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:
Semenyo havning medical at Bournemouth
Bristol City striker Antoine Semenyo is heading for his Bournemouth medical after the two clubs agreed a deal for the player.
The fee is £9m plus add-ons for the Ghana striker who has scored eight goals in all competitions this season for Bristol City
Bournemouth had two bids rejected last week by Bristol City but have got their man at the third time of asking despite late interest from Crystal Palace, who remain interested in the player.
Arsenal must meet Zubimendi’s release clause
Real Sociedad have told Arsenal they will have to pay Martin Zubimendi‘s €60m (£52.8m) release clause if they want to sign the midfielder this month, says The Times.
Mikel Arteta has spoke about his desire to bring in a central midfielder before the transfer window closes after Mohamed Elneny sustained a knee injury that could rule him out for the rest of the season.
Should they fail to replace Elneny the Gunners would be short of cover for Thomas Partey, who himself has been partial to injury own since joining the club two years ago.
Newcastle star Joelinton fined £29,000 after admitting drink driving
Newcastle United star Joelinton has been fined less than a week’s wages after admitting drink driving.
The 26-year-old Premier League midfielder was stopped by police who spotted his 2022-plate Mercedes G wagon on Ponteland Road, Newcastle, at around 1.20am on January 12.
The Brazilian failed a breath test which showed he had 43mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 35mg.
District Judge Paul Currer fined him £29,000 and banned him from driving for 12 months, which will be reduced to nine months if he completes a rehabilitation course.
The judge calculated the fine based on documents showing his weekly wage was £43,000.
Newcastle star Joelinton handed fine after admitting drink driving
The Brazilian failed a breath test which showed he had 43mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath when the legal limit is 35mg
Swansea in race to sign Geldhardt
Swansea City are among a long list of Championship clubs in the loan race for 20-year-old Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt.
The former Wigan Athletic star came close to rejoining the Latics until the end of the season last week before the move stalled. Wigan, Sunderland, Coventry City, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers are all keen on signing the forward and now Swansea have entered the race.
Swansea are in the markert for another striker after reluctantly sanctioning the departure of Michael Obafemi, who is joining Burnley on an initial loan that will become permanent this summer.
Obafemi’s arrival at Turf Moor could also trigger the departure of Ashley Barnes - who is out of contract at the end of the season - with Swansea among those monitoring his situation.
Ferguson unveiled as Forest Green manager
Former Everton player and coach Duncan Ferguson has been appointed as head coach of Forest Green Rovers.
The League One club announced the 51-year-old Scot had taken the reins in succession to Ian Burchnall, whose departure was confirmed earlier this week.
He said: “I’m really delighted to join FGR for the next step of my career, and I plan to be here for a while. We have a bit of a fight on our hands to stay up in League One and I am ready for the challenge.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to come and lead such a progressive and forward-thinking club too.”
Forest Green chairman Dale Vince added: “We’re all excited to welcome Duncan, he is someone I have admired from afar for a while.
“It’s just fantastic to have the opportunity to work with him in this next phase of our journey toward the Championship.”
The Arsenal gamble that’s paying off in style
When it comes to some of the most exciting players on the market, Edu no longer has to make the phone calls. The Arsenal sporting director is now taking them, as so many of the best talents and agents go to him.
They can see which way the club is headed. Declan Rice is now considering them over Chelsea and Manchester United, to go with a host of other names. Arsenal are very suddenly one of the most attractive prospects in sport.
“Suddenly” is the key word, because it makes a considerable difference from this time last year and a profound difference from Mikel Arteta’s first full season.
Then, in the summer of 2020, Arsenal could barely get some targets to even consider them.
The Arsenal gamble that’s paying off in style
Arsenal effectively wrote off the 2020-21 season and made drastic changes to the squad, recruitment and wage structure that would sow the seeds for Mikel Arteta’s title challenge
Fulham want to sign Duffy permanently
Fulham are hoping to do a deal with Brighton and make Shane Duffy’s loan a permanent move in order to register Cedric Soares as their second loan.
One option is to buy out the rest of his Brighton contract, which has six-months left, and give him a short-term deal at Craven Cottage.
Duffy himself is open to going elsewhere on loan for more game-time as he has hardly played since joining Fulham in the summer but no offers have come his way says Sky Sports News.
Fulham are keen to bring Arsenal’s Soares to the club, with a deal close to being agreed in principle between the clubs and the Portugal right-back, but first they need to solve the Duffy dilemma.
Everton consider bid for Arnautovic
Everton are considering a bid for Marko Arnautovic before the end of the January transfer window after making the striker their top target this month, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
Arnautovic’s current club, Bologna, are said to be resistant to the move but the Toffees are desperate to land more attacking depth with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay failing in front of goal.
Guardiola on Arteta
Pep Guardiola has been speaking ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup match against Arsenal on Friday night. He spoke about former assistant coach Mikel Arteta and how well the Spaniard has done since taking over at the Emirates Stadium.
“Arsenal is one of the most important clubs in England. I said many times we knew it, when he was here. His ability and capacity; [their success] is the biggest compliment to Arsenal as well.
“The hierarchy, they trusted him in their bad moments. I guess it wouldn’t have been easy. At the end you need time and investment, but the results are there. It is a challenge for us to challenge them.”
Eddie Howe will do everything in his power to guide Newcastle to cup final
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe hopes the frequent pain of falling agonisingly short during his playing days can help his side avoid complacency in their quest to reach Wembley.
The Magpies seized the initiative in their Carabao Cup semi-final with Southampton thanks to Tuesday evening’s 1-0 first-leg success at St Mary’s.
Howe endured repeated heartache as a defender with Bournemouth in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the club persistently missed out on a play-off spot in the fourth tier.
Eddie Howe will do everything in his power to guide Newcastle to cup final
The Magpies seized the initiative in their semi-final with Southampton.
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