Updates from across the Premier League, plus news from MLS, WSL and Europe
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South Korean striker Hwang leaves Forest on loan deal
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South Korea international striker Hwang Ui-jo has left Nottingham Forest for a fresh loan move, this time to Turkish club Alanyaspor.
The 31-year-old had spent the first half of the season in the Championship with Norwich, where he scored three goals in 18 appearances. Last season he made temporary switches to Olympiacos and FC Seoul. He is yet to make a first-team appearance for Forest after joining from Bordeaux in the summer of 2022.
Hwang has 62 international caps, scoring 19 goals for his country.
Blackburn unsuccessful in appeal to sign Orlando striker McGuire
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Blackburn Rovers have had their appeal to sign Duncan McGuire on loan from MLS side Orlando City rejected by the EFL.
A deal had been agreed between the two clubs on February 1 for the striker to join Rovers on loan until the end of the season, with a view to making the move permanent in the summer. The EFL initially rejected the request to register the player on the grounds that Blackburn had failed to submit the required paperwork by the 11pm transfer deadline on February 1 but Blackburn had requested a review of the decision.
The EFL said in a statement on Thursday: “Blackburn Rovers admitted it did not click to submit the application to the EFL until after the closure of the window as a result of human error but argued that all relevant details had been agreed, signed and uploaded onto the system in advance of 11pm.
“Upon comprehensive review of submissions, the board determined that the upload of documents into a draft application area did not constitute sending documents to the EFL. It also took the decision that it was not prepared to exercise discretion to permit the registration outside of the window as the EFL Executive had correctly interpreted and applied its regulations and associated guidance.”
McGuire will now return to Orlando at the earliest opportunity to re-join his club ahead of the start of the 2024 MLS season.
GO FURTHER
Blackburn Rovers’ Duncan McGuire transfer on verge of collapse after registration error
ICYMI: Nations League draw – England to play Republic of Ireland
England and the Republic of Ireland have been paired together in Group B2 of the 2024-25 Nations League.
They have not played each other in a competitive match since 1991, but have played three friendly matches since 2013.
The two nations will also face Finland and Greece during the initial stage of the tournament, which will get underway in September this year.
Read the full draw below.
GO FURTHER
Nations League 2024-25 draw: England to play Republic of Ireland in Group B2
ICYMI: Lyon women’s team bought by Washington Spirit owner Kang
Michele Kang has completed the purchase of Olympique Lyonnais Feminin (OLF).
Kang — who already owns NWSL side Washington Spirit and England Women’s Championship team London City Lionesses — will be the majority owner with a 52.9 per cent stake.
OL Groupe will own 47.1 per cent of the organisation via OL Association (a public independent association consolidated by OL Groupe) and Olympique Lyonnais SASU.
Read our full story below.
GO FURTHER
Nations League 2024-25 draw: England to play Republic of Ireland in Group B2
An action-packed weekend awaits
There are plenty of games outside the UK to keep an eye on this weekend too!
Saturday
Roma vs Inter (5pm)
Real Madrid vs Girona (5:30pm)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich (5:30pm)
Paris Saint-Germain vs Lille (8pm)
AFCON third-placed playoff: DR Congo vs South Africa (8pm)
Asian Cup final: Jordan vs Qatar (3pm)
Sunday
Sevilla vs Atletico Madrid (5:30pm)
Milan vs Napoli (7:45pm)
Barcelona vs Granada (8pm)
AFCON final: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast (8pm)
This weekend’s Premier League fixtures
Here is how this weekend’s Premier League games shape up (all kick-offs in GMT, and at 3pm unless stated otherwise.
Saturday
Man City vs Everton (12:30pm)
Fulham vs Bournemouth
Liverpool vs Burnley
Luton vs Sheffield United
Tottenham vs Brighton
Wolves vs Brentford
Nottingham Forest (5:30pm)
Sunday
West Ham vs Arsenal (2pm)
Aston Villa vs Man United (4:30pm)
Monday
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (8pm)
Today’s fixtures
First thing is first.
There are a selection of fixtures to look forward to from across Europe today…here is what we have in store (all times GMT):
Championship
Sheffield Wednesday vs Birmingham City (20:00)
Scottish Cup
Greenock Morton vs Motherwell (19:30)
La Liga
Cadiz vs Real Betis (20:00)
Serie A
Salernitana vs Empoli (19:45)
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg (19:30)
Ligue 1
Marseille vs Metz (20:00)
Welcome!
Good morning and welcome to today’s rolling live news blog.
We will bring you all the build-up to this weekend’s matches around the Premier League and across Europe, with no shortage of press conferences taking place throughout the day.
Stay tuned with us throughout the day and you won’t miss a beat.
