Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd trigger contract extension, Zubimendi to Liverpool boost, Alexander-Arnold latest
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:
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti tight-lipped on Trent Alexander-Arnold move
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to be drawn on the club’s pursuit of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Champions League holders were rebuffed when they made an initial enquiry about the England right-back’s availability a few days ago.
Ancelotti, asked about January signings, told a press conference: “It is difficult for me to talk about that in this context. But we are going to have to wait and see.
“We are focused on all these games in January and the game tomorrow (against Valencia) and I’ve got nothing more to say. It’s not sensible for me to speak about the market right now.”
Southampton sign Brazilian defender
Southampton have confirmed the signing of a 23-year-old Brazilian left-back. The club released the following statement:
“Southampton Football Club is pleased to formally complete the signing of Brazilian defender Welington, who had previously signed a pre-contract agreement with the club.
“The 23-year-old left-back agreed personal terms with Saints in the summer, staying with São Paulo until the expiry of his contract at the end of the Brazilian season.
“Welington made 48 appearances in all competitions during the campaign, as São Paulo finished sixth, taking his career total to 164 games for the club.
“A Brazil Under-23 international, he won the Copa do Brasil in 2023 and the Supercopa do Brasil in 2024 during his time with São Paulo, where he made his debut aged 19.
“Welington will now join up with the Saints first-team squad and wear the number 34 shirt at St Mary’s.”
Marcus Rashford responds to ‘ridiculous’ speculation over Manchester United future
Marcus Rashford has described the latest speculation concerning his future at Manchester United as “ridiculous”.
A report claimed the United striker had met with a leading sports agency to try to hasten a move away from Old Trafford.
But Rashford, who is currently represented by his brother Dwaine Maynard, wrote on Instagram: “Been a lot of false stories written over the past few weeks, but guys this is getting ridiculous – never met with any agency and don’t have any plans to…”
Premier League chief warns new Club World Cup will cause ‘great difficulty’ for Manchester City and Chelsea
The Club World Cup this summer could create “great difficulty” for Manchester City and Chelsea’s preparations for the next Premier League season, the league‘s chief executive Richard Masters has warned.
The two clubs will be England’s representatives in Fifa’s new 32-team competition in the United States, which has sparked legal challenges from player unions and domestic leagues.
Player welfare has been one of the key drivers behind those challenges, and Masters fears there will be precious little respite for the players of either club should they go deep into the competition.
Premier League chief explains major worry over new Club World Cup
The revamped, expanded competition will take place next summer
Forest owner says club will do “whatever is needed” in pursuit of top four finish
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was speaking at the Globe Soccer Dubai Awards and underlined what the Premier League club will do - and don’t want to do - in January as they look to build on a great first half of the season.
Forest are second in the table, behind only Liverpool, after losing just four times this term so far.
“We will do whatever is needed to be stronger and of course our coach (Nuno Espirito Santo) will decide what he really needs,” said Marinakis. “We must keep the same spirit and same environment in the dressing room and all our players this year have the right spirit. This is a very good climate we should try our very best not to interrupt it.
“It is an important achievement because in all positions we have players who perform or even over-perform. For us this is our first priority – keep the momentum, keep winning and continue to enjoy the journey.”
Manchester United make Harry Maguire contract decision and issue Amad Diallo update
Manchester United have triggered their option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract to keep their former captain at Old Trafford until 2026.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to agreeing an extended deal, said he was happy to tie Maguire down for another year but called on the centre back to be more of a leader.
Maguire joined United for £80m in 2019, a world-record fee for a defender, but was stripped of the captaincy by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023. But he worked his way back into the team last season, and with Amorim preferring to play a back three, he has started each of their last three games.
Man Utd make Harry Maguire contract decision and issue Amad Diallo update
Coach Ruben Amorim has called on Maguire to improve on the pitch and as a leader
Bayindir wants to stay at Man Utd
Sefa Seyrek, the agent of Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, says his client wants to remain at Old Trafford, according to Turkish outlet Sports Digitale.
Bayindir has made just four appearances since joining United on deadline day of the 2023 summer window.
“There were offers from many European clubs and the Premier League for Altay at the beginning of the season,” Seyrek said.
“There are currently clubs that are interested, but Altay wants to stay and play for Manchester United. The club definitely does not want to let Altay go.”
Carragher reveals ‘big worry’ for Man Utd fans over Ruben Amorim
Jamie Carragher has admitted it is a “big worry” that Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Manchester United has failed to “echo Jurgen Klopp’s at Liverpool”.
Amorim joined the Old Trafford club in November, replacing Erik ten Hag, but the Portuguese coach has failed to improve United’s fortunes. Of Amorim’s 11 games in charge across all competitions, his side have lost six, won four and drawn one.
“A big worry as United head to Anfield is that Amorim’s arrival was supposed to echo Jurgen Klopp’s at Liverpool, both in terms of the point of the season at which he took over, and the galvanising impact on players and supporters,” Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column.
“Currently, Amorim’s reign has more in common with Graham Potter’s brief spell at Chelsea, where a deteriorating situation was made worse.
“Five defeats for United in the past six league games is horrendous. Even the last win, against Manchester City, was due to a freakish finale rather than an excellent 90-minute performance.”
New signings ‘not enough’ to win Premier League says Arteta
Mikel Arteta has claimed signing a new striker this month will not be enough to win the Premier League title. The Gunners boss is happy with his current squad and would only go in for an ‘extraordinary’ player within the team’s budget.
“Signing somebody is not enough, that is for sure,” he said. “That signing has to score then how many goals? A lot of things have to happen. Sign, and then score 20 goals from here until the end (of the season). And then you have a better chance? Maybe, yes, I don’t know.
“But I am very happy with the players we have and when you look at the amount of goals that we have scored, too, it is more than enough to win the Premier League.
“But the reality is somebody [Liverpool] is doing more. And that is life, so we have to do better. If something extraordinary is on the market that we can afford, and we think they will have a real impact on the team, we have to be open for that possibility always. But at the moment, the focus is on what we have.”
Arne Slot reveals double fitness boost for Liverpool ahead of hosting Manchester United
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed centre-back Joe Gomez is set to miss “a few weeks” after suffering an injury last time out - but also highlighted good news for the Premier League leaders on the fitness front with two other defenders set to return to full training.
The Reds sit top of the table and host out-of-form Manchester United on Sunday, with Slot facing something of a defensive problem with only five senior players available in the back line, two of which are left-backs.
Slot reveals double fitness boost for Liverpool ahead of hosting Man United
Ibrahima Konate is closing in on a return to action
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