January transfer news LIVE: Liverpool seal Cody Gakpo signing as Arsenal target Joao Felix
Chelsea and Manchester United are both expected to sign players in the January transfer window and Arsenal will push to keep their Premier League title bid running smoothly
The Premier League transfer window is set to open on 1 January and already there are completed deals to ensure some of England’s top teams will see their squads boosted as early as possible.
Chelsea added Ivorian forward David Datro Fofana to their ranks on Wednesday, signing him from Molde, while Liverpoolcompleted the £35m deal for Cody Gakpo from PSV the same evening, one of the stars of the recent World Cup.
Elsewhere Arsenal are being linked with moves for two big-money attackers, Shakhtar’s Mykhaylo Mudryk and Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, while Chelsea are interested in Argentina’s World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is currently with Benfica. Man United boss Erik ten Hag has also hinted at wanting a forward to replace the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Follow all the latest January transfer rumours and confirmed news below:
Firmino’s Liverpool future
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Liverpool are currently in talks with Roberto Firmino over his future at the club and admitted the signing of Cody Gakpo has “no impact” on the club’s decision.
He told a press conference: “We’re in talks with Bobby and I want him to stay. No impact.”
Where can Nottingham Forest improve?
Steve Cooper’s side broke a Premier League record with 22 signings in the summer, but there is still work to be done for Forest to avoid an immediate relegation back to the Championship.
Forest have lacked goals and creativity this season - only Wolves have scored less and Jesse Lingard has struggled to make an impact.
That said, the new signings also need time and there was some signs of improvement before the World Cup break.
Need: Forward, centre back
Linked with: Abdoulaye Doucoure
Norwich sack head coach in pursuit of promotion back to Premier League
Norwich have sacked head coach Dean Smith after a Boxing Day defeat by Luton Town.
Smith’s side were beaten 2-1 on Monday (26 December) to leave them fifth in the Championship, 12 points off the automatic promotion spots, with the club taking the decision to look for a new manager in their pursuit of regaining a place in the Premier League.
Assistant head coach Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Liam Bramley have also left the club.
Norwich sack Dean Smith in pursuit of promotion back to Premier League
Assistant head coach Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Liam Bramley have also left following a defeat by Luton Town
Erling Haaland: Watching other players score at the World Cup ‘triggers me’
Erling Haaland felt angry watching the World Cup at home on TV, and seeing other superstar forwards like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe score goals made him hungry for more.
Haaland’s Norway side failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, affording the Premier League’s leading scorer some time off over the past six weeks.
But he returned to action with a bang, scoring in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup win over Liverpool last week before adding two more in a 3-1 win at Leeds to move his Premier League tally to 20 goals from only 14 games this season.
Erling Haaland: Watching other players score at the World Cup ‘triggers me’
‘I was kind of a commentator for the World Cup in my own home where no one listens to me’
Who are Newcastle United looking at?
The top four and Champions League football is in sight for Newcastle, so will Eddie Howe gamble on a big-money January signing or try to finish the job with his current squad?
Newcastle are set to be boosted by the return of Alexander Isak from injury, but James Maddison has been strongly linked after the Magpies tried to sign the Leicester midfielder in the summer.
Need: Central midfielder, right back
Linked with: James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Jorginho, Christian Pulisic, Marcus Thuram, Goncalo Ramos
Rico Lewis yet to really feel part of the picture in Man City first team
Manchester City teenager Rico Lewis admitted he does not feel like a first-team player after making his full Premier League debut in the 3-1 win at Leeds.
The Bury-born defender was handed his first league start by City boss Pep Guardiola, who left England right-back Kyle Walker and Portugal’s Joao Cancelo on the bench.
Erling Haaland’s double, after Rodri’s first goal of the season had given City an interval lead, ensured a routine victory before Pascal Struijk headed a second-half consolation for Leeds.
Lewis turned in another assured performance which belied his 18 years after starting in last week’s Carabao Cup win against Liverpool, but revealed he did not yet feel a part of the first-team set-up.
Rico Lewis yet to really feel part of the picture in Man City first team
The teenage full-back admits he does not yet feel part of the senior set-up despite back-to-back starts against Liverpool and Leeds.
League Two side Crawley part ways with manager Matthew Etherington after just 32 days
Crawley Town manager Matthew Etherington has left the club after just 32 days in charge.
Etherington, 41, quit his role as Peterborough’s Under-23 boss to take up the role on November 27, replacing Kevin Betsy who was sacked in October.
The former Tottenham midfielder got off to a winning start in his first game in charge but then suffered back-to-back home defeats to Hartlepool and Sutton, the latter featuring a terrible corner routine which attracted much derision on social media.
The losses left Crawley 20th in the League Two table and a club statement released on Thursday confirmed Etherington and assistant manager Simon Davies had left their roles with immediate effect.
Crawley part ways with manager Matthew Etherington after just 32 days
The former Spurs winger had his old teammate Simon Davies with him as assistant but both leave after just three games, meaning the owners need a fourth boss in the eight months since completing a takeover
Santos to Chelsea?
18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos will reportedly arrive in London today to undergo medical tests and sign a long-term contract with Chelsea.
The teenager broke into the first team at Vasco Da Gama, scoring eight times and is expected to move for a fee of €12.5m (£11m).
He could become Chelsea’s second January signing after a deal was reached to bring Ivorian youngster David Datro Fofana to Stamford Bridge from Molde.
Who is on Manchester United’s radar?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit left Erik ten Hag needing a striker, before Liverpool swooped to sign one of Manchester United’s targets in Cody Gakpo.
Ten Hag has faith in his existing options, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial scoring in the win over Nottingham Forest, and the Manchester United manager is unlikely to move in the market unless a top striker becomes available.
Need: Striker, right back
Linked with: Goncalo Ramos, Jonathan David, Joao Felix
Tottenham told to match Pedro Porro release clause
Sporting manager Ruben Amorim insists Tottenham target Pedro Porro will only be allowed to leave should his £39.7m release clause be met.
Spurs are keen to strengthen at right-back, with neither Emerson Royal nor Matt Doherty holding down the place this season and Djed Spence only playing 26 minutes of competition action since his summer move from Middlesbrough.
Porro has excelled as an attacking full-back this season, registering nine assists in 20 club appearances but the question remains whether or not Spurs are prepared to match the release clause in January.
“With regard to Pedro Porro, we know that there are players in our team who, because of what they have done, are now wanted by other clubs,” Amorim said at a press conference.
“We had this problem in the summer too. What I was told is that he can only leave if the clause is triggered. And if the clause is triggered, there is nothing we can do.
“He is playing really well. Like me, he is living one of the best moments of his career and he is only focused on Sporting. We are prepared for anything and we know that there are clubs who can pay the clause.
“But, until that happens, I think Pedro is safe.”
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