Transfer news live: Man Utd explore Amorim replacement, Liverpool close in on wonderkid, Man City chase Guehi

The Croatia international will undergo surgery later in the week as City wait to see how long their reigning player of the year will be sidelined.

Could City ramp up their transfer plans in a bid to find a replacement – maybe in the form of Marc Guehi?

Wilcox, United’s director of football, was giving feedback. Amorim blew up. Not for the first time. A man who can be charming was also, as those at United could testify, emotional and erratic. But ever more had decided they could not put up with him any more. What Amorim probably did not realise, however, was that Wilcox was the last defending him, the last arguing he should be granted more time.

What he perhaps did not figure, too, was that Wilcox was not just expressing his own thoughts but those of others in the structure. In his remarkable valedictory press conference at Elland Road on Sunday, Amorim said everyone else needed to “do their job”. United see the head coach as part of a structure. Amorim’s inability to take advice or adapt led to relations breaking down and, ultimately, his dismissal on Monday.

“I am a little bit of a dreamer,” smiled Ruben Amorim. “Call me naive, but I truly feel that I am the right man in the right moment.” That was at his unveiling as Manchester United manager, before the dream turned into a nightmare, before naivety felt the least of his mistakes. As Amorim’s reign of error ends, it is apparent that it was the wrong moment for him. But also that he was the wrong man.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the transfer window.

In case you were under a rock/had no signal/completed ignored the news yesterday, Ruben Amorim is the biggest name to leave a club so far…

Sean Dyche refused to comment over the potential exit of Arnaud Kalimuendo from Nottingham Forest, who is reported to be nearing a loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt.

“He is a Forest footballer, he plays for us,” Dyche said.

“There are always rumours. Any decisions will be from the club and not the players.”

Jean-Philippe Mateta is having a fine season with Crystal Palace and has scored eight goals from his 20 league appearances this term.

As such, interest is growing from ‘bigger’ clubs with both Man Utd and Tottenham said to want to sign him.

However, Palace insist he is not for sale, according to TEAMtalk and they hope to secure a new contract for him with his current deal ending in the summer of 2027.

Hugo Ekitike missed Liverpool’s trip to Fulham due to a minor hamstring injury but could return in time for the clash with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday.

Head coach Arne Slot said the striker, who is Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 11 goals in all competitions, picked up the problem due to an increased workload over the festive period.

Never mind a pinch, I’d take a handful of salt for this next rumour.

The Sun are sourcing TeamTalk as claiming that Real Madrid have offered Vinicius Jr to Chelsea in what would be the most surprising move of the January window.

Vinicius is said to be interested in the move but that could be due to the reported disconnect with manager Xabi Alonso about the style of play Real have been coached this season.

At present this one is highly unlikely to happen but worth mentioning just in case of any developments.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris admitted that there were no plans to bring in more players during the next month.

Sunderland’s aim this season is to secure a spot in the top flight for 2025/26 having been promoted from the Championship last year.

They’s already secured 30 points and are in no immediate danger of relegation though there are 18 games left to play.

Before facing Tottenham yesterday, Le Bris was asked if he had any news on transfers and he said: “Nothing. I’m focused on the game only.”

Earlier now-sacked Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said it would be “impossible” for the club to allow players to leave this month.

Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee are among those who have been linked away as they search for more game time.

But with Amorim now having been given the boot, could some players who have fallen out of favour be revived, and others brought in?