LIVE! Transfer news and rumours: Casemiro quashes Man Utd exit talk, Arsenal want Mukiele
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the latest transfer news and rumours from around the world of football on Saturday, January 27.
Stick with us below to keep up to date with all of today's transfer rumours and done deals.
Today's key events
Olise' prefers Man United over Chelsea move'
Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise would prefer a transfer to Erik ten Hag's Manchester United instead of Chelsea, according to a report.
The 22-year-old nearly joined Chelsea in the summer after they triggered his £35m release clause but opted to sign a new deal at Selhurst Park instead.
The Palace attacker signed a four-year contract with the Eagles, and it is understood that terms regarding a new release clause were also inserted into the updated contract.
While the exact amount of the new release clause is still unknown, it is believed to be significantly higher than the £35m clause in his old deal.
Izzy Atkinson leaves West Ham United for Crystal Palace
We can confirm that Izzy Atkinson has completed a permanent transfer to Crystal Palace.
— West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) January 27, 2024
The Club would like to thank Izzy for her efforts in Claret & Blue and wish her well for the future.
Bayer Leverkusen sign Real Betis' Borja Iglesias on loan
Spanish striker @BorjaIglesias9 signs from @RealBetis
on loan until the end of the season. ✍️🐼🇪🇸
👉 https://t.co/JEvwueJjWQ — Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 27, 2024
"Borja Iglesias with his football profile can fill the gap left by Victor's [Boniface] absence," Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes told the club's website.
"He is physically strong, is good at winning the ball, is confident in moves, does not shirk any challenges and is good at finishing. He gives us a necessary option in attack to continue our successful season."
Iglesias added: "It really is a fantastic challenge for me. The team is currently causing a stir in Spain with lots of people there watching the team that's making a really great impression. I'm excited about the opportunity to be part of it and I will give my all for the success of this team."
Ex-Lazio director reveals failed £85.5m Man Utd bid for Milinkovic-Savic
Former Lazio director Igli Tare has revealed that the Serie A side knocked back a €100m (£85.5m) bid from Manchester United for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic before his transfer to Al-Hilal.
During a highly successful eight-year spell with the Biancocelesti, Milinkovic-Savic earned a reputation as one of Europe's finest goalscoring midfielders and was persistently linked with a move to the Premier League.
The 28-year-old managed 69 goals and 59 assists in 341 matches for Lazio, who signed him from Genk for €12m (£10.3m) in 2015, while he also won one Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italianas while on the books at Stadio Olimpico.
All of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were all believed to be keen on bringing the Serbia international to England, but he was ultimately seduced by Middle Eastern riches, joining Al-Hilal in a €40m (£34.2m) transaction.
Casemiro "so happy" at Man United amid transfer speculation
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has affirmed that he is "so happy" at the Theatre of Dreams amid persistent links with an exit from the club.
The 31-year-old forged an effective midfield partnership with Christian Eriksen during his debut season at Old Trafford, which ended with a third-placed Premier League finish and EFL Cup triumph.
Casemiro also popped up with seven goals and six assists for Erik ten Hag's team in the 2022-23 campaign, but the former Real Madrid man has had a second season to forget in Manchester so far.
A severe ankle injury has limited Casemiro to just 12 appearances in the 2023-24 season, during which he has managed four goals and one assist, and his last Premier League appearance came in the first weekend of October.
Arsenal interested in Nordi Mukiele?
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain defender Nordi Mukiele in the current transfer window.
The 26-year-old was linked with a possible move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the transfer window, but that seems unlikely now, with the Bavarians looking set to bring in Galatasaray's Sacha Boey instead.
The Gunners were expected to be fairly quiet in the transfer window after they splashed out around £200m in the summer to sign the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
However, Mikel Arteta's side have been hit with several injuries in defence this season, and a report from football.london suggests that Arsenal may look to bolster their defensive line this month.
Man United, Liverpool to battle for Bilal El Khannous?
Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign the highly-rated Genk midfielder Bilal El Khannous, who has been on the radar of Premier League rivals Liverpool in recent times.
The 19-year-old has become a first-team regular in Wouter Vrancken's side, starting 66 of his 76 appearances for the club since the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
The teenager earned the Belgian Pro League's 2022 Best Young Player award ahead of Maxim De Cuyper from Westerlo and Antwerp's Arthur Vermeeren.
El Khannous's impressive performances for his club have also led to him breaking into the Moroccan national team, making his debut for the Atlas Lions at the World Cup in Qatar.
Alex Pritchard withdraws from Sunderland squad, hands in transfer request
Club Communication: Alex Pritchard
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 27, 2024
A statement from the Black Cats read: "On Friday morning, Alex Pritchard informed the Club that he was no longer available for selection and he subsequently withdrew from today's matchday squad.
"The midfielder also expressed his desire to leave SAFC with immediate effect. The Club will be making no further comment at this moment in time."
Lyon sign Nemanja Matic on two-and-a-half-year deal
Experienced midfielder Nemanja Matic has completed a permanent move to Lyon from Rennes on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United man had only arrived at Rennes from Roma in the most recent summer transfer window and made 19 appearances for the club in the first half of the season.
Matic registered three assists for Julien Stephan's side during the group stage of the Europa League and started 11 Ligue 1 matches, but he was removed from the first-team picture in acrimonious circumstances just before Christmas.
The Serbian's frustrations stemmed from broken promises made by the club when he signed for them relating to his children's education, having supposedly been told that they would be enrolled into an international school, although no such establishment exits in Rennes.
Hibs sign Nathan Moriah-Welsh from Bournemouth
Welcome to Hibs, Nathan Moriah-Welsh! 🖊️💚 pic.twitter.com/1H168Z6yz0 — Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) January 27, 2024
"With the impending departure of Jimmy Jeggo, we wanted to have strength in depth in our midfield options. Nathan is a player who we have been tracking for a while and watched live on a few occasions this season," said manager Nick Montgomery.
"At 21 he is a hungry young player who will bring energy and work rate. He likes a tackle and can also get forward from midfield.
"He has already had a loan spell in England, which he gained valuable experiences from and there was a lot of interest in him from clubs south of the border.
"With his attributes I feel he can develop into a very good player for the club moving forward."
Luton's Dion Pereira joins Dagenham & Redbridge on loan
Dion Pereira has joined Dagenham & Redbridge on loan until the end of the season.
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) January 27, 2024
Good luck, Dion! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Jl39Xcfx6k
Transfer rumours: Hojbjerg to Newcastle, Munoz to Palace, Rowe to Villa
Newcastle United have reportedly set their sights on a loan deal for Tottenham Hotspur's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg before the transfer window closes.
The Magpies have been searching for engine room reinforcements all month, but Financial Fair Play limitations have got in the way of their attempts to bolster Eddie Howe's squad.
Newcastle have already missed out on rumoured target Kalvin Phillips, who has signed for West Ham United on loan from Manchester City, but according to ChronicleLive, Hojbjerg has emerged as a possible alternative.
The Dane has fallen below Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma in the Tottenham pecking order since Ange Postecoglou took the reins in the summer, and he is only under contract in North London for another 18 months.
Marseille 'want Arsenal's Nuno Tavares on permanent deal'
Marseille are reportedly pushing to re-sign Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares on a permanent deal before Thursday's transfer deadline.
After falling below Oleksandr Zinchenko in the Emirates pecking order, Tavares spent the 2022-23 season on loan with Les Olympiens, hitting the ground running with an unforeseen glut of early goals.
Tavares - playing in his favoured left wing-back position - struck three goals in his first four Ligue 1 games for Marseille, while he also played the full 90 minutes in each of their six Champions League group fixtures.
The Portugal Under-21 international departed the Orange Velodrome with a total of six goals from 39 matches in all tournaments, although his time at Marseille was slightly blighted by alleged concerns over his attitude from then-manager Igor Tudor.
Arsenal 'among clubs interested in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall'
Arsenal are allegedly among the teams to have shown an interest in signing Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The 25-year-old rose to prominence with the Foxes during their doomed 2022-23 Premier League season, but his efforts were ultimately futile in the fight against the drop.
Dewsbury-Hall remained loyal to Leicester over the summer transfer window, and with Enzo Maresca at the helm, the Englishman has enjoyed his most prolific season to date.
From 27 Championship fixtures, Dewsbury-Hall has registered nine goals and an identical number of assists for the Foxes, who are seemingly Premier League-bound as they sit seven points clear at the top of the table.
Tottenham 'preparing late bid for Conor Gallagher'
Tottenham Hotspur are allegedly preparing to test Chelsea's resolve with a late bid for Conor Gallagher before the January transfer window slams shut.
The 23-year-old's future remains clouded in uncertainty as he winds down his contract at Stamford Bridge, which now only has a little under 18 months left to run.
Since Mauricio Pochettino took the reins in West London, the Argentine has consistently placed his faith in Gallagher, who has featured on 28 occasions for the Blues this term, setting up six goals in the process.
Due to Reece James's perennial injury problems, Gallagher has often donned the captain's armband for Chelsea in the 2023-24 season, leading the team out in each of their last five Premier League games, four of which have ended in victory.
Monaco 'make contact over loan deal for Fabio Vieira'
Ligue 1 giants Monaco have reportedly touched base with Arsenal to enquire about a loan deal for Portuguese playmaker Fabio Vieira.
The 23-year-old arrived in North London in the summer of 2022 on the back of registering 14 assists in 27 Primeira Liga matches for Porto in his farewell campaign, the joint-most of any player in the division alongside Benfica's Rafa Silva.
Arsenal paid £30m to beat Manchester United to his signature, but Vieira has only been a rotational player during his time at the Emirates due to fierce competition for places.
The Portugal Under-21 international favours the number 10 role, but Martin Odegaard is Mikel Arteta's undisputed first-choice in the creative position, while Bukayo Saka is also one of the first names on the teamsheet on the right flank.
Bayer Leverkusen 'reject Liverpool approach for Piero Hincapie'
Bayer Leverkusen have supposedly knocked back an approach from Liverpool over a January deal for Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie.
With only a few days remaining before the transfer window slams shut until the summer, Liverpool have failed to bring any new faces to Anfield, only welcoming a handful of youngsters back from loan spells elsewhere.
A defensive injury crisis has led to suggestions that a rearguard reinforcer could be targeted, as Joel Matip is expected to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
In addition, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas have all missed a good chunk of the winter period with their own afflictions, forcing Joe Gomez to play at left-back and allowing 20-year-old Conor Bradley to earn his stars on the right.
Exclusive: Onuoha on Phillips to West Ham, Rodri comparison, Man City struggles
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has suggested that Kalvin Phillips's struggles at the Etihad Stadium coincided with Pep Guardiola's desire to evolve his tactics in midfield.
Following a successful seven-year spell at boyhood club Leeds United, Phillips decided to take the next step in his career by joining Man City for a reported £42m in July 2022, with the hope of establishing himself as a first-team regular at one of the best teams in Europe.
However, the 28-year-old was reduced to just four starts and six substitute outings in his first season at the club - City's famous treble-winning campaign - largely due to injuries and the exceptional form of midfield lynchpin Rodri.
Guardiola has since opted against selecting Phillips this term, with summer signings Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, as well as defensive trio John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis, all preferred in a midfield pivot role either alongside Rodri or acting as cover for the Spaniard when he has been suspended.
Transfer rumours: Almiron rejects Saudi, Bornauw to Sheff Utd, Cochrane to Burnley
Newcastle United attacker Miguel Almiron has allegedly told club chiefs that he does not want to move to Saudi Arabia amid talk of interest from Al Shabab.
With the Magpies treading a fine line when it comes to Financial Fair Play, there have been suggestions that the Paraguayan attacker could depart in a big-money deal this month to help balance the books.
Al-Shabab are reportedly willing to pay £30m for Almiron's services this month, but according to ChronicleLive, the 29-year-old is not looking to leave St James' Park in the coming days.
Almiron only signed a new contract - which is due to run until 2026 - last February, and the Paraguay international is understood to be fully settled in Tyneside with his family.
Welcome!
Good morning and welcome to another day of transfer news and rumours!
Before we get started with a look at all of today's biggest transfer talk, let's first have a quick recap of what happened yesterday.
Yesterday's top stories
Click here to read full details of all yesterday's transfer news and rumours
