Football News: Review Of The Day 3rd January 2021

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Veteran Barrow midfielder Chris Taylor has extended his deal until the end of the season.

Joe Ward has signed a new contract with Peterborough United which expires in 2023.

Transfers

English striker Joe Garner has signed for APOEL Nicosia on a free transfer from Wigan Athletic.

Hellas Verona's 30 year old Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Badu has retired from international duty and been released by the Serie A club.

Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc has denied that there have been any clubs making an offer for Julian Brandt. Rumours have linked Brandt as a January window signing for Arsenal but Zorc said: "I read that too, I can't say more about it. Nobody has contacted us, there is nothing on the table - and not even in the fax machine."

Schalke 04 have terminated the contract of 21 year old American midfielder Nick Taitague.

Radja Nainggolan has returned to Cagliari on loan from Inter Milan.

Unai Emery has admitted that Japanese youngster Takefusa Kubo wants to leave Villareal. The teenage winger is on loan from Real Madrid but has struggled to get into the Yellow Submarine side on a regular basis this season. Emery revealed: "I asked Kubo if he wanted to stay or leave and he told me that he is looking for a way out. Take's behaviour is good, he has helped us and he must continue to grow as a player, however, he told me he wants to leave in order to find more minutes elsewhere and that's why he wasn't in the matchday squad today." Getafe's president Angel Torres has added to the story by admitting that they want to sign Kubo and he is keen to join them: "Kubo wants to come to Getafe. Yes, another reinforcement could be Carles Alena, but we are not going to go crazy."

Injury Round-Up

Celtic defender Christopher Jullien's knee injury could keep him out for up to four months.

Barcelona's former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho requires knee surgery which is expected to sideline him for 3 months.

Managerial Changes

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has returned to the role of Burton Albion manager. The Dutchman managed Burton 5 years ago and led them to the League Two title in 2015, before leaving for Queens Park Rangers at the end of that year. Dino Maamria has been named as his assistant.

Paris Saint-Germain have unsurprisingly appointed Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach. The 48 year old Argentine has been out of work since his sacking by Tottenham Hotspur in November 2019.

Disciplinary Charges

Kieran Trippier's 10 week ban has been put on hold while FIFA investigate the English FA's ruling. Atleti had asked the Spanish FA and FIFA to intervene, calling his ban for breaching gambling rules "completely unjust".

Games Off

Saturday's League Two games between Harrogate Town and Cheltenham Town and Newport County versus Southend United were called off due to a frozen pitch. After CV positive tests in both teams, the League Two game between Colchester United and Tranmere Rovers was also postponed. Snow also caused the postponement of Rotherham United's game with Cardiff City in the Championship. In the Premier League, Fulham's game on Sunday against Burnley is off due to a CV outbreak at Fulham.

Suning Deny Inter Up For Sale

After the Italian press started rumours that Inter Milan was about to be put up for sale by owners the Suning Holdings Group due to the economic impact of the current pandemic, Inter have quickly dismissed the reports as "baseless". An Inter statement read: "With regard to the rumours reported today, specifically referring to the possibility of FC Internazionale Milano being sold, president Steven Zhang categorically denies these false claims and stresses that they are entirely baseless."

Written by Tris Burke January 03 2021 05:29:01