Transfer Talk LIVE! January window latest – Lampard set to be sacked?

elcome back to our LIVE coverage of the January transfer window, which opens today.
The winter window is officially open for Premier League clubs to start making any moves following a dramatic start to the season.
Manchester United have gone level on points with League leaders Liverpool. While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is happy with his squad, summer signing Amad Diallo is set to join up with the Red Devils squad, Jadon Sancho is still a target, while reports of a move for Jack Grealish won’t go away – even if the Aston Villa captain would cost £100million.
As for Arsenal, January looks to be more about Mikel Arteta cutting his squad rather than adding to it, with Mesut Ozil’s future a chief concern. Still, the Gunners have been linked with Real Madrid playmaker Isco, AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez and more – so don’t rule out anything just yet.
Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea have the money to spend despite over £200m of summer arrivals, and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – available on a free this summer – could be a surprise target. Though will Frank Lampard be in charge come February?
Liverpool are looking at defenders with Lille’s Sven Botman a possibility, while Jose Mourinho says any Tottenham arrivals would be a “big surprise”… but is that a smokescreen from the Spurs boss? Meanwhile, Dele Alli may be on his way to PSG with Mauricio Pochettino confirmed as their new head coach.
Live updates
United want ‘new Bruno’ Goncalves
Manchester United have been linked with ‘the new Bruno Fernandes’ Pedro Goncalves.
Sporting snapped up Goncalves to replace Fernandes last January and has been in similarly devasting form, currently boasting 11 goals and 11 assists in the top flight.
The Express claim United are monitoring the former Wolves academy graduate.
Six out the door at United
Manchester United could see as many as six first-team squad members leave in January, reports the Sun.
Phil Jones, Dan James, Sergio Romero, Jesse Lingard and Marcos Rojo will all be made available, while Brandon Williams is being offered out on loan as Ole Gunnar Solskajer looks to streamline his squad.
Tottenham need Eriksen?
Who are Tottenham missing? That was put to Standard Sport columnist Glenn Hoddle this week.
“I would probably look at a player who can pick passes. Someone like Bruno Fernandes. When Christian Eriksen was on song for two-and-a-bit seasons, he could hit those passes to Dele Alli or Harry Kane or whoever made those runs.”
Kane and Son contract talks on hold
Tottenham have put all contract negotiations considered non-urgent on ice during the coronavirus pandemic, reports Dan Kilpatrick.
Spurs’ revenues have been decimated by the pandemic and manager Jose Mourinho suggested last month that it is impossible for clubs to tie down star players amid the ongoing uncertainty.
Son has made it clear that he would like to stay in north London long-term and any new deal would likely take him in line with the club’s top earners on around £200,000-a-week.
Spurs are also conscious that the time is not right to discuss an improved deal with Kane – who has three-and-a-half years still to run – given their income is significantly down on this time last year.
Brexit a pain for Big Sam
West Brom manager Sam Allardyce says he has already missed out on three new signings due to the impact of Brexit.
Allardyce has been brought in by the Baggies in a bid to avoid relegation, earning one point from his opening four games, but the new manager believes the January transfer window could be the toughest of his career as he deals with post-Brexit regulations and the COVID-19 pandemic.
New rules that came into force from January 1 mean Premier League clubs will not be allowed to sign players from European Union countries without a work permit while foreign players under the age of 18 cannot be signed at all.
Allardyce, whose side are second from bottom with eight points from 17 games, said deals for three potential recruits had already fallen through as a result of the new rules.
“I have found three players already who were capable of coming here and they’re not allowed. It’s a shame,” Allardyce said.
Arsenal close to agreeing Saliba loan
Arsenal are close to agreeing a loan deal to send William Saliba to Nice until the end of the season, Standard Sport understands.
The Ligue 1 club will not pay a loan fee but will take on the centre-back’s wages.
There is no option to make the move permanent.
Pogba to be sold
Manchester United will sell Paul Pogba in the summer after accepting that the Frenchman will not sign a new deal, claims the Mirror.
Pogba’s future has been the topic of a public debate, sparked by his agent, Mino Raiola, stating that the midfielder is unhappy at Old Trafford and should be allowed to leave.
Those comments left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer furious, but the Mirror’s report claims United will cede to his demands, with Pogba’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2022.
De Bruyne to reject Man City offer
Kevin De Bruyne is ready to reject Manchester City’s latest contract offer, reports HLN.
De Bruyne has been in discussions with the club over a new deal for some time despite having two and a half years to run on his current terms.
An extension is expected to be worth in excess of £300,000 a week with the player widely regarded as one of the best players in the world.
But Belgian newspaper HLN says City’s current offer is not acceptable for De Bruyne.
Diallo to play for United this season
Manchester United will not send new signing Amad Diallo back to Atalanta on loan, reports ESPN.
Diallo, 18, was signed on the final day of the summer transfer window in October for a fee which could rise to around £35m, but spent until January in Serie A as United secured a work permit.
That permit is expected to come this month and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to make Diallo part of his squad this season rather than a second loan spell.
Juve confirm Giroud interest
Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo has confirmed interest in Olivier Giroud.
“Giroud? We could use him,” he told DAZN after a 4-1 Serie A win over Udinese.
“But these are things that [Juventus sporting director Fabio] Paratici knows better than me.
“We talked about it but let’s see if we will do something in the next few days.”
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