Monthly Archives: January 2019

Magpies complete double swoop; break transfer record by signing Almiron

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Newcastle have completed the signing of Miguel Almiron from MLS outfit Atalanta United for a club record £20m. The fee is the highest the Magpies have paid for a player, eclipsing Michael Owen’s long standing £16m record, set in 2005 when they acquired the England striker from Real Madrid.

In another deadline day swoop, the Magpies also completed the signing of Antonio Barreca on loan from AS Monaco till the end of the season.

Mike Ashley has often been criticised in the past for not making enough funds available to purchase new players, with many long suffering fans often wishing for better support for Rafa Benitez. The Magpies stunned Man City 2-1 at home a few days ago, leading many to say that they would be challenging for an European spot if Benitez had the same level of backing as some of the other teams in the bottom half of the table.

Newcastle are 14th in the league currently and will square off against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

Almiron

Atletico Madrid sign Alvaro Morata on 18 month loan

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La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid have officially confirmed the signing of Alvaro Morata on loan from Premier League outfit Chelsea. The Spanish striker will be at the Wanda Metropolitano till the end of the 2019/20 season, thus making it an eighteen month loan stint for the 26 year old.

Morata joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in the summer of 2017, but has never quite had the impact he was expected to. Most of Chelsea’s signings that summer excepting Antonio Rudiger- the likes of Danny Drinkwater, Davide Zappacosta and Tiemoue Bakayoko and Morata have failed to establish themselves at the Bridge. It probably represents one of the worst transfer windows in recent history for the club, given the money that was splurged on these players. The quartet mentioned above cost the Blues well over £150m, and the London outfit, in all probability, will have to take a hit on these players when they permanently leave the club.

The Morata switch comes after Chelsea signed Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus till the end of the season (with an option to buy)

Morata scored 24 goals in 72 games across all competitions for Chelsea. The Blues are fourth in the league table at the time of this transfer, while Atleti are second in La Liga.

The most shocking football transfers- KPB to Barca and more!

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The football world has been rocked by strange and unexplained transfers more than one time. From superstars arriving at lowly clubs to virtual unknowns being signed by juggernauts, some football transfers are as baffling as wearing a winter jacket on a beach.

Starting with Kevin Prince Boateng’s recent arrival to Barcelona, we list some of the most shocking football transfers ever.

Kevin Prince Boateng

A few days ago, Barcelona shocked the world by signing Sasuolo’s Ghanaian recently converted false-nine. It’s not that Boateng is not a well-known name in football – it’s just that he’s more known for his antics rather than his qualities.

Granted, his spell at AC Milan has been fruitful (who can forget that goal against Barca?) and he played well for Sasuolo this season. However, even with Barca needing a striker who can come off the bench after Munir left for Sevilla, Boateng doesn’t seem to be the answer. He’s obviously not as talented as Suarez, Messi or Dembele, so it remains to be seen if he’ll be a hit or a miss. Continue reading →

QPR 2-1 Leeds | First Cup third round win without replay in 22 years for R’s

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Queens Park Rangers picked up their first FA Cup third round win without a replay in 22 years as they upset Leeds 2-1 at Loftus Road. A penalty from Aramide Oteh and a header from Jake Bidwell were enough to seal Rangers’ progress to the fourth round, where they will face Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

For Leeds, Aapo Halme was their solitary goal scorer, pouncing on a mistake from opposition keeper Matt Ingram.

A loss for QPR would’ve seen them earn the unwanted distinction of becoming the first team to lose 50 FA Cup third round ties.

Things could’ve been very different for the Whites had Tyler Roberts scored in the first minute. As it happended, his effort hit BOTH posts, but didn’t go in!

Marcelo Bielsa’s men will be in action again on Friday when they take on Derby County at Elland Road.

Check out all the action and highlights from the game below Continue reading →