January transfer news LIVE: Liverpool seal Cody Gakpo signing as Arsenal target Joao Felix
Chelsea and Manchester United are both expected to sign players in the January transfer window and Arsenal will push to keep their Premier League title bid running smoothly
The Premier League transfer window is set to open on 1 January and already there are completed deals to ensure some of England’s top teams will see their squads boosted as early as possible.
Chelsea added Ivorian forward David Datro Fofana to their ranks on Wednesday, signing him from Molde, while Liverpoolcompleted the £35m deal for Cody Gakpo from PSV the same evening, one of the stars of the recent World Cup.
Elsewhere Arsenal are being linked with moves for two big-money attackers, Shakhtar’s Mykhaylo Mudryk and Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, while Chelsea are interested in Argentina’s World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is currently with Benfica. Man United boss Erik ten Hag has also hinted at wanting a forward to replace the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Follow all the latest January transfer rumours and confirmed news below:
Chelsea agree deal to sign striker David Datro Fofana from Molde
Chelsea have confirmed a deal to sign David Datro Fofana on a pre-contract agreement, with the striker joining in the new year.
The Molde forward, who turned 20 years old just before Christmas day, will join on a long-term deal to give Graham Potter an extra option in the final third, following the season-ending ACL injury to Blues forward Armando Broja.
Fofana scored 15 times in 24 Eliteserien matches for the Norwegian side in 2022 as Molde claimed the title, with the club acknowledging he now wanted to “follow in the footsteps of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.”
In a post on their website wishing him well for the future, Molde’s statement added “the Premier League was his big dream. Now the dream is coming true for the youngster”.
Full report:
Chelsea agree deal to sign striker David Datro Fofana from Molde
The 20-year-old forward played once for the Ivory Coast national team senior side this year
Cody Gakpo joins Liverpool from PSV in initial £35m transfer
Liverpool have signed Cody Gakpo for an initial fee of €40m (£35m) subject to a work permit, with the Netherlands forward agreeing a five-and-a-half-year contract at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has been a long-time admirer of the 23-year-old but Liverpool accelerated their interest in him when injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, who could both be out until March, left him short of fit attackers.
Liverpool acted swiftly to prevent the Manchester United target going elsewhere, sealing a deal that could rise to €50m (£44m).
Director of football Julian Ward had three days of talks with PSV on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day while owners Fenway Sports Group chose to sanction the move, even though they may soon sell the club.
Klopp had considered a move for Gakpo last summer but Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho and renewed Mohamed Salah’s contract, but Gakpo’s subsequent form and injuries at Anfield prompted them to bid for him.
Full details:
Cody Gakpo joins Liverpool from PSV in £35m transfer
The 23-year-old forward was in demand after an impressive World Cup for Netherlands and Liverpool beat Manchester United to his signature
Southampton urged to take advantage of ‘winnable games’ next up
James Ward-Prowse believes struggling Southampton face a series of “winnable games” in a critical spell of the season after slipping to the foot of the Premier League table.
Saints were jeered off at the end of each half as Nathan Jones’ first top-flight home game as manager ended in a dismal 3-1 defeat to Brighton.
Captain Ward-Prowse pulled a goal back for the hosts but Monday’s poor performance against the Seagulls was compounded by a host of calamitous errors.
Southampton return to action at Fulham on Saturday and also face fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, Everton and Wolves, plus Aston Villa and Brentford, during the next two months.
Southampton urged to take advantage of ‘winnable games’ next up
Saints were jeered off at the end of each half in the defeat against Brighton
Eddie Nketiah goal can only give Arsenal striker ‘more confidence’ over role in team, says Mikel Arteta
Eddie Nketiah was utterly unfazed by the pressure of replacing injured striker Gabriel Jesus in Arsenal’s 3-1 Boxing Day comeback win over West Ham, said boss Mikel Arteta.
Nketiah netted the third goal in the Gunners’ return to Premier League action, which also marked the 23-year-old’s first start of the season after his Brazilian team-mate sustained a knee injury during the World Cup.
While some felt that Nketiah might succumb to the stress of stepping into the boots of the prolific Jesus, who has scored five goals in 14 top-flight appearances this season, Arteta was adamant his forward approached the opportunity more like a walk in the park.
The Spaniard also hopes Nketiah’s goal will be a further shot in the arm for the striker’s self-belief.
Nketiah goal can only give Arsenal striker ‘more confidence’ over role, says Arteta
The 23-year-old replaced the injured Gabriel Jesus in the Gunners attack and netted to help beat West Ham on Boxing Day
What’s going on with Tottenham?
Spurs were one of the busier Premier League teams last summer after Antonio Conte’s side secured Champions League football, but there are still areas that need addressing.
Right wing-back is an immediate concern with neither Matt Doherty or Emerson Royal impressing in Conte’s system, and Djed Spence not fancied by the Italian either.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur have been excellent this season but need support in midfield, while Conte may also look to improve his defensive options.
Need: Wing-back, central midfield, centre back
Linked with: Pedro Porro, Adrien Rabiot, Milan Skriniar, Alessandro Bastoni
Signing of Cody Gakpo impacts Liverpool’s business in January says Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven will impact what else he can do in the January window.
The club struck an initial £40million deal to bring the 23-year-old to Anfield after three days of intense negotiations over Christmas and made their move ahead of schedule to see off competition from rival clubs.
Another forward was not top of their list of priorities as Liverpool’s midfield still needs strengthening but their options in that department may be diminished due to their outlay on the Netherlands international.
Signing of Cody Gakpo impacts Liverpool’s business in January – Jurgen Klopp
The club struck an initial £40million deal to bring the 23-year-old to Anfield.
Erik ten Hag confident Man United don’t need attacking reinforcement in January
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag expressed faith in the strikers he has at his disposal after watching Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial score in a comfortable victory over Nottingham Forest.
Rashford - coming off the back of an impressive showing at the World Cup - continued his strong form by opening the scoring in the 19th minute.
He then teed up Martial for the second moments later, with midfielder Fred sealing a 3-0 win with a late goal in the second half.
Southampton have time to recover but cannot afford to fall adrift
Nathan Jones insists Southampton have time to resurrect their dismal season but admits the club cannot afford to be left playing catch-up in their quest for Premier League survival.
Saints are languishing at the foot of the division after Jones’ first top-flight home game as manager ended in a resounding 3-1 defeat to Brighton on Boxing Day.
Southampton will attempt to snap their four-match losing streak in the league at Fulham on Saturday, before hosting fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Jones, who has only been in the job seven weeks having replaced the sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl just before the World Cup, says his side must not allow a poor position to become a precarious one.
Nathan Jones adamant Saints have time but must stay in touch at bottom
Saints are languishing at the foot of the Premier League
Will Southampton bring in more players?
Nathan Jones faces his first transfer window as Southampton manager and the stakes couldn’t be higher with his side staring relegation in the face.
The Saints had a clear recruitment strategy under their new owners in the summer, targeting youth and potential in players such as Romeo Lavia and Armel Bella-Kotchap, but Jones needs proven quality now if Southampton are to avoid the drop.
The main area of concern is in attack, where Che Adams is their top scorer with only four goals this season. Cody Gakpo and Goncalo Ramos were targeted in the summer but both are now out of reach.
Need: Striker
Linked with: Viktor Gyokeres
Benfica president want Fernandez’s release clause met
Benfica president Rui Costa is insisting that clubs interested in midfielder Enzo Fernandez must pay his €120m (£106m) release clause in January.
Chelsea are the big name reportedly interested in Fernandez, who helped Argentina win the World Cup earlier this month.
The Times say that Benfica are attempting to persuade Fernandez to remain at the club until at least the summer but the player is aware of Chelsea’s interest.
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