LIVE! Transfer news and rumours: Cairney signs Fulham extension, Spurs close in on Dragusin
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the latest transfer news and rumours from around the world of football on Tuesday, January 2!
Stick with us below to keep up to date with all of today's transfer rumours and done deals.
Today's key events
Blackburn recall John Buckley from Sheffield Wednesday loan
🔙 John Buckley has been recalled from his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday after undergoing shoulder surgery.
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) January 2, 2024
It has now been agreed that he will return to #Rovers, where he will complete his rehabilitation process over the coming months.
🔵⚪️
Barcelona 'pushing to sign Aleix Garcia for cut-price fee'
Barcelona are reportedly hopeful that they can sign Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia for as little as €12m (£10.4m).
Head coach Xavi is a known admirer of Garcia and admitted last month that the 26-year-old has the "technical ability" and "level" to play for the reigning La Liga champions.
Garcia sparked speculation over a potential move to Camp Nou last month when he expressed his desire to represent Barca at some stage in his career.
"I would like to play for Barca," Aleix told Movistar Plus. "It is the club that I have followed since I was little and the one that I have always liked."
Man United 'identify Scalvini as Varane replacement'
Manchester United have reportedly identified Atalanta BC defender Giorgio Scalvini as a potential replacement for Raphael Varane.
Varane is due to see his contract at Old Trafford expire in June 2024 and the Red Devils have allegedly decided against triggering a 12-month extension clause.
The 30-year-old was a first-team regular under Erik ten Hag last season, but he has since struggled for consistent game time this term, starting just 11 times for Man United across all competitions.
While Lisandro Martinez remains out though injury, Varane has fallen behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans in the pecking order, with rumours of a fallout between the Frenchman and Ten Hag alleged to have contributed to his first-team demotion.
Arsenal 'close to agreeing new Tomiyasu contract'
Arsenal are close to agreeing a new long-term contract with defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, according to a report.
The 25-year-old joined the Gunners from Bologna in the summer of 2021 and quickly established himself as the club's first-choice right-back under head coach Mikel Arteta following the departure of Hector Bellerin.
Tomiyasu has since had to deal with a number of niggling injuries and has subsequently lost his regular starting place to Ben White.
The Japan international has made a total of 73 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, including 10 starts in 20 outings so far this season.
Aston Villa's Kerr Smith signs new contract, joins St Johnstone on loan
Aston Villa is delighted to announce Kerr Smith has signed a new professional contract with the club and will immediately join St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season. ✍️
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 2, 2024
Rodrigo Gomes agent confirms Wolves interest
The agent of Rodrigo Gomes has acknowledged that Wolverhampton Wanderers have expressed an interest in signing the Braga winger.
With Fabio Silva having already joined Rangers on loan and reports indicating that Sasa Kalajdzic could also depart on a temporary basis, Wolves are in need of additions in the final third during January.
At the turn of the year, it was reported in Portugal that Gomes was a name that had been placed on their shortlist courtesy of his performances on loan at Estoril Praia.
Gomes has been in sensational form during 2023-24, already chipping in four goals and six assists from his 14 appearances in Primeira Liga.
Transfer rumours: Dier to West Ham, Santos to Newcastle, Navas to Forest
West Ham United have reportedly made initial contact with Tottenham Hotspur over a possible move for Eric Dier.
The 29-year-old has spent almost decade in North London and has made a total of 364 appearances for Spurs across all competitions, but he has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of head coach Ange Postecoglou.
Dier has made just four Premier League appearances so far this season and Postecoglou has preferred to play full-backs Ben Davies and Emerson Royal in central defence over the England international in recent weeks.
Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven established themselves as the first-choice centre-back paring earlier this season, but both players are currently sidelined with injuries.
Cheltenham bid farewell to six loanees
The club can confirm that six of its seven loan players have now returned to their parent clubs.
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) January 2, 2024
We'd like to thank Owen, Cam, Oli, Jovan, Josh and Luci for all their efforts during their time at the club ❤️
Read more here ⤵️ #ctfc♦️
Bradford recall Jake Young from Swindon loan
📰 Jake Young has been recalled by Bradford
Everyone at #STFC would like to thank Jake for his efforts and wish him well in the future ❤️ — Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) January 2, 2024
25 games, 16 goals, 4 assists for #STFC ✨
— Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) January 2, 2024
Thank you, Jake Young ❤️
🎨 @sajanitoo pic.twitter.com/0sJGzSu1Ij
🎥 A message from Jake Young, to the #STFC fans: pic.twitter.com/8xsHWjuIua — Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) January 2, 2024
St Johnstone sign Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka from AIK
Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka signs for Saints! 🇸🇪
— St. Johnstone FC (@StJohnstone) January 2, 2024
The 23-year-old forward signs on an 18-month contract from @AIKfotboll subject to international clearance.
Welcome to McDiarmid Park, Benjamin! 💙#SJFC
Tom Cairney signs new Fulham contract
Fulham captain Tom Cairney has signed a new contract extension that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2025.
Cairney's previous deal had been due to expire this summer, meaning that he was free to discuss terms with foreign clubs from January 1.
However, Fulham have triggered a one-year extension clause in the 32-year-old's deal that will see him reach 10 years of service with the Cottagers, having initially joined in 2015.
"It means everything to me to extend my contract. 10 years is a hell of a long time in football, a very rare thing," Cairney told the club's official website.
Liverpool confirm Owen Beck return from Dundee loan
Owen Beck has been recalled from his loan at Dundee:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 2, 2024
Spurs 'pushing to finalise Dragusin signing'
Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have ambitions to tie up a deal for Genoa defender Radu Dragusin as soon as possible.
Spurs have generally impressed under head coach Ange Postecoglou since the Greek-Australian was appointed as head coach in the summer.
However, despite sitting in fifth position in the Premier League standings, the North Londoners have conceded 29 goals from their 20 league games.
On the back of having Cristian Romero sent off against Chelsea on November 6 and Micky van de Ven sustain a hamstring injury in the same game, their lack of depth in central defence was exposed.
Liverpool midfielder Carvalho attracting interest from Southampton?
Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho is reportedly attracting interest from Southampton after returning to Anfield.
Over the weekend, the Merseyside giants confirmed that they had recalled the playmaker from his loan stint with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.
The hope had been that the 21-year-old would cement a first-team place at the German side, yet the opposite has transpired with just two starts being provided in all competitions.
A further 12 outings came from the substitutes' bench, but despite a recent start in a Champions League dead-rubber with Young Boys, Liverpool were not convinced that the Portugal Under-21 international would break into the first XI on a regular basis.
Galatasaray 'considering terminating Ziyech loan deal'
Galatasaray may reportedly look to terminate the loan spell of Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech during the January transfer window.
The Turkish giants won the race to secure the Morocco international's signature in the summer when a move to the Saudi Pro League fell through.
An issue in a medical resulted in the transfer to the Middle East breaking down, but Galatasaray were prepared to strike a loan deal with Chelsea with the obligation to buy.
That is something that was confirmed by Chelsea at the time and is expected to be finalised in due course.
Sheffield United-linked Firmino 'unlikely to make Premier League return'
Al-Ahli striker Roberto Firmino has reportedly decided against a move to Premier League club Sheffield United in the January transfer window.
Firmino moved to the riches of the Saudi Pro League back in the summer following the expiration of his contract at Liverpool, where he enjoyed a successful eight-year period.
Since bagging a hat-trick on the opening day of the season against Al Hazem, Firmino has failed to make the net ripple in his next 16 league appearances in the Middle East.
Sections of the Al-Ahli fanbase are unhappy with the 55-time Brazil international's performances, with their team 13 points behind league leaders Al-Hilal.
Tomas Soucek signs new West Ham contract until 2027
West Ham United have announced that midfielder Tomas Soucek has extended his contract with the club until June 2027.
The 28-year-old initially joining the Hammers on loan from Slavia Prague in January 2020 before making his move to the London Stadium permanent the following summer.
Soucek has since established himself as a key cog in David Moyes's machine, scoring 30 goals in 182 appearances across all competitions.
The Czech Republic international chipped in with three goals and six assists in 50 games last season and helped the Hammers win the Europa Conference League – the club's first European trophy for 58 years.
