Man Utd Offer Ten Hag Flop to Euro Club as Amorim Green Lights Exit

Real Betis are considering signing Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia after welcoming Antony on loan, according to Diario de Sevilla. United have reportedly offered the 25-year-old to the Spanish club as they look to secure first-team football for him in the final days of the January transfer window. The Red Devils are close to signing Lecce starlet Patrick Dorgu, which would likely push Malacia further down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim. The former Feyenoord defender has made eight appearances in all competitions this season, including three in the Premier League. According to Diario de Sevilla, while Real Betis are prioritising a new left-back before the transfer deadline, a move for Malacia is considered ‘unattainable’ at present. The 25-year-old, who earns £75,000 per week, is reportedly not seen as a primary target on the left and may only be looked at seriously if the Spanish club are unable to land their primary options. Malacia’s lack of game time and injury record are said to be concerns for Betis, but ‘no scenario should be ruled out’ in the final days of the window. The Dutch international, who joined United from Feyenoord in 2022 on a four-year deal, missed the entire 2023/24 campaign through injury before making his long-awaited return in November. He has made eight appearances in all competitions this season, including a brief outing in United’s 1-0 win over Fulham on Sunday. United are anticipating a busy end to the window, with Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford’s futures uncertain – any frontline departures could reportedly pave the way for a new attacking signing, with Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku on the radar.

Man Utd spent over €250m for seven Serie A players

Patrick Dorgu joining Manchester United for nearly €40m from Lecce means the Red Devils have invested over €250m to sign seven Serie A players in the last four years. The Denmark international is close to completing a permanent €37m transfer to Old Trafford and will undergo his medical tests in the coming days. He will become the seventh player Manchester United have signed from Serie A in the last four years.

The Red Devils began in the 2021 January transfer window by getting Amad Diallo from Atalanta for €25m plus €15m bonuses. Just a few months later, Manchester United brought Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford from Juventus for €15m, and three Serie A players joined the Red Devils during the 2023 summer transfer window. Rasmus Hojlund completed a €74m transfer from Atalanta, André Onana joined the club for €50m after just one season at Inter, while Sofyan Amrabat left Fiorentina on a €10m loan.

Joshua Zirkzee joined United from Atalanta for €42.5m last summer, and Dorgu will become the latest Manchester United signing from Serie A for almost €40m. Without considering the €15m bonuses in the Amad Diallo deal, Manchester United spent €253.5m on seven Serie A players in the last four years.

REPORT: Spurs one of several clubs interested in Bayern striker Mathys Tel

Potentially exciting news if you like transfer rumor slop — according to multiple sources, Tottenham Hotspur is one of several clubs interested in a loan or purchase of Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel. BILD (via SportWitness) reports that Tel, who has only made eight Bundesliga appearances for Bayern this season, has changed his mind and wants to leave the club in January, and Bayern is currently scrambling to find a new club for him. BILD also says he “doesn’t want to join Chelsea” (lol) because he sees the Blues as too congested at his position for reliable minutes.

Buddy, can I interest you in a club with 12 injured first team players? We know already that Tel’s name came up in talks when Spurs were negotiating with Bayern for the sale of Harry Kane, so he’s a name that has been on Spurs’ radar for a while now. It’s not clear whether this would be an outright sale, a “dry” or a “wet” loan, or even if Spurs are actually interested. BILD notes that Manchester United and Arsenal are also clubs with an interest in bringing in Tel. Writing in the Telegraph (£), Matt Law seems to corroborate reports that Spurs are interested and open to talks, but only mentions Chelsea as an alternate option.

Sky Germany, meanwhile, write that United’s interest is precipitated on the club moving either Alejandro Garnacho or Marcus Rashford first, which... well. Marseille is also reportedly interested, which might interest a French striker looking for minutes. Even so, United being dumb would seem to provide an opening for Spurs to slip in with a bid. Arsenal’s rumored interest is a complicating factor, as they’re also looking for a front line option in this window after losing Bukayo Saka and Gabrial Jesus to injury. Tel’s a player who can operate as either a wide or central forward, has decent statistics, and is only 19 years old. He’s not breaking through at Bayern right now but that doesn’t mean he’s not a good player or that he couldn’t do a job for Spurs. I’m extremely interested in Tel, though obviously this doesn’t mean a move is imminent or even likely. It’s been that kind of window.

Real Madrid superstar told not to leave for Saudi Arabia – ‘Can go when you are 30 or 32’

Various former Real Madrid players have told that Vinicius Jr. to remain at the club for the time being, advising him against moving to a less competitive league like Saudi Arabia at this stage in his career amidst strong interest. Luis Milla, a former Real Madrid player, stated that Vinicius is still young at 24 years old and should continue playing in La Liga, where the competition is high, and with the chance to compete in the Champions League.

“Vinicius is a young player, and I would tell him to stay at Madrid because, if you are going to move to a league like Arabia, I am very sorry, but you can go when you are 30 or 32 years old,” said the ex-midfielder. Regarding the criticism of Carlo Ancelotti’s team at the beginning of the season, Milla, who played for Madrid from 1990 to 1997, commented: “It is normal to have criticism when Madrid is not functioning properly. The bar was set very high, and when Mbappe was linked to the club, it was thought they wouldn’t need to do much to win games. “When there are bumps in the road, criticism is inevitable, but now they are in very good form.” Meanwhile, another ex-player, Ruben de la Red, also emphasised that he hopes Vinicius does not leave, as he is “one of the best players,” and highlighted that Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona are all contenders for the La Liga title. “It’s true that Barcelona had a very good run, but now they have dropped in the standings. Real Madrid seemed to have had a poor start, but now they are leaders. Atlético doesn’t get talked about much, but they come and go,” said De la Red. Another former Real Madrid player Dani Garcia Lara, also echoed the same sentiment, saying: “Real Madrid are in a good moment; Atletico seem to be in form, but when they are in their best moment, they slip, as Barcelona have. “They will be fighting until the final matchdays, because what Madrid has done in closing the gap can just as easily go the other way.”

£40m forward now prepared to join West Ham in January with contacts ongoing

West Ham United remain in the market for a fresh striking option to give new manager Graham Potter a boost, with co-chair David Sullivan and the Hammers recruitment team working on the best possible solution as we head into the final days of January. The east Londoners have no shortage of names being looked at right now. Late last week, reports from the Netherlands broke news of West Ham's serious attempt to prise Brian Brobbey away from Ajax, making a proposal to sign the centre-forward on loan with an obligation to buy

English broadcaster talkSPORT also claim that Brobbey has already agreed personal terms with West Ham, but club-to-club talks are proving more complicated, as there remains a gap in pricing between both Ajax and the Irons. Taking this into account, Potter's side are looking at alternatives if they cannot strike a deal for the Dutchman. As reported by Jacob Steinberg and other reliable media outlets, one player high on their agenda is Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson. The 20-year-old has been at the centre of reports linking him with a temporary move away from Brighton over these last few weeks, and according to Fabrizio Romano, Ferguson is now expected to seal that loan move in these next few days. West Ham are apparently optimistic they can win the race for Ferguson during this last-gasp stage of the winter window, and that could be fueled by the fact he won't have much competition for a place in Potter's starting elevens on a regular basis - given Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio are out with long-term injuries.

Newcastle confirmed to have lost transfer race to Manchester City: Report

Newcastle United were interested in signing Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens, but Manchester City have beaten them to the highly-rated defender, according to a report by Craig Hope of the Daily Mail. Khusanov, a 20-year-old Uzbek international, joined City this week in a £34 million deal. Hope wrote that Newcastle had explored options to bring Khusanov to Tyneside, whether on loan with an option to buy or through a summer transfer. However, Newcastle were unable to move as swiftly as City due to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) constraints. Speaking to Russian outlet Championat, Khusanov’s agent Gairat Khasbiullin revealed how Newcastle were to landing the player. “Newcastle were very close to a deal. They were even one of the favourites, and then they were the last to leave the race with City. As far as I understand, financial fair play also played a role. And they didn’t have enough time. Perhaps, if they had made an offer earlier, they would have managed to reach an agreement. “Then City put so much pressure on Lens that it was difficult to make a comparable offer. The fact that the French needed this saving money also played a role.” For now, Newcastle will keep trying to beat Man City on the ground while still trailing the Cityzens off of it.

Celtic look to make last-minute January swoop as club holds doubt over key player's future

Celtic completed their first signing of the January window this week when they announced the highly-anticipated return of Jota. After bringing the winger back to Parkhead from Rennes, Kyogo Furuhashi then made a move in the opposite direction, as he left the club in a £10 million exit.

It took the Hoops until late on to finalise their first winter signing but now, further rumours are coming thick and fast as we approach Deadline Day. It seems as though Celtic aren’t quiet done yet when it comes to new recruits, as several links to last-minute deals have emerged already this week. Brendan Rodgers and co are reportedly on the market for another forward to bolster their attack following the signing of Jota. Tammer Bany of Randers FC has emerged on the radar as we enter the final days of the window. According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, multiple clubs are ‘swarming’ around Randers’ Bany, with Celtic ‘specifically’ named, along with some other teams around the world. Nantes are also interested, as well as Egypt’s Al-Ahly and OH Leuven from Belgium.

Why Arsenal lead Chelsea in Mathys Tel transfer race as Bayern Munich 'surprise' Mikel Arteta

Arsenal appear to have dented Chelsea's hopes of signing Mathys Tel before the January transfer window slams shut on Monday evening. The 19-year-old forward has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month, as Enzo Maresca looks to bolster his frontline. Earlier this month, Tel emerged as a target for the Blues. football.london understands that Chelsea made contact with Bayern Munich over a potential deal for the France Under-21 international, who's started just twice in the Bundesliga this season. The west Londoners, who have long admired Tel, asked the Bavarians if he would be available to sign, following an initial enquiry last summer. football.london understands Chelsea did not, however, discuss or offer Christopher Nkunku as part of a swap deal despite Bayern's interest.

Unfortunately for the Blues, they don't appear to be the only club chasing Tel's signature. According to The Independent, Arsenal are 'investigating a move' for the Bayern youngster, with Mikel Arteta eager to strengthen his attacking options this month. The report states that Tel was already on the Gunners' radar, but higher-ups were left 'surprised' when they heard that he's become available. It's said that the German giants want to keep the Frenchman, who sees his contract at the Allianz Arena expire in June 2029. The Independent adds that Tel would be 'very open' to joining Arsenal due to the club's current status and possibility for game time. However, the latter is not the case with Chelsea, who have numerous options in the forward positions. Earlier this month, Max Eberl was quizzed on Tel's future. In an interview with German outlet SPOX on Thursday, the Bayern 'board member for sport' revealed he plans to help the teenager find his feet once again after a rocky start to the season. "It's also up to us to give him the time to find his freedom again. Then we have a squad that is sufficiently equipped in terms of quantity and quality. We have no interest in doing anything [in January]."

I played for Aston Villa and Celtic - this is why Unai Emery's side can win Champions League

Stiliyan Petrov has opened up about his love for Aston Villa and Celtic - as both those teams prepare to face off in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Unai Emery's side are in with a chance of securing a last 16 spot and avoiding a two-legged play-off if they beat the Scottish champions and other results go their way. Villa currently sit ninth in the league phase table, just a point off the top eight, which would seal a place in the next round proper.

Despite his capabilities, Lindelof has found it increasingly difficult to secure a starting spot, overshadowed by recent signings such as Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez. His challenges have been compounded by injuries, limiting his participation and prompting discussions about his future at the club. It appears there is a consensus within Manchester United to allow Lindelof to leave on a free transfer in the upcoming summer window, provided no last-minute sale occurs. Manchester United might explore the possibility of a cut-price deal in January to avoid losing Lindelof for nothing. However, his current fitness and injury concerns could deter potential suitors, making a transfer more complicated. Lindelof might still feature in the Europa League if the team opts to rotate, offering him a chance to showcase his skills, albeit potentially his last in a United shirt. Securing a transfer for other key players like Lisandro Martinez would be challenging, as Manchester United values them highly and would demand a significant transfer fee. However, exits for rising stars such as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo might be more straightforward, albeit reluctantly sanctioned by the club.

Chelsea, Manchester City chance of signing Gavi, Pedri ends as duo close to Barcelona renewals

Chelsea and Manchester City have been working on signing highly-rated Spanish midfield duo Gavi and Pedri from FC Barcelona. According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Gavi and Pedri are now closing in on renewals with Barcelona, and the development will come as a major blow for Chelsea and Manchester City. Gavi and Pedri are amongst the best young players in the world, and they would have been exceptional acquisitions for Chelsea and Manchester City. Both clubs need to add more creativity and depth to their midfield, and the two Spanish internationals certainly fit the profile. The Spanish midfielders have proven themselves to be exceptional performers for club and country, and there is no doubt that they have the quality to succeed in the Premier League as well.

Chelsea and Manchester City have the financial resources to pay big money for the two players as well. The opportunity to join the Premier League can be quite exciting for most players. However, it seems that the Barcelona midfielders have decided to commit their long-term future to the Catalan club instead. Meanwhile, Barcelona are going through financial difficulties right now. A lucrative proposal might be able to tempt them into considering a potential sale. However, the two players are uninterested in the move. So, Chelsea and Manchester City will fail in their pursuit of the duo. Gavi and Pedri have all the attributes to develop into world-class stars. It will be interesting to see if they can improve further in the coming years and establish themselves as superstars of the game. They will hope to help Barcelona win major trophies in the coming seasons.