The 2025 January transfer window has arrived and we already have some major sagas in the Premier League.
Manchester United are in need of reinforcements and are being linked with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, but their month looks set to revolve around Marcus Rashford. The player claimed he was ready for a “new challenge” but has already rejected several moves away.
Table toppers Liverpool are having to deal with some unwanted issues off the pitch, mainly the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold. He is the subject of interest from Real Madrid, who’ve already seen an opening bid rejected, but the situation still has plenty of time to play out.
Arsenal are eyeing the title at the third attempt but they need some more firepower and a hefty shortlist has been compiled. Champions Manchester City look set to surrender their title but can still land silverware, albeit Pep Guardiola knows January is tough to get deals of the line.
Scroll down as Mirror Football brings you all of the latest transfer updates throughout Thursday…
Thanks for sticking with our transfer updates this evening.
It’s a busy day of Premier League football tomorrow, but teams will be working behind the scenes to get deals done early in the window.
Until next time, goodnight.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim kept his cards close to his chest when asked about January business.
“I will keep that to myself. We will try to do something,” the Portuguese said.
When asked about adding an extra midfielder ahead of the upcoming trip to Liverpool, he said: “I adapt all the time, we played most of the games with three, Bruno [Fernandes] was in a different position but he was in the midfield.
“Sometimes it is not a big difference. I know people look at the three defenders but I don’t see the game like that. I adapt for every opponent so I will do the same with the same principles.”
Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t appear ready to leave Al-Nassr, if his comments to club media are to be believed.
“I’m happy and my family is happy,” the veteran said. “We started a new life in this beautiful country. Life is good, football is good.
“In terms of individual and collective, we are still there; we are still improving. You know, when you win titles, things come easier, and to have the privilege to win in my first year here my first trophy was amazing.
“But I want more. I will continue to push and help my team Al Nassr to win titles. I believe that this year will be a good year for Al Nassr.”
Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab are pushing for a cut-price deal for Mario Lemina, according to Foot Mercato (via GFFN).
The Gabon international is in the final year of his contract with Wolves, and hasn’t featured under new boss Vitor Pereira.
Al-Shabab signed Lemina’s former team-mate Daniel Podence from Wolves in September, with former Southampton and Watford defender Wesley Hoedt another of their recent additions.
Bournemouth have slapped a £49m price tag on Dean Huijsen amid Real Madrid interest, according to reports in Spain (via ESPN).
The former Juventus defender has established himself on the south coast after a summer move, but Madrid could look to pounce in one of the next two windows.
The teenage centre-back switched his international allegiances to Spain in 2024, having previously represented his birth country of the Netherlands at youth level.
Kieran McKenna wants his Ipswich Town side to add new faces sooner rather than later, amid talks of a loan swoop for Ben Godfrey.
“We are going to try and do our business early in the window if possible,” the Northern Irishman told reporters.
“We know that would be a big advantage, but we also know we need to be ready right through the month and be ready to improve the squad when the opportunities come.
“Certainly by the end of January we need to make sure that the squad is of the appropriate size and we want everyone who is still in the building to have a chance of playing and contributing in the Premier League games, so that is what we will try and get to.”
Ipswich have joined Crystal Palace in seeing a bid rejected for Liverpool’s Ben Doak, according to The Athletic.
Palace had seen a £15m offer knocked back for the Scottish youngster, currently on loan at Middlesbrough.
Liverpool are thought to want north of £20m.
Wolves have stepped up their pursuit of Reims’ Emmanuel Agbadou, according to reports in France (via Sport Witness).
The Ivorian centre-back has been a regular in Ligue 1 this term, captaining Reims on multiple occasions.
He is expected to command a fee of around £20million at a minimum, with Stuttgart also said to be keen.
If Matheus Cunha isn’t Arsenal bound, might Take Kubo find his way to North London?
The Japanese international has starred for Real Sociedad after failing to establish himself with former club Real Madrid.
Kubo, 23, has been linked with the Gunners as they look for cover after Bukayo Saka’s injury.
Liverpool have knocked back Crystal Palace’s opening offer for Ben Doak.
The Eagles’ offer is understood to fall short of the Reds’ £20million+ valuation.
Doak has caught the eye after impressing on loan at Middlesbrough, and it remains to be seen whether Palace return with an improved bid.
Arsenal target Matheus Cunha could soon sign an extension with Wolves, with The Mail suggesting the strugglers are working on a new deal.
Brazilian forward Cunha is Wolves’ top scorer with 10 league goals this season, keeping Vitor Pereira’s side just outside the bottom three.
Arsenal need to work out whether they plan to dip back into the transfer market after star man Bukayo Saka was sidelined with hamstring surgery.
Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey could be ready to return to England in January, with Sky Sports reporting Ipswich Town to be his preferred destination.
Godfrey joined the Serie A side from Everton over the summer but has struggled for regular game time for the title contenders.
Any move is likely to just be a loan, with the 26-year-old under contract until 2029.
Mo Salah has added more doubt to his future at Liverpool by insisting he is still “far away from any progress” in talks over a new contract.
The star man had previously indicated an extension wasn’t close, following a Man of the Match display in a 5-0 win at West Ham.
He is free to speak to potential suitors over a pre-contract agreement.
Wesley Fofana’s season could be over after the Chelsea defender suffered a setback in his recovery from injury.
The 24-year-old started the season at the heart of the Blues’ defence, but last featured in early December.
Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have both been linked with exits, but the latest news might prompt Enzo Maresca to stick with what he has.
If one of the pair is allowed to leave, though, might Maresca look for reinforcements.
Southampton Football Club have completed the signing of Brazilian defender Welington, who had previously signed a pre-contract agreement with the club.
The 23-year-old left-back agreed personal terms with the Saints in the summer, staying with São Paulo until the expiry of his contract at the end of the Brazilian season.
He made 48 appearances in all competitions during the campaign, as São Paulo finished sixth. Welington will now immediately join up with the Saints’ first-team squad.
Manchester United star Altay Bayindir is keen to stay at Old Trafford, despite his lack of game-time.
Bayindir’s agent Sefa Seyrek confirmed the keeper has received offers to leave the club but that the Turk wants to stay.
“Altay had offers from many European clubs and the Premier League at the beginning of the season,” he said.
“There are clubs interested in Altay now, but Altay wants to stay and play at Manchester United. The club definitely doesn’t want to let Altay go.”
Crystal Palace have submitted a £15million bid for Liverpool star Ben Doak.
The 19-year-old joined the Reds from Celtic in 2022 and is currently on loan at Middlesbrough.
He has impressed for Michael Carrick’s side and was named Championship Player of the Month for November.
According to The Sun, his performances have caught the eye of Palace, who have now submitted a bid for the winger.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has confirmed the club will activate the 12-month contract extension clause in Harry Maguire’s deal.
He said: “We will trigger our option. He needs to improve as a leader because we are starving for leaders on the pitch.”
Man City have identified Omar Marmoush as a potential January target – but a deal is facing a number of issues.
Pep Guardiola’s side have struggled so far this season and are already 14 points off the pace in the race for the Premier League title. A clutch of signings could potentially get them back on track and targets have already been identified.
Eintracht Frankfurt star Marmoush is one of those. The Egyptian is currently in the midst of a stunning campaign with the Bundesliga side having scored 18 goals already this term.
Arsenal and Liverpool have already been linked and could represent tough competition. And according to the Daily Mail, the striker is also of interest to City, who have taken a close look at him and have been left impressed.
Crystal Palace have seen an opening bid worth in the region of £12.45million rejected by Slavia Prague for highly-rated left-wing back El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Diouf – no relation to the former Liverpool, Bolton, Rangers and Leeds striker – is also a Senegal international after making his debut in an AFCON qualifier against Malawi in September.
Oliver Glasner is desperate to sign cover and competition for Tyrick Mitchell and the 20-year-old has emerged as the Eagles’ top winter transfer target. Slavia, however, have told Palace they are only willing to do business if they receive proposals worth upwards of £16.6m (€20m).
There is stiff competition from the Premier League too as up to nine top-flight clubs have scouted and gathered info on the talented defensive prodigy, who only joined Slavia from Norwegian side Tromso in January 2024.
Nottingham Forest and Brentford are also among his suitors but Palace are now leading the charge for his signature and are expected to return with a second offer.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has spoken to Trent Alexander-Arnold, but has kept that discussion private, with the Reds manager insisting there is no concern over the player’s focus.
He said: “Destabilising for Trent? If it did at this club, then we would really have a problem. One of the biggest clubs, everyone always talks about you for 12 months, sometimes in relation to other clubs. If that destabilises them then there is a problem, not only now but also last six months.”
Barcelona have been selling off VIP seats – worth more than £80million – to raise funds so that they can officially register Dani Olmo.
The Spanish giants have seen La Liga reject their appeals to include the Spaniard, whom they signed in the summer, in their squad, which has opened him up to a free transfer. Olmo is determined to remain at the Catalan outfit, amid interest from the likes of Man United, Liverpool and Man City.
Olmo joined Barcelona in the summer in a £50m deal, but could only be registered on a temporary arrangement until the end of 2024 due to La Liga’s ongoing financial constraints on Barcelona.
Barcelona have now reportedly closed a last-minute €100m (£82.9m) deal to sell VIP boxes at the newly renovated Nou Camp to Middle Eastern investors.
Marquinhos is set to move on loan to Cruzeiro for the rest of the year, per reports in Brazil.
GE Globo report the 21-year-old is set for a second loan in a row in the South American nation. The winger, signed by the Gunners in 2022, spent a year on loan with Fluminense but the did not take the opportunity to make the move permanent after he fell out of favour.
Celtic have opened negotiations with Arsenal over a move for Kieran Tierney. The Scottish left-back, who won four SPFL titles with the Hoops before moving to north London in a £25million deal in 2019, is out of contract at the end of the season.
Tierney is understood to be keen on a return to Glasgow and personal terms would not be an issue providing the two clubs can strike an agreement.
Arsenal are set to command a small fee for the all-action defender, who spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad in Spain.
Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen looks set to join Aston Villa in the January transfer window with The Athletic reporting that Villa are now closing in.
Dortmund have pushed back a first offer of €18million (£15m) plus add-ons, but negotiations will continue. Malen is under contract with Dortmund until June 2026 and has five goals and one assist in 20 appearances so far this season.
Aaron Anselmino has been recalled from his loan spell at Boca Juniors.
Welcome back to Chelsea, Aaron!
William Saliba’s entourage have provided Real Madrid with a positive answer after Los Blancos made an approach.
The La Liga giants have been linked with the 23-year-old defender and have now made him their ‘priority target’. Los Blancos are aware they must break records to secure a deal for the defender, per Sport.
We are pleased to confirm that Ashley Barnes has rejoined the club on a deal until the end of the season.
Welcome back, Barnsey
Real Madrid have their eyes on Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, but they could switch targets to Diogo Dalot this month, according to i. Real have seen a £20million offer rejected by Liverpool for Alexander-Arnold and could test United by offering £50m for Dalot, it is claimed.
Real need to fill the hole left by the injured Dani Carvajal and are reportedly not convinced they can land Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract in the summer and is yet to decide on his future.
Dalot is understood to be happy at United and is not expected to agitate for a move, but has attracted interest from a number of European clubs.
He moved to Barcelona in 2019 but Frenkie De Jong isn’t tied to the Nou Camp for life amid constant talk of a move away.
The Dutchmn explained: “People think I want to stay at Barcelona forever because life outside of football is so good here, and that’s good, but what happens on the pitch is always more important.
“If I felt like I couldn’t contribute enough, or if the team wasn’t competitive, I would leave.”
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