A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Holloway on percentage of transfer fee for Adam
IAN Holloway has revealed he receives a percentage of the transfer fee for any player sold by Blackpool who he has coached, but insists this is not the reason why he and the club are holding out for a higher price for star midfielder Charlie Adam. Agreements such as the one between Holloway and his employers do not contravene any Football Association regulations.
The Blackpool manager has so far resisted all offers for Adam and admitted the bonus he would receive for keeping the club in the Premier League, with Adam’s help, would top anything he could make out of selling the Scottish playmaker. Holloway said: “I do get rewarded with anybody I coach and make a profit on. My chairman (Karl Oyston) looked at my record of producing players and helping players and selling them on and he wanted that at Blackpool.
“That’s not what I’m (resisting offers for Adam) for. I’m on a far bigger bonus to keep us in the Premier League and Charlie Adam can help me do that.”
Benfica confirm Chelsea offer
DAVID Luiz appeared a step closer to becoming a Chelsea player yesterday. Portuguese side Benfica released a statement to their country’s stock exchange confirming they had received an offer, reportedly worth €30 million from Chelsea for their 23-year-old Brazil defender.
Chelsea have four days to reach an agreement with Benfica before the transfer window closes, which on paper is plenty of time.
McCarthy in under-21 squad
THREE days after Giovanni Trapattoni suggested that Tuesday week's Nation's Cup international against Wales had come too soon for Wigan's James McCarthy, Noel King last night named the midfielder in his squad for an under-21 friendly in Cyprus the following evening, reports Emmet Malone.
McCarthy made the bench for the Premier League outfit last weekend and scored upon his return against Aston Villa on Tuesday night but must, it seems, be patient as he waits for the opportunity to add to the single senior cap he won against Brazil a year ago.
Also included in King’s travelling party is Shane Duffy, the Everton defender who came so close to dying after a freak training game mishap when he joined up with the senior squad for the first time last summer. The 19-year-old has made a good recovery since undergoing surgery on his liver but has yet to make it back into the first team at Goodison Park.
Carroll to see specialist over injury
NEWCASTLE striker Andy Carroll is to fly to Sweden today to consult a specialist over his troublesome thigh injury.
The 22-year-old, whose 11 goals to date this season fuelled the Magpies’ solid first half of the season, has missed the last five games with a tear in the muscle, but was taken on the club’s training break to Portugal.
Manager Alan Pardew had hoped to have him back in action for the Premier League trip to Fulham on February 2nd, but the club is now to seek the help of a renowned Swedish specialist in an effort to get to the bottom of the problem.
Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle from the club’s Portugal training camp, Pardew said: “We brought him to Portugal to start running and the disappointing news is that he hasn’t. His injury is in the muscle just above the tendon where it joins the knee, so it’s not an area that gets great circulation, so therefore it doesn’t heal quickly.”
Busquets signs new Barcelona deal
BARCELONA midfielder Sergio Busquets has signed a contract extension to keep him at the Nou Camp until 2015.The new agreement contains an automatic extension for a further year depending on games played in the 2014/15 campaign - and a buyout clause from €80 to €150 million. Busquets made his senior debut during the 2008/09 season and has established himself as an important member of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
EAST Stirlingshire have been expelled from the Scottish Cup after fielding an ineligible player in their fourth-round win over Buckie Thistle, the Scottish FA confirmed.
Falkirk goalkeeper Michael Andrews played in last week’s 1-0 victory for Shire despite the registration documents for his loan extension failing to appear at Hampden. Highland League side Buckie Thistle now face a fifth-round tie against Brechin.
Israel to host European under-21s
UEFA followed Fifas lead by awarding a flagship tournament to the Middle East yesterday when they named Israel as the host nation for the 2013 European Under-21 Championship. Israeli FA chairman Avi Luzon hailed the decision as an “unprecedented achievement” for the country in beating rival bids from England, Wales, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Israel previously hosted the European Under-16 tournament in 2000.
BLACKPOOL have been fined €29,000 by the Premier League for fielding an understrength side against Aston Villa last November. Manager Ian Holloway sparked controversy when he made 10 changes for the Villa Park clash on November 10th in order to rest players during a busy week. Holloway was almost vindicated as his makeshift team were narrowly beaten 3-2 after a last-minute goal from James Collins.
Transfer newslines . . . . .
DERBY winger Kris Commons moved closer to joining Celtic last night after he had a medical in Glasgow when Derby accepted a €350,000 bid for him . . . Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari was on Wearside last night as Sunderland attempted to agree a loan deal for the midfielder . . . Owen Coyle is hoping Arsenal will grant Bolton permission to take striker Carlos Vela on loan . . . Jimmy Bullard has joined Ipswich on loan until the end of the season. The 32-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Hull this season due to a series of knee injuries that have restricted him to just nine first-team appearances . . . Sebastien Bassong insists he will not be leaving Tottenham this month after holding talks with Harry Redknapp over his future at the club . . . Curtis Davies is set to complete his €2 million move from Aston Villa to Birmingham City today after agreeing personal terms on a three-and-a-half-year contract. There is a possibility Sebastian Larsson could move in the opposite direction.
