A-League and Australian transfer news and rumours: Ex-Socceroo Brett Holman battling Brisbane Roar in court

Sporting News rounds up all the transfer tidbits, rumours and news surrounding Australia’s domestic competition, national team players and more…

November 26 – Ex-Socceroo Brett Holman battling Brisbane Roar in court

Former Socceroo Brett Holman is chasing Brisbane Roar for $170,000 in an insurance claim relating to a career-ending injury. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the 37-year-old alleges the Roar only paid him a portion of the insurance money he was entitled to after he hurt his knee in 2018. 

Brisbane are claiming a contractual salary change means Holman was paid out correctly with a decision on the case expected in the coming days.  

Holman, who spent one season in the Premier League with Aston Villa, played two campaigns for the Roar as he ended his playing career in Australia. 

Lisa De Vanna signs for Perth Glory

Matildas veteran Lisa De Vanna has committed to another season in the A-League Women after signing for Perth Glory. 

The 37-year-old won the championship with Melbourne Victory last season and is hopeful of delivering some silverware to a club close to her heart. 

« I only very recently decided to get back on board, » she said.

« Alex Epakis has created a safe, supportive environment and Tony Sage showed me great respect by going out of his way to meet me in person, which I really appreciated and am grateful for.

« Alex has put no pressure or expectation on me; just for me to fall in love with the game again.

« I started my career here and now I want to give back to the family, friends and fans who have supported me all the way along my football journey.

« I’m focused on being a good influence on the young players and helping bring the best out of them; that was a real game-changer for me.

« A winning mentality never dies and that’s why I’m committed to doing everything I can to bring a first ever championship to my hometown club. »

Welcome back, @lisadevanna11! 💜
The legendary Matildas forward and proud Perth local has signed up for a third spell in the famous purple.
Read the full story here: https://t.co/Fx493UmN9H@aleaguewomen #OneGlory pic.twitter.com/X6ASqaPBPT

— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) November 25, 2021

November 25 – Sydney FC facing Luke Brattan blow

The Sky Blues 4-2 win over Sydney Olympic in the FFA Cup on Wednesday night may have come at a cost with Luke Brattan possibly doing his ACL in the match. 

After sitting out of the recent Sydney derby through suspension, Brattan started the match but didn’t return after half-time with coach Steve Corica confirming he may have suffered a serious injury. 

« We’ve got a few players injured and another one tonight with Brattan going down, so the squad is going to be tested, » Corica said post-match

« He might have done his ACL, he’s going to get a scan tomorrow, so obviously it’s not very good if that’s the case and if he has that injury he’s out for the whole season.

« We’ll wait to see tomorrow and fingers crossed it’s not that bad but if it is, it’s very disappointing for him and the club. »

Sydney FC next face Macarthur in the A-League Men on Saturday night in what will be their third game in seven days. 

November 23 – A-League expansion could happen next season

The A-League Men’s competition could be set to expand to 14 teams next season, with Australian Professional Leagues set to look into the possibility over the next six months.

APL chief Danny Townsend spoke about the possible expansion to 14 or 16 teams as early as next season in an interview with news.com.au journalist Marco Monteverde.

Currently, there is 12 teams in the A-League Men’s competition, with every team playing each other at least twice, while squaring up against four teams on three occasions to meet the 26-game minimum that the Asian Football Confederation mandates for a season.

The addition of two teams to 14 clubs would allow a 26-game A-League season with every side playing the other twice, while four new franchises, making it 16 all up, would allow a home-and-away 30-game A-League season.

Townsend explained the APL’s thought process about A-League expansion and also revealed the addition of new teams could happen for the 2022-23 campaign.

« [The current A-League structure] might not be ideal and it might not be a perfect structure, which I think we all agree, but to call it unfair is probably inappropriate, » Townsend said.

« The APL has stated that it’s our objective to get to a full home and away season, with either 14 or 16 teams, depending on the outcome of the strategic plan

« There will be a strategic review on our process of expansion conducted over the next six months with a view to actioning that strategy once it’s complete.

« We need to do work on what the process should be, not what is the process itself, because we don’t know that yet. »

Wollongong Wolves and a Canberra side have long been front-runners to be handed an A-League Men franchise, while a New Zealand team in Auckland has also been floated.

November 19 – Aaron Mooy back on Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic radar

Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy is Ange Postecoglou’s number one transfer target at Celtic come January, reports the Daily Mail . 

Mooy is currently contracted to Chinese club Shanghai SIPG and would need to accept significantly reduced wages if he was to move back to Scotland. 

The 31-year-old began his senior career with St Mirren in 2010 before returning to Australia in 2012 and working his way back to Europe in 2016. 

Postecoglou has previously stressed Celtic will be making a number of signings when the transfer market re-opens with his side often left short at times this season.

November 17 – Sam Kerr extends Chelsea contract 

Matildas star Sam Kerr has put pen to paper on a new Chelsea deal which runs until 2024.

The Australian forward recently celebrated two years with the Blues and has scored 39 goals from 56 appearances. 

« It’s really exciting. I’m really happy at the club. We’ve had good success, being at a club like Chelsea is an amazing opportunity,” Kerr said about her decision to re-sign.

« The time was just right, I feel really comfortable being here. I think the club gives me every opportunity to succeed as a player.

« I can’t see myself going anywhere else in the world or leaving Europe, having what I have at Chelsea.

« The time was right, honestly, I didn’t feel like I wanted to rush into anything, just like signing here the first time, it just happened naturally.”

November 11 – FC Barcelona set to tour Australia in 2021

La Liga giants FC Barcelona want to travel to Australia for their pre-season tour prior to the 2022-23 season, according to a prominent Spanish journalist.

The Catalans are still looking to officially lock in their off-season trip, but Australia is the first option, reports Gerard Romero via Twitter.

⚽ El club está planificando la próxima pretemporada y la primera opción a la que viajar es Australia. Lo estarían negociando. Lo estamos contando en https://t.co/vrsj4Xxjlb #jijantesfc #barça #xavihernandez #fcblive

— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) November 8, 2021

It would be interesting timing for Barca to come Down Under, with the tour likely to be scheduled only a few months before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

This would mean doubt would surround the participation of several stars with some players set to play a lot of football with the World Cup shoehorned into the middle of the season.

Carlos Vela eager to play in Australia

Mexican star Carlos Vela wants to play in Australia with his time with Los Angeles FC in MLS set to conclude at the end of this year. 

According to Guia TV , Vela won’t be playing for LAFC next season nor his boyhood club Chivas, with the 32-year-old instead holding a ‘desire’ to play in Australia. 

The former Arsenal forward and his family are apparently eager to experience life Down Under and his signing would be a massive coup for any A-League Men’s club.

While any deal for him in the 2021-22 season will be hard to pull off with most squad’s visa spots now filled, Vela looms as a prime and seemingly viable target for the 2022-23 campaign. 

Vela has also recently struggled with a knee injury so may be keen to have a few months off before setting out on his next club adventure. 

El Rey. 🇲🇽👑

A year ago today, @11carlosV became the @MLS single-season goal king.#LAFC pic.twitter.com/qwFWNuOBSL

— LAFC (@LAFC) October 6, 2020

November 2 – Club battle looming for Riley McGree as Socceroo shines in England

Australian attacker Riley McGree could be about to spark a transfer tug of war with Birmingham City determined to keep him beyond the end of the year. 

The Sun reports that the Championship side want his loan deal from new MLS franchise Charlotte extended to the end of the season. 

McGree was voted by fans as Birmingham’s man of the match  over the weekend in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough. 

The 23-year-old has made seven appearances for the club in all competition’s this season and has gradually become an important part of the team.

McGree’s parent club, Charlotte, are expected to play in MLS next season meaning they may be reluctant to extend his loan deal with Birmingham. 

October 30 – Olyroos qualify for U23 Asian Cup

The Olyroos have qualified for the U23 Asian Cup with a second win over Indonesia ensuring they finished top of their qualification group.

Patrick Wood’s winner saw the green and gold clinch a 1-0 victory against the Indonesians in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, three days after beating the same opposition 3-2

With China and Brunei withdrawing from the group, there was only two matches to play between remaining nations Australia and Indonesia to play, with the former going through to the U23 Asian Cup as group winner.

« There were a lot of positives to take away from this camp, particularly qualification for an AFC U23 Asian Cup which means this age group will get to experience international tournament football next year, » interim Australia U23 coach Trevor Morgan said.

« We intentionally brought a younger group to these qualifiers, with the core of the squad age eligible to represent Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

« That they have now experienced meaningful matches at a young age will help them gain valuable experience as they develop towards next year’s AFC U23 Asian Cup, and the ongoing path to Paris. »

The U23 Asian Cup will be held in Uzbekistan in June 2022.

October 26 – Former Matildas boss Stajcic appointed boss of the Philippines

Australian Alen Stajcic will return to national team football after being unveiled as the Philippines’ Women’s new head coach. 

The former Matildas boss has been without a job since leaving A-League Men’s side Central Coast Mariners earlier this year. 

Stajcic spent over four years in charge of Australia’s women’s team as he guided them to the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup and the 2018 Asian Cup final. 

Read the full story here on Sporting News .