Transfer targets: Yan Diomande, Arda Guler and Joel Ordonez could all be heading to the Premier League in January
The January transfer window is now officially open for business as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all chase statement winter signings to bolster their hopes for the second half of the season. Arsenal are said to be eyeing an audacious move for Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler, while they have been boosted over Robinio Vaz as they also reportedly target the likes of Breno Bidon, Kenan Yildiz, Davide Bartesaghi and Rodrigo Mendoza.
A decision on the future of Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected today with the Italian on the brink of leaving, while Liverpool look set to complete an early deal for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez after the Blues withdrew from the race. Manchester United could soon step up interest in both Yan Diomande and Ruben Neves, while they are also believed to have turned their attentions to Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson looks poised for a medical at Palace, while West Ham are edging close to agreeing a move for a new striker in Gil Vicente’s Pablo as Antoine Semenyo prepares to complete a switch to Manchester City. Follow the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below!
Latest transfer news headlines
Arsenal ponder audacious Arda Guler offer
Arsenal could reportedly make an audacious move for Arda Guler this month.
The young Turkish forward is a highly-regarded talent at Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, though that may not stop the Gunners from trying their luck in the January window.
CaughtOffside have mooted a potential loan-to-buy deal for Guler, similar to the one previously struck between Madrid and Arsenal for Martin Odegaard.
Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz is mentioned as another potential target, along with Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Stankovic, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Honest Ahanor, Jeremy Jacquet and Davide Bartesaghi.
Manchester United are interested in signing Yan Diomande.
The teenage winger is currently starring at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with Ivory Coast and has already made a huge impact at club level in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are one of the clubs eyeing Diomande and could “accelerate their interest” in the January window with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo on his way to Manchester City.
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be keen on a player who is rumoured to be valued at between £52m and £61m, rather than the £87m being mentioned in some quarters.
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Liverpool to seal quick deal for Joel Ordonez
Liverpool look set to complete the swift signing of Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez.
The Reds need additions at the back after a testing first half of the season that brought huge pressure on manager Arne Slot and quickly ended their hopes of successive Premier League titles.
They were believed to have been in a battle with Chelsea over Ordonez, though the Blues are now said to have withdrawn from the race.
Per The Sun, Liverpool will wrap up a deal for the Ecuador centre-back in the coming days worth an initial £35m plus considerable add-ons.
Chelsea latest with Enzo Maresca on brink
A decision on Enzo Maresca’s future as Chelsea manager is expected to be made today.
The Italian’s position at Stamford Bridge has been thrown into doubt after comments made following the recent win over Everton in which he complained of a lack of internal support during the “worst 48 hours” of his reign so far.
Bubbling tensions appear to have only intensified since then, with some reporting that Maresca is in danger of being sacked if results don’t improve quickly, while others claim that he is considering resigning his post.
Sky Sports say this morning that a decision on Maresca’s position will be made today, with no guarantee at this stage that he takes charge of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.
Arsenal target double January deal
Arsenal are interested in January deals for both Robinio Vaz and Breno Bidon, reports claim.
The Gunners are on the lookout for more reinforcements this month to bolster their Premier League title bid having defied a persistent injury crisis to top the table into the New Year amid a fierce fight with Manchester City.
According to reports cited by TEAMtalk, Marseille could part with teenage French forward Vaz this month if a “satisfactory offer” is made as they look to boost their own transfer kitty.
The same report states that Arsenal are believed to have lodged a direct enquiry regarding Corinthians midfielder Bidon, also wanted by Manchester United.
Spurs agree second January deal
As Brennan Johnson closes in on a Tottenham exit, Spurs have also agreed a deal for Manor Solomon to join Fiorentina.
Solomon has spent the first half of the season on loan at Villarreal but that deal is set to be cut short after just one goal in 11 appearances in Spain.
The 26-year-old is set to join Fiorentina on a loan deal until the end of the season.
West Ham close in on early deal
West Ham are closing in on a deal worth around £17.5million to sign attacking midfielder Pablo from Gil Vicente.
The Hammers are keen to boost their fight against relegation with new signings for Nuno Espirito Santo in January.
It has been reported that West Ham have agreed personal terms with Pablo and are ready to wrap up an early deal for the 21-year-old Portuguese player when the window opens.
Johnson set for Crystal Palace medical
Brennan Johnson is expected to have a medical at Crystal Palace over the next 24 hours.
Palace have agreed to pay around £35million for Johnson and want to sign the Spurs winger in time for their match against Newcastle on Sunday.
Bournemouth were also interested in signing Johnson but Palace are confident of wrapping up a deal.
Johnson is not expected to be in the Spurs squad at Brentford on New Year’s Day.
Liverpool January transfer window guide: Slot targets a forward
With that Chiesa rumour in mind, here’s a recent update on the January transfer situation at Anfield from our reporter Dom Smith...
Liverpool’s £446million summer spending was the most ever spent by a British club in a single transfer window, but they might need to go again in January.
Arne Slot is down to the bare bones in attack, with Alexander Isak ruled out for a few months with his broken leg and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool can still spend after recouping over £200m from player sales.
January is often a difficult market but it does present an opportunity for the Reds to strengthen as they bid to build on their recent upturn in form.
The top priority? A new forward.
Chiesa set for Liverpool exit?
Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa could be set to leave Anfield and return to Juventus, according to reports.
The Italian has struggled for gametime on Merseyside, only earning his first Premier League start of the campaign during last weekend’s win over Wolves - and even then, he was the first man withdrawn by Arne Slot.
With the Reds said to be targeting frontline reinforcements in January, Chiesa is evidently seen as surplus to requirements by the Dutch manager.
As such, Serie A giants Juve are reportedly considering a move to bring the 28-year-old back to Turin, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
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