Key events
Sky’s Melissa Reddy is at Old Trafford, where she confirms the lights are already out – Sir Jim Ratcliffe clearly keeping tabs on that energy bill. Their major January signing, wing-back Patrick Dorgu, has been on a stadium tour with his family this afternoon. I wonder if they had to pay for it.
Reading have signed Burton forward Billy Bodin on loan; he can slot in to my imagined old-school footballer names XI, along with left-back Harry Milne, who has joined Hearts from Partick Thistle. Who else might be included? Stanley Mills (son of Danny) went to Oxford from Everton, while Tommy Watson appears to be staying at Sunderland.
Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Nico González, with the Porto player reportedly undergoing his medical in Portugal. One move that looks like it might not happen, according to Andy Hunter:
“Middlesbrough’s bid for Tyler Morton – £10m plus add-ons – is way short of Liverpool’s valuation of the midfielder so that deal will not be happening as things stand.”
Aston Villa sign Marco Asensio from PSG on loan
Another big name lands at Villa Park! Spain’s Marco Asensio has completed his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season.
European football doyen Andy Brassell is on Sky, talking about the Asensio deal. He explains that he has struggled at PSG as he’s been plugging gaps rather than playing in his preferred playmaker/No 10 role. He adds that like Marcus Rashford and Donyell Malen, he arrives with a big reputation but struggling for consistency in recent months.
Chuwuemeka seals Dortmund loan move
Jacob Steinberg
A departure at Chelsea is confirmed: Borussia Dortmund have completed the loan signing of midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka until the end of the season.
On Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez joining Milan today, Mitchell Porter writes: “Amazed that no Premier League team looking for a striker didn’t go after him for the £26.6m price.”
Agreed, and he would have been good value even with a little PL tax on top. I know all the top English clubs have vast scouting networks, so it’s weird when it feels like they’re copying each other – see the Mathys Tel saga this week, for instance.
‘Memba Andrea Belotti? The Italian striker was once the king of deadline-day rumours but never made it to Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham or any of the other dozen Premier League clubs he was linked with. Now 31, he’s shipping out from Cesc Fàbregas’ Como to join Benfica on loan.
One of the Premier League’s forgotten men, James Ward-Prowse, is heading back to West Ham after his Nottingham Forest loan was cut short. He made 10 appearances for Forest but has barely featured since the end of November. Can Graham Potter restore some of his old magic – or should he go back to Southampton and try to break David Beckham’s free kick record?
“I hope Roma’s transfer target at RB Salzburg has told them in no uncertain terms that ‘I’m Your Man’, causing the suitors in the Italian capital to break into song, clapping vigorously to the chorus, ‘If you’re Gourna-Douath, do it right, right, do it with me!’” offers Peter Oh in a quite exceptional piece of punnery.
Today’s headlines so far
Thanks, Will. There are around four hours and 30 minutes left before the window shuts, for Premier League clubs at least. And there will be deal sheets; there are always deal sheets. Here are the top stories so far today …
Right, that’s yer lot from me. Niall McVeigh is set to take my place on the transfer merry-go-round.
Schlupp looks to be Celtic-bound
Ed Aarons
Crystal Palace’s Jeffrey Schlupp is set to have a medical with Celtic after the Scottish champions made a late swoop to sign the Ghana international on loan. Schlupp has rarely been used this season by Oliver Glasner, with the impending arrival of Ben Chilwell meaning he is surplus to requirements. That is likely to end Celtic’s attempts to bring in Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney this month, with the Scotland defender now set to return to his former club in the summer.
Manchester United have no plans for more signings
Jamie Jackson
No further incomings are expected at Manchester United. The understanding is that the football leadership at the club are happy with recruiting Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven and Diego León (pre-contract). The club were not prepared to recruit for the sake of it. Profit and sustainability rules were also a major factor. Tyrell Malacia may still go on loan to a club in a country where the window remains open.
In more fizzy drink franchise news, Red Bull Salzburg have signed the former Belgium youth international Yorbe Vertessen from Union Berlin. The forward has followed the well-trodden path from Bundesliga to (other) Bundesliga, signing a contract running to 2029.
Ribeiro joins Blackburn on short-term deal
Andy Hunter
Blackburn have signed the former Nottingham Forest left-back Yuri Ribeiro from Braga. The deal, which is subject to international clearance, is a permanent transfer until the end of this season.
In the Championship, relegation-threatened Luton have made their eighth signing of the winter window with the arrival of Lasse Nordås from Tromsø. The Norway Under-21 forward is “a really exciting signing for us”, according to Matt Bloomfield, the Luton manager. “He comes really highly regarded, but Lasse is someone who already has some good experience so he’s got good pedigree and knows where the back of the net is.” Nordås is a teammate of Thelo Aasgaard, another winter addition, at international level, so should have no trouble settling in at Kenilworth Road.
Liverpool weigh up Boro bid for Morton
Andy Hunter
Middlesbrough have made a £10m+ bid for the Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton. The 22-year-old wants more regular football than Arne Slot is able to give him and the deal, which could be worth more to Liverpool with add-ons, could develop in the coming hours.
We’ve got a helpful transfer roundup here, for anyone looking to catch up on deadline day’s comings and goings so far.
More from Gazzetta: the former Arsenal midfielder Ismaël Bennacer could be on his way from Milan to Marseille. Bennacer is reportedly keen but the Rossoneri need a replacement, with Monza’s Warren Bondo in their sights.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, Roma are close to signing the much sought-after midfielder Lucas Gourna-Douath from Red Bull Salzburg. The France Under-21 international could be set for a loan including an option to buy.
We’ve got some correspondence. Eric Peterson writes: “Now that Marcus Rashford’s Aston Villa loan is signed, sealed and delivered, I suppose that makes Rob Holding the Premier League player most likely to be found sitting in his parked car outside some club facility twiddling his thumbs. Any Guardian eyewitnesses keeping watch over Bramall Lane?” Not that I know of, Eric, but there ought to be.
According to Joost Blaauwhof of Voetbal International, the Dutch outlet, Tyrell Malacia could be on his way to PSV Eindhoven. The Manchester United left-back, who has only recently recovered from a serious knee injury, reportedly came close to joining Benfica only for the deal to fall through.
Everton may miss out on Fellows but Alcaraz close
Andy Hunter
Everton do not expect to sign Tom Fellows from West Bromwich Albion today, although they were one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in the 21-year-old. A fee of around £12m had been discussed but the England Under-21 international is likely to remain at the Hawthorns until the end of the season. Carlos Alcaraz, who underwent a medical yesterday ahead of a proposed loan move from Flamengo, could be the only incoming at Goodison Park.
What’s going on around Europe, then? Paris Saint-Germain have just announced the departure of Cher Ndour, the Italy Under-21 midfielder, to Fiorentina. There’s lots going on in Serie A, with Lazio signing the Morocco midfielder Reda Belahyane from Hellas Verona and the Denmark Under-21 centre-back Oliver Provstgaard from Vejle. Como have loaned their left-back Marco Sala to Lecce, while Bologna have brought in the former Barcelona forward Estanis Pedrola from Sampdoria. In Spain, Athletic Club have let Javier Martón go on loan to Albacete while Las Palmas have packed off their winger Pejiño to Elche on another loan deal.
Hello! How are we enjoying the last-minute swoops, raids, splurges, sprees, panic buys and supermarket sweeps? Has anyone issued a come-and-get-me plea yet? There’s still time. Let’s get to it.
OK, that completes my stint on the blog. Will Magee, the real Fen tiger, is taking over.
Watson staying at Sunderland despite Brighton efforts
Ed Aarons
Brighton’s hopes of signing Tommy Watson this month are over after they saw a third bid worth £13m for the 18-year-old rejected by Sunderland.
The Championship side – who have already wrapped up the signing of Jayden Danns from Liverpool on loan today – look set to hold onto the England Under-18 winger for now having also discussed a potential move the other way for the Ivory Coast winger Simon Adingra.
Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are also understood to be interested in Watson, who will only have 12 months left on his contract in the summer …
Everton news: there’s reports they have moved for West Brom winger Tom Fellows, and a fee has been agreed for £10m. Those reports are disputed. But there’s one to watch as the small hours approach.
Bournemouth news via the Irish Independent’s football writer, Dan McDonnell: “Gavin Bazunu is flying to Belgium with a view to completing loan move to Standard Liege for rest of season. Had options around Europe. Ajax amongst those to enquire but looks bound – connection with Liege sporting director Fergal Harkin (loan manager at Man City) a key factor.”
More from Jacob: “Fee for Amougou is £12m. Chelsea have also enquired about Sporting Lisbon youngster Dario Essugo, but that’s one to revisit in the summer.”
They always keep you guessing.
Disasi to Tottenham?
Jacob Steinberg
Tottenham are once again exploring a loan deal for Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi. There are doubts over the level of their interest but a move is possible. Spurs have run into a brick wall in their attempts to sign Marc Guehi.
According to Toni Juanmartí of Sport, the Catalan paper: “Nico González undergoing a medical with Manchester City. He will sign for the remainder of the season plus another five campaigns. Barça will receive around 20 million euros.”
Barcelona sold the Spaniard to Porto in the summer of 2023.
