January 4 – Mohamed Salah’s future looks to have swung in favour of staying with Liverpool, with the 31-year-old reportedly leaning towards signing a new contract at the Merseyside club. The Egyptian’s current contract at Anfield runs out in the summer of 2025.
It is no secret the Salah has a number of admirers in the incredibly lucrative Saudi Pro League and was the subject of bids of over £120 million in the summer. With the Saudi League desperate to add Salah to its growing roster of aging superstars, Liverpool anticipate huge offers for the Egyptian star in the summer window regardless of a contract extension.
The Merseyside club have toyed with the possibility of picking up out-of-contract PSG star Kylian Mbappe to replace their Egyptian poster boy, with the Frenchman’s considerable signing bonus funded by Salah’s potential £100 million+ exit.
Manchester United have expressed interest in signing Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise to replace the outgoing Jadon Sancho.
The 22-year-old signed a new contract at the Eagles in 2023 to fend off interest from Chelsea, so it is likely that the Red Devils will have to pay considerably more than the player’s €50 million value. The France international’s fine form has attracted interest from the Premier League’s big clubs, scoring five and assisting one in nine Premier League games.
Sancho’s former club Borussia Dortmund want to re-sign the 23-year-old as soon as next week so that the England international can join the club on their training camp in Marbella. Sancho enjoyed the best form of his career in Dortmund and will look to reignite his performances after stalling at Manchester United following highly-publicised tensions with Erik Ten Hag.
FC Bayern are set to renew their interest in 28-year-old Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese international was the subject of a deadline-day scramble from the Bavarians in the summer, who failed to land their man before the deadline due to medical complications.
With long-term defensive midfielder Joshua Kimmich tipped for an exit from the 32-time Bundesliga champions, FC Bayern have stepped up their pursuit of Palhinha to fill that defensive midfield role as the club looks to climb out of its unfamiliar second place in the Bundesliga table.
Crystal Palace are set on signing 24-year-old Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah, but the Gunners are unlikely to sell until they secure a suitable replacement. Ivan Toney is the North London club’s primary target once the English striker has served his ban from football for breaching gambling restrictions.
Chile and Villarreal forward Ben Brereton Diaz is close to a move to Sheffield United, as the South Yorkshire club looks to bolster its attacking options. Summer pickup Cameron Archer has impressed since signing from Aston Villa, but the club are still in pursuit of a like-for-like replacement for Senegal and Marseille forward Iliman N’Diaye, who left the club in July.
Girona manager Michel Sanchez has emerged as a candidate to replace Eddie Howe, with higher-ups at Newcastle United reportedly unsatisfied with the Magpies’ dismal run of form. In contrast, Michel’s Girona sit joint-top of the La Liga table after a fairy tale campaign thus far.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1714347941labto1714347941ofdlr1714347941owedi1714347941sni@g1714347941niwe.1714347941yrrah1714347941