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January Transfer Deadline Day 2023

Chelsea are set to be one of the busier clubs, more so with outgoings, regardless of whether they get their mitts on Enzo Fernandez. Arsenal are, for the second consecutive deadline day, scratching around for a midfielder, and plenty of other clubs still have plenty to do before the deadline at 11pm tonight.

To the Gossip we go. Here’s some of the freshest, steamiest bullsh*t around this morning….

It seems likely that Chelsea’s pursuit of Enzo Fernandez will be successful. It’s widely reported that the Blues have agreed to cough up the £105million required to release the Argentine from his Benfica contract, but the payments will be made in instalments rather than one lump sum, with a £10million sweetener for the Portuguese club. Fernandez, we assume, will be heading for west London at some point this morning.

Even if Fernandez arrives, The Guardian says Chelsea could still move for Moises Caicedo. Arsenal have been trying to take the midfielder from Brighton but the Seagulls have been stubborn in refusing to do business for anything other than silly money. The Gunners are reluctant to go as high as £80million. But Chelsea don’t share the leaders’ restraint and could raid Brighton once more.

Arsenal are looking for alternatives to Caicedo, with Jorginho chief among them. Chelsea are apparently willing to sell the Italy star who is approaching the end of his contract in the summer. So too is Youri Tielemans and 90min says Arsenal could finally move for the Leicester midfielder having tailed him for what feels like forever.

Amid Arsenal and Chelsea’s midfielder chases, it has been somewhat forgotten that Liverpool’s engine room needs reinforcements just as badly. The Reds don’t have the same urgency and appear willing to wait until the summer. But El Nacional reckons they could surprise us all today with a move for N’Golo Kante. He too is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.

Over at Spurs, it looks set to be one in, one out when it comes to right wing-backs. The Telegraph says a deal has finally been agreed to bring Pedro Porro to north London from Sporting Lisbon, with figures from elsewhere putting the final cost perhaps as high as £55million. To make room for the 23-year-old, Spurs could send Djed Spence to Rennes, where the 22-year-old will wait out the rest of the season in the hope that Antonio Conte is gone by the time he returns.

It is almost certainly all about exits at Manchester United today. Harry Maguire has been offered one by Inter Milan but the Daily Star says the centre-back has turned down the opportunity. For now. Anthony Elanga has many more offers – as many as 10 apparently, with Borussia Dortmund and PSV among the clubs keen to borrow the Sweden international for the rest of the season.

Newcastle have a huge game tonight but Eddie Howe wants a midfielder in before they kick off the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Southampton, especially if Jonjo Shelvey completes a move to Nottingham Forest as expected. Sheffield United’s Sander Berge is a possibility, according to the Newcastle Chronicle, while the Magpies could raid Chelsea, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek perhaps a loan target.

The Toon, among many others, were linked with Hakim Ziyech but it seems the Morocco star is heading for PSG, initially on loan. Everton were also eyeing the winger and we can expect the Toffees to be making moves after confirming Sean Dyche as their new manager yesterday. No sooner had he been appointed had a bid worth up to £45million been submitted for Conor Gallagher but the Chelsea midfielder needs some convincing.

Leicester look certain to be busy too. The Telegraph says they have made an offer worth £15million for Stoke defender Harry Soutar, while Leeds winger Jack Harrison is also a target. Leeds could soften the blow of losing Harrison by moving for Nicolo Zaniolo, who has made it clear that he wants to leave Roma. But Calciomercato says the Yorkshiremen want to borrow the 23-year-old while Jose Mourinho wants shot of him permanently.