Transfer news LIVE! Aston Villa's Watkins stance revealed, Arsenal's £60m striker deal, Tel fee agreed | OneFootball

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'Watkins is our striker' - Emery reacts to Villa's evening of transfer speculation

Arsenal are preparing a spectacular second bid for striker Ollie Watkins while Aston Villa decide whether to sell the England international or Jhon Duran in the final days of the January transfer window.

The Gunners saw an opening bid rejected just hours before Villa’s Champions League match against Celtic, where Watkins scored and then missed a bizarre penalty, with Arsenal desperate to sign a striker before Monday’s deadline. Duran is set to undergo a medical with Saudi club Al-Nassr ahead of a £64m move, which may end Arsenal’s hopes.

Meanwhile, Mathys Tel has sent Premier League clubs into a frenzy but telling Bayern Munich that he wants to leave, but Manchester United believe they hold an advantage that could prove decisive in the race with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. Wolves’ Matheus Cunha is seen as an alternative should Arsenal not manage to secure either Watkins or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, while the Gunners lead the race for Norwegian starlet Sverre Nypan.

Manchester United are also closing in on a deal with Lecce for defender Patrick Dorgu but the club need to sell to buy, with Alejandro Garnacho possibly on the way out Marcus Rashford is also searching for a move away from Old Trafford, but only one club looks like a possible option this January.

Burn on Isak transfer rumours

Dan Burn has had his say on Alexander Isak possibly leaving Newcastle and claimed the striker is ‘priceless’.

Burn said: "It's for the owners to say but he's priceless to us. I hope he does well but not too well.

"The way he moves...you come up against special players but there's nobody out there that dribbles the way he dribbles.

"Even Allan Saint-Maximin was something different and he was probably the best dribbler I've ever played with. Even the quality, it's not just dribbling for the sake of it.

"He's on fire at the moment, probably one of the best strikers in the world at the moment.

"It's hard because it's hard to defend just the way he moves. He moves his feet quickly but his top half doesn't really move."

Mike Jones30 January 2025 16:44

Marcus Rashford should be banished from Man Utd dressing room, says Paul Scholes

Marcus Rashford should be “banished” from the Manchester United dressing room, Paul Scholes has said in a frank assessment of the forward’s future at the club, adding: “The sooner he’s gone, the better.”

Rashford has not featured in any of United’s last 11 matches in all competitions, with boss Ruben Amorim leaving the 27-year-old out of the matchday squad on all but one occasion.

Marcus Rashford should be banished from Man Utd dressing room, says Paul Scholes

Ruben Amorim has the left 27-year-old out of the matchday squad in all but one of United’s last 11 matches in all competitions

Mike Jones30 January 2025 16:02

Van Dijk on 'world class' Gravenberch

Virgil van Dijk praised the form of teammate Ryan Gravenberch after the latter made himself a key figure under Arne Slot after starting all 22 league games this season.

“Last year he didn’t play as much but we all saw his quality and it was key to keep his head down and work his socks off," Van Dijk said.

“This year he has got the trust and the confidence. He can show his quality week in, week out and every few days. I am very impressed with him. Not only on the pitch but outside the pitch as well.

“He is still a young boy but he is growing into a man. The way you approach the game on and off the pitch is very key to be a world-class player.

“The consistency he is showing, he is a world-class player and he can only get better as well. He learns from difficult moments in games. He has been almost flawless this season. I am proud of him. He is vital for us.”

Celtic hope to seal deal to re-sign Kieran Tierney

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says a move for Arsenal's Kieran Tierney will "definitely happen" in the summer but he is trying to bring him in before next week's transfer window shuts.

Tierney has been in talks over a pre-contract agreement ahead of an emotional return to Celtic Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

But, with loanee Alex Valle back at parent club Barcelona, Rodgers would like the left-back to return north of the border before next week's transfer deadline.

"He's still, at this moment, an Arsenal player," the former Liverpool and Leicester boss said ahead of Celtic's final Champions League league phase game at Aston Villa.

"I think we're agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great.

"I think that, like I said, we prepared that for the summer. I don't want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he's not a Celtic player here now with us.

"But if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that's out of our control at this moment in time."

Rodgers confirmed Valle would not play for the Hoops again after his loan ended.

Mike Jones30 January 2025 15:08