Ten Hag addresses Sancho’s departure to Dortmund with frank response
The January transfer window has been slow to get going this month but may be starting to heat up as clubs try to bolster their squads for the second half of the season.
This month, Arsenal and Chelsea are expected to be two of the teams trying to bring in at least one player each, with Ivan Toney a name on both clubs’ wishlists. Brighton striker Evan Ferguson has also been linked with the Blues, although the Seagulls value the teenager at more than £100m. Given the strictness of financial fair play rules, any signings might depend on sales though.
Tottenham and Liverpool could look to bring in reinforcements to deal with the likes of Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah being absent at mid-season international tournaments. Spurs have completed the signing of Genoa’s Radu Dragusin to improve their defence and added Timo Werner to their attack, while Chelsea eye Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, but could face competition from Real Madrid as they also target Kylian Mbappe.
Manchester United are in the business of offloading players with outcast Jadon Sancho having sealed a loan return to Borussia Dortmund with Hannibal Mejbri making his way to Sevilla.
Follow the live blog below for all the latest news, rumours and updates in the transfer market and find the latest football betting odds and tips here.
If you believe in the football pyramid, you must stand up for Financial Fair Play
As Premier League executives started to agitate for changes to financial control rules, it led to a pointed quip from one official. When it comes to any kind of regulation, those in football are utterly incapable of looking beyond how it affects them alone.
They almost never think of the wider game. It has led to some distorted positions, as the last few days have made clear.
Eddie Howe bemoaned how Newcastle United do not have “friends in the market” willing to do loans to ease pressures on the team from Profit and Sustainability restrictions, at the same time as his bosses were loudly letting it be known that other clubs shared concerns on that regulation.
There were even mutterings after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester City about how the rules facilitated a situation where the champions could just bring Kevin De Bruyne, and that they were restricting a similar state-owned project in building the same sort of force.
“That’s the difference,” was one grumble.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 19:15
Chelsea and Liverpool want Newcastle star
Chelsea and Liverpool have been linked with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to Fichajes.
With Newcastle reportedly having issues with FFP, could Eddie Howe’s side be forced to sell in order to strengthen their injury hit squad?
Guimaraes would certainly be their most in-demand star – but would command a sizable fee. Real Madrid have also been linked to the Brazil international.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 17:15
Arsenal continue striker search with Gimenez and Mayoral on list
Arsenal have decided to step up efforts to sign Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord.
The striker, who is also being watched by West Ham, has had an impressive start to the season in the Eredivisie and the Gunners are convinced he could be an asset, according to TEAMtalk.
Gimenez is considered a cheaper, more attainable, striker option in January with Mikel Arteta’s club also keen on Getafe striker, Borja Mayoral.
Arsenal reportedly made a £22m bid for the striker who has scored 12 goals in 19 La Liga matches this season according to The Sun, though there hasn’t been any further updates on that front as of yet.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 16:45
Victor Osimhen will play in the Premier League ‘one day’
Victor Osimhen has vowed to play in the Premier League “one day”, but he doesn’t know when that day will be.
The Napoli striker is one of the sought-after players in Europe right now and both Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old.
But Osimhen, who is currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, suggested he would not be moving to England imminently.
“Of course one day, definitely, but for now I have other plans in my career I am looking forward to. When the time comes, everyone will know.”
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 15:40
Brighton want £100m for Ferguson
Chelsea are tracking Brighton striker Evan Ferguson as the Blues continue to be linked with a new No 9.
However the Evening Standard are reporting that the Seagulls will not listen to any offers under £100m for the 19-year-old Ireland striker.
That would put him out of the realms of possibility for Chelsea who are already skirting the edges of Financial Fair Play.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 15:02
The disaster of Antony: Erik ten Hag’s flagship failure casts a long shadow
Erik ten Hag was considering the problems of a winger who cost Manchester United a fortune. “He caused them, so he has to sort them out,” he said.
Instead, he was pondering the plight of another winger with no goals and assists for United this season. Antony has played 21 times to Sancho’s three August appearances, but with the same end product; or lack of it.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 14:38
The Dutch coach guided the Lionesses to last year’s World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain in Sydney.
Wiegman, who won the 2023 Fifa award for the best women’s coach on Monday, feels her squad has the ability to go one step further in the competition.
“I’m motivated anyway but we had that disappointment (of losing the final) and we always want more,” Wiegman said on Tuesday after extending her England deal.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 14:02
Chelsea have eyes on Dybala
Chelsea are not ruling out a move for Paulo Dybala who has long been rumoured with a move to the Premier League.
According to Calcio Mercato, the Blues are monitoring the Roma striker’s situation especially following the sacking of Jose Mourinho as manager.
There are fear over the striker’s fitness but he is understood to be available for a cut-price fee this month and Chelsea need to bring in forward options.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 13:40
The trend that exposed Jose Mourinho as yesterday’s man
The two announcements were separated by about 12 hours. At the Best Fifa Football awards, Pep Guardiola was named the world’s outstanding manager now. Then the man who was supposed to be his nemesis was sacked by the club ninth in Serie A.
Guardiola is the reigning Champions League winner; it will soon be the 10-year anniversary of the last time Mourinho won a Champions League knockout tie. He has been exiled from the competition that used to define him, partly by his own results: Roma had four top-four finishes in the six seasons before Mourinho’s appointment. They came sixth and sixth – which would have been seventh but for Juventus’ points deduction – under him and he left them in mid-table.
Mourinho’s status as an all-time great was cemented long ago, but he is not a great manager now.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 13:13
Manchester United agree loan exit of Hannibal Mejbri
The Europa League winners, who are signing the Tunisia international as part of their bid to avoid relegation from LaLiga, have an option to buy him for €20m (£17.2m) in the summer.
As part of the terms of the deal, United would have both a buyback option and a sell-on clause. United extended the 20-year-old’s contract by a year, until 2025, earlier this month to protect his value in the transfer market.
Lawrence Ostlere17 January 2024 12:40