LIVE! Transfer news and rumours: Man Utd considering Benzema loan, Fernandez set to leave Man Utd
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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 Sunday, January 14.
Stick with us below to keep up to date with all of today’s transfer rumours and done deals.
Today’s key eventsMan United considering Karim Benzema loan
Liverpool line up Caoimhin Kelleher replacement
Man United’s Alvaro Fernandez set for Benfica loan
Manchester United open to loan deals this month
Erik ten Hag rejects suggestions he is a disciplinarian
Bruno Guimaraes release clause ‘can be paid in three lots of £32m’
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Suitors for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes could supposedly spread the cost of his release clause into three affordable payments.
Since departing Lyon for St James’ Park midway through the 2021-22 season, the Brazil international has blossomed into one of the finest all-around midfielders in Europe, helping to propel the Magpies back into the Champions League earlier than expected.
From 87 appearances in a Newcastle jersey, Guimaraes has scored 11 goals and set up 10 more, despite often being deployed as Eddie Howe’s number six due to a lack of other available options.
Amid interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Chelsea, Newcastle agreed a long-term renewal with Guimaraes in October, tying him down until the end of the 2027-28 campaign.
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Liverpool eye Anthony Patterson as Caoimhin Kelleher replacement?
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Liverpool have reportedly earmarked Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson as a possible transfer target if Caoimhin Kelleher leaves the club in the near future.
For the past five years, Kelleher has played second fiddle to the undroppable Alisson Becker at Anfield, often being restricted to EFL Cup and FA Cup appearances under Jurgen Klopp.
Since being promoted to the Liverpool first team in 2019 – four years after joining the Reds’ academy from Irish outfit Ringmahon – Kelleher has played just 32 times for Liverpool, keeping 12 clean sheets in the process.
Only seven of those outings have come in the Premier League – including two matches against Fulham and Sheffield United earlier in the 2023-24 campaign – but he has played every minute of the Reds’ EFL Cup run and started five of their Europa League group-stage games this term.
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Man United ‘considering six-month loan deal for Benzema’
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Manchester United are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Al-Ittihad centre-forward Karim Benzema on loan for the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.
The 36-year-old left Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer to move to the Saudi Pro League, and he has represented Al-Ittihad on 20 occasions, scoring 12 goals and registering five assists in the process.
Benzema has managed nine goals and five assists in 15 appearances in the Saudi Pro League this season, but Al-Ittihad are down in seventh position in the table, 25 points behind the leaders Al-Hilal.
Al-Ittihad will not be back in action until the start of February, but there has been doubt over Benzema’s involvement in his side’s upcoming tour of Dubai.
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Getafe forward Borja Mayoral addresses Arsenal speculation
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Getafe forward Borja Mayoral has admitted that he has been “surprised” by suggestions that Arsenal are looking to sign him during the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old has been in impressive form for his capital club during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring 14 goals and registering one assist in 22 appearances in all competitions.
Mayoral has 12 goals and one assist in La Liga this term, while he has managed two goals in three outings in this season’s Copa del Rey.
A recent report claimed that Arsenal had launched a £22m offer for the Spain international, which had been quickly rejected by Getafe.
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Sergi Roberto addresses Barcelona future after Xavi backing
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Sergi Roberto is hopeful that he will spend at least another season at Barcelona, with the Spaniard calling for the club to hand him an extension.
The 31-year-old’s existing deal with the Catalan outfit is due to expire at the end of June, although the La Liga champions have the option to extend the contract for a further 12 months.
Earlier this month, Barcelona boss Xavi called for the club to renew Roberto’s deal, calling him an “important” part of his plans at Camp Nou moving forward.
“I would recommend to the club that they renew Sergi Roberto. They already know it. He is important, he can play in many positions,” Xavi told reporters.
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Alvaro Fernandez ‘to join Benfica on loan with buy option’
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Manchester United defender Alvaro Fernandez is reportedly set to join Portuguese giants Benfica on loan with an option to buy.
The 20-year-old has been on loan at Granada, making 14 appearances for the La Liga outfit this season, but his time at the club has now come to an end.
There has been a host of speculation surrounding his future over the last week, with Benfica believed to have stepped up their interest in the left-back.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Fernandez will travel to Portugal on Monday to undergo a medical with the Eagles ahead of a move.
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Real Madrid defender Nacho provides update on future
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Experienced defender Nacho has said that he is “very happy” at Real Madrid but has revealed a decision over his future at club level has not yet been made.
The 33-year-old’s contract at Bernabeu is due to expire at the end of June, and there have been claims that he could move on this summer in search of a fresh challenge, with clubs from the MLS thought to be keen.
Nacho has been a regular for Los Blancos this season, making 20 appearances in all competitions, and he will be an important player for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the second half of the campaign, as both Eder Militao and David Alaba have ACL injuries.
The Spaniard captained Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday, playing the full 120 minutes of the tie.
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Transfer rumours: Mukiele to Bayern, Clarke to West Ham, Lascelles to Bestikas
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Bayern Munich are reportedly determined to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Nordi Mukiele during the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old was linked with a number of clubs during his time at RB Leipzig, including Manchester United, but he moved to PSG in the summer of 2022.
Mukiele has struggled for action during the 2023-24 campaign, only making 10 appearances in all competitions, and there has been speculation surrounding his future.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, discussions between Bayern and PSG are taking place, with the Bundesliga giants keen to sign him before the end of the month.
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Man United, Chelsea to rival Bayern for Jonah Kusi-Asare?
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Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly the latest two clubs to show an interest in signing Swedish attacking starlet Jonah Kusi-Asare.
The 16-year-old arrived at the AIK Fotboll academy last winter and has already earned promotion to their senior squad, playing four matches off the bench in the 2023 Allsvenskan season.
Kusi-Asare’s first-team debut for AIK came in a 3-0 win over Varbergs BoIS in August 2023, making him the club’s youngest-ever player at 16 years, one month and 24 days.
A physically intimidating striker, Kusi-Asare – who was born in 2007 – already stands at 6ft 5in tall, and he is the son of former Sweden Under-21 striker Jones Kusi-Asare, who represented several clubs in the country during his career.
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Ten Hag: ‘Man United need hungry players who fight for the club’
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag defiantly responded that he is only willing to work with “hungry” players who “fight” for the badge amid further questioning of his treatment of Jadon Sancho.
The Dutchman’s protracted feud with the English winger has now surpassed the four-month mark since he omitted him from the squad for their 3-1 loss to Arsenal in the first week of September.
Rather than revealing an injury to Sancho, Ten Hag bluntly stated that the 23-year-old had missed out by virtue of poor displays on the training pitches, a version of events which the player strongly refuted.
In a bombshell social media statement, Sancho alleged that he had been made a “scapegoat” and has consistently refused to apologise to Ten Hag for effectively labelling him a liar, leading to his banishment from the first-team picture.
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Erik ten Hag open to Man United loan deals this month
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has insisted that his side must be on the lookout for suitable loan deals in the January transfer market.
Having flattered to deceive in the Premier League in the first half of the 2023-24 season, as well as suffering early EFL Cup and Champions League exits, Red Devils fans have been crying out for January reinforcements.
However, with Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana arriving in a trio of big-money deals over the summer, club chiefs have played down Man United’s ability to splash the cash during the winter window.
Furthermore, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% purchase of the club for £1.3bn is yet to be ratified by the Premier League, and back in July, Man United were fined just over £250,000 by UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules over a four-year period from 2019 to 2022.
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