Transfer news LIVE: Osimhen ‘agrees’ Chelsea move, Sancho leaves Man Utd and Arsenal target Ajax wonderkid
Brentford have set a huge price for Arsenal and Chelsea target Toney, while Tottenham and Manchester United are also lining up January targets
The January transfer window is well under way with deals being made and moves getting finalised. Arsenal have seemingly made Ivan Toney their ideal target for this window and have been told that it will take at least £100m to prise him away from Brentford. Chelsea are also interested in the striker but will need to offload several members of their huge squad to raise the funds for a deal.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have awarded a six-year contract to Pape Matar Sarr following his impressive season and have their sights set on Genoa defender Radu Dragusin. Spurs are reportedly hoping to finalise a £25m deal to bring the 21-year-old centre-back to the Premier League, although Napoli are now also in for the Romanian.
Elsewhere, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is making his presence known at Old Trafford following his minority takeover. The billionaire is now in charge of football operations and wants to bring Newcastle United chief Dan Ashworth on board to replace John Murtough as sporting director. Ashworth impressed during roles with the FA and Brighton before joining Newcastle 18 months ago and Ratcliffe is prepared to pay ‘whatever it takes’ to secure his services.
Follow all the latest news, transfer rumours and done deals below, and get all the latest football betting sites offers here.
Former Everton Women defender retires
Former Everton defender Rikke Sevecke has retired from playing at the age of 27 because of a heart condition.
Sevecke earned 54 caps for Denmark and spent three years with the Toffees before leaving the Women’s Super League for American club Portland Thorns last September.
“It’s hard to know where to begin,” Sevecke wrote on Instagram. “I have played football since I could walk and it has always been a big part of my life. But that stops now.
“In the past few months I have had some tests done and I recently got the results back saying I have a heart condition.
“This means that I am not allowed to continue playing professional football and I have therefore had to stop my football career immediately.
“It is extremely hard not to be able to make this decision when I myself felt that the time had come. There were so many adventures I was looking forward to.”
Toney won’t be sold says Frank
Brentford boss, Thomas Frank, has said Ivan Toney will remain at Brentford this season and won’t be sold during the January transfer window despite interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.
The 27-year-old is set to return to Brentford’s squad for their next league match against Nottingham Forest on January 20, following his eight-month suspension for betting offences.
Frank insisted it would only take an “unbelievable price” to prize him away this winter saying: “The very short answer, yes.
“He is a Brentford player, he is here. Clearly we miss a few offensive players, I can’t see why we would sell him and I would love to have him for a longer time.
“If I ever, ever could recommend that, and it’s not for me to say yes or no, that’s Phil (Giles, director of football) or Matthew (Benham, owner), then it needs to be an unbelievable price. So he will stay here.”
Andros Townsend reacts to new Luton deal
Andros Townsend has signed a new long-term deal with Luton Town in what he describes as ‘one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made’.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Townsend said: “One of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made, extremely grateful to Gary, Rob and all his staff for taking the chance on me when no one else would and their continued faith and trust in me long term.”
The 32-year-old moved to Kenilworth Road in October on a short-term deal until January after his departure from Everton, but penned a contract that will keep him at the club until 2026.
Jadon Sancho offered Borussia Dortmund lifeline after being frozen out at Man United
Borussia Dortmund want to take Jadon Sancho back to the Signal Iduna Park on loan from Manchester United.
Sancho, a £73m signing for United in 2021, has not played for them in four months after falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
But the 23-year-old had a successful spell with Dortmund, scoring 50 goals in 137 games and having the most assists in the Bundesliga in 2018-19, and the German club hope to take advantage of Sancho’s problems at Old Trafford to re-sign him.
Jadon Sancho offered Borussia Dortmund lifeline after being frozen out at Man United
The winger has been out of favour for months after falling out with Erik ten Hag
Postecoglou issues Dier update
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says Eric Dier is “in control of his destiny” after entering the last six months of his contract with the London side.
The 29-year-old centre-back has been reduced to a bit-part role this season, making just four appearances in all competitions but Postecoglou isn’t ruling out a contract extension for the England international.
He said: “I think Eric (Dier) is contracted to this football club, and he’s as much in control of his destiny as anyone else.”
Asked if Dier could potentially be making a move to West Ham, Postecoglou added: “No idea. Not on my radar.”
The Athletic has previously reported that Dier remains far more likely to leave in the summer, when his contract expires.
Villa eye up former West Ham winger
Aston Villa are showing interest in signing ex-West Ham winger Felipe Anderson on a free transfer in the summer.
The Lazio player is free to speak to clubs outside Italy this month about a pre-contract agreement and Villa, who are chasing the Premier League title this term, are keeping their options open.
The 30-year-old has scored 20 goals and has 23 assists in 123 appearances since re-signing for Lazio in the summer of 2021 and he could be a fine signing for a number of clubs across Europe due to his recent performance levels and free transfer.
Juventus also want to sign him according to widespread reports in Italy but have to want until the summer to finalise a deal.
Is Bobby back?
Could former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino make a surprise return to the Premier League this month?
According to the Daily Mail that is a real possibility with a number of Premier League sides bieng offered the opportunity to sign the Brazilian striker.
Firmino joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli last summer having spent eight year years at Anfield, is understood to have been offered to Fulham who are the closet side to reaching a deal.
Steffen leaves Man City
Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen has left the club to return to his home country the United States.
The 28-year-old is set to join Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids having signed for City during the summer of 2019 from the Columbus Crew.
He made 21 appearances in all competitions, playing in the 2021 Carabao Cup final win over Tottenham though last season, Steffen was on loan at Middlesbrough, helping them reach the Championship play-offs.
Hall to remain at Newcastle
Lewis Hall is set to stay at Newcastle following his initial loan from Chelsea, reports the Daily Telegraph. The 19-year-old hasn’t not yet to broken into Eddie Howe’s starting line-up after starting just four games but has been influential off the bench especially during the Magpies’ injury crisis.
Hall joined on loan with a £28m obligation to buy. The Telegraph’s report claims that deal is not triggered solely on appearances in the starting XI and the terms are likely to be met.
He has not started a game for almost two months and has made a total of 10 appearances for the Magpies this season with manager Eddie Howe saying: “He’s got all the tools. As I have said with Lewis we need patience and calm. But he is developing nicely.”
Crystal Palace told price for Peterborough wonderkid Ronnie Edwards
Peterborough United are holding out for £10m from Crystal Palace for Ronnie Edwards. The 20-year-old defender has become one of the most admired players in League One and is considered by a core of Premier League clubs as a huge talent for the future.
It’s for that reason Peterborough have set such a high price, but there is also the fact that Barnet have a 50 per cent sell-on clause. Complicating it on the other side is that Edwards has just 18 months on his contract.
Crystal Palace told price for Peterborough wonderkid Ronnie Edwards
Edwards, 20, has become one of League One’s most sought-after players and has starred for England’s youth sides
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