The January transfer window closes at 7pm today and clubs across the Premier League and Europe have a final chance to strengthen their squads for the final push to the end of the season.
With injuries mounting, Liverpool have entered the market for a new defender hijacking Chelsea’s interest in Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. The club have agreed £55m deal for the 20-year-old centre-back but it is not expected that he will move to Merseyside straightaway.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have parted ways with Raheem Sterling who is gaining interest from clubs such as Tottenham now that he is a free agent. Spurs are also understood to be keen on rivalling Inter Milan for the signature of former Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby.
Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee could be one of the late movers having fallen down the pecking order under Michael Carrick. Zirkzee was rumoured to want to leave Old Trafford during Ruben Amorim’s previous reign and have been linked with both Roma and Napoli.
Elsewhere, Premier League leaders Arsenal are plotting a bid for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, while Crystal Palace could be busy on deadline day with Jean-Philippe Mateta desperate to leave the club and Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen looking likely to be his replacement.
Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below
Sterling offered to Bundesliga club
Raheem Sterling has been offered to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin, according to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany.
Sterling reportedly has various suitors, including Tottenham, after his contract was terminated at Chelsea.
He will be able to make his move after the 7pm deadline due to status as a free agent.
George completes Everton medical
Tyrique George has completed his Everton medical and is on the verge of joining from Chelsea on an initial loan with an option to buy.
Everton are currently mulling over a late £20m offer from Crystal Palace for Dwight McNeil – it is not yet known whether the arrival of a winger will make the Toffees change their stance over the player.
David Moyes’ side a meanwhile set to keep Nathan Patterson after turning down Genoa’s advances.
Strand Larsen still expected to join Palace despite Mateta collapse
The big-money move of Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace is still expected to go ahead despite Jean-Philippe Mateta’s exit collapsing.
Palace made a move for Strand Larsen after they granted Jean-Philippe Mateta’s wish to leave the club in this winter transfer window.
However, Mateta’s proposed deadline-day switch to Serie A giants AC Milan has fallen through, but Strand Larsen will still complete a transfer for a £48m package to Palace.
Palace will pay an initial £43m for the highly-rated Norway international with a further £5m included in the deal as add-ons, with Strand Larsen having already completed his medical.
Ronaldo on strike?
Cristiano Ronaldo is not a happy bunny at Al-Nassr.
He was missing from his team’s Saudi Pro League game againsy Al-Riyadh this afternoon despite having no injury, and it’s now been claimed he is unhappy with how the club is being run.
Ronaldo, who is paid £500,000 per day at the Saudi club, is angry with the PIF, who he believes is pumping more money and effort into Al-Nassr’s rivals: Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal.
Well then.
Onyeka joins Coventry on loan
Frank Onyeka has joined Coventry on an initial loan from Brentford.
The Nigerian midfielder will join permanently if Coventry win promotion from the Championship.
Kante set to return to Europe?
N’Golo Kante is still in advanced talks to move from Al-Ittihad to Fenerbahce, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Kante has played for the Saudi side since leaving Chelsea in the summer of 2023 but has been linked with a return to Europe throughout the window.
Turkish giants Fenerbahce are just waiting for the green light from Al-Ittihad,
ONE HOUR TO GO!
We are less than an hour away from the January transfer window slamming shut!
Watch live as The Independent breaks down the biggest transfer stories of the window so far.
Chief Football Writer at The Independent, Miguel Delaney and Adam Clery, creative director of The Adam Clery Football Channel will be analysing the latest breaking stories and key transfers that have happened so far.
The January transfer window closes at 7pm today and clubs across the Premier League and Europe have a final chance to strengthen their squads for the final push to the end of the season.
Tonali’s agent shuts down Newcastle exit
Sandro Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso has shut down talk that the Newcastle midfielder was offered to Arsenal at the end of this window.
Riso said: “We never had any conversation with Arsenal. Newcastle were never gonna let Tonali leave in January. There’s absolutely nothing into it. We didn’t even talk about it.”
Riso also confirmed that Inter’s Davide Frattesi will not join Nottingham Forest due to the fact Inter failed to sign Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.
Atletico Madrid confirm Lookman signing
Ademola Lookman has completed his transfer from Atalanta to Atletico Madrid, joining for €35m plus €5m add-ons.
Everton say no to McNeil loan
Everton will not sanction a loan move for Dwight McNeil before the deadline after Crystal Palace launched a late bid for the winger, per Sky Sports.
However, the Eagles have now trumped their original offer by sending a £20m proposal for the winger, leaving Everton – who are on the verge of signing Tyrique George – with a decision to make.
Nottingham Forest also showed an interest in recruiting McNeil, while Palace are on the verge of finalising the record signing of Jorgen Strand Larsen.
