Football News: More News As Norwich Chase Signings and Liverpool's Hamstring Jinx Continues
Image from: sport-english.com
1. Rovers sign winger
Norwich City winger Elliot Bennett has sealed a move, for an undisclosed fee, to work with former manager Paul Lambert at Blackburn Rovers. Paul Lambert was the man who took the 27 year old to the Canaries, but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man has not impressed current manager Alex Neil. Bennett had spent the early part of the season on loan with fellow Championship side Bristol City. He is Rovers' second signing of the January window, following Tom Lawrence, who extended his loan from Leicester City until the end of the month.
2. Napoli defender reveals Norwich bid was rejected
Napoli centre back Kalidou Koulibaly was looking set to move on from the Serie A club in the summer transfer window, but stayed and has now become a key figures under Maurizio Sarri. The 24 year old has admitted that a number of clubs made bids for him, but the Naples club held firm and rejected them all. "Some teams have tried to sign me, but Napoli said no to several offers, such as €15m from Norwich," he told French outlet L'Equipe. "Sarri believed in me, and this gave me a lot of confidence. Benitez wanted me at Napoli, he called me back in December 2013. When I heard his voice for the first time I thought it was a joke. Then my agent told me that it was really him. When I arrived, my legs trembled in front of champions like Higuain, Callejon and Albiol. Benitez called me into his office to tell me what I had to do, on the first day at Castelvolturno. He told me that if I followed him I would become a great player."
3. Serie A leaders accept bid for defender
More Norwich City transfer news as the Canaries have had a bid for Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia accepted. Norwich are desperately searching for signings to bolster their team to retain a place in the Premier League, and have moved to try and sign the out of favour Italian defender. It is believed the experienced centre back would prefer to stay in Italy, though it is clear his future will take him away from the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.
4. Liverpool confirm recall of teenager
Sheyi Ojo signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer on a season long loan deal from Liverpool, but Liverpool have confirmed that the teenager has been recalled to the club. With an injury crisis engulfing the club, it is entirely possible that Ojo will get his chances in the first team.
#LFC have recalled Sheyi Ojo from his loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers: https://t.co/2AITo6OwOx pic.twitter.com/eYemS5uFPC
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 7, 2016
5. Insigne goal caught on fan cam
Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne finished off an excellent team move in a 2-1 win over Torino, all caught by a fan on his cam:
6. Non-league youngster set for Spurs move
Ebbsfleet teenager Shilow Tracey is set to complete a dream move to Premier League Tottenham Hotspur. The 17 year old was playing a National League South level, 5 tiers below Spurs in the Prem, but his talent has been spotted, despite only figuring once at senior level. A trial has resulted in the youngster agreeing a professional deal with the North London club. With a medical already passed, it is only a matter of time before the deal is completed.
7. Strugglers hit by injury blow
Premier League bottom club Aston Villa have been hit by another injury blow as their attempt to stave off relegation looks more hopeless by the day. Adama Traore joined Villa from Spanish giants Barcelona in the summer and has shown flashes of what he can do, but has struggled to nail down a place in the Villa side. Now the jet heeled youngster is set to struggle even more as a broken foot has ruled him out for up to 10 weeks. With Villa's attack offering nothing, Garde will now have to find another potential game changer.
8. Baggies hand freestyler a trial
In a surprising move for a team being managed by Tony Pulis, who is not know for his liking for skilful players, West Bromwich Albion have handed a trial to a non-league footballer, who is better known for his freestyle skills. Yasin Ben El-Mhanni has appeared in an advert with Neymar, showing off his ball skills, rather than his skill in hoofing the ball and fouling opponents, so it is difficult to see what Pulis saw to tempt him into giving the youngster a trial.
Unless he grows another foot taller it is difficult to see how he will have any kind of future under Pulis.
9. Lille sign former Hammer
Morgan Amalfitano left West Ham United in October after a falling out with manager Slaven Bilic. The 30 year old French midfielder has now completed a move to Ligue Un side Lille. "It makes me extremely happy to join a club like Lille, who are well known in Ligue 1," he told the club's official website. "For me, they are in the top five French teams. I'll be very happy if I can help them continue to climb the rankings. Time will tell if I have made the right choice but I don't have many doubts about that."
10. Liverpool suffer yet another hamstring injury
Liverpool have been hit by the news that another of their players has suffered a hamstring injury as young winger, Jordon Ibe, has been ruled out with hamstring problems. The Reds are hopeful that his injury is not as severe as the other six that have been struck down by a similar problem. With Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge, Martin Skrtel and Jordan Rossiter all out due to their hamstrings. With a number of players missing due to longer term problems, captain Jordan Henderson with ankle problems and Mamadhou Sakho having a knee problem, as well as long term ACL injuries to Danny Ings and Joe Gomez, the club are desperately searching for a fix to put a stop to all the hamstring injuries.
Written by Tris Burke January 07 2016 18:38:44