🚨 Chelsea star up for sale, Ivan Toney transfer hint, Saudi exits, superb goals from AFCON, plus Liverpool, Arsenal & more
Today's headlines, featuring Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal plus AFCON goal highlights.
Good morning folks and welcome to another Daily Briefing - thanks for reading as always, and hope you enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
Ajax
It’s Jordan Henderson day at Ajax - he’s set to travel from England to Amsterdam. Medical tests and contract signing booked, he’ll sign a deal valid until June 2026. Two year and half fixed, guaranteed contract, no option to extend further. Here we go from last night.
Who could follow Jordan Henderson out of Saudi Arabia? Fabrizio Romano takes a look in his exclusive column here.
Al Ahli
Roberto Firmino is not planning to leave Al Ahli in the January transfer window despite recent reports. Very clear message from his camp: he’s set to stay at Al Ahli. No changes expected.
How about those Roberto Firmino links with Premier League clubs? Fabrizio Romano examines how close these deals actually were.
Al Hilal
Official, confirmed: Renan Lodi has joined Al Hilal on loan with obligation deal from Olympique Marseille. Contract until June 2027, OM to receive fee in excess of €20m.
Al Ittihad
Karim Benzema has been linked with top clubs and his future could be resolved in the coming days amid a ‘tense’ situation with Al Ittihad - more details here.
Arsenal
Ivan Toney has spoken about his future - what does it mean for Arsenal’s chances of signing him? Fabrizio Romano with the latest details in his column here.
Raphinha has said he’s an Arsenal fan, but is a move likely soon? Fabrizio Romano has the details in his exclusive column.
Could Arsenal be in the frame for this 20-year-old midfielder?
Aston Villa
Kosta Nedeljkovic to Aston Villa, here we go! The 2005-born right-back will join the club from Crvena Zvezda. The player’s medical tests will take place in the next few days, travelling on Friday. He’s expected to stay at his current club until the end of the season.
Barcelona
Raphinha has claimed he came close to joining Manchester United - Fabrizio Romano has the details in his exclusive column.
Xavi replies on support from the players: “The day I notice that the players are not with me, I will take my things and leave. We’ve always reached the realistic goals. If this season we don’t reach our goals… then I’ll be the first to take a step back.”
Benfica
Benfica will pay €6m to Man United for Alvaro Fernandez if he plays 50% of the games as starter until June. If it doesn't happen, Benfica will still have an option to buy for €6m. Man United have sell-on clause, matching rights and buy back clause, as called yesterday.
Benfica are considering bids from different clubs for Petar Musa. Genoa insist but there are also clubs from Germany, France, England and MLS. He’s expected to leave Benfica this month.
Hoffenheim are closing in on deal to sign David Jurasek from Benfica. Talks are advancing fast on loan move. The deal would include a buy option clause. Hoffenheim hope to get the deal done by the end of the week.
Brentford
Ivan Toney on his future: “It's obvious I want to play for a top club and fight for titles, yes. If a club was to pay the right money… then, who knows. January or whenever is right time, I’ll be ready. I want to enjoy and play now.”
Are Ivan Toney’s quotes a worry for Brentford? Fabrizio Romano explains here.
Medical completed for Sergio Reguilon and it will soon be time for him to sign the contract as a new Brentford player.
Thomas Frank on Reguilon: “We need him, but I also think he needs us to show how good a footballer he is. I’m convinced that this will be a positive partnership.”
Chelsea
Ivan Toney has spoken about his future - what does it mean for Chelsea’s chances of signing him? Fabrizio Romano with the latest details in his column here.
Armando Broja could leave Chelsea for the right price this January - full info here from Fabrizio Romano.
Everton
What a free-kick by Andre Gomes as Everton won their FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace! FT Everton 1-0 Everton [Pictures from BBC Sport]
Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim are closing in on deal to sign David Jurasek from Benfica. Talks are advancing fast on loan move. The deal would include a buy option clause. Hoffenheim hope to get the deal done by the end of the week.
Internacional
Official: Rafael Santos Borre has signed as a new Internacional player after finalising his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Juventus
Juventus will complete the Tiago Djalo deal in the next days, as soon as Filippo Ranocchia will join Palermo due to FFP reasons. Djalo is just waiting for the final green light to travel to Turin and join Juventus from Lille. It’s all done.
Liverpool
Lyon
Gift Orban is on his way to Lyon with his agent as deal will be completed today. Documents in place between the two clubs, OL will pay €13m fee to Gent for the Nigerian striker.
Mallorca
Mallorca have asked for Nemanja Radonjic to join the club as he's expected to leave Torino in January. There are several clubs keen on signing Radonjic after Monza deal collapsed.
Manchester City
Manchester United
Raphinha has claimed he came close to joining Manchester United - Fabrizio Romano has the details in his exclusive column.
Could Manchester United face competition to hire Paul Mitchell?
Benfica will pay €6m to Man United for Alvaro Fernandez if he plays 50% of the games as starter until June. If it doesn't happen, Benfica will still have an option to buy for €6m. Man United have sell-on clause, matching rights and buy back clause, as called yesterday.
Amad Diallo has no plans to leave Man United on loan in January. A direct conversation with Erik ten Hag took place to confirm his intention to stay at Old Trafford. There is no current plan on player side for any loan to Championship clubs including Boro, as Amad wants to ‘respect’ Sunderland.
Marseille
Faris Moumbagna has completed his medical tests in Ivory Coast as new Olympique Marseille player. €8m deal with Bodo-Glimt, set to be sealed with official signatures now.
Morocco
Lovely team move here by Morocco in their win over Tanzania. FT Morocco 3-0 Tanzania [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Napoli
Matteo Politano has agreed to sign a new contract with Napoli. It’s all set to be signed very soon. A positive meeting took place yesterday with Napoli’s president who doesn’t want to sell him to Saudi side Al Shabab. A new three-year deal has been agreed with a salary of around €2.8/3m per year.
Cyril Ngonge completed medical tests as Napoli player today and then he’s going to sign the contract; €18m plus €2m add-ons to Hellas Verona.
Hamed Traore has already completed medical becoming a new Napoli player later today.
PSG
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti: “I confirm my opinion on Ferland Mendy. He’s the best defensive fullback in the world. I have to look at what he does on the field and in training. I don’t know when he ends his contract. He’s important for us.”
Real Sociedad
Sheraldo Becker will land later tonight in Donostia to undergo medical tests and sign in as Real Sociedad player. Deal completed with both Union Berlin and the player’s agents.
Roma
Torino
Torino are preparing a new bid for Gremio’s 2003-born full-back Cuiabano: €1.5m plus add-ons. The club are confident to get the deal done.
Torino president Urbano Cairo: “I’m not gonna sell Alessandro Buongiorno, I can confirm my position once again. He will stay at Torino, he also wants to stay here. I’m not selling Buongiorno now.”
Tottenham
Tottenham have not changed their position on Japhet Tanganga. The plan is to recall the defender as he’s never playing at Augsburg. A new loan is expected as Spurs want to find a solution for Tanganga as soon as possible.
Zambia
Brilliant quick thinking and what a finish here as Zambia took the lead against DR Congo! FT DR Congo 1-1 Zambia [Pictures from Sky Sports]
