Football News: Chelsea Get Injury Boost As Arsenal Star Says He Does Not Need To Score Plus More News
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1. Fulham rule out the sale of duo
Despite Moussa Dembele and Emerson Hyndman having contracts that run out at the end of the season, Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has ruled out selling the pair in the January window. Jokanovic believes the two are vital to Fulham's chances of avoiding relegation from the English Championship. The Craven Cottage club currently sit in 19th place, just 4 points ahead of the relegation places, and Jokanovic believes the points are worth more than any possible sale would net them. "I can make money or not for the club," Jovanovic said. "My part of the business is to be successful on the pitch. To be successful we need to stop any moves. Fans dont want the club to have £10 million, £20 million or whatever they want their team to win games. To try to do this I need the staff to do this and the business must understand this." Dembele is a 19 year old French forward who has made 28 appearances this season, scoring 11 goals and getting 2 assists. Emerson Hyndman is an American midfielder who is also 19 and has made 9 first team appearances this season. Fulham would be due compensation for either of them that did leave the club under freedom of contract at the end of the season.
2. Former Ireland international goes on trial at Rovers
Shamrock Rovers have taken former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Elliot on trial. Elliot has played for Manchester City, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End, Heart of Midlothian, Coventry City and Carlisle United in his career so far, but has not played competitively for 15 months due to a back injury. Now the Irishman is back in his homeland and hoping to prove his fitness in order to win a contract with Rovers. Rovers will be wary as they have signed 3 ex-internationals in the last two years, but two of them have been unable to see out their contract due to fitness and injury issues (Damien Duff and Keith Fahey). "Stephen is in training with us, but it's purely about him trying to get himself right," Shamrock Rovers' manager Pat Fenlon said. "His injury situation goes back a long time but we decided to bring him in and see how he does. He has dome some work with us, he's over an operation and has a bit of work to do. But he's a great player and he broke my heart a few times in Scotland, scoring for Hearts against Hibs when I was there, so I know what he's about and what he's capable of."
3. Bees sticking to Judge's valuation
English Championship club Brentford are refusing to be cowed by the clubs circling them and looking to pick off their better players. With James Tarkowski refusing to play for the club against Burnley, which ended in a 3-1 defeat, it would be no surprise if they backed down and allowed star winger Alan Judge to leave without much of a fight. Instead the Bees are standing their ground and refusing to sell him for less than their valuation of him. Judge played and scored Brentford's goal in the Burnley game, showing that the London club are right to stand their ground. "Alan Judge showed why so many people are looking at him and aware of him and why our valuation is right," says Brentford boss Dean Smith. "He's a catalyst for what we do. He's a really good player and a good person. Heads can get turned, but some handle it better than others and Alan Judge epitomises what this football club is about." Burnley boss Sean Dyche has admitted that Burnley hold an interest in him, but dismisses talk of an £8m bid. "He's a decent player, they've got some very good players. There's been a conversation between our owner and their owner," he said. "But it's Burnley Football Club. £8million! My point is, that's how far-fetched these stories can be."
4. Transfer round up
Ned Grabavoy New York City FC to Portland Timbers free
Yassine El Ghanassy Stabaek IF to KV Oostende free
Alessandro Diamanti Watford to Guangzhou Evergrande loan return
Jack Hunt Sheffield Wednesday to Crystal Palace loan return
Lucas Ischuk released by Talleres
Camilo Vargas Nacional to Argentinos on loan
Ignacio Fernandez Gimnasia to River Plate £1.4m
Ivan Saponjic FK Partizan Belgrade to Benfica £1.05m
Andranik Teymourian released by Umm-Salal
Oussama Tannane Heracles Almelo to Saint-Etienne £1.05m
Marko Poletanovic KAA Gent to Zulte Waregem on loan
Nikolaos Karelis Panathinaikos to KRC Genk £1.75m
Hernan Fredes Arsenal de Sarandi to Defensa y Justicia free
Yaya Soumahoro KAA Gent to Sint-Truiden undisclosed fee
Jonjo Shelvey Swansea City to Newcastle United £11.2m
Fred Goias EC to Gremio undisclosed fee
Artem Sukhotsky FK Oleksandria to Zorya Lugansk free
Marko Momcilovic Pandurii Targu Jiu to Steaua Bucharest £175,000
Matteo Mancosu Bologna to Carpi on loan
Douglas Vortis to Al-Ain FC £2.73m
Osarimen Ebagua Como to Vicenza undisclosed fee
Armando Sadiku FC Zurich to FC Vaduz on loan
Ke Sun JS Suning to Tianjian Quanjian £6.44m
Vedat Bora Konyaspor to Giresunspor on loan
Joan Oumari FSV Frankfurt to Sivasspor undisclosed fee
Hikmet Balioglu Genclerbirligi to Sanliurfaspor on loan
Raheem Lawal Eskisehirspor to Osmanlispor free
Hasan Kabze Akhisarspor to Sivasspor free
Richarlyson Chapecoense to Novorizontino free
Issam El Adoua Chongqing Lifan to Al-Dhafra SCC free
Renato Steffen BSC Young Boys to FC Basel undisclosed fee
5. Some people like to stand out
You would not want to do this in the Celtic end with a Rangers top on, but this guy is certainly not afraid to let his colours show:
6. Chelsea given another injury boost
Following news that Diego Costa has only got a bruised tibia, and not the broken leg that was feared, Chelsea have received more good news on the injury front as star winger Eden Hazard is back in training. The Belgian international suffered a groin injury when the Blues faced fellow London side Crystal Palace, running out 3-0 winners. The 25 year old could now be fit to face yet another London side, as Chelsea take on Arsenal this weekend. While Hazard has struggled so far this season, interim manager Guus Hiddink will be hoping he can return to the scintillating form he showed last season, and finally get his first goal for the season.
7. Ozil believes he does not need goals
Mesut Ozil has been incredible form in recent months, racking up massive numbers of assists as Arsenal finally look like a genuine title contender. So far this season, Ozil has only scored 3 goals in his 20 league appearances and there have been some pundits who claim he needs to add more goals. The German playmaker has refuted those claims, saying that all that matters is the team winning games. He also points to his 16 assists to show how he is having a major effect on games. "At the end of the day, I try to be as successful as possible in every single game - to win the match," he told the German Football Association website. "It doesn't really matter if I'm scoring or assisting, as long as we win. I don't think I will be doing myself any favours if I focus on scoring more, or becoming more arrogant in front of goal - and certainly not my teammates."
8. Blatter still getting paid
Disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been banned for eight years from football over a payment made to UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011. Despite the ban Blatter has continued to be paid his salary, and he will receive it until the new president is elected on 26th February. FIFA's spokesperson Andreas Bantel told Reuters they couldn't do anything until a new president was elected. "Until the election of a new president on February 26, Mr Blatter is the elected president and therefore - according to his contract - is entitled to receive his remuneration," said Bantel. FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee have said they were able to stop Blatter's bonuses.
9. Mourinho's last Chelsea signing has contract extension option
Third choice Chelsea goalkeeper Marco Amelia has revealed that he has an option to extend his contract with the London club. The 33 year old was signed at the start of the season as cover for first choice Thibaut Courtois' injury, but has yet to make an appearance. The Italian has played for AC Milan, Palermo and Genoa in the past, and is now considering his future. Amelia said, "I'm trying to make my contribution in the dressing room. I do not know what will happen because I have an option to renew my contract. We will see whether to renew or if to choose another way. For me it is a great experience, I learned to live a different kind of football. It will be very useful for my future and what I want to do after the end of my career as a player."
10. This is just showing off
When a John Terry style backheel flick just seems too tame, what do you do? You add a pirouette to it:
Written by Tris Burke January 19 2016 05:42:42