Lucas Paqueta has claimed that two Premier League giants wanted him before he completed a switch from West Ham to Flamengo. The playmaker has been linked with a move back to his native Brazil for months now but it took until Friday for the £36.5 million ($50m) transfer to actually happen. But if two English sides had got their way, the 28-year-old may still be a Premier League player.
Arne Slot complained about the "noise" around Anfield ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Qarabag - and one could understand why. As well as being distracting, some of it has been disrespectful. Indeed, Slot had even been asked a question about Xabi Alonso, the favourite to replace him as Liverpool boss, in his pre-match press conference.
The last time Bruno Fernandes faced Fulham the whole football world was laughing at him. The Manchester United captain skied his penalty in the 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in August and partly blamed the miss on referee Chris Kavanagh bumping into him. He explained: "As a penalty-taker, you have your own routines. It upset me because the referee didn't apologise."
AC Milan have launched a dramatic late raid to sign Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, reportedly striking a verbal agreement with the Eagles overnight. The move is a calculated blow to Nottingham Forest, who had made the Frenchman a top target, as Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani looks to secure the forward to bolster the Rossoneri attack.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has revealed all on Spurs' January transfer window, admitting the Lilywhites failed in their pursuit of Antoine Semenyo and that the window 'isn't like Football Manager' as the club continue to seek new arrivals. Frank has come under intense pressure in north London after his side's dismal run of form in the Premier League and will hope to have the chance to turn things around on the pitch.
Arsenal have altered their travel plans ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Leeds after opting against flying north because of heavy fog. The Gunners had been weighing up whether to fly or travel by coach to Yorkshire following a training session on Friday. However, after assessing weather forecasts, the club chose the longer road journey instead.
Michael Carrick has confirmed that Patrick Dorgu is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury against Arsenal last weekend, though the Man United interim head coach was unable to provide a clear timescale for the wing-back’s return, an update fans will not have wanted as they begin to find their form after Ruben Amorim's dismissal.
Mikel Arteta has said allowing his relationship with Pep Guardiola to deteriorate amid a title race would set a poor example for sport, pointing instead to the respectful rivalry shared by tennis greats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who competed against each other for decades but maintained a strong friendship away from the court.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will not be in the squad to face Nottingham Forest this weekend, as the Frenchman continues to seek an exit from Selhurst Park. Palace have reportedly received offers from both Forest and AC Milan for the 28-year-old, who informed the club earlier this month that he intends to depart in January.
Pep Guardiola was absent from his Manchester City press conference on Friday lunchtime after delivering a passionate speech on the Gaza conflict at a pro-Palestinian rally in his native Barcelona. The event took place on Thursday evening with City assistant manager Pep Lijnders stepping in for Friday's conference and confirming that Guardiola was absent due to a "personal matter" but will be back to lead his side this weekend.
Jamie Carragher has sought to defend Raheem Sterling from any criticism, following his release by Chelsea, with the England international considered to be seriously “underrated”. The Premier League title-winning former Manchester City star is now looking for a new challenge at 31, with a former teammate hoping that a “fitting finale” can be found.
Mikel Arteta has issued a passionate plea to the Premier League, begging chiefs to increase the size of matchday squads to protect the mental health of players. The Arsenal boss believes the current rules are outdated given the intense demands on modern footballers and has called for immediate reform to avoid the "avoidable" heartbreak of leaving stars at home.
Premier League legend Danny Murphy has singled out Swedish striking duo Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak as the season's biggest transfer disappointments following their high-profile summer moves. The former midfielder believes both forwards have failed to justify their massive price tags since joining Arsenal and Liverpool respectively, leaving supporters at both clubs feeling "disappointed" with their output so far.
Mykhailo Mudryk is being prevented from doing his day job at the moment, with a suspension being served at Chelsea due to alleged doping violations, but he is keeping himself amused away from the football field. The Ukrainian winger has indulged in some playful flirting with American actor and social media star Jordyn Jones, with a possible romance on the cards there.
Maya Jama and Ruben Dias are said to have been left “devastated” after seeing their Cheshire mansion broken into while they were away on Love Island and Manchester City duty. It is claimed that a “number of items” were stolen from the property during a break-in on January 28. A police investigation has been opened, with the hope being that culprits can be found.
Manchester United are facing a significant internal dilemma regarding the future of Harry Maguire, with the club’s hierarchy reportedly split on whether to offer the veteran defender a new contract. With the 32-year-old’s current deal set to expire in June, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reluctant to sanction an extension, even though the centre-back is willing to accept a pay cut to remain at Old Trafford.
Manchester City have sanctioned the £27 million sale of highly-rated winger Oscar Bobb to Premier League rivals Fulham. The 22-year-old Norway international has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal at Craven Cottage, ending his stint at the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola looks to streamline his squad for the title run-in.
Jack Grealish has seen injury heartache bring his loan spell at Everton to a premature conclusion, while potentially dashing his World Cup dreams, with David Moyes admitting that the England international is likely to miss the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his foot. The Manchester City-owned forward is likely to require an operation, with a lengthy rehabilitation programme being worked through after that.
Amadou Onana has cast doubt over his long-term future at Aston Villa after openly admitting that securing a transfer to a "world-class club" remains a major career goal. The Belgian midfielder, who joined from Everton in 2024, insisted he has matured under Unai Emery but made it clear he sees his time in the Midlands as a stepping stone to the very top of the game.
Arsenal have moved to ensure that they remain the ones to benefit from Max Dowman’s undoubted potential, with the Gunners agreeing pre-contract terms with the teenage wonderkid. Records have already tumbled for the talented 16-year-old, with the promise of more senior achievements to come as he prepares to sign a long-term deal in north London.
Manchester United have suffered a major transfer setback as long-term target Ruben Neves is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract with Al-Hilal. Despite holding talks with the Red Devils in December, the midfielder is in advanced negotiations to remain in Saudi Arabia, ending Michael Carrick's hopes of a January reinforcement.
Danny Murphy has hailed Declan Rice as the "most complete midfielder in Europe" but warned the Arsenal star he still has one final hurdle to clear before he can be compared to Premier League icons Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. The former Liverpool man believes the £105 million ace needs to start producing "magic moments" in major finals to cement his legacy.
Another transfer window and another highly-rated prospect is on their way to Chelsea. The club's youth policy has struck again, with the west Londoners landing 17-year-old full back Yisa Alao from financially troubled Sheffield Wednesday. Despite his limited experience at senior level, the teenager provoked a transfer tug of war between three Premier League giants, but it is the Blues who have emerged victorious.
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly withdrawn their interest in signing Raheem Sterling, dealing a blow to the England international’s hopes of a swift return to Premier League action in London. Despite being available as a free agent following his dramatic release by Chelsea, Spurs hierarchy have decided against pursuing the 31-year-old, citing concerns over his substantial wage demands which do not align with the club's current financial structure.
Unai Emery has responded to speculation suggesting that he is a leading contender to succeed Xabi Alonso as manager of Real Madrid. The Blancos are currently working under the tutelage of interim head coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Various names have been added to the mix at the Bernabeu, with Aston Villa boss Emery said to be climbing that list.
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