West Brom Land Amalfitano On Season Long Loan As Anichebe & Sessegnon Look Set To Follow

Morgan Amalfitano joins the Baggies on a season long loan as he looks to bolster up the squad’s midfield.

West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing of French midfielder Morgan Amalfitano on a season long loan from Marseille as Steve Clarke looks to add to his squad due to signs of second season syndrome being highly visible. The Baggies have only picked up 1 point out of their opening 3 games as they look to improve their squad following their 0-2 home defeat to Swansea yesterday. The deal comes with the option of a permanent move as the Frenchman contains much experience as he has spent all of his professional career in the French top flight.

Amalfitano began his career with French outfit Sedan in 2003 as he struggled to help the club maintain their status in Ligue 1, falling to the French second division. After experiencing a successful season in the French Ligue 2, Sedan failed to gain promotion back into the top flight as Amalfitano established himself as one of the club’s most stable players in midfield. The 28 year old went on to make a total of 126 appearances for the club which saw him make his first transfer to fellow French side Lorient in 2008, making 124 appearances during a 3 year spell at the club. Netting 13 times for Lorient, Amalfitano moved to Marseille in 2011 on a free transfer as he once again established himself as a consistent first team starter. After experiencing a successful career with Marseille, Amalfitano handed in a transfer request this summer as the Baggies have offered the midfielder a crack at the Premier League.

Overall, Baggies boss Steve Clarke will be satisfied with this signing as Amalfitano contains stability, versatility in midfield and most importantly consistency. A regular first team player who should fit in the heart of the Baggies’ midfield could provide the team with that extra bit of flair which has been lacking in recent games. A good signing by West Brom as they are also in advanced talks with Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon & Everton’s Victor Anichebe. A busy day at the Hawthorns as Peter Odemwingie is also on the verge of moving to Premier League new boys Cardiff City.

 

Liverpool Snap Up Defenders Mamadou Sakho & Tiago Ilori For A Combined Fee Of 20 Million Pounds

Sakho moves to Anfield for a fee of 13 million pounds, bolstering the sqaud’s defensive options.

Liverpool have strengthened their defensive options as they have completed the signings of PSG’s Mamadou Sakho and Sporting Lisbon’s Tiago Ilori for a combined fee of 20 million pounds. The pair were present during yesterday’s 1-0 win against reigning champions Manchester United as they put the finishing touches on their deals earlier this morning. Sakho has been regarded as one of the most “in-form” defenders in Europe as he looks to take his spot in the starting 11 as Ilori joins for a fee of 7 million pounds, adding depth and versatility to the Red’s squad. The Portuguese centerback stated earlier today following his move:

“It feels great being a Liverpool player, coming to the Premier League has always been a dream for me. I’m going to try to achieve everything I can. I want to play as much as possible and we’ll see what the future holds. I will give my all and try my best to help the team.”

20 year old Tiago Ilori completes dream move to the Premier League as he joins from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of 7 million pounds.

The 20 year old stands at 6 foot 3 and has made 10 appearances for the national U-20 team, giving him much needed international experience. Ilori began his career with Portuguese side Sporting CP in which he made 12 appearances for the club, starting out as a striker before switching to centerback. As Ilori was born in England, he takes a keen interest in the Premier League as settling back into the UK will be much easier than expected. Sporting Lisbon took on the big defender in 2012 in which he made a positive impact, attracting interest from several European clubs. Making a total of 20 league appearances last season, the 20 year old opted for a move to Anfield as he looks to improve the club’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

23 year old Mamadou Sakho began his career with PSG, establishing himself as one of the club’s most prized assets. Sakho made his way up the club’s youth system in which he finally gained his professional debut in 2007 against Lorient, going on to win the game 3-0. Making 151 league appearances for the French outfit, Sakho experienced the last 2 seasons on the bench as the likes of Alex and Thiago Silva condemned the Frenchman’s services to the sidelines. Sakho has also made a total of 14 appearances for the French national side as he contains both first league and international experience.

Overall, Liverpool will be thrilled with this double signing as Sakho is a proven centrback who bares strength, aggression and much earned experience. A presence that is well known around Europe will be looking to take his spot in the starting 11 as his 13 million pound move will see Liverpool become even more of a threat in this year’s campaign. Ilori will be looking to gain experience throughout the season during cup games and substitutions as the likes of Agger, Sakho and Skrtel are most likely to be first choiced defenders. A fantastic bit of business by Rodgers as there only problem will be keeping hold of Uruguayan hitman Luis Suarez.

 

Arsenal Re-Sign French Midfielder Mathieu Flamini On A 3 Year Deal

Flamini re-signs for the Gunners on a 3 year deal following his contract expiry at the San Siro.

Arsene Wenger has re-signed French midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a 3 year contract from AC Milan after being released from the club. The Frenchman experienced an injury struck career at the San Siro as Arsenal fans were more than skeptical over Wenger’s decision to re-sign the midfielder due to his constant injuries and lack of fitness. Wenger stated earlier today that he did not originally want to re-sign Flamini due to the player’s physical shape. However, physical staff at the Emirates assessed the fitness of former Arsenal man as he turned out to be in top form, changing Wenger’s mind which led to to the club offering him a 3 year deal in London.

The 29 year old began his career with French outfit Marseille in which he was part of the club’s youth squad, making his way up the team’s starting 11. After several impressive performances, Flamini gained attention from all around Europe as Arsenal came out on top to pen the Frenchman’s signature in 2004. During a 4 year spell at the Emirates, Flamini made a total of 157 appearances scoring on 8 occasions, helping the Gunners to win 1 FA Cup, 1 Community Shield and also playing a role in guiding them to the 2006 Champions League Final, loosing to Spanish giants Barcelona 2-1. In 2008, the midfielder opted for a move out of Britain as he joined Italian giants AC Milan on a long term deal. Experiencing a good 2 years in Milan, Flamini slowly saw himself pushed down the pecking order as Ambrosini took prime form, sentencing the Frenchman to much time on the bench. In 2010, Flamini suffered a serious injury which kept him out of football for 2 years, seeing his contract expire in Milan as he re-signed a new 1 year deal just 2 weeks later.

Overall, Flamini is a very controversial signing by Arsene Wenger as the French midfielder will most probably spend much time on the sidelines for a good amount of the season. However, if it is said to be true about his fitness, Flamini could even make an appearance during Sunday’s North London derby in which the player knows all so well. An average signing for the Gunners as the return of the midfielder is certainly not a move that will take the club in a higher direction, more on the lines as a squad filling player.

QPR’s Mbia Joins Sevilla On A Season Long Loan

Mbia joins Spanish outfit Sevilla on a season long loan after an average spell at Loftus Road.

Cameroon powerhouse Stephane Mbia has joined Spanish outfit Sevilla on a season long loan from QPR following their relegation to the championship. The defensive midfielder agreed to a loan move out of Loftus Road as he felt that playing championship football was not in his plans as he moves to the Spain’s La Liga. Mbia experienced a medioka spell in London as he joined the R’s on a 2 year contract, possibly making a return to the club if they gain promotion back to the Premier League.

The 27 year old began his professional playing career with French outfit Rennes in which he was a product of the club’s development system, gaining his debut in 2004. During a 5 year spell with Rennes, Mbia made 105 league appearances as he grew to be one of the most impressive defensive minded midfielders in the league. 2009 saw French giants Marseille come calling for the Cameroonian’s services as he completed a 10.4 million pound switch, helping the club to become champions that same year. After a more than impressive spell with Marseille, Mbia joined QPR on a 2 year deal which saw English misfit Joey Barton move in the opposite direction. The midfielder made a more than average impact as he could not save the London club from falling back into the hands of the championship.

Overall, Mbia brings a physically strong presence in mid-park as Sevilla will be looking to exploit his natural ability. QPR will most likely not reniew the Cameroonian’s contract as he struggled to keep up with the pace of the English game as a permanent move back to France or even with Sevilla looks more than likely. QPR still look championship favourites for promotion after an impressively worked goal on the weekend sealed them with 3 points by defeating Bolton 0-1 at the Reebok. A good player who’s presence will not be missed at the club due to a lack on impact as his ability is much more suited for a slower paced game.

 

Liverpool Snap Up French Left Back Aly Cissokho On A Season Long Loan

Cissokho completes Premier League dream move as he believes they can grab 4th spot.

Liverpool have snapped up Valencia left back Aly Cissokho on a season long loan as Brendan Rodgers looks to add more depth at the back ahead of their second season fixture against Aston Villa. The Reds are keen on a Champions League spot as Cissokho was brought in as a second left back, keeping first choice Luis Enrique on his toes. The French international has had vast experience all around Europe as he had successful spells with several European champions such as Lyon and Porto.

Cissokho stated yesterday following his move: “I feel extremely proud to be here and I’m proud of all the hard work I’ve put in so far throughout my career. I’ve always dreamt of one day signing for a really legendary club. I’ve been lucky enough to play for a few top sides and so to now get the chance to play for a club like Liverpool.

“It’s just fantastic. I’ve always said, along with a lot of other French players, that I really love the English league, and although I’ve been fortunate enough to have played at some big clubs, in the back of my mind, I’ve always wanted to play in England.”

The 25 year old began his career with former Ligue 2 side Guegnon in which he was spotted as a future talent by the club’s scouting network system. In 2007 Cissokho signed his first professional contract, failing to help Guegnon regain their Ligue 2 status as they finished bottom of the League, dropping to the country’s 3rd division. During the transfer window of 2008, Portuguese outfit Vitoria Setubal gained the Frenchman’s services as he made a positive impact at the club, later securing him with a move to Porto for a small fee of 300,000 euros in January 2009. Cissokho helped Porto continue a 15 game unbeaten run as a move back to France came calling just 6 months after as Lyon signed the leftback for 15 million euros. Making a total of 134 appearances for the French Giants, Cissokho later secured a move to Spain with Valencia in 2012 for a fee of 5 million euros, spending just 1 season in at the club.

Sissokho joins a host of players to leave the Spanish side as the likes of new Spurs striker Roberto Soldado also departed for the Premier League, scoring from the penalty spot on his debut. A good steady signing by the Reds boss as Rodgers will be looking to give Cissokho his first Liverpool appearance on the weekend as they make their way up to Villa Park for a fiesty encounter. The big leftback posesses strength, pace and International experience as he looks to help Liverpool stride towards 4th spot, possibly securing him with a permanent move to Anfield next summer.

Palace Snap Up Bordeaux Left Back Florian Marange On A 1 Year Deal

Marange joins Premier League new boys Palace on a 1 year deal after spending several seasons on the sidelines at Bordeaux.

Crystal Palace has snapped up French defender Florian Marange on a free deal from Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux. The 27 year old fullback penned a 1 year deal at Selhurst Park which will see him at the club until 2014, possibly leading to a contract extension if Palace manage to retain their Premier League status. The Frenchman joins a host of players to South London as former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, young startlet Dwight Gayle and West Brom’s Jerome Thomas all look to begin their Premier League journey, following their 0-1 defeat to Spurs on Sunday.

Marange began his career with Bordeaux in which he worked his way up the club’s youth system, making his first team debut in 2004. The left back struggled to maintain a first team place as he made a total of 83 league appearances for the club, reaching 2 years of first team football before being dropped to the bench. In 2009 Marange opted for a loan move out of Bordeaux in which he sealed a 6 month loan with fellow French side Le Havre, making 13 league appearances during his time at the club. Marange also spent the second half of the 2009/2010 season on loan, this time with Nancy making 16 appearances. Spending a further 3 years on the sidlines at Bordeaux, Ian Holloway decided to ressurect the Frenchman’s career as he joins the Eagles in their Premier League survival hunt.

Marange will give Palace’s squad width, versatility and european experience within the squad as he looks to sure up the squad’s defence. As Ian Holloway’s side defended exceptionally against Spurs during Sky’s Super Sunday, Palace looked steady and physical at the back with the likes of Jedinak proving to be a real presence. A good signing that will give Palace options at the back in which will be a long season that will reqire stamina to the highest levels. Holloway will be looking to build on his team’s 0-1 defeat as they look to increase their defensive options ahead of next week’s fixture.

Spurs Swoop For Toulouse Midfielder Etienne Capoue For 9.3 Million Pounds

Capoue pens a long term contract in London as he makes his Premier League dream switch.

Spurs are close to reaching the 60 million spending mark this summer as they welcome highly rated French international Etienne Capoue to White Hart Lane. The midfielder completed his move to London on thursday as he signs a long term contract for a fee of 9.3 million pounds. With the exits of Tom Huddlestone & Jake Livermore earlier this week to Hull, AVB looked to reduce surplus players out of the squad due to the arrivals of big named replacements such as Paulinho and Capoue. The defensive midfielder was thrilled over his transfer to White Hart Lane and stated earlier today that the deal will be offically completed very soon as little paperwork is left to be finalized.

The Frenchman began his career with Toulouse in which he worked his way up the club’s youth system, finally making his debut at the age of 18 against Lille. This sparked the beginning of th 25 year old’s career in which he went on to make an impressive 174 league appearances for Toulouse, netting on 13 occasions. Becoming a regular starter in 2011, Capoue drew interest from clubs all around Europe as the likes of Lazio and Arsenal was keen on obtaining the midfielder’s services. However, AVB came out on top as he fought off competition from Premier League side Cardiff which saw the move collapse, leading to the purchase of Chilean international Gary Medel earlier last week.

Overall, Capoue looks like a player that posseses bags of potential which can be further developed at White Hart Lane. AVB will be looking to start the midfielder on a regular basis as the likes of Scott Parker are due to leave the club before the end of the transfer window. This restricts the squad to 3 defensive midfielders, Paulinho, Sandro and Capoue. As we know Spurs like to play 2 defensive midfielders, Capoue will not be short of first team football as AVB does like to rotate his squad on a regular basis. A player that holds strength and good vision should be a decent signing for the club as Tottenham will be pleased with this addition as it gives flexibility and versatility to the squad.

Newcastle Land QPR’s Loic Remy On A Season Long Loan

Remy completes a season long loan to Premier League side Newcastle United as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the start of the new season.

Newcastle have finalized the signing of French international Loic Remy from championship outfit QPR on a season long loan. Newcastle’s manager Alan Pardew has been adamant to add some serious firepower to the squad as Remy was a possible option due to QPR’s relegation to the English second tier. Due to mis-understandings with the Magpies’ new technical director Joe Kinnear over possible transfer targets, the club stalled during the previous month in bringing in a striker as they look set to complete the deal for another forward before the start of the season next week.

Remy scored several vital goals last season at Loftus Road as they were not enough to save QPR from playing championship football, however the Frenchman makes a swift return to the Premier League as he joins Newcastle’s French Revolution. Remy stated last night following his move to St James’ Park:

“I was very flattered by the club’s interest in me back in January and also very happy that they showed interest in me again this summer. The Premier League is the best league in the world and that’s where I want to play. I am very motivated this year to get into the World Cup squad for my country and I know in order to do that I need to have a big season and a successful campaign with Newcastle United.”

The 26 year old began his career with French giants Lyon in which he failed to break into the first team squad, only making 12 appearances. However, despite not being a regular starter managers across the country were desperate to get the striker’s signature as he posessed much potential that needed further developing. This saw him make an 8 million euro move to Nice in 2008 in which he netted 26 times in 68 appearances, catching the eye of former French champions Marseille in 2010. The deal was reportedly in the region of 15 million euros as Remy made an instant impact at the Stade Velodrome. During his 2 year spell the French international scored 39 goals in 95 appearances which saw financially stable QPR come calling for Remy’s signature. January 2013 saw Newcastle fall short as the striker opted for a move to London, netting 6 times in 14 appearances which was not enough to salvage their Premier League status.

Overall Newcastle wil be thrilled with this signing as they look to end their striking dilemma. With the likes of Papiss Cisse and Remy in the squad, Newcastle will be looking to land one more striker as the likes of either Darrent Bent or Bafetembi Gomis are more than likely to pen a contract at the club. Remy poseses finishing accuracy, strength and pace which is a type of striker that Alan Pardew prefers to lead the front line. A fantastic signing for the Magpies as this loan deal could even be made permanent at the end of the season.

Sunderland Sign 20 Year Old Midfielder El Hadji Ba

El Hadji Ba makes Sunderland move after his release from French club Le Havre.

El Hadji Ba has joined Paolo Di-Canio’s Sunderland on a free transfer after his release from French outfit Le Havre. The French U-20 international made 13 appearances for Le Havre since he began his career at the club in 2011 at the age of 18. The 20 year old midfielder was previously linked with a move to Tottenham as he decided that a move to The Stadium Of Light was right for him.

As not much is known about this player, the 20 year old lacks playing experience as Di Canio could possibly be looking to loan him out or even to keep him for cup fixtures. This makes it the black-cats’ 7th summer signing as the addition of USA striker Jozy Altidore was completed earlier today for an undisclosed fee.

Marc-Antoine Fortune Joins Wigan On A 2 Year Deal After West Brom Departure

Fortune joins Wigan on a 2 year deal after leaving the Hawthorns.

Marc Antoine Fortune has joined Owen Coyle’s summer transfer spree as the former baggies striker joins Wigan on a 2 year deal. The 32 year old was welcomed to the DW Stadium yesterday in which he became Coyle’s 6th signing after replacing Roberto Martinez last month.

Fortune has experienced great spells with clubs such as Celtic, Brest, Utrecht, AS Nancy, Lille and even Doncaster Rovers as the striker has made a total of 138 British appearances, netting 27 times. As the Frenchman is not a natural goalscorer, he offers strength. experience and also versatility as he can play on the wing or even sit further back into midfield. After having a fantastic loan season for the baggies in 2009, Fortune signed for Scottish champions Celtic in 2010 for a fee of 3.5 million pounds which saw him spend 1 year at the club. However the Frenchman made a swift return to the Hawthorns in which he made 62 league appearances in 3 seasons.

After falling out of favour in the Baggies squad, Fortune decided to leave the club earlier this week in order to find regular first team football as Wigan came immediately calling. Due to the likes of Long and newly signed Anelka being highly depended on, the 32 year old’s services were not needed on a regular basis as Clarke still stated it as “a huge loss to the squad”.

Coyle stated yesterday: “To bring a player of such calibre to the football club is a great piece of business. He’s shown his qualities at the very highest level and, when I spoke to Steve Clarke at West Brom, he told me how he didn’t want to lose him, which goes to show how important he has been at his former club and proof that he has the capabilities to be a Premier League forward, never mind a Championship one.

“So I’m really exciting to bring him in, the first of the strikers to arrive, and I’m sure he’ll bring a great deal to the team. He’s powerful, can play anywhere across the front line and has pace to hurt defences.”

As Fortune only bagged 2 goals in last season’s campaign, he is definitely a player that will be missed in the squad as the fans percieved him as the reliable figure that was always present amongst the team. He joins defenders James Perch, Thomas Rogne, Stephen Crainey and goalkeeper Scott Carson as Wigan are looking like a very dangerious side for the new Championship campaign.