Month: January 2023

Joao Cancelo has not ruled out returning to Manchester City and played down talk of a rift with Pep Guardiola after joining Bayern Munich.

Cancelo competed a loan move to the Bundesliga champions for the rest of the season on transfer deadline day.

The versatile Portugal full-back had fallen out of favour at City amid reports of a row with manager Guardiola.

Cancelo is under contract with the Premier League champions until June 2027 and says he has not necessarily played his last game for the club.

He said during a press conference on Tuesday: “There was a lot of speculation about my relationship with Pep Guardiola. But the truth is that I just wanted to get more playing minutes. And I see that opportunity at Bayern.

“It might have sounded like a farewell [a video he posted on Instagram], but it wasn’t meant this way, and we will have to see what these five months in Munich bring. My contract is until the end of the season and I want to focus on my goals and those of the club.

“Then we’ll sit down and see what’s next. I’ve had a great time at Manchester City. I’m still under contract with City too, but now Bayern is my priority.”

The 28-year-old revealed he did not speak to former Bayern boss Guardiola about the prospect of joining the Bavarian giants.

He said: “I wasn’t talking to Pep about Bayern as everything went too fast. I wanted to make the best decision for my career and I think I did just that joining this wonderful club.”

Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann says it was music to his ears when he was informed by sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic that Cancelo could arrive before the window shut.

Nagelsmann said: “Brazzo [Salihamidzic] said after the game against Frankfurt [on Saturday] that we had a chance to get Cancelo.

“Then I said: ‘Let’s do it!’ Then everything happened very quickly. We’ve talked about him a lot in the past with our scouting. He brings a lot, he is dynamic and is a very good reinforcement.”

Cancelo could make his debut at Mainz in the DFP Pokal on Wednesday.

Arsenal are close to finalising a deal with Chelsea for midfielder Jorginho on deadline day.

Reports from Football London suggest that the Gunners could seal a transfer for the Italian, with his contract at Stamford Bridge due to expire in the summer.

The 31-year-old has been a prominent figure for the Blues but the potential arrival of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica would open the door for him to leave West London.

There are reports from multiple outlets, including the BBC, that suggest Todd Boehly has his chequebook out once again and has offered £105million for the World Cup winner’s services.

Fernandez is said to be keen to join Chelsea, however, it is unclear whether an agreement can be reached before the 11pm deadline.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Tottenham’s move for Pedro Porro has been revived, with the Sporting defender in England for his medical.

The Portuguese side will sign Barcelona’s Hector Bellerin as a replacement for the Spanish full-back.

Everton are hoping to bolster their squad in an effort to boost their survival hopes under new boss Sean Dyche.

According to the Mail, the Toffees are targeting Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana and free agent Andre Ayew.

It is believed that Dyche wants to bring in two attacking players to solve his side’s goalscoring issues.

In other news

Manchester United have received up to 10 offers to take Swedish winger Anthony Elanga on loan this month, including from PSV Eindhoven. But Erik ten Hag is hesitant in letting the 20-year-old leave Old Trafford, say FourFourTwo.

Paris Saint-Germain are working to bring Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech on loan for the rest of the season, according to L’Equipe.

Calciomercato report that Leeds have enquired about Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, who has also been linked with Tottenham and Bournemouth this month.

Bayern Munich have signed Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy next summer.

Cancelo, 28, has fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola in recent weeks, benched for City’s last three outings having not provided a goal or assist in the Premier League since October.

Academy graduate Rico Lewis appears to have become Guardiola’s preferred right-back option since the 2-1 loss at Manchester United earlier this month.

Cancelo adds to a Bayern outfit struggling for form, drawing all of their last three Bundesliga games, but the Bavarians do lead the German top flight by one point after 18 matches.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side travel to Mainz on Wednesday for their DFB-Pokal last-16 clash before a trip to Wolfsburg on Sunday.

On joining the Bundesliga champions, Cancelo said: “Bayern is a great club, one of the best in the world, and it’s enormous motivation for me to now play alongside these extraordinary players in a team.

“I know that this club, this team lives for titles and wins titles every year. I’m also driven by the hunger for success. I‘ll give my best for Bayern.”

Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic added: “We’re very happy that Joao Cancelo will now play for Bayern.

“We’ve signed him on loan now and have the possibility of signing him permanently in the summer.

“Joao is a player we’ve been thinking about for a while now because we very much appreciate his qualities.

“He’s the optimal fit in our system with his attacking style of play and dynamism, and his mentality and experience fit very well in our team.

“I’m convinced Joao will help us in the coming weeks and months where we want to win titles.”

Portuguese international Cancelo moved to the Etihad from Juventus in 2019 and has twice won the Premier League with the Citizens.

The versatile full-back also won domestic league titles in previous spells at Benfica and Juve and signed a five-year contract last February.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more details become available. Please keep refreshing the page. 

Chelsea have splashed the cash this month and could break the Premier League record by landing Enzo Fernandez before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

The Blues have already spent big to bring Mykhailo Mudryk to Stamford Bridge, while Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Benoit Badiashile are among their other recruits.

Fernandez could follow from Benfica on what promises to be a busy deadline day as clubs across Europe scramble to get late deals done.

It remains to be seen if Arsenal can tempt Brighton to part with Moises Caicedo.

Joao Cancelo looks set to swap Manchester City for Bayern Munich on loan and Paris Saint-Germain could finally seal a deal for long-time target Milan Skriniar, along with Blues ace Hakim Ziyech.

We have picked out the standout transfers that could go through before the deadline.

Blues chasing Fernandez

Fernandez emerged as a target for Chelsea following his influential displays for Argentina during their World Cup triumph in Qatar.

The London club have wasted no time in building a new-look squad since a Todd Boehly-led consortium completed a takeover and Graham Potter arrived as head coach.

They have already made huge statements this month, none more so than snaring winger Mudryk from under the noses of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Chelsea are working on trying to secure the services of Fernandez for a reported fee of £105.5million (€120m), which would break the Premier League record of £100m City paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish.

Caicedo a no-go?

Arsenal have already raided Brighton to bring wantaway winger Leonadro Trossard to the capital.

The Gunners have failed with big-money offers for centre midfielder Caicedo, who last week made it clear he wants to join the Premier League leaders.

Arsenal are said to be ready to test the Seagulls’ resolve again on deadline-day with a third bid of £75m, but Brighton want to keep him for the rest of the season.

If they do not get an offer they cannot refuse, Arsenal could turn to Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans or Chelsea’s Jorginho.

Cancelo heading for Bayern

Eyebrows were raised on Monday when it came to light that Bayern are poised to bring Cancelo to the Bundesliga from City.

The Portugal full-back Cancelo has fallen out of favour at the Etihad Stadium, having reportedly had a bust-up with Pep Guardiola.

A loan deal would be great business for Bayern as they hunt more trophies and this one is expected to go through.

PSG eye reinforcements

While Bayern’s move for Cancelo has come late in the window, Skriniar has long since been a target for PSG.

The Inter centre-back is only under contract at the end of the season and with the Serie A giants unable to tie him to a deal, it has been seemingly only a matter of time before he moves on.

PSG should finally get their man before the window closes, with the defender having already confirmed he has agreed terms with the Ligue 1 champions. 

Chelsea winger Ziyech could also be on his way to the French capital.

Stick with LiveScore Daily throughout transfer deadline day as we cover all the big talking points before the January window slams shut. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.

Ready to spend

New Everton boss Sean Dyche has confirmed the club are working on potential signings. 

The former Burnley manager, 51, is tasked with the job of leading the Toffees to Premier League safety after taking the hotseat yesterday.  

And he is already working closely with director of football Kevin Thelwell to bolster the squad he has inherited. 

Dyche said: “When I got the great news from the chairman and owner about becoming manager, I was really pleased about that obviously. 

“But straight away we were working with Kevin about the lists, the players. We’ve already had a look at some and will be meeting again about what there is, what we can affect.”

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, 22, has been linked with a switch to Goodison Park. 

Marquinhos set for Norwich

Norwich are close to signing Arsenal winger Marquinhos on loan for the rest of the season. 

The 19-year-old Brazilian has had a medical and it is understood the deal should be announced later this morning. 

He has made six appearances since joining the Gunners last summer but is expected to get more first-team experience as David Wagner’s men chase promotion from the Championship. 

Arsenal chase Russo

Manchester United have rejected a world-record bid for Alessia Russo — but the Arsenal striker could still move before the Women’s Super League transfer window closes at 5pm GMT. 

After failing in their attempts to persuade Russo to sign a new deal, United turned down an approach from the Gunners last night. 

The 23-year-old England star will be a free agent this summer but the North Londoners are keen to bolster their attacking options as they chase reigning WSL champs Chelsea and Marc Skinner’s leaders. 

With a game in hand, Arsenal are just three points behind their title rivals and two ahead of Manchester City in fourth. 

The rejected fee is understood to have been more than the £400,000 Barcelona splashed out on Lionesses midfielder Keira Walsh last September. 

Russo has scored 17 goals in 35 WSL appearances for United since joining from North Carolina Tar Heels three years ago and netted 10 times in 17 caps for England, including four during their Euro 2022 triumph. 

Earlier this month, Chelsea sold striker Bethany England to Tottenham for a domestic record fee for a British player in the women’s game. 

Spurs reportedly paid £250,000 and broke the previous record set by Lauren James’ £200,000 move from United to the Blues in 2021.

Arsenal are still desperate to add a new face in central midfield and will reportedly make late runs at Chelsea’s Jorginho and Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans before the transfer deadline.

Tielemans is one of Leicester’s top talents, appearing in all 20 of their Premier League games this season while contributing three goals and an assist from his 18 starts.

Jorginho is in his fifth season at Stamford Bridge and remains an integral part of Chelsea’s squad, making 15 league starts this season, including wearing the captain’s armband in their two most recent fixtures.

However, both players are in the final six months of their contracts and are set to become available via free transfers at the end of the campaign, and their clubs may be willing to accept a significantly reduced figure for highly valuable assets.

TOP STORY – GUNNERS GUNNING FOR MIDFIELD ACTION AT THE DEADLINE

According to Football London, Arsenal’s pursuit of 21-year-old Brighton and Hove Albion standout Moises Caicedo appears to have been unsuccessful, and they now view Jorginho as an acceptable alternative.

The report states Chelsea are willing to let the Italy international leave, indicating he will become expendable if the impending arrival of Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez comes to fruition.

Football London also adds Arsenal will make another push at both Caicedo and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, but they are considered unlikely options.

Meanwhile, 90min claims Leicester would be more open to allowing Tielemans to leave if they were not locked in a relegation battle, but as it stands they would need a “huge” bid to prioritise a transfer fee over their Premier League survival.

ROUND-UP

– Calciomercato is reporting Leeds United will try to secure Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo after he snubbed Bournemouth, but Roma are unlikely to accept unless the full transfer fee is paid up front.

– According to L’Equipe, Paris Saint-Germain are interested in a loan move for Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, who would prefer a loan to France instead of a fellow Premier League side.

– Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has rejected a loan approach from Inter and will instead opt to fight for his place, although he will re-evaluate his future at the end of the season, per the Daily Star.

– El Nacional is reporting Liverpool will make a run at signing Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante when his contract expires after the season.

– According to Football Insider, Southampton have agreed to meet the £26.2million (€30m) release clause for 22-year-old Braga forward Vitinha.

Lionel Messi wishes Diego Maradona had been able to hand him the World Cup trophy last month, but he has no regrets over the time it took him to lead Argentina to football’s greatest prize.

Messi inspired Argentina to their fourth World Cup in Qatar last year, winning the Golden Ball award after scoring seven goals at the tournament – including two in the final against France.

The Albiceleste’s triumph was their first in the competition since Maradona – who died in 2020 – produced his own series of talismanic displays to lead them to glory at Mexico 1986.

During an interview in Paris with Andy Kusnetzoff, Messi said he regretted the fact Maradona – who coached him at the 2010 World Cup – was not alive to witness his crowning moment.

“I would have liked Diego to give me the cup, or at least to see all this, to see Argentina as world champions, with everything he wanted and how he loved the national team,” Messi said.

“I think from above, he – like a lot of people who love me – were strong.”

While Messi had to wait until his fifth and likely final World Cup to lift the trophy, the legendary attacker says his triumph could not have come at a better time. 

“I think if I had to choose the moment, it would have been this one,” Messi said. “It’s at the end of my career, closing a cycle.

“I achieved everything with the national team as I always dreamed. I got everything in my career, individually. It was about closing my career in a unique way.

“I never imagined that all this was going to happen to me when I started, and getting to this moment was the best. I have no complaints and I can’t ask for more.

“We won the Copa America [in 2021] and the World Cup, there’s nothing left.”

As well as producing several outstanding performances, Messi made headlines for taking on a more vocal role as Argentina’s leader in Qatar. 

The Paris Saint-Germain star memorably celebrated a quarter-final goal against the Netherlands in front of Louis van Gaal before describing him as “disrespectful” in a post-match interview, while he also called striker Wout Weghorst a “fool” after the same game.

Messi admits he is not proud of some of his behaviour at the tournament, adding: “I knew what Van Gaal had said but it [the celebration] happened on the spur of the moment.

“I didn’t like what I did, I didn’t like what happened after. These are moments of nervousness and everything happens very quickly.”

Matias Vina has joined Bournemouth on an initial loan deal, which contains an option to make a permanent move from Roma.

The Uruguay left-back signed for Roma from Palmeiras in 2021 and has appeared 29 times in Serie A.

But Vina has been limited to just 54 league minutes under Jose Mourinho this season and has left for Bournemouth at least until the end of the campaign.

The 25-year-old is reportedly set to be joined at his new club by Sassuolo midfielder Hamed Traore and Dynamo Kyiv defender Ilya Zabarnyi on Tuesday’s transfer deadline day.

Bournemouth appear to have failed in a bid for Nicolo Zaniolo had have already brought in Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo.

Meanwhile, Roma are said to be close to signing Diego Llorente from Leeds United.

Juventus have criticised a written explanation for their Serie A points deduction and reiterated their intention to appeal the decision.

The Bianconeri were seen as title contenders prior to the punishment being handed down earlier this month, with a 15-point deduction instead leaving Massimiliano Allegri’s men mired in mid-table.

That sanction came following an investigation into Juve’s past transfer dealings.

The FIGC Court of Appeals published a 36-page document on Monday, which explained the severity of the punishment related to the “repeated and prolonged nature” of Juve’s alleged offences.

But a response followed from the club, who had already confirmed they would be appealing.

“Juventus Football Club and its legal team have carefully read and will analyse in depth the justifications, recently published, pertaining to the decision of the United Sections of the Federal Court of Appeal,” a statement read.

“It is a document, predictable in terms of content, in light of the heavy decision, but vitiated by obvious illogicalities, motivational deficiencies and unfounded in terms of law, which the company and individuals will oppose with an appeal to the Guarantee Board at CONI within the set deadlines.

“The validity of Juventus’ reasons will be asserted firmly, albeit with the respect due to the institutions that issued it.”

Tottenham winger Bryan Gil has returned to Sevilla on loan for the remainder of the season, 18 months after leaving the club. 

Gil has struggled for regular game-time since joining Spurs ahead of the 2021-22 season, spending the second half of the last campaign on loan at Valencia, whom he helped to the Copa del Rey final.

The 21-year-old, who has made four appearances for Spain’s senior side, has played just 148 minutes across four Premier League outings for Antonio Conte’s team this season.

Sevilla sit 13th in LaLiga – just two points clear of the bottom three – after enduring a disappointing campaign to date and reportedly do not possess a clause to make Gil’s return permanent. 

Jorge Sampaoli’s side also agreed a deal to sign midfielder Pape Gueye on loan from Marseille until the end of the season on Monday, as they look to avoid becoming further embroiled in a battle for survival.

Meanwhile, Denmark international Thomas Delaney has left Sevilla for Hoffenheim and left-back Ludwig Augustinsson has joined Real Mallorca, also in loan deals lasting until the end of the season.

Sevilla travel to LaLiga leaders Barcelona for their next fixture on Sunday, having responded to a Copa del Rey defeat against Osasuna by beating Elche 3-0 on Saturday.