Thank you all for joining me for this transfer day! There haven’t been many confirmed deals but there are a lot of rumours surrounding Newcastle, ones to keep your eye on. We will be back tomorrow but for now, have a good evening.
The Afcon live feed is up, join John Brewin here to follow the action:
Sid Lowe’s latest piece is here:
West Ham remain in talks with Manchester City over a loan deal for Kalvin Phillips.
The midfielder is a long-time target for Hammers boss David Moyes. Talks are centring on the size of the loan fee - City want £7m but there’s quiet confidence a compromise will be found.
We have another confirmed deal, this time Bristol City have loaned Tianna Teisar to Cardiff City for the rest of the season.
The forward has made four appearances for the Robins across all competitions this campaign.
📣 Tianna Teisar has joined Cardiff City Ladies on loan for the remainder of the season.
— Bristol City Women (@bristolcitywfc) January 22, 2024
Good luck Ti! 👊
Have a read of this column from Jonathan Wilson:
You wait all day for some signings and they all come along at once. The latest comes from AC Milan as 18-year-old Sara Stokić signs from ŽFK Vojvodina in a two-and-a-half year deal.
The Serbian international will wear the number 15 shirt.
New signing claxon! Brighton have signed Adrian Mazilu and he has immediately been sent out on loan to Vitesse Arnhem.
Technical director David Weir said of the winger: “We have been monitoring Adrian and he has done well in Romania. He now has a new challenge with Vitesse in a new league and environment, and we will continue to track his progress closely.”
Obafemi loan imminent:
🚨🔵 Excl: Millwall are set to sign Michael Obafemi on loan deal from Burnley, agreement in principle reached today.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2024
Obafemi will undergo medical tests this week in order to get the deal done and signed soon. pic.twitter.com/Y0XuJk69hC
It’s not just players who face the rumour mill but managers too. Roy Hodgson is under pressure to come up with results at Crystal Palace, here is a piece on the situation at the club:
New signing claxon! German defender Maximiliane Rall has signed for NWSL club Chicago Red Stars from Bayern Munich on a one-year deal.
“I am really happy and excited to join the Red Stars,” said Rall. “It’s a big thing for a little German girl like me to have the opportunity to play in the USA. I can’t wait to live and play in this crazy sports city, Chicago!”
Have you listened to our podcast the Football Weekly? This week’s edition focuses on Liverpool’s charge for the Premier League title:
Araújo is not for sale, according to a Barca chief:
🔵🔴 Barça director Deco: “Bayern want Ronald Araújo? We are not considering selling him. He’s not for sale”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2024
“He’s one of the key players for Barça future”.
“We want him to be happy and this is shown on a day-to-day basis. There's nothing to talk about”, told Movistar. pic.twitter.com/mXv4Qo28Kc
Stephen Holliday has emailed and said: “I think the Newcastle situation is a strange one. They have a lot of good players, but I’m not sure they have any players that would fit into a premier league winning team, certainly not a first XI. So, they have to start moving players on to try and upgrade.”
I think they have been impacted a lot by injuries, last season they ended in the top four but key figures have been ruled out this campaign.
Speaking of the WSL, the talking points from this past weekend’s action have dropped. Have a read here:
Loeck signs for WSL's Brighton
Brighton have signed goalkeeper Melina Loeck from Kristianstads DFF and it comes after loanee keeper Nicky Evrard had to return to her parent club, Chelsea, following injury.
Brighton are currently eighth in the Women’s Super League after recording three wins from 11 games.
Head coach Melissa Phillips said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Melina to the club as our first signing of the January window.
“She’s a young talent and possesses key attributes that will benefit our defence. She brings uniquely different strengths within our squad and will thrive competing with our other goalkeepers.”
“Enjoying the transfer thread, but as a Newcastle fan, dreading what will come next!” Jimmy has emailed. “One quick correction, Almirón is contracted to 2026, having signed a new contract in February 2023.”
Ah apologies for getting that detail wrong earlier, so if he goes this window or in the summer Newcastle would be in line to make some money.
Thank you David. Some news to bring you now as Leicester City goalkeeper Alex Smithies has announced his retirement after a 17-year career because of injury.
The shot stopper, 33, also played for Huddersfield Town, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff and made over 500 senior appearances in his career.
He joined Leicester in 2022 and the club have said: “Leicester City would like to place on record our appreciation to Alex and offer him and his family our best wishes for the future.”
And with that straight bat from Poch, I’ll end my brief cameo and hand you back to Sarah to bring you all the latest moves and speculation.
An update from Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino on the future of Armando Broja, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. Wolves, West Ham and Fulham have all been mentioned as possible destinations for the striker although the £50m price tag ranges from “steep” to “hilarious” depending where you get your reaction.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Middlesbrough – the Blues trail 1-0 from the first leg – Pochettino said: “At the moment, there is no news. We cannot update in any way. It’s all so quiet and I think it’s a good thing because we are working really well and there are no surprises. There is no news about players who can leave or come in.”
Cheers for that. Doesn’t he know we’ve got a transfer blog to run?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desire to make Manchester United more like Manchester City seems to be extending further. After pinching Omar Berrarda from City to be their new CEO, United now want to have a young player with a cool, quirky name like City’s Oscar Bobb. So, step forward Brian Brobbey. United boss Erik ten Hag is a big fan of his fellow Dutchman and was keen to sign Brobbey from former club Ajax a couple of summers ago.
However, these quotes by Brobbey after he scored twice in Ajax’s weekend win over RKC Waalwijk don’t sound overly promising. “I’ll just stay in Amsterdam. I think Erik [ten Hag] has someone else on his mind now. I also have a different telephone number.”
Not much news coming out of Saudi Arabia but here’s one: Al Nassr reportedly want to sign Tottenham defender Emerson Royal. The Brazilian has been more of a back-up option for Ange Postecoglou at Spurs but injuries and suspensions have given him a decent chunk of game time. However, if the 25-year-old can’t be a regular first-choice, a switch to the Saudi Pro League may get his attention.
Al Nassr have a couple of Brazilians on their books: ex-Manchester United defender Alex Telles and midfielder Anderson Talisca. Their skipper also speaks Portuguese. That would be Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jürgen Klopp has a closer eye than most on all things German so it’s no surprise to see Liverpool being linked with these two high-profile stars: Antonio Rudiger and Leroy Sane.
Rudiger, capped 66 times by Germany, is reportedly looking for a move back to the Premier League and the Reds have a gap to fill in central defence with another former German-based player, Joel Matip, sidelined by a serious ACL injury and perhaps now about to call time/have time called on his Anfield career. Rudiger’s current deal at Real Madrid expires in 2026 but stories from Spain suggest he’s looking for a serious pay rise. The 30-year-old made 133 Premier League appearances for Chelsea between 2017 and 2022.
Liverpool are also still being linked with a move for Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, the German winger a possible replacement for Mo Salah if the Egyptian is lured away by the Saudi riches. Arsenal and Tottenham are also being mentioned as close observers of the former Manchester City wideman.
As Sarah mentioned earlier, Newcastle are rather propping this blog up at the moment. And here’s some more Magpies musings from our man Fab.
⛔️🏴 Callum Wilson won’t join AC Milan as their focus is on different positions with Giroud, Okafor and Jović doing very well.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2024
Atlético Madrid will go for Moise Kean and not for Callum Wilson. pic.twitter.com/t9FVfXFGYZ
Thanks Sarah. So, here we are, 22 days into the window and it’s all a bit quiet. Do we believe the theories that if one piece moves, another slots in and the whole thing will take off. Let’s see.
I am heading off for some lunch now but I will be back in an hour’s time. I leave you in the very capable hands of David Tindall who will bring you any breaking news.
“So much cynicism around that Almiron deal,” Stephen emails. “Can’t think why. I fully expect a deal to be done for £1bn and the player being loaned back to Newcastle for next three seasons.”
I have to say I did chuckle at this email.
Joe Pearson has emailed with his thoughts on Almirón: “That Almirón move is an interesting one. Everyone was concerned that PIF-owned clubs would loan subsidized, highly paid players to Newcastle to skirt FFP rules, and here comes non-PIF Al Shabab to swoop in to nab their all-engine midfielder/winger. Odd.”
New signing claxon! Bristol City have signed midfielder Josh Stokes from Aldershot in a three-and-a-half year deal.
The Championship club have loaned Stokes back to his former club for the rest of the season.
He said: “I’m delighted to sign for Bristol City, it’s a massive club with huge ambition
“They’re a club that gives young players an opportunity and I’m looking forward to the next few years.”
Almirón, 29, arrived at Newcastle in 2019 and has gone onto make over 160 appearances for the Premier League club.
He signed a five-and-a-half year deal and so his contract runs out this summer. Would it make more sense for Newcastle to sell him and benefit financially? Or to try and keep the midfielder at the club? Get in touch and let me know.
Newcastle is all anyone is talking about today but this time it is Miguel Almirón at the middle of a new rumour. It is being reported he is heading to Saudi Arabia:
Exclusive: Al-Shabab and Newcastle have reached a provisional agreement over Miguel Almiron. It's understood Almiron is open to the move, but the deal is not done yet.🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/qdny6qSfJE
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 22, 2024
Updated
A good piece from the weekend to sink your teeth into:
Joelinton reportedly will not extend his stay with Newcastle:
🚨🆕 News #Joelinton: The 27 y/o will undergo a groin surgery tomorrow in Barcelona and he‘s likely to be out until the end of April | #NUFC
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 22, 2024
⚠️ Clear tendency at this stage: Joelinton WON‘T extend his contract beyond 2025 ✔️ @SkySportDE 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/Fl0ksUjUc6
Chelsea forward Diego Moreira has been recalled to his parent club from his loan to French club Lyon.
He made nine appearances for Lyon since his temporary move following signing for the Blues from Benfica last summer.
Here are some of the reports from the WSL action, defending champions Chelsea remain top of the table after beating Manchester United 3-1:
Here is a round-up of the action in Europe:
“Others may be ahead of me here but, having failed in England since 1961, are Spurs now trying to win the Bundesliga by stealth?” Ian Davis has emailed. “Transfers since the summer (actual and mooted) would seem to suggest so.”
Bayern Munich have invested in former Spurs players. Harry Kane and Eric Dier have moved there and now the Trippier rumour. Maybe Kane just wants his friends to join him in Germany? I joke, of course.
Saturday was far from the first time that Mike Maignan suffered racist abuse inside a Serie A stadium. He had barely joined Milan when he heard supporters targeting him during a match away to Juventus in September 2021. After the match he posted a statement in three different languages on his social media account, questioning whether enough was being done to prevent such incidents from recurring. Read the story below:
A piece on Liverpool:
Who wants a round-up of the day’s biggest rumours? We have got you covered:
“Would you mind explaining how losing players on loan (Trippier, Wilson) could benefit Newcastle?” Peter Howarth has emailed. “Surely losing players on loan doesn’t help the club much financially, or am I missing something?”
I suppose it would depend on the deals but it is believed Newcastle would prefer a permanent move rather than a loan for around £15m. A benefit to loaning players, they may have more time to rest as well as play, Bayern would have more squad rotation whereas Newcastle have been hit with a lot of injuries this season. But it seems Newcastle do want to hold onto their players, so time will tell.
I am bringing you all of the stories from this window but we also have a page full of all the confirmed moves from the top leagues across Europe, for men and women’s football. You can catch up with all of those here:
This is a must-read from Suzanne Wrack:
Some more news from this past weekend’s Premier League action, Nottingham Forest are writing to PGMOL about Ivan Toney’s free kick. “The law is clear – every situation that leads to a goal must be checked,” Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said. “It’s not even a matter of inches, [Toney moved the ball] almost a yard.”
Brentford won the match 3-2.
Aston Villa have rejected an offer from West Ham to sign Jhon Durán on loan with an option to buy.
David Moyes is looking for a forward this month but funds are limited because of financial fair play and profit and sustainability rules. West Ham have looked at the loan market and asked Villa about a deal for Durán, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea.
Read the full story:
“I think all this Trippier speculation is as mad as Newcastle thinking of dumping Eddie Howe - especially for the likes of the not-so-special-anymore-one,” Dean Kinsella has emailed. “Trippier has been outstanding at Newcastle and Howe is doing a great job, though hampered by a ridiculous injury list and the resulting fatigue of the uninjured players.”
I agree, I can see why Newcastle would want to keep him. Trippier himself seems to want the move but he isn’t going to force it, I could see him staying for now. Maybe a move in the summer?
A loan move for Kalvin Phillips is still in the works but not with Barcelona. The England international is looking to move away from Manchester City after failing to get many minutes. West Ham is still a possibility:
🏴 Barcelona have not approached Man City for Kalvin Phillips so far, despite reports. Loan deal considered too expensive at current conditions.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2024
West Ham are still working and pushing for loan deal, waiting for Kalvin to make his decision. pic.twitter.com/SabVReEhem
If you want more information on Trippier’s rumoured move to Bayern Munich, have a read of the piece below:
Before we dig into the rumour mill, here are the Premier League talking points in case you missed any action:
Preamble
Hello and welcome to today’s transfer live. There are still a myriad of rumours in this window but the lead story at the moment is Kieran Trippier’s future at Newcastle.
The England international has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich but it is now thought the Premier League club do not want to sell him.
Another report suggests Bayern will try and tempt Newcastle into selling with an improved offer but the German club reportedly only want a loan deal and not a permanent move.
If there is any update on the move today I will bring you the news. Also if you have any thoughts on the window do get in touch via email or on X – @rendellx. Let’s dive into some more rumours shall we?
