Premier League news

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has labelled former club Arsenal as Premier League title “favourites” ahead of Tuesday’s crunch clash between the two teams. The Spaniard has taken the opportunity to add plenty of extra spice to a mouth-watering fixture which will see Mikel Arteta’s leaders play host to the high-flying Villans at the Emirates Stadium.

Manager Ruben Amorim has stressed Manchester United will not make any new signings in January unless there is “common ground” between himself and director of football Jason Wilcox over which players will improve the squad. The Red Devils continue to be linked with a host of names - including several midfielders - ahead of the winter transfer window opening on New Year's Day.

Amad Diallo hailed Manchester United team-mate Bryan Mbeumo as a "good lad" after the pair swapped shirts following their Africa Cup of Nations clash between Ivory Coast and Cameroon. The former scored a brilliant goal as the two African heavyweights played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday as both nations inched closer to the knockout stages of the competition.

Kylian Mbappe’s ownership era at Caen has taken a bold new turn after the French club appointed former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Gael Clichy as head coach. The 40-year-old steps into his first senior managerial role amid supporter unrest, with the club banking on his elite pedigree to spark a revival as they struggle in the third tier of French football.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are "actively looking" to make signings in the January transfer window as they continue to struggle with injuries. The Gunners spent £267 million ($360m) on players this summer, but they may dip back into the market next month as Ben White, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, and more, are all currently sidelined.

Ruben Amorim has praised Bruno Fernandes for his exemplary attitude while he is out injured. The Manchester United captain suffered a soft tissue injury against Aston Villa, ruling him out for the busy festive period. He still attended United's 1-0 win over Newcastle and Amorim said he continues to take a deep interest in the team, watching training sessions after doing his recovery work.

Rasmus Hojlund’s revival in Italy has gathered pace after another decisive display for Napoli, prompting Antonio Conte to explain why the striker is now thriving following his Manchester United exit. The Napoli boss praised the Dane’s growing understanding of the role, while stressing that his side are still chasing the elite standard set by Serie A’s top contenders.

A lot of leagues and competitions take the festive period off but there was no break for players in England, Italy and Portugal over the weekend, while the action at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco resumed on December 26. The Premier League's top two, Arsenal and Manchester City, both picked up hard-fought wins on Saturday but Aston Villa remain very much in the title race after a massive win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Gary Lineker believes that struggling Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres needs to take a leaf out of in-form Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin's book. The Gunners hoped the Sweden international would be the final piece of the jigsaw in their bid to end their decades-long Premier League title drought. But as the former Sporting CP star underwhelms, ex-England international Lineker has pinpointed a way the forward can improve in front of goal.

Nicolas Jackson’s future is once again under the spotlight after his agent dropped a telling hint about the striker’s next move, with doubts growing over a permanent stay at Bayern Munich. The Senegal international’s loan spell in Germany appears to be nearing its natural end, opening the door to a new destination as interest builds elsewhere in Europe.

Everton are reportedly eyeing a double January swoop for out-of-favour Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee. While a move for the pair will be difficult and potentially expensive, the Toffees are hoping that Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish could be part of the club's sales pitch to bring them to Hill Dickinson Stadium next month.

Antoine Semenyo's agents are reportedly due in Manchester to finalise a potential move to Manchester City. The Bournemouth star's entourage are expected to move ahead with contract terms over his £65 million ($87.5m) release clause, which runs until January 10. The player himself is said to be keen to wrap up his future at the start of next month, but whether a deal gets done remains to be seen.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea rebuild has hit another uncomfortable bump after surrendering a dominant position against Aston Villa, and a former Premier League stalwart believes the problem is now clear. With the Blues once again failing to manage a game they controlled, Maresca has been warned he must rein in his midfield leaders if Chelsea are to arrest a worrying slide.

John Terry is set to part with some of the most emotionally charged items of his storied Chelsea career, including the infamous “tear-stained” shirt from the 2008 Champions League final defeat to Manchester United. The former Blues captain will auction the memorabilia at a charity sale, with proceeds supporting causes close to his heart through his foundation.

The January transfer window is fast approaching, and clubs will once again be scrambling to strengthen for the second half of the season. In the 2025 winter market, £1.2 billion ($1.4bn) was spent across Europe's top leagues and the English Championship, the highest mark in seven years, with Manchester City accounting for £191 million ($256m) of that amount alone.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been told to resign by a former Spurs player in an explosive social media rant. The Danish coach has found himself under pressure in his first season at Spurs, with the club currently on a worrying run of form which has conjured just two top-flight victories in their last nine fixtures. Following their win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, Spurs will now end 2025 in 11th.

Antoine Semenyo wants his Bournemouth future resolved by the opening day of the January transfer window as Cherries are bracing for a late twist in the transfer saga. The Ghanaian winger is in the midst of a transfer tug of war with a number of Premier League sides hoping to lure the Bournemouth ace away from the Vitality Stadium next month.