Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal identify Isak alternative, Olmo update, Real Madrid discuss Liverpool bid

Reports over the past day or two have suggested that Real Madrid are likely to return with a stronger bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold, after Liverpool called off initial talks.

However, the and paper say the result will be the same: the Reds will rule out any possibility of letting their right-back leave mid-season, instead focusing on trying to win trophies and convincing him to sign a new contract instead.

Alexander-Arnold, who is the club’s vice-captain, is now free to talk to Real and agree a free transfer at the end of the season.

Marcus Rashford…what’s next for him? Well, Liverpool are up next, on Sunday, but with him being an unused substitute against Newcastle and not in the squad before that, he may not feature at Anfield again.

Meanwhile, TalkSport claim that the Manchester United forward is favored to move to Spain and therefore Barcelona, ​​but also say he has set up various agencies to discuss moves, which Rashford himself says is not the case. A less concrete claim from one of the past websites (TeamTalk, if anyone remembers the Teletext days when they were regular with transfer gossip…) suggests that PSG and Borussia Dortmund are showing “renewed interest” in him and that United want 50-60 million pounds as compensation.

And you can read all about his rejection of potential transfers to Saudi Arabia, his reasons and the huge amount of money involved here.

Right then, let’s take a quick look at what’s been going on in rumor land and then we’ll dig into things individually…

• Marcus Rashford turned down the chance to move to Saudi Arabia, turning down three clubs – full details here
• But European teams have now reportedly shown interest in the Man United striker
• Aston Villa are in talks over a deal for Donyel Malen
• Reports in Italy of an AC Milan move for Darwin Nunez are seemingly out of bounds
• Arsenal have joined a number of clubs who love Evan Ferguson
• Ben Godfrey could make a quick return to the Premier League
• And two top clubs want Jaden Filogen from Villa on loan

Much more besides this lot…let’s get started.

Championship news starting this morning, where Ashley Barnes has returned home, in his own words.

The veteran striker has left Norwich City, where he scored seven goals in 49 games in a year and a half, to return to Burnley – the club where he spent almost a decade in the Premier League.

He played almost 300 times for the Clarets, scoring 67, and with them he has already won promotion three times.

Manchester United they do not have the funds to buy players to strengthen their struggling squad in the January transfer window.

But having spent more than £200m on summer signings and with very little leeway under the Profitability and Sustainability Rule (PSR), United are unable to spend unless they sell.

Real Madrid are considering a second January bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold to bring the right-back to the Bernabeu before next summer, when he will be available on a free transfer.

The Times Report that the Spanish side will test Liverpool’s resolve with Arne Slott at the top of the Premier League and Champions League.

Although the report did not initially discuss figures, Real Madrid could be willing to pay just over £20m to make a move six months ahead of a potential summer move.

The report claims the United striker has met with the sport’s leading agency to try and speed up a move away from Old Trafford.

But Rashford, who is currently represented by his brother Dwaine Maynard, wrote on Instagram: “There have been a lot of fake stories written over the past few weeks but guys this is getting ridiculous – I have never met with any agency and you have no plans to…”

In a sign of how limited this January window could be, one mid-table Champions League club briefly considered whether a move for Marcus Rashford maybe it is possible. There was a sense of his leaving comments Manchester United can lead to a reduced price… only to have their interest crushed almost immediately. Plan yes try asking about the £30m deal he didn’t even get off the ground.

The gap to what United would actually want, which is thought to be in excess of £60m, shows how much it could take to get this market moving. One circular problem sums it all up. The majority Premier League clubs want to do meaningful work, but the PSR has left high-paid teams with little headroom, and those in Europe simply don’t have the money to spend. Many of the latter are still struggling post-Covid, especially with English competition so inflating the wage race. As a consequence, almost everyone has to sell first, but there are few buyers who could make it happen. It’s a setup for stagnation and a market that just won’t budge.

Winter transitional period is open, and clubs across Europe are looking for value in a tough market this month.

Injury crises, title challenges and relegation battles will force many clubs into the market in early 2025, with many eyes on Premier League as clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester City look prepared to sign.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis spoke at the Globe Soccer Dubai Awards and outlined what the Premier League club will – and won’t – do in January as they look to build on a superb first half of the season.

Forest are second in the table, behind only Liverpool, having lost just four times so far this term.

“We will do everything necessary to be stronger and of course our coach (Nuno Espirito Santo) will decide what he really needs,” said Marinakis. “We have to keep the same spirit and the same environment in the dressing room and all our players this year have the right spirit. This is a very good climate and we should try not to break it.

“It is an important achievement because in all positions we have players who are performing or even performing too much. For us, this is our first priority – keep the momentum going, keep winning and keep enjoying the journey.”