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:
‘He will be better’: Pep Guardiola warns more to come from Erling Haaland
Pep Guardiola claimed Erling Haaland is still not back to his best after injury despite scoring twice in Manchester City’s 3-1 Premier League win at Leeds.
Haaland struck two second-half goals after Rodri had given City the lead in first-half stoppage time and despite Pascal Struijk’s late header for Leeds, the result was never in doubt.
Norway striker Haaland has now scored 26 goals in 20 appearances for City in all competitions since his summer switch from Dortmund, including 20 in 14 top-flight appearances.
‘He will be better’: Pep Guardiola warns more to come from Erling Haaland
Can Man City find another gem like Erling Haaland?
It will be hard for the Premier League champions to match last summer’s transfer window, following Erling Haaland’s astonishing start to life in England.
Pep Guardiola’s side are also said to be interested in Jude Bellingham, while they are short of cover in the full-back positions.
RB Leipzig and Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol has been strongly linked following his excellent performances at the World Cup.
Need: Left back
Linked with: Jude Bellingham, Josko Gvardiol
Steve Cooper eyeing further signings as Forest plot route to safety
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper said the club has to sign players who will make a difference in their fight for Premier League survival.
Cooper has already revealed that Forest will add to their squad in the January transfer window and that they are not “ashamed” to do so.
Forest are in the thick of a relegation battle and Cooper wants any new recruits to come in and help save them.
Steve Cooper eyeing further signings as Forest plot route to safety
Scarpa joins Nottingham Forest
Brazilian Gustavo Scarpa became Nottingham Forest’s 23rd signing of the season when he agreed to a free transfer following the expiry of his Palmeiras contract a few weeks ago.
He officially joins the club on January 1st but will not be available for the New Year’s Day clash with Chelsea because the window does not open until the full round of games have been played.
“He’s not allowed because of the window,” Steve Cooper said when asked about Scarpa. “We have to wait until the window opens.
“He’ll be available as soon as the window opens. We’re not thinking about that too much, it’s great to have Gustavo with the group, he’s training hard but the real focus is on the guys who are available at the moment.
“When that changes and he is available we can cross that bridge, but he’s had a good settling in period now and enjoying life in Nottingham I hope.”
Nottingham Forest to make more signings in January
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says that the club will add to their squad in the January transfer window, despite making 22 signings in the summer following their promotion from the Championship.
Forest are in the thick of a relegation battle and Cooper wants any new recruits to come in and help keep the team in the Premier League.
“The first idea of players coming in will be to improve the starting team,” he said. “Maybe we have to think about some strength in depth in some positions because of injuries.
“If we bring players in we need to bring players that can go straight on to the pitch and make a difference.
“Although we were doing OK just before the break, a little bit better, not quite where we want to be, we’re still in the position we’re in and we need to do things a lot better than what we have done so far.
“To do that you have to change the team up a little but, change the squad a little bit and look for the right solutions to improve. I trust the club to do what they think is right, a lot of good communication is going on and we will see where it takes us.”
Will Liverpool add more signings?
The Reds made the first big move of the January transfer window by agreeing a £37m fee with PSV for Cody Gakpo, one of the stars of the World Cup.
In doing so, Liverpool got ahead of competition from Manchester United and Newcastle, while the 23-year-old offers another attacking option for Jurgen Klopp following injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota this season.
The priority for Liverpool, though, remains a central midfielder, and Jude Bellingham’s name is the one on everyone’s lips.
Need: Central midfielder
Linked with: Jude Bellingham, Enzo Fernandez
James Maddison getting ‘special advice’ after returning from World Cup injured
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that James Maddison would miss their clash with Liverpool on Friday.
The 26-year-old midfielder recently returned from World Cup duty with England, but did not feature in Qatar and was absent for the Foxes’ 3-0 defeat to Newcastle on Boxing Day.
Despite managing his knee injury out in Qatar, Rodgers told a pre-match press conference that Maddison would be unavailable and was in London seeing a specialist.
James Maddison getting ‘special advice’ after returning from World Cup injured
Chelsea interested in Mac Allister?
Chelsea look set for another transfer window of big spending and have their sights on Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister as they seek long-term midfield reinforcements. That’s according to FCInterNews.
N’Golo Kante’s contract is running down and the Blues could lose him in the summer forcing the London side to consider other options.
Brighton star Mac Allister worked with manager Graham Potter on the south coast and impressed during Argentina’s World Cup winning campaign.
Another option for Chelsea is Nicolo Barella, who could become the latest Inter star to move to west London after summer signing Cesare Casadei.
Reece James bemoans ‘toughest year to date’ after latest injury setback
Chelsea defender Reece James has admitted 2022 has been his “toughest year to date” after he suffered an injury setback on Tuesday.
The England international missed the World Cup in Qatar due to a knee injury but returned to start the Blues’ 2-0 win over Bournemouth.
James lasted almost hour at Stamford Bridge before he felt discomfort in the same knee and was forced off. He left the stadium wearing a knee brace.
Reece James bemoans ‘toughest year to date’ after latest injury setback
Can Leicester improve their squad?
After an awful summer window, Leicester’s season turned around dramatically when their only signing, the defender Wout Faes, was installed into the heart of the defence.
Leicester’s form before the World Cup break was impressive but Brendan Rodgers still has work to do to improve his squad, especially with James Maddison linked with a move away and Youri Tielemans entering the final six months of his contract.
Leicester are one of a number of Premier League teams linked with the Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi after the 22-year-old’s eye-catching displays at the World Cup.
Need: Striker, central midfielder, centre back, goalkeeper
Linked with: Azzedine Ounahi
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