Premier League transfer news LIVE: Sheikh Jassim pulls out of Man United takeover race, Man City keen on Kroos, Rooney speaks as Birmingham boss

Live Blog

• Ha la land

  Martin Keown has cast doubt over whether Arsenal are ready to sign a player like Ivan Toney.

  Discussing Arsenal’s interest in Toney, Keown told talkSPORT: “If we compare Ivan to Haaland and what Haaland does in that team… Man City, because they’re so strong everywhere else, have been able to take that player out of the top of the team.

  “They’ve played with a false nine for many years, two or three seasons where they could integrate that player who drops from a high position into midfield to give them the control they needed.

  “Once they secured that midfield with Gundogan, De Bruyne and Rodri, they said ‘okay let’s bring that striker in’.

  “It’s whether Arsenal are ready for that.

  Gabriel Jesus, when he’s playing striker, we see him at left back and all over the pitch because it’s more of a collective effort.

  “Maybe he has to do that because in the past the team hasn’t been strong enough defensively, so it’s where the team is.

  “But I get it because Toney is a prolific goalscorer.”

  

• Red return

  Jordon Ibe made his long-awaited football return for new club Ebbsfleet United in the FA Cup.

  The winger was regarded as one of English football’s next big things after joining Liverpool aged 16 and making 58 appearances for the Reds.

  After loan spells with Derby and Birmingham City, Ibe joined Bournemouth for a fee of £15million and making 92 appearances, before joining Derby on a free transfer at the end of his Cherries’ contract in 2020.

  During his time at the Rams, Ibe made just one first team appearance and spoke of the depression that he suffered at Pride Park and throughout his career.

  After one season, his contract was canceled by mutual consent, allowing him to join Turkish side Adanaspor in January 2022, however he failed to make an appearance there before leaving later that year.

  Since then, Ibe has suffered more with depression and broke his leg, before Ebbsfleet announced the signing of the 27-year-old, before throwing him straight into the matchday squad for their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round clash with Slough Town.

  

• Devil may care

  Sheikh Jassim bin Al Thani has pulled out of the race to buy Manchester United, talkSPORT understands.

  Sources close to Sheikh Jassim have confirmed he has withdrawn his world record offer for the Old Trafford giants after failing to agree a deal with the Glazer family.

  That clears the way for British billionaire and boyhood United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe to press ahead with his bid to buy a minority stake in the club.

  Ratcliffe is believed to be ready to offer to purchase 25 per cent of the Glazer’s share with a view to eventually becoming United”s majority owner.

  However Joel and Avram Glazer have always been reluctant to enter into a full sale.

• Wil power

  Jack Wilshere has been interviewed by Colorado Rapids over becoming their new head coach, talkSPORT understands.

  Arsenal gave Wilshere, who is the Gunners’ under-18 coach, their blessing to hold talks with the MLS side who are also owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

  Wilshere is currently happy at Arsenal but does have ambitions to be a manager.

  Other clubs in America and across Europe have the former England midfielder in their sights.

  

• Tonali and Zaniolo decision backed

  Luciano Spalletti has supported the decision for Nicolo Zaniolo and Sandro Tonali to leave the Italian national team over the international break after both were questioned by police.

  The duo were asked questions relating to betting and have returned to Newcastle and Aston Villa, respectively.

  Neither player has been charged with anything yet but won’t take part in Italy’s upcoming games.

  Speaking to the press, Spalletti said: “We will support them but it’s correct to let them leave our camp after speaking to police.

  “If they have committed irregularities, it is absolutely right to proceed with the investigation”.

  

• Burns night

  Newcastle have confirmed that Dan Burn has extended his deal to keep him at St James’ Park until 2025.

  The 31-year-old was signed in January 2022 from Brighton and has made 70 appearances for his boyhood club.

  Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “It means everything to me to play for this club and to sign a new contract. I said when I signed that I didn’t want this to be just a ‘stop-gap’ signing to keep us up – I wanted to be here for a long time.

  “So personally it feels even more of an achievement signing this one than it was actually signing here in the first place. I’m delighted and looking forward to the next couple of seasons.”

  

• Setting the Tone

  Gabby Agbonlahor claimed yesterday that Arsenal should go all out to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford in January.

  The striker is currently banned for breaking the FA’s gambling rules, but his eight-month suspension expires in the winter window.

  Martin Keown has now debated whether Arsenal actually need to sign Toney as he proposed the merits of Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus.

  “There’s a lot to offer from Nketiah & Jesus.”

  “It’s about whether they can cope. He won’t be popping back like Gabriel Jesus does!”

  🔴 Martin Keown debates whether #AFC actually need to sign Ivan Toney in January. pic.twitter.com/rVwTqpbSQp

  — talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 13, 2023

• Kroos control

  Manchester City are reportedly keen on a shock swoop for Toni Kroos.

  The treble winners are keeping tabs on Real Madrid’s World Cup-winning midfield maestro when his contract expires next summer.

  Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claim that City are willing to pay the 33-year-old £13million per season.

  Kroos previously starred under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

  

• Phil in

  Kalvin Phillips has reportedly been offered a career lifeline to join England teammate Harry Kane at Bayern Munich.

  The Sun claim that Bayern are closely monitoring his situation with a view to making a move in the January window.

  The report adds that Phillips is one of the names on the list of manager Thomas Tuchel as he looks to strengthen his midfield.

  Phillips is a proven Premier League midfielder, helping Leeds to finish 9th in their first season back in the top flight and making 49 Premier League appearances in total for the Yorkshire side.

  He also represented England Euro 2020 as the Three Lions reached the final and was involved in his country’s run to the quarter-finals in the 2022 World Cup.

  But he hasn’t quite had the same joy at Man City, struggling with fitness and form during his time at the Etihad.

  

• New Sheff in town

  talkSPORT understands that Sheffield Wednesday are set to confirm the appointment of Danny Rohl today.

  The former Bayern Munich and Southampton assistant manager was interviewed for the position last week.

  His last job was working with Hansi Flick alongside the German national team and this will be his first role as a senior manager.

  He will replace Xisco Munoz, who was sacked last week after a dreadful start to the season.

  The Owls are currently rock bottom of the Championship with three points from their opening 11 games.

  

• Chelsea starlet breaks record

  Kendry Paez became the youngest player in South American World Cup qualifying to score a goal last night.

  The 16-year-old grabbed his first international goal in a 2-1 win over Bolivia.

  Paez currently plays his club football for Ecuadoran side Independiente del Valle.

  But he has agreed to join Chelsea in the summer of 2025, following his 18th birthday.

  And it was future Blues teammate Moises Caicedo who provided the assist for his goal.

  

• Mull it over

  Saudi League’s COO has opened the door to Thomas Muller arriving in the Middle East next summer.

  Carlo Nohra told Philipp Kessler: “Thomas Müller to Saudi as free agent in 2024? Why not? That would be my answer to you…”.

  “There’s absolutely no reason why anyone is off the market, anyone that can add value and quality to the league would be welcome.”

  

• Tonali and Zaniolo investigated

  Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo are being investigated for allegedly being involved in illegal betting.

  The Italian Federation has confirmed that Zaniolo and Tonali will both return to their clubs due to the allegations.

  A statement read: “The Federation announces that, in the late afternoon of today, the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office notified investigation documents to the players Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo, currently in training with the national team at the Federal Technical Center in Coverciano.

  “Regardless of the nature of the acts, believing that in this situation the two players are not in the necessary condition to face the commitments scheduled in the next few days, the Federation has decided, also to protect them, to allow them to return to their respective clubs.”

  

• Roo the day

  Wayne Rooney has revealed the hilarious reason why he always remembers his first ever red card that he received at St Andrew’s.

  Speaking to talkSPORT following his appointment, Rooney said: “Yeah, it was a bad one! I remember coming on after 60 minutes, I over-ran and Steve Vickers was coming out and I’ve lunged out. It was a red card.

  “When I walked down the tunnel after I got sent off it was freezing!” he laughed. “I always remember it.”

  

• Tchouameni should say no to Liverpool

  Aurelien Tchouameni has been warned against signing for Liverpool by Marcel Desailly.

  The midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Anfield before joining Real Madrid in 2022 from Monaco.

  He has since gone on to establish himself as a crucial player for the Spanish giants but is someone Jurgen Klopp admires.

  But Desailly doesn’t think it would be a good move.

  Speaking to Gambling Zone, he said: “Tchouaméni is playing for Real Madrid! He wasn’t playing last year due to [Eduardo] Camavinga, and you could see him wanting a move then.

  “He’s a young player and he would’ve been frustrated with his lack of playing time. His blood could’ve been boiling at him being a second choice for Carlo Ancelotti. 

  “However, I think things are quite stable now and Tchouaméni is playing in association with Camavinga in the 4-3-3.

  “Ancelotti has changed now, though, and now he plays a 4-2-3-1 with Jude Bellingham, his key player. I’m not sure what to say about Tchouaméni!

  “There’s no reason for him to move. He’s playing regularly now and now he’s ahead of Camavinga in the French squad.

  “Didier Deschamps is starting to consider him a lot more. Yes, it’s the Premier League we’re talking about, but I don’t see any reason why he should leave Real Madrid.”

  

• Kane who?

  West Ham, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are all looking at Bundesliga hotshot Serhou Guirassy.

  90min claim the Premier League quartet all have their eyes firmly fixed on the forward after he scored 13 Bundesliga goals in the early stages of the season.

  The 27-year-old leads the goalscoring charts ahead of Harry Kane and has two hat-tricks for Stuttgart this year already.

  His goals have fired his team up to second after joining the club permanently this summer from Rennes.

  He scored 11 times while on loan with Stuttgart last year, so has already surpassed that and his form is drawing the attention of several clubs.

• Shocked

  Romelu Lukaku has been speaking about his departure from Chelsea this summer and claims that people would be ‘shocked’ if they knew what happened.

  The Belgian saw moves to Inter Milan and Juventus fall through, while he rejected a transfer to Saudi Arabia.

  Eventually, he joined Roma, where he has been back scoring goals, and now he’s decided to talk a little bit about his summer.

  Speaking to Sportitalia, he said: “Most of the people here in the room know me. I don’t like beating around the bush. 

  “I’ll speak in time, but if I actually said how last summer went, everyone would be shocked. 

  “There were times when I really thought I might explode, five years ago I probably wouldn’t have stood back and done it.

  “Now I am focused on what I do best, I know how to play football. I worked hard all summer. I also have to thank Radja Nainggolan for giving me the contact with Roma.”

• Early exit on the cards

  Youri Tielemans already wants to leave Aston Villa after falling out with Unai Emery, according to Football Insider.

  They claim the Belgian international is unhappy with his current role at Villa Park and was expecting more game time.

  As a result, his relationship with Emery has become strained.

  Since leaving Leicester this summer for a move across the Midlands, Tielemans has yet to start a Premier League game.

  Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn are all ahead of the Belgian in the pecking order.

  And with that unlikely to change, Tielemans could be leaving Villa Park in January.

  

• Bayern want Phillips

  Manchester City fringe man Kalvin Phillips is emerging as a potential transfer target for Bayern Munich.

  BILD’s head of sport, Christian Falk, claims the England international is on Bayern’s January list as they look to bolster their squad.

  Thomas Tuchel is known to be an admirer of Phillips, who has massively struggled for game time since moving to the Etihad from Leeds in 2022.

  But should he wish to remain in the Premier League, Newcastle United and Everton are also watching on.

  But either way, it appears that Phillips’ time in Manchester is coming to an end.

  

• Newcastle target Arsenal outcast

  Newcastle United are reportedly looking to sign Arsenal outcast Emile Smith Rowe in January.

  The Northern Echo claim the Magpies are starting to finalise their transfer plans and have identified the England youth star as someone who could improve their squad.

  Smith Rowe can play in a variety of positions and his lack of game time means they see him as a viable target.

  The Arsenal academy graduate has started just one match this season in the Carabao Cup against Brentford.

  In the Premier League, he has played just ten minutes.

  Despite this, the Gunners value Smith Rowe at £50million, which would likely be beyond the Toon after they splashed £120m in the summer.

  

• Arsenal want Bundesliga star

  Arsenal are the latest club to register an interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

  The 19-year-old winger was born in London and has played for Reading and Manchester City.

  He joined Dortmund in 2020 and has managed 29 senior appearances for the club.

  And despite only directly contributing to four goals, BILD report the Gunners are one of several top European sides that want to recruit the winger.

  

• North London battle for Toney?

  Ivan Toney is set to be one of the hottest transfer targets on the market in January and Gabby Agbonlahor believes it could be a straight shootout between Tottenham and Arsenal for his signature.

  The striker is currently banned due to breaking the FA’s gambling rules but will be back in January 2024.

  And the former Aston Villa striker believes he will end up playing in north London.

  Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “[Eddie] Nketiah is a decent striker to bring on.

  “Gabriel Jesus, good on the ball, good at linking play, but he’s not strong enough and doesn’t get into those [goalscoring] positions.

  “If Spurs come to January and they are in a title race, are they going to go for Toney?

  “What if [Heung-min] Son got injured, or [James] Maddison?

  “They’ve got Richarlison. He can’t score and the young lad [Brennan] Johnson.

  “I think whoever is serious about this title challenge should go and get Toney.”

  “Whoever’s serious about the title gets him!”

  ⚪️ “Do Spurs go and get Toney? What if Son or Maddison got injured, what then?”

  Gabby Agbonlahor claims #THFC and #AFC must compete for Ivan Toney in January. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OacHwHrcXw

  — talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 12, 2023

• Lingard closes in on new club

  Jesse Lingard has boosted his chances of getting a deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq after scoring a goal during a friendly.

  The former Manchester United forward got himself on the scoresheet after just four minutes in a game against Al-Khaldiya.

  Lingard is a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer and has been training with Steven Gerrard’s side since last month.

  He had been with West Ham but decided to try his luck in the Middle East and GOAL report the Saudi side are now more likely to offer him a deal after his goal on Wednesday.

  

• Hello, and welcome back to talkSPORT’s live transfer blog.

  Let’s start with a recap of yesterday’s biggest stories.

  Birmingham City confirmed the appointment of Wayne Rooney as their new first-team manager.

  The Manchester United legend replaces John Eustace at St Andrew’s and has signed a three-and-a-half year deal.

  Plus, he’s brought Ashley Cole and John O’Shea along with him.

  And in other news, Luton Town have signed Andros Townsend on a short-term contract until January 2024.

  The winger hasn’t played first-team football since March 2022 but will look to change that very soon.

• Where did that come from!

  Out of absolutely nowhere, Luton Town have confirmed the signing of Andros Townsend.

  The former Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton and Crystal Palace winger has been without a club since the Toffees released him in the summer.

  He hasn’t played first-team football since sustaining an ACL in March 2022.

  Townsend did have a trial with Burnley, but the Clarets didn’t take him on.

  But the Hatters have handed the winger a deal until January, and he will wear the number 30 shirt.

  And after so long out, Townsend can’t wait to get going.

  He said: “I feel like it’s a good fit and these last couple of weeks have been good for both parties. I think it had to be right, and I feel over the last two weeks, we’ve had a look at each other and done that.

  “I’ve seen where I can help this team, and on the flipside, the manager has seen where I can help – whether that’s on the pitch, in the dressing room or on the training field – with my enthusiasm and experience.

  “Plus, Luton are my local team – I live 20-25 minutes away, so I’ve kept my eye on their progress and watching the Championship play-off final and see them win promotion was great for the club.

  “I never thought I’d pull on the Luton shirt, so it’s a huge honour to play again in the Premier League for this club, and hopefully help this club get as many points as we can and see where it takes us.”