Key occasions
From South America to south Wales – Swansea have signed Ronald from Grêmio Anápolis for an undisclosed price, topic to worldwide clearance and visa approval.
The 22-year-old’s new contract runs by way of to the summer season of 2027, which incorporates the choice of an extra 12 months.
A brand new Football Weekly to tide you over on this Monday afternoon. Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Fadugba, John Brewin and Andy Hunter to debate Jürgen Klopp and all of the weekend’s FA Cup motion. Plus: high-profile soccer gamers in nightclubs and restaurant chains that make the very best steak.
The Luton captain Tom Lockyer returned to the membership’s coaching floor for the primary time since his cardiac arrest in the course of the Premier League match at Bournemouth in December.
On his return, the Luton supervisor, Rob Edwards, stated:
It was wonderful to see him again. It was a pleasant presentation; it was a particular second and nice to see. I managed to carry it collectively but it surely was emotional. It’s been a very troublesome time for his household firstly, however for us it was nice to see him. He’s an unbelievably courageous man and somebody who has an unbelievable deal with over all of it. I wouldn’t be how he’s. He’s such a powerful and centered individual. There’s a rehabilitation course of however he’s taking it slowly, he’s acquired a child on the best way and that’s his essential focus.
Last 12 months, Al-Hamadi spoke to the Guardian about his unconventional route to soccer, and the inspiration he has taken from his dad and mom. At the age of 1 he fled Iraq together with his then teenage mom to hitch his father, who was granted asylum in Liverpool after being imprisoned by Saddam Hussein for protesting in opposition to the dictator’s regime.
Read extra right here.
The price for Al-Hamadi is the “highest amount received in the AFC Wimbledon era, and includes future incentives which could see the transfer become a record amount at League Two level” in response to the striker’s now former membership.
While Ipswich haven’t disclosed the price for the Iraqi striker, AFC Wimbledon stated of their information assertion that the transfer is “a significant deal for club and player”.
The League Two’s aspect head of soccer operations, Craig Cope, stated:
We want Ali all the very best in his future profession, we thank him for the influence he made and assist his progress from afar as we retain a vested curiosity.
The plan was to promote Ali in the summertime. This would have been our sturdy desire. However, Ipswich tabled a powerful supply to each events, and we completely perceive the potential alternative for Ali to play Premier League soccer subsequent season.
Although disenchanted to lose him in January, I see this as a terrific success for the Club. The work throughout the soccer division over the previous 12 months has offered a platform for him to enhance and thrive, turning into the most popular prospect within the division.
Ipswich signal Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon
And the affirmation is right here: Ipswich have signed the Iraqi striker Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed price.
The 21-year-old will hyperlink up with the membership this week after Iraq’s exit from the Asia Cup. His contract runs till the summer season of 2028.
On his new membership, the ahead stated:
Ipswich is a membership on an upward trajectory, with a supervisor who is understood for growing gamers, so at this level in my profession I really feel like I’m able to make the step up and this looks like the right match for me.
Everyone I’ve spoken to has given the membership unbelievable critiques so I’m simply excited to get to work once I get again. Whenever I’ve watched Ipswich it’s engaging soccer with excessive depth and vitality, which inserts my traits nicely, so I’d say I’m a great match.
I’m hungry to attain targets and perceive it’s a step as much as the Championship the place gamers are higher and sharper, however I’m assured in my skill, I’m hungry to study and am wanting ahead to becoming a member of up with the squad.
The Ipswich supervisor, Kieran McKenna, stated:
He’s had a very good first 12 months of standard senior soccer and has had a major influence at AFC Wimbledon. He suits our recruitment profile of being a younger, hungry, athletic and technical participant who we really feel can have an effect within the squad immediately, but in addition has room to develop and develop for the longer term.
Bayern Munich refute rumours that Thomas Tuchel made himself out there for Barcelona job
With the information concerning Jürgen Klopp and Xavi leaving their golf equipment on the finish of the season, this window has very a lot become a supervisor hypothesis carrousel.
Top golf equipment will probably be eager to maintain their head coaches, together with Bayern Munich and the German giants have hit out at options that Thomas Tuchel has touted himself as a substitute for the outgoing Xavi.
The day after Xavi introduced his departure from Barcelona, Tuchel apparently spoke about his ambition to work in Spain at a fan occasion, prompting claims he was eager for the submit quickly to be vacated by Xavi, a lot to the annoyance of his present employers.
In an announcement issued through Bayern’s official web site, the chief government Jan-Christian Dreesen and the sporting director Christoph Freund stated:
Our head coach Thomas Tuchel was requested by supporters on Sunday as a part of a fanclub go to about his teaching profession and his earlier experiences overseas at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and naturally offered details about this in the course of the dialogue.
He additionally answered normal questions from followers about Spain as a footballing nation. He by no means spoke about Xavi Hernandez and his successor, as was falsely claimed afterwards.
We will not settle for such non-factual statements directed in opposition to our coach, which all the time come from the identical supply.”
Jan-Christian Dreesen & Christoph Freund: “We will no longer accept such non-factual statements.”
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) January 29, 2024
Hello all! Stuart, I like your optimism concerning £100m+ strikes this window. We’ll begin on the membership the place an announcement signing like that’s almost certainly to occur within the coming days: Sheffield United.
United are backside of the Premier League desk and Chris Wilder has stated that the membership is working “frantically” to enhance their squad.
So far, the membership have signed the Chile striker Ben Brereton Díaz and the previous Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Ivo Grbic however Wilder is eager on gamers with extra expertise to bolster his squad.
We have been linked and it is important that we have now somebody who has performed within the division or at a degree which is equal to the Premier League. We need gamers that make us higher as a gaggle and we really feel we have now executed that with Igo and Ben. We needed to deliver gamers in who strengthen the group and push gamers. We are working frantically to enhance our group and hopefully we try this earlier than the window shuts.
There have been quiet whispers that the membership captain, Anel Ahmedhodzic, has curiosity from sides in Italy, however Wilder denied that there have been any “concrete” bids for the 24-year-old.
There have been actually free inquiries, principally loans which we have now turned down, nothing concrete to say we’re in discussions and we’re in negotiations.
Martin Braithwaite to Chelsea or Manchester United? Another day, one other ahead linked to Mauricio Pochettino’s aspect. Marca are additionally suggesting that Erik ten Hag could also be within the Espanyol ahead.
It does really feel barely fanciful that both would flip to a 32-year-old at the moment enjoying in Spain’s Segunda División to bolster their placing choices, however then I believe a good few of us have been shocked to see the Danish ahead signal for Barcelona a couple of years in the past.
Incidentally, the Barça contract he signed again then was truly resulting from expire this June. He left the membership virtually a 12 months and a half in the past.
That’s the tip of my tumbleweedy bridging stint. Here’s Yara El-Shaboury for, I’m positive, a sackful of shock £100m+ strikes. Thanks for studying and good day!
Mikel Arteta non-development information: the Spaniard has poured a three-litre bottle of dandelion and burdock on smouldering chatter that he has been lined as much as substitute Xavi at Barça this summer season.
At his press convention within the lead-up to Arsenal’s go to to Nottingham Forest tomorrow, Arteta stated:
That’s completely pretend information. I don’t know the place it’s coming from – It is completely unfaithful. I’m actually upset about it. I couldn’t consider it … there’s no supply, it’s acquired nothing.
I’m in the proper place with the proper folks. I really feel actually good about it.
Diego Costa to Palmeiras? The former Chelsea and Atlético Madrid ahead, now 35, is continuous his gradual profession wind-down. After his impact-bereft spell at Wolves, he spent final season at Botafogo however subsequent up could possibly be heading approx 1,400 miles north-east – Fabrizio Romano reviews that his camp are in discussions over a transfer to the Brazilian Serie A champions.
🟢🇧🇷 Diego Costa may return to Brazil as soon as once more as his camp has been in direct contact with Palmeiras within the current days.
Discussions going down for former Chelsea and Atléti striker becoming a member of Palmeiras. pic.twitter.com/6GAYEG6qgv
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2024
Bit extra Xavi content material for you, following Sid Lowe’s weblog right this moment. The former midfielder insisted Barcelona wanted a “change of direction” and that, as a fan of the membership himself, he felt that leaving was “the best thing” …
Ali al-Hamadi to Ipswich? Profoundly blended information for the 21-year-old ahead. Iraq’s last-16 Asian Cup tie has simply completed 3-2 to Jordan, with two ultra-late targets (90+5, 90+7) proving decisive. He has gone unused in that match, however could possibly be cheered by information that the Championship aspect are closing on a transfer for him.
He reportedly handed a medical for the membership whereas in Qatar over the weekend and his exit from AFC Wimbledon now appears a formality. Al-Hamadi was the PFA followers’ participant of the month for League Two in each November and December and his arrival may deliver a little bit of feelgood issue again to Portman Road after their beautiful FA Cup exit by the hands of Maidstone on Saturday.
Jordan, by the way, will subsequent face Tajikistan within the quarter-finals on Friday.
Greetings all. I’m right here, I promise. Thought I’d give it a minute for a BLOCKBUSTER transfer to recover from the road.
Hopefully Cher Ndour to Braga on mortgage from PSG does it for you. Here’s the Portuguese membership’s reveal vid, soundtracked by the actually fairly horrible Patty Cake by Quavo and Takeoff.
That’s sufficient from me – right here’s Stuart Goodwin to maintain issues going.
All a contact quiet in the mean time, so why not tune in for the newest happenings at Manchester United.
Here’s a roundup from the weekend’s WSL motion. I used to be on the MBM for Chelsea’s win in opposition to Brighton and Lauren James was fairly spectacular, pulling off two cracking finishes.
Huddersfield sack Darren Moore
Some Championship information – Huddersfield have let supervisor Darren Moore go along with the membership at the moment twenty first. “We have to make this decision to give us the best chance of maintaining our Sky Bet Championship status come the end of the season,” stated the membership chairman Kevin Nagle.
“Darren is a fantastic man, and he has worked tirelessly since taking the job back in September. I know I speak for everyone at the club in wishing him the very best for the future.”
The Angeliño on the airport pics have dropped. The former Manchester City left-back has been pictured in Rome forward of his reported mortgage transfer to Roma. His dad or mum membership is RB Leipzig, however he’s been on mortgage at Galatasaray this season.
Lewis Miley signs long-term Newcastle deal
Newcastle have introduced that their wunderkind, 17-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley, has signed a long-term contract on the membership. “I’d like to acknowledge the role of the club’s academy in Lewis’ development,” stated Eddie Howe. “He is a shining example of the club’s talent pathway and he can hopefully inspire our younger players to follow in his footsteps.”
Van Dijk not sure about Liverpool future
Well, right here’s one thing. With Jürgen Klopp heading away from Anfield, a brand new period beckons at Liverpool and their star centre-back hasn’t made it clear if he’ll be a part of it. Andy Hunter has the story.
On the topic of Xavi, right here’s Sid Lowe on the upcoming departure of the midfield legend.
Just going again to the information of Xavi leaving Barcelona – Mikel Arteta has been linked with that job however Sky Sports News have reported that the Arsenal supervisor isn’t heading anyplace on the finish of the season. Arteta, in fact, got here by way of the youth system at Barcelona on the flip of the century however didn’t play first-team soccer there.
Please cease what you’re doing and watch this transfer reveal from Fenerbahce. Just a bit OTT, I reckon.
Soyuncu joins Fenerbahce on mortgage
Here’s a blast from the previous (kind of): former Leicester centre-half Caglar Soyuncu has joined Fenerbahce on mortgage for the remainder of the season from Atlético Madrid.
In case you missed it, there have been some poor scenes on the Hawthorns yesterday, with crowd hassle casting a shadow over Wolves’ 2-0 win over West Brom. Peter Lansley was there to report on the sport – and the ugly stuff.
Jürgen Klopp’s lengthy goodbye started with a victory over Norwich yesterday. Naturally, hypothesis will proceed over who will substitute him when he steps down on the finish of the season, with Xabi Alonso the present favorite. With Xavi leaving Barcelona there are going to be some high-profile managerial strikes within the coming months – who ought to take that job?
Newcastle supervisor Eddie Howe’s been talking – he’s shocked on the noises surrounding Callum Wilson, indicating that the striker isn’t going anyplace. Also looks as if they gained’t be making any strikes with out somebody having to go away.
Here’s the Rumour Mill – let’s see what’s in right here … Oooh. Joshua Kimmich to Spurs? That’d be enjoyable. Brentford appear like they’re going to nab the Norwegian teen Antonio Nusa, who I’ll now must get an in depth have a look at on YouTube by way of ‘Welcome to Brentford | Insane Runs, Goals, Skills, Assists (HD)’.
Here are some Cup hot-takes for you. What a factor, by the best way, to see Maidstone do their factor. The dramatic celebrations after their first aim, nonetheless within the first half and with a lot work nonetheless to do, have been kind of shifting, actually.
Preamble
Hello, howdy, howdy and welcome to the start of the tip. Yes, the transfer window is into its closing week, and right here’s one thing for you from our man Fabrizio: Barcelona are closing in on the signing of the 17-year-old Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall. He turns 18 this week – that’s going to be a rager.
Feel free to drop me a line together with your ideas/questions/views on the weekend’s FA Cup motion/the way you get by way of Mondays, no matter you fancy.
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