Transfer news LIVE! Aston Villa’s Watkins stance revealed, Arsenal’s £60m striker deal, Tel fee agreed – UK Times

News broke over the last couple of days that Napoli have entered talks with Karim Adeyemi as the club keep tabs on alternatives to Alejandro Garnacho.

Patrick Berger of Sky DE reports that Napoli are willing to pay an overall package of €52.5m, while other reports state that the club are still in talks with Man Utd over Garnacho.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says a move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney will “definitely happen” in the summer but he is trying to bring him in before next week’s transfer window shuts.

Tierney has been in talks over a pre-contract agreement ahead of an emotional return to Celtic Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

But, with loanee Alex Valle back at parent club Barcelona, Rodgers would like the left-back to return north of the border before next week’s transfer deadline.

“He’s still, at this moment, an Arsenal player,” the former Liverpool and Leicester boss said ahead of Celtic’s final Champions League league phase game at Aston Villa.

“I think we’re agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great.

“I think that, like I said, we prepared that for the summer. I don’t want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he’s not a Celtic player here now with us.

“But if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that’s out of our control at this moment in time.”

Rodgers confirmed Valle would not play for the Hoops again after his loan ended.

While Garnacho’s destination is still to be determined, amid interest from Chelsea and Napoli, Tel is understood to favour Old Trafford out of a range of potential options that includes Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Ayden Heaven looks set to switch London for Old Trafford.

Widespread reports indicate that the 18-year-old defender is bound for Manchester United with his route into the Arsenal first-team picture blocked.

A signing for the future? Or can Heaven provide Ruben Amorim with a more immediate option with a couple of key defensive injuries in his squad?

Speaking ahead of Villa’s Champions League match with Celtic on Wednesday, Unai Emery said: “I don’t want [to sell]. It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad.”

He added: “Every player can be in the market if it is good for the player and the club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker.”

The Times are reporting new information concerning Arsenal’s bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

The Gunners formally put in a bid worth £40m which was rejected and the north London side were told £60m could be enough to secure the 29-yeard-old forward.

Villa need to sell players to remain within the boundaries of Profit & Sustainability rules which is why Arsenal are suddenly interested in Watkins.

However, the midlands club have agreed a deal with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr to sell them Jhon Duran for £64m.

It seems unlikey that Villa would let both of their key forwards leave in the same mid-season window so Arsenal may be out of luck.

Tottenham have opened talks with Bayern Munich over signing Mathys Tel, report Sky Sports in Germany.

Aston Villa have also joined the race for the 19-year-old, adding to competition from Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea.

Ange Postecoglou was asked about new signings yesterday and said “opportunities were being explored”.

“Traditionally, the last few days of any window tend to be pretty frenetic. I expect us to be involved in that,” he said.

Tyrell Malacia could go out on loan during this window if Manchester United can get a move for Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu over the line.

There are a number of clubs interested in Malacia but no move can happen until United have a replacement in situ.

Sky Sports News says Lecce’s preference is to keep Dorgu.

United did launch a bid of £25.4m + £4.2m (€30m + €5m) for the defender, but Lecce want a something closer to £38m (€45m).

Jordan Henderson is poised to join Monaco and end his spell at Ajax.

The former Liverpool midfielder left Anfield for Saudi Arabia and Al-Ettifaq before cutting short his move to join the Dutch giants in January last year.

But now Fabrizio Romano reports the former England midfielder will start a new challenge in France.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is determined to keep Ollie Watkins at the club this month amid offers from Arsenal but admits Jhon Duran’s potential exit is a good deal, reports Jonathan Veal.

Both of Villa’s strikers are subject to interest in the January transfer window, with their Premier League rivals having a reported £60m bid for Watkins rejected while Duran is set to join Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.

Duran was an unused substitute, ahead of a reported 77million euros (£64.6million) move to Al Nassr, and was seen saying goodbye to fans at the end of the match.