January 3 – Newcastle United’s pursuit of Kalvin Phillips could be in doubt after the club said they are ‘determined’ not to be too reactive to recent injury issues that have corresponded with a slump in form. The change of heart over Phillips has firmly placed French Champions PSG in the front seat to sign the Manchester City midfielder after expressing keen interest this week.
Various other teams across the Premier League and Europe have expressed interest in Phillips, including Crystal Palace, Fulham and Juventus in recent weeks.
Manchester United are actively searching for a new striker in the January window, and have drawn up a four-man shortlist headed by Cameroon and Bayern Munich Striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The 34-year-old is joined by fellow Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller, who is being kept out of the first team by stellar performances from Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane.
The Red Devils are also eyeing former Chelsea striker Timo Werner despite his underwhelming goal return in West London and uninspiring start to the 2023/24 season with RB Leipzig, where he has scored twice in eight Bundesliga appearances. Ten Hag’s side have reportedly made contact with RB Leipzig to discuss a deal for the German international.
The final and most expensive potential addition to Manchester United’s struggling front line is Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy, currently playing in Stuttgart. He has netted 17 times in 15 Bundesliga games since the start of the season. It is expected that a move for Guirassy would be funded by January sales, with big-name stars such as Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane tipped to leave this month.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who is serving a playing ban until February for breaching Premier League gambling restrictions, has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal, who have made clear their aspirations of signing a top striker in the coming months. Last season, Toney scored 20 Premier League goals across 33 appearances for mid-table Brentford, attracting interest from Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United before his 9-month ban from football came into effect.
Out-of-favour Manchester United winger Sancho is eyeing a return to former club Borussia Dortmund. The 23-year-old was the subject of a high-profile fallout with Erik Ten Hag earlier in the season, which has since led to his being ‘exiled’ from first team training. Manchester United bought Sancho for €85 million from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.
Liverpool and Real Madrid both want Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, who is out of contract at the end of the season. The 25-year-old France international is free to sign for another club this month. Both Liverpool and Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of the France international, with Madrid being tipped as the striker’s preferred destination. That being said, Los Blancos are also eyeing Manchester City Striker Erling Haaland in the near future which may have given Liverpool a better run at landing Mbappe.
Highly-rated German midfielder Joshua Kimmich has teased an exit from Bayern Munich as contract talks continue to stall. The 28-year-old’s contract with the German Champions expires at the end of the current season, which has attracted interest from Liverpool and Manchester United who are keen on strengthening in the defensive midfield department.
Contact the writer of this report, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735143009labto1735143009ofdlr1735143009owedi1735143009sni@g1735143009niwe.1735143009yrrah1735143009