Peter McVitie

Second-division side Albacete have issued an apology to Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior after their historic Copa del Rey victory was overshadowed by vile racist abuse. The club expressed their deep "shame" after a banana was thrown at the Brazilian star during the 3-2 shock, while "disgusting xenophobic chants" were also reported outside the Carlos Belmonte stadium.

Real Madrid loanee Endrick has broken his silence on his future plans following a dream start to life at Lyon. The Brazilian wonderkid, who left the Bernabéu in search of minutes after an injury nightmare, addresses the managerial turmoil in the Spanish capital following Xabi Alonso’s departure and reveals whether a swift return to Los Blancos is on the cards.

West Ham are finally ready to sanction the permanent sale of Lucas Paqueta this month, but chiefs have attached a non-negotiable condition to the deal. While the Brazilian is desperate to join Flamengo immediately, the Hammers will only approve the transfer if the midfielder agrees to remain on loan at the London Stadium until the end of the season to aid their survival fight.

Real Madrid’s crisis has deepened with the news that Kylian Mbappe will miss this weekend’s crucial clash against Levante. New interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced the sacked Xabi Alonso just days ago, faces a mounting injury list as he attempts to turn around a nightmare season that has seen Los Blancos crash out of two competitions in a single week.

Jurgen Klopp has been pictured enjoying life away from the dugout, taking courtside seats in Berlin for the NBA showdown between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies. The German tactician joked about being dwarfed by the basketball stars, appearing completely relaxed despite the intensifying speculation suggesting he is the number one target for the Real Madrid job.

Andy Robertson has cast serious doubt over his Liverpool future, admitting he needs to "sit down with my family and decide" his next move as his contract ticks down. The Scotland captain, who has lost his starting spot to Milos Kerkez this season, insisted he is "a player who wants to play" and hinted that his reduced role under Arne Slot could force him to look elsewhere after almost nine trophy laden years at Anfield.

Manchester United are growing increasingly confident of finally securing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba as part of a major summer overhaul. Despite a quiet January expected under newly-appointed boss Michael Carrick, club chiefs are already plotting a massive midfield restructure for the next permanent manager, with the Cameroonian ace identified as a top priority to replace outgoing stars at Old Trafford.

Birmingham City are closing in on a sensational transfer for Danish striker August Priske. The Championship side, partly owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, have reportedly leapfrogged Besiktas and Lille to lead the race for the Allsvenskan top scorer. With personal terms nearly agreed, the towering ace could be the marquee signing to push for the Premier League.

Tottenham have raided champions Manchester City to secure a key piece of their boardroom puzzle, appointing Carlos Raphael Moersen as their new director of football operations. The move marks a major step in the club's restructuring under Johan Lange, as the north Londoners seek to modernise their hierarchy and close the gap on the elite.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is facing fresh scrutiny over his treatment of Federico Chiesa, with the winger's former mentor branding the Dutchman's selection policy a "mystery." As the Italian international closes in on a sensational return to Juventus this month, questions are being asked about why a player perfectly suited to the Premier League was left in the cold at Anfield.

Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are set for a heavyweight transfer tussle over Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, with the Spanish giants desperate to find a successor for Conor Gallagher. The England international completed his £35 million switch to Tottenham this week, leaving a gaping hole in Diego Simeone’s engine room that the Brazilian ace has been identified to fill.

Radu Dragusin has made his intentions crystal clear to Tottenham chiefs, with reports from Italy suggesting the defender is desperate to seal a permanent exit from London this month. The Romanian international has his heart set on a move to Roma and is reportedly willing to snub interest from the Bundesliga to ensure he never has to return to the Premier League club.

Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has identified his "dream" January signing, urging the Red Devils to finally secure the services of Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong. The former defender believes the Dutch maestro, who has long been on the club's radar, is the missing piece to transform United's midfield, while also tipping a Brighton star for a move to Old Trafford.

West Ham icon Carlton Cole has issued a stark warning to his former club, admitting they need "the luck of the gods" to survive the drop this season. In a candid assessment of the turmoil at the London Stadium, Cole backed current boss Nuno Espírito Santo but expressed fears that the current squad overhaul might be too little, too late to save the Hammers.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has made the startling admission that he came perilously close to retiring from professional football during his recent injury nightmare. The Argentine star revealed he felt he was "no longer a football player" during the darkest moments of his rehabilitation, confessing that the mental and physical toll of a serious knee injury left him on the brink of walking away from the sport entirely.

Bayern Munich’s teenage sensation Lennart Karl has left fans baffled and amused after a video surfaced showing him wearing custom shinpads adorned with an image of Lionel Messi. The 17-year-old, who recently sparked controversy by publicly declaring his desire to play for Real Madrid, seems to have forgotten the fierce rivalry between his "dream" club and the Barcelona legend he apparently idolises.

Evan Ferguson has been urged to consider a sensational switch to Wrexham to reignite his stalling career. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes the ambitious Welsh club could provide the perfect platform for the Roma striker to rediscover his goalscoring touch and fall back in love with the game after a difficult period in Italy.

Manchester United have funds available to attack the January transfer market but are set to keep their powder dry under new interim boss Michael Carrick. Despite a willingness to trigger a $87 million release clause for Antoine Semenyo and a shortlist of midfield targets, club chiefs are prioritising a major summer overhaul instead of panic buying this winter.