The transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday, the last chance for clubs to do business in that push to win the title, escape relegation or get into those coveted European spots.
There haven’t been many big deals yet this January, but Newcastle, Tottenham, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are among the teams who could do business this week.
Things will change quickly each day, so make sure you follow our live coverage for the latest stories from David Ornstein and the team.
In the meantime, here are some situations that could develop in the coming days.
Jacob Ramsey: Leaving Aston Villa
A player generating concrete interest is Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, with the England Under-21 international catching the attention of numerous clubs in both England and abroad.
Newcastle United have made an approach for the 22-year-old as they attempt to bolster Eddie Howe’s side, although unless they manage to achieve a significant sale, he is likely to be beyond reach.
Ramsey is admired by several clubs (Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich are also among the sides to have made their admiration for Ramsey clear, so if Villa opt to let the academy graduate exit, they will not be short of takers.
That is a big ‘if’ because Ramsey has established himself as a key player and ideally this would not be a consideration, but funds must be raised before the end of June to stay compliant with profit and sustainability rules and that has alerted suitors, who believe offers above £50million ($63.5m) will at least be contemplated.
Should Villa decide to keep Ramsey, there are other ways in which the money could be found.
Jhon Duran: Aston Villa to Chelsea
One way is via the sale of Jhon Duran. The Colombia striker joined Villa last January but has struggled for game time and goals. Unai Emery is not the biggest fan, but Chelsea do like him.
Duran, 20, is viewed by the west London team as possessing vast potential and they have held dialogue about possibly doing a deal — provided the price reduces to a level they deem fair.
The prospect may be complicated by the ex-Chicago Fire forward being injured, but that does not completely rule out a switch as Duran would be seen mainly as a talent for the future.
Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah: Chelsea to Spurs and others
Given Conor Gallagher’s contract expires at the end of next season and a new deal looks unlikely at present, it is plausible Chelsea agree to sell him either this month or in the summer.
There have been enquiries from three clubs in the top half of the Premier League and despite the 23-year-old’s importance to Mauricio Pochettino’s line-up, his outlook remains uncertain.
Trading a homegrown product like Gallagher would help Chelsea’s financial position considerably and the same is true of Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah. Both are available to leave permanently or on loan with an obligation to buy. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham are the strongest contenders for Broja at present, though there is no guarantee that he will depart.
Reports have linked Chelsea to Karim Benzema, but he is not joining; they plan to avoid costly moves for older players and prioritise emerging elite talent like Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.
Gio Reyna: Dortmund to Nottingham Forest
It is a massive season for U.S. midfielder Giovanni Reyna, culminating in the Copa America on home soil. That means he needs game time and therein lies the problem at Borussia Dortmund.
Reyna is likely to move (Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images)
An opportunity to secure the 21-year-old’s services on loan carries understandable appeal and The Athletic revealed last week that Nottingham Forest are pushing very strongly to get it done.
That push continues while Reyna deliberates over where the next step of his career should take place. Rival interest from Sevilla should not be an issue, owing to the financial restrictions at their end.
Morgan Rogers: Middlesbrough to Aston Villa
Aston Villa made an improved third bid to sign Middlesbrough attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers worth in the region of £15million, including add-ons, over the weekend
Rogers, 21, has emerged as the primary target for Villa boss Unai Emery and negotiations are continuing towards a potential agreement.
The attacking midfielder featured in Middlesbrough’s FA Cup third-round loss to Villa earlier this month and starred in the Championship side’s run to the League Cup semi-finals.
Antonio Nusa: Club Bruges to Brentford or elsewhere
Brentford have reached an agreement with Club Bruges to sign coveted winger Antonio Nusa. They are now working to finalise the 18-year-old’s proposed transfer, but at this stage, it is not done.
Until the ink is dry, nothing counts — especially when Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have also been pushing. Newcastle are admirers but already have two left-wingers and Liverpool like him but cannot do anything until there is clarity over their new manager and sporting director.
Miguel Almiron: Newcastle to Al Shabab
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe insisted Miguel Almiron’s absence from the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round victory over Fulham was down to illness. Furthermore, Howe has repeatedly said his priority for this window is just to keep hold of his players.
Almiron could head to Saudi (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
However, Newcastle will have to sell players at some point to comply with PSR and the 29-year-old Paraguayan has emerged as arguably the most credible option. Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League are pursuing: they are not a team owned by PIF, the Saudi investment fund that also owns Newcastle, but a deal would still have to be ratified by the Premier League.
Do not be surprised if Almiron does move on. That would finally create some PSR headroom for incoming business, with Newcastle’s primary aim still being to recruit a central midfielder.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Leicester to Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion have been in talks with Leicester City to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and while there is a gap between valuations, the top-flight side are working hard to get it done.
Dewsbury-Hall is a Brighton target (Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Leicester are top of the league, pushing for promotion and know losing one of their best players now carries risk, but their PSR position dictates that a deal could happen. Brentford, Arsenal and Fulham are fond of Dewsbury-Hall, too, but Brighton are in the driving seat if Leicester sell.
And some others to keep an eye on…
- Palace have turned down an approach from Forest to sign Sam Johnstone on loan with an obligation to buy. As things stand, it is likely he stays.
- Forest are now looking at an alternative target who, if signed, has the potential to become their first-choice goalkeeper next season and may bring in a young striker if they can shift some players out.
- Blackburn’s Adam Wharton remains in Palace’s sights; they’ll try to close out a deal.
- Wolves are expected to contact PSG about a potential loan for 18-year-old midfielder Noah Lemina.
- West Ham walked away from a deal for Nordsjaelland’s winger Ibrahim Osman on price grounds, but he could still end up in the Premier League before the deadline.
- They have also explored bringing in Jota from Al Ittihad, although that is complicated by tax issues.
- Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore is expected to join Sunderland, Cardiff or Ipswich on loan after they all made offers for the 31-year-old.
- Divock Origi’s disappointing spell at Forest could end, with the forward being offered to MLS clubs by his parent club AC Milan.
(Top photo: Getty Images)
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