Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal to seal Martin Odegaard, Man Utd to sell Jesse Lingard, Liverpool chase wonderkid
Follow all the latest rumours, gossip and done deals
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Welcome along to Tuesday’s transfer news live with the latest rumours, gossip and done deals from the Premier League and around Europe. With the window shutting soon, interest in players is likely to spike in the coming days, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham and more all looking to strengthen or slim down their squads ahead of the second half of the season.
Today’s rumour mill involves Arsenal who are close to completing a loan deal for talented Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard. The deal is thought to cost Arsenal around £2.5m in fees plus the 22-year-old’s wages as he seeks game time away from Real Madrid. Meanwhile there is a battle on for 16-year-old Derby talent Kaide Gordon, and Liverpool are reported to be winning the race for the winger ahead of Manchester United and Tottenham.
United meanwhile could reward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for positioning the club in the thick of the title picture, though there could be many outgoings at Old Trafford, too, with Juan Mata linked to his former club Valencia. Newcastle United have had a loan-to-buy bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Matheus Nunes rejected, according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, while West Ham lead the race for Jesse Lingard after the arrival of Atalanta teenager Amad Diallo made Lingard’s exit inevitable. Follow all the latest developments below.
UNITED CONSIDER LOAN OFFERS
Jesse Lingard and Brandon Williams remain Manchester United players but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not rule letting those on the fringes of his squad leave on loan in January.
Manchester United considering loan offers for fringe players
West Ham lead the race to sign Lingard on temporary move
MESSI ‘LEARNING FRENCH’ AMID PSG SPECULATION
Lionel Messi and his family are learning French as rumours circulate over a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain, claim Canal+.
Barcelona's record goal scorer is out of contract in the summer, leading to incessant speculation surrounding his future.
PSG, having appointed Argentine Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, are one of the few clubs both reputable and rich enough to even consider the prospect of signing Messi.
Recent reports of Barcelona's financial woes could also mean any contract offer for Messi is complicated, and PSG's sporting director Leonardo has admitted he is "closely following" developments with the 33-year-old.
FULHAM JOIN NEWCASTLE & WEST HAM IN RACE FOR STRIKER
Fulham have emerged as contenders to sign Spezia striker M’Bala Nzola, according to Calcio Napoli 24 Live.
The 24-year-old, who has scored nine goals in 13 Serie A appearances so far this season, is also believed to be a target for Newcastle and West Ham.
PERISIC REBUFFS HERTHA APPROACH
Having already seen a loan bid for Christian Erisken rejected, Hertha Berlin have tested the waters with Inter winger Ivan Perisic.
Sky Sports Deutschland report that the Bundesliga side have made an approach for the 31-year-old, but can't afford his wages.
Perisic wants to stay at Inter and fight for his place in Antonio Conte's starting XI, rather than join Hertha, who sit 14th in the German top flight.
LEICESTER HOPE TO SIGN TARKOWSKI
Leicester want to complete the signing of James Tarkowski in the summer, according to the Mirror.
The Burnley defender has been a target for the Foxes since 2019 but a move has failed to materialise.
But Leicester are now hopeful that an agreement can be reached after Tarkowski rejected a new contract at Turf Moor.
The allure of European football could seal the deal, though West Ham are also said to be interested in the 28-year-old.
SOLSKJAER ADDRESSES CONTRACT TALK
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not held any talks over a new Manchester United contract, despite his current deal expiring at the end of next season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not worried about Manchester United contract situation
Solskjaer has 18 months left on original three-year deal
RICE OFF THE MENU
West Ham expect Frank Lampard's dismissal to spell the end of Chelsea's interest in Declan Rice.
The Telegraph claim that the England international was Lampard's top target, but the Chelsea board were not willing to sanction a move.
West Ham, meanwhile, insisted that Rice was not for sale, valuing the 22-year-old at a reported £80m.
Thomas Tuchel, expected to be appointed as Lampard's successor, is unlikely to pursue a deal for Rice, who could instead emerge as a target for Liverpool in the summer.
FORMER SPURS GOALKEEPER THORSVEDT ADMITS ODEGAARD TO ARSENAL ‘MAKES SENSE’
Ex-Tottenham and Norway goalkeeper Erik Thorsvedt has claimed Martin Odegaard's imminent loan move from Real Madrid to Arsenal "makes sense" for all parties.
"He's a creative player, he's elegant and he's always looking for that killer pass which Arsenal has been lacking," Thorsvedt told Sky Sports. "Smith Rowe has done really well but he's only young and I think it makes sense to bring in another player in that position.
"He can play in different positions: in the Norway setup he's played wide in a 4-4-2, in midfield in a 4-3-3 for Real Madrid and just behind the striker. But I think he wants to play in offensive midfield behind the striker.
"I think a lot of people because of the hype were a bit disappointed but they forgot how young he really was. He's gonna be there [Arsenal] for a limited time, but I think it only makes sense for him to try this and also for Arsenal."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies