April 2019 - Soccer Wiretap

Michy Batshuayi Moves To Crystal Palace On Loan

Jan 31, 2019 9:53 PM

Michy Batshuayi has completed a last-minute loan move to Crystal Palace.

Batshuayi had been on loan at Valencia for the start of the season. He was close to a loan move to Monaco before Thierry Henry was fired.

West Ham and Real Betis also were late possibilities for the 25-year-old striker. 

Dominic Fifield and Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Tags: Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Loan

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Youri Tielemans Moves To Leicester City On Loan

Jan 31, 2019 9:56 PM

Leicester City have added Youri Tielemans on loan from Monaco.

The 21-year-old Tielemans has 14 caps for Belgium. 

Adrien Silva has moved to Monaco to complete the loan deal.

BBC

Tags: Leicester City, Monaco, Loan

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Emile Smith Rowe Joins RB Leipzig On Loan

Jan 31, 2019 9:44 PM

Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe has joined RB Leipzig on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

The 18-year-old Smith Rowe has yet to make his senior debut in the Premier League.

"Emile is a promising young player. This move will get him valuable competitive action which is important as he continues his development," said Unai Emery.

Sky Sports

Tags: RB Leipzig, Arsenal, Loan

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LAFC Sign Fito Zelaya From Alianza FC

Jan 31, 2019 9:37 PM

Rodolfo "Fito" Zelaya has joined LAFC from Alianza FC in El Salvador.

The 30-year-old Zelaya has long been one of the most coveted players in the region.

We're pleased to secure a player of Rodolfo's quality as we continue our preparations for the 2019 season. Rodolfo is a proven goalscorer, both at the club and international levels, and he will add another dimension to our attack," said LAFC general manager John Thorrington. 

Zelaya has scored 112 goals in 227 matches over 8 seasons with Alianza. 

ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles FC, Official Transfer, Signing

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Bayern Munich Sign 17-Year-Old Taylor Booth From RSL

Jan 31, 2019 9:17 PM

Bayern Munich have signed Taylor Booth from Real Salt Lake's academy.

The 17-year-old, who will begin his career in Bayern U-19's, signed a 3.5 year deal with the German club.

"We see a lot of potential in Taylor. He is a talented young player, and we look forward to working with him to develop his talent further," said Bayern campus manager Jochen Sauer. 

Booth is the third player from MLS that Bayern has signed recently, after Alphonso Davies and Chris Richards.

ESPN

Tags: Bayern Munich, Real Salt Lake, Official Transfer, Signing

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Anthony Martial Signs Long-Term Deal With Manchester United

Jan 31, 2019 2:57 PM

Manchester United have signed Anthony Martial to a five-year contract that keeps him at the club until 2024.

"I am loving my time at this club. From the day I joined I have been made to feel part of the United family and I have been incredibly humbled and overwhelmed by the warmth and love of our fans, who continue to amaze me with their support," said Martial.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Martial's ability. 

"Anthony is one of those naturally gifted players that any coach would love to work with. For a young man, he has a good footballing brain. When coupled with his exceptional talent, that makes for a player with an exciting future ahead of him."


Rob Dawson/ESPN

Tags: Manchester United, Terms Agreement

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Luciano Acosta Rumored For PSG Move

Jan 31, 2019 2:55 PM

DC United playmaker Luciano Acosta is rumored for a move to PSG.

The 24-year-old is set to replace Neymar, who is out for at least two months with a foot injury.

Acosta has left D.C. United's training camp. The rumored transfer fee is under $13 million. 

Jonathan Johnson/ESPN

Tags: Paris Saint-Germain, D.C. United, Injury, Official Transfer

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Giovinco Leaves Toronto FC For Al-Hilal

Jan 31, 2019 2:50 PM

Al-Hilal purchased Giovinco for between $2-$3 million from Toronto FC.

The 32-year-old Giovinco, the 2015 MLS MVP, slammed the organization in an Instagram post.

"For the 2 years I have been seeking to extend my contract however management was reluctant. Recently, after refusing to exercise the club option for 2020, I was offered terms that I deemed unacceptable. They may say I left for a more lucrative deal, but this is not the case. Their offer and lack of transparency is a clear message. It seems management prefers to focus on things other than the pure desire to win. After having grown the brand and elevating the overall reputation of TFC both at home and abroad, it seems I no longer serve a purpose. I would have accepted less to stay in Toronto," wrote Giovinco. 

ESPN

Tags: Toronto FC, Official Transfer

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Tim Howard To Retire At End of MLS Season

Jan 31, 2019 2:45 PM

Tim Howard announced that he will retire at the end of the 2019 MLS season.

"It's been one heck of a ride. This is something that's been on my radar for a number of years now, probably since I signed with Colorado. I knew that the length of the contract would take me to being 40, and it seemed like the right time. I've always had my sights set on this, and there are other things I want to do. For a lot of those reasons I wanted to make sure that this would be the end. The timing just makes a lot of sense to do it now before the season to get that out of the way so that it's not a distraction. That's what's most important to me. I feel great. It's not something I thought about last night. It's a decision I've been very comfortable with for quite a long time in my own head and heart. I feel good," said Howard. 

The 39-year-old keeper added that he would not pursue a career in coaching following his retirement. 

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Tags: Colorado Rapids, IQ

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Florentin Pogba Close To Atlanta United Move

Jan 30, 2019 9:04 PM

Florentin Pogba, brother of Paul Pogba, is close to moving to Atlanta United.

The 28-year-old defender has spent most of his career in Ligue 1, though he was most recently on trial with Elche in Spain.

Pogba has made 21 international appearances for Guinea.

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Tags: Atlanta United, Misc Rumor

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Manchester City Interested In Adding Ben Chilwell Over Summer
Guardiola is looking to add depth at the left back position following concerns about Benjamin Mendy's health.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Maurizio Sarri: Maybe I Am Not Able To Motivate Players
Sarri and his players talked in the dressing room for 40 minutes following Chelsea's 4-0 loss to Bournemouth.

BBC Sport

Arda Turan Facing 12 Years In Prison After Assaulting Singer
Turan is alleged to have broken singer Berkay Sahin's nose at a nightclub.

Silvia Montes/AS

Barcelona Looking To Add 19-Year-Old Gabriel Novaes To B Team
Barcelona want to loan out the 19-year-old striker to their B team.

Juan Jiménez/AS

Juventus Interested In Adding Stefan Savic
Savic's contract with Atletico Madrid expires in 2020.

Patricia Cazón/AS

Arsenal Add Denis Suarez On Loan, Interested In Yannick Carrasco
Suarez and Unai Emery previously worked together at Sevilla.

David Hytner/The Guardian

Neymar Out For Over Two Months With Foot Injury
Neymar has been ruled out for up to 10 weeks with a right foot injury suffered on January 23.

ESPN

Unai Emery Promised Resources In Transfer Market This Summer
Arsenal have not signed any new players over the winter window.

Luke Brown/Independent

Ike Opara Traded To Minnesota United For $900K
The trade comes shortly after Opara asked Sporting KC for a raise.

Nick Rosano/MLS Soccer

Memphis Depay Wants Transfer To 'Top-Level Club' In Summer
Depay stated he wants to play for a top-5 club, including Real Madrid, PSG, Chelsea, Barcelona, City, or Bayern.

Sky Sports

Frenkie De Jong Wanted Manchester City Move, According To Journalist
Manchester City were unable to buy De Jong due to FFP implications.

Declan Olley/Sky Sports

Newcastle Sign Miguel Almiron For Club-Record Transfer Fee
Newcastle have reportedly signed Almiron for a club-record $26 million fee.

Sky Sports

Manchester City Sell Rabbi Matondo To Schalke
The 18-year-old represents the 3rd youth player to move away from Manchester City in the last 2 years.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Alvaro Morata Joins Atletico Madrid On Loan
Morata played for Atleti as a youth before moving to Real Madrid.

BBC Sport

Ivan Perisic Asks For Arsenal Move
Arsenal have reportedly offered a 6-month loan with an option to buy for Perisic.

Ben Gladwell/ESPN

Sokratis, Laurent Koscielny To Miss Time Following Injuries
Arsenal are already without Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding for the season.

ESPN

Chucky Lozano Released From Hospital Following Head Injury
Lozano scored 2 goals before colliding with an opponent just before halftime.

BeIN Sport

Pep Guardiola: City Must Be Quicker And Smarter On Transfer Market
Guardiola added that it's impossible to compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid for transfers.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Arsenal Interested In Loan Move For Ivan Perisic
Arsenal are looking for a 6-month loan for Perisic with an option to buy.

David Ornstein/BBC Sport

Callum Hudson-Odoi Hands In Transfer Request
Bayern Munich have made a transfer bid of over $46 million for the 18-year-old.

BBC Sport