Sunderland’s new manager David Moyes has bolstered his forward line by signing Nigerian free agent Victor Anichebe until the end of the season.
The 28-year old, who played under Moyes at Everton, has been brought in as emergency cover after an injury to Italian Fabio Borini left Jermain Defoe as the club’s only recognised striker.
Anichebe, who made more than 130 appearances under Moyes at Everton, said his relationship with the Scot had tipped the scales in favour of joining the Black Cats.
Football has changed now, says Heynckes
Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes believes football has “gone off the rails” following the latest transfer window.
Heynckes retired after leading Bayern to a Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League treble in 2013 and he is glad he no longer has anything to do with a game which he says has transformed into a business.
“Just look at this inflamed transfer window,” Heynckes said.“Football has gone off the rails.
“It’s lost its spirit. Football is business. It’s all about being quick, quick, quick – nobody has any patience nowadays.
“But then again, that is how things are in normal life, away from football.”
Rush backs Bale to break Wales record
Ian Rush is confident Gareth Bale will break his Wales goal-scoring record during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bale moved to within six of Rush’s 28-goal Wales mark this summer when he became the first player for 12 years to score in every group game of a European Championship.
And Rush says he will be delighted should Bale break his record in a World Cup campaign which starts against Moldova in Cardiff tomorrow.
“I think he will break the record in this campaign and I’d like to be there to see it,” said former Liverpool striker Rush.
“You’re disappointed if your record goes, but records are there to be broken. I would celebrate it and hopefully Wales are right up there at the top of the group.”
Schweinsteiger out of ELeague squad
Bastian Schweinsteiger has been left out of Manchester United’s squad for the Europa League group stage.
The 32-year-old was last week named in United’s Premier League squad but he will be ineligible to play in Europe after being excluded from the 27-man list submitted to UEFA.
Schweinsteiger has yet to make an appearance under new boss Jose Mourinho, who has told the midfielder it will be “very difficult” to give him any playing time this season.
Raiola hits out at Liverpool’s Klopp
Mario Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola has criticised Jurgen Klopp for his treatment of the Italian striker at Liverpool, after he left to sign for Nice on a one-year deal.
Balotelli, 26, was left out of Liverpool’s preseason tour and trained with the reserves as Klopp made it clear he was not part of his plans.
And Raiola was upset by the way his client was handled.
“In the end, the higher-ups at Liverpool admitted that Klopp was wrong,” Raiola said.
“I’m not trying to judge him as a coach – although, for me, he’s not a good coach –but he didn’t understand that Balotelli is, whatever else, a person.
“To say that it was wrong of Klopp would be an understatement, he was a piece of s¨¨ about it.”
Youth recruiting key, says Begiristain
Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain has stressed recruiting the best local young talent is just as important to the club as bringing in exciting prospects from overseas.
Among the host of signings City have made this summer are 19-year-olds Gabriel Jesus, Marlos Moreno and Oleksandr Zinchenko and 20-year-old Leroy Sane.
Begiristain said: “Our global network of scouts are working continuously to identify and recruit the best young talent on the planet.
“Equally important to us is bringing in the best local talent from here in Manchester – we have a clear idea on how we want our young players to play and so we identify footballers who we believe can play in this style.”
Valencia chief sad to see Alcacer go
Valencia president Chan Lay Hoon told fans that she was sorry to see Paco Alcacer leave for Barcelona in the €30m transfer.
“If it had just been about money, it would have been an easy decision,” Hoon said.
“But Paco wasn’t like the rest of the players and he was also very popular. He was an icon, a symbol of our academy because he had been with us since he was 11.
“Last week when he told me he wanted to leave I was very disappointed. But I understand that it is very difficult for a player to say no to an opportunity like Barcelona.”