Transfer news live updates: Deadline day reaction and Premier League press conference latest
Rhys Williams returns to Port Vale from Liverpool loan
Rhys Williams has returned to Liverpool after his loan spell at Port Vale was ended due to injury.
The 22-year-old centre-back only joined the League One outfit a fortnight ago and didn’t make an appearance for them.
It’s been a difficult season for Williams, who was recalled in January after an unsuccessful loan move to Aberdeen.
Newcastle United have appointed Leicester City’s Jonny King as their senior physiotherapist.
Danny Murphy left his role as Newcastle’s head physio in December and Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, has been seeking a replacement, as part of an ongoing wider review of the medical department.
King worked with Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s head coach, and Jason Tindall, his assistant, at Bournemouth, and he will be reunited with them after finalising his Leicester departure.
He was first-team physio on the south coast between 2016 and 2021, spending 10 years at Dean Court in total after moving there from Norwich City’s academy, before joining Leicester as first-team rehabilitation physio.
A consultant physio with the FA between 2017 and 2021 as well, King also worked with Newcastle’s Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie at Bournemouth.
Leeds United have agreed a deal to sign Connor Roberts on loan from Burnley.
The Wales international, 28, is travelling for his medical ahead of a straight loan switch to the Championship club with no obligation to buy.
Right back has been a priority position for Leeds after Djed Spence’s loan was cut short and club stalwart Luke Ayling left for Middlesbrough.
He has made 14 appearances for Burnley this season in all competitions.
Leeds are fourth in the Championship and are next in action against Bristol City tomorrow.
Kieffer Moore’s move to Ipswich Town will hinge on Enes Unal successfully completing his medical at Bournemouth.
Moore, 31, is set to join Ipswich on a straight loan until the end of the season, but will only be sanctioned once striker Unal passes his medical ahead of a move to Bournemouth.
Unal has had knee injuries in recent times, with Bournemouth keen to assess his fitness ahead of a proposed loan move with a €16.5million option to buy, which will become an obligation depending on whether certain conditions are met.
Moore travelled with the Bournemouth squad last night prior to their visit to West Ham United on Thursday evening.
Temporarily stepping away from transfer news, Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali will have a fitness test this afternoon to see if he will be fit enough for their quarter-final against Angola on Friday evening.
Nwabali has started all of Nigeria’s games at the Africa Cup of Nations but was substituted in the 80th minute of their 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the round of 16. The 27-year-old, who plays for South African top-flight side Chippa United, was injured in a collision with Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.
“Today we will take the final decisions and the last test,” head coach Jose Peseiro said in his pre-match press conference. “If he cannot play, I have confidence in Francis (Uzoho) and also Ojo (Olorunleke).”
According to FIFA, Nigeria are the highest-ranked side (42) left in the competition while Angola are the lowest (117). Senegal, the defending champions, and Morocco, the pre-tournament favourites, have been eliminated.
“This competition there have been a lot of surprises and the so-called big teams have gone out,” midfielder Alex Iwobi said. “The main thing is we remain focused, we analyse our performances and want to do what is best for us.
“We don’t like to think about the outside noise. The whole staff and the players it’s like one big family which has given us the strength to get to where we are. If we continue to do so I’m sure we can achieve greatness and create history.”
Nigeria will hold an open training session for the media this afternoon.
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