Premier League
Transfer deadline: Five players set to leave Manchester United
Manchester United transfer news has been dominated by player exits in the January transfer window and there are five players who could leave Old Trafford this Monday
The club is set to face a busy close to the January transfer window and attention is more on exits than arrivals.
Last week, there were two exits as Anthony Martial left on loan to Sevilla while Amad Diallo also joined Rangers on loan arrangement.
According to Mirror Football, the emergence of Anthony Elanga in United’s first-team further bloated the squad at Ralf Rangnick’s disposal and this month has been focused about trimming costs.
United added Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Tom Heaton to their squad last summer and this month has focused on slimming their squad and wage budget.
There are five more players who could depart Old Trafford on the final day of the transfer window as United look to finalise their squad for the remainder of the campaign.
Donny van de Beek
Donny van de Beek is almost certain to leave United today with a loan move agreed with Everton.
The Dutchman will become the first signing of Frank Lampard’s rein at Goodison Park after the Merseyside club beat off competition from Crystal Palace and Valencia.
Van de Beek has endured a difficult 18 months in Manchester, scoring just twice as he failed to sustain a run of first-team matches.
He is expected to return to Old Trafford this summer when his long-term future will be assessed.
Jesse Lingard
Lingard has been frustrated in recent months with lack of first-team action for Man Utd
A year ago Jesse Lingard joined West Ham on a loan deal for the remainder of the campaign and scored nine goals in 16 matches.
It was an error on the part of all parties not to sanction a permanent exit for the England international this summer.
Lingard has become increasingly frustrated with a lack of playing opportunities but a move away has not come to fruition.
Tottenham and West Ham had approaches for Lingard knocked back as United consider them top four rivals, leaving the door open for Newcastle.
The Magpies still have not ruled out a move for Lingard but the Red Devils inserting a clause if Newcastle avoided relegation seems to have collapsed talks for a loan deal.
Lingard will leave United as a free agent this summer and it remains unclear if he will play for the club again or secure an exit on Monday.
Dean Henderson
Another player with limited first-team opportunities at Manchester United – goalkeeper Dean Henderson is a loan target for Newcastle.
Henderson could join Newcastle on a loan deal for the remainder of the season
As per the Manchester Evening News , the two clubs are in discussions which would see the Magpies cover Henderson’s £110k weekly wage and pay the Red Devils a loan fee.
Henderson has not been able to displace David de Gea as United’s number one this campaign and is desperate for first-team football for the second half of the campaign.
Would mean Tom Heaton and Lee Grant would be understudy for De Gea for the remainder of the campaign.
Phil Jones
United central defender Phil Jones could also be poised to depart the club amid interest from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.
The central defender has made just one appearance for the Red Devils in the last two years and the club would be open to his exit this month to help reduce their wage bill.
Jones started in United’s side 1-0 defeat to Wolves earlier this month but the 29-year-old impressed after finally returning to action with an assured and commanding performance.
This summer’s arrival of Raphael Varane further pushed Jones down the pecking order at Old Trafford with Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly also ahead of him in the selection process.
Jones could now join Bordeaux on loan to replace former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, who has left the Ligue 1 club and after having his contract terminated.
Eric Bailly
If the exit of Jones falls through, there is a small possibility that Eric Bailly may instead leave Old Trafford.
The Ivorian is behind Maguire, Varane and Lindelof in the order at United and he has received attention from Italian club Milan in this transfer window.
Bailly has endured an inconsistent and injury-riddled few years at Old Trafford with an exit this year a real possibility.
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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