Newcastle Ousmane Dembele bid CONFIRMED, Ferran Torres £55m Barcelona transfer, Chelsea eye Kimpembe

Januzai set for Prem return?

West Ham and Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing former Manchester United ace Adnan Januzaj.

The 26-year-old’s contract at Real Sociedad expires in the summer of 2022.

And he can negotiate terms over a summer transfer with other teams from January 1.

According to Todofichajes, Januzaj has rejected Sociedad’s latest offer to stay at the club.

The former Man Utd man is keen for a return to the Premier League where he has unfinished business.

And West Ham could offer him just that, and possibly European football next season.

United dealt Erling Haaland blow

Borussia Dortmund are desperate to keep star striker Erling Haaland for another season.

And the Bundesliga side are reportedly willing to DOUBLE his wages to do so.

The Norwegian is in high demand after his stunning goalscoring exploits since joining in January 2020.

Manchester United and Real Madrid are leading the way in the race to sign him.

But according to Marca, Dortmund are pulling out all the stops.

They claim that the Germans will double Haaland’s wages to £250,000-a-week if it convinces him to give them another year.

Liverpool seek Colombian Cristiano Ronaldo

Liverpool are interested in signing Luis Diaz from Porto, according to reports.

The Reds are set to be depleted on the flanks next month, when Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane head to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah and Mane could jet out before Liverpool’s January 2 clash against Chelsea, with Afcon not finishing until February 6.

According to FourFourTwo, the Reds want to recruit further back-up to the pair in the shape of Diaz.

Dubbed fancifully by some as the ‘Colombian Cristiano Ronaldo’, Diaz could provide the pace and directness of a typical Liverpool winger.

Diaz, 24, has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

West Ham lead Johnstone race

Sam Johnstone is reportedly heading for the exit at West Brom in the summer.

The England international is understood to be winding down his contract with the Championship outfit.

That has set alarm bells ringing at West Ham, who are thought to be tracking the 28-year-old’s progress.

The Telegraph reports the Hammers are front of the queue to sign the keeper on a free transfer next year.

Current Irons stopper Lukasz Fabianski turns 37 this season and has already retired from international football.

Three Lions man Johnstone is being seen as an ideal replacement after keeping his spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad despite West Brom’s relegation.

Arteta concerned over Covid situation

Worried Mikel Arteta warns football could COLLAPSE if players’ concerns over Covid continue to be ignored.

He said: “The main thing is to protect the welfare of the players because we are responsible to defend them more than anyone else.

“It’s important we listen to their concerns much more because, without them, we can do nothing and the industry wouldn’t work.

“It is easy for us to demand more games, but they are the ones who have to perform.

“If the players are saying it is difficult, then they are being genuine because they’ve always tried to carry on and keep this league at the highest standard.

“So when they say something like this we have to really listen to them with open ears because we don’t want to damage the product and the incredible league that we have.”

Buy Carragher a Ronaldo shirt?

Roy Keane has suggested buying Jamie Carragher a Manchester United shirt with Cristiano Ronaldo’s name on the back for Christmas.

Keane, 50, appeared on SkyBet’s Driving Home for Christmas YouTube series alongside Micah Richards.

He was asked by the former Manchester City defender what he’d be buying Carragher for Christmas, before coming up with a brilliant reply.

The ex-Old Trafford skipper said: “A United jersey with Ronaldo on the back, that’d be nice wouldn’t it? Because he’s always slagging him off.”

Keane did go on to admit that Carragher is a ‘decent footballing person’.

Richards then said: “He’s got a strong opinion, he knows what he’s talking about. But Keane joked: “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

Messi eyed Martinez for Barcelona

Lionel Messi tried to tempt Lautaro Martinez to Barcelona when he was skipper at the Nou Camp.

Martinez revealed how his Argentina team-mate – now at Paris Saint-Germain – played negotiator as he sounded him out about a possible move.

But the 24-year-old insisted he was happy at current club Inter Milan and wouldn’t even be swayed by the prospect of playing alongside Messi at Barca.

He told Sportmediaset: “(Messi) asked me about my situation at Inter, but I always told him that I was staying.”

Martinez is currently the subject of a frenzy of transfer speculation, with Arsenal said to be eyeing him as a solution to their striker woes following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s fall from grace.

North London rivals Tottenham are also thought to be interested, with ex-Inter boss Antonio Conte now in charge in N17.

When attending a Prem game

Here’s what you need to know about attending a Premier League game in the coming days.

Silva to sign new contract

Thiago Silva is set to sign a new Chelsea contract, according to reports.

Club chiefs have been busy trying to negotiate extensions with Silva.

But according to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, a deal isn’t in doubt.

He adds that the Brazilian will extend his stay until June 2023, and only formalities now stand in the way.

Prem fixtures on UK TV

Here are the Premier League fixtures being aired on UK TV between Boxing Day and December 28.

It’s a busy few days!

• Sunday December 26: Liverpool v Leeds
  BT Sport (12.30pm)
• Sunday December 26: Aston Villa v Chelsea
  Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League (5.30pm)
• Sunday December 26: Brighton v Brentford
  Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League (8pm)
• Monday December 27: Newcastle v Man Utd
  Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League (8pm)
• Tuesday December 28: Arsenal v Wolves
  Amazon Prime Video (12.30pm)
• Tuesday December 28: Crystal Palace v Norwich
  Amazon Prime Video (3pm)
• Tuesday December 28: Southampton v Tottenham
  Amazon Prime Video (3pm)
• Tuesday December 28: Watford v West Ham
  Amazon Prime Video (3pm)
• Tuesday December 28: Leeds v Aston Villa
  Amazon Prime Video (5:30pm)
• Tuesday December 28: Leicester v Liverpool
  Amazon Prime Video (8pm)

Arsenal listening to Aubameyang offers

Arsenal are sounding out potential Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang buyers ahead of next month’s transfer window, according to reports.

The striker is currently in Gunners exile after being banished from the first-team fold by boss Mikel Arteta.

And according to ESPN, the North Londoners are willing to ‘listen to offers’ next month.

Barcelona are long-term admirers of Aubameyang and are in the market for a striker to replace Sergio Aguero.

But the Gabonese star’s £250,000-a-week wages are said to put off the cash-strapped Catalan giants.

Juventus are interested in taking Aubameyang on loan for the rest of the season, if an agreement can be reached regarding his salary.

Man Utd eye Kieran Trippier

Manchester United and Tottenham are among a whopping NINE Premier League clubs reportedly interested in Kieran Trippier.

The right-back has been heavily linked with a return to England since leaving for Atletico Madrid from Spurs back in 2019.

But Atletico’s insistence any buyer pays his £50million release clause in full has so far put off potential suitors.

90Min now reports United are among a host of clubs looking to bring the England international back home.

The 31-year-old’s high energy would fit well into new boss Ralf Rangnick’s ultra-pressing style.

Spurs are also thought to be interested as new manager Antonio Conte sets about his rebuild of the squad.

Barcelona agree deal for Torres

Manchester City are set to pick up a cool £54million in the sale of Ferran Torres to Barcelona.

Despite losing arguably their greatest ever player Lionel Messi in the summer due to their dire financial situation, Barca are ready to pay City £46m up front for Torres.

The Catalan giants are eyeing a rebuild, and according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Barca can afford to pay City a large up front fee after securing a bank loan.

City will also pick up around £8.5m in add-ons for the winger, with £6m of that guaranteed.

The Prem champions have also inserted a shrewd sell-on clause which would see them get up to £10 million if he leaves Barca for big money in the future.

Ramos sees red for PSG

Sergio Ramos picked up his first Paris Saint-Germain red card on just his THIRD match for the French side.

The Spanish centre-back, 35, was only brought on by Mauricio Pochettino at half-time for the Ligue 1 clash away at Lorient.

And the Real Madrid legend lasted 41 minutes after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.

His second yellow card saw him body-check Terem Igobor Moffi who had got the better of Ramos after knocking the ball past him.

Ramos attempted to feign injury as he hit the deck, but the referee wasn’t falling for his tricks, and duly brandished the veteran the 27th red card of his career.

Thankfully for the defender, Mauro Icardi spared his blushes as he scored an injury time equaliser after Lorient broke the deadlock in the 40th minute.

Ugly scenes at Spurs ground

Police are set to launch a probe into the ugly violence that marred Spurs’ Carabao Cup win over West Ham.

Yobs from both sides clashed outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before kick-off as baton-wielding cops battled to keep them apart.

The travelling Hammers fans were escorted to the stadium in an effort to avoid clashes, after similar scenes when the sides met earlier this season.

However, at the stadium’s main entrance an hour before kick-off, a large group of fans were seen fighting.

Rival fans were chanting at each other before the violence broke out.

One supporter was seen with blood running down his face, while footage posted online appeared to show one man being knocked unconscious in the aggro.

GOOD MORNING FOOTY FANS

Liverpool set up a Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal after a thrilling win over Leicester.

The Reds scored an equaliser deep in injury time to send the game to penalties.

And they went on to secure victory in the shootout before being paired against Arsenal in the draw.

The other semi-final sees Chelsea take on Tottenham after they beat Brentford 2-0.

Spurs made it through after seeing off West Ham 2-1.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are reportedly closing in on a stunning £50million swoop for Man City forward Ferran Torres.

That’s after the debt-ridden Spaniards were granted permission to take out a ‘huge’ loan.

Guillem Balague claims a transfer is near after Barca agreed to borrow more money ahead of the January window.

However, the deal for Torres means they will be forced to sell at least one current player in order to meet LaLiga Financial Fair Play requirements.

Finally, Tottenham are reportedly lining up a bid for Juventus centre-half Matthijs de Ligt.

4-4-2 claims Antonio Conte is keen on raiding his former side for the Dutch defender.

Chelsea are also looking to pull off a deal for ex-Ajax starlet De Ligt.

But Juventus are unwilling to sell for less than his £130million release clause.