Football News: Review Of The Day 18th March 2018

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Review of the Day

Four Pull Out Of Wales Squad

Wales squad for the China Cup has been weakened following the withdrawal of a quartet of players. Joe Ledley, Ethan Ampadu, Tom Lawrence and Neil Taylor have all withdrawn, though the Welsh FA has yet to give any reasons for their pull outs. Sunderland defender Adam Matthews has been called up to add to the squad.

Russia Say Arsenal Will Be Safe

The chief of Russia's World Cup organising committee, Alexei Sorokin, has said the Arsenal delegation and fans will be safe to face CSKA Moscow in the Europa League, despite rising tensions between the UK and Russia. The British Foreign Office had warned UK nationals of "the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment" for travellers to Russia. However Sorokin said: "There are absolutely no grounds for such warnings. We will ensure security in equal measures to all, from dignitaries to fans. To us, there is no difference which country people come from or what our diplomatic relations with them are."

Transfer Round Up

Udinese have allowed Uruguayan centre forward Rodrigo Aguirre to go out on loan to Brazil's Botafogo. Botafogo paid a £180k loan fee to push the deal through.

Dane Kelly of MLS side DC United has dropped down to the USL on loan to play for Richmond Kickers.

Also swapping MLS for USL is Alex Crognale who leaves Columbus Crew for Orange County on loan.

Brazilian striker Lourency has dropped from top flight side Chapecoense to second tier side Gremio Esportivo Brasil (known as Brasil RS).

Top tier side Gremio have paid a £2.25m loan fee to sign Andre from Sport Recife.

Lukaku Says Man Utd Will Go On A Summer Spending Spree

Romelu Lukaku has backed Manchester United to spend big once again in the summer, having invested hundreds of millions on new players in the last couple of season. Lukaku said: "We are Manchester United, we have to improve every year and I know that a lot of players, a lot of good players, will come in next season. That's for sure. That is something I look forward to, in order to improve the squad, and what the manager also looks forward to because next year we have to win. We will have to try and win as many trophies as we can."

Juve Dismiss Allegri Links With PSG

With current manager Unai Emery's future hanging by a thread at Paris Saint-Germain, not least because record signing Neymar Jr does not like him, the Parisiens have been linked with Massimiliano Allegri as a replacement. Juventus' general manager Giuseppe Marottahas dismissed the links. Marotta told Mediaset Premium: "Our coach has a contract with us for many more years. Above all, the rapport with the club and directors is excellent. He is already at Juventus, one of the top clubs in the world, so he has no need or intention of going elsewhere."

Southgate Defends Livermore Selection

England's head coach Gareth Southgate has defended his baffling choice to include the exceedingly average, and woefully out of form, Jake Livermore in his latest squad. Southgate said: "It's very straightforward for me. We've played Jake in several matches and he's done a job for the team. In November, we left him out and he was just about to board a plane. He left the family at the airport, he came in, he did really well for us against Germany and Brazil, and I think that has to carry some weight when you are building the spirit and culture around your team. That doesn't mean he is guaranteed to go in the summer, but I think it justifies him staying in our squad, because he has been an important member of our squad in building what we want to build in terms of togetherness and spirit. That is the sort of example of sacrificing what you are doing for the team that I think is important. So I get that, I know when I pick Jake it is going to get a certain sort of reaction. But there is a specific reason for why we have done it this time in particular. It's an important message for the group that if you are left out and have disappointment, first of all there is opportunity to come back in, secondly we want you to take that opportunity and respond in the right way, and who knows what might happen?"

Written by Tris Burke March 18 2018 05:48:39