And with that, today’s race is run. We’ll be back tomorrow for the last leg of January’s month-long transfer marathon. Will Chelsea sign a striker? Will Manchester United sign a striker? All these questions and many more must be answered by 11pm GMT tomorrow. Bye for now!
We’ve just published an excellent interview with Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyaté, which I commend to you. Here’s a sample quote:
We play a game in training and if you lose, then we have to come to your home for food. Sometimes we go to Mama [Sakho]’s house, mine or [Christian] Benteke’s. My wife is a very good cook – we usually have Yassa chicken, which is a typical food from Senegal that has lots of onions, mustard and peppers served with rice and pasta. It is really nice … you will have to try it one time!
And here’s a sample photo:
And here’s the article itself:
Here’s some news about QPR’s Toni Leistner, now better known as Koln’s Toni Leistner:
QPR have allowed defender Toni Leistner to depart the club to sign for Cologne on loan until the end of the season. The 29-year-old has struggled for minutes over the last month and returns to his native Germany to play in the Bundesliga.
“At this stage of the season Toni wants assurances about first-team football and that is something we cannot guarantee any player,” QPR manager Mark Warburton told the official club website. “It is about being honest with the players and if any individual is not satisfied or is unhappy we will not stand in their way.
“The form of young Conor Masterson has entitled him to recent first-team starts and we will always give opportunities to players, regardless of their age. This move gives Toni his opportunity to play every week and we wish him well during his time with FC Koln.”
✍️ Defender @ToniLeistner has joined Bundesliga side FC Koln on loan for the rest of the season.
— QPR FC (@QPR) January 30, 2020
Best of luck, BFG! #QPR
Sander Berge now has his own news story:
So far as I can tell, Mainz are refusing to sell the French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta to Napoli even though they really want him, while Napoli are refusing to sell the Belgian forward Dries Mertens to Chelsea even though they really want him, so nobody has the forward they want. Except Mainz. And maybe Napoli.
Done deal claxon! Paco Alcácer has moved from Borussia Dortmund to Villarreal, where he has signed a four-and-a-half year deal, for a reported fee of €23m, rising to €30m. That makes him the Yellow Submarine’s record signing. Borussia are reportedly set to immediately splash that cash on Emre Can.
#AlcácerIsAYellow | Our new forward @paco93alcacer, has passed his medical, under the supervision of @AsisaSalud and has already pulled on the Yellows shirt.
— Villarreal CF English (@Eng_Villarreal) January 30, 2020
Welcome Paco! 💛#VillarrealTV 📺 pic.twitter.com/ryS3qFrTKq
Apparently Newcastle have emerged as rivals for Espanyol in their pursuit of Porto’s 28-year-old striker Vincent Aboubakar.
Sheffield United have broken their club transfer record five times in eight months. Cambridge United, Bristol Rovers & Oldham have not broken theirs since 1992.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) January 30, 2020
Done deal claxon! Krzysztof Piatek, another striker heavily linked this month with a move to the Premier League, has gone somewhere else - to Hertha Berlin to be precise.
🎵... But Piatek
— Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) January 30, 2020
He saw the light
He got the call from Michael Preetz
And off he went to Hertha BSC! 🎵#hahohe pic.twitter.com/rGiJLnWEaH
Ianis Hagi has landed in Glasgow, ahead of his move to Rangers:
📸 Ianis Hagi Rangers transfer edges closer as Genk star lands in Edinburghhttps://t.co/KfEN1bTmEZ pic.twitter.com/fmHFi4Xn5S
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) January 30, 2020
Here’s Andy Brassell on what to expect from Bruno Fernandes:
In a relatively small country, nothing stays a secret for too long. As Bruno Fernandes stepped outside his home and on to the street, he was swiftly doorstepped by a reporter from the television news station SIC. “It’s not the moment yet for my final message to Sporting fans,” he said with an amiable smile. Would he at least confirm that going to England was his preference? “It always was,” said Fernandes, without a second’s hesitation.
All things come to those who wait and how Sporting Clube de Portugal’s now-erstwhile captain has waited. In the past year it was abundantly clear that Sporting couldn’t hold him much longer, and with his talent demanding a wider audience it would have been so even if they had been in better financial shape. So Sportinguistas savoured every moment over that period, from last April’s stealthy rocket from range to oust Benfica from the Taça de Portugal in the semi-final to the deflected drive that put them on the road to victory in the Taça final against Porto.
Much more here:
Bruno Fernandes joins Manchester United
Done deal claxon! Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting on a five-and-a-half year contract, with an option to extend for another year. This is what the player has had to say on his move:
My love of Manchester United really started when I used to watch Cristiano Ronaldo play and ever since then I have been a big fan of this great club. For me to now play for Manchester United feels incredible, I have worked hard to get to this moment and I can promise the fans that I will give everything for the badge to help bring us more success and trophies. I want to thank Sporting for everything they have done for me. It is surreal to hear the nice words that have been said about me from players that used to play for this team. A massive thank you to Ole and everyone at Manchester United for the trust they have shown in me and I can’t wait to start to repay that on the pitch.
Updated
Sheffield United land Berge for £22m
Sander Berge has cost Sheffield United a club-record £22m. He’s quite young, quite good and quite tall (nearly 6ft 5in).
Velkommen, Sander ✍️ pic.twitter.com/rz1HZl09Pm
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) January 30, 2020
Updated
Here’s a transfer announcement for fans of Money Heist, the intensely gripping (for the first couple of seasons) Spanish drama:
— Valencia CF 🦇💯 (@valenciacf) January 30, 2020
Done deal claxon! Sander Berge has officially joined Sheffield United, according to Sky. Presumably this is him here:
Nah then 👀 pic.twitter.com/CjrdSKkkVX
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) January 30, 2020
“Rochdale aren’t the only north-west team with a driving school connection,” my Guardian colleague Will Dean informs me. “I first tried (and failed) to learn to drive with the Oldham Athletic-affiliated Latics School of Motoring in the early 00s. I think it has since been spun off from the club and presumably, given OAFC’s dismal last few seasons, has a much better pass rate.”
I’ve got some entertainment for your eyes and ears in the shape of this week’s Football Weekly Extra:
And David Squires’ weekly Australian sport update:
We have an update on the Jarrod Bowen situation, and it’s not good news for Newcastle:
Hang on, Rochdale have their own driving instructor? Here’s Luke Matheson, their 17-year-old right-back (he’s started 13 league games this season, the first three of them while he was still 16), who has passed his driving test today. The company he used describe themselves as “the Official Driving School of Rochdale AFC offering Professional Driving tuition to clients throughout Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and surrounding areas”.
Congratulations to @Luke_Matheson41 on passing his driving test today! 🚗👏
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) January 30, 2020
Well done Luke! 💙🙌 pic.twitter.com/EsSo6MZ8Jd
The last we heard of Willian José was that Spurs were reviving their interest in him, but can that: according to AS Tottenham have pulled out of negotiations. This leaves the Brazilian forward in a bit of a pickle, they explain, because of his refusal to play against Espanyol last week in the belief that a move to London was just hours away. He has burned some bridges at Real Sociedad but as it stands remain their player. West Ham might swoop to usher him away from this awkward situation.
The Daily Mail are reporting that Nottingham Forest are to attempt to take Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle on loan, with an obligation to buy for £15m should they get promoted. Forest are currently third in the Championship, four points behind the leaders, Leeds United, and two behind West Bromwich Albion.
Updated
One of the names that has cropped up most over the course of this month is Edinson Cavani, who has been linked to Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid a few more times. L’Equipe is now reporting that he will stay at Paris St-Germain for the remainder of the season, after the Spanish side decided not to increase their previously-rejected €15m offer for the Uruguayan frontman. He will be available on a free transfer in the summer.
A little over an hour ago we had news on Jarrod Bowen’s potential move from Hull to Newcastle, but in this mixed-up, muddled-up, shook-up world things can change fast: Sky are now reporting that Crystal Palace are ready to offer £16m plus “add-ons” for him.
This just in from Bruno Fernandes’ agent (for those who can’t see the image, it’s the midfielder in a Manchester United tracksuit, in front of a desk upon which rests a piece of paper and a pen):
Updated
The Romanian journalist Emanuel Rosu has written a bit on Twitter about Rangers-bound Ianis Hagi:
A few words about Ianis Hagi for all the Rangers fans out here: great vision, both feet, technical guru, capable of scoring impossible goals and seeing passes others don’t. Weaknesses: work rate is not impressive, sometimes tries too hard for the impossible. I hope he’ll thrive at Rangers. He’s not physical, and that’s a fear I have, but he can find a place where he’s valued and I think that will make him show what he’s made of! Come on, kid!
Right, my watch is over. Simon Burnton is here to take you through the next little bit.
Reports of medicals have slowed, but i’m sure that behind closed doors, stethoscopes are a go-go.
“Ian Ormandroyd,” begins Chris Fenton. “The original Crouch. Bradford City legend?? For a team that once had Fellaini...this is a step up in quality.”
United should probably sign Tony Daley to make sure he has the service he needs.
Updated
Steven Nzonzi is in France, and should join Rennes on loan from Roma.
Manchester United are seeking to open talks with Ian Olney and Ian Ormondroyd.
Danny Rose is expected at Newcastle’s training ground shortly. His loan comes with no obligation to buy.
Thinking about deals already done, I wonder how Jurgen Klopp will use Takumi Minamino. Had Liverpool had a player of that ilk, they’d probably have won the league last season, but now they have Oxlade-Chamberlain fit and a system that doesn’t include him works. Obviously there are lots of games, but in the biggest ones, I’d expect the midfield three to be Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum.
Rondon scored 28 goals in 120 appearances for West Brom.
Manchester United are considering Salomón Rondón after their 18-month offer of a loan deal for Krzysztof Piątek fell through. More @hirstclass https://t.co/W2rZyyS3cI
— Gary Jacob (@garyjacob) January 30, 2020
Dean Smith is still looking for a striker, because if there’s one thing of which Villa are short, it’s strikers. He’s not ruling out players coming in, leaving, or nothing happening.
Marcos Rojo has rejoined his boyhood club Estudiantes on loan 🇦🇷
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 30, 2020
We'll never forget this totally unnecessary rabona 😂🤪pic.twitter.com/LyA9broQ92
I enjoyed this, but I’ve always been a toast man.
Manchester United have signed Nathan Bishop, a 20-year-old goalie, from Southend United. Tangentially, after watching for former warm up last night I’ve decided to apply for Lee Grant’s job.
Sorry to be that guy but understand Spurs are not looking to bid for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. I can't imagine Southampton would let him go anyway even if someone did come in.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) January 30, 2020
Krzysztof Piatek is moving from AC Milan to Hertha Berlin. Spurs had been interested, apparently, but there were concerns about how well he’d gel with Serge Aurier.
Gosh.
Spanish police break up a doping ring based in Barcelona that was providing EPO to "a large number of national and international athletes in different disciplines and at different levels". No names revealed, but sporting bodies are likely to be informed of them https://t.co/X3qOecoRXk
— Peter Cossins (@petercossins) January 30, 2020
Newcastle are trying for Olivier Giroud and Jarrod Bowen. Here’s more on that...
Brendan Rodgers is after some defensive cover. There’s no indication of the form it might take.
I can’t recall which commentator it was, but I once heard someone pronounce Tom Soares’ surname the same way Cedric Soares pronounces his.
What an incredible job Hassenhuttl has done at Southampton these last couple of months. What a peculiar league it is that has them ninth.
Updated
Check out our transfer window interactive.
Ralph Hassenhuttl, manager of the year, is giving a press conference. It looks like Cedric Soares is off to Arsenal! Verily, I do not know.
“Is Southampton’s business done?
“So far, yes.”
Updated
Here's one for the 80s and 90s kids! Rangers have got Ianis Hagi in, on loan with an option to buy, from Genk.
He is, of course, the son of Georghe, the Maradona of the Carpathians. Boy could play.
Nabil Bentaleb, who looked a player at Spurs until he fell out with Mauricio Pochettino, has told Sky he’d like his move to become permanent. He’s asked if he thinks Danny Rose is good; he says yes, he does think that Danny Rose is good. More news as I get it.
Sky are reporting that Spurs want Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – but Arsenal and Everton are also interested. That one might not happen until the end of the season if, indeed it happens.
Roy Hodgson has no updates on Nathan Ferguson, but is hoping for an update from Dougie Freedman. He is amazed to discover that his club are linked with Yannick Carrasco and that other teams are linked with Patrick van Aanholt. He is less definitive about Connor “Chief” Wickham, who he says needs to play but can’t leave if he’s needed.
Potter has nothing to say on Gaetan Bong, who is with Forest. He’s not trained today but nothing is confirmed. Potter won’t speak about Mac Allister and reiterates the importance of Glenn Murray, who’d like to play more. He seems to be staying at the not Goldstone Ground.
“Life goes on,” says Graham Potter. That is a relief.
As was Celtic-Racing the previous season.
Talking of Estudiantes, here’s their World Club Cup tussle with Manchester United in 1968. It was rough.
Brighton are hoping to get the tremendously-named Alexis Mac Allister back from Boca Juniors. Previously, he hadn’t been awarded a work permit, but that is now in place.
Marcos Rojo, who was in the away end at the Etihad last night wearing an alluring orange puffa, is close to sealing his return to Estudiantes, on loan.
Updated
Buzzing to find out for which game he’s getting rushed back.
Working hard. Making progress. pic.twitter.com/2ZXnPgPFAG
— Harry Kane (@HKane) January 30, 2020
As per the below, Chelsea are reportedly up for Dries Mertens. But so are ... yes ... Inter. He’d be a nofty acquisition for either.
Apparently Everton have kaybeed Barcelona’s £80m bid for Richarlison. I wonder about him: he looks to have all the attributes to be a serious players. I wonder what he makes of it all.
Chris Wilder, wearing a coat and snood in doors – maybe he’s not staying long, but can’t expect to feel the benefit when he leaves – expects to bring in maybe three players. A deal is close for Sander Berge who is, apparently, in Sheffield.
This thread is excellent for those who’d like more information on Fernandes, and to have that information presented in words not numbers.
Bruno Fernandes is an exceptional footballer. Will he do well at Manchester United? A thread. pic.twitter.com/HVPIm6Czif
— Tom Kundert (@PortuGoal1) January 28, 2020
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said last night that Fernandes is “fit and ready to play”. He also said he needs someone read to “break their nose” to score – a repudiation, no doubt, of Anthony Martial who plays like he wouldn’t even break win.
Afternoon all and thanks Tom. A man is stood outside Old Trafford – “a veteran of many deadline days”, sweardown someone just said that – explaining that Bruno Fernandes is having a medical.
And with that, I’ll hand you over to Daniel Harris, who’ll sort the afternoon’s wheat from the chaff for you. Email him here if you fancy. Bye.
Into Ligue 1, and a sizeable deal reported from Lyon, who have signed the defensive midfielder Bruno Guimarães for €20m. AP reports that the 22-year-old Guimares has joined from the Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense until June 2024.
A couple of nuggets of Football League news: Cardiff have signed the Bournemouth defender Brad Smith on loan for the rest of the season. The Australian international has been on loan at the MLS club Seattle since March. And Scunthorpe have sacked their manager, Paul Hurst, as the Iron flounder in the bottom half of League Two. What’s happened with Hurst? His Shrewsbury side of a couple of years ago were really highly regarded, but since his ill-fated Ipswich move nothing’s really worked for him.
More Barcelona talk: the Spanish champions are reportedly preparing a £20m offer for Chelsea’s Willian, according to Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol. Meanwhile his near-namesake Willian José is set to be the target of a revived bid from Spurs for his services. But we’re living off speculative scraps at the moment without the meat and potatoes of proper Done Deals.
More from Sheffield United: Sander Berge’s fee has been agreed, release clause/add-ons being negotiated, and his agent is at the Blades’ training ground, the Guardian’s own Jamie Jackson tells us. It will be a club record if the deal for Genk’s Norway midfielder gets over the line.
Updated
“Hi Tom.” Hi Justin Frost. “Restos, Berge and, according to the Beeb, Dutch striker Richairo Zivkovic. Is Chris Wilder a secret FM fanatic? All three wonderkids were the backbone of my mighty Torquay United team who went on to dominate the Premier league and Europe. I predict a future Blades dominance. Also rumours of Richarlison going to Barca. Really? Brief glimpses of quality but generally mediocre. The mind boggles …”
Sometimes I think these huge-price thwarted deals are just thrown out there to give us something to talk about while nothing much happens. Anyway, I’d like to know more about Torquay’s era of European dominance. Not before time, frankly.
Manchester United latest: Bruno Fernandes is at the club’s training ground, and according to Sky “literally crawling to the finish line” in completing his medical (no pictures of this literal crawling yet available). Confirmation of the deal is expected in late-afternoon. Fernandes may even make his debut against Wolves on Saturday. United might yet be in for a striker in the next 35 hours too.
There’s reports afoot that Manchester City have gazumped Barcelona in the pursuit of the teenage right-back Yan Couto and secured a €15m deal with the Brazilian club Coritiba for the 17-year-old’s service.
Yahoo Sports reports that Manchester City have swooped in late to thwart a €10m move to Barcelona and bring Couta to the Premier League. Couto’s Coritiba contract was set to expire at the end of the season. The report says that Couto will travel to England to finalise the details and confirm the deal, but will have to return to Coritiba for a few months before turning 18 in June, when he will officially move to Manchester.
Meanwhile, sometime Chelsea and Spurs target Krzysztof Piatek has arrived in Berlin for a medical ahead of his move from Milan to Hertha.
Updated
The Bristol City captain Josh Brownhill will undergo a medical at Burnley this afternoon ahead of a move that could be worth up to £10m. Going in the opposite direction, in a separate deal, is the striker Nahki Wells, who spent the first half of this season on loan at Queens Park Rangers.
Brownhill has matured into one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Championship since joining the club from Preston in 2016. Earlier this season City manager Lee Johnson said: “He is a very good student and has been since I first took him on loan to Barnsley. I could see that there was a superstar in the making. He probably goes down as one of the value signings in Bristol City’s history.”
Nathan Ferguson, also included in the Guardian’s guide to the most promising players in the Championship this season, is set to join Crystal Palace before window shuts.
Over in Serie A, Roma have signed the Barcelona forward Carles Pérez in a deal worth an initial €11m, ESPN is reporting. Perez, who has made 10 appearances in La Liga this season, has signed a contract with Roma until 2024.
More Sheffield United news: As well as signing Sander Berge, Chris Wilder is hoping to nail down a deal for the Bayer Leverkusen and Greece defender Panagiotis Retsos. More when and if we get it.
Here’s more on Podence’s move to Wolves, from PA Media
Wolves have completed the signing of Portuguese winger Daniel Podence from Olympiacos on a four-and-a-half-year deal. The fee is understood to be £17m, which makes the 24-year-old the third most expensive signing in the club’s history behind Raul Jimenez (£32m) and Adama Traore (£18m).
Podence becomes the 10th Portuguese player within manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s current squad, and is part of the same Sporting Lisbon academy that produced goalkeeper Rui Patricio and midfielder João Moutinho.
Podence made 40 appearances for Sporting before joining Greek Super League side Olympiacos in August 2018, scoring 11 goals in 64 appearances. Internationally, Podence has been capped at five different youth levels, playing alongside current Wolves players Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota for Portugal Under-21s.
Wolves are now awaiting international clearance for their latest capture, which makes him a doubt to be available for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Speaking about his move, Podence told the club website: “I’m very excited. It was always a childhood dream of mine to play in the Premier League and I look at this achievement as a dream come true.
“Wolves are a team with a big project, with ambitious goals to look forward to, where I’ll get to meet former team-mates with whom I had the pleasure to play with in the past and I hope to be very successful here.”
Unsurprisingly, one of the main reasons he has joined Wolves is due to the considerable Portuguese contingent at the club. He added: “Of course, I spoke with Rui, but I also know Ruben, Jota and Moutinho very well. “I think that’s going to be a big help for me to adapt to English football, which is challenging. It’s really good to have well-known faces around.”
So, this Chelsea link to a Dries Mertens bid then? Reports from Italy suggest Chelsea have bid €5.5m (£4.6m) for the 32-year-old, whose contract with Napoli expires in the summer. Frank Lampard hasn’t had it all his own way on Chelsea’s return to window-world after their ban, and Mertens might be tempted, given the indifferent season Napoli are having domestically. We shall see.
In Manchester United deals actually going ahead, Bruno Fernandes is in Manchester now having his medical. But not before issuing a tearful video to Sporting Lisbon fans about how much he loved their club. “There were important moments that made a mark on my career. I went through many positive things and many negative things,” he told Sporting TV.
Done deal! Wolves sign Daniel Podence
Breaking news: Wolves have managed to land the winger Daniel Podence from Olympiacos on a four and a half year deal for a fee thought to be around £17m, and here’s the now-obligatory portentous video montage to mark it.
✍️ P O D E N C E I S H E R E pic.twitter.com/9IezCGBDgo
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 30, 2020
Updated
Chelsea loaning out promising starlets is a January staple. And you can read about one such, Conor Gallagher, here. Ben Fisher met him for a chat, a couple of weeks into his loan spell at Swansea, about recovering from heart surgery, Frank Lampard and what he hopes to achieve at the Liberty and beyond.
What to make of a couple of today’s more eye-opening tidbits, Everton rebuffing a whopping £85m bid from Barcelona for Richarlison, and the speculation that Manchester United want another garlanded 30-something, Barça’s Ivan Rakitic? In stuff definitely happening, Sander Berge has arrived in south Yorkshire to finalise his move to Sheffield United from Genk.
First off, a couple of Championship deals to tell you about. Bristol City have secured a deal for second-tier perennial Nahki Wells from Burnley. Wells spent the first half of the season on loan at QPR, and now the forward is set to bolster the Robins’ attacking options. He’s due a medical at Ashton Gate later today. Elsewhere, Luton have signed Tottenham’s Cameron Carter-Vickers on loan to reinforce a defence that needs reinforcing; the Championship’s bottom club have shipped 63 goals this term.
Preamble
Morning everyone, and welcome to our penultimate day of the transfer window liveblog, where we’ll be bringing you all the latest developments, endeavouring to sort transfer news wheat from chaff and generally make sense of things as clubs, players and Mr 15%s try to drag deals, coughing and wheezing, over the line. Or not. This is all either as thrilling and dramatic as football gets away from the pitch or a breathless absurd ritual of waving money in the public’s face, depending on your perspective, and how your club’s getting on in the market.
Anyway, on to business. Here’s a recap of some of the latest stories:
Tottenham’s Danny Rose is heading north-east on a Newcastle loan deal:
Chelsea are looking to make a late swoop for Napoli’s Dries Mertens:
Manchester United’s protracted pursuit of Bruno Fernandes is finally set to be completed:
And Arsenal are getting some defenders in:
Updated
