January transfer news LIVE: Chelsea rival Arsenal for Mykhailo Mudryk and resume Enzo Fernandez talks
Antonio Conte vows to leave Spurs unless he’s ‘100 per cent convinced’ by project
Antonio Conte understands his task at Tottenham Hotspur is “different” to his usual roles but will only stick around if he is 100 per cent convinced by the club’s project.
The Italian has long been associated with winning trophies and achieved success during spells with Inter Milan, Chelsea and Juventus.
When appointed by Spurs at the end of 2021, the expectation was the 53-year-old could help the club make the final step to becoming genuine title contenders but, despite an impressive fourth-place finish being achieved last season, this current campaign has been littered with inconsistent displays.
Antonio Conte vows to leave Spurs unless he’s ‘100 per cent convinced’ by project
Antonio Conte has won trophies at Inter Milan, Chelsea and Juventus
Van Dijk set for lenghty injury spell
Virgil van Dijk is set for a long spell on the sidelines reports Paul Joyce of The Times who says that the Liverpool defender’s hamstring injury – picked up against Brentford on Monday night – is worse than initially feared.
Van Dijk is an essential cog in Jurgen Klopp’s team and with his absence the Reds may look for a temporary replacement during the January transfer window.
Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip are able substitutes and Joe Gomez is waiting in the wings so any potential transfers will come down to how long Van Dijk is set to be missing.
Arsenal’s Mudryk bid rejected
Arsenal have seen a second bid for Mykhailo Mudryk turned down by Shakhtar Donetsk after reports that transfer chief Darijo Srna is set to meet with Chelsea tomorrow night.
The Gunners were confident that their offer, worth a believed £62m, would be accepted after the player made clear his desire to leave.
The Daily Mail report the Ukrainian outfit have opted to reject their latest bid for the winger, who turns 22 tomorrow.
Archer to join Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough have agreed a deal with Aston Villa to sign Cameron Archer on loan.
The 21-year-old striker is due to undergo a medical today, having spent last season on loan at fellow Championship club Preston, scoring seven goals.
Barcelona interested in Firmino?
Barcelona manager Xavi is reportedly interested in bringing Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino to the club. Firmino had dropped down the pecking order at Anfield but his revival this season shows just how handy the Brazilian is for Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have had a influx in attacking talent with Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo all joining in the last three windows but Klopp has always been complimentary about Firmino and steadfast in his desire that the forward remain with the club.
El Chiringuito are reporting that Xavi is interested in the forward but it seems unlikely that Barcelona will make any advances – until the summer at least – as they have Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Memphis Depay and Ousmane Dembele all on the books.
Should any of the forwards leave though – and Depay is pushing for a move back to Old Trafford – then the possibility is there for Firmino to make the trip to Spain.
Mikel Arteta furious with ‘scandalous’ penalty decisions in Arsenal draw with Newcastle
Mikel Arteta bemoaned two “scandalous” penalty decisions after Premier League leaders Arsenal missed the chance to move 10 points clear following a frustrating goalless draw with Newcastle.
The Gunners dominated proceedings at a sold-out Emirates Stadium but were unable to break down the division’s stingiest defence as they dropped points at home for the first time this season.
Manager Arteta was unhappy that Dan Burn escaped punishment for a second-half shirt pull on Gabriel Magalhaes, while his players surrounded referee Andrew Madley in added time following a possible handball in the box by Magpies substitute Jacob Murphy.
Arteta furious with ‘scandalous’ penalty decisions in Arsenal draw with Newcastle
The Gunners were held 0-0 at home by the Magpies but stay top of the league
Arsenal frustrated by Newcastle to drop points in Premier League title race
It was Newcastle who put the final nail in Arsenal’s top four hopes last season, and it is Eddie Howe’s side who might just have cracked the first gap in the gleaming armour of Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title contenders. This 0-0 draw may not be as damaging as the 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park back in May, but it will carry a similar feeling of irritation for the Gunners.
For Arsenal, at this stage, passing up the chance to move 10 points clear at the top of the table is hardly a disaster, but the frustration and fury written across Arteta’s face and in every movement on the touchline was clear to see as his side dropped points.
Rather than an absorbing contest between two teams riding high in the table, this was an ill-tempered and ill-discplined affair, but Newcastle made it so and seemed to trick Arsenal into joining them.
Howe will argue that Newcastle needed to take such an approach in order to become the first Premier League side apart from Arsenal to take points at the Emirates this season. In doing so, they have also passed a real test of their top-four credentials.
Arsenal frustrated by Newcastle to drop points in title race
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle: The Magpies took a share of the spoils from the Emirates after a battling display
Brentford close to annoucing Schade
Brentford are putting the finishing touches on a deal to bring Kevin Schade to London after the winger completed a medical with the club.
The deal is expected to be an initial loan with an obligation to buy for around £20m if performance-related incentives are met and the Bees are hoping to make an announcement of the signing later today.
The 21-year-old has made eight Bundesliga appearances for Freiburg this season scoring one goal.
Chelsea to beat Arsenal to Mudryk?
Shakhtar Donetsk director Darijo Srna will reportedly be in London this week for Chelsea’s match against Manchester City tomorrow night before having talks with the Blues over a potential deal for Mykhailo Mudryk.
Arsenal remain in direct talks with the Ukranian club and are a personal preference for Mudryk but a big money move from Chelsea could sway the deal in favour of those at Stamford Bridge.
Cristiano Ronaldo admits he’s happy to be playing in South Africa at Al Nassr unveiling in Saudi Arabia
Cristiano Ronaldo declared he was happy to have moved to South Africa during his official unveiling as an Al-Nassr player in Saudi Arabia.
The 37-year-old has rebounded since the World Cup and his split from Manchester United, where his contract was terminated in November.
And after Ronaldo penned a deal thought to be worth up to £175million-a-year, the Portuguese made a blunder while being unveiled as an Al-Nassr player.
Ronaldo admits he’s happy to be in South Africa at Al Nassr unveiling in Saudi Arabia
The Portuguese’s deal at Al-Nassr is said to be worth upwards of £160m per year
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