Football News: Defenders, Midfielders and Forwards All On The Move As Porto Sack Their Manager And Reading Sign Bosnian Messi
Image from: baldtruthtalk.com
1. Chelsea send Wallace out on loan
Young Brazilian full-back Wallace has joined the legion of Chelsea players out on loan, as he heads off to join Gremio until June 2017. This will be the 21 year old's fourth loan since joining the London club after arriving from Fluminese in the summer of 2013. The 2013/14 season saw him at Inter Milan, but he only managed 3 subsititute appearances in Serie A in that season. The following campaign he was sent to the Eredivisie to play for Vitesse Arnhem, where he made more of an impact, though still just 13 starts in his time in Holland. The first half of this season he returned to Italy to play for another Serie A side, Carpi, but again he struggled for first team football, with just 2 starts for them amongst his 7 appearances. Now he will be hoping for more chances in his homeland over the next 18 months.
2. Norwich sign defender
Porto youth product Ivo Pinto has moved to join Norwich City. In a move that seemed to drag on for a while, the Canaries have sealed the Portugese right back's signature from Dinamo Zagreb, in a move that may spell the end of on loan Liverpool right back Andre Wisdom's time in East Anglia. "I've worked hard to arrive in the best league in the world, so this move means a lot to me," Pinto told Norwich City TV. "English football is very fast and very intense for the whole game. That matches me well because my best qualities as a player are being fast and intense too. I want to improve as a player, and as a person. This is a fantastic country and I want to learn as much as I can from its footballing culture. I'm very excited to come here and play for a big club in the Premier League, now I'm looking forward to starting work to help the team achieve their goals."
3. MK Dons see midfielder return
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey has returned to the stadium:mk for another loan spell. "I'm delighted to be back," he told the club's official website. "I've obviously been here before, I know what the club is all about and I just can't wait to get started. I want to play regular football. I'm here until the end of the season so I can get my head down and really focus." This is Forster-Caskey's second spell at MK Dons this season, with manager Karl Robinson revealing he was top of the attacking stats for a midfield player at the club during that initial spell.
4. Vaughan completes Brum loan return
James Vaughan, who holds the record for being the youngest goal scorer in Premier League history while at Everton, has returned on loan to Birmingham City for the rest of the season. Vaughan had spent a month on loan at St Andrew's from Huddersfield Town initially, which expired at the beginning of this month. The Brummie is out of contract in the summer, and is hopeful of earning himself a permanent deal with his hometown club.
5. Porto begin new manager search
Portugese league giants Porto are searching for a new manager after they sacked Julen Lopetegui. Lopetegui had not managed to oversee a win for 3 games and now the former Spain U21 coach has seen his contract ended. He joined the Estadio Dragao outfit in May 2014, leading them to the Champions League quarter finals, only to get thrashed at the hands of Bayern Munich. His charges failed to win anything domestically either, and the club are now four points adrift of rivals Sporting after 16 matches.
6. Wenger confirms transfer delay
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Mohamed Elneny's transfer from FC Basel has become complicated. The Egyptian international midfielder has missed recent Basel training sessions to finalise the details of a long running transfer deal. "It is complicated a little bit," Wenger said. "But we are working hard on it and hopefully in the next two or three days we will get to the end of it. I don't rule out anyone else, but he will be at least one of the signings that comes into an area where we are short at the moment." Wenger also dismissed talk of a move for Watford striker Troy Deeney and the speculation linking Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Chelsea.
7. Tanner extends Pilgrims deal
Reading forward Craig Tanner has extended his loan deal with League Two leaders Plymouth Argyle until the end of the season. The 21 year old striker has been key for the the Pilgrims as they top the league table, with manager Derek Adams seeing him as vital to the club's chances of winning promotion this season, despite only adding 4 goals in his 29 appearances so far. Reading 's Dominic Samuel has also extended a loan spell, with Gillingham, until 28th January.
8. Reading sign Bosnian Messi even though he is unable to play for them
English Championship side Reading have completed the signing of 17 year old Bosnian winger Seid Behram. Unfortunately there has been a hitch as the teenager does not hold an EU passport and will be ineligible to play competitive football this season. Reading intend to loan the youngster out in the short term.
BiH U17 international, Seid Behram has signed for Reading. Great talent! pic.twitter.com/zbKS6rQtd5
— BiHfootball (@BiHFootball) January 6, 2016
Behram's talent had interested Everton, who had the youngster on a 10 day trial last season, but decided not to sign him.
9. Ljungberg in Arsenal return
38 year old former Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg is set to make his return to Arsenal. The Gunners star was part of their 'Invincibles' team after joining them in 1998, and is excited by the prospect of a return to the Londoners. The Swede is currently working on getting his coaching badges and will be working with the Arsenal youth sides to help him towards that. Ljungberg said on Twitter: "Hope everyone had a happy new year. Enjoying my last week in Cape Town before I go home to coach Arsenal's U15! V excited :-)"
10. League leaders take defender on loan
National League leaders Cheltenham Town have signed teenage defender Cian Harries on a youth loan from League One side Coventry City. The Sky Blues have kept their options open by including a recall clause in the deal, which lasts until 6th February. Harries is the Robins second January transfer window signing, as Colchester United forward Dan Holman has already joined on a free transfer.
Written by Tris Burke January 08 2016 13:57:03