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:
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.
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
Liverpool linked with ‘offer’ for Marc Guehi
A £65m bid from Liverpool for Marc Guehi might be in the offing, but so far no major outlet has suggested that’s the case despite some Spanish sites saying it is on the cards.
Fichajes and one or two other places have stated Arne Slot wants a new centre-back, with Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez both injured, but the league leaders moving for Crystal Palace’s defensive star in the middle of the campaign still feels somewhat improbable.
A higher fee than the £65m is still wanted by Palace, with the London club rejecting similar from Newcastle over summer, reports say - while the Mirror claim Liverpool is Guehi’s preferred destination.
‘Even the players’ know Man City need new signings, admits Guardiola
All has not been well at Man City over winter and Pep Guardiola has acknowledged they must do some business if they can, saying even the current squad accept that new faces are one possible route to returning to winning ways.
“The transfer window in the winter is not easy but even the players know that we have to add some new players,” Guardiola said.
“After, when these players come and play in their positions, they are unhappy but we have a lot (of injuries) and this is a problem. But it’s about bringing a player for the next four or five years and we’ll have to see. Sometimes it is not easy but we have to try because this is sustained for a long time.”
Olmo not thinking about other clubs
Amid his terrible situation with Barcelona not being able to register him, Dani Olmo’s agent Andy Bara insists the player is not negotiating with any other club.
“It’s a stressful situation for Dani as it would be for any other player,” Bara said, “But he’s a great player and a great person, he tries to stay calm. Of course, Dani is a winner and he likes to play the games, not watch them.
“We are not negotiating with any club. Dani is a Barcelona player and he wants to be a Barcelona player. He has made great efforts in his life to be at Barcelona. It has been his desire for a long time. Barcelona is the first and last option.
“Dani, his father, his family, me, we are not thinking about other options.”
Godfrey’s Italian nightmare could come to a close
Another one involving Italian teams: Football writer Rudy Galetti claims on X that Ben Godfrey is being considered by several Premier League clubs.
The former Everton defender joined Atalanta in summer but has only played once for them in Serie A this season, 22 minutes as a substitute.
Wolves have asked for “updated information” and Tottenham are also showing “most interest” with both hoping to sign a centre-back this window.
Chilwell to United?
Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell could move to Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to recent reports.
The England international has been told he does not have a place in the Chelsea team by manager Enzo Maresca and will need to find a new club.
He is expected to leave this month and The Sun have claimed that the Blues are open to paying him a severance package up to £10m unless they can find a buyer.
Chilwell would suit United’s 3-4-3 system but his injury issues could be an issue in a position where Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have already spent plenty of time on the sidelines.
Neville on Casemiro and Eriksen partnership
Gary Neville was blatant in his criticism of Man Utd duo Christian Eriksen and Casemiro and claimed that the two midfielders shouldn’t be playing at the same time.
The former United captin said: “No, no. They may have to if there’s lots of injuries. We’ve all been there as football where you get into your 30s and the last thing you want next to you is another playing alongside you in your 30s.
“The last thing that Eriksen sees alongside him is someone who’s got a lack of energy. He wants to see someone who can compensate for the things he doesn’t have and vice-versa with Casemiro.
“There are players at other clubs at the very top who haven’t got legs but they’ve got people around them who can cover for the fact they haven’t got legs. They can’t play them as a two in midfield with those massive gaps that exist.”
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