UPDATE: Formica's Palermo move finalised (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
UPDATE: Formica's Palermo move finalised
9:35am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
PALERMO have signed Blackburn Rovers playmaker Mauro Formica - with the Argentine joining on loan until the end of the season.
The Italian top flight outfit have won the race to take the 24-year-old on loan until the end of the season, with Formica keen on starting a new challenge abroad.
The deal was finalised for the player this morning after a deal in principle was agreed to free up the wage bill to help Michael Appleton’s search for fresh faces.
Spanish club Celta Vigo and teams from Turkey and Italy were also understood to be interested in signing Formica on loan, but Palermo have stolen a match on their rivals by making official contact with Rovers.
Formica, who has been out with a slight knee injury, was signed by Rovers from Old Newells Boys for around £3.5million in 2011.
The move is with a view to making it permanent in the summer.
French defender Gael Givet is also believed to want an Ewood exit, unless Rovers agree to his request for a pay rise.
Givet was one of the players who suffered a drop in wages due to relegation and has been discontent since.
Meanwhile Rovers boss Michael Appleton has stepped up his hunt for fresh faces after admitting he would be “very disappointed” if two or three new players were no added before the end of the month.
It is believed West Brom defender Craig Dawson was a loan target but the former Rochdale man is expected to opt for a temporary switch to Championship rivals Bolton Wanderers instead.
Rovers were yesterday linked with a swoop for Bournemouth front man Wes Thomas, after Appleton had him on loan at Blackpool earlier this season.
The Rovers boss failed in attempts to extend his loan spell at Bloomfield Road, but the Lancashire Telegraph understand Thomas is not on his current list of targets as he prioritises in other positions.
It is understood Appleton is looking to add further options in midfield, especially the wide areas, and in defence.
Summer signing Leon Best remains on track for a February return having missed the season so far with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (142)
9:50am Thu 24 Jan 13
nil bye mouth says...
9:53am Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
Just what are they on? Do they really wish to antagonise the fans even more. It would appear so. They go from one disaster to another with increasing regularity. They will not be satisfied until they have completely destroyed Blackburn Rovers. If they imagine for one minute that they will ever be forgiven for what they have done to our once proud club then they are sadly mistaken.
Just leave and soon!
9:58am Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
He's a decent player but inconsistent at best, he's said he wants to leave.
We have far too many players vying for some positions and not enough for others, the current squad is unbalanced and quite a few are not up to it.
Appleton is very clear, he has openly stated that he wants to trim the squad and any player who wants to leave can do so.
He is being honest and open and he needs to move players out and get others in to balance off the squad.
Nothing wrong with that at all.
Every club does it.
10:00am Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
10:10am Thu 24 Jan 13
Ryanb74 says...
10:11am Thu 24 Jan 13
dangerous dave says...
!!!!!
OUT WITH THE LOT OF THEM
10:12am Thu 24 Jan 13
Oakdale blue says...
10:15am Thu 24 Jan 13
thommovat says...
10:15am Thu 24 Jan 13
Oakdale blue says...
10:19am Thu 24 Jan 13
Crow27 says...
10:43am Thu 24 Jan 13
leitchy says...
Get over it.....Or perhaps you could go down there with your millions and buy the club !!! Oh u can't!! Like it or not without Venkys our club would b alot worse off !!
10:44am Thu 24 Jan 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
heap imitation by name, cheap imitation by nature..
Bye Donkey, if your quest is to find Shrek you will find him at United.
Well thats one lightweight gone.
10:46am Thu 24 Jan 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
10:54am Thu 24 Jan 13
sean_brfc says...
10:56am Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
11:02am Thu 24 Jan 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Get ready for Tiger beer. The brew of India. Not a bad brew by all accounts.
What is local in these days, I ask ? The world is a smaller place these days.
Arte et labore
11:04am Thu 24 Jan 13
Crow27 says...
11:09am Thu 24 Jan 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
Season ticket purchases are detrmined by the success of local business, some do come from afar, but the majority are local, so why do Rovers give the contract to somewhere else. Some local jobs may be dependant on that.
Sends out the wrong message.
11:11am Thu 24 Jan 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
11:17am Thu 24 Jan 13
fishcake 75 says...
11:17am Thu 24 Jan 13
YarkshahRover says...
11:18am Thu 24 Jan 13
bburnrover says...
Dann 4 mill
Robinson 2 ml
Olsson 3 ml
Formica ??
We should at least be able to afford a decent midfielder,possibly Bentley and a couple of championship or Prem reserves even if they pocket half the money for another new factory in Wagga Wagga.
11:21am Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
11:24am Thu 24 Jan 13
bburnrover says...
11:25am Thu 24 Jan 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
11:29am Thu 24 Jan 13
true_fan_1979 says...
11:34am Thu 24 Jan 13
dangerous dave says...
OUT WITH THE LOT OF THEM.
11:36am Thu 24 Jan 13
Dukes says...
11:46am Thu 24 Jan 13
BRFC75 says...
11:46am Thu 24 Jan 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
and he's beginning to impress me. That, together with a sense of optimism on here, it crossed my mind that I might go down to the next match. First thoughts in that direction for over two years. Must be sickening for something, and the thought has left me for now....but it might return! I'm getting worried!
11:49am Thu 24 Jan 13
silowe29 says...
11:52am Thu 24 Jan 13
BRFC75 says...
11:54am Thu 24 Jan 13
French Rover says...
12:00pm Thu 24 Jan 13
1952 rover says...
12:08pm Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
The world of business is to make money not lose it. By alienating your customers you will go out of business. Maybe not immediately but as the Venky's continually show they are heading in that direction.
12:16pm Thu 24 Jan 13
leitchy says...
Local or not.....there is bigger problems at the club than beer!!
12:18pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
12:24pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Tamworth rover says...
That decison would of been made by the Catering manager or Purchasing manager at the club who is paid to make these decisons to try and make it a more profitable business.
12:24pm Thu 24 Jan 13
forever blue and white says...
12:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Iiii1111 says...
12:27pm Thu 24 Jan 13
fanny_tickler. says...
12:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13
uber blue and white says...
12:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Sherwoodforest says...
12:35pm Thu 24 Jan 13
GAZHAY says...
Now lets have a pint of your finest Heineken
12:36pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
Saying that I would hope appleton would be looking at your two fullbacks who seem pretty reasonable and will now be available.now that flood has gone with kilby, leaving just that polish lad who no-one can spell in control. So to prop up your crumbling poop, the fire sale starts monday.
And stop playin with yersel
12:38pm Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
12:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
Chances are it will take months to get him fit enough, from what I can see on Wiki he has played around 12 games in the last 12 months or so for West Ham and Rostov.
25 games in two years in total on loan for 3 different clubs with just one goal scored.
Wages reputed to be £3 million pa.
On your other point I don't want us to be linked with anyone until they sign on the dotted line.
Enough people on here have criticised Rovers for spouting rubbish about who they were going to sign only to fall flat on their faces.
Perhaps lessons have finally been learned.
12:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Keen O to Get Kean Out says...
12:41pm Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
12:41pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Bangkok Rover says...
12:44pm Thu 24 Jan 13
1952 rover says...
12:44pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Keen O to Get Kean Out says...
12:46pm Thu 24 Jan 13
French Rover says...
You and I have had some good banter on here and often debated about my glass being half full v your glass half empty in the past, but I (usually) respect all of your posts - even though I don't agree with most of them :-)
Long may you continue posting/sharing your comments and thoughts sir. and my best regards to your daughter.
12:49pm Thu 24 Jan 13
forever blue and white says...
12:49pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Blackburn fans love horses says...
12:49pm Thu 24 Jan 13
inflightmagazine says...
12:50pm Thu 24 Jan 13
French Rover says...
12:52pm Thu 24 Jan 13
mike55 says...
What Rovers need now are players with experience of playing at the level we now are unfortunately at. Not Premier League prima donnas on inflated wages but hard working,hard running guys with something to give who will have pride in the shirts.How refreshing it was to see the Bradford players fighting for the cause against a sorry Villa who will be joining us next season.
Am enjoying the silence from our board. Long may it continue and allow MA to quietly bring in his own players and play to a style that he knows best.Let him get on with it and we will support him to the hilt.
12:52pm Thu 24 Jan 13
phillmac says...
as for thwaits open your eyes if this company was so for our area why had they put many pub owners out of business by making rent rates high and making some people struggle to run pubs at a bad time. If they tried to get more money out of rovers than what the small amount of fans turning up and buying their beers yet venkys could get a better deal, i know what id do
12:54pm Thu 24 Jan 13
fanny_tickler. says...
12:56pm Thu 24 Jan 13
inflightmagazine says...
12:59pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Blackburn fans love horses says...
Formica
Givet
Dann
Ollson
Robinson
Etc etc - all can't wait until some club (Any club) come in for them.
12:59pm Thu 24 Jan 13
forever blue and white says...
1:01pm Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
But at the end of the day it's all about choice.
Look at what appears to be happening;
The total disaster that was Shebby appears to have been terminated (I was going to use nullified but terminated sounds so much better).
We wanted football people in charge, we may not all like Shaw and Agnew, but they do now appear to be running the club.
We wanted a manager who would talk to us plainly and honestly, no **** or lies, well we appear to have one now.
An added bonus is that he is bringing in his own people, coaches, fitness people and now a "director of football", looks very much like he is in charge to me.
There is absolutely no way Venky's can put right what has happened over the last two years, but it could be they have learned a very hard lesson.
So my choice is to carry on going down to Ewood and support the team I have supported through thick and thin for what is now 42 years.
1:07pm Thu 24 Jan 13
inflightmagazine says...
I would stop coming on here and jump on skysports if i were you "its all about to go Pete Tong for BFC"
1:09pm Thu 24 Jan 13
glp says...
1:09pm Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
Thanks to all who gave their good wishes to my daughter. We appreciate your comments.
1:18pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Blackburn fans love horses says...
But you keep clinging on to your slim hope that he will be sold and that our season will go pear shaped when he does because it aint gonna happen, and even if it does we will be fine - can you lot say the same?
How are you going to divide your £50 million plus wage bill into £16 million parachute payments?
1:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
I grew up in Larkhill flats, so Thwaites was always poking me in the eye :)
Of course, this long standing association with BRFC is at an end, but I'm sure at some point when Thwaites have redefined themselves on the scale which they see fit for the business then the connection could very well be resumed down at the good ship Ewood ?
I'll drink to that, but let us see ?
Arte et labore
1:28pm Thu 24 Jan 13
KingGouldy says...
Waiting for mxmave to retort will his usual spiel of formica being our most creative player........
1:28pm Thu 24 Jan 13
glp says...
I too have had my long-time pleasure of supporting our beloved and wonderful football team destroyed by the arrival of the clueless chicken farmers. The Pride of Lancashire is now just a circus run by buffoons.
1:35pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Roverlad says...
1:46pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Sherwoodforest says...
1:53pm Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
Overpriced, cold, tasteless mass produced muck.
1:56pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Ryanb74 says...
1:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
The Claret's blog "Turf needs another dreamer" has left itself WIDE open. lol.
2:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Yusuf23 says...
2:26pm Thu 24 Jan 13
noddy57 says...
2:31pm Thu 24 Jan 13
reiko082 says...
Formica won't be missed. Simply not a Championship player.
2:36pm Thu 24 Jan 13
noddy57 says...
2:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13
MxMave says...
In fact i'd let go any other player who plays his position:
Kazim Richards
Markus Ollson
Fabio Nunez
Rosado
Vucevic
Rochina
Peds
King
Jorge
Josh Morris
Can you honestly say any of the above are consistently better than Formica? IMO the best options we have are Rochina, King and Vucevic in this position and with Rochina you can flip a coin as to whether he will make or ruin the game and King dosen't have the final ball or vision.
We have let go our best player in this position as far as im concerned.
2:44pm Thu 24 Jan 13
BeardwoodB says...
We'd be screwed without Rhodes and next season financially will be in a real mess.
2:56pm Thu 24 Jan 13
midas says...
.
Having unrealistic expectations isn't a positive attribute, its absolutley pointless for Rovers to expect promotion this season, it will not happen. A realistic expectation is for MA to sort the club out, a decent finish to the season - top 10.
.
Given how many times you post on Burnley articles and respond to comments made by Burnley fans they are anything but insignificant to you!
2:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Sherwoodforest says...
I expect Lots of sales or contract terminations in the summer.
Scary part for me personally is some of the names being mentioned, Wiseman, really? Wes Thomas ??
It seems MA has a definite remit to sell and slash the wage bill to help with the clubs overheads and debt.
Thing is we always carried a bit of debt, the Walker Trust lost between 1.5 - 3m pa in respect of operating costs but due to Venky's gross incompetence needed a 21m transfer surplus plus a gift/loan?? Just to cover operating losses over a 18 month period.
The best players were sold and replaced by poor cheap importers on relatively high wages in relation to their talent. As for Shebby's Tapas 6 , I think the least said the better.
I suppose my real point is due to negligence, the club is being returned to where it was before JW arrived, 20 years of work wiped out in 26 months.
And no supporter can be blamed for that!
3:04pm Thu 24 Jan 13
FCBurnley says...
3:25pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Iiii1111 says...
3:47pm Thu 24 Jan 13
BRFCs says...
I think we're going to have to be patient though and give him 4/5 months to get back to to the top of his game. We'll see the best of him next season.
3:56pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Roverlad says...
3:59pm Thu 24 Jan 13
To.guy says...
4:01pm Thu 24 Jan 13
stick to football says...
Formica is a talent player but how many South Americand and Portuguese players make it English football - very few and lets be honest he wasnt the only one who didnt perform consistently over past 2 years
Clear out those who dont want to stay asap and lets build for a brighter future - the very least the long suffering supporters deserve
4:04pm Thu 24 Jan 13
noddymcleod says...
You can sympathise with Givet getting p..d off for having his wages docked for going down - if the rest of the team had put in a good shift as often as he did, we might have stayed up.
I tell you again, Apple is here to use his Pompey experience to keep some semblance of order to cover the exit of Venkys.
Whatever, the merits of Thwaites versus Venkys,(we won the Premieship sponsored by McEwans) it's another PR disaster on the back of the Rolls Royce and 65 minutes. Still, the PR firm has another agenda which is definitely NOT polishing Venkys image in East Lancs but polishing it for a sale.
Sell Dann - he has put on a lot of weight and is even slower this season.
We seem to be in for bargain hunting among journeyman players, at least it cuts out the agents' fee job lots of Portuguese.
4:07pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Ronaldpetercooper says...
I am with you over your right to moan as that is what this site is for.
Me I just feel optimistic for the first time in over two years but time will prove me right or wrong.
Personally I always found that doing what I loved even if things were going wrong helped to alleviate the pressure and I sincerely hope that you can join us all. A good moan at a game always gets rid of a hell of alot of pressure. If not good luck to you and yours.
4:08pm Thu 24 Jan 13
To.guy says...
4:15pm Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
4:16pm Thu 24 Jan 13
To.guy says...
4:20pm Thu 24 Jan 13
inflightmagazine says...
4:29pm Thu 24 Jan 13
A Darener says...
4:31pm Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
4:53pm Thu 24 Jan 13
bed and breakfast man_! says...
Also the days Rovers are not playing at home we will have cricket matches on at Ewood with a nice Bollywood film after, Thus Bollywood will meet Ewood.....
.
All bloody good stuff ya know !!!!!
5:40pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
Do you know, I couldn't name five Burnley players. I have only ever heard of Austin and I hear he's on his way soon.
6:34pm Thu 24 Jan 13
RespectTheK-Dog says...
6:50pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Always here to be corrected should I be quite wrong :)
To say I've spent many a time in India and Nepal down the years you would think I would know the local brew, but that said, I don't drink !
That is my excuse anyhow !
Cheers one and all(so long as it's a soft drink - J2o is a quality drink - ha ha :)
As for Formica I hope it works out for him at his new club ?
Bring in players who want to fight the good fight for BRFC.
Arte et labore
6:54pm Thu 24 Jan 13
FCBurnley says...
7:05pm Thu 24 Jan 13
guiderover says...
7:07pm Thu 24 Jan 13
baldie says...
Put radio Lancs on and listened to Kevin Gall,i was thinking i'd been to the wrong match.I'm sure he is negative sometimes just for effect.He's beginning to get right on my t1ts.
8:03pm Thu 24 Jan 13
French Rover says...
“He has been excellent,” said McCarthy. “He’s been a really good addition and I’m very sad that he’s going back. He had a tough start in the Leicester game (6-0 away defeat) and, by his own admission, he didn’t play well.
“It’s not easy coming in and playing with new players, but he has been excellent – certainly the last month, last six weeks. Really, really good.”
Hope he is really really good here too.....
8:15pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Angry From Accrington says...
When the contract was up, Thwaites no longer wanted to pay the pourage rights to supply the stadium so Heineken took over the deal. Although Heineken is Dutch company it is the biggest brewer in the UK and John Smith's is the biggest keg ale in the UK. They also distribute Theakstons and Deuchars so we can now get great cask ales as well. The loss of bitter sales to Thwaites is minimal and I suspect that the money they save on courage rights will save jobs, not lose them
Right, can we talk football now?
8:24pm Thu 24 Jan 13
To.guy says...
8:32pm Thu 24 Jan 13
baldie says...
The difference in players talking on Tuesday compared with Saturday was massive.Let's hope MA can keep them hungry.
8:32pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Angry From Accrington says...
8:42pm Thu 24 Jan 13
merlinrabbit says...
8:44pm Thu 24 Jan 13
RoversMCMLXXV says...
9:10pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
9:15pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Old Alzheimer says...
9:30pm Thu 24 Jan 13
RoversMCMLXXV says...
9:33pm Thu 24 Jan 13
perolsman says...
9:49pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
Desperate, so desperate.
10:00pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Angry From Accrington says...
10:01pm Thu 24 Jan 13
French Rover says...
10:03pm Thu 24 Jan 13
sallycinamon says...
10:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Iiii1111 says...
10:58pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Iiii1111 says...
The Heineken Group holds 37.5% equity shares in United Breweries Ltd.
11:07pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Angry From Accrington says...
11:19pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
Bye bye Gael you soft french bar steward
11:21pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Iiii1111 says...
At the moment I'd sooner talk about (& drink) beer than any overrated rovers footballer....use the term footballer lightly;-)
11:47pm Thu 24 Jan 13
owd nick says...
As I said before, overpriced, mass produced muck, nothing better.
When I get home from a game I might open a bottle of Wychwood, Shepherds Neame, Pendle Witches, Old Tom or any other decent beer I have in the cupboard, Spindrift, Erdinger, even Tiger, or perhaps an American craft beer, totally depends on what I have to hand and what I am cooking for the evening meal.
But a Thwaites "Smooth", please don't make me vomit, I wouldn't wish that crud on Burnley fans, or even Steve Kean, might force feed it to Shebby though.
11:51pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Angry From Accrington says...
12:24am Fri 25 Jan 13
Iiii1111 says...
So, tiger beer is produced in Malaysia still to this day, obviously brewery plants worldwide now bottle it....but, the clue is 'bottle it'......genuine tiger beer uses water from Malaysia as would Cerveza Quilmes Argentine's most popular beer use water from Buenos Aires Province.
1:59am Fri 25 Jan 13
Melblue says...
6:18am Fri 25 Jan 13
reiko082 says...
From the horses mouth!
7:47am Fri 25 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
per stuff.
8:00am Fri 25 Jan 13
greenscreener says...
When he was here last he was so far up Steve Kean we could only recognise him by the colour of his boots. Obviously did the same for big Mick because he thought his career might be rescued again.
I'd play Kane, then Henley or Lowe at RB before I'd want Orr back in the blue and white halves.
8:25am Fri 25 Jan 13
Angry From Accrington says...
8:44am Fri 25 Jan 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Now, I'm sure Fosters is brewed in New Zealand, isn't it ?
T'up the Rovers :)
Arte et labore
9:12am Fri 25 Jan 13
fanny_tickler. says...
9:32am Fri 25 Jan 13
Lord S says...
Moaning about the public in Lancashire reading a Lancashire newspaper and denying anyone a right of reply, no wonder even the Venkys dont know what to do to please everyone...........l
east I think they are doing a great job!!!!!!!! and I am sure a few more around Lancashire will agree tomorrow afternoon at about 4.50pm when the best run club in Lancashire scoot 8 points clear...
Any body point me in the right direction for discount vouchers for a Venkys products....oh sorry you dont need them they just give things away for free!!!! How to run a business!! Keep it coming Donkey boys.
9:33am Fri 25 Jan 13
owd nick says...
They have a good choice of craft beers at Barton Grange, sure I've seen "Old Man" there so I may treat myself next time we wander up.
9:39am Fri 25 Jan 13
Iiii1111 says...
9:46am Fri 25 Jan 13
Lord S says...
Venkys are excellent business people , after all they dont give discount vouchers for their products theyjust give them away........free !!!!! you should be more concerned that the best run Championsip club in Lancashire will be 8 points clear at 4.50pm tomorrow . Keep visiting the Donkeys Morons
3:09pm Fri 25 Jan 13
MxMave says...
3:11pm Fri 25 Jan 13
MxMave says...
4:09am Thu 31 Jan 13
Roverthere says...