Transfer news RECAP: Ivan Rakitic 'accepts move to Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia', Crystal Palace near £8.5m deal for right-back Daniel Munoz, and Kasper Schmeichel emerges as Nottingham Forest target
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Re-live Mail Sport's live blog of all the latest news and updates in the transfer window on Saturday, January 27.
That's all from us today
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Make sure to head over to our other stories and social media channels for more coverage, including from today's FA Cup ties.
And make sure that, when transfer deadline day rolls around, you pick Mail Sport as your go-to destination for all the news!
Hannibal Mejbri DROPPED by Sevilla so he can have 'time to learn' after one appearance
Manchester United's midfield talent clearly hasn't impressed so much at Sevilla, who have issued a public statement explaining why he will be frozen out of their squad for the foreseeable future.
- 'Let's see if the boy applies himself'
- 'You should take a step to understand what we want'
- 'He has to know where he is'
Sevilla seem to think Hannibal will learn more from being ostracised for now.
Is this an overly harsh move considering United have only just sent him on loan there this month?
Multiple clubs eye Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as Brighton make an approach
Leicester have slapped a prohibitive £40m price tag on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall but he has multiple Premier League admirers.
He has nine goals and nine assists in the Championship this season.
Do you think he is worth £40m?
Read more below.
Ivan Rakitic's wonderful run in Europe over?
Has European football seen the last of Ivan Rakitic?
If it has, what a legacy. Four LaLiga titles. A Champions League crown. Two Europa League champion medals. A World Cup runners-up medal with Croatia.
They don't make many like Rakitic. A pleasure to watch on the ball and so clever off it.
Al-Shabab are expected to sign him.
Connor Roberts to leave Burnley?
One of the lynchpins of their Championship title win last season, Connor Roberts' game time at Turf Moor has faded this year.
The full-back has dropped to the bench in recent weeks and will have an eye on making the Wales squad for the European Championship qualifiers - and subsequently, he'd hope, the competition proper.
Who could extend an offer to him?
READ MORE BELOW.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall not involved for Leicester against Birmingham
Mail Sport's Tom Collomosse with updates here on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The Leicester midfielder is not involved for the Foxes in their FA Cup fourth round tie against Birmingham City.
As Tom points out, Dewsbury-Hall's absence could be due to rest and rotation.
The midfielder has been linked with a potential move to Brighton in the last couple of days.
Alex Pritchard informs Sunderland he wants to leave the club.
Curious case this.
Sunderland have issued a statement confirming midfielder Alex Pritchard has asked to leave the club.
'On Friday morning, Alex Pritchard informed the Club that he was no longer available for selection and he subsequently withdrew from today’s matchday squad,' a statement reads.
'The midfielder also expressed his desire to leave SAFC with immediate effect.
'The Club will be making no further comment at this moment in time.'
Tomas Soucek claims he turned down a move to Saudi Arabia last summer
Some quotes from West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek to a Czech newspaper.
Soucek has claimed he was subject to an offer from a Saudi Pro League club last summer.
The 28-year-old said he snubbed the proposal to stay with the Hammers.
Soucek signed a new contract at the start of this month, a deal committing him to West Ham until June 2027.
Burnley step up bid for Maxime Esteve
We're not sure if Burnley haved MAXED out their bid for Esteve - get it? - but they have offered a significant sum.
Maxime Esteve is one of the brightest young defensive talents in Ligue 1 but Vincent Kompany doesn't want that to be the case for much longer.
The Clarets have improved their offer, but a few sides have fallen before them. Will they get their man?
READ MORE BELOW.
Sean Dyche: Everton DON'T need to sell stars as financial situation is stable
Everton have already been hit with a 10-point deduction for a breach of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
They face a further charge relating to accounts up to 2023.
But not to fear, insists Sean Dyche - he says Everton won't need a fire sale to stabilise their finances this window.
READ MORE BELOW.
In manager news... Bayer Leverkusen 'remain optimistic Xabi Alonso won't leave for Liverpool'
After the bombshell announcement that Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the primary name to emerge as his successor has been Xabi Alonso.
But reports in Germany suggest that the Bundesliga leaders are optimistic that he won't leave in the summer.
Deal almost done: Crystal Palace close in on £8.5m move for Daniel Munoz
Roy Hodgson nearly has his man.
Crystal Palace have almost completed a £8.5m move for Genk's goal-mad right-back Daniel Munoz. In fact, out of all of Palace's players this season, only Odsonne Edouard can match his record.
READ MORE BELOW.
Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli in the summer
To any Napoli fans reading this blog... sorry, if you haven't already heard.
Don't take it from me, though. Take it from the club's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis.
'This was already known since this summer [the fact he would leave], our negotiations were friendly, otherwise it would not have been so long,' he said.
And where could he be headed? Read below to find out.
Al-Shabab still interested in Miguel Almiron
Even when you're the crown jewel football club owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, that doesn't guarantee you immunity from Saudi clubs trying to poach your stars!
Al-Shabab - one of the clubs not majority owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund - has taken a shine to Miguel Almiron.
Newcastle might need to sell someone, so while they're not keen on letting Almiron go, this is a story worth keeping an eye on.
Get up to speed by reading the article below.
EXCLUSIVE: Nottingham Forest hold talks with possible target Kasper Schmeichel
He might have played for rivals Leicester City for 11 years, but that hasn't stopped Nottingham Forest being interested in Kasper Schmeichel.
The Premier League relegation-battlers could bring Schmeichel back to England.
There are a couple of hurdles - most notably the fact that Forest were charged with breaking Premier League spending rules earlier this month.
READ MORE BELOW from Tom Collomosse.
BREAKING: Nemanja Matic signs for Lyon
Lyon have enlisted Nemanja Matic, a two-time Premier League winner, to help them battle relegation from Ligue 1.
READ MORE BELOW.
Eddie Howe: It would have been a poor decision to accept Kieran Trippier bid
Bayern Munich tried hard to prise Kieran Trippier away from Newcastle this January, but not hard enough.
The German giants had three bids rejected, with the highest thought to be in the region of £12.8million.
That was not 'good value' at all, according to Eddie Howe. Trippier is staying put.
TRANSFER GOSSIP COLUMN
First off, all the tittle-tattle from the transfer window tornado!
Something more concrete first: Arsenal and Chelsea have been put on alert after Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed Victor Osimhen will leave the club this summer. But more on that later.
Meanwhile, a Belgian wonderkid is attracting interest from Liverpool and Manchester United, while Bayern Munich have reportedly reached a deal for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey, who UNited had shown interest in.
READ MORE BELOW.
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to Mail Sport's live blog of today's transfer news!
We've got all sorts coming up today as we head into the final days of the transfer window.
Eddie Howe wants to keep Miguel Almiron at Newcastle but that's not deterring Saudi admirers Al-Shabab.
Napoli have put top English clubs on red alert with a huge Victor Osimehn update.
And in these early hours we'll also bring you news around deals that Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Brighton want to get done.
Don't go anywhere!
- Ivan Rakitic 'has accepted to join Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia'
- Hannibal Mejbri DROPPED by Sevilla so he can have 'time to learn' after one appearance
- Multiple clubs eye Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as Brighton make an approach
- Connor Roberts to leave Burnley?
- In manager news... Bayer Leverkusen 'remain optimistic Xabi Alonso won't leave for Liverpool'
- Deal almost done: Crystal Palace close in on £8.5m move for Daniel Munoz
- Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli in the summer
- EXCLUSIVE: Nottingham Forest hold talks with possible target Kasper Schmeichel
- BREAKING: Nemanja Matic signs for Lyon
TOP STORIES
- Enzo Maresca's style is exposed in first game in charge, but Chelsea already look better in one key area and Levi Colwill shows some fight: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED as Blues can only draw with League One Wrexham
- Max Verstappen 'will serve huge 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian GP' in boost to Lando Norris' world title hopes... while Dutchman is told must stop 'staying up gaming until 3am before races'
- BBC pundit Paula Radcliffe wishes Dutch volleyball player who was jailed for raping a 12-year-old 'the best of luck' at the Paris Olympics and rejects claims he should not compete... before claiming she was 'confused' in apology
- Ben White 'considering a shock return to the England set-up' after Gareth Southgate's departure.... and the exit of his assistant Steve Holland, nearly two years on from their World Cup row
- Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett opens up on his mental health struggles in the build-up to UFC 304 and reveals his coaches considered 'pulling him out' of upcoming fight in Manchester
- Max Verstappen ordered by Red Bull to stop staying up late playing video games before races after finishing fifth in Hungary… so why DOES the world champion spend hours on his £10k setup?
- Former world's fastest man says 99 PER CENT of Olympic sprinters are dirty - and opens up on taking PEDs, dealing heroin and life in jail
- Jose Mourinho lashes out at UEFA after making winning start to life at Fenerbahce, as former Man City striker Edin Dzeko nets hat-trick in thrilling Champions League qualifier
- Watch Molly McCann react to her own stunning body transformation, as Paddy Pimblett teases team-mate with old photo from her debut ahead of UFC 304 clash: 'Don't drink Guinness!'
- Marco Reus and Mats Hummels played in the Champions League final but are without a club, while an Argentine World Cup winner saw their move to Barcelona collapse... but which FOUR former Man United players make it into our Free Agents XI?
- Ugly scenes mar Argentina's 2-1 defeat by Morocco at Olympics as fans boo national anthem and throw FLARES, cups and bottles at South American players amid Enzo Fernandez racism storm
- Olympic football CHAOS as Argentina and Morocco are called back out to finish final three minutes of their match... over an HOUR after players walked off with equaliser ruled out after pitch invasion
- Lionel Messi breaks his silence on Argentina's chaotic Olympics soccer match against Morocco
- Man United urged to be 'ruthless' in selling Harry Maguire this summer by club legend Dwight Yorke, with a SHOCK move to Premier League rival proposed
- Israel's Olympic football opener with Mali greeted by heavy police presence as national anthem is booed and small section of fans in the stand wear 'Free Palestine' t-shirts amid war in Gaza
- Gunners still face questions at left back, Smith Rowe inches towards the exit door and Timber returns: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth
- The most controversial man at the Olympics: Mail Sport tracks down convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde as he arrives in Paris amid fury at the Dutch volleyball star's participation in the Games
- The Greek heroes accused of staging a motorbike crash and the Algerian judoka handed a 10-year ban for refusing to face his Israeli opponent - most controversial Olympic late withdrawals EVER as Charlotte Dujardin pulls out after 'whipping' clip
- Dining with Emmanuel Macron, dancing with the cast of Moulin Rouge and modelling for Louis Vuitton - why Antoine Dupont is the DARLING of the 2024 Paris Olympics
- Francis Ngannou opens up on the tragic death of his 15-month-old son during emotional interview - as ex-UFC champion reveals how it 'broke' him and left him with 'nothing'
- Man United 'are willing to sell SEVEN players' to raise funds for more new signings this summer - after arrivals of Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro
- MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Red Devils lighten the load in La La Land, Erik ten Hag takes his players back to college... and club chief insists they are taking the women's team seriously
- Gary Neville admits watching pal Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggle at Man United 'was tough' but insists he would 'never' call for anyone to be sacked... as he reveals the manager he felt most sorry for
- Roy Keane hits out at excessive adoration of stars, while Gary Neville compares trend to Sir Alex Ferguson's three-word method at Man United: 'Players are getting praise for controlling the ball!'
- Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar pulls out of Paris Olympics after being 'DISGUSTED' that his girlfriend wasn't selected... as he says it was one of the reasons for his decision to withdraw
- Gary Neville explains why he is 'sceptical' about reason why players cut holes in the back of their socks... after the likes of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka did so during Euro 2024
- People no longer think of me as the daughter of First Dates Fred! How Team GB diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix stepped out of her dad's shadow to make a name for herself
- Team GB chiefs defend picking Jade Jones for Paris 2024 after double Olympic champion avoided ban for refusing a drugs test before being cleared on 'exceptional circumstances'
- Rasmus Hojlund becomes Man United's new No 9 as the Dane takes over the special shirt number vacated by Anthony Martial following his departure at the end of the season
- Andy Murray has not spoken to Emma Raducanu since her withdrawal ended his Wimbledon farewell and defends mother Judy's reaction... as the star prepares for Olympics swansong
- Javier Mascherano brands Argentina's chaotic 2-1 Olympic football defeat by Morocco a 'circus' after pitch invasion delays contest for over an HOUR before equaliser is chalked off by VAR
- Antoine Dupont delivers individual brilliance as France unofficially open their Olympics in Paris with a rugby sevens triumph over Uruguay... after an opening draw with the USA
- Andy Murray insists he's at peace with his decision to retire and says the Paris Olympics is the best place for his last dance - as he reveals what he will do next
- Moussa Diaby completes £50m move to Al-Ittihad as the 25-year-old star signs five-year deal after leaving Unai Emery's side just 12 months after arriving
- I'm incredibly privileged to be Andy Murray's doubles partner for his final event before retirement, writes DAN EVANS… but he's been using his fame to an unfair advantage in the Athletes' Village!
- Fulham 'are close to agreeing a £35m deal for forgotten Arsenal star Emile Smith-Rowe' as Gunners look to cash in on academy graduate, with Marco Silva's side stealing a march on Crystal Palace
- Levi Colwill and James McClean spark BRAWL just two minutes into Chelsea's 2-2 draw with League One Wrexham - with players and staff forced to rip the pair apart
- Taylor Swift fans feel sorry for the songstress after Patrick Mahomes revealed what Travis Kelce's ringtone sounds like
- Aussie swimming team suffer NIGHTMARE start to Olympic Games as Emma McKeon and Shayna Jack are crammed onto buses into Paris in 'chaotic' scenes
- Hail Mary VP candidate emerges as Kamala Harris comes close to pocketing Presidential nomination - and he's a proven winner
- Cathy Freeman reveals her biggest regret after getting shock result on a DNA test - and gives Aussie Paris Olympians five words of heartfelt advice
- Furious Travis Kelce shoves his own Chiefs teammate after a brutal hit on another player during practice
- Horse welfare chief says the Charlotte Dujardin whipping scandal is a 'massive wake-up call' - after the six-time Olympic medalist was banned from the sport following shocking video
- Charlotte Dujardin has funding STRIPPED by UK Sport and is dropped by horse welfare charity after she was sensationally banned from the Olympics just days before it begins amid horse whipping scandal
- Salt Lake City named host of Winter Olympics in 2034
- Charlotte Dujardin's fiancé breaks silence after six-time Olympic medalist was suspended in shame amid release of video footage which showed her whipping horse 'like an elephant in a circus'
- Haaland up and running, Bobb shows why he'll go far and Celtic look sharp: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Man City's 4-3 loss
- Shohei Ohtani praised for his 'perfect' answer when asked to pick his favorite female athlete
- Charlotte Dujardin's Dame dream dead: Disgraced dressage Olympian told she will never earn top honours after horse whipping storm and could even be STRIPPED of her CBE after she was suspended over animal welfare concerns
- USA basketball stars party with stunning women at luxury London hotel before making their way to Paris for the Olympics
- NFL star mysteriously RETIRES at just 28 and just three months after signing a $3million contract
- Texas football coach marries his stripper girlfriend named 'pole assassin' - whose pet monkey allegedly attacked a child on Halloween
- Travis Kelce looks in peak form as he returns to Chiefs training camp after European adventures to see girlfriend Taylor Swift's concerts
- NFL star VOMITS 'a number of times' during brutally hot first day of his team's training camp
- Joe Burrow sports bold new look as he arrives for Bengals training camp with Cincinnati fans claiming it's the key to Super Bowl victory
- Man City star Jack Grealish ruthlessly BOOED with every touch during pre-season defeat by Celtic... and fans on social media think they know why
- Travis Kelce 'spent every minute he could with Taylor Swift' before Chiefs training camp as couple struggle to be apart: 'They're so in love'
- Teenage basketball player viciously STOMPS on opponent's head during game in California
- Revealed: The move Charlotte Dujardin is trying to teach her horse in distressing video that shows her whipping it 'like an elephant in a circus' - leading to her withdrawal from Paris Olympics
- Man United fans rave over 'leaked' Old Trafford tunnel redesign after video shows traditional walkway's 'stunning' overhaul ahead of the 2024-25 season
- Two Canadian soccer coaches are SENT HOME from the Olympics over drone spying scandal
- CBS reporter Amanda Balionis enjoys downtime on remote Wyoming ranch after Open Championship... as Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll are spotted on romantic Portugal beach getaway
- Man United 'name their asking price for Jadon Sancho' amid interest in the winger from French champions PSG
- Fan struck by Travis Kelce's golf ball speaks out on her ordeal as she recalls trying not to black out: 'There was a lot of blood'
- The real reason seats at Anfield have been covered up after Liverpool fans thought Trent Alexander-Arnold could be signing a new contract
- Enzo Maresca thrown into the deep end on Chelsea's US tour: The dressing room is split over Enzo Fernandez, Trevoh Chalobah has been left at home... now they face five games in five different cities
- Aaron Rodgers drops retirement hint as he outlines NFL exit plan - and blames Jets absence drama on 'deceiving' language
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones avoids paternity test after striking late deal to end legal battle with 27-year-old woman claiming to be his daughter
Nonsense. if liverpool want Alonso he is going
by Orvilletheduck 4