Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal agree Zubimendi deal, Liverpool in wonderkid talks, Chelsea want new striker

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho is wanted by Flamengo, with the Brazilian giants striving to get the deal done this month.

The 33-year-old is out of contract in June and, with his representatives and Arsenal yet to agree terms for an extension, he has been free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with any club abroad.

Flamengo are reported to be one of the chief pursuers for Jorginho’s services according to Brazilian news outlet Globo Esporte with the Serie A outfit believed to have offered him a three-year deal.

We’re halfway through the 2024-25 Premier League season and the storylines are developing nicely at the top and bottom of the table. Although, depending on your perspective, or your team, they may not all be positive ones.

What is certain is that a handful of clubs will be hoping to improve their fortunes and their squads in January by delving into the market – and some might need to fare rather better in winter than they appear to have done in the summer with regards to transfers.

Here are the best and worst signings of the season so far, as picked by The Independent’s sports desk.

*This article was first published on Christmas Day 2024

Ange Postecoglou spoke about bringing new players to Spurs during this window and explained: “It is hard to say, January is a difficult month, there is no real certainty about anything, there are a lot of things that need to come together.

“The club is working really hard in that area and if there are any developments, we will let everyone know.

“We can’t afford to let players go. There could be some young ones, like Alfie Dorrington has gone out on loan and young Will [Lankshear] could be as well.

“But aside from that, we are looking at incomings if anything happens.”

Sky Sports reports that Arsenal have yet to receive a formal offer for defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The defender is into the final 18 months of his contract and Arsenal are willing to sell if they receive a suitable offer that lines up with the aims of the club.

However, with injuries a big problem at the minute the Gunners will not allow players to leave this month if it leaves the squad short.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has for German side Schalke until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old was most recently at Newcastle after previous stints with Mainz, Besiktas and Union Berlin.

All 20 Premier League sides have avoided charges relating to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the 2023/24 season after the league deemed every club to have been financially compliant.

PSR stipulates that clubs cannot post losses of more than £105m over a three-year period, with most clubs required to submit their accounts for the 2023/24 season by 31 December.

This year, the Premier League has adjudged that all clubs have adhered to the rules – in 2024, the league charged both Everton and Nottingham Forest with PSR breaches, with the Merseyside club later being given an eight-point reduction, while Forest were docked four points.

Taiwo Awoniyi won’t be leaving Nottingham Forest this month unless they have a new striker to replace him.

West Ham have Awoniyi on their list of possible forward targets, but have yet to make an approach. The forward slipped down the pecking order for Forest this season, after falling behind 12-goal Chris Wood.

Wood himself is close to agreeing a contract extension. Awoniyi has only started two Premier League matches this term.

Leicester City are close to completing the signing Parma right-back Woyo Coulibaly.

It is understood that the defender is in the UK to complete a medical with the Foxes after the two clubs agreed a deal in principle for the player.

The 25-year-old is a versatile defender who can also play left-back which boosts the options for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team.

The Foxes also want to sign a left-winger and a centre-back during this window if they can.

Napoli striker Khvicha Khvaratskheila looks set to leave the club during this window and as such the Serie A side are moving to replace him.

Napoli are said to be keen on Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, though they may find it difficult to prise him away from Old Trafford and Timo Werner.

Werner is on loan at Tottenham from RB Leipzig and seemingly offers the easier solution.

Paris Saint-Germain have reached a verbal agreement with Napoli of approximately £63m (€75m) to sign Khvaratskhelia.

With all the attention focussed on which striker Arsenal will sign in the January window, news has emerged that the Gunners are all but certain to land primary target Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi at the end of the season.

Mikel Arteta is known to be a long-term admirer of the 25-year-old Spanish star and, with Jorginho and Thomas Partey both out of contract at the end of the season, the club have accelerated their interest in Zubimendi.

Arsenal are reported by The Mail to have triggered Zubimendi’s €60million (£51m) release cause and would have ideally liked one of Europe’s leading midfield talents to join them this month, but Real Sociedad have insisted he stays until the end of the campaign.