Transfer news LIVE! Man Utd want Tel as Spurs rejected, Garnacho latest, Villa eye Rashford, Chelsea chase Ferguson – UK Times

Those close to Alejandro Garnacho maintain that the winger is preparing to leave Old Trafford this weekend, but there may yet be a battle for his signing.

Napoli have had interest but would need to significantly raise their valuation of £38m, closer to United’s £70m.

Chelsea have long been interested, but sources close to the situation say there is still considerable negotiation.

It is understood that the possibility of one of Chelsea’s younger players – such as Joshua Acheampong – going in the other direction has also been raised.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says Ollie Watkins is “happy to stay” at the club after Arsenal saw an opening bid rejected this week.

“He is happy to stay,” Emery said. “We asked him how he is feeling every day and year he is being here with Villa and he is happy here.

“The commitment of Ollie Watkins with us is a huge commitment. He appreciates a lot how Villa was always supporting him and helping him, when we joined here two years ago how we were working with him and getting the best of him.

“Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa in the last years. I am speaking with him a lot, he is always adapting with every circumstances we have and of course when some teams calling us being interested in the players it’s very good for us and the players.

“Some players prefer to leave and some accept to stay here and commit with our challenges. One of them is Ollie Watkins.”

As reported earlier this week, Manchester United and Marcus Rashford are facing up to a period where one of their best-paid stars is in the cold for months, as a suitable move has yet to present itself and only Juventus looks like a possible option this January.

The club have fielded a number of informal enquiries for the forward since he announced he was open to leaving in December, but Rashford wants to ensure any move is one that fits his preferences.

That involves the chance to compete for trophies this season, while also at a level high enough to persuade England manager Thomas Tuchel that he should be brought back into the international fold.

Arsenal are still leading the race for Rosenborg’s Sverre Nypan, but the 18-year-old will not be on the move this month.

According the Athletic’s David Ornstein, no agreement has been made over a January transfer, despite interest from Arsenal and Girona.

A move looks likely, but not before the deadline. Ornstein says Nypan will remain at Rosenborg and consider his future.

Ruben Amorim has heaped praise on Alejandro Garnacho for the way he has kicked on and “changed in everything” since the disappointment of being left out of the Manchester derby.

It is seven weeks since the Argentina international and fellow academy graduate Marcus Rashford were surprisingly omitted from the United squad that went on to to secure a late comeback win at City.

The latter’s continued exile is dominating the headlines, with Amorim saying on the eve of the Europa League match against FCSB that he “has to change” and meet his standards to have a future at Old Trafford.

Speculation rumbles on over Rashford ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline, as does talk about Garnacho’s future – although the 20-year-old’s response to the City setback appears starkly different.

Jordan Henderson is reportedly on the verge of joining Monaco from Ajax.

The former Liverpool captain and England midfielder joined the Dutch club last January but is keen on the move, report De Telegraaf.

Ajax would prefer te 34-year-old to remain at the club. It would be Henderson’s third move since leaving Liverpool, having also joined Al-Ettifaq in 2023.

Manchester United are still closing in on the signing of Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu. Ruben Amorim’s progress since taking over as head coach in November has been hindered somewhat by the squad’s composition, with a lack of options at left wing-back a key issue.

United have targeted Dorgu, 20, to help bolster that area and the talented Denmark international is edging closer to becoming the Portuguese’s first signing.

Chelsea have joined the race for Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, according to Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian.

The 20-year-old is up for sale this month and a host of clubs are chasing him, including West Ham and Everton.

Chelsea are looking to be opportunistic in the window, as interest ramps up in a player who was valued highly last year.

The Guardian report that Enzo Maresca wants a striker to challenge Nicolas Jackson while Chelsea co-sporting director Paul Winstanley knows Ferguson from his time at Brighton.

Chelsea are interested in Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, although any move is likelier in the summer.

There may also be competition at that point from Manchester United, who have a long-standing interest in the Swiss international.

Chelsea have started to consider their goalkeeping situation after some high-profile errors from current No. 1 Robert Sanchez.

Despite Enzo Maresca publicly backing the Spanish shot-stopper, the Blues have identified Kobel as a candidate who fits a lot of the criteria they prefer in a goalkeeper.

Dortmund are nevertheless resistant to even considering anything for the 27-year-old right now, especially in the midst of a run to the Champions League play-off round, with Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk securing 10th place in the table.

Chloe Kelly completed a loan move to Arsenal on transfer deadline day to bring an end to the England international’s unhappy season with Manchester City.

Kelly, 27, had made just one start for City in this season’s Women’s Super League and asked to leave with a statement posted on social media this week.

In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday night, The Lionesses said she wanted to “be happy again” and took aim at City for dictating “who I can and can’t join” with only four months left on her contract.

And Kelly has now been granted a chance to impress Sarina Wiegman and gain minutes ahead of this summer’s European Championships, returning to the Gunners for the second half of the season.