LONDON: Burnley signed Chelsea’s Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana on loan until the end of the season on Saturday.
Fofana is Burnley’s first signing of the January window as the Clarets battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The 21-year-old was in the stands at Turf Moor on Friday to watch Burnley’s 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Luton.
Fofana spent the first half of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin, scoring two goals in 17 games.
He caught the eye of Chelsea after netting 24 times in 65 appearances for Norwegian side Molde but has yet to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.
Burnley are looking to improve an attack which has managed only 21 goals this term, second lowest in the Premier League ahead of only Sheffield United.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany hardly sounded confident that Fofana will help solve that problem.
“I would love to be able to only present players with proven numbers but it’s not the market we’re in at all,” he said.
“To go and find someone who will out-perform consistently Lyle Foster and Zeki Amdouni I don’t think is realistic but we have to strengthen the unit.
“He does have speed, he does have the ability to link up play and he does have talent. He’s scored a lot of goals, maybe not in Germany but at his previous clubs, and he can help us.
“But if you’re expecting someone to come in who scored 25 goals in the Bundesliga recently it’s not in the realm of possibility.”
Fofana added: “I have seen a couple of games already and I think this is the right place for me to make the next steps.
“I have known about Burnley for a long time, they have been in the Premier League before this season and the champions (of the Championship) last year and I’m now looking forward to now being a part of this team.”
Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan
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Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan
- Fofana is Burnley’s first signing of the January window as the Clarets battle to avoid relegation
- He spent the first half of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin
Spain will host 2030 World Cup final, says RFEF president
- Louzan did not say whether the match would be played at Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou
- Once completed in late 2028, the new stadium in Morocco is expected to hold 115,000 spectators
MADRID: Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzan has said that Spain will stage the final of the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Morocco wants to stage the game in Casablanca at the Grand Stade Hassan II, a huge stadium currently under construction north of the city.
“Spain has proven its organizational capacity over many years. It will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and the final of that World Cup will be held here,” Louzan said late on Monday at an event organized by the Madrid Sports Press Association.
Louzan did not say whether the match would be played at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu or Barcelona’s Camp Nou, the two leading candidates.
Once completed in late 2028, the new stadium in Morocco is expected to hold 115,000 spectators. Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) President Faouzi Lekjaa last year expressed his wish to see a final against Spain in Casablanca.
Louzan also alluded to the challenges Morocco faced during its hosting of the last Africa Cup of Nations, including the chaotic scenes during the final between Senegal and Morocco this month.
That match, which Senegal won 1-0, was overshadowed by fan disruptions and player protests that temporarily halted play.
“Morocco is really undergoing a transformation in every sense, with magnificent stadiums,” Louzan said. “We must recognize what has been done well. But in the Africa Cup of Nations, we have seen scenes that damage the image of world football.”
FIFA and the Portuguese and Moroccan football federations have not responded to requests for comment on the final’s location.
FIFA told Reuters last year it was premature to decide the venue for the 2030 final, saying the host city for the 2026 World Cup final was revealed only two years before the tournament. World soccer’s ruling body has the final say on where the match will be played.
