Football News: One Keen On Man City Move While Another Rules It Out, Cahill's Wage Demands Criticised And More

1. Thiago rules on Man City move
Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has been linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer, by British media reports. With current Bayern boss Pep Guardiola taking over at the Etihad Stadium for next season, it was rumoured that the 24 year old Spanish international was all set to join him in the Premier League. Alcantara himself has ruled out the possibility, declaring his intention to stay with the German champions. "There are always a lot of rumours. It's a fact that Guardiola is joining Manchester City and we have to respect that. But there is no truth in the rumours saying I will follow him," Thiago was quoted as saying by Bild. "I would not have signed a new contract had I wanted to leave the club. I extended my contract for a reason. I am loving life here in Munich. I am enjoying the city and life here in general."

2. Saints youngster returns from loan after serious injury
Young striker Ryan Seager scored his first goal in senior professional football just moments before going down holding his knee, with what turned out to be a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. The 20 year old had just equalised for his loan club Crewe Alexandra, in his fourth appearance for the Railwaymen. Seager has now returned to parent club Southampton for his treatment and rehabilitation.

 

3. Another Arsenal injury
This time for young goalkeeper Deyan Iliev, who has torn a meniscus in his right knee. The 20 year old, who has been with Arsenal since 2012, is likely to be out for the rest of the season, as recovery time is usually around three months. Iliev is a Macedonian under 21 international and has a contract with Arsenal until June 2018. Iliev is usually a back up for Arsenal U21 keeper Matt Macey. Judging by first team players' usual recovery schedule, he will no doubt have a setback just as he is about to return and be lucky to be back for next season!

4. Beeney extends loan spell
While one young goalkeeper at a London club has suffered a bad injury, Chelsea have announced the extension of a loan spell for one of their youngsters. Also 20 year old, Mitchell Beeney joined Newport County on loan last month for a short loan spell, which has now been extended to last until 16th April. Beeney has won the under-21s Premier League and FA Youth Cup with Chelsea.

 

5. Stoke youngster heads to the Dragons
Republic of Ireland youth international Ryan O'Reilly has left Stoke City for a loan spell with National League side Wrexham. O'Reilly will spend the rest of the season on a youth loan. This is the second loan spell the Potters' U21 centre back has had this season, following one with Barrow earlier in the season. The Dragons are currently in 9th place, just 3 points away from the play-off places in the National League.

6. Transfer round up
Khamis Esmaeel, Al-Jazira to Al-Ahli, £6.53m
Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders to Shanghai Shenhua, £2.03m
Fatos Beqiraj, Dinamo Minsk to Dinamo Moscow, £375,000
Sebastian Holmen, IF Elfsborg to Dinamo Moscow, £375,000
Josip Ivancic, HNK Rijeka to Sheriff Tiraspol, £75,000
Lukasz Burliga, Wisla Krakow to Jagiellonia Bialystok, £26,000
Milivoje Novakovic, Nagoya Grampus to NK Maribor, free
Rodriguinho, SE Gama to Luziania, free
Chris Baird, Derby County to Fulham, on loan
Serghei Pascenco, Malavan to Zaria Balti, free
Renato Silva, Metropolitano to Brasiliense, free
Serghei Juric, Zaria Balti to Sheriff Tiraspol, free
Vitalie Bordian, Gelios Kharkiv to Dacia Chisinau, free
Dudu, ? To Fluminese, free
Jean Sony Alcenat, Steaua Bucharest to Voluntari, on loan
Davit Chagelishvili, Kyzylzhar Petropavlovsk to Samtredia, free
Eltinho, Avai to Jmalucelli, free
Paul Parvulescu, Steaua Bucharest to ASA Tirgu Mures, on loan
Artur Patras, Milsami Orhei to Sheriff Tiraspol, free
Marlon, ? To Jacuipense, free
Goran Galesic, FC Koper to Sheriff Tiraspol, free
Talles, SC Sagamihara to Zimbru Chisinau, free
Esquerdinha, Ituano to Nautico, on loan
Chenguang Li, Qingdao to Nei Mongol Zhongyou, free
Ludovic, Chaves to Zimbru Chisinau, free
Ross Jenkins, Crawley Town to Poli Timisoara, free
Diego Augusto, Ypiranga to AA Anapolina, free
Vardan Pogosyan, Kuban Krasnodar to Dacia Chisinau, free
Hristijan Dragarski, Carev Dvor to Dacia Chisinau, free
Guilherme Batata, Paranaense to Luverdense, on loan
Sandrinho, Paulista to Ivinhema, free
Riszan Umarov, SKA Energia to JK Trans Narva, free
Ze Rafael, Coritiba to Londrina, on loan
Gabriel Xavier, Cruzeiro to Sport Clube do Recifo, on loan
Constantin Bogdan, Enisey to Sheriff Tiraspol, free
Vasko Kalezic, Honefoss to Dacia Chinisau, free
Alan, Cruzeiro to Londrina, on loan
Declan John, Cardiff City to Chesterfield, on loan
Josip Filipovic, Inter Zapresic to NK Zavrc, free
Sreten Sretenovic, Cracovia Krakow to BEC Tero Sasana, undisclosed fee
Hugo Cuatrin, ? To Universidad O&M, undisclosed fee
Anatol Chirinciuc, FC Saxan to CSF Speranta, undisclosed fee
Anthony Golec, Perth Glory to Sheriff Tiraspol, undisclosed fee
Yucheng Zou, Yinchuan Helanshan to Nei Mongol Zhongyou, undisclosed fee
Andriy Slinkin, Chornomorets Odessa to Zaria Balti, on loan
Jo, Zimbru Chisinau to Sheriff Tiraspol, undisclosed fee
Yaw Asante, Carpi to Gavorrano, undisclosed fee
Vadim Rata, Sheriff Tiraspol to CSF Speranto, on loan
Vadim Calugher, Zimbru Chisinau to CSF Speranto, undisclosed fee
Weldon, unattached to Brasiliense
Grant Holt, unattached to Rochdale
Leo Fortunato, released by UR Trabalhadore
Willian Leandro, released by ?
Danilo Lins, released by CRAC
Giovanni Gravenbeek, unattached to FC Dordrecht
Roberto Dias, unattached to Nacional
Kohei Ito, released by Wong Tai Sin
Igor Morosov, unattached to Levadia Tallinn
Bruno Bertucci, released by Caldense
Felipe Nunes, released by Madureira
Alex Nimely, unattached to Poli Timisoara

 

7. Bilic wanted Sisto
Manchester United fans look away now, as Sisto's goal for FC Midtjylland is followed by Slaven Bilic admitting he wanted to sign the forward for West Ham United:

8. What a goal!
Aritz Aduriz for Athletic Bilbao against Olympique Marseille last night was a stunner:

 

9. Xhaka admits City move is tempting
With German tabloid Bild reporting that Manchester City have made a move for Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, Borussia Monchengladbach have admitted that he could be sold in the summer, and now the player himself, while denying any move is done, has said he is open to a move to the English Premier League: "I think everybody has a dream. Everybody has a childhood dream and that's my childhood dream. If my dream comes true, it remains to be seen. At the moment I cannot say how realistic it is," Xhaka said, is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "And should I one day want to make the next step, it also has to be an improvement. But true, it's difficult to say no when Manchester City want you and you could play there. That much I have to admit. But I'm certainly not the only one," the former FC Basel midfielder added. "I can only speak for myself, but at my age I would never go to China, for no money in the world. The sporting perspective and everything else would need to be right. Honestly, you want experience such a positive vibe, such a togetherness in football often. That counts too."

10. FFA hit back at Cahill over wage demands
Tim Cahill slammed the game in Australia for lacking vision, after his release from Shanghai Shenhua and inability to find a club in the A-League. Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop has responded with criticism of the veteran's wage demands. "We contacted Tim and his advisers immediately when we heard he was not going to be part of Shanghai any longer," he said. "A number of our clubs also contacted him immediately. I personally was in contact with him. He made it clear immediately that we couldn't meet his needs." Cahill had told the Daily Telegraph that: "I just need vision, I've never asked for anything but that," he said. "The only thing is, some people's vision is not as big as mine and it's tough, because it depends where they want to be. Where does the A-League want to be?"

Written by Tris Burke February 19 2016 10:10:03