Arsenal Transfer News: Plotting Chelsea Hijack & Revealing Man Utd's Secret Target

Sport | Football Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal plot Chelsea hijack; Jacquet deal agreed; secret Man Utd target revealed January window is approaching the home stretch Targets: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Marc Guehi, Jeremy Jacquet London Standard Alex Young @ alexwsyoung 1 hour ago Transfer news LIVE! The January window is already approaching the home stretch as the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool assess their squads for the second half of the Premier League season. The Gunners continue to be linked with a move for Sporting star Ousmane Diomande after missing out on Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City on Monday. Gabriel Jesus could be heading back to Brazil if Palmeiras get their way. Chelsea remain locked in talks with Rennes for star defender Jeremy Jacquet. Personal terms with the player have been agreed, but a fee is still being negotiated. The Blues want to pay no more than £50m for a club-record sale, but the French side are demanding at least £56m. The Gunners are monitoring the situation, while Liverpool continue to be linked amid uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate’s future. Man Utd have been offered Ruben Loftus-Cheek - previously dubbed a “secret target” - by AC Milan, who are willing to accept a loan-to-buy deal as the ex-Chelsea midfielder is hawked around the Premier League. Jean-Philippe Mateta is also a target. Tottenham remain determined to buy a new winger this month, despite the ongoing uncertainty over manager Thomas Frank’s future, and are wrapping up the signing of Souza. Follow the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below! Latest transfer news headlines 16 minutes ago DONE DEAL Bournemouth have announced the signing of Alex Toth. The midfielder has arrived from Ferencvaros in a deal worth a reported £10.4million. He has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal. 48 minutes ago Juve end interest in Jean-Philippe Mateta Juventus have ended their interest in Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Athletic report that the Italian giants are unwillingt to pay the €40milllion (£34.7m) asking price, and are now turning attentions to Youssef En-Nesyri. Mateta is said to have been open to the move, but no bid was made before Juve moved on to other targets. Mateta turns 29 in June and is currently set to be out of contract 12 months later. Getty Images 1 hour ago Arsenal and Nwaneri in Marseille loan talks Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri is in talks with Marseille over a loan deal for the rest of the season. That’s according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who reports that OM head coach Roberto De Zerbi has held positive talks with both Nwaneri and Mikel Arteta to push the deal towards completion. Nwaneri is yet to agree to the deal, but a final decision is imminent. There will be no option to make the move permanent, and the fee Arsenal are due wil be changeable, depending on appearances. West Ham are understood to be interested in the youngster amid ongoing uncertainty over Lucas Paqueta’s future. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1 hour ago Tottenham make move to appoint Xavi Tottenham have made a move to appoint Barcelona great Xavi as their new manager. With Thomas Frank on the brink of the sack, Spurs are exploring options to replace him and Xavi is of interest. After an approach to Xabi Alonso failed, Spurs have turned their attentions to Xavi, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes. Xavi has been out of work since leaving Barcelona in 2024, though is understood to be waiting for a Premier League job and has been learning English. "Tottenham believe it’s time to explore different profiles," the report reads. "The option of Xavi Hernández is gaining traction due to his ability to build medium-term projects and develop young talent, one of the club’s historical cornerstones. "Tottenham are looking for a manager who can bring back enthusiasm and competitiveness. In that regard, the name of Xavi Hernández is generating internal consensus as an ambitious choice, although not without risk due to his lack of previous Premier League experience." Getty Images 1 hour ago Chelsea make striker loan decision Chelsea have recalled David Datro Fofana from his loan to Turkish Super Lig strugglers Fatih Karagumruk. BBC Sport report that the Blues hope to sell the striker permanently this window. In recalling Fofana, they have also freed up an international loan slot, which may be filled by another first-team player in this window. Visionhaus/Getty Images 1 hour ago Man Utd's 'secret' January target revealed Sticking with Manchester United, they are said to be among a number of Premier League clubs that have been offered Ruben Loftus-Cheek. AC Milan are keen to offload the midfielder, and are willing to sanction a loan-to-buy deal, according to TEAMtalk. United were said to be in talks with a "secret" target, reports talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs, and the England man is said to be it. Newcastle, Sunderland, Fulham, Aston Villa, Everton and Brentford are also been sounded out by Milan. Getty Images 2 hours ago Man Utd want Joao Gomes in midfield overhaul Manchester United have a new target on their transfer shortlist in Joao Gomes. The Red Devils are plotting a midfield overhaul. Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson are all of major interest to United, while CaughtOffside now claim that they are also targeting Wolves’ Gomes. Liverpool are no longer believed to be interested in the Brazilian, though United could yet have to battle Napoli and Atletico Madrid for his signature. Getty Images 2 hours ago Arsenal monitor Ousmane Diomande and Nathaniel Brown Arsenal are looking at Ousmane Diomande after missing out on Marc Guehi. The Gunners, along with Liverpool and Bayern Munich, were keen on signing Guehi on a free transfer in the summer when his current contract at Crystal Palace expires, though injury-hit Manchester City have now swooped to sign him in January in a cut-price deal worth £20m plus add-ons. That’s left Arsenal searching for other defensive options, with CaughtOffside claiming that they are eyeing Sporting centre-back Diomande, who recently played at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast. They also claim that Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown is on the transfer radar at the Emirates Stadium. AFP via Getty Images 2 hours ago Arsenal could hijack Jeremy Jacquet deal But wait, there could be a twist in the Jeremy Jacquet tale. As Chelsea continue to struggle to agree a fee with Rennes for the young defender, it could open the door for Arsenal to hijack the deal. TEAMtalk report that the Gunners are huge admirers of Jacquet, with sporting director Andrea Berta desperate to bring to the Emirates Stadium. The one spanner in the works is, inadvertently, Ben White, who Arsenal want to shift before making a move for Jacquet. AFP via Getty Images 2 hours ago Chelsea reach Jeremy Jacquet agreement Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Jeremy Jacquet, but Rennes are holding firm over their demands over a price. The Blues want to sign a new defender this month and the French centre-back quickly emerged as their top transfer target. According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have an agreement on personal terms with Jacquet while talks with the Ligue 1 side are ongoing. A Blues contingent has travelled to France in an effort to try and lower the €65m (£56.4m) asking price that would constitute a club-record sale for the Ligue 1 outfit. AFP via Getty Images Latest updatesOlder updates