LIVE! Transfer news and rumours: Man Utd revive Benzema interest, Barca close in on Greenwood

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 24.

Stick with us below to keep up to date with all of today’s transfer rumours and done deals.

Today’s key eventsManchester United still considering Karim Benzema move
Barcelona closing in on Mason Greenwood
Manchester United lining up Marcus Edwards move
Kalvin Phillips set for West Ham medical today
Man United offer Jadon Sancho, Antony to Saudi Pro League

28m ago DONE DEAL

Watford re-sign Emmanuel Dennis on loan from Nottingham ForestThe wait is over. pic.twitter.com/GnlLdLApFG
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) January 24, 2024

“Watford FC is delighted to announce the return of Emmanuel Dennis, with the forward agreeing a loan deal with the Hornets until the end of the season,” read a statement.

“Dennis featured 35 times for the club during the 2021-22 Premier League season – including two appearances in the cup – scoring 10 goals and grabbing six assists before moving to Nottingham Forest in August 2022, having last featured for the Hornets in the opening two Championship fixtures of the season.

“The 26-year-old spent the first half of this season on loan with Istanbul Basaksehir, but makes his return to Vicarage Road for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.”

31m ago DONE DEAL

Real Sociedad sign Javi Galan on loan✍ Javi Galán joins Real Sociedad on loan deal 💙#GalánTxuriUrdin | #WeAreReal pic.twitter.com/dKAZnISzQg

— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) January 24, 2024
Burnley ‘in discussions to sign Ajax’s Carlos Forbs on loan’

Burnley have allegedly entered talks with Ajax over the loan signing of winger Carlos Forbs, with Nottingham Forest also said to be keen on the player.

The 19-year-old – who honed his skills as a youngster at Sporting Lisbon’s academy – secured a switch to the Dutch giants in the summer for around £10m from Manchester City.

Forbs caught the eye of Ajax with a goal-laden season for the Citizens’ Under-23s side, scoring 21 times in 24 Premier League 2 appearances last campaign.

The attacker also possesses international pedigree, having represented Portugal Under-21s on three occasions since making his debut at that level in August.

Click here to read the full story.

1h ago DONE DEAL

Elgin City bring in Mark Gallagher on loan from Cove Rangers— Elgin City F.C. (@ElginCityFC) January 24, 2024
1h ago DONE DEAL

Cove Rangers bring in Ola Lawal on loan from Falkirk🔵 We are delighted to confirm the arrival of Ola Lawal from Falkirk on loan for the rest of the season.

The twenty-two year old goes straight into the squad for the weekend.

Welcome to Cove, Ola 🤝#CRFC
— Cove Rangers FC (@CoveRangersFC) January 24, 2024

“I’m pleased to be here, excited to be joining Cove, and I am ready to get started, to help get the victories we need and to push on in the league campaign,” he told the club website.

“When you’re in football, it’s all about playing, and I want to start more games, to feel as if I’m playing my part. I want to prove to everyone that I’m good enough to be playing consistently at this level.

“I feel as if I’m a creative player, I think I can offer flair and skill. I know Rumarn (Burrell) from last season at Falkirk and I’m looking forward to linking-up with him again. I want to get goals and assists, that’s the best part of playing; I enjoy that, and I enjoy winning. That’s what we all want.

“It’s not an easy division, but we just need to try to get as many points as possible and look for promotion. That’s the goal for all of us.

“I’ve got to say, the gaffer has been great. He just wants me to play and to enjoy myself, to fall back in love with the game.”

Kilmarnock sign Liverpool’s James Balagizi on loan

Kilmarnock have announced the signing of Liverpool midfielder James Balagizi on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old makes the move to the Scottish Premiership after an unsuccessful spell with Wigan Athletic, where he played just seven matches in all competitions during the first half of the campaign.

Balagizi made the first XI in three EFL Trophy games and one EFL Cup match for the Latics, but he earned just 86 minutes of League One football across three substitute appearances.

After failing to make a League One matchday squad since the start of October, Balagizi was recalled to Liverpool, who immediately commenced their search for another loan destination for the Englishman.

Click here to read the full story.

Berrada to help Man United sign Benzema ahead of deadline?

Manchester United’s new CEO Omar Berrada could reportedly help the Red Devils sign Al-Ittihad centre-forward Karim Benzema before the end of the January transfer window.

The 36-year-old’s future is currently being called into question, with Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea all believed to be exploring a deal for him in the latter stages of the market.

A permanent move is highly unlikely due to the fact that Benzema earns in the region of £88m a year, but a loan switch to the Premier League is believed to be a possibility.

Benzema has played down suggestions that he wants to leave Al-Ittihad, telling reporters: “It’s completely false! The French media don’t know what to invent any more. The bigger the better.”

Click here to read the full story.

Man United ‘could make signing before end of January window’

Manchester United are reportedly open to making a signing before the end of the January transfer window.

The Red Devils have allowed Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho and Hannibal Mejbri to leave on loan this month, while youngsters Joe Hugill, Dan Gore, Rhys Bennett and Maxi Oyedele have also exited on short-term deals.

There could be further outgoings before the end of the January market, with Facundo Pellistri being heavily linked with a departure, although a switch to Granada has allegedly stalled.

Man United also no longer have Sergio Reguilon in their squad, with the Spaniard returning to parent club Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month before moving to Brentford on loan.

Click here to read the full story.

Ivo Grbic ‘arrives in England for Sheffield United medical’

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Ivo Grbic has reportedly arrived in England for a medical ahead of a move to Sheffield United.

The 28-year-old is set for a switch to the Premier League in search of regular first-team minutes, having failed to feature for Diego Simeone’s men in a competitive match during the 2023-24 term so far.

Grbic has played second fiddle to first-choice keeper Jan Oblak, however the Croatian has experience of Ligue 1 and Champions League football from his time at Lille in the 2021-22 campaign.

Since securing a switch to the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano from NK Lokomotiva in his homeland during the summer of 2020, the former Hajduk Split man has appeared just 14 times for the Spanish giants.

Click here to read the full story.

Man United’s Mason Greenwood ‘closing in on Barcelona move’

Barcelona are reportedly closing in on a deal for Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.

The 22-year-old left Man United last summer to join Getafe on loan, and he has been in strong form for the capital side this season, scoring five goals and registering four assists in 19 appearances.

As it stands, Greenwood will head back to his parent club at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, and he has a contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2025.

A recent report claimed that there was ‘a small chance’ that the Red Devils academy product could revive his career with Erik ten Hag’s side.

Click here to read the full story.

Man United ‘reject Wan-Bissaka, Dumfries swap offer’

Manchester United have reportedly turned down a swap offer from Inter Milan which would potentially seen Denzel Dumfries move to Old Trafford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka arrive at San Siro.

Dumfries, 27, is struggling to come to an agreement with Inter over a new deal, and the Dutchman’s current terms with the Italian giants are due to expire in the summer of 2025.

There has been a host of speculation surrounding the defender’s future over the last year or so, with Man United believed to be admirers of him.

Dumfries has again been a regular for his Serie A team this season, featuring on 18 occasions in all competitions, contributing two goals and four assists in the process.

Click here to read the full story.

3h ago DONE DEAL

Atletico Madrid sign goalkeeper Horatiu Moldovan— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 24, 2024
Middlesbrough ‘lay out Rogers asking price to Villa’

Middlesbrough are reportedly prepared to hold out for their desired fee for Morgan Rogers, amid interest from Aston Villa.

Before this campaign, the attacker had endured minimal success in the Championship, spending indifferent loan stints at Bournemouth and Blackpool respectively.

During that time, just two goals came from 14 starts and 21 substitute outings, yet it did not prevent Boro from taking a chance on Rogers in the summer.

The North-East outfit paid an alleged £1m to sign the 21-year-old on a contract until 2027 and the England Under-20 international has since enjoyed the best stint of his career.

Click here to read the full story.

Man United ‘eyeing £30m summer deal for Marcus Edwards’

Manchester United are reportedly considering a summer move for Sporting Lisbon attacker Marcus Edwards.

The 25-year-old came through the youth system at Tottenham Hotspur, joining the club at the age of eight, and he made his first-team debut for the capital side in September 2016.

Edwards had spells on loan at Norwich City and Excelsior in the early stages of his professional career before leaving Tottenham on a permanent basis in 2019 to make the move to Portugal with Vitoria de Guimaraes.

The forward scored 20 goals and registered 14 assists in 96 appearances during a successful period at Vitoria, which led to Sporting signing him during the winter transfer window in 2022.

Click here to read the full story.

Kalvin Phillips ‘to undergo West Ham medical on Wednesday’

Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips will reportedly be in London on Wednesday to undergo a medical with West Ham United ahead of a loan move to the London Stadium.

There has been a host of speculation surrounding the England international’s future in recent weeks, with Man City head coach Pep Guardiola giving the midfielder the green light to leave this month.

A number of clubs, including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, have been credited with an interest in the 28-year-old.

However, West Ham have emerged as the favourites this week, and it is understood that the Hammers have now come to an agreement with the Citizens over a loan deal.

Click here to read the full story.

Man United ‘offer Sancho, Antony to Saudi Pro League clubs’

Manchester United have reportedly contacted Saudi Pro League clubs to discuss transfers for Jadon Sancho and Antony, with the pair both facing uncertain futures at Old Trafford.

Sancho has not played for the Red Devils since the end of August, having fallen out with head coach Erik ten Hag after the clash with Arsenal at the start of September.

Ten Hag said that the England international was not involved at the Emirates Stadium due to poor performances in training, but the attacker insisted that was not the case in a statement on social media, claiming that he had been made “a scapegoat”.

Sancho returned to Borussia Dortmund on loan earlier this month, but there is no option for the Bundesliga outfit to make the deal permanent at the end of the campaign.

Click here to read the full story.

Transfer rumours: Trippier to Bayern, Newcastle’s Ederson blow, Rogers to Villa

Newcastle United have reportedly knocked back a €15m (£12.8m) bid from Bayern Munich for Kieran Trippier.

The former Tottenham Hotspur defender only has a little over 18 months left on his contract at St James’ Park and has been strongly linked with a move away from the North East in recent weeks.

Bayern – whose desire to sign new defenders is no secret – are believed to have identified Trippier as their number one right-back acquisition, but Newcastle will not lose him on the cheap.

According to BBC Sport, the Magpies have turned down a €15m (£12.8m) offer from their German counterparts for the 33-year-old, and it remains to be seen if Bayern will return with a revised offer.

Click here to read the full story.

7h ago