ESPN
Jan 30, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
Chelsea are set to make an offer to sign Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, while Aston Villa's Jhon Durán is closing in on completing a £64.5m switch to Al Nassr. And it's Deadline Day in the Women's Super League. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
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TOP STORIES
- Sources: Tottenham, Chelsea among 6 clubs vying for Tel
- Sources: PSV reject West Ham offer for USA's Pepi
- Source: PSG's Simons to join Leipzig permanently
- Liga MX's Monterrey in talks to sign Sergio Ramos
TRENDING RUMORS
- Chelsea are set to make an offer to sign Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, according to L'Equipe. Garnacho, 20, has fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim and is also of interest to Napoli as they seek a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who joined PSG for €60m. United are looking to raise funds, and Marcus Rashford could also depart, but want a fee of €95m to let Garnacho go. However, a swap deal involving Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku could reduce the total amount for all concerned and United are keen to bring him in.
- It's Deadline Day in the Women's Super League (WSL) and Chelsea are eager to complete the signing of Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh, sources have told ESPN. Walsh's contract is up at the end of the season and Arsenal were heavily linked with her last summer. However, sources have told ESPN that Chelsea have moved quickly and are optimistic of getting the deal across the line, with the fee at around €550,000.
Elsewhere, Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly has released an emotional statement asking to be granted her wish to leave the club in search of first-team football. Sources have told ESPN that Manchester United remain keen to sign Kelly on loan, and she has turned down a move to Brighton, but City are reluctant to let her leave for their rivals and another side in the mix at the top of the table. There could also be a major move in Europe as Squad Depth reports that Lyon are finalising an $830,000 (€800,000) deal to sign Houston Dash defender Tarciane.
- Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán is set to undergo his medical ahead of his proposed move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, where he will play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, reports the Athletic. The two teams are reported to have agreed a £64.5m deal for the 21-year-old, despite him recently signing a six-year contract at Villa Park in October. Duran has since been linked with an exit from the club in a continued struggle to garner first-team football over current starter Ollie Watkins, who the Villains rejected a reported £60m offer from Arsenal for on Wednesday. Manager Unai Emery said post-match after Villa's 4-2 win over Celtic in the UEFA Champions League that Durán's move is "good news" for the club as it shows they are doing the right things in terms of developing players.
- Manchester United want to sign Sporting CP full-back Geovany Quenda as he eyes a reunion with former boss Ruben Amorim, says O Jogo. Left-back Patrick Dorgu is poised to join from Lecce for €35m, but Amorim will also need a right-back for his 3-4-2-1 formation and the 17-year-old Quenda is top of his wishlist. United won't push for a deal this month due to a lack of funds, but will try and land him in the summer.
- Real Madrid winger Rodrygo is attracting interest from Al Hilal, according to Globo Esporte. The Saudi Pro League side have reportedly identified the 24-year-old as a potential replacement for Neymar, who was confirmed to have agreed a move to return to Santos on Tuesday. Initial talks are said to have taken place with Los Blancos, though it is expected that a move could be difficult to complete in the middle of the season. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is also believed to remain on Al Hilal's radar, though they are currently exploring alternatives.
CONFIRMED TRANSFERS
- RB Leipzig have signed Xavi Simons on a permanent transfer from PSG for a fee of €50m fee and €30m in add-ons. Read
- Former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has joined Al Duhail from Galatasaray.
- Barcelona midfielder Pedri has signed new deal until June 2030. Read
- Atlanta United has announced that it has officially acquired Newcastle United forward Miguel Almiron and has signed him to a three-year contract with an option for 2028. Read
- Borussia Dortmund have appointed Niko Kovac as their new head coach. The 53-year-old succeeds Nuri Sahin after the former Dortmund, Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder was sacked on Jan. 22 with the team struggling in the Bundesliga and out of the German Cup. Read
- Former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has left his post as manager of Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq after 18 months with the team struggling in the bottom half of the table. Read
- Arsenal's women's team have completed the signing of 24-year-old USWNT left-back Jenna Nighswonger from Gotham FC for a reported $100,000 fee. Read
- Kansas City Current striker Temwa Chawinga has penned a three-year contract extension. The extension comes as a reward for the Malawi international's stellar debut campaign in the NWSL, where her record-breaking 20 goals in the 2024 season saw her win the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player award. Read
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN's Sam Tighe looks at why Aston Villa couldn't say no to a huge offer to sign Jhon Durán.
The word "enigma" has become overused in football, but in Durán's case it's the perfect way to describe a chaotic, mysterious, incredible, but baffling footballer.
From a pure talent and potential perspective, few can hold a candle to him. He has scored 20 goals for Aston Villa and almost all of them have been utterly remarkable, from his swerving Goal of the Season contender against Everton, to his audacious lob against Bayern Munich, barely a month goes by without him doing something to send jaws to the floor.
The conundrum with the 21-year-old has been that outside of his delicious ball-striking and natural nose for goal, his game is unrefined -- a fact hammered home by the sheer contrast in his understanding of holdup, pressing and game management to Villa teammate Ollie Watkins.
The two have struggled to co-exist, in part because they struggle to play together, but also because they both demand to be first choice. Something was going to give in 2025 and it's no surprise that it's Durán that departs, as Unai Emery understandably prefers Watkins' reliability over the Colombia international's maverick nature.
That, plus the fact a fee of £64.5m plus bonuses should effectively solve any Profit and sustainability rules (PSR) concerns Villa may have had this campaign, makes it an opportunity the club can't pass up.
OTHER RUMORS
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Moreno: Jhon Durán transfer should be a 'no-brainer' for Aston Villa
Alejandro Moreno, Craig Burley and Steve Nicol discuss the transfer rumors surrounding Aston Villa forwards Jhon Durán and Ollie Watkins.
- Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are among those keen to land teenage Southampton winger Tyler Dibling. (Sun)
- Juventus have sent a €1.5m bid to Dinamo Zagreb to sign 17-year-old centre-back Leon Jakirović. (Fabrizio Romano)
- Bayer Leverkusen are close to sealing the deal to sign Brighton striker Evan Ferguson on loan, but Victor Boniface will have to leave for Saudi Arabia first. (Telegraph)
- Ajax are interested in Barcelona winger Ansu Fati, 22, which see the Calatan club able to sign Marcus Rashford on loan from Man United. (De Telegraaf)
- Multiple clubs in Europe are in the race to sign Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic, who is currently at FC Salzburg on loan. The 20-year-old is reported to prefer a move to Las Palmas, who are at the front of the queue for him, but there is competition from Real Valladolid, Getafe, and FC Porto. (Relevo)
- Newcastle United are ready to make an offer to sign Galway United's 18-year-old winger Kyle Fitzgerald. (Football Insider)
- Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei, 22, was set to join Lazio but now Torino are favourites to sign him. (Gianluca Di Marzio)
- Tottenham have failed in their attempts to sign three Chelsea players -- Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall -- on loan. (Caught Offside)
- Marseille have joined the race to sign Newcastle United defender Lloyd Kelly, 26. (L'Équipe)
- Lille star Mohamed Bayo has caught the eye of Ipswich and Besiktas and is likely to leave before the deadline. (L'Équipe)
