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 transfer news regarding Manchester United? Also, will Mikel Arteta 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 its 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 their mini winter break coming up to recover.
Sancho is en route to Dortmund (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Jordan S — How are Chelsea concerning financial fair play (FFP)??
Ornstein: They’re confident they are fully compliant. Rumours are swirling around 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 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 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. Ian Maatsen’s future looks like it could be decided soon, while we know Conor Gallagher is one to watch. I don’t see Reece James or Levi Colwill leaving for now.
Chetan S — Will Chelsea consider an Armando Broja exit? He proved at Southampton he has the potential to grow into a very good Premier League striker…
Ornstein: Agree with you on Broja, Chetan. Although I’m a bit biased, as we both grew up in and around Slough!
If Chelsea bring in a forward this window, we should keep an eye on Broja towards the end of the month. He is admired by other clubs. But there’s no certainty Chelsea will sign a striker, so — fitness permitting — Broja could get the second half of the season to prove his worth at Chelsea.
Broja hopes to make his mark at Chelsea (Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Juan C — Likelihood of Pedro Neto to Arsenal?
Ornstein: There is no expectation of Neto 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 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 in (results, injuries and AFCON absentees).
Toney is 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 in the 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 cannot meet the salary he would expect. So, I do not anticipate him to join Arsenal in January.
John M — Do you see Liverpool pulling another sneaky January signing?
Ornstein: They’ve not been planning anything significant, John, but ever say never — we’ve learned that Liverpool can spring a surprise.
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. They’ll look to strengthen again next summer.
This is perhaps a more important period for contract talks than new signings. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all approaching the final 12 months of their deals.
Remus M — Wouldn’t Radu Dragusin be a good target for Liverpool?
Ornstein: I hear excellent things about him and multiple clubs are talking to Genoa, including Tottenham Hotspur. I’m not aware of Liverpool being in the frame and perhaps, given their existing options (especially with the emergence of Jarell Quansah), they don’t need to be for now.
Craig J — Do you think Newcastle will sign players this window, or are they likely to do business in the summer with a fresh perspective?
Ornstein: 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, Phil. He isn’t getting the minutes he would like, but he has still played 20 league 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 in January? 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 Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana.
I’ve had no update on the takeover since revealing 777 Partners have received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Everton remain confident the deal will go through but it’s not up to them or 777. We were expecting to hear more at the start of this year so 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 (the body that handles elite refereeing in England) have been going after Arsenal this season, how much do you think the Premier League can still be considered a fair competition?
Ornstein: I don’t think the PGMOL have been going after Arsenal or any other club.
Clubs will always 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 — Which club will sign Kalvin Phillips, in your opinion?
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 here is whether Massimiliano Allegri wants 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. The 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 Dave Brailsford friendship? If he does leave Newcastle, surely he will not be cheap?
Ornstein: INEOS really likes 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.
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If that happens, if he wants to go and if Newcastle are open to losing him, a negotiation will need to be had.
INEOS is prepared to pay what is required to get its chosen candidates for certain key positions, so it will be really interesting to see what line-up they assemble in the coming months. They will probably appoint a sporting director and head of recruitment to work beneath Brailsford, Jean-Claude Blanc and Jim Ratcliffe.
Ashworth joined Newcastle from Brighton (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Stanley H — Any incomings or outgoings for Crystal Palace this January window? And what is the status of Roy Hodgson’s position, 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. If that changes, I’d expect Palace to push hard.
Doucoure — playing here against Newcastle — 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 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 Aston Villa looking on FFP? Will they buy a right-back or backup centre-forward? It’s unclear to me whether Unai 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.
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!
(Top photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
