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6 minutes ago

Transfer news LIVE! Man Utd chase forward, Arsenal want striker and deadline day latest

Mathys Tel, Ollie Watkins and Alejandro Garnacho are the players to watch ahead of tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline

Miguel Delaney,Richard Jolly,Michael Jones
Monday 03 February 2025 10:40 GMT
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Arteta's Arsenal 'wanted to hurt' Man City in 5-1 rout

It’s transfer deadline day as Premier League clubs face a frantic few hours to complete last-minute deals before 11pm tonight.

Manchester United are on the hunt for a new forward after Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the season. The Independent understands United face a “struggle” to sign Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel before the deadline despite the 19-year-old favouring a move to Old Trafford and telling the German club he wants to leave.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have not given up hope of signing Tel and may be tempted to put in one final bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins to bolster their Premier League title chances. Mikel Arteta wants to sign a striker but have been told that Watkins will not be leaving for less than £60m after an opening offer for the England international was rejected last week.

Elsewhere, Manchester City’s flaws were exposed by Arsenal in a 5-1 defeat yesterday and Pep Guardiola’s side could yet sign midfielder Douglas Luiz from Juventus. It promises to be a busy day at Chelsea, too, with Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku among the players who may depart.

Chelsea have been linked with Alejandro Garnacho throughout the window, but the 20-year-old Manchester United winger looks unlikely to follow Rashford out of the door. That could all change, however, as we ticks towards tonight’s 11pm deadline. Follow all the latest updates in our live blog below.

6 minutes ago

David Datro Fofana back at Chelsea

Chelsea have recalled David Datro Fofana from his loan spell at Turkish club Goztepe due to a major knee injury that will rule him out until next season.

The Ivory Coast international will now do his rehabilitation at Cobham, which also frees up an international loan spot for Chelsea to send another player overseas on a temporary basis.

Fofana scored two goals in nine matches in the Turkish Super Lig this season and has previously had spells on loan at Burnley and Union Berlin since his £10m move from Molde in 2023.

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:40
8 minutes ago

'Man City still negotiating with Gonzalez'

The Independent’s Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly says that Manchester City won’t be signing Douglas Luiz in this window but are still negotiating over a move for Nico Gonzalez.

He reports: “Manchester City are still negotiating with Porto over Nico Gonzalez.

“It might happen today, might not.

“As it stands, City won't be signing Douglas Luiz - they wanted a straight loan but Juventus wanted an obligation to buy - so unless anything changes, that won't go through.”

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:38
11 minutes ago

Crystal Palace reject offer for Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace have rejected a last-minute offer from Tottenham to sign defender Marc Guehi.

Guehi is in high demand during most transfer windows with Newcastle recently attempting to sign him last summer.

Interest in the centre-back had cooled this January until Spurs launched a late bid over the alast 48 hours.

Palace rejected that undisclosed offer and it seems likely Guehi will remain with the Eagles until this summer at least.

His contract runs out in 2026.

Tottenham meanwhile are attempting to secure a loan move for Axel Disasi having agreed a loan fee with Chelsea over the defender. They just need to agree to personal terms.

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:34
13 minutes ago

Man Utd sign teenager Ayden Heaven from Arsenal

Manchester United have signed England Under-19s defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.

The 18-year-old, who cost an undisclosed compensation fee, has inked a four-and-a-half-year contract and will link up with the first-team squad.

Heaven joined Arsenal as a 13-year-old in 2019 and made his senior debut against Preston in the Carabao Cup in October.

"I am incredibly proud to join Manchester United. I'm grateful to everyone who helped make this dream a reality," he said.

"There is so much that I want to achieve in the game, I'll be giving everything to continue my development and become the best player that I can be."

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:33
22 minutes ago

Pep Guardiola on Man City's transfer plans

The Catalan said City may carry on spending, despite paying out £122m in the January transfer window to bring three players to the Etihad Stadium.

“Financially we were stable for the last seasons, still right now even with the investment we have done we have a big net profit for the last five seasons.

“So that is why we have done it and maybe in the future we will continue to do it because the club have moved financially really well over the last five years incredibly well in terms of sales but also players who make an incredible performance for the club and who have helped us to win what we want.”

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:24
23 minutes ago

Brighton confirm Tzimas signing

Brighton have announced the signing of Greek forward Stefanos Tzimas from FC Nurnberg.

The two clubs agreed on a transfer fee of £20m with add-ons and the 19-year-old has signed a contract until 2030.

Tzimas is on loan at Nurnberg for the season in Bundesliga 2 from Greek side PAOK, with a buy option in the arrangement worth £15m.

Nurnberg have activated the option which then enables him to join up with Brighton in June at the end of his loan.

“Stefanos is an excellent young talent, an out-and-out centre-forward with a natural ability to score goals,” said Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:23
30 minutes ago

Aston Villa in for Joao Felix?

Apparently so, according to Villa’s transfer guru Monchi. He was on Spanish TV station Cope last night and has confirmed there is interest in the Chelsea player, as well as PSG’s Marco Asensio.

“They are similar players, who Unai Emery likes. Asensio was tried by Aston Villa before I arrived. Last summer we were close to Joao. Neither of them are easy because in terms of salary and cost they are not simple.

"If there is a coach in world football who recovers players, it is Unai Emery. He has been able to recover talents. Joao Felix has talent, and it is only a matter of finding the right environment to bring out the best version of himself. And Unai works very, very well on that."

(Action Images via Reuters)
Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:16
37 minutes ago

Chelsea to battle Man United for Dortmund goalkeeper Kobel

Chelsea are interested in Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, although any move is likelier in the summer.

There may also be competition at that point from Manchester United, who have a long-standing interest in the Swiss international.

Chelsea have started to consider their goalkeeping situation after some high-profile errors from current No. 1 Robert Sanchez.

Despite Enzo Maresca publicly backing the Spanish shot-stopper, the Blues have identified Kobel as a candidate who fits a lot of the criteria they prefer in a goalkeeper.

Dortmund are nevertheless resistant to even considering anything for the 27-year-old right now, especially in the midst of a run to the Champions League play-off round, with Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk securing 10th place in the table.

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:09
38 minutes ago

Arsenal still some way from securing striker deal

The Independent understands that Arsenal are still in the market for a striker on deadline day though they have a ways to go to get a deal over the line.

The club are still looking at Bayern’s Mathys Tel and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as options but both moves seem some way off says The Independent’s Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney.

Arsenal hope to secure a loan move for Tel but Bayern want a deal that suits them exactly, especially after Spurs basically set the price for the forward earlier in the window.

With Watkins, there is still a huge difference in valuations with Villa. The midlands club want closer to £60m for the striker with Arsenal’s first bid landing at £40m last week.

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:08
46 minutes ago

Jordan Henderson gets in heated argument with journalist over claims he wanted to leave Ajax

Jordan Henderson defended himself during a frosty press conference following Ajax’s 2-1 victory over Feyenoord in the Eredivisie on Sunday.

Kenneth Taylor scored a 94th minute winner for Ajax to send them up to second in the Dutch top-flight but the post-match press conference was dominated with questions about Henderson’s future.

The former Liverpool captain was grilled about his actions before, during and after Ajax’s 2-1 win over Galatasaray in the Europa League last Thursday when speculation was rife that he would be making a transfer to Monaco.

Henderson, who usually captains Ajax, gave up the armband for that match and explained his reasoning for doing so.

Jordan Henderson gets in heated argument over claims he wanted to leave Ajax

The midfielder addressed media speculation over his professionalism amid rumours he would be moving to Monaco

Mike Jones3 February 2025 10:00

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