Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp laughed off Sam Allardyce’s “soft German” jibe, joking he had been called much worse.
Sunderland boss Allardyce made the comment after Klopp reacted angrily to a challenge from Jeremain Lens on Mamadou Sakho in Wednesday night’s 1-0 Liverpool victory at the Stadium of Light.
The Reds boss was in a jovial mood yesterday and said with a chuckle: “Maybe hammer is more my second name than soft.”
Responding to Allardyce, he said: “It’s absolutely not a problem. A lot of people have said worse things about me. Soft German, I think it’s the first time somebody said this about me, so (that’s) cool.”
Norwich City to bid for Ranocchia
Norwich City have offered Inter €10m for central defender Andrea Ranocchia.
BBC reported that the struggling Premier League club have offered the Italy international a salary in the region of €3m per year.
The 27-year-old, who has won 20 caps for Italy, has played over 120 times for Inter and was captain last season.
But he has been relegated to the bench in the current campaign, in which Inter lead the Serie A table going into 2016.
Inter’s depth of defenders means they are likely to allow Ranocchia to leave.
Atletico land Celta star Fernandez
Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of midfielder Augusto Fernandez from Celta Vigo.
The 29-year-old Argentina international passed his medical with Atletico on Thursday and yesterday the Rojiblancos an-nounced he had penned a contract tying him until 2019.
Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Caminero said on his club’s website: “He’s a player of proven experience in the league that will bring quality and competition to a great midfield such as ours. His incorporation will help us face the demands of having to play three competitions.”
McClaren hints at signing new striker
Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has hinted the club could be in the market for a striker when the January transfer window opens.
McClaren has been reticent when quizzed on the subject of the winter window, but asked if he could understand the desperation of fans to know the club’s plans, he replied: “Absolutely. Absolutely.
“I understand fully where you’re coming from, believe me. I think I’ve said enough to say that we do need more goals and that we’re working behind the scenes to address that.”
Genoa want striker Rossi on loan
Striker Giuseppe Rossi is likely to leave Fiorentina this month to join fellow Serie A club Genoa on a loan move.
Rossi is fully recovered from his injury problems, but is not getting enough playing time in Florence to push for a place in Italy’s squad for the Euro 2016 finals.
According to Il Secolo XIX newspaper, Genoa are now leading the race to sign Rossi for the next five months with Sampdoria, Sunderland and Real So-ciedad also keeping tabs on the nippy forward.
Judge pleads not guilty in US case
A suspended Guatemalan judge who was arrested while aboard a Disney cruise ship has pleaded not guilty to charges that he took bribes in exchange for media and marketing rights to World Cup qualifier matches.
Hector Trujillo, who was secretary general of the Guatemalan soccer federation and a judge on the country’s Constitutional Court until his Dec. 4 arrest, entered his plea this week in federal court in Brooklyn, New York.
He is one of dozens of soccer officials charged by US authorities investigating corruption in the sport’s world governing body, FIFA.
A bail hearing has been set for January 7, according to the spokeswoman.
Noble gesture
Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland has donated £5,000 to Great Britain’s women’s deaf football team to help them attend June’s Deaf World Cup in Italy, BBC reported.
Butland, 22, wrote on Twitter: “I’ve learnt a lot from major tournaments, experiences I’ll never forget. I’d love for you to experience the same!”
England internationals Lucy Bronze, Jade Moore, Jo Potter and Fran Kirby have also supported the appeal, along with Wales international Jess Fishlock.
The team’s campaign will cost £20,000. An online appeal aiming to raise half that amount reached its target with Butland’s gift.
Butland, capped three times by England, also works as an ambassador for the Kick It Out anti-discrimination campaign.