We are closing on the end of another bumper week of European soccer action and as is often the case, as much has been happening off the pitch as on it. Florian Kohfeldt is back in work with VfL Wolfsburg while Italian authorities are looking into transfer irregularities and Lucas Hernandez is not going to jail.
We catch you up.
Kohfeldt replaces Wolfsburg’s van Bommel
The Bundesliga outfit have pulled the trigger on Mark van Bommel already with the Dutchman dismissed after a slow start to the season which has seen the Germans struggle in the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and suffer an amateurish DFB Pokal elimination for breaking rules.
“There were more factors separating us than uniting us,” said Jorg Schmadtke in a statement. “There was a lack of conviction in terms of being able to get out of the difficult situation we are in and turning things around as quickly as possible, which led us to making the decision to end our working relationship. We wish Mark all the best in his personal and professional life.”
Wolfsburg host first-place RB Salzburg on Tuesday as the second half of the Champions League group stage gets underway. You can catch all of Wolfsburg’s UCL games on Paramount+.
Italian transfer investigation
Victor Osimhen’s move from Lille OSC to Napoli is one of several transfer deals currently being investigated by the FIGC and Italian watchdogs CoviSoc with 62 transfers targeted overall with Juventus’ capital gains of around $46 million of particular interest. Miralem Pjanic to Barcelona and Joao Cancelo to Manchester City are two of the main suspicious deals.
No prison for Hernandez
The France international will not go to jail after his lawyers’ appeal was accepted by Madrid’s provincial hearings court and the Bayern Munich man must now pay a fine of nearly $110,000 with a suspended sentence hanging over him for the next four years.
Llorente joins Eibar
Fernando Llorente has resurfaced with Eibar in Spain’s second tier with the 36-year-old back in the Basque country after making his name with Athletic Club. The Spaniard left Udinese over the summer and is now looking to return Eibar to the top-flight.
Bayo’s bother
Mohamed Bayo has been a sensation for Clermont Foot 63 so far this season after their promotion, but their star striker was held in police custody last weekend after being caught drunk driving and causing an accident which could throw him in jeopardy just weeks after extending his contract.
LFP give up on China dream
France’s LFP have abandoned their idea of taking AS Monaco vs. Olympique Lyonnais to Shanghai in February with pandemic-related complications cited as the main reason behind the abandonment of the idea and not widespread opposition to the proposed move.
