© Reuters
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole‘s live coverage of the latest transfer news and rumours from around the world of football on Wednesday, January 3!
Stick with us below to keep up to date with all of today’s transfer rumours and done deals.
Today’s key events
24m ago DONE DEAL
Leicester youngster Paul Appiah extends Maidstone loan
The #LCFCU21s defender Paul Appiah has extended his loan stay with Maidstone United.
Good luck, Paul! 👊
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 3, 2024
25m ago DONE DEAL
Chelsea recall Andrey Santos from Nottingham Forest loan spell
Andrey Santos has been recalled from his loan spell by @ChelseaFC.
Everyone at Forest wishes Andrey well for the future.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 3, 2024
Sheffield United ‘eyeing Brereton Diaz, Clarke deals’
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Sheffield United are reportedly interested in signing Villarreal‘s Ben Brereton Diaz and Sunderland‘s Jack Clarke in the January transfer window.
The Blades’ owner Prince Abdullah is set to back head coach Chris Wilder this month as the Yorkshire club attempt to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
United are currently sitting bottom of the Premier League standings after collecting just nine points from 20 top-flight contests, meaning they are seven points adrift of Sean Dyche‘s Everton in 17th.
Following the departures of Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge in the summer to Marseille and Burnley respectively, the Blades are low on quality options in midfield and forward areas.
Ancelotti rules out new centre-back arriving at Real Madrid in January
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Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that his side will not be moving for a new centre-back during the January transfer window despite David Alaba‘s injury blow.
Alaba suffered a severe knee issue during Real Madrid’s La Liga clash with Villarreal on December 17, and the Austria international will be absent until later this year.
Los Blancos have also been missing Eder Militao since August due to an ACL issue, with the Brazil international not expected to be available for selection until April at the earliest.
There has been a host of speculation surrounding a possible centre-back addition in January, while it was also suggested that 21-year-old Rafa Marin could be recalled from a loan spell at Alaves.
Transfer rumours: Chelsea want Barca teen, Clubs chasing Benrahma, Napoli keen on Can
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Chelsea reportedly hold an interest in signing Barcelona youngster Pau Cubarsi.
The Premier League outfit are currently in the process of assessing how to make changes to their first-team squad during the January transfer window, as well as remaining within FFP criteria.
However, co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have placed a large focus on acquiring young talent since their takeover in May 2022, and it now appears that a prospect from Barcelona is on their radar.
According to Sport, the Blues may make a formal approach for Cubarsi at some point in 2024, seeing him as one for the future.
Manchester United ‘keen to sign Michael Olise this summer’
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Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Crystal Palace attacker Michael Olise during this summer’s transfer window.
The 22-year-old did not make his first appearance of the 2023-24 campaign until November 11 due to a hamstring problem, but he has been in impressive form since his return to action, scoring five times and registering one assist in nine Premier League appearances.
Olise was also in strong form for the Eagles last term, scoring twice and registering 11 assists in 40 appearances, with all of the assists coming in the Premier League.
The France Under-21s international was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea last summer, but he ultimately signed a new contract at Selhurst Park, with his deal running until June 2027.
2h ago DONE DEAL
Luiyi de Lucas leaves Livingston
✈️ 𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬
Livingston FC can announce that defender Luiyi de Lucas has departed the club.
Thank you & all the best, Luiyi! 🤝🏻
🖥️ https://t.co/iTrO2SX89T pic.twitter.com/WKrqWsIne1
— Livingston Football Club (@LiviFCOfficial) January 3, 2024
“Luiyi came and spoke to me a few weeks back and stressed that he was struggling with homesickness and was missing being with his family,” said manager David Martindale.
“We agreed that Luiyi would continue until the winter break as to not leave us short in the last few weeks before agreeing to terminate his contract to allow him to return closer to home and family.
“I wish Luiyi well wherever his next move is and thank him for his time at the club.”
2h ago DONE DEAL
Matteo Gabbia returns to AC Milan as Villarreal loan cut short
𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙤 𝙂𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙖
Official Statement 👉 https://t.co/RimFplgfHN
Comunicato Ufficiale 👉 https://t.co/jZRPluxlJk#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/5ij2h2Zx5p— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 3, 2024
Rhys Williams recalled to Liverpool from Aberdeen loan spell
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Liverpool have announced that Rhys Williams has been recalled from his loan spell with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen.
The 22-year-old defender was shipped out to Pittodrie on a straight loan spell for the 2023-24 campaign, but a forgettable stint saw him fail to make a single appearance for the Aberdeen first team.
Williams was on the bench for all six of Aberdeen’s Europa Conference League group matches and their Europa League qualifying round second-leg loss to BK Hacken, but he was not included in one Scottish Premiership squad.
The former England youth international’s only appearance for Aberdeen in any competition came for the B team in the Challenge Cup, playing the full 90 minutes in a 5-3 loss to Peterhead in the second round.
3h ago DONE DEAL
Aberdeen recall Aaron Reid from Peterhead loan
Striker Aaron Reid has been recalled from his loan spell at Peterhead FC.
We wish @pfcofficial all the best for the second half of the season. pic.twitter.com/TCW7DsXKuQ
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) January 3, 2024
3h ago DONE DEAL
Huddersfield recall Brodie Spencer from Motherwell loan
🤝 We can confirm that Brodie Spencer has been recalled from his loan with Scottish Premiership side Motherwell.
👋 Welcome back, Brodie!
🗣️ Comments from Mark Cartwright and Darren Moore ⤵️#htafc
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) January 3, 2024
🍿 Watch Brodie in action ⤵️#htafc pic.twitter.com/Y8IdEviFCM
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) January 3, 2024
“I’m really looking forward to working with Brodie. As Mark has said, he has done well during his time in Scotland, and now he returns to our club to challenge for a position in the starting lineup,” said manager Darren Moore.
Sporting director Mark Cartwright added: “We’ve watched Brodie closely during the first half of the season and his loan has achieved everything we wanted it to.
“He’s established himself in the team in the top league in Scotland, has played in big games and will have learned so much from the experience.
“He now returns to us a better all-round player and adds to our defensive options for the second half of the season.”
Brighton winger Jeremy Sarmiento joins Ipswich on loan
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Championship club Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion winger Jeremy Sarmiento on loan until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at West Bromwich Albion where he started just seven of his 20 appearances in the second tier, scoring two goals.
Sarmiento had his season-long loan deal with the Baggies cut short by Brighton on New Year’s Day, and the Ecuador international will now spent the remainder of the season on loan at promotion hopefuls Ipswich.
“I’m very excited to be joining Ipswich at a time when they have been on a great run since winning promotion to the Championship,” Sarmiento told the club’s official website.
Transfer rumours: Lingard to Everton, Brereton Diaz to Sheffield United, Kehrer to Monaco
© Reuters
Everton are reportedly considering offering ex-Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard a short-term deal.
The 31-year-old has been a free agent since leaving Nottingham Forest last summer, and he has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, while there have also been suggestions of interest from the MLS.
As it stands, Lingard is still a free agent, but according to talkSPORT, he could be handed the chance to return to the top flight of English football with Everton.
The report claims that the Toffees are preparing to offer him the opportunity to sign a contract at Goodison Park until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Chelsea, Dortmund ‘in talks over Ian Maatsen’
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Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund are reportedly in discussions over a potential deal for Ian Maatsen.
At the start of the season, the versatile Dutchman turned down offers to leave the Blues in order to try to earn a regular spot in Mauricio Pochettino‘s team.
Instead, Maatsen has been restricted to three starts and 12 substitute outings in all competitions, accumulating just 201 minutes in the Premier League.
With Pochettino having not used Maatsen in full-back areas when opportunities have materialised of late, and an array of attacking players now available, further chances for the Netherlands Under-21 international may be limited.
Hannibal Mejbri’s Manchester United exit currently on hold?
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Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is reportedly reluctant to let Hannibal Mejbri leave the club on loan until he has assessed the fitness of the other midfielders in his squad.
The 20-year-old’s future at Old Trafford is currently the subject of speculation, as he only has a contract with the Red Devils until the end of the campaign.
Hannibal is believed to be in Man United’s long-term plans, with discussions over a new contract said to be underway, but he is widely expected to leave on loan this month in search of regular action.
A recent report claimed that Sevilla, Lyon and Freiburg are all interested in the Tunisia international, but according to the Daily Mail, a loan exit is currently on hold.
Casemiro ‘unlikely to leave Manchester United in January’
© Reuters
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is reportedly unlikely to leave Old Trafford during the January transfer window despite the recent speculation linking him with an exit.
The 31-year-old arrived at Man United from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, and he has made 63 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and registering seven assists.
Casemiro has managed four goals and one assist in 12 appearances for Erik ten Hag‘s side this season, but he has not played since the start of November due to a hamstring problem.
There has recently been speculation surrounding the Brazil international’s future, with a number of Saudi Arabian clubs believed to be keeping a close eye on his situation in Manchester.
Jadon Sancho ‘closing in on loan switch to Borussia Dortmund’
© Reuters
Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho is allegedly closing in on a return to Borussia Dortmund.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Dortmund had opened talks with Man United over a loan move for the 23-year-old, who is set to leave Old Trafford during the January transfer window.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the deal ‘is already advancing to key stages’, with the England international moving a step closer to returning to the German outfit.
“Jadon Sancho deal is already advancing to key stages! Sancho wants Borussia Dortmund and the German club want deal to happen very soon. Talks underway,” Romano posted on his official X account.
