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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole‘s live coverage of the latest transfer news and rumours from around the world of football on Tuesday, January 16.
Stick with us below to keep up to date with all of today’s transfer rumours and done deals.
Today’s key events
Valentin Barco confirms transfer to Brighton
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Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco has confirmed that he has “signed the contract” ahead of completing his transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Seagulls have allegedly triggered the $10m (£7.9m) release clause in Barco’s contract and the 19-year-old has completed initial medical tests in his native Argentina.
Barco is believed to have put pen to paper on a contract that runs until June 2028, that includes a further 12-month extension, and a formal announcement from Brighton is thought to be imminent.
However, an announcement of the transfer has been delayed by the Seagulls, as Barco is currently focused on representing Argentina Under-23s at the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament which begins on Saturday.
Port Vale sign Rhys Williams on loan from Liverpool
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Port Vale have announced the signing of Liverpool defender Rhys Williams on loan for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
The 22-year-old drops down to League One after being recalled from a previous unsuccessful loan with Aberdeen, whom he failed to make a single senior appearance for in the first half of the season.
Despite Joel Matip‘s season-ending ACL injury and ongoing issues for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson – which have forced Joe Gomez to take up a left-back role over the winter period – Liverpool opted against reintegrating Williams into the squad for the second half of the 2023-24 term.
Instead, the Englishman will bid to revive his stalled career with Port Vale, whose manager Andy Crosby expressed confidence at Williams becoming a “popular figure” at Vale Park.
Southampton ‘interested in loan deal for Amad Diallo’
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Championship promotion hopefuls Southampton are reportedly weighing up a loan deal for Manchester United winger Amad Diallo.
The Ivory Coast international excelled in the second tier with Sunderland in the 2022-23 season, netting 14 goals and providing four assists in all tournaments to help the Black Cats reach the playoffs.
Diallo was reintegrated into the Man United first-team squad under Erik ten Hag during pre-season, but he suffered a serious knee injury over the summer, ruling him out of the first half of the 2023-24 campaign.
The former Atalanta BC youngster belatedly made his first appearance of the season in the Red Devils’ 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on December 30, but he has since missed fixtures with Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur through illness.
2h ago DONE DEAL
Luton’s Jayden Luker joins Woking on loan
Good luck to Jayden Luker as he heads on loan to Woking for the rest of the season! 👊 pic.twitter.com/ZCEkdEcr7O
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) January 16, 2024
Man United ‘rule out January move for Karim Benzema’
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Manchester United reportedly have no intention of making a move for Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema during the January transfer window.
Amid persistent calls to bolster their attacking ranks midway through the campaign, it was reported over the weekend that the Red Devils were considering a shock approach for Benzema.
Marquee summer signing Rasmus Hojlund has only managed two Premier League goals under Erik ten Hag so far, while the out-of-favour Anthony Martial has been missing for several weeks owing to an unspecified health problem.
Ten Hag has refused to disclose the nature of Martial’s illness, only recently stating that the Frenchman was receiving “medical treatment”, and he will seemingly be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Liverpool’s Billy Koumetio ends Dunkerque loan spell
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Liverpool have announced that defender Billy Koumetio has returned to the club from his loan spell with French outfit Dunkerque.
The 21-year-old made nine appearances for the Ligue 2 side during his time across the English Channel, making eight starts in the second tier of French football either as a centre-back or left-back.
Koumetio made six successive starts for Dunkerque between October 28 and December 5, but he has now returned to Anfield after just one half-season back in his homeland.
The former France Under-20 international returns to the Reds only a day after Calvin Ramsay‘s loan at Preston North End was terminated, while Owen Beck, Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have also ended their temporary stays elsewhere this month.
4h ago DONE DEAL
Joe White returns to Newcastle after Crewe loan
Crewe Alexandra can confirm that Joe White has returned to Newcastle United at the conclusion of his loan agreement.
We would like to thank @Joeewhite10 for his valuable contribution during his time with the Club.#CreweAlex
— Crewe Alexandra (@crewealexfc) January 16, 2024
4h ago DONE DEAL
Liverpool recall Billy Koumetio from Dunkerque loan
Billy Koumetio has returned to #LFC from his loan spell with French side USL Dunkerque 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 16, 2024
“Billy Koumetio has returned to Liverpool from his loan spell with French side USL Dunkerque,” read a statement from the club.
“The defender, who has been with the Reds since 2018, is now back at the club after spending the opening half of the season in Ligue 2, making nine appearances.
“Koumetio has twice featured for Liverpool’s senior team under Jürgen Klopp and signed his first professional contract in 2020.”
Santos: ‘Forest loan was not how I imagined’
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Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has admitted that his loan spell at Nottingham Forest ‘did not go as he had imagined’.
During pre-season, Santos played an active part for Chelsea during their tour of the United States, the initial suggestion being that he would feature in Mauricio Pochettino‘s first-team squad.
However, the decision was taken to allow the 19-year-old to make the temporary switch to the City Ground in the hope of gaining regular Premier League football.
Instead, Santos was provided with just one start – which came in an EFL Cup defeat to Burnley – and one brief substitute outing against Liverpool in the Premier League when Forest were already 3-0 down.
Transfer rumours: Lingard to MLS, Nacho to Milan, Adarabioyo renewal
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The agents of Jesse Lingard have reportedly been in touch with MLS outfit Portland Timbers to gauge their interest in a possible deal.
The 31-year-old is still without a new stomping ground following his summer departure from Nottingham Forest and recently parted ways with his previous representatives amid his failure to obtain offers.
Links with Barcelona and Saudi Arabia have led to nowhere for the ex-Manchester United man, and former loan club West Ham United have reportedly ruled out taking him back despite their attacking crisis.
According to the Daily Mail, Lingard’s new representatives are now exploring opportunities in the USA for the playmaker, and Portland Timbers are said to have been one of the teams informed of the situation.
Spurs ‘keeping tabs on Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe’
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Tottenham Hotspur reportedly hold an interest in signing Norwich City winger Jonathan Rowe.
Head coach Ange Postecoglou is currently attempting to deliver a return to the Champions League for the North London outfit, who currently occupy fifth place in the Premier League standings.
That is despite the Greek-Australian having to deal with constant injury issues this campaign, with defence, midfield and attack all being hit.
As a result, Postecoglou has moved swiftly to acquire the services of Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner since the start of the January transfer window.
Man United confirm Hannibal loan switch to Sevilla
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Manchester United have announced that Hannibal Mejbri has completed a loan switch to Sevilla.
Having made 21 starts and 17 substitute outings in the Championship for Birmingham City in 2022-23, the 20-year-old was kept in the United senior ranks by Erik ten Hag over the summer.
That is despite the wide array of midfielders that the Dutchman has at his disposal, the likelihood being that the Tunisia international would remain on the fringes.
In total, Hannibal has been provided with four starts and eight substitute appearances in all competitions, but his most recent outing in the first XI came on November 1 against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup.
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