Plus: Kepa fears he will be sent back to Chelsea this summer after falling out of favour at Real Madrid; Arsenal are keeping close eye on Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee; Leeds and Rangers set to go head-to-head in the transfer market with both clubs tracking Scottish rising star Josh Doig
Friday 12 January 2024 07:09, UK
The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday's newspapers...
DAILY MIRROR
Erik ten Hag is keeping tabs on Ajax striker Brian Brobbey as Manchester United begin to plan their summer transfer window.
Turkish football is facing new shame after it emerged a club refused to deal with an agent because he is Black.
Former Sunderland and Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has offered to mentor aspiring coaches following his recent sacking by League One club Fleetwood Town.
Graham Potter remains the most talked about name in football circles as the favourite to become the next Manchester United manager should the club decide to move on from Erik ten Hag.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has beem urged to rethink the decision to merge the position of minister for disabled people with another role with Paralympics GB chief executive David Clarke saying it "devalues" disabled people ahead of the Paralympic Games.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Arsenal are admirers of Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee and are keeping a close eye on the striker as they consider potential targets who could strengthen Mikel Arteta's attack.
THE SUN
Kepa fears he will be sent back to Chelsea this summer after falling out of favour at Real Madrid.
Arsenal are willing to trigger the £50m release clause of Martin Zubimendi, reports suggest.
Chelsea have drawn up a five-man striker shortlist with Victor Osimhen their number one target, according to reports.
Nemanja Matic has been spotted at a train station in Rennes after going on strike at the club.
Arsenal have received a boost after it emerged injured striker Gabriel Jesus has been able to train at their warm-weather camp in Dubai.
Portsmouth have agreed a deal to sign former Luton goalkeeper Matt Macey, who has been a free agent since September.
EVENING STANDARD
Chelsea are long-term admirers of Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson.
DAILY MAIL
Saudi Arabia is set to launch a fresh raid on world football and will scour the planet for some of its best young talent - with cash-rich Pro League clubs to increase the number of overseas players permitted in the competition from eight to 10 in the summer.
Nottingham Forest will take transfer advice in this window from the man they sacked as head of recruitment more than a year ago - George Syrianos.
Leeds United expect to lose many of their senior players currently out on loan in the summer irrespective of which division they find themselves in.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has withheld details of proposed rule changes that would permit him to stay in office until 2031 from documents sent to national associations ahead of next month's congress in Paris.
Colin Graves is set to charge Yorkshire interest payments of around 10 per cent a year as part of a £5m refinancing package to ensure the club's survival.
DAILY EXPRESS
Mikel Arteta will reportedly knock back approaches for Eddie Nketiah this January despite Crystal Palace's willingness to pay around £30m for the Arsenal striker.
Leeds and Rangers are set to go head-to-head in the transfer market this month with both clubs tracking one of Scotland's rising stars, Josh Doig.
Middlesbrough fear being without striker Emmanuel Latte Lath and defender Alex Bangura when they defend their 1-0 lead over Chelsea in the second-leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals later this month.
Sunderland could be without full-back Niall Huggins for more than a year because of an operation on his injured knee.
Fulham could rekindle their interest in signing Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli this month.
THE ATHLETIC
Premier League clubs may not learn any confirmed profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR) punishments until after the season is over.
Leeds United are interested in a January loan deal for West Ham defender Ben Johnson.
Fenerbahce have signed former Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci.
Joel Veltman is on course to return to the Brighton defence in February.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says Charlie Cresswell will not be part of his first-team plans as the defender is not "mentally ready" to play.
Aston Villa defender Lucy Parker is expected to miss "the majority" of the season after sustaining an ankle injury that requires surgery.
THE GUARDIAN
Frank Onyeka is wanted by Everton, Fulham and a number of clubs overseas, with the Nigeria midfielder expected to be allowed to leave Brentford this month on loan.
Male footballers are becoming increasingly concerned for their physical safety while at work, with a majority believing that fan culture in the men's game has "become increasingly more violent and abusive", research has found.
THE TIMES
West Ham United are tracking the prolific Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez - although the Dutch club are hoping to fend off interest until the summer.
Exeter Rugby Group plc, the company that runs Exeter Chiefs, has registered a pre-tax loss of £4.58m for the year ending June 2023, up from £2.88m for the previous 12 months.
DAILY STAR
Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis has sent his faltering squad on a week-long hotel retreat, completely cutting players off from their family and friends and putting on extra-hard training sessions in a bid to get their focus back.
DAILY RECORD
Ryan Kent reportedly wants a return to Scotland or a switch to the English Premier League if his Fenerbahce stint ends.
SCOTTISH SUN
Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke says "it's unfair" Michael Beale has landed another top job at Sunderland.
