Football News: Review Of The Day 13th February 2021

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Review of the Day

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Contracts

Bolton Wanderers have given midfielder George Thomason a new 18-month contract.

Transfers

Grimsby Town have finally been granted permission to complete the signing of veteran midfielder Giles Coke from Hereford. The signing was held up by registration issues.

Swindon Town have signed Bristol City goalkeeper Joe Wollacott on an emergency 7-day loan.

Stoke City centre-back Ryan Shawcross has been given permission to talk to a Major League Soccer side over a permanent move to the US-based league.

Also in MLS Atlanta United have signed Argentine midfielder Santiago Sosa from River Plate.

Watford's Ismaila Sarr was close to a move away from the Hornets according to his manager. Thierno Seydi said that Manchester United nearly signed him: "During the summer, they wanted to sign him. At the last moment, they offered a loan without the option to buy. Watford did not accept this because they wanted the loan to include an agreement to buy him." He also backed up what Ed002 told us on the Liverpool site at the time, before Liverpool moved for Diogo Jota instead as Wolverhampton Wanderers agreed a buy now, pay later deal: With Liverpool, a few days ago, we were at the stage of signing the contract that would tie the Reds to Ismaila Sarr. Everything was sorted: the monthly wages and the length of the deal. I'd even asked Sadio Mane to find him an apartment. But it in the end, they weren't able to put the €40 million (£35m/$49m) on the table to finalise the deal. You have to say that if English clubs that once animated the transfer window are struggling to put funds together, that shows the depth of the crisis affecting football."

FC Dallas have loaned young defender Justin Che to Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has confirmer that Dayot Upamecano will join Bayern from RB Leipzig in the summer.

Injury Round-Up

Leicester City defender James Justin has become the latest player to rupture an anterior cruciate ligament. The 22 year old will take no further part in this season after picking up the injury in the FA Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday.

Problems between on-loan Real Madrid winger Gareth 'golfer' Bale and Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho are growing after Mourinho criticised Bale for a social media post. Bale posted on Tuesday: "Good session today." Mourinho termed it a "contradiction between the post and the reality", as Bale had missed training on the Monday and then asked for a scan on his potential injury on the Tuesday in question. Mourinho told a press conference: "Since the beginning of the season in relationship to everything, I try to be very private and try to keep everything indoors, but I felt I needed to address the situation. The post was not even his responsibility, I don't know. But the post was showing 'training session great and I am ready' and was totally wrong."

Paris Saint-Germain's head coach Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that Neymar might be making his yearly trip home as recovers from his adductor 'injury' that he picked up against Caen. Neymar has travelled home at this time of year, just in time for the Rio Carnival and his sister's birthday, every single year since 2014. Caen coach Pascal Dupraz has defended his players against suggestions they hurt Neymar saying: "It wasn't Caen that injured Neymar. He limped out, injured himself. I do not dispute the fact that he is injured, that it is detrimental to him, his team and all of us, supporters of French football. He complains of taking kicks while he controls the ball on his feet because he is an artist. He is clever, he adds more, he provokes.... what bothers me is that he is in the provocation and the invective. That's all, it's just what bothers me. I am an educator, responsible and mature, I coach young players. They must learn to be respected." Dupraz also complained about his side not getting a penalty in the game but said he would "leave the crying to Neymar", which brought Neymar Sr in to also have a whine. Neymar Sr. said: "Really, my child has to cry, but not for what you imagine, sir. I, in my opinion, he has to cry because there are coaches like you, referees of that level, negligent and omitted leagues, journalists in the large biased and cowardly minority in sports. Yes, he has to cry ... But our cry and his, my son's, the athlete, the magic of football will last another night and after that he will rise again, as always, to win them." At least we know where the son gets his pathetic whining from now!

Bayern Munich's former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry is ruled out "for the forseeable future" with a torn thigh muscle.

Managerial Changes

Despite the media linking John Terry with a management role at both Celtic and Bournemouth, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith says there has been no contact regarding his assistant from either club.

Antoine Kombouare has been appointed to succeed Raymond Domenech as head coach of Nantes and says he will leave if he fails to avoid relegation. Kobouare said: "I am here with a clear mission. If it doesn't work then I'll leave. If we manage to stay up then there's a two-year contract there for me. That's my choice. In my view, if I'm not capable of fulfilling the mission then I shouldn't be staying." Domenech was unable to won a single match in his 7 Ligue 1 games in charge of Nantes.

Disciplinary Charges

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has admitted that he was banned for 3 months and released by Cardiff City in September 2020 after a positive drugs test for cocaine. It was also revealed by UK anti-doping that the Middlesbrough winger was previously banned in 2019 for cocaine usage.

Another European Tie Moved

Pandemic restrictions have seen Arsenal's home leg of the Europa League tie against Benfica to be moved to Athens. The UK has strict restrictions on those who fly in from Portugal. The first leg of the fixture has already been moved to Rome.

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Written by Tris Burke February 13 2021 05:03:38