Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool reject Madrid bid for Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold’s deal at Anfield expires in the summer and the defender is a target for Real, whose quest to sign the right back became more urgent after Dani Carvajal was ruled out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Real’s approach was rebuffed before an offer could be made or a fee discussed.

Some paper talk now involving Wolves.

The club have made Kevin Danso their top priority, talkSport report. Vito Pereira is an admirer and the Austrian might initially be available on loan with a view to buy, with the latter an obligation if Wolves survive the drop.

The former Augsburg defender previously had a loan spell in England with Southampton. He has 24 caps for his national team and now plays in France for Lens.

After having their initial approach rejected from Liverpool, Real Madrid are said to be willing to pay £20m for right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to join them in January.

Liverpool have been adamant that their vice-captain won’t leave the club this month though the prospect of letting him go on a free transfer in the summer could affect their thinking.

The Telegraph reports that whatever the fee for Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool’s priority is to win the Premier League and they see Alexander-Arnold as a valuable asset to allow them to do so.

Bayer Leverkusen could capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding Manchester City starlet James McAtee’s future with a move next month.

According to the Mail, the English midfielder could represent an enticing option to eventually replace Florian Wirtz, who has been linked with a host of clubs in recent months, including Real Madrid.

And Leverkusen have been linked with the 22-year-old, alongside Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Bologna and Fiorentina, while Premier League sides Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Brentford and Crystal Palace could also join the race should City decide to make the £25m-rated England U21 international available.

Ruben Amorim delivered a defiant New Year’s Eve message as Manchester United prepared to bid farewell to 2024 on a low note following their loss to Newcastle.

United’s 2-0 home defeat saw them suffer five league losses in the same calendar month for the first time since September 1962, and a fourth straight reverse in all competitions means the Red Devils have lost six of their last eight.

But in a message posted on his club’s official X account on New Year’s Eve, Amorim wrote: “I know it will take a lot of hard work from everyone to get there, but I am very excited about where we can go together in 2025.”

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui will be given more time to turn the club’s fortunes around.

The Telegraph reports the Hammers will persist with the Spanish coach, despite the club’s poor form this season and that could mean new signings at the London Stadium in January.

The club needs to sell to buy, but talks have already taken place with co-owner David Sullivan about possible targets.

Cristiano Ronaldo is open to leaving Al-Nassr this summer and the 39-year-old Portugal forward is now free to negotiate with other clubs from 1 January.

Marca report the former Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United superstar, stating: “Nobody knows what can happen in the future.”

One factor which could see Ronaldo stay is the report stating that he does not want to leave Saudi Arabia without winning the league, something he has achieved in every country since departing Sporting for Old Trafford in 2003.

With Marcus Rashford repeatedly being omitted from Manchester United’s matchday squads and given the fact he has admitted he is ‘ready for a new challenge’ it seems highly likely that the forward will exit Old Trafford soon.

Rashford has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2016, having come through the United youth ranks. The 2022-23 campaign was his most prolific when he scored 30 in all competitions.

However, should the club want to move him on in January Rashford is one of United’s highest earners and it will be difficult to find a club that can afford his fee plus match the wages he is currently on at Old Trafford.

He also has another three years left to run on his contract which could mean a prolonged stand-off with the United hierarchy if a move is not forthcoming.

There has previously been interest from Paris Saint-Germain and some clubs in the Saudi Pro League but any move will come down to Rashford’s willingness to depart United.

Sky Sports say that Lazio are interested in signing Empoli midfielder Jacopa Fazzini.

Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani admitted the club holds an interest in Fazzini but there is still some way to go before a transfer is forthcoming.

“Fazzini is an excellent player, our scouts have monitored him but we have also met him,” Fabiani said to Lazio’s website about the 21 year-old.

“I want to say one thing, the market is not made by social media and not even Fabiani does it alone. A series of convergences are needed.”

Cesare Casadei is one of the players who could leave Chelsea in January and the 21-year-old midfielder is the subject of plenty of interest from Serie A clubs.

According to transfer expect Gianluca Di Marzio, Torino have made an opening offer to sign Casadei on a permanent basis. The deal is said to include a buyback clause for Chelsea, who are not actively looking to sell the Italy Under-21 international.