Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd face Mendes hurdle, Chelsea lead Mainoo race and Arsenal want Williams
The transfer window is in full swing with sides at both ends of the Premier League table looking to strengthen as they battle for survival, European football and the title
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. Randal Kolo Muani is said to be one option for United, who look likely to miss out on Viktor Gyokeres this month, while they also like PSG left-back Nuno Mendes but may shockingly lose Kobbie Mainoo as Chelsea circle.
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 LaLiga 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:
Arsenal in race for Nico Williams and Lee Kang In
A couple of Arsenal nuggets from David Ornstein of The Athletic. Firstly, the Gunners are looking at highly-rated Athletic Bilbao and Spain forward Nico Williams.
Mikel Arteta would love to sign Williams during this window but finances make it unlikely and the player himself is not agitating to leave Bilbao. His release clause €60m (although it fluctuates with inflation) and would need to be paid in full, meaning a summer move is more likely.
Arsenal face competition to sign the 22-year-old, as Chelsea are high on his list of suitors, while Liverpool looked into the viability of a deal last summer.
The Gunners may also be interested in PSG’s South Korean forward Lee Kang In. The 23-year-old is open to a new challenge and Barcelona’s interest may force Arsenal to come forward, having previously expressed interest although the price (at least double the €22m PSG paid to sign him from Mallorca in 2023) is considered off-putting.
Man City eye £50m Egypt forward as belated Julian Alvarez replacement
Manchester City want to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush to bolster their forward line, although they believe it will be difficult to sign the Egypt international this month.
Marmoush has scored 18 goals and contributed 11 assists already this season but with Eintracht challenging for a Champions League place, City are conscious it could be hard to persuade the Bundesliga high-flyers to sell.
The 25-year-old, who might cost up to £50m, could be a belated replacement for Julian Alvarez, who was sold to Atletico Madrid in the summer for a fee that could rise to £82m.
Liverpool have also been said to be interested in Marmoush in recent weeks.
Man City eye £50m Egypt forward as belated Julian Alvarez replacement
City like Eintracht Frankfurt’s verstatile attacker Omar Marmoush, but believe he will be difficult to sign this month
Elon Musk would be open to buying Liverpool, claims father
The Reds, currently competing for a quadruple under the guidance of Arne Slot, are currently owned by Fenway Sports Group, following a deal in 2010, with the sports holding conglomerate announcing investment in 2023 through a minority investor.
A full sale has never been an option though, but Errol Musk maintains his son, owner of Tesla and social media platform X (formerly Twitter), would be open to acquiring the Anfield-based team.
“I can’t comment on that. They’ll raise the price,” Musk snr told Times Radio.
When pressed on whether Elon would want to buy Liverpool he added: “Oh, yes. But that doesn’t mean he’s buying it. He would like to yes, obviously. Anybody would want to - so would I.”
Elon Musk would be open to buying Liverpool, claims father
Fenway Sports Group has previously looked for external investment since acquiring the Reds in 2010
Manchester United face stumbling blocks in chase of key transfer target Nuno Mendes
Manchester United need a sale in order to meet Paris Saint-Germain’s €60m valuation of Nuno Mendes, with Ruben Amorim and the new INEOS leadership keen to start a badly-desired overhaul.
The 22-year-old left-back has been targeted as a key first signing to give balance to the team, but the Old Trafford hierarchy are currently short on the salary offer as well as the transfer fee.
The situation reflects how difficult this crucial first window is for Amorim, with many at United openly talking about how much business needs to be done but how little money there is to spend amid Profit and Sustainability Rule restrictions. The club have essentially let it be known that they will listen to offers for almost any player, including popular homegrown talents such as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. Such reports have dominated the first few days of the window, only showing how stark the situation is.
Latest from Miguel Delaney:
Manchester United face stumbling blocks in chase of key transfer target Nuno Mendes
The PSG left-back is valued at €60m and United are restricted by Profit and Sustainability rules
Chelsea chasing Kobbie Mainoo
Chelsea are at the top of the list of clubs who want to sign Kobbie Mainoo should he depart Manchester United.
The Daily Mail are reporting that there is a stalemate in negotiations over a new deal between the midfielder and the Old Trafford hierarchy despite Mainoo having two-and-a-half years left on his current contract.
If United do sell the player it would be financially beneficial given any proceeds from a sale would go down as pure profit on the accounts.
The fans would not be pleased as Mainoo is a homegrown talent that broke into the first team under Erik ten Hag and has continued to impress.
Marcus Rashford, Martin Zubimendi and six more players who could be on the move this January
The winter transfer window began on 1 January, with clubs across Europe looking for value in a difficult market this month.
Injury crises, title challenges and relegation battles will force plenty of clubs into the market in early 2025, with plenty of eyes on the Premier League as clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester City look primed to make signings.
Some high-profile players could be leaving England too this winter, with Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold being tipped to negotiate moves away from their clubs.
Rashford, Zubimendi and six other players who could be on the move this January
Notable players, including Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold, could be on the move this month
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