Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal sign Leandro Trossard after Danny Ings joins West Ham
The Gunners have signed the Belgian after missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea, while Manchester United’s Anthony Elanga is also garnering interest from across Europe
Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Brighton’s Leandro Trossard after they were pipped to the signing of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhailo Mudryk by Chelsea. The 28-year-old forward has fallen out with manager Roberto De Zerbi and looked likely to leave the Seagulls during this transfer window with Arsenal keen to boost their forward line. Trossard is an adaptable player and would provide cover for both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings as well as Martin Odegaard through the middle as the Gunners chase down a first Premier League title since 2004.
Up in the North East, Newcastle continue to do business and are negotiating with Nottingham Forest over a loan move for striker Chris Wood. He was one of Eddie Howe’s first signings at the club but with Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak fit again Wood may be surplus to requirements. That definitely would be the case if the Magpies are successful in signing their next target: Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Newcastle are reportedly preparing a £35million bid for the striker.
Elsewhere, West Ham have enquired to sign Danny Ings from Aston Villa with the forward undergoing a medical at the London side later today. His signing could ease the pressue on manager David Moyes who is said to be facing the axe should his team fail to beat relegation rivals Everton at the weekend.
Follow all the latest January transfer rumours and confirmed news below:
Danjuma to Everton?
Arnaut Danjuma could be set for a move to Goodison Park with Everton are hopeful that the winger will agree to join on loan from Villarreal after the 25-year old considered offers from a number of clubs.
Danjuma has been granted permission to leave the LaLiga club on loan until the end of the season and attracted interest across a host of top flight clubs, including Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
The winger spoke to the Toffees at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground last weekend, as well as completing tours of Forest, Bournemouth, and Rennes in France.
The Telegraph claim that Danjuma has made his choice and put Everton at the top of the list of clubs to join in January.
Saints in talks with Roma for right-back
Southampton spoken to Roma about signing right-back Rick Karsdorp on loan until the end of the season but the clubs are quite a way off a deal.
Roma are not keen on a loan move and prefer to sell the player outright because Karsdorp has fallen out with manager Jose Mourinho.
He has reportedly been offered to other Premier League clubs looking for right-backs this month.
‘A happy flowers team’: What Pep Guardiola’s outburst says about him and Man City
At one point in a remarkable media appearance, Pep Guardiola kind of twirled his hands into the air, as he discussed the ambition of his Manchester City team.
“The players want it, but there is something here, in the clouds.”
He might well have been describing his own post-match press conference, that maybe even surpassed the 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in terms of theatrics. The actual football certainly felt like a fairly distant memory by the time Guardiola was in mid-flow.
It is striking to think that this was a figure who had apparently been so serene at half-time. His City players had gone in to the dressing room having just conceded twice in two minutes and expected to be castigated. There was instead silence for a while before Guardiola forensically talked them through what was required.
He outlined the blueprint to win the game. It was only afterwards that he addressed how to beat out Arsenal to win the title, making him much more agitated.
‘A happy flowers team’: What Pep Guardiola’s outburst says about him and Man City
The champions rallied from 2-0 down to beat Spurs before an explosive Guardiola afterwards revealed the emotion in the title race
Guedes leaving Wolves?
Goncalo Guedes’ is set to leave Wolves after just five months with the Portuguese forward closing in on a loan move to Benfica.
Guedes arrived last summer for a fee of £27.5m after an impressive spell at Valencia but the 26-year-old has scored just twice in 18 appearances.
He will reportedly join Benfica for the rest of the campaign on a straight loan in the hopes of regaining some of his previous form.
Gordon on Newcastle radar
Anthony Gordon is being targeted by Newcastle United once again as they consider a January move for the Everton forward as an option to replace the outgoing Chris Wood.
The Magpies showed plenty of interest in signing Gordon back in the summer but the high price demanded from Everton ensured that the 21-year-old remained at Goodison Park.
A latest report by The Telegraph states that Newcastle are renewing ther interest in Gordon after their last bid was rejected during the previous transfer window.
The case for Antonio Conte weakens further after latest Tottenham blunders
It was not the first time Antonio Conte made history against Manchester City. This time, however, it was a first for him, not for Pep Guardiola. Go back six seasons and he was the first manager to do a league double over Guardiola. It meant he joined that select group of coaches, with a winning record against the Spaniard. When Tottenham Hotspur took a 2-0 advantage at half-time, his lead was stretching to 4-2 in their duel in the dugout. Instead, there was a different 4-2 scoreline: a City win.
There was a novel element for Conte. “To concede four goals for me is not good and it is not good to concede four goals in the second half,” he said. “This is my first time in my career one of my teams has conceded four goals in one half.”
And, somehow, Tottenham have become the antithesis of a Conte team. His first Serie A title as a manager came as Juventus conceded 20 goals in 38 league games. Spurs have let in 21 in their last 10 alone. They finished last season with three straight clean sheets, conceding two goals in their last six games. Now they invariably let in two in each match. “Compared to last season we are conceding a lot more goals,” the Italian said.
The case for Antonio Conte weakens further after latest Tottenham blunders
The Italian’s side continue to make individual errors and concede too many goals after a second-half collapse against Manchester City
Portsmouth appoint Mousinho as head coach
Portsmouth Football Club have confirmed John Mousinho as the club’s new head coach.
The 36-year-old previously served as player-coach at League One rivals Oxford United and joins on an undisclosed ‘long-term’ contract.
“I’m delighted to be appointed Pompey head coach and am excited to get started in the role.” Mousinho said,
“The club and I are share similar ambitions and we’re focused on delivering the short and long-term success that the supporters here deserve.
“After meeting with Andrew Cullen and Richard Hughes, I really bought into the process and am pleased that the club have also bought into me, giving me this fantastic opportunity.
“I want our team to play on the front foot, with aggressive and attacking football that will win games and entertain the fans.”
Howe on Wood departure
Newcastle boss, Eddie Howe, says that Chris Wood’s loan move to Nottingham Forest happened quite suddenly and that the club will look to replace the forward if the deal gets over the line.
“Three or four days ago this wasn’t on my horizon.” said Howe, “January can be very unpredictable and we need to be able to react.
“Chris is having a medical right about now. He’s been outstanding for us, he played a huge part transforming the team. We need to take into account the player’s wishes, but it’s also a very good deal financially for the club.
“We are hopefully planning to replace him but there’s no guarantees. There was no thought of letting a player go and not replacing them.
“But there aren’t players with his skill set in the market.”
Sheffield United placed under embargo
Sheffield United have been placed under a transfer embargo, as the EFL investigates claims of non-payment of historical transfer fees.
The League organisers will make their decision public in the coming days unless the Blades settle their outstanding debts. At the minute it means that the Blades are blocked from making any new signings in this transfer window.
Sheffield United cancelled the loan of Brighton’s Reda Khadra earlier this month and Sky Sports News reports that the embargo has been issued because of an overdue payment to another club for a player who moved to Bramall Lane last year.
De Zerbi on Caicedo situation
There are plenty of interested parties in Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo with Chelsea pushing the club for a deal. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi believes the best thing for Caicedo is to remain with the club for the time being after Brighton seemingly turned down a £55m bid from the Blues.
“It’s difficult to change [him] with another player inside of the season.” said De Zerbi, “I hope he finishes the season with us, but in the transfer market it’s always difficult to give an answer.
“When there are some big teams who want our player, it’s good news for us. The best solution is that he can finish the season with us, and in the summer would be better for a change.
“If Caicedo continues to play like he has in the last games, it’s possible he can leave for another team.”
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