Transfer information LIVE: Vlahovic to Man Utd swap, Arsenal newest, Liverpool to make large Alexander-Arnold provide
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. Joshua Zirkzee could also be leaving and Juventus have reportedly offered Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic to United for the striker in a swap deal.
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 LaLiga 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:
Trent Alexander-Arnold not affected by Real Madrid approach
The England international was at fault for Manchester United’s opener in the 2-2 draw at Anfield and was generally poor throughout, falling well below the high standards he has set himself.
At the start of the week Real, with whom Alexander-Arnold has been strongly linked with his contract expiring in the summer, made an approach about the possibility of signing the 26-year-old in the current transfer window.
Van Dijk offers contract update
Virgil van Dijk revealed that he is no closer to signing a new Liverpool deal after the team’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I don’t think so, but I am calm about it, like I said months ago.
“We’ll see what happens in the future and at this point I have got absolutely no update. It’s all about at the moment focusing, for me and the team, on Spurs [on Wednesday night]. It will be a tough game again, but a good [Carabao Cup] semi-final.”
Ipswich sign Godfrey on loan
Another signing to announce as Ipswich have agreed a loan deal for Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey. The deal for the ex-Everton man and two-cap England international was announced yesterday in the wake of the draw with Fulham.
“It’s been an exciting couple of days and I’m just delighted to have signed and can’t wait to meet the lads and get started,” Godfrey told the Ipswich website.
“I have really enjoyed speaking to the manager (Kieran McKenna) and to have the opportunity to work under him now is something I’m very excited about. I’ve watched a lot of the games from the first half of the season and you can tell from those that the group is a tight one, full of players giving everything to achieve their goals.
“I’ve not played as much as I would have liked so far this season, but I feel ready to contribute and am looking forward to getting out there.”
The tactical tweaks Ruben Amorim used to revive Manchester United at Anfield
For large parts of his Manchester United career, Bruno Fernandes has appeared the answer. Now he posed the question. “If we show this today at Anfield against Liverpool, that is first in the league and has been probably the outstanding team in in the Premier League this season, why we can’t do this every week?”
To draw 2-2 at Anfield represented a shift in mood and immediate improvement, but also a cause for frustration. Ruben Amorim raised the issue of their three home defeats: to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Newcastle, too, not Liverpool. “Some of the games we suffer two goals without doing nothing,” he said.
But then the side he had warned were at risk of relegation instead held the champions elect. If inconsistency appeared a step forward for United, when the alternative was being consistently bad, it isn’t Amorim’s objective.
Bruno Fernandes on Man Utd’s result at Liverpool
Manchester United drew 2-2 with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon in a much-improved display that does not reflect their recent struggles in the Premier League.
Captain Bruno Fernandes spoke to Sky Sports after last night’s match.
“I’m pretty upset. If we show this level at Liverpool, first in the league, why can’t we do this everywhere? It frustrates me,” he said.
“Also, finally I did a proper performance. We said we need much more from ourselves to get more from this season. Being 2-1 [down] then scoring, it is good to get a point but we need more.”
AC Milan to pounce on Olmo situation
Italian giants AC Milan hope to pounce on the Dani Olmo situation at Barcelona.
The Spanish midfielder finds himself in deep water after Barcelona chiefs failed to seal his registration with La Liga. The Spanish giants are going through their options to keep him but may need to offload the player if they can’t register him with the Spanish footballing authorities.
According to SPORT, the Italian side are willing to offer him a six-month loan move to the San Siro after which time he would return to Barcelona.
It is a deal which could suit all parties though their are Premier League clubs also monitoring the situation and could yet throw spanners in the works.
Guardiola wants Grealish improvement
Pep Guardiola explained why he decided to start Savinho ahead of Jack Grealish in Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over West Ham at the weekend.
He said: “Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack, and that’s why I played Savinho.”
The 29-year-old Grealish has yet to score in 19 appearances this season and is rumoured to be one of the options City are prepared to sell on if they receive a suitable offer.
Arne Slot reveals surprise Liverpool benefit from Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga
Real Madrid made an initial approach for the right-back this week, which Liverpool rebuffed before the Champions League holders could even make a bid.
But Alexander-Arnold, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, is out of contract in the summer and could leave Anfield on a free transfer. The 26-year-old has been able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day and Real have made no secret of their interest in him.
Carragher explains where Liverpool need to strengthen
Jamie Carragher says Liverpool need to sign a new left-back if they are to go into the market during the January transfer window.
“Liverpool need to sign a full-back. I think they need a left back,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “Trent Alexander-Arnold was really poor. He will be a lot better than that and Conor Bradley is fantastic.
“I just think Andy Robertson, who is an absolute legend, is just hanging on in every game. I don’t think Kostas Tsimikas is quite of the standard to come in and replace him.
“I think if Liverpool could get a left back in January, I think that’d put Liverpool in a really strong position to win the league.”
Casadei on verge of Chelsea exit
Cesare Casadei looks set to leave Chelsea after he agreed a permanent transfer to Torino, according to The Sun.
The 21-year-old midfielder was signed in 2022 from Inter Milan in a deal worth £12.6m but was sent out on loan moves to Reading and Leicester before being recalled to the Blues squad in January last year.
Transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, says a deal between the two clubs is being negotiated in the region of £10m with a buy back option included for the Blues.
