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Celtic are now in talks over selling a defender this January, with the negotiations now in full swing, according to a report.

Celtic competing on all fronts

The Hoops picked up their first piece of silverware this season after defeating Rangers in the League Cup final last week, and Brendan Rodgers’ side are also faring very well in the league, currently top of the Scottish Premiership table.

As such, there is seemingly not a pressing need for Rodgers to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window, but there are signs the manager could be busy this winter, given that a number of players have been linked with moves to Parkhead.

Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney is the latest player to be touted for a move to his former club, and Rodgers refused to rule out a reunion with the left-back in a recent interview, saying: “We’ll always be linked with top players and especially players that are one of us. Kieran was an instrumental part of a really, really successful period when I was here.

“His talents then took him to another challenge but we’ll be linked with lots of names and with Kieran naturally because of his situation. But we’ll only talk about a player once he’s signed.”

There may also be some departures this January, perhaps to fund Celtic’s own transfer business, and it has now been reported they are in talks with Internacional over selling Alexandro Bernabei permanently.

Internacional president Alessandro Barcellos has confirmed that negotiations are in full swing, with the Hoops willing to lower the asking price to €5m (£4.1m) to facilitate the move, while also asking for a percentage of any future sale.

As such, Bernabei clearly does not feature in Rodgers’ plans going forward, and a permanent move to Brazil in January seems to be a likely scenario.

Sky Sports: Celtic receive January offer for 24 y/o and could accept it

Is it the right time to let him leave?

By
Henry Jackson

Dec 20, 2024

Good decision for all parties

The Argentine never managed to cement himself in the Celtic starting XI, but he has clearly impressed on loan at Internacional, given that they are determined to make his loan move permanent.

The 21-year-old is said to have “shone” in the Brazilian league, so Internacional is evidently a better fit for him than Celtic.

With the Hoops faring very well in Bernabei’s absence, it makes sense to sanction his departure for £4.1m this winter, and Rodgers can use the money raised to strengthen his side in other areas.

Ipswich Town have submitted a £16 million offer to sign an “explosive” player alongside Ben Godfrey, according to a recent report.

Kieran McKenna’s side had a very busy summer, as they brought in a lot of new players to help them in their fight to remain in the Premier League, and it looks as though January could be another busy transfer window for the club.

Ipswich Town close in on Ben Godfrey transfer

The Tractor Boys are closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window after it was revealed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano that the Premier League side were in talks to sign Godfrey from Atalanta.

Ipswich Town want to sign new £29k-p/w ace ahead of Southampton in January

He would bring plenty of experience to Portman Road in their bid for survival.

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By
Ben Browning

Dec 29, 2024

The defender joined the Serie A side last summer, but it has been a struggle for Godfrey in Italy, as he’s only played five games in all competitions, none of which have come as a starter. Despite joining the club only six months ago and being under contract until 2029, Godfrey is now set to seal a move to Portman Road.

According to Romano, who stated earlier this week that Ipswich were in talks over a loan deal, an agreement has now been reached in which Ipswich will sign Godfrey on a loan deal until the end of the season. The 26-year-old completed the first part of his medical on Saturday, and documents between the clubs are now being exchanged. McKenna will hope the arrival of Godfrey, who has plenty of experience playing in the Premier League, will aid his side’s defence as they try to become a little tighter at the back.

Ipswich Town make £16m offer to sign "explosive" player

As they close in on the signing of Godfrey, according to The Athletic, Ipswich have also made a £16 million offer to sign Ben Doak from Liverpool this month, but it is a bid that has been turned down.

Doak, who has been described as being “explosive” by Aston Villa’s John McGinn, is currently on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough. The winger joined Boro at the end of the summer transfer window, and so far, it has been an impressive spell, as he’s contributed goals and assists to help Michael Carrick’s side into play-off contention.

The Athletic reports that Ipswich made a £16 million bid to sign Doak, who has been capped six times by Scotland, but it has been rejected by Liverpool. This offer comes after Crystal Palace made a £15 million bid to sign the Scottish winger on Friday.

Liverpool are said to be pleased with the progress that Doak has made while on loan at the Riverside Stadium, and their preference is for him to remain at Middlesbrough until the end of the campaign. Doak has featured 10 times for Liverpool so far, and while he has yet to score or register an assist, he is held in high regard by the Merseysiders. However, Ipswich may be tempted to make a new and improved offer for Doak to test the resolve of Liverpool, as McKenna looks to improve his side further.

Manchester United have confirmed that Jean-Claude Blanc has stepped down from his director role – but will take up a new position at the club.

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• Blanc steps down from Man Utd director role
• No longer on the Red Devils' board
• Moves into different position at the club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Blanc was a board member at United but the Premier League giants have stated he is no longer in that post and will instead become their Chief of International Football Relations. The Red Devils add that he will be a special advisor to the board, though, and will continue to liaise with UEFA, FIFA, and the European Club Association – on which he holds a board position as well as in the UEFA-ECA joint venture.

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  WHAT MAN UTD SAID

  United said in a statement: "Jean-Claude Blanc has stepped down from his position as a director of Manchester United Football Club, however, he will continue to have an active role in the management of the club in his new position as Chief of International Football Relations and Special Adviser to the board."
  

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While these changes take place off the pitch, on the field, United are in dire straits. They are on course to have their worst ever Premier League season and if they fail to win the Europa League, heads could roll.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After being thumped by Newcastle United, United will hope to return to winning ways for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final at home to Lyon on Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur have now made contact over a deal for an “outstanding” defender, having emerged as the club showing the most interest in his signature.

Tottenham struggling defensively

Given Ange Postecoglou’s attacking style of play, it will always be difficult for Tottenham to keep a great number of clean sheets, and they have often looked poor defensively in the first half of the campaign.

Spurs’ 6-3 defeat at home to Liverpool in the Premier League displayed their frailties at the back, and their defensive struggles may soon be exacerbated further by a number of defenders being sidelined with injuries.

With the likes of Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie all currently on the treatment table, Postecoglou may be forced to enter the transfer market for a new defender this month.

Tottenham eyeing bargain January move for "pure quality" £54,000-p/w star

Ange Postecoglou is keeping tabs on a midfielder.

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By
Dominic Lund

Jan 2, 2025

A number of targets have been identified by the Australian, with AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori now on the list, alongside the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ko Ikatura and Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov, having opened talks for the latter two players.

Tottenham clearly have a number of options in mind, and there is another player on the shortlist, with journalist Alessandro Giovanni Pagliarini reporting they have made contact with Atalanta to ask for information about Ben Godfrey.

“Not only #Wolves and #NFFC, also #Tottenham asked for information for Ben #Godfrey. The defender did not convince Gasperini and will leave #Atalanta in the January market.”

The 26-year-old, who cost £10m in the summer, has not done enough to convince manager Gian Piero Gasperini and is set to leave the Serie A club this winter, potentially opening the door for a move to north London, although Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest are also keen.

Journalist Rudy Galetti has confirmed that Spurs have shown “the most interest” in Godfrey, as they look to reinforce their defence this winter.

Godfrey could reignite his career at Tottenham

Things may not have worked out exactly to plan for the centre-back in Italy, but he has put in some impressive performances over the past year, showcasing his defensive attributes.

The York-born defender ranks in the 99th percentile for clearances per 90, and the 97th percentile for aerials won, when compared to his positional peers, displaying his dominance in the air.

During his time with Norwich City, the defender was hailed by former manager Daniel Farke, who said: “You can speak about the best centre-backs in the world now but at 19 and 20 they will have made mistakes.

“The best ones learn. Ben is playing without mistakes and that is outstanding. He is a pretty emotional player and I like that a lot because it means you are capable of finding another gear.”

The Englishman has a great deal of Premier League experience, making 112 appearances in the competition, and he could be a solid signing for Tottenham as they look to fix their defensive issues between now and the end of the campaign.

The Philadelphia Union prodigy may be one of the best talents the U.S. has ever produced, with considerable support on his journey

Cavan Sullivan could have cut the ball back. His brother was open, and there was another Philadelphia Union man making a run into the box. It was stoppage time, and the 14-year-old had a slither of space on the left wing in his professional debut in July 2024.

But instead of the smart, he went for the spectacular, unleashing a strike from 20 yards from a difficult angle. New England Revolution keeper Aljax Ivacic parried it into the ground. Philadelphia would win 5-1, anyway.

The whole sequence is chronicled in the Apple TV+ docuseries “Onside: Major League Soccer.” Here’s Cavan Sullivan, doing his math homework (he gets a 7/10.) There’s Cavan Sullivan, not knowing that he should eat the pasta with his pre-match chicken parmesan ("It’s the his older brother points out.)

But throughout this all, Sullivan seems a kid mature beyond his years. If there is any pressure associated with 38 minutes of television, a camera crew at his house, and the constant background chatter about just how good he is, then Sullivan doesn’t feel it.

“It’s something you’ve got to get used to, especially when they’re a documentary film crew at your crib. So yeah I did have to get used to it,” he told GOAL in an interview at Philadelphia’s training center.

And therein lies the point. Sullivan is a youngster suddenly in the pressure cooker of the American soccer world before most are ready. But where most prodigies have failed – Freddy Adu is the cautionary tale raised with every other breath – Sullivan looks mighty comfortable. There’s a confidence, perhaps, at times a cockiness. Sullivan might be the biggest talent American soccer has ever seen. And he’s entirely comfortable with it.

“I know the pressure is there,” he says. “But once I step within these white lines, it fades away.”

• USA Today Images
  

  'I look up to my mom'

  The story is well chronicled, at this point. Sullivan is basically a walking book of records. The fifth-youngest player ever to sign a homegrown contract in MLS. The youngest playoff goalscorer in MLS Next Pro history. The youngest player to make a matchday squad. The youngest debutant in American professional sports league (breaking Adu’s record by 13 days).

  This all comes in an era – and a sport – that does not always cater well to young talents. The United States, in particular, has had a difficult relationship with top prospects. There is a line to be drawn that starts with Adu, runs through Julian Green, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, and now lands at Sullivan. Not all of those stories have been successful.

  But Sullivan is different. It’s not just the money, the swagger, or the pre-contract signed with Manchester City that will see him move to the Etihad Stadium upon his 18th birthday (still more than two years away.) Sullivan is protected from this all by a family that appears simultaneously meticulous and demanding, yet also immensely delicate. He is the youngest of four brothers, raised by parents who both played collegiate and professional soccer, so the people around Sullivan know how difficult this all is – and how challenging it might yet be.

  “I look up to my mom off the field, the person she is, how kind she is, how respectful, and how she helps me every day. I want to be just like her, and treat people the way she does,” Sullivan said. “And in terms of on the pitch… my Dad has taught me everything I know.”

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• 'This could happen sooner rather than later'

  Of course, some of the cliches are here. Yes, Sullivan had a soccer ball in his crib. Inevitably, he could run, catch and kick a little earlier than others. There is video proof that at 18 months old he could use both feet with a ball inside the house. It was clear, from a young age, that he was of a different level. The standard platitudes of “things that can’t be taught” very much apply.

  He had always played a couple of years up. It was at the Generation Adidas Cup when his talent became apparent. The tournament routinely attracts scouts from around the world. In the 2023 iteration, he tore up Arsenal’s U15 side at just 13. Last year, Sullivan showed up in Prada boots with bleached hair, led the Union to the title, and scored an equalizing goal in the final.

  At that point, it became clear that a first team debut was near.

  “When I first started getting recognition in that aspect, I felt that was when I envisioned ‘This could happen sooner rather than later,’ ” he said.

  But Sullivan has never been allowed to think that way. His siblings still insist they’re better than him. After Cavan’s debut, his older brother Quinn, who also plays for the Union and is a fine midfielder in his own right, walked up to the docuseries cameras and immediately criticized his younger brother’s finishing ability (Quinn curled in a lovely fifth goal for the Union in the win.)

  And off the pitch, with the cameras turned away, there remains a competitive aspect to this all. Family 2v2s had to be canceled because of a disagreement over goalkeepers on small-sided nets. One brother was blocking a goal. Words were exchanged. Someone blasted a ball at someone else. The details are a bit fuzzy.

  “It wasn't even that deep,” Cavan recalled. “He smashed the ball at us. We got into a fight, and then we just dipped after that.”

• Instagram: @cavan.sull
  

  'They're used to competing up'

  “You want to know what Cavan’s like?”

  Dr. Nooha Ahmed-Lee is the Head of School of the YSC Academy, the Union’s educational center. She understands the question. And knows the answer isn’t simple. There is, as Ahmed-Lee says, a “360 piece” to Sullivan’s life. Start in the classroom. Sullivan had always played two years up. So, when the Union brought him into their academy in 2020, he was in sixth grade, learning eighth grade material.

  That wasn’t a problem.

  “He’s academically very, very astute,” Ahmed-Lee told GOAL. “He's an intellectual kind of learner.”

  In a way, he doesn’t have much of a choice. Play up, and you've got to learn up. Cavan’s father, Brenden, is a history teacher at the school. All three of his older brothers have, at some point, been enrolled. But Ahmed-Lee insists that it’s Cavan himself – not the pressure from family – that drives him.

  “When you have that kind of personality, that you just know that person's not going to get left behind – whether it's academically or soccer wise – they're just used to competing up,” Ahmed-Lee said.

  That applies to everything. Sullivan is competitive in pretty much all things, Ahmed-Lee said. At a mock trial in school, Sullivan stood out. Even there, he wanted to be the best.

  "We did a mock trial, and his role was public defender, and it was like, ‘Cavan, hey, listen, if the soccer thing doesn't work out, well, you're like a great public defender,’ ” Ahmed-Lee joked.

  Fame and fortune can have corrosive effects on even the most seasoned of players, let alone a 15-year-old trying to navigate life in the spotlight on the pitch and meshing with his peers in the classroom. But Ahmed-Lee says Cavan parks the public persona at the door.

  “He's the kind of person that will get along with everybody and treat everybody the same,” she says. “And so he's not stuck up, you know? He's very humble. He feels like, you know, he recognizes kids who are working hard and he applauds them.”

  And there are constant reminders that Sullivan is still just 15. He still needs signatures from his parents to attend a school dance. A few years ago, when Ahmed-Lee asked him what he would do with his first paycheck, Sullivan told her he wanted to buy a car. She had to remind him that he can’t legally drive it yet. But she considers that a healthy attitude.

  “The school is very aware, as I'm sure his parents are, that the best thing to do for Cavan is to treat him like everybody else in the school and keep him as a kid,” Ahmed-Lee said.

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  'I like the hunger I see in him'

  It was one of Sullivan’s first training sessions with the senior team, and he was getting stuck in. Everyone there was bigger, faster, and stronger (he may yet grow but is currently listed at 5-7.) Sullivan went in for a 50/50 with an established pro, and was absolutely clattered. Cavan crumpled on the ground, rocking back and forth. No one helped – not immediately, at least.

  Such is the life of a young player training with the first team. Sullivan gets tossed around by the big boys. Players twice his age are throwing an elbow, or leaving a foot in. But Sullivan gets his own in, too, breaking out flicks, nutmegs and sharp turns.

  “I got some cool plays in there,” he said after training. “A meg. I'm not gonna say on who, but yeah, I've been showing my confidence a little bit more.”

  But there are still some blips sprinkled in. Before his debut, Sullivan – given the No. 6 jersey – forgot that the shirts are pinned up in the dressing room in ascending numerical order. He needed help from Quinn to take his expensive watch off. His brother made fun of him for not wearing his own suit to his signing video.

  In interviews, he remains confident, but also slightly cheeky. He has admitted that he wants to be in Mauricio Pochettino’s U.S. men’s national team World Cup squad next year. But 2030 might be more realistic, he said, with a grin.

  Former pros can see the drive, too.

  “I like the hunger that I see in him,” former USMNT and MLS star Taylor Twellman told GOAL. “I like the humility that I see in him, while also being confident in what he wants to do. There is a fine line between cocky and confident. And I say he's still hungry and confident, and he's trying to prove something.”

Liverpool have suffered something of a winter blip, drawing four of their past seven Premier League matches and trailing Tottenham by a goal to nil after the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.

The finely crafted fluency has been knocked out of balance in recent weeks, of that there’s no doubt. But first-placed Liverpool still hold a four-point advantage over Arsenal, having played a game less, and will be determined to put Spurs to the sword at Anfield next month.

Arne Slot will retain his cool and composed demeanour, working in conjunction with sporting director Richard Hughes to advance the Liverpool cause to the best of his ability. Liverpool are pushing for silverware and many supporters are hoping that FSG will green-light a mid-season signing to propel the Merseysiders further forward.

Liverpool's January transfer plans

Liverpool’s contract-related issues have been discussed ad nauseam. Most of the noise has circled around Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Hughes and co better watch out, for Mohamed Salah is being courted by Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal.

Liverpool still expect Salah and Virgil van Dijk to extend their time at Anfield, though Alexander-Arnold’s future is more nebulous. This bulky problem is the chief reason why efforts have not been expended concerning incomings. Left-back Milos Kerkez is top of the wishlist, for example, but not expected to be targeted to replace Andy Robertson until the end of the season.

Then there’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The prized Napoli winger, 23, is slated to complete a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain despite Liverpool showing their hand last week.

It’s a tad frustrating to watch initial intrigue come to nothing for such a talented player, but with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo holding down the fort in that area so spectacularly, it was perhaps not the best track to head down this month. Both Redmen are arguably outstripping the Georgia international this season.

And anyway, Liverpool might have an up-and-coming talent in Rio Ngumoha who could prove to be Slot’s very own version of Kvaratskhelia.

Rio Ngumoha could be Slot's Kvaratskhelia

Sometimes, a fledgling talent comes along and you just know they carry something special. Ngumoha is that talent, though the 16-year-old must be eased into Slot’s senior set-up over the coming years, allowed to develop naturally with sporadic chances among the big boys.

Ngumoha was poached from Chelsea’s esteemed youth academy last summer, and it’s fair to say that Cobham officials were left hot under the collar as they lost one of their finest to the Merseysiders.

The highly-rated youngster’s signature was stuck due to some protracted administrative hold-ups throughout the summer but the move was completed in September and he has instantly made waves within Liverpool’s youth scene, leading to some high praise.

Reporter Lewis Bower even said: “I’ve probably never seen anything like it before. In terms of his ceiling, it’s frightening.”

The electric-paced wideman has already racked up 13 appearances for Liverpool’s respective youth sides this season, notching four assists and impressing with his ferocious athleticism and fleet-footedness.

His starting berth against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup last weekend was a perfect illustration of the high regard that Slot holds him in, for the Dutch coach is notoriously cut-throat when it comes to team selection.

He might not have scored against Liverpool’s League Two opponents last week, but Ngumoha gave an excellent account of himself on his professional debut, frustrating throughout with zappy dribbling and not afraid to get stuck in defensively either, displaying a combativeness that Slot will have appreciated.

After the 4-0 home victory, The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle even awarded Ngumoha with a 7/10 match rating, writing: ‘Announced himself on debut with some tricky runs down the left before break and released ball at right time. Encouraging display.’

There’s something delicately artful yet supremely sturdy about his ball-carrying ability, his silkiness. The mechanics behind the youngster’s skillset suggest that he could indeed be a superstar down the line if afforded enough time to grow into his skin.

To be sure, Liverpool could have made good use of a high-class winger such as Kvaratskhelia, but Slot has options aplenty and FSG will not want to do something hasty that could inhibit more calculated ventures down the line. They could well have saved themselves millions by not plumping for the £68m Napoli man.

When Jurgen Klopp stepped down at the end of the 2023/24 season, many across Europe might have felt that Liverpool would need to lower their station as the inevitable decline took hold with a cold grip.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

But Slot’s project looks fit to last – and is only just beginning. There’s so much talent in the first team, fighting for titles, but in youngsters such as Ngumoha, Liverpool might have some prodigious potential that could prompt reflective glances back to windows such as this one, when Kvaratskhelia was on the radar, and cause fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

For Ngumoha could be something so much more.

Liverpool chasing £50m “warrior” who’d be Slot’s own Gakpo signing

Liverpool may yet conduct some business during the January transfer window.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 16, 2025

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi sent a message to the club's board by demanding them to sign reinforcements in order to prevent his departure.

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• De Zerbi makes demands to Marseille board
• Told the board to sign reinforcements this summer
• Italian has been linked with an exit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Zerbi has laid out clear conditions for his future at Marseille, making it known that staying on as head coach hinges on the club’s willingness to meet his tactical demands. Speaking candidly, the Italian manager emphasised the need for signings that fit his preferred system — featuring a back four, traditional wingers, and a No.10.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Marseille’s season under De Zerbi has unravelled after a promising start, with tactical changes and squad decisions drawing criticism. Initially thriving in a 4-2-3-1 system, De Zerbi has since shifted to a 3-4-2-1 despite a shortage of natural centre-backs. Injuries to Luiz Felipe and now Leonardo Balerdi have further exposed defensive frailties. Key signings like Lilian Brassier were underused before departing, while experienced players like Chancel Mbemba remain sidelined due to injury. Instead, De Zerbi has relied on makeshift defenders, including full-backs Pol Lirola and Amir Murillo and midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, with limited success.

• WHAT ROBERTO DE ZERBI SAID

  “If I am to stay next season, and they bring me the right players that can adapt to these positions – I want to play with a back four, wingers, and a number 10. I’ve always set up like that, but you have to adapt to the players that you have," De Zerbi demanded (h/t Get French Football News).

  “It doesn’t bother me to talk about systems, in Italy, they ask questions about it even more. It’s part of our work as a managers to explain these things. I’ve almost always played with a four-man defence, with inverted wingers that create a lot of chances. But a good coach has to adapt to his players. Balerdi isn’t here, so it’s difficult to play with four at the back. Murillo has to adapt. And often our goals come from his movements. Kondogbia isn’t a centre-back. [Quentin] Merlin, [Ulisses] Garcia and Lirola aren’t full-backs who can play deep, like [Amar] Dedic.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

  With just five games to go, Marseille are currently on course to qualify for next season's Champions League as they sit in third position on the Ligue 1 table. In their next game, Les Olympiens will take on Montpellier on Saturday, April 19, at Stade Velodrome.

Aston Villa have urged the Premier League to reject Tottenham's appeal to reschedule next month's clash between the two teams at Villa Park.

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• Spurs in talks over fixture reschedule
• Postecoglou's side have eye on UEL final
• Villa reject their rivals' proposal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The two teams are scheduled to go head-to-head on May 18 in their penultimate league match of the season, but Spurs announced on Sunday that they have asked for the fixture be moved to May 15. The London side are aiming to reach the Europa League final and the original schedule would see them face Villa just three days before the decider in Bilbao.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Villa are not happy with the proposal, however, and reports that the club has written to the Premier League to object due to the lack of precedent for the division to reschedule matches in order to help clubs competing in Europe. Furthermore, the match will be Villa's last at home this season and a rescheduling would force them to cancel many of the family-friendly activities they have planned for the occasion.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Villa also cited their own congested fixture list in their argument against the change, saying they have played twice a week on regular occasions since April as they attempted to juggle the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ange Postecoglou's team have been paired with Bodo/Glimt in the European semi-final and will host the Norwegian club for the first leg on Thursday. The winner of the tie will go on to face either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao.

Sheffield United have now reached a “full verbal agreement” with a “brilliant” defender, with negotiations over the deal expected to start soon, according to a report.

Blades vying for promotion

The Blades remain in a fantastic position to secure an instant return to the Premier League, sitting just one point off top spot in the Championship standings.

In order to boost his side’s chances of automatic promotion, however, Chris Wilder has been extremely active in the transfer market this month, most recently re-signing Southampton striker Ben Brereton Diaz.

Wilder has also confirmed his interest in signing Sheffield Wednesday loanee Shea Charles, in what would be an eyebrow-raising move, saying:

“He (Charles) is a player we identified in the summer, as we have to because we’re all doing their jobs, whether that’s us or Sheffield Wednesday. That wasn’t a wind-up, even though I get it and people thought it might have.

“We’re looking for players of quality and pedigree and he was on the list. We’ll see where we go in the next week but a combative central midfielder, who can get about the park and break the game up and play, is on our radar. And there are a lot of players who fit that bill.”

Wilder's next Egan: Sheffield United make enquiry to sign "immense" star

Chris Wilder might now be looking for some new defensive additions at Sheffield United.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 20, 2025

Not only are United looking to strengthen their attack and midfield, but there could also be another defensive arrival very soon, with Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg revealing they have reached a “full verbal agreement” with Jonjoe Kenny.

The Hertha BSC full-back has informed the German club he wants to leave this month, ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the season, and negotiations are expected to start soon.

The 27-year-old is keen on moving back to England and helping the Blades secure promotion back to the Premier League in the second half of the season.

Kenny impressing in Germany

The former Everton man has been particularly impressive in an attacking sense for Hertha BSC this season, picking up one goal and six assists in 18 2. Bundesliga outings, having predominantly featured at right-back.

Ex-Wigan Athletic boss Gary Caldwell lauded the right-back as “brilliant” during his time at the Brick Community Stadium, and he has been one of Hertha’s best performers in the league this season, averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.02, the third-highest in the squad.

As such, it is promising news that Kenny is keen on a move to Bramall Lane this month, and the Blades will be hoping to get a deal done for a relatively low fee, considering he is out of contract at the end of the season.

That said, it may be difficult to displace Alfie Gilchrist in the starting XI to begin with, considering the 21-year-old has made the right-back spot his own after putting in some impressive performances this season, featuring in 26 Championship games.

Sheffield United have now agreed a deal to sign a new player for Chris Wilder as they look to end the January transfer window on a high in their bid for promotion back to the Premier League, according to a fresh report.

Sheffield United need additions

Though they have been one of the busier Championship sides this January, injuries mean that Sheffield United still need additions.

Wilder’s side have already added reinforcements in attack in the shape of Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz from Leicester City and Southampton respectively, with the two combining to help the Blades edge past Derby County in their most recent outing.

Meanwhile, fellow new signing Hamza Choudhury was named man of the match for his performance in the heart of the Blades midfield after joining the club on loan from Leicester City.

And reinforcements have arrived at the back too, with Wilder’s side sealing a deal for Harry Clarke, while the Blades are also closing in on a pair of deals to sign wingers recommended by AI in a deal driven by their new owners.

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But at least one more addition is still needed after a serious injury to Harry Souttar, who was ruled out for the season in the New Year after suffering an Achilles injury on Boxing Day.

“We are after a centre-half, no doubt about it”, Wilder explained after the win against Swansea City four days ago.

Now, it seems that the Blades are finally moving to address the issue, and are closing in on a deal to land another new face.

Sheffield United agree loan move for defender

That is according to a fresh report from Football Insider, which claims that Sheffield United have now agreed a deal with Crystal Palace to take Rob Holding on loan for the remainder of the season.

The former Arsenal defender was Gunners legend Paul Merson dubbed “reliable” during his time at the Emirates Stadium, where he was often relied upon by Mikel Arteta when he wanted to see a game out.

However, he has hardly featured since moving to south London after falling out with Oliver Glasner, with his only senior appearance coming in the EFL Cup before he was suspended from the first team by the Eagles head coach.

Now, his south London nightmare appears to be coming to an end at least temporarily, with the former England U21 international now closing in on a move to South Yorkshire.

As per the report, “the Blades have won the race to land the 29-year-old centre-back on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign” as they look to continue their push for promotion, though there is no mention of just how much of Holding’s £45,000 a week wages Wilder’s side will be asked to cover for the duration of his time at Bramall Lane.

With plenty of experience to his name, should he be match-sharp Holding could well be the perfect short-term replacement for Souttar, and could be a key part of Sheffield United’s hopes of an instant return to the top flight.