Dan Burn
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Dan Burn admits he could leave Brighton only because of Newcastle United #NUFC #BHAFC

February 3, 2022
Dan Burn has revealed it took something very special to lure him away from Albion. The popular defender is starting life with his home city club Newcastle after a deadline-beating deal. Burn has left the Seagulls on great terms, with praise from head coach Graham Potter and fans which he reciprocated in a message via the club’s website. He has recognised he would not have left the Amex had any other club come in for him. Burn said: “Honestly if it hadn’t been Newcastle I wouldn’t have left. I loved my time there. “We were doing well. I was playing regularly and really enjoying it under the manager, playing with the bunch of lads. “Once I knew Newcastle were interested I knew I wanted to be here. WHITEHAWK'S BILLIE CLARK SIGNS FOR BRIGHTON “I don’t think anybody that aren’t Newcastle fans or Geordies understands how much it means to the city. “Hopefully I can bring a bit of that passion in and off the pitch.” Albion could go up against their former defender when they visit St James’ Park next month. Burn expects it to be a special occasion. He said: “Coming here was always my biggest game of the season. “I bought a lot of tickets for the Newcastle v Brighton game and I’m buzzing because I’ll not lose my money on them! “I will still be able to use them.”
Southampton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Saints youngster Will Armitage shares delight to be in Southampton club #SAINTSFC

February 3, 2022
NEW signing Will Armitage said it felt “amazing” to be a Saints player – and could already see the pathway into the club’s first team. The central defender, 16, arrives on the south coast on a scholarship deal having made two senior appearances at League One side Cheltenham Town. Armitage will initially join up with Carl Martin’s under-18s side at Saints and will look to progress through the ranks. Speaking about the move, Armitage said: “It feels amazing to be here, really good. “It feels great to be in such a great facility, in a great area, with a great bunch of lads and I’m really looking forward to getting started. “I’ve always said since I was a young lad that I wanted to be a professional footballer and I’m just one step closer now which is amazing and Southampton will give me those opportunities. “I do see a real pathway at Southampton, the 18s into the B team and then into first-team. Hopefully that pathway can lead to the first team for me.”
Will Armitage
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Saints’ academy director reveals reasons for confirming youngster Will Armitage at Southampton #SAINTSFC

February 3, 2022
SAINTS have kept their eye on new signing Will Armitage for some time according to academy director Matt Hale, who revealed that Saints’ player insights department played a big part in identifying the 16-year-old. A programme introduced at the start of the 2020/21 season by director of football operations Matt Crocker, the insights department uses “video and modern technology to support all recruitment decisions at academy and first team level.” Rather than relying on scout reports and opinions, the department aims to use analytics to determine whether signings should be made. The signing of Armitage was perhaps made easier by the fact that the 16-year-old has already appeared in Cheltenham’s first team this campaign, with Hale stating that the insights department had been specifically tasked with finding Saints a centre-half for the future. Hale stated: “Our new player insights department have led on the search for a talented centre back to join our professional development phase.” "We have monitored Will for many months and witnessed his progress at Cheltenham with much interest.” Saints’ academy director also praised the League One club for their assistance in the move, with the deal complicated by the fact Armitage is still only 16. He will join Saints on a scholarship deal, initially linking up with the under-18s before fighting for a place in Saints’ B team. "Cheltenham have been excellent in working with us to make the signing happen and once we were permitted to talk to Will,” continued Hale. “It was evident his maturity and professional character would be an ideal match for our Southampton Football Club culture. "Will has some strong physical characteristics and the ability on the ball to suit our style of play at the Club. It will be great to see him playing in an Academy shirt hopefully this weekend and I look forward to seeing him develop further with us.”
Dan Burn
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter reveals Newcastle United was Dan Burn’s boyhood club #BHAFC #NUFC

February 1, 2022
Graham Potter has praised the “brilliant” defender Albion were not looking to sell. Dan Burn completed his £13 million move to Newcastle just before the January window closed. He has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club he supported as a boy. Albion boss Potter said: "We were not actively looking to sell Dan during this window but the transfer represents a very good transfer for our club and the player. “Newcastle are Dan’s boyhood club, and this move allows him to potentially play out the rest of his career at his home club. OUR BRIGHTON DEADLINE DAY LIVEBLOG “Ever since I have been at the club, Dan has been brilliant for me. He is a superb professional, adaptable and a great character on and off the pitch. “We will miss him here, but we understand his reasons for wanting to move and he goes with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.”
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley chairman and Sean Dyche delighted with signing of Wolfsburg and Holland striker Wout Weghorst #BURNLEYFC

February 1, 2022
BURNLEY have signed Dutch international Wout Weghorst from German side Wolfsburg for an undisclosed fee. The 29-year-old – who stands at 6ft 6in – has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Turf Moor. “I’d like to wish Wout a very warm welcome to Burnley Football Club,” said chairman Alan Pace. “We’re absolutely delighted to have brought in a great talent with a fantastic goal-scoring pedigree in Germany. I look forward to him joining up with Sean and the team.  “January is a famously difficult window, as we all know. I am however delighted that a lot of hard work by everyone involved has paid off.”  The forward has a prolific record in the Bundesliga, having scored 59 goals in 188 games for Wolfsburg. He has also been capped 12 times for his country and featured at the European Championships last summer, scoring in a 3-2 win against Ukraine in the group stage. “Wout is a player that our scouts have been strong on for some time and we feel that he can add to all that we do at Burnley Football Club,” added Sean Dyche. “His signing is a continued show of the club’s and team’s development. We wish Wout well as he earns the right to push our group forwards.”  Burnley are back in action on Saturday, February 5 when they welcome Watford to Turf Moor (KO 6pm).
Sean Dyche Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Striker Wout Weghorst’s first words after joining Burnley from Wolfsburg #BURNLEYFC

February 1, 2022
DUTCH international Wout Weghorst believes he is a perfect fit for Burnley after joining from Wolfsburg. The 29-year-old – who stands at 6ft 6in – arrives at Turf Moor after scoring 59 goals in 188 games in Germany. Weghorst is looking forward to playing in the Premier League and “I am delighted to be here,” he told the club’s website. “The feeling I got about the club, I had some really positive talks with the chairman and other people involved with the football club.   “I felt a lot of love and appreciation. I got a really warm feeling and that was something which made me want to sign. “I looked at the club, the history and to see if it fits me and I got a feeling it would perfectly fit.” Weghorst – who has been capped 12 times for the Netherlands – is excited to play in the Premier League. The forward feels his time in the Bundesliga has prepared him well for the next stage of his career. “The physical intensity will be high. This was the case in Germany too, but the Premier League is the next step and the next level,” he added. “In my opinion it is the toughest competition in the world so it will be a nice challenge again. I am going to give it everything.” Burnley sit at the foot of the Premier League table but have several games in hand on the sides around them. And Weghorst is keen to make an impact in the coming weeks and months as the Clarets bid to maintain their top-flight status. He said: “I did my research and I know our history and we played in the Europa League not so long ago. “I want to be a part of this club and not only as a footballer, but a human being. I can compare myself to Burnley in the way of thinking, our mindsets and the ambitions we have. “We have many more matches left and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead and play a part in the next stage of the club’s history.”
Matt Targett Aston Villa
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Former Southampton and Aston Villa defender Matt Targett delighted to join Newcastle United #NUFC #SAINTSFC #AVFC

February 1, 2022
NEWCASTLE United have completed the deadline day loan signing of Saints academy graduate Matt Targett from Aston Villa. The 26-year-old left-back will play under manager Eddie Howe for the remainder of the season, as they fight relegation from the Premier League. Targett could be available to face Saints at St Mary’s when the postponed league clash is eventually rearranged in the coming weeks. Speaking after completing his loan move, Targett told the club website: "I'm delighted to be here. I can't wait to get going and meet all the fans and hopefully we can have a successful end to the season. "My family have friends here and they've always said it's a football-mad city, so to experience it and be part of it - I'm really looking forward to it." Howe added: "We have gone into this transfer window with a plan to add strong competition in specific areas of the team and Matt will be a fantastic option for us on the left. "He has important Premier League experience and know-how at this level, so I'm really pleased we've been able to add him to the squad." The ex-England youth international made 63 first-team appearances for Saints after graduating from the academy and making his debut in the 2014-15 season.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss unaware of Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell’s Kayne Ramsay comments on loan recall #SAINTSFC

January 20, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl has admitted that he was unaware of Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell’s comments alleging that Saints only made him aware they were recalling Kayne Ramsay the night before a game. Last week, youngster Ramsay was moved from his season-long loan spell at the League One side to Scottish Premiership outfit Ross County – where he made a substitute debut last night. He was scheduled to face Charlton Athletic with the League One competitors, where he had made 15 league appearances, but instead did not feature. Following Crewe’s fixture, Artell said: “Tuesday night I received a call from Kayne’s agent that he was being recalled by Southampton and I’ve not heard from Kayne since. It is what it is and we move on.” Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell (Pic: PA) Following up, the Railwaymen confirmed to the Daily Echo that this was the official line from the club regarding Ramsay’s move and that they had to rejig their tactical plans for the clash. However, Hasenhuttl has admitted that he had not heard Artell’s comments or knew if Ramsay was indeed recalled in such a manner. “I haven’t heard about that,” the Austrian told the Daily Echo. Kayne Ramsay will spend the rest of the season at Ross County (Pic: PA) “Normally it shouldn’t be that short term and for sure this is not perfect. What exactly the fact is I have no idea and I will ask about it.” Ramsay was not the only player to have his season-long loan spell cut short at a club before being moved elsewhere. French 22-year-old striker Dan Nlundulu also switched locations, moving from League One Lincoln City to Cheltenham Town in the same division. Dan Nlundulu scored for Cheltenham Town on his club debut at the weekend (Pic: PA) Hasenhuttl continued: “The thinking behind this (the moves) is that they should get the gametime to play on a regular basis, because they wouldn’t have the chance to do this and this is why we send them on loan and keep them playing football – it’s important for them. “I know about all the decisions and they are all in agreement with Matt Crocker (director of football) and with the coaches down there.”