Football News: Dortmund Fans Find Unique Way To Protest High Ticket Prices, Everton Near Takeover And More
Image from: standaard.be
1. Transfer round up
David Svensson, Motala AIK FK to Husqvarna FF, free
Geovani, Serra Talhada to Bonsuceso FC, free
Yingchen Liu, Dalian Yifang to Dalian Transcendence, free
Costinel Gugu, AC Le Havre to CS Mioveni, on loan
Ante Saric, NK Zadar to CSMS Iasi, free
Ulrik Berglann, FK Bodo Glimt to FK Jerv, free
Ram Strauss, Kiryat Shmona to Poli Timisoara, free
Nininho, Santa Cruz to Boa Esporte, on loan
Leandro Reymundez, Wanderers to Sud America, free
Mauricio Affonso, Shabab to Penarol, free
Diego Sosa, Olimpo to Deportivo Santamarina, free
Vardan Movsisyan, Banants to MIKA Aschtarak, free
Henrique Almeida, Botafogo to Gremio, free
Alan, Ceara SC to America, on loan
Saimon, Figueirense FC to Mogi Mirim, free
Marcelo Sabino, Boa Esporte to Social FC, free
Pingo, ABC to Botafogo, free
Charlie Rugg, LA Galaxy to Eintracht Trier, free
Kyrylo Silich, Sillamae Kalev to Jelgava, free
Jan Turita, Bucovina Pojorata to Rapid Suceava, free
Nicolas Velez, NorthEast United to Hajduk Split, free
Jocinei, Coimbra to Figueirense, on loan
Bruno Veiga, Duque de Caxias to Paysandu, free
Sam Garza, Seattle Sounders to Arizona United, free
Klever, Fluminese to Atletico Goianense, free
Juninho, Avai to Sarawak, free
Oscar, Raufoss IL to Egersunds IK, free
Sebastian Ribas, CA Fenix to River Plate, free
Liviu Ganea, CSMS Iasi to FC Clinceni, free
Morten Beck, Hobro IK to KR Reykjavik, free
Lukasz Gikiewicz, Al-Wahda to Ratchaburi FC, free
Ivan Vargic, Lazio to HNK Rijeka, on loan
Sebastian Leto, Catania to Panathinaikos, free
Anthony Annan, Stabaek IF to HJK Helsinki, free
Shikoze Udoji, Dinamo Minsk to Qigdao Jonoon, free
Jean-Eudes Maurice, unattached to Ha Noi FC
Bogdan Visa, Gaz Metan to CS Mioveni, free
Moacir, Coimbra to Fortaleza, on loan
Davide Grassi, Rapid Bucharest to Sarawak, free
George Neagu, Polisoara Timisoara to Gaz Metan, free
Gen Li, Wuhan Zall to Zhejiang Yiteng, free
Paulo Pezzolano, Liverpool FC to C.A. Torque, free
Sead Hadzibulic, Naxxar Lions to Travnik, free
Emiliano Papa, Independiente to CA Tigre, free
Darius Henderson, Scunthorpe United to Coventry City, free
Kun Jiang, Shanghai Shenhua to Qingdao Huanghai, free
Mbaye Diagne, Ujpest to Tianjin Teda, £1.43m
Jo, Al Shabab to Jiangsu Suning, £1.5m
Gael Kakuta, Sevilla to Hebei China Fortune, £3.75m
Alex Teixeira, Shakhtar Donetsk to Jiangsu Suning, £37.5m
2. United share price slides
Manchester United's share price has fallen to its lowest price in since flotation, as its value continues to drop. On Monday afternoon, the value of a share dipped below the original flotation price for the first time since December 2012. At the close of trading, though there was a slight recovery, the value had shown a 42 cent loss on the day. The club are set to announce their First Quarter 2016 Earnings report to shareholders on Thursday. In November the Red Devils announced a 39% increase in revenues over the first quarter of the season, despite this, the club's on field form is badly affecting the share price.
3. Some people have too much time on their hands!
Paul Pogba showing off his latest hairdo:
4. Pellegrini fears his squad is struggling for fitness
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has expressed fears that his monstrously expensive squad is struggling for freshness as the fixtures mount up. With injuries robbing them of a number of their players for fairly significant portions of the season, the Chilean manager believes his team are being worn out as they attempt to challenge on four fronts. Though you would have to think that players out injured would come back fresh, Pellegrini believes differently as his side have slipped down to fourth in the Premier League table, following a 3-1 beating at the hands of leaders Leicester City. Pellegrini said: "Yes (it is stretched) because we have seven players injured at the moment in the same positions - two centre-backs, (Vincent) Kompany and (Eliaquim) Mangala - and in attack - (Kevin) De Bruyne, (Jesus) Navas, (Wilfried) Bony, (Samir) Nasri and now Silva. That makes it more difficult. Let's hope we can recover in the next few days. We didn't have the usual energy. We've been using only 14 (outfield) players in a very important month."
5. Atleti keeper signs new contract
Young Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak has committed himself to the Spanish capital club for five years after signing a new contract which sees him through until the end of the 2020-21 season. Oblak arrived in Madrid from Benfica in 2014 and the 23 year old Slovenian has impressed, leading to links being mooted in the media for him to move elsewhere. Atleti moved quickly to keep him. Atletico Madrid announced on their official website: "Jan Oblak and our club have reached an agreement for the extension of the Slovenian goalkeeper's contract until 2021."
6. Dane rejected Liverpool offer
Young Denmark starlet Mikkel Duelund rejected an offer to join Liverpool in the summer. The 18 year old midfielder is a regular for his club side FC Midtjylland and has broken into the Denmark senior squad, after representing Denmark at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 level. Liverpool spotted him when he turned heads playing for Denmark's U20s against a Liverpool U21 side in a friendly. Duelund told Danish daily Ekstra Bladet: "What club it was does not matter, but when you are told that there is interest from a relatively big club, you cannot help but respond to it. I was always aware that I should continue at Midtjylland. So the decision itself did not take long to make."
7. Charlton investigating fake resignation letter
Charlton Athletic are investigating a false document, which was proclaiming to be a resignation letter by chief executive Katrien Meire, was sent to Companies House. The document, which is available on the Companies House website, states that Meire ceased to work at the Valley on 5th December after she tendered her resignation. She, however, remains in her position with the signature believed to be a forgery. A statement on Charlton's official website said: "The club is aware of a document that has appeared on Companies House. This document is false. The club is investigating the matter as it is something we take seriously." Anyone found guilty of filing false documentation to Companies House is liable to receive a prison term of up to two years and/or a fine. The Addicks are currently bottom of the Championship with the club wracked by a dispute between the fans and Meire and the owner Roland Duchatelet.
8. Everton takeover moves closer
Everton could well join their Merseyside neighbours Liverpool by being put under American ownership. The Goodison Park club are close to the completion of a deal by John Jay Moores, the former San Diego Padres owner, and his associate Charles Noell, to buy the club. With other parties in the wings waiting, the Americans are close to buying out majority shareholders Bill Kenwright, Robert Earl and Jon Woods, after carrying out due diligence over the last six weeks. Six English Premier League clubs are already owned by Americans, Liverpool, Sunderland, Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
9. Even the greats can mess things up
Barcelona legend Xavi has missed a penalty for Al Saad, costing them a place in the Asian Champions League. Must be the crowd putting him off. The packed grandstands are obviously why he chose to join the Qatari Stars League....
10. Dortmund fans protest rising ticket prices .... of £15!
With Liverpool fans walking out over ticket prices of £77 and the rest of the Premier League's fanbase considering action over ticket prices across the English league, Borussia Dortmund fans have also staged a protest about high priced match tickets. The Dortmund fans deliberately missed the first 20 minutes of the cup match against Stuttgart, then threw hundreds of tennis balls onto the pitch after they arrived on the 25th minute. It really does make the ludicrous ticket prices charged in the Premier League in England seem worse, when you realise that the Dortmund fans were protesting over tickets that cost between £15 and £30.
Written by Tris Burke February 09 2016 23:21:28