Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal eye reinforcements as Newcastle want Gordon and Chelsea target Onana

Brighton have signed Irish teenager Mark O’Mahony from Cork City following a successful trial.

The 18-year-old striker has agreed a contract until June 2025, subject to international clearance, and will initially join the Under-21 side.

O’Mahony was named Ireland’s Under-17 player of the year in 2022 and has also represented his country at U18 and U19 level.

He joins compatriots Evan Ferguson, Andrew Moran and James Furlong in Sussex.

Bournemouth are interested in signing Roma forward Nicolo Zaniolo according to reports in Italy as it is believed that the 23-year-old wants to leave Jose Mourinho’s side this month.

Bournemouth are reportedly willing to pay Roma €30million plus add-ons and will include a selling clause.

Tottenham and AC Milan are also after Zaniolo’s signature but Bournemouth’s proposal is currently leading the way.

Brighton are targeting Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to the Daily Mail.

The Seagulls sold Leandro Trossard to Arsenal earlier this month and are looking for reinforcements but it is doubtful that Liverpool would allow Oxlade-Chamberlain to leave this month.

The midfielder is out of contract with the Reds in June and so Liverpool could cash in on him on this month or allow him to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season and maintain the depth in their squad.

Pep Guardiola comes up against his former assistant Mikel Arteta for the first time this season as Manchester City host Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday.

With the Gunners leading the champions in the title race, the eagerly-anticipated contest at the Etihad Stadium is sure to whet the appetite for their two Premier League encounters still to come this season.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the two managers:

Everton legend Duncan Ferguson has been confirmed as the next manager of Forest Green Rovers.

“It’s fantastic and I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.” said Ferguson, “It happened very quickly but I’m delighted to be the next manager of Forest Green.

“It’s a great opportunity for myself at a great club.”

Wout Weghorst has become the man who keeps distinguished company. There were three of them at the end, applauding the Manchester United fans: the de facto captain Bruno Fernandes, the World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez and Weghorst, his long frame in the coat of a man who had been substituted.

He was joined on the scoresheet by Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, the form player in the Premier League. A month ago, he had been the Dutch answer to Lionel Messi, cancelling out the two-goal lead he had earned Argentina in a World Cup quarter-final, matching him by scoring a penalty in the subsequent shootout.

And in between, his previous goal had come with a motley crew of Premier League rejects, in a team with Arthur Masuaku, Cenk Tosun and Gedson Fernandes, with Dele Alli an unused substitute. For some, Weghorst had been out of sight and out of mind when on loan at Besiktas. Not for Erik ten Hag, however.

The first striker he signed for United was borrowed from a Championship club, in Burnley. The first goal he scored for them came in a cup semi-final and was greeted with clenched fists. “I just turned to the goal hoping for a rebound and it came exactly like this,” Weghorst reflected. “It was nice.”

Despite reports that he was due to return to training today Everton striker Anthony Gordon has not arrived at the training ground for the third day in a row.

All indications were that Gordon would attend Finch Farm training ground today after missing Tuesday’s training, which was a planned absence.

He skipped training again on Wednesday and the player has failed to turn up again today amid speculation of a move to Newcastle. This could be a powerplay to try and force a transfer but it doesn’t reflect well on the 21-year-old.

Hibernian have accepted a bid from Watford for defender Ryan Porteous.

Porteous is out of contract in the summer and has already said he would be leaving the club. The fee for the defender is though to be in the region of £400k to £500k.

Marcelo Bielsa and Sean Dyche are leading the race to become the new Everton manager.

Sky Sports News claim both managers have been interviewed in recent days with Everton expected to make an appointment ahead of this weekend.

Frank Lampard was sacked with the Toffees languishing in the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag praised the “unstoppable” Marcus Rashford after his brilliant goal against Nottingham Forest helped his side put one foot in the Carabao Cup final.

Rashford scored for the 10th time in 10 games since the World Cup to put United on course for a comprehensive 3-0 first-leg semi-final win at the City Ground.

The 25-year-old is arguably the in-form player in the country at the moment and produced a moment of individual brilliance as he ran 50 yards and then converted at the near post.

Wout Weghorst’s first goal for the club and Bruno Fernandes’ late strike means that only a miraculous turnaround in next week’s second leg at Old Trafford will stop United from reaching the February final.