Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool set price for star winger, Tottenham sign goalkeeper, Man Utd trigger extension
The winter window begins with sides at both ends of the Premier League table looking to strengthen as they battle for survival, European football and even the title
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Your support makes all the difference.Clubs across the continent are in the market for January transfer deals as they look to strengthen their squads for the second half of the 2024/25 season with titles, European football and survival all on the line.
Liverpool , Arsenal and Manchester City are all rumoured to be circling new arrivals as they battle it out in the Premier League while the window could see some big exits confirmed with Trent Alexander-Arnold negotiating a possible free transfer to Real Madrid and Manchester United open to selling Marcus Rashford.
One of the more intriguing sagas is the fate of Dani Olmo who could be left in limbo is Barcelona fail in their attempts to re-register him. The Spanish giants are battling La Liga over finanical issues which could mean Olmo needs to find a new club and there are plenty of teams, Arsenal and Chelsea included, monitoring the situation.
And across the rest of the English top-flight, clubs are sticking to PSR regulations and tight budgets as they look to find cut-price deals to bolster their squads.
Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and deals below:
Manchester United’s major transfer obstacle as Ruben Amorim seeks reinforcements
Manchester United do not have the funds to buy players to strengthen their struggling team in the January transfer window.
Monday’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle was their fourth consecutive loss and left United marooned in 14th place in the Premier League, with new head coach Ruben Amorim warning a first relegation in 51 years could be a possibility.
But after spending more than £200m on summer signings and with very little leeway within Profitability & Sustainability Rules (PSR), United are unable to spend unless they sell.
Man Utd’s major transfer obstacle before January window even opens
United could only raise the money and create the opportunity to buy within PSR by selling Marcus Rashford
Barnes back to Burnley after Norwich exit
Championship news to kick things off this morning, where Ashley Barnes has gone “back home”, in his own words.
The veteran striker has left Norwich City by mutual consent, where he scored seven times in 49 games across a year and a half, and has rejoined Burnley - the club he had almost a decade at including a spells in the Premier League.
He played nearly 300 times for the Clarets, scoring 67, and he has already won promotion three times with them.
City must go big or go home in January - Carragher
Jamie Carragher says Man City will either go big or not bother in January, despite their terrible drop-off in results this season.
“Man City will try and get the real deal [in January], of course they will, but what you don’t want to do is to end up sort of buying someone for £30m-£40m and in six months he’s not going to play and he’s going to be sitting there on big wages,” he said on Sky Sports.
“If they feel they need to do that to help them get over the line to make the Champions League then they have to do it - but if it’s someone who they don’t really think will move the dial in the next six months or in the future then it’s probably best to leave it.”
City are sixth in the table at the halfway point after beating Leicester to end their winless run, but sit 14 points off leaders Liverpool who also have a game in hand.
Aston Villa eye Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund
Aston Villa are looking to add another wide forward to their ranks as they continue to balance their Premier League and Champions League exertions, and Donyell Malen might just fit the bill. The Dutchman has slipped down the pecking order at Borussia Dortmund and may be available for the right fee. Villa have opened talks over a move, according to Sky Sports.
From tactics and captaincy to Bellingham’s best role, the many problems facing Thomas Tuchel as England manager
If 2024 took England to the brink of the trophy that has eluded them since 1966, 2025 brings the arrival of a manager with the track record of winning silverware that Gareth Southgate lacked. Southgate’s achievement in twice coming agonisingly close, denied by penalties in the Euro 2020 final and by an 86th-minute decider four years later, earned him a knighthood.
Thomas Tuchel is ineligible for such an honour. But he has medals from the Champions League, the Bundesliga and Ligue Un. A manager whose contract only lasts until 2026 will be charged with winning the World Cup. He has at least already won the Club World Cup.
Tuchel officially starts work on New Year’s Day, though he attended December’s draw in Zurich to determine England’s opponents in World Cup qualifying: Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra do not promise to form a pool of death.
“It’s a difficult group,” said Tuchel but qualifying has rarely presented a problem for England since Steve McClaren failed to reach Euro 2008 and the German is a manager with a proven expertise in knockout football. Besides his Champions League win with Chelsea, Tuchel steered Paris Saint-Germain to the final and Bayern Munich to within a few minutes of it.
From tactics to captaincy, Thomas Tuchel faces problems as new England manager
Thomas Tuchel sets out on a quest to win the 2026 World Cup in America when he officially takes charge in January, but it is an enormous task to take England from nearly men to champions, writes Richard Jolly
Liverpool’s vision revealed by Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim’s key difference
Jurgen Klopp dropped his bombshell, he later revealed, in November 2023. In January 2024, he went public. Liverpool’s search for a manager could begin; not publicly, given their preference for doing their business as quietly as possible, but at least with one layer of secrecy removed.
They were soon informed that Xabi Alonso was minded to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another year. To many in the wider world, Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim assumed a status as the frontrunner after that. Not so, Liverpool would say; he was merely one of several they looked into.
There was no preferred choice, they insist, until they alighted on Feyenoord’s Arne Slot. But he seemed to emerge from the shadows. The high-profile nature of the Portuguese’s candidacy contrasted with the low-key approach adopted by Slot. He got the job by stealth, almost without warning.
Liverpool’s vision revealed by Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim’s key difference
The Reds considered the Portuguese coach, only to opt for the Dutch tactician, who has shone as Jurgen Klopp’s successor
Alexander Isak alternative identified by Arsenal
Brighton striker Evan Ferguson is the new man on Arsenal’s radar, according to reports.
Alexander Isak has long been touted as the Gunners’ top target to add to their frontline but Newcastle are said to be adamant that the Swede won’t leave.
TalkSPORT claim that Brighton are mulling over what to do with Ferguson, who is yet to make his mark on their attack this season.
Fulham and West Ham are also claimed to be keen with a loan deal not ruled out.
Arsenal and Man Utd wait on Dani Olmo saga
Patience is a virtue in the race to sign Dani Olmo, should he become available.
Marca report on the Barcelona midfielder needing LaLiga approval to appear in any of the Spanish giants’ competitions in the second half of the season, having been deregistered due to financial restrictions.
Manchester United and Man City are named in this latest report and Arsenal have recently been linked, and now a loan move is being talked about as potentially on the cards.
But first Olmo and Barcelona are said to be intent on exhausting all available options to keep him at the Camp Nou.
Antony could be another Old Trafford departure
News from Spain and Real Betis are linked with swooping in for a January loan deal at Manchester United as well.
Mundo Deportivo report that if Assane Diao leaves the club, then Antony is on their list of potential replacements, though his salary is an obvious issue and there’s no guarantee yet that Amorim wants to lose him, despite not making him a starter.
Antony’s agent is quoted as saying if United believe him getting minutes is the best route, a loan deal will be explored.
Man United could let Zirkzee leave on loan
Joshua Zirkzee suffered the embarrassment of being subbed off barely half an hour into Man United’s dreadful 2-0 defeat against Newcastle last night and Italian reports say he’ll be offered a chance to depart Old Trafford on a more notable basis in January.
Juventus want to add to their attack and a loan deal for the Dutch attacker is their preferred route, say Tuttosport, with a deal including a buy option contingent on qualification for the Champions League and other factors.
The dealbreaker here they say is that Amorim wants Viktor Gyokeres in - but he’s immensely difficult to land in midseason given his huge release clause and United’s financial constraints.
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