Arsenal 'ready to sell Thomas Partey' to raise funds for three-man January transfer list
Merry Christmas! The January transfer window is nearly upon us. It’s the final weekend of Premier League action before the festivities and there are only a few matches remaining before transfer business can again get underway.
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Top-flight clubs are lining up deals in the background as they look to strengthen their squads for a rigorous second half of the campaign, with Manchester United and Chelsea both seeking marked improvement.
A little further up the table, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are all firmly in the title race and could look to inject some extra quality to push them over the line.
Ivan Toney and Conor Gallagher are two of the most talked-about names with the Gunners eyeing a new centre-forward and Tottenham looking at the Chelsea midfielder as they eye reinforcements.
Express Sport brings you all the latest gossip, rumours and confirmed transfer news below...
Conor Gallagher and Ivan Toney could both be on the move in January (Image: GETTY)
And thanks for joining us tonight on the Express Sport transfer news live blog. We hope to see you all again soon. Have a wonderful Christmas. God bless.
Arsenal icon Theo Walcott has warned his former club to remain "cautious" about making a move for Ivan Toney in the January transfer window due to the Brentford hotshot's inactivity.
"I would be cautious of that [Toney signing] because he hasn’t played," said Walcott on Sky Sports after Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Liverpool. "He’s a forward that is similar to Olivier Giroud which Arsenal used to have, which I was a big fan of."
Raphael Varane is reportedly open to leaving Manchester United in January amid interest from Real Madrid. According to AS Diario, he is keen on returning to Los Blancos and would be prepared to take a wage cut as well.
Victor Osmihen has signed a new contract with Napoli until 2026 with a release clause said to be in the region of £112million (€130m). Several top European sides are queuing up to sign the Nigerian striker including Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis had previously suggested Osimhen was worth a staggering £150m so his release clause will serve as a boost for potential suitors.
Arsenal are unlikely to sign Martin Zubimendi in January, according to Football.London. The Gunners are keen on signing the Spaniard in the New Year but Real Sociedad are reportedly not planning on selling their star midfielder midway through the season.
Tottenham are reportedly considering offering Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as part of a swap deal for Chelsea's Conor Gallagher. That is according to Sky Sports, who claim that Juventus are also monitoring the out of favour Danish midfielder. It is presently unclear whether Chelsea are interested in Hojbjerg.
Manchester United's wait for a goal continues - their 2-0 defeat to West Ham in the 12.30pm kick-off means they've gone over 400 minutes without a goal.
And Spanish outlet AS say the Red Devils are keen to sign Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri to help Rasmus Hojlund out up top.
Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy is another emergency option linked but AS seem to suggest En-Nesyri is a higher priority for Erik ten Hag.
It is claimed the Moroccan, 26, would cost around £16million with Sevilla struggling down at the bottom of La Liga.
Due to financial issues, the Spanish club may reluctantly sell En-Nesyri if a bid comes in from United.
Reports from France claim that Newcastle are going to launch a January bid to sign Hugo Ekitike from Paris Saint-Germain next month.
L'Equipe say Lyon are also interested in the Frenchman, who Newcastle wanted to sign last year from Reims.
Ekitike, 21, instead went on to join PSG in a loan-to-buy deal last season. But he has made just one Ligue 1 appearance this season.
As a result of their FFP problems, PSG are willing to cash in. They tried to send him to Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer as part of a deal for Randal Kolo Muani but Ekitike refused to be involved.
He hasn't even been named on the bench in a match since August and so Newcastle could swoop for a favourable deal in the winter window.
Hugo Ekitike was wanted by Newcastle before he joined PSG (Image: GETTY)
We've already brought to you news of Tottenham's interest in Jean-Clair Todibo, they're also looking at Radu Dragusin the Genoa defender too.
And Spurs have been watching the Romanian's matches in Serie A, with director Johan Lange in attendance to see him play firsthand recently.
Dragusin is only 21 and started out with Juventus. He spent last season on loan with Genoa in Serie B and helped them secure promotion to the top flight.
He made a permanent move to the club last summer and has made 14 Serie A appearances this season.
\ud83d\udea8\u26aa\ufe0f Understand Tottenham director Johan Lange was in attendance at Genoa-Juventus last week to monitor Radu Dragusin.
No formal approach to Genoa yet but Spurs keep close eye on Dragusin.
\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 Jean Clair Todibo, higher on the list and talks still on but not advanced/close yet. pic.twitter.com/QyLDjrNRTu
West Ham forward Said Benrahma is said to be 'tempted' by the idea of joining Lyon in Ligue 1, per L'Equipe.
The Algerian is no longer a starter for the Hammers and the 28-year-old could return to France after five years in England with Brentford and West Ham.
Benrahma previously spent five years at Nice but spent more time out on loan than at the Allianz Riviera.
Benjamin Sesko, the RB Leipzig striker long linked with Manchester United, is reportedly open to moving to the Premier League next month.
Claims from 90min are that Sesko is keen for a move after struggling for minutes with Leipzig in the first half of the season.
The Austrian has started a mere three Bundesliga games since joining from Leipzig's sister club RB Salzburg. ANd United, as well as Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle, have been informed he could be on the move in January.
A loan with an obligation to buy, if specific criteria is met, appears the most likely deal to be done. But a buy clause could come in at £40million or so.
Benjamin Sesko has been linked with Man Utd for a while (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea are paying serious attention to a double deal that would cost them over £150million in the January transfer window.
The Blues, per the Standard, have been in contact with Portuguese titans Sporting regarding their centre-back Ousmane Diomande and striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Diomande, 20, has a £69m release clause in his contract while ex-Coventry No 9 Gyokeres has a buyout clause of £87m.
Sporting are thought to have told the Londoners that the duo will leave for no less - meaning Chelsea will need to pay up if they want the duo.
Ivan Toney is another striker being looked at but it is unclear whether they have any alternative defensive targets.
Most significantly, we've got live football up and down the country today. But as well as action off the pitch, there's lots going on off it.
Stick around to find out more!
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