Côte d’Ivoire ready for long-awaited AFCON kick off
January 5 – Côte d’Ivoire FA president Yacine Idriss Diallo says everything is ready in terms of preparations for the upcoming African Cup of Nations.
Turks tender TV rights for new 3-year Super Lig cycle
January 5 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has launched a tender for the broadcasting rights for the matches of the country’s top two football leagues – Super Lig and First Lig for the next three seasons.
Christmas hits: Premier League packs stadia again for festive period
January 5 – Week 18 of Premier league fixtures saw Liverpool and West Ham unite for two of the strongest turnouts of the season, raising the average of an overall dismal week for Premier League turnout.
Transfer talk: Firmino for Fulham, Chelsea clearout, Bayern eye Tomori
January 5 – Despite being welcomed to Saudi Arabia as one of its league’s marquee summer signings, Brazilian centre-forward Roberto Firmino (pictured) is on the verge of a return to the Premier League, with Fulham leading the chase for the ex-Liverpool man.
Sancho set to return to Dortmund on loan
January 5 – The long drawn out saga of Jadon Sancho and Manchester United may finally be reaching its conclusion with the news that the banished England international is on the verge of a return to Borussia Dortmund.
Pixbet agrees record shirt sponsorship with Flamengo
January 5 – Betting operator Pixbet has expanded its partnership with leading Brazilian club Flamengo with a new two-year shirt sponsor deal.
Portland Thorns sells for record $63m to Raj Sports
January 5 – NWSL club Portland Thorns have been sold for $63 million, a record for the acquisition of a women’s club.
Chelsea return to the crypto market with £10m BingX sleeve deal
January 5 – Premier league Chelsea have agreed a sleeve sponsorship with cryptocurrency firm BingX.
French court gives Algeria’s Youcef Atal suspended jail sentence for posting hate video
January 4 – Nice’s Algerian international Youcef Atal (pictured), already having served a seven-match ban dished out by French football authorities, has now been handed an eight-month suspended jail term for sharing an anti-Semitic message on social media relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Should I stay or should I go? Mbappé prevaricates
January 4 – Kylian Mbappé says he has yet to decide whether he will sign a new contract to stay at Paris St. Germain beyond this season or leave on a free transfer in the summer.
Player valuations boom. Will Bellingham be the first €300m player
January 4 – Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham is the most valuable player in world football at €267.5 million according to the latest report by the CIES Football Observatory. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland ranks second at €251.2 million and Vinicius rounding out the top three.
Transfer rumours: No Saudi for Salah, Olise to replace Sancho at Man Utd, taxi for Eddie Howe?
January 4 – Mohamed Salah’s future looks to have swung in favour of staying with Liverpool, with the 31-year-old reportedly leaning towards signing a new contract at the Merseyside club. The Egyptian’s current contract at Anfield runs out in the summer of 2025.
Tomiyasu’s cup half full as he complains an Asian Cup run could see him miss six Arsenal games
January 4 – One of Japan’s most important players at the forthcoming Asian Cup, Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, wants the tournament shifted to the end of the domestic season in Europe.
Mancini blends youth and experience in his Asian Cup 2023 squad as Saudi expectation builds
January 4 – Roberto Mancini has named his first squad for a major championship opting for a blend of youth and tried and tested experience in a Saudi Arabian squad that is drawn entirely from the Saudi Pro League.
Debt ridden Standard Liege hire Ivan Leko in bid for improved fortune
January 4 – Croatian Ivan Leko has become the new manager of Belgian club Standard Liège, a day after the club revealed another €20 million loss in its accounts for the 2022/23 season.