke to him, we met each other - he's a good boy, a young boy but plays an important role at the moment at Red Star, who are the best team in Serbia. To describe him, I would say he's a tall boy, but quick and good at technical things. He can play passes and can dribble. But he is young, so he has to develop. He will do this, so everything is okay."

6. Bigirimana extends return spell
Newcastle United midfielder Gael Bigirimana has extended his loan spell with previous club Coventry City. The 22 year old initially started out with Coventry, progressing through their academy and into the first team in August 2011, before the Sky Blues sold him to Newcastle in 2012. He has impressed enough on the 5 games since he returned to have his loan spell extended until 24th January.

 

7. Arsenal defensive duo sign new contracts
A pair of young Arsenal defensive prospects have signed new contracts with the London club. 18 year old full back Tafari Moore has established himself with the Gunners U21s this season, while 17 year old defender Tolaji Bola is still developing with the U18s. Both players have represented England at youth level.

Tafari Moore signs a new contract while Tolaji Bola agrees his first professional deal: https://t.co/Nb8fsvH4Hh pic.twitter.com/EbC45VBbIy

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 6, 2016

8. Manchester City chase A-League star
Manchester City are in talks with A-League side Central Coast Mariners over their star playmaker Anthony Caceres. Caceres has a buyout clause, which makes a deal easily attainable, but lacks an EU passport, which makes it unclear who Caceres is being bought for. With City Group owning a number of clubs in various leagues around the world, there is confusion over who the 23 year old would actually be being bought for. "I didn't know there was any public information out there until I heard that this morning," Mariners coach Tony Walmsley said on Thursday. "I do know that Mike Charlesworth has been in dialogue with the City Group. Caceres has got a transfer fee built into his contract. If Mike and the head of the City Group have come to an agreement, I've yet to be told that's the case. But if it is, what a great opportunity for Caceres to go and try and reach the potential we all think he's got. The saddest thing was he didn't stay around to finish his contract - if he does go - and see out his potential here and get a real big signing somewhere else. I'm sure whatever deal is struck, Mike will be looking after the club's best interests."

 

9. Luis Suarez faces disciplinary action after tunnel bust-up
Barcelona beat local rivals Espanyol 4-1 in a fiery affair, as Espanyol pair Hernan Perez and Pape Diop saw red in the second half. It was after the match that Barca striker Luis Suarez caused controversy, allegedly by sparking a tunnel confrontation according to the official report from the match referee. "Once in the tunnel, Barça's No. 9, Suarez, Luis, while the Espanyol players were coming up the stairs, waited for them and shouted at them on various occasions," read the report. "He [Suarez] said: 'I'm waiting for you, come here! It provoked a confrontation between players of both clubs and the present security guards had to get involved, as did coaches of both teams." The report by referee Juan Martinez Munuera also claimed that Diop was "sent off for directing the following words at an opponent - 'I sh*t on your wh*re mother.'"

10. Bizarre spanking rituals involving rookies leads to MLS coach's sacking
Philadelphia Union coach Peter Nowak was fired back in 2012, an arbitrator ruling upheld the sacking but now Nowak is taking his case to federal court in the hope of overturning the decision and avoid the need to pay the club $400,000 in legal feed and costs. "The hazing of rookies, by spanking them, sometimes with a sandal, was completely unacceptable," arbitrator Margaret Brogan wrote in April. "His description of what he did was quite unnerving, especially when he described how he put his hand in a bucket of ice water to ease his pain, obviously because he was hitting the young people so hard," said Brogan. Brogan also found he required injured players to run 10 miles in 80 degree Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) heat, taking water bottles away to toughen them up. "Nowak created an environment where players felt the need to hide or mask concussions," the team's lawyers wrote. "Indeed, the record evidence established that Nowak vilified players who suffered from concussion symptoms." Last year, his lawyer argued the firing was unfair because the team did not get Nowak's input, he did not have a written record of discipline, he wasn't given a chance to "cure" the issues involved and it was not done in good faith, as his contract required.

Written by Tris Burke January 07 2016 05:19:45