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The transfer window is now open and here are today’s latest developments from the Daily Mail Sport team...
MAN UNITED BALEBAS NO LONGER?
Brighton have no intention of selling Manchester United target Carlos Baleba in this window.
The midfielder is high on United’s list who have been weighing up an approach, but Brighton insist they have had no formal contact and would not welcome any. The 22-year-old is on international duty with Cameroon, who play South Africa in Afcon on Sunday, and Brighton expect to keep him for the rest of the season at least.
United want two midfielders but may have to wait until summer to get their targets. Galatasaray remain keen on Manuel Ugarte while LA Galaxy want Casemiro and Napoli want Kobbie Mainoo this month.
United left-back Harry Amass is a loan target for Stoke City, while United remain keen to sign Sheffield Wednesday’s teenage left-back Yisa Alao after making a £400,000 offer last month. Liverpool are also in for Alao.
Brighton have no intention of selling Manchester United target Carlos Baleba in this window
Meanwhile, Brighton defender Eiran Cashin is wanted by Blackburn Rovers.
The Seagulls have also confirmed the return of their former captain Pascal Gross on a contract until the end of next season. The 34-year-old joins from Borussia Dortmund for £1.4m.
Manchester City have asked about 18-year-old forward Mathys Detourbet from sister club Troyes in France.
The France Under-21 international has attracted offers from Roma and Monaco but City are now considered favourites to sign him.
Detourbet, who can play off either wing, made his first team debut a year ago.
City defender Nathan Ake is continuing to assess options after rejecting a move to West Ham.
Fulham have made an enquiry for Udinese midfielder Arthur Atta. However, the Italians say the 22-year-old Frenchman is not for sale.
Southampton defender Zach Awe has agreed to join Salford City in a permanent move. Awe is due for a medical this week.
Leeds are following Salford’s U16 centre back Archie Oldham.
Liverpool in talks for centre back – but rule out Brugge star
Liverpool are not pursuing a move for Club Brugge centre back Joel Ordonez.
The 21-year-old Ecuador international has been linked with a big money move to Anfield but a deal is not on the agenda for Liverpool’s hierarchy as it stands.
Ordonez has been watched by Liverpool scouts over recent seasons but they are looking at other options in the market.
Liverpool are in talks to sign 17-year-old centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna. He was part of the Austria team which reached the U17 World Cup final in November and is viewed as one for the future.
They remain in the running for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, along with Manchester City, but for the summer.
Liverpool signed Geovani Leoni from Parma for £26m but the 19-year-old suffered anterior ligament damage on his debut against Southampton.
He is targeting the start of next season for a return and is stepping up his rehabilitation.
Liverpool have scouted Joel Ordonez, right, but are not pursuing a move for the Brugge star
Talking to Italian media, he said: ‘Now the hardest part is over.
‘I’m doing rehab, swimming, and the gym. For a footballer, an injury like this can be the most difficult moment in their career, but now I just want to train my mind to come back stronger than before. I think that’s the key aspect: the mind can do most of the work.
‘I immediately realized it was that kind of injury,’ he added. ‘It was a great, intense pain, the strongest I’ve ever felt. But I believe that life has certain things in store for me, and fate brought me to this. I tell myself: It must have happened to make me stronger.’
Addicks turn to Dykes to add firepower in survival bid
Scotland World Cup hero Lyndon Dykes is wanted on loan by Charlton to aid their fight for survival and for their forthcoming FA Cup tie with Chelsea.
Birmingham City are open to offers for the 30-year-old, who played a key role in Scotland’s dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark which secured their place at USA 2026.
Dykes wants more regular game time ahead of this summer’s tournament and has also had interest from rival Championship clubs.
Birmingham, co-owned by former NFL star Tom Brady, are exploring options to freshen up their attack so will listen to what offers arrive for Dykes.
Charlton face Blackburn Rovers tomorrow and Chelsea in the FA Cup on January 10.
Sheffield United, Preston North End and Oxford United have also been monitoring developments.
Lyndon Dykes played a key role in Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup
Dykes has made 23 appearances this season, but many have been from the bench, and he is keen to be starting more regularly to gain rhythm and pick up form for club and country as he presses to be selected by Steve Clarke for the World Cup.
Dykes has 48 caps for Scotland and has scored ten goals. He joined Birmingham from QPR a year ago amid interest from Glasgow Rangers.
Meanwhile, Birmingham have completed the signing of left-back Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union.
KALIMUENDO SET TO LEAVE FOREST
Nottingham Forest striker Arnaud Kalimuendo is in talks to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan just five months after signing from Rennes for £26million.
Frankfurt will have the option to make the move for the 23-year-old permanent.
Forest, meanwhile, are determined to hold on to James McAtee despite interest from Leeds.
Arnaud Kalimuendo is set to leave Nottingham Forest after just five months at the club
FREE AGENT FORSTER FINDS CLUB
Bournemouth have signed free agent goalkeeper Fraser Forster on a six-month deal.
The 37-year-old former Spurs keeper will be in the squad to face Arsenal after Will Dennis was injured in training this week. Celtic have signed Bournemouth right back Julian Araujo.
JOHNSON IN, ESSE OUT?
Crystal Palace winger Romain Esse is wanted on loan by Coventry City. Esse could depart after Palace signed Brennan Johnson from Tottenham for £35m on a four-and half-year contract on Friday.
Spurs winger Manor Solomon has joined Fiorentina on loan after cancelling his loan at Villarreal while Spurs defender Kota Takai has joined Borussia Monchengladbach.
Liverpool are closing a deal for Austria U17 international centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna. He is expected to join after he turns 18 in March.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe is close to joining Liverpool and is a highly-rated Austrian centre-back
Striker Taty Castellanos will undergo a medical at West Ham this weekend ahead of his £25m transfer from Lazio.
Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer is attracting attention from Wolfsburg.
Bristol City have signed former Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, 34, who was free after leaving Kuwait SC.
Leicester City on-loan striker Julian Carranza has returned to Feyenoord.
