Happy New Year to you luvverly WHOersBBC
Manchester United are still interested in Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, 25, and are weighing up a bid for the England international in the summer. (Mail)
Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, 30, has made it clear to Liverpool that he wants to sign a new deal, but the two parties remain divided over terms. With his current contract set to expire in the summer, he is free to talk to other clubs from 1 January. (90 Min)
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been in talks with the agent of Sven Botman, who expects the Reds to make a January bid for Lille's 20-year-old Netherlands Under-20 defender. (The Transfer Window podcast)
Tottenham fear France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, 34, could join Paris St-Germain in the summer and are already looking at potential replacements with West Brom's Englishman Sam Johnstone, 27, and Manchester United's England international Dean Henderson, 23, possibilities. (Sun)
Juventus and Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, 33 - out of contract at the end of the season - is to talk to Everton over a prospective move. (Mail)
Arsenal are keen to bring in Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Isco for the rest of the season but face a wait to see if the Spanish club will release the 28-year-old midway through the campaign. (Goal.com)
Arsenal and Greece centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 32, is close to an agreement over a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce. (Takvim, in Turkish)
Manchester United have activated England midfielder Jesse Lingard's one-year option and the 28-year-old's contract now runs until the summer of 2022. (Sky Sports)
Wales winger Daniel James, 23, will leave Manchester United in January with West Brom favourites to sign him. (Todofichajes - in Spanish)
Spain defender Eric Garcia, 19, has reached an agreement with Barcelona to rejoin them on a five-year deal following the expiry of his contract with Manchester City in June, and the Catalan giants may try to complete a deal in January. (CBS Sports)
Leicester winger Demarai Gray, 24, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is wanted on a free transfer by Roma and Benfica. (Sun)
Agent Mino Raiola has dismissed suggestions that Borussia Dortmund and Norway forward Erling Haaland, 20, will join Barcelona should Emili Rousaud win the club's forthcoming presidential election. (90 Min)
Real Madrid remain confident they will sign Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. (AS)
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed he wants to sign 30-year-old Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen, currently on loan at the Toffees on loan from Roma, on a permanent deal. (Liverpool Echo)
Chelsea have joined AC Milan and Nice in expressing interest in Strasbourg's French defender Mohamed Simakan, 20. (Le10 Sport, in French)
West Brom want to sign Middlesbrough's former England Under-21 forward Duncan Watmore, 26. (Mail)
QPR are ready to sell English midfielder Bright Osayi-Samuel after failed attempts to tie him down to a new contract, and West Ham are monitoring the 23-year-old. (Teamtalk)
Sheffield Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri plans to bring in a new manager "as soon as possible" but has not yet drawn up a shortlist and will press ahead to make signings himself if a new boss is not appointed. (Yorkshire Post)
Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael has confirmed the Tykes are close to signing Norwich's English striker Carlton Morris, 25, who is currently on loan at Milton Keynes Dons. (Eastern Daily Press)
Celtic are vying with Genk to sign centre-back duo Ben Davies - the 25-year-old Preston defender -and Philadelphia Union's Mark McKenzie, 21. (Football Insider)
Retired midfielder Jimmy Bullard, 42, says he left Fulham in 2009 over a clash of styles with former boss Roy Hodgson and his backroom team. (Mirror)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta understands West Brom counterpart Sam Allardyce's concerns about coronavirus but says the Premier League does not need a two-week "circuit breaker" - as Allardyce has suggested - despite a sharp rise in positive Covid-19 cases at clubs. (Evening Standard)
TeamTalk
EXCLUSIVE: West Ham watching on as QPR sanction key attacker’s sale
Queens Park Rangers are ready to sell Bright Osayi-Samuel after failed attempts to tie him down to a new contract, TEAMtalk understands.
The 23-year-old‘s current deal runs out next summer but he has refused to extend his association with the London club.
As such, QPR are willing to see him move on in January to make sure that they recoup a fee for his departure. What’s more, they are aware of the plethora of clubs keen on signing the Nigerian.
TEAMtalk understands that West Ham are one of two Premier League suitors looking at the versatile attacker.
Crystal Palace also remain keen on taking him across London. Indeed, the Eagles showed interest in the previous transfer window.
But Osayi-Samuel has further interest in the Championship, with Swansea and Stoke willing to do a deal.
The attacker moved to QPR from Blackpol in 2017, initially signing a three-year deal upon his move down south.
But the club triggered their one-year extension option on the player in February this year.
Osayi-Samuel has played 113 games in his time with QPR, scoring 13 goals and assisting 13 others.
He has operated throughout the midfield and attack throughout his spell, playing on the right wing most often this season.
Indeed, he has netted three times and laid on a hat-trick of other goals in 20 Championship outings.
Transfer Tavern
Noel Whelan reacts as GSB plot Rico Henry move in January
Speaking to Football Insider, BBC regular Noel Whelan has reacted to reports that West Ham United and GSB could be plotting a move for Brentford star Rico Henry in January after a confirmed ‘big blow‘ to Arthur Masuaku – with the pundit claiming that Henry he is ‘fantastic’.
Henry, who has impressed for the Bees, currently languishes in the Championship for his side after they couldn’t quite clinch promotion at the end of last season – with Thomas Frank’s side now attempting a second go as they compete for a place in the automatic spots.
Whelan reacts as GSB plot Henry swoop
A report from the Athletic claims that West Ham could move for the left-back in January in light of Masuaku’s long term absence due to knee surgery – with Whelan unsurprised given he is a ‘fantastic’ player.
However, reacting to the development, he also insists that GSB and the Irons will face stiff competition for his signature and any potential deal may depend on if Brentford have a good shot of getting promoted.
When asked if Henry can Masuaku’s shoes in east London, Whelan explained to Football Insider:
“I think so.
“I think there’s been many people and clubs looking at that player – he’s been a standout for Brentford.
“He does all kinds of roles including that wing-back role.
“He’s been fantastic, he creates, he gets forward, he defends, he’s got pace about him, he’s got strength.
“So, yes, West Ham are not the only club looking at bringing him in in the summer if Brentford don’t get in the Premier League.
“If they don’t get into the Premier League then I think we’ll see three or four of their star players leaving.”
Transfer Tavern take
Described as ‘special‘ by current Aston Villa boss Dean Smith, it remains to be seen whether the Irons do swoop for Henry, but after Masuaku’s injury blow, it could be a wise move.
If the Hammers do sign a left-back in January, David Moyes can revert back to the 3-5-2 formation that served West Ham well at the beginning of the campaign.
