Transfer rumours: Henderson to Ajax, Traore to Napoli, Oneyka to Everton
Sports Mole rounds up the latest January transfer rumours, including Jordan Henderson to Ajax, Hamed Traore to Napoli and Frank Onyeka to Everton.
Ajax are reportedly interested in luring Al Ettifaq midfielder Jordan Henderson to the Eredivisie before the close of the transfer window.
The 33-year-old made the highly-controversial switch to the Saudi Pro League in the summer from English giants Liverpool, where he had lifted the Premier League and Champions League as captain.
Henderson has been a key figure for Steven Gerrard’s men so far in 2023-24 but the team has struggled massively, last tasting victory in October and sitting 28 points behind league leaders Al-Hilal.
Despite playing his football outside of the European ecosystem, the former Sunderland man has continued to be selected by Gareth Southgate in England squads this campaign.
According to the The Evening Standard, Dutch giants Ajax are making a major push to bring Henderson to the Eredivisie this January, as they look make significant reinforcements for the second half of the term.
The report also claims that Bayer Leverkusen are keen on securing the services of the midfielder, with Xabi Alonso’s men on a quest to beat Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title.
It is understood that Henderson is set to have crunch talks with manager Gerrard and director of football development Mark Allen on Sunday, when the player will tell the pair that he wishes to move on.
Henderson is particularly keen on a move back to European football – especially the Premier League – as he is concerned that is losing his once-assured spot in Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
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Staying with the English top flight, Bournemouth’s Hamed Traore has allegedly attracted the attention of Napoli, with the two clubs discussing a deal for the player.
Since joining from Serie A outfit Sassuolo for Ā£21m in the summer following an initial loan spell at the Vitality Stadium, the attacking midfielder has made just three top-flight appearances.
Traore’s involvement has been severely restricted since he contracted Malaria in December, but the 23-year-old has not featured in a competitive fixture since the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in the EFL Cup on November 1.
With Traore struggling for game time on the South coast, the Daily Mail are claiming that Serie A champions Napoli are close to agreeing a temporary move for the Ivorian.
It is believed that the attacker would join the Italian giants on loan for the remainder of the campaign, with Walter Mazzarri’s men holding the option to purchase the player for Ā£22m in the summer.
AC Milan and Roma have also been linked with a move for the ex-Empoli man in the past, however it is Napoli who are leading the race for his signature currently.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Everton and Fulham are reportedly among a host of clubs who are interested in Brentford’s Frank Onyeka.
Ā© Reuters
The 26-year-old – who is currently on international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations – has started just six league matches this term and is said to be targeting regular first-team action.
That is according to The Guardian, who state that Sean Dyche’s Toffees and Fulham are keen on Onyeka, with the latter potentially set to lose Joao Palhinha in the near future amid interest from Liverpool.
Signing from Danish side Midtjylland in July 2021 for Ā£10m, the midfielder is said to be valued at Ā£20m by the Bees, however a loan switch is more likely than a permanent sale this month.
Onyeka has featured 65 times in all competitions for Thomas Frank’s side over a two-and-a-half-year period, putting pen to paper on a fresh four-year deal at the Gtech Community Stadium in the summer.
A player that could be departing Goodison Park this January is Arnaut Danjuma, who is currently on loan from La Liga club Villarreal.
The Liverpool Echo are reporting that Ligue 1 strugglers Lyon are pushing hard for the services of the Dutchman, with Les Gones two points ahead of 16th-placed Toulouse in the battle for safety.
It is understood that the ex-Tottenham Hotspur attacker wants to remain with Everton this month but is getting frustrated by his lack of game time in Merseyside.
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