Summary
That’s it from me for today. Here’s a neat (short) summary of what’s gone down.
- The big news was Andros Townsend’s £12m move to Newcastle from Tottenham.
- Emmanuel Adebayor looks set to join Crystal Palace.
- Alexandre Pato will fly to London overnight for a medical at Chelsea, while Ramires is heading to China.
- Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford has signed a new contract, while Sam Allardyce is stepping up his interest in the Swansea striker André Ayew. The Welsh club do not want to sell but Fabio Borini might be used as weight in a potential deal.
- Allardyce is also hoping to hijack Aston Villa’s loan move for Mathieu Debuchy, who harbours ambitions of being in the France squad at the European Championship.
- Gastón Ramírez has joined Middlesbrough on loan for the rest of the season.
- Shola Ameobi has offered to play for Bolton for free and Paul Robinson, the former Blackburn goalkeeper, has signed for Burnley as back-up.
Nick Miller. Not this one. Nor this one. But this one will be back at 9am GMT tomorrow to take you through another action-packed day. Thanks for reading. Bye!
Updated
Alexandre Pato is to fly to London overnight to finalise a six-month loan deal with Chelsea after the move was sanctioned by his current club, Corinthians, with the Brazil forward hoping his form convinces the Premier League club to make the move permanent in the summer.
Chelsea expect to conclude the sale of Ramires for an initial £20m to the Chinese club Jiangsu Suning in the next 48 hours, with the Brazil midfielder to undergo a medical on Wednesday. That deal has been negotiated by the director, Marina Granovskaia, and represents a fine profit for a 28-year-old bought from Benfica for £18m back in 2010. Ramires, who has not started a Premier League game under Guus Hiddink’s interim stewardship, has been offered a four-year contract by Jiangsu.
Mauro Zárate has given himself a trademark since leaving West Ham for Fiorentina
"MZ7" pic.twitter.com/BTdSJCeSW7
— Mauro Zarate (@mau_zeta) January 26, 2016
Shola Ameobi is offering to play for free for the remainder of the season, according to reports in the Bolton News. He is out of contract after joining the club on a three-month deal in October and the club are considering an application to the Football League for dispensation that would allow him play without being paid despite being under a transfer embargo.
Not a transfer but … Jordan Pickford has signed a new contract at Sunderland, tying him to the Black Cats until 2020.
Chris Dawson has confirmed his departure from Leeds United. He joined the club as a six-year-old. And Tommaso Bianchi is also bidding farewell to Elland Road, joining Ascoli on loan at first but with a view to a permanent transfer.
— Chris Dawson (@Chris_dawson7) January 26, 2016
Three players from Italy and Germany who might be worth a look for Premier League clubs
In the absence of any transfer news, a plea from Queen’s Park.
Missing: Harry the Hoopo...If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of our mascot's head, please contact us. pic.twitter.com/lL98GmHsBP
— Queen's Park FC (@queensparkfc) January 26, 2016
What is it about Scotland and mascots?
Updated
Sam Allardyce is hoping to persuade Mathieu Debuchy to snub a move from Arsenal to Aston Villa and join Sunderland instead. Full story here.
An interesting move, this. Most recently at Kilmarnock, the former Liverpool player is now on his way to south-east Hungary.
According to our sources Nathan Eccleston has agreed a deal with Békéscsaba and will travel with the team for training camp in Turkey.
— Gergely Marosi (@emgergo) January 26, 2016
Alexandre Pato’s agent, Gilmar Veloz, has been speaking on Brazilian TV and says the striker’s loan move from Corinthians to Chelsea will happen and there is an option for the move to be made permanent in the summer. Pato is expected to fly to London overnight and have a medical tomorrow.
@alansmith90 Do you think Spurs will use some of the £12m from Townsend for a Vertonghen replacement?
— Daniella Mogilner (@DMogilner) January 26, 2016
If Vertonghen was out long-term you would imagine so but he says he expects to be back in a few weeks. The initial diagnosis suggests it will be two months, he is hopeful it will be less. Although Thibaut Courtois missed three with a similar injury. It is a good chance for Kevin Wimmer to make an impact though.
More on Gastón Ramírez’s move to Middlesbrough right here. And Andros Townsend has been back on Twitter. Please do not use your phone when driving, Andros. It’s dangerous.
Emotional..... 😢 #16years pic.twitter.com/QghZymh6PB
— andros townsend (@andros_townsend) January 26, 2016
@alansmith90 Given the unpredictability of the title race, do you think a totally left-field signing could swing it? Balotelli to Leicester?
— Matt Collins (@charitychap) January 26, 2016
Yes to the first question but certainly no to the second. Balotelli to Leicester? No chance. They are instead interested in bringing the striker Eder in from Sampdoria. Internazionale are also interested in the striker but it’s understood his current club would rather he didn’t move to a Serie A rival.
Branislav Mihic emails: “Does he need a work permit since Croatia entered the EU?”
Yes, due to Home Office rules beyond my understanding. There was an appeal and it was unsuccessful because he has not played in 75% of his country’s games in the past two years. More background here.
A couple of well mooted moves for some time are in similar positions: Pato is on his way to Chelsea for a medical. He will sign on loan from Corinthians until the end of the season. And at Watford Mario Suárez is also expected to have a medical before signing a four-year contract, joining from Fiorentina.
Sky are reporting that Lovre Kalinic, the Hadjuk Split goalkeeper, might move to Aston Villa. But he was, er, denied a work permit with everything agreed last week.
Is Emmanuel Adebayor about to sign for Crystal Palace? The Evening Standard say he will join today and be in the squad for this weekend’s Cup game with Stoke. And Dwight Gayle might be on his way out of Selhurst Park amid interest from Swansea.
Loan deal!
Christian Atsu, who was at Bournemouth this season but not really after a succession of injuries, is fit and well again it would seem. Málaga have unveiled him this afternoon. He will be there on loan until the end of the season. Will he ever make the grade at Chelsea?
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Just as I say that, a done deal in a Premier League club’s backroom staff. We’ll take it. Eric Black’s move to become Remi Garde’s first-team coach at Aston Villa, heavily mooted in the last few days has been rubber stamped.
Bit of a lunchtime lull on the done deals front. Heard a whisper? Think you know exactly what – or who – your team needs? Tell us.
Good lord. Basel have turned down a €27m offer from Wolfsburg for Breel Embelo, acc to Kicker. He's 18! https://t.co/dqTpj7tQkp
— Marcus Christenson (@m_christenson) January 26, 2016
That’s some serious money – although Embolo, who Paul Doyle profiled back in 2014, is going to be a seriously good player.
Done deal!
Maccabi Tel Aviv have signed Orlando Sa on a three-and-a-half-year contract from Reading. He scored five times for the Championship club this season.
Done deal!
Paul Robinson is no longer a free agent! The former Blackburn goalkeeper, now 36, has joined their arch rivals Burnley on loan as cover for Tom Heaton until the end of the season.
An email from Chris Quinn: “That should set off a domino effect now with Birmingham getting Diego Fabbrini on a permanent deal from Watford – with Boro sending him back from his loan spell to make it happen – and then Andrew Shinnie signing for Rotherham on loan from Birmingham. Not sure who Rotherham will send out from there so my trail has gone cold, but you get the gist.” Any thoughts, readers?
Loan deal!
Middlesbrough, whose promotion charge has hit a slight road bump with consecutive defeats, have bolstered their attacking options by bringing in Gaston Ramírez on loan from Southampton. He will reportedly take a big hit on his £60,000-a-week pay packet, dropping to £40,000, with half of that coming from Boro and the other half coming from his parent club.
We mentioned Sunderland and Seydou Doumbia earlier but it now looks like they will maintain interest in Swansea’s Andre Ayew despite having a bid for him rejected.
A done deal that does not warrant a key event … #official
OB Odense confirms the signing of Nigerian midfielder Izunna Uzochuwku on a 3 year contract. #official
— Danish Football News (@DanishFooty) January 26, 2016
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David Phillips has sent us this clip of Otis Khan, who has signed for Barnsley, appearing on Ninja Warrior. It’s certainly more exciting than pictures of footballers giving thumbs up with a heart monitor attached to them.
Alec Cochrane has also messaged in about the video, adding: “I remember because my other half said to me that she was surprised that a top flight team would let someone appear on a TV show after the Kevin Keagan thing and I still haven’t stopped laughing at the thought of Sheffield Utd being a top flight team.”
And here is more on Townsend’s transfer.
Newcastle United have ageed a £12m deal to sign the winger Andros Townsend from Spurs.
Townsend, who has barely featured for his club this campaign and has played only 64 minutes in the Premier League in total, has been targeted by Newcastle’s manager, Steve McClaren, for several weeks as he seeks to strengthen his squad for the battle against relegation.
Been an absolute pleasure playing with the u21 boys the last 3 or 4 months! ⚽️👊🏽 pic.twitter.com/twToa07moe
— andros townsend (@andros_townsend) January 25, 2016
I do wonder how Andros Townsend’s girlfriend will find out he is moving Tyneside …
@FootballManager do you wanna tell her or shall I? @Hazelosullivan1 pic.twitter.com/3GkgMEgiMy
— andros townsend (@andros_townsend) September 18, 2015
An email from Mark Russon: “I was a big fan of the window but the last couple have been very depressing. Why in the richest league in the world is the big, big news always players leaving and going to Barca, Madrid or Bayern? Are there a lack of players for the clubs to have, or are the English clubs being a little tight on money? Oh also if you want to make something up just so we can get a little excited I’ll happily take the blame. Pleaseeee!!!”
Why do we need to make things up when there are £12m moves going through? This is exciting stuff! As for the big, big news all the top, top players are going to those teams because success breeds success. Plus there’s the weather (maybe not so much in Bayern). And the food (maybe not so much in Bavaria). And the winter break (definitely in the Bundesliga). And lots of other reasons that I can’t list now because there is so much transfer chat to get through.
Done deal!
Newcastle have agreed a fee of £12m for Andros Townsend from Spurs. Confirmation is expected soon.
Updated
Some more west London news: Michael Madl of Sturm Graz is having a medical at Fulham later today. It will have to be a loan due to the terms of Fulham’s transfer embargo. Madl is a central defender.
Done deal!
Otis Khan – what a wonderful name – has joined Barnsley after being released by Sheffield United. The 20-year-old was an apprentice at Manchester United and impressed while on trial at Oakwell. The Tykes’ head coach Lee Johnson told the club’s official website: “Otis did really well in his trial arranged by our recruitment team and we’re pleased he’s joined us. He excelled at Conference level recently with Barrow and this is a great opportunity for him to kickstart his career.”
Khan added a fine dose of cliches: “I’m really happy to sign. It’s a really young squad and I’m happy to have the chance. I’m over the moon to be here. I’d say I’m an attacking midfielder who likes to create and score goals. I want to create opportunities for players and myself.”
Alan Judge has been linked with a move away from Brentford for weeks but he remains in west London with a week to go. And the Championship club’s head coach, Dean Smith, is hopeful it will stay that way. “I’ve got a little transfer window calendar and on 2 February when I open it hopefully it’s a big, chocolate Alan Judge!”
Might the other Ivorian striker in Roma’s squad, Seydou Doumbia, end up at Sunderland? He was also lined up for a move to China but is understood not to be keen. Sam Allardyce likes the look of him, though fellow strugglers Swansea and table-toppers Leicester are apparently interested.
A huge revelation at Guardian Towers as football war correspondent Nick Ames enters the building dressed for a snowstorm only to tell us he wrote this morning’s Rumour Mill in the sky – using Norwegian Air’s wifi – on his way back to London from Stockholm.
One problematic striker is enough for Tony Pulis, he does not want a second*. Mario Balotelli is not going to end up at The Hawthorns according to the Express and Star
*He actually doesn’t want any. Will Saido Berahino, limited to the odd appearance off the bench, get the move he wants? I was unlucky to be at Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa and the young striker was – being kind here – very far off the pace.
This is eye-watering! Derby are without a win in five, 5th in the table and six points off the automatic promotion places.
Cost of Dortmund's XI that beat Bayern 5-2 and won league+cup double in 2012 = £15m. Cost of Derby XI that lost 4-1 to Burnley = £23m #dcfc
— Tom Thorogood (@TomThorogood17) January 26, 2016
Updated
West Ham are in line to sign Emmanuel Emenike from Fenerbahce. They are expected to hold talks today. “There is no clear agreement about Emenike,” said the West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic, yesterday. “He is an important player but Fenerbahce may need another striker first, so it’s by no means certain that they will release him.”
With Townsend on his way, could Spurs spend some money on a new defender after this big blow? Vertonghen has been one of if not the outstanding centre-halves this season.
Further assessment & scans have confirmed that @Jan_Vertonghen sustained damage to his medial collateral ligament in his knee at Palace.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 26, 2016
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Is Alex Teixeira worth more than £28m? Shakhtar Donetsk believe so and have told Liverpool it’s not enough. Jürgen Klopp said he will not pay “Disneyland money” for the 26-year-old but it seems a lot of money for a player who has not even made an appearance for one of the weakest Brazil teams in history. Will Liverpool go again and chuck an extra couple of million in?
Done deal!
And we’re only here 15 minutes! The former Arsenal striker Gervinho has joined Hebei China Fortune from Roma for a reported €15m.
#MercatOfficiel : Le #Hebei China Fortune s'offre #Gervinho en provenance de l'AS Roma. pic.twitter.com/Vntm8pKDmN
— ► Top Mercato (@TopMercato) January 26, 2016
One move that we could see completed today is Andros Townsend – remember him? – heading from White Hart Lane to St James’ Park. As Ed Aarons reported in this morning’s paper, Tottenham’s chairman, Daniel Levy, had originally demanded that they pay £14m to secure the 24-year-old and rejected Newcastle’s opening offer of £10m earlier this month. But Mauricio Pochettino would like to free up some space in his squad and has given the nod for the England attacker, who he is no great fan of anyway, to go.
Today’s rumour mill is here! Victor Wanyama could be heading for north London – but will it be White Hart Lane or the Emirates? Gareth Bale is apparently put off joining Manchester United for obvious reasons, but would Claudio Bravo join if David de Gea leaves for Real Madrid? (And yes, we are shamelessly discussing moves likely to happen in the summer)
Morning. This time next week it will be all over. Our yellow ties will be back in the secret drawer and we can return to concentrating on actual football. Still, let’s get down to business. Or, let’s be honest, comment on the lack of it. This promises to be the dullest window yet. And we can only hope it will be like The Revenant: you start watching it full of hope after hearing good things but soon realise absolutely nothing happens for a very long time. Yet the ending is rather good, leading to you forget the tedium that preceded it. Feel free to remind me of this come 11pm next Monday when I’m still moaning about non-transfers on this very page. Anyway, let’s settle in and wait. Then we can wait some more and then wait until it’s time to go home and watch some hot, hot, hot Milk Cup semi-final action. Now that’s worth talking about!
Oh and while we wait for some news or conjecture, have a read of Barney Ronay’s analysis of how the Premier League title race is shaping up:
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