Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal eye reinforcements as Newcastle want Gordon and Chelsea target Onana
Wolves are still in talks over a deal for Joao Gomes whilst Fulham make a move for Arsenal’s Cedric Soares
Everton’s lack of form and seeming problems behind the scenes could have a negative effect on the squad as the big Premier League sides come knocking in search of players. Chelsea have lined up Toffees midfielder Amadou Onana as a potential option in case they cannot get a deal for Enzo Fernandez over the line - which seems increasingly more likely as the window draws to a close.
Newcastle are also hovering and have made Anthony Gordon their main focus. The Everton forward missed two days of training as Newcastle prepared a £40m bid for the 21-year-old but the Toffees are reluctant to let one of their key assets leave whilst fighting a relegation battle.
Elsewhere, an injury to Mohamed Elneny means Arsenal may be forced into strengthening their midfield options before the window closes. The Gunners seem focused on winning the Premier League title this season and they will need strength in depth to keep Manchester City at bay. Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is said to be the favoured choice but Chelsea are also interested in the £75m midfielder and manager Roberto De Zerbi believes Caicedo won’t leave the club in January.
Follow all the latest January transfer rumours and confirmed news below:
Pep Guardiola reveals the moment he knew he had to let Mikel Arteta leave Man City
Pep Guardiola said he had to let Mikel Arteta leave Manchester City to manage Arsenal because he could not stand in the way of his friend and former assistant’s dreams.
The former allies meet in the FA Cup on Friday with Arteta five points ahead of Guardiola in the Premier League and with the older man calling the London club the best team in the country.
And Guardiola said that he knew Arsenal had a place in Arteta’s heart when he did not celebrate the goals City scored against the club he supported.
Pep Guardiola discloses the moment he knew he had to let Mikel Arteta leave Man City
Arteta was Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium before taking over as Gunners boss
Everton ready to woo Marcelo Bielsa in person
Everton chair Farhad Moshiri is intent on persuading Marcelo Bielsa to take the job despite the Argentine’s reservations, having already convinced the former Leeds United manager to fly to England for talks.
Bielsa’s willingness to travel is seen as an opening, after initial remote talks reached an impasse over the make-up of the squad, the structure of the club and the length of the deal. There was a period on Wednesday when it looked like the negotiations might fall apart, but Moshiri sees the 67-year-old as the sort of character who can revitalise the club and rescue the season.
Bielsa had been receptive to initial approaches only for talks to encounter difficulties as he laid out a list of expectations and demands, none of them financial other than a fixed fee for him and his staff.
Everton ready to woo Marcelo Bielsa in person
The Argentine is flying to England for talks over the vacant manager’s job
Liverpool reward teenage star Stefan Bajcetic with new long-term deal
Liverpool have given teenage midfielder Stefan Bajcetic a four-and-a-half year contract to reward him for his progress this season.
Bajcetic, who was signed from Celta Vigo for €250,000 in 2020, was preferred to Fabinho for Saturday’s draw against Chelsea and scored his first Liverpool goal in the Boxing Day win at Aston Villa.
The 18-year-old has made 10 appearances this season and has been a regular in the squad, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying: “There was a door – I’m not even sure it was open – but he ran through it and he was really exceptional.”
Bajcetic’s deal is in line with Liverpool’s policy of rewarding young players who have impressed with pay rises and long-term contracts.
Liverpool reward teenage star Stefan Bajcetic with new long-term deal
The 18-year-old scored his first Liverpool goal in the Boxing Day win at Aston Villa
Bajcetic signs a new contract with Liverpool
Spanish teenager Stefan Bajcetic has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool after making his first Premier League start.
The 18-year-old has signed a new deal until 2027 having made his 10th appearance in all competitions. Bajcetic also scored his first senior goal in the 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day, and impressed in last week’s FA Cup third round replay away at Wolves.
“Obviously I’m so, so happy, so excited to keep playing for this club and hopefully I can play more years together,” he said. “Me and my family are very proud to sign a new contract with this club.
“It feels amazing. It’s something I’ve been dreaming of in these two years I’ve been here and something that I’ve been working hard [for] as well.”
“It’s crazy. A year ago I was playing U18s football and now I’ve started some games, made my debut and even scored a goal – that was something I never expected to happen this year.
“It’s amazing to see how fast it went. But I keep working hard and hopefully [there are] more things to come.”
Man Utd decide against Vlahovic transfer
Manchester United are looking to add to their attacking options before the end of the January transfer window if they can secure the right deal but have decided not to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus.
Express Sport reports that the Red Devils don’t think a move for the Serbia international is feasible at the current moment in time and have cooled their interest in the 22-year-old.
Chelsea still pushing for Caicedo
Brighton will have quite a job on their hands if they want to keep hold of Moises Caicedo. Premier clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea are pushing to sign the midfielder with five days to go until the transfer window closes.
Sky Sports News say a transfer in January seems very unlikely as Brighton have no intention of selling in this window. Last week, head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: “The best solution is that he finishes the season with us and in the summer he changes teams.”
Caicedo has two-and-a-half years left on his contract though is unlikely to sign a new one due to such interest from across Europe.
Brighton will need to time his sale well and will want a potential succession plan in place before Caicedo leaves the club. RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose says midfielder Amadou Haidara will not leave this month amid reported interest from the Seagulls.
Reading manager Paul Ince assesses Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd reign ahead of FA Cup clash
Erik ten Hag has helped Manchester United fans see a brighter future since arriving at Old Trafford, according to Paul Ince.
The Reading manager will take his team to face a rejuvenated United in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday at a ground where he won two Premier League titles as a player during a six-year spell under Alex Ferguson.
The 55-year-old was part of the club’s first title-winning side in 26 years when they were crowned champions in 1992-93 and won a league and cup double the following season.
It has been nearly six years since United won a major trophy, the 2017 Europa League under Jose Mourinho, with the wait to win the Premier League stretching back to 2013.
But Ince believes that Ten Hag has started the process of healing the problems the club has faced on and off the pitch since Ferguson stood down a decade ago.
Reading manager Paul Ince assesses Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd reign ahead of FA Cup clash
The former Manchester United midfielder takes his Royals side to Old Trafford in the fourth round of the FA Cup
Onana rejects Chelsea
The Daily Express claim that Chelsea have been rejected by Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, who has allegedly decided he wants to remain at Goodison Park until the end of the season citing multiple reports in both Belgium and France.
Arsenal were also keen on Onana who was seen as a cover target for Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in the middle of the park but it seems unlikely he would join the Premier League after committing to stay with Everton.
Newcastle set price for Saint-Maximin
Newcastle have reportedly put clubs on alert after setting a price tag in excess of £26million for Allan Saint-Maximin, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
AC Milan are believed to be among the clubs interested in the French winger, who has struggled for game time under Eddie Howe this season.
The player’s agents have already held talks with Milan about a move to the San Siro but Newcastle’s current valuation is said to be too high for the Italian giants.
Jim Goodwin kept in Aberdeen job but board demand response to Darvel shock
Jim Goodwin will take charge of Aberdeen at the weekend but has been left in no doubt that the club’s board are “seeking an immediate response” following Monday’s shock cup defeat to junior side Darvel.
Sixth-tier Darvel stunned the cinch Premiership side by a 1-0 score in a fourth-round Scottish Cup tie.
It further piled the pressure on Goodwin, who only joined the club in February after leaving St Mirren, following a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Hearts earlier in the month.
A board meeting took place on Wednesday where the future of the 41-year-old manager was a key topic of debate but he is set to carry on in his role and will take charge of Saturday’s trip to Hibernian.
Jim Goodwin kept in Aberdeen job but board demand response to Darvel shock
A board meeting took place on Wednesday following Aberdeen’s shock cup loss.
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