Football News: West Brom Selling Berahino, Chelsea Bid Rejected By Zagreb And More News

1. Transfer round up
Leandro Gonzalez Pirez CA Tigre to Estudiantes free
Emiliano Rigoni Belgrano to Independiente £700,000
Emmanuel Mayuka FC Metz to Zamalek undisclosed fee
Javier Matilla Real Betis released
Bill Busan to Ceara SC free
Marcelo Diaz Hamburg to Celta de Vigo £1.4m
Marco Ruben Dynamo Kiev to CA Rosario £2.03m
Ignacio Nicolini Racing Club to FC Flamurtari free
Valentin Viola Aollon Limassol to Mouscron on loan
Adnan Aganovic FC Viitorul to AEL Limassol £35,000
Thaer Bawab CS Universitaria Craiova to Steaua Bucharest free
Pedro Franco Besiktas to San Lorenzo on loan
Jordi Figueras Real Betis to Eskisehirspor undisclosed fee
Dario Lezcano FC Luzern to FC Ingolstadt £1.75m
Rafa Soares Porto B to Coimbra on loan
Jean Fluminese to Palmeiras undisclosed fee
Fedor Kudryashov Terek Grozny to Rostov £1.4m
Damien Boudjemaa unattached to Astra Giurgiu
Hakan Aslantas Osmanlispor to Genclerbirligi free
Roger Bahia to Red Bull Brasil free
Renan Botafogo to Avai free
Nico Lopez Granada CF to Udinese Calcio end of loan
Akram Djahnit Al-Arabi SC to ES Setif undisclosed fee
Danilo Carando Garcilaso to Al-Ahli free

2. Lovely goal but what happened to defending?
This Youssouf Sabaly goal for Nantes against Guingamp is a great goal to watch, showing great feints and shimmies before the finish, you have to question the defence. Or do you just accept that this was a great goal? For me the defending was powder puff and there was little real effort from the defenders to stop him, but you may disagree:

 

3. Baggies admit Berahino is for sale
Following West Bromwich Albion chairman Jeremy Peace's point blank refusal to sell Saido Berahino to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, the young forward threw a tantrum and claimed he would never play for the Baggies again. While he calmed down eventually and has turned out for Tony Pulis's side since then, Berahino has been very much out of favour and form since the summer. Now Pulis has confirmed that they will sell the youngster, if the right offer is made. With Spurs still showing interest in the striker, but Peace having been adamant he would not deal with Spurs, it will be interesting to see if any deal could be done or if Peace will stick to his guns and sell him to one of the other interested clubs. "Every player is for sale if the price is right and if the club deem it to be right," Pulis said. "The chairman will be the one who controls that and the chairman will decide that. It's the chairman's football club and financially he has always controlled it in a way that he has thought is the best way for West Brom."

4. Former Man Utd player thanks Liverpool fans
Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan has thanked the Liverpool fans for their applause in 2010, after he had left Manchester United to join Atletico Madrid and returned to Anfield in a Europa League clash. Despite having previously played for the Red Devils and scored two goals as the Manchester side beat Liverpool at Anfield 2-1 in December 2002, Forlan reveals that he received an ovation even though he scored an extra-time winner in the Europa League semi-final to send Liverpool out of the competition. "I also went back to Anfield with Atletico Madrid and scored the goal which knocked them out of the 2010 Europa League and put us into the final," Forlan wrote in his National column. "After the game, the Liverpool fans in the main stand applauded me. That was a big gesture as I'd not only played for United, but I'd just ended their European dream in the semi-final."

 

5. Troyes goal against Rennes
Fabien Camus scores a curling effort into the corner of the net:

6. Accrington Stanley apologise to fans
After their previous three home games in a row had been called off, Accrington Stanley were looking forward to facing Portsmouth yesterday. Unfortunately for them, and their fans, referee Trevor Kettle deemed the frozen pitch too dangerous to play on and a fourth game was called off. As a gesture to the fans that had to the game, they offered a free buffet by way of apology. They have not played at their home stadium since 14th November.

For any supporters already here, there's a free buffet in the Crown pub on Whalley Road this lunchtime. All food was ready for the game

— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) January 16, 2016

Despite their efforts, it did not stop fans abusing staff at the club:

We promise you, nobody is more frustrated than us at another game off. No excuse for abusive phone calls though. Staff just doing their jobs

— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) January 16, 2016

 

7. Zagreb reject Chelsea offer
Dinamo Zagreb confirm a rejected offer for their young goalkeeper Adrian Semper from Chelsea. Rumours of the bid had been circulating in recent weeks, of how the Blues had made a bid for the 18 year old and sent representatives to Zagreb to complete a deal. Despite that Semper signed a new contract with the Croatian club instead. Dinamo manager Zoran Mamic has now confirmed the story to the local press: "For the last few days, Chelsea representatives have been in Zagreb, where they have prepared - I must admit - a great offer for Adrian Semper. We thanked them. They were highly professional and pleasant people, but we said 'no'. It is never easy to reject such a big offer for a young player, but we are convinced Adrian has a fantastic future ahead of him and we want him to spend at least some of that future with Dinamo."

8. Debuchy desperate to leave Arsenal
When Mathieu Debuchy joined Arsenal in the summer of 2014 it was hailed as a masterful signing, with Arsenal in desperate need of a right back at the time. The 30 year old picked up an injury and his replacement Hector Bellerin settled in and nailed down the place, as his performances have kept the former Newcastle United player on the sidelines. Now Debuchy has confirmed he wants to leave the Gunners to get back to playing. Debuchy has confirmed that Aston Villa were interested in him: "It's true, they are among the teams seeking me. I'm currently studying everything but it's not a possibility I have excluded. Whatever happens, even if it is to return [to Arsenal] this summer and then start again, I have to go this winter. I cannot stay at Arsenal. [Villa's interest] makes you think. This is also why I take my time before deciding. On the other hand, it can also be a great challenge. While they are currently in difficulty, Aston Villa is one of the major English clubs. This is also why I do not rule out this possibility." Debuchy added that Villa were not the only team interested in him: "[The offer from Leverkusen] is true and it may interest me too. The most important thing is to play in an attractive league."

 

9. Phil Jones will not be doing his ankle any good here!
The injured Manchester United defender celebrating their goal against Liverpool in with the fans:

10. Harrison heads up north
Bristol Rovers striker Ellis Harrison has made the long trek up to Hartlepool United for a loan spell with the North East club. The 21 year old striker has moved from one League Two side to another for his loan spell. Despite the Wales U21 striker making 24 appearances for Rovers this season, scoring 6 goals, including the penalty winner in a 2-1 win over Oxford United at the weekend, Rovers are happy to see him join their divisional rivals. Harrison will be hoping to make his debut on Tuesday versus Accrington Stanley, if Football League approval arrives in time.

Written by Tris Burke January 17 2016 19:18:57