Earlier today, we held our latest subscriber-exclusive Ask Ornstein session.
Once a week for an hour, The Athletic’s subscribers can ask me for my views on anything from the world of football. I have pulled together some of my favourite questions and my answers to them from the latest Q&A below. Thanks to all those who took part.
Want to ask me a question? Join us next Thursday.
Catherine S. — Any information about Jadon Sancho, or any other transfer news regarding Manchester United? Also, any sign that Mikel Arteta will rest Saka, Odegaard etc?
David Ornstein: Sancho is on course to join Borussia Dortmund on loan, as has been widely reported. Beyond that, we’re expecting a loan or two unless funds can be raised through exits for anything more substantial. INEOS can’t do much until their investment has been ratified and that is not expected to happen until after the January window. So for United recruitment, it will be all eyes on next summer.
On Arsenal, I think they’ll name a very strong team on Sunday, especially with a winter break coming up to recover.
Sancho is en route to Dortmund (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Jordan S. — How are Chelsea in relation to the FFP? How much do they need to sell to be able to buy?
Ornstein: They’re confident they are fully compliant. There are rumours swirling round to the contrary, but Chelsea believe they remain in good shape and do not expect any issues with the Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR). Clubs in potential trouble are due to find out later this month.
Sean R. — With Chelsea unlikely to qualify for European football next year, surely they’ll need to balance the books by selling academy players like Conor Gallagher, Ian Maatsen, Reece James and Levi Colwill given their respective book values will be zero?
Ornstein: They will hope to qualify for Europe with a good second half of the season, but your point stands that the sale of homegrown players could well be used again to help their PSR position. Maatsen’s future looks like it could be decided soon, while we know Gallagher is one to watch. I don’t see James or Colwill leaving for now.
Broja hopes to make his mark at Chelsea (Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Juan C. — Likelihood of Neto to Arsenal?
Ornstein: There is no expectation of him leaving Wolves in January. The summer could well be a different story. Manchester City like him, as do a couple of other big clubs. We know Arsenal have a long-standing admiration, but there have been no recent overtures from them.
Dami — Are the rumours of Ivan Toney to Arsenal true?
Ornstein: Toney is expected to stay at Brentford in January, Dami. There has been no movement or contact so far and I don’t think it’s likely anybody pays what it would take for Brentford to let him go, given the position they are currently in (results, injuries and AFCON).
He’s available for their next home game against Nottingham Forest on January 20 and let’s see how he returns.
I’m not saying clubs won’t test the water before the deadline, but a move is looking ever more probable next summer or as a free agent in 2025. Brentford would like to give him a new contract, even if it includes a release clause, but they won’t be able to meet the salary he would expect. So, I currently have no anticipation of him joining Arsenal in January.
John M. — Do you see Liverpool pulling another sneaky January signing?
Ornstein: They’ve not been planning anything significant, John. Never say never — we’ve learned that Liverpool can spring a surprise — but, to date, I’m not aware of any incoming business.
While that may frustrate some fans, given the position the team are in, the quality at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal and the array of young players he can turn to, Liverpool look very competitive as we enter the second half of the season. And, like the last off-season, I’m sure they’ll look to strengthen again next summer.
This is perhaps a more important period for contract talks than new signing — with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold approaching the final 12 months of their existing deals.
Alexander-Arnold is approaching the final 12 months of his Liverpool contract (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Remus M. — Wouldn’t Radu Dragusin be a good target for Liverpool?
Ornstein: I hear excellent things about him and there are multiple clubs talking to Genoa, including Tottenham. I’m not aware of Liverpool being in the frame and perhaps, given their existing options (especially with the impressive emergence of Jarell Quansah), they don’t need to be for now.
Craig J. — Do you think Newcastle United will sign a few players in this window, or are they likely to accept their fate with the current squad this season and do proper business in the summer with a fresh perspective/fit again players available to play or sell?
Ornstein: At the time of writing it’s plausible they do nothing, especially if their absent players return to fitness sooner rather than later and there are no other significant injuries picked up. Being out of Europe helps with fixture load, of course.
If the injury situation gets worse, though, obviously it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them dip into the market. We know goalkeeper, midfield and attack are three areas they’ve been looking at (although, to be honest, I think they’re studying opportunities in all positions) — there are so many complicating factors, most notably returning players and PSR, but that does not guarantee signings will be made.
Phil B. — Will any of the Premier League sides go back for Wilfried Gnonto in January?
Ornstein: I’ve had no info to this effect so far, Phil. Clearly, he isn’t getting the minutes he would like, but he has still played 20-odd games and I don’t see Leeds wanting to risk weakening themselves as they push for promotion. We all saw what happened last summer and, since things were patched up, I haven’t yet heard more rumblings of a move.
Gnonto in action for Leeds at Preston (MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Callum O. — Will Everton be busy at all in January? I know Dyche said otherwise, but they could do with reinforcements. And has there been any movement on the takeover?
Ornstein: Everton are expecting a quiet window. If they do anything, you imagine it will be loans or low-cost deals again. Their focus may be more on keeping what they have, especially with other clubs looking at the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana.
I’ve had no update on the takeover since revealing 777 Partners have received FCA approval. They and Everton remain confident it will go through but, as we know, it’s not up to them. We were expecting to hear more in the new year so you’d like to think news of some description isn’t far off.
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Adrian H. — What is the status of Everton’s appeal?
Ornstein: Ongoing — no updates, nor any indication a verdict is imminent. Hopefully it will all be dealt with well before the end of the season.
Ground D. — Given how much the PGMOL have been going after Arsenal this season, as witnessed again by the club’s recent statement regarding the constant targeting and harassment of Bukayo Saka, how much do you think the Premier League can still be considered a fair competition and will Mikel Arteta still be able to transcend all this with his brilliant management?
Ornstein: I don’t think the PGMOL have being going after Arsenal or any other club. And I think the competition is fair.
Naturally, clubs will have grievances. Not everything is perfect and a lot needs to improve. But this notion — among pretty much every fanbase, and within many of the actual clubs — that the Premier League and PGMOL have an agenda against them is precisely what would seem to indicate they have an agenda against nobody.
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Jacek M. — What club will sign Kalvin Phillips in your opinion? Premier League or maybe abroad?
Ornstein: His preference is to go abroad, but nothing has been decided yet.
Juventus approached Manchester City a while back and conversations continue. The issue there is whether Max Allegri agrees to take Phillips. Newcastle haven’t moved yet. Perhaps that changes later in the window, but it will depend on the return dates of their injured players. There’s a good chance they don’t move for him at all.
Crystal Palace are among the other clubs to have enquired, but no developments there. Reported Paris Saint-Germain interest is not accurate, as I understand it.
Tom R. — Dan Ashworth to Manchester United: any legs or just an easy story with the Brailsford friendship? Newcastle were alleged to have paid close to £5million to Brighton in compensation and even then only after a lengthy period of gardening leave. If he does leave, surely he will not be cheap?
Ornstein: INEOS really like Ashworth (who doesn’t?!) and, as you say, Brailsford knows him well. But there has been no approach to Newcastle so far, to our knowledge.
If that happens, if he wants to go and if Newcastle are open to losing him, a negotiation will need to be had.
I hear INEOS are prepared to pay what is required to get the people they view as their chosen candidates for certain key positions, so it will be really interesting to see what line-up they assemble in the coming months. The feeling in the industry is that they will probably appoint a sporting director and head of recruitment to work beneath Brailsford, Blanc and Ratcliffe.
Ashworth joined Newcastle from Brighton (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Stanley H. — Are you aware of any incomings our outgoings for Crystal Palace this January window? And, in the bigger picture, what is the status of Roy Hodgson’s position as manager, and who would be the main candidates to replace him?
Ornstein: It will depend on the budget which, as with many clubs, sounds low at the moment. But in the past (again like many clubs) that has changed towards the end of the market, so let’s see if it does again.
A midfielder to replace Cheick Doucoure seems plausible, as does a striker. They have a firm interest in Eddie Nketiah, but Arsenal have not indicated any desire to let him go so far. If that changes, I’d expect Palace to push hard.
Doucoure ruptured his Achilles at Luton (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
There is interest in Palace players — such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen — but they’ll hope to keep this group together until the summer, unless offers come in that are too good to refuse. That feels unlikely at this point.
There is an expectation that Hodgson will have moved on by the start of next season and I think there are different schools of thought among the hierarchy as to which direction to go in as and when that happens. Steve Cooper has been mentioned in the media a lot and he did speak to them in the past, but it’s by no means guaranteed that is a route he or they will decide to pursue. Some sections of the ownership are said to favour exciting foreign options and others domestic candidates. It will be fascinating to see how that plays out.
Ben J. — How are Villa looking on FFP? Is there a sense they will buy a RB or back up CF this window? Unclear to me whether Emery rates Matty Cash.
Ornstein: I’ve also heard the right-back and Cash suggestions, Ben. But when we’ve looked into it, the clear message has been that little activity is expected — maybe a loan, but not even that is guaranteed.
The one caveat is that things do change, so let’s see. We will keep across it and perhaps my answer will be different in subsequent Q&As this month!
(Photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
