January transfer window 2024: Timo Werner to undergo Tottenham medical – live | Transfer window

Jessie Fleming, Mackenzie Arnold, Jun Endo, Ashley Lawrence and Lineth Beerensteyn are a few of the names who rank between 100 and 71 in our 100 best female footballers in the world in 2023.

Stay tuned across the week as we reveal the rest of the list, voted by 112 judges.

I have received some emails from you all on Werner and Manchester United:

Tim on Timo:

I reckon Ange is the type of man manager to elicit the best from a misfiring striker so I feel it’s a risk worth taking. My only concern is that he becomes another Janssen or Soldado, and we already have the fragile Richy. Overall a yes from me – sometimes a January loan can work wonders.

Wilhelm from Berlin:

I believe it’s Timo’s last – and unexpected – chance to play for a top
team in Europe. The funny thing about it is that nobody has a clue if
it will work out or not: it’s still possible that he’ll finally get the
cork out of the bottle – or it will remain there forever.

Richard writes:

Werner feels risk-free to me. Pay his £4.3m in wages for the rest of the season. If he’s terrible, send him back, if he’s good we get a good striker for £15.5m. Where’s the downside? You know when you’ve been Levy’d.

Spurs fan, Matt:

I was never sold on him at Chelsea however his stats in recent seasons are arguably better than Brennan Johnson’s. Johnson has looked promising but is still developing and tends to drift out of games. In the absence of Son and with Richarlison’s form unpredictable, Werner gives us options, experience and doesn’t cost as a lot (by today’s standards).

Joy from Jakarta:

There’s so little downside to this loan signing, and so much potential upside. It’s strange to see us make such a sensible move. The option to buy at the reported low fee is the clincher. Otherwise we might just be a training ground. So refreshing to not have a charlatan who hates the transfer window in charge.

And Jeff on United:

Ten Hag should stay away from acquiring players. Up to now he has made bad choices.

Our cartoonist David Squires may agree with you there Jeff. Here’s his version of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s review of Manchester United (including signings).

Thank you all for your fantastic emails. I really enjoy reading all your thoughts.

Robin Koch signs a permanent deal with Eintracht Frankfurt. The midfielder was at the club on loan from Leeds, but has committed his future to the German club, signing until 2027.

Koch made 77 appearances for Leeds after joining in 2020 but was allowed to leave after the club’s relegation to the Championship last season.

On the new deal, the 27-year-old said:

I am very satisfied with the first half of the year at Eintracht. I have a lot of fun every day and feel incredibly comfortable here. Everything is as I had hoped. Therefore, it was logical for me and my career that I extend my contract beyond the loan period. I want to continue to move forward here with responsibility and, above all, be successful. We still have a lot to do and I am very confident that we will achieve our goals. I’m really looking forward to the future and an exciting second half of the season.”

Away from transfers for a moment. Yesterday, the German football icon Franz Beckenbauer died. Remembered as one of only three men to win the World Cup as a player and a manager, he was widely known as Der Kaiser as he established his reputation as a commanding defender.

He was a man not without his controversies but his impact on German football after he hung up his boots was unprecedented. Andy Brassell writes:

Der Kaiser truly became a man of the world. Taking over the West Germany team from Jupp Derwall in 1984, he allied his cache from his impeccable playing career to a new worldliness.

Werner was a highly rated forward during his first stint RB Leipzig, scoring 34 goals in 45 appearances in his last season before signing with Chelsea.

With the Blues, however, he ended up being a relatively disappointing signing. Scoring 23 goals in 89 matches, Werner was seen as a frantic, out of place striker, whose footballing versatility was often questioned. He returned to the Bundesliga in 2022 and has still not reached the heights of seasons past.

Any Spurs or Leipzig fans lurking? What are your thoughts on Werner? Send me an email using the details at the top of the blog.

Timo Werner to have Tottenham medical today

A reminder that you can keep up to date with all the deals in Europe’s top five leagues in both the men’s and women’s game with our interactive guides. That’s right. Every. Single. One.

Plus there is a convenient club-by-club guide, giving you easy access to see what deals your side have completed.

What more could you want?

Ivan Toney is ready to play a big part at Brentford after his betting ban is up. The striker, who has been out of action since May, told Sky Sports: “Everyone knows Brentford is a family club, they have been nothing but amazing for me. I can’t thank them enough, especially the fans. They were behind me from the first minute as well. So it’s kind of like I have a lot to repay.

“With Brentford, they’re struggling at the moment but I’m sure when I’m back I will play a big part to get them out of the losing form they’ve been in. I can’t wait to get back and be helping my teammates.”

Toney has been linked with a move to Arsenal, who have shown that they may need a more decisive finisher, but it seems that the 27-year-old will be remaining in west London for the time being.

A move away from Manchester City may be calling for Ellie Roebuck, who has lost her spot as starting goalkeeper.

In 2017, Roebuck made a name for herself at City, displacing Karen Bardsley. Now, she finds herself of the other side of the situation, having been replaced by 19-year-old Khiara Keating and without a single minute of playing time this season.

Her lack of playing time has affected her spot in the England squad and, with her contract up in six months, she will certainly be assessing options of a move away.

Erik ten Hag has not ruled out Manchester United making significant signings during this window after his side have been hit hard with injuries.

The number of absentees reached double figures for yesterday’s 2-0 FA Cup win against Wigan, with Christian Eriksen out due to illness and Antony injured.

Ten Hag is optimistic a number of players could return in time for Sunday’s Premier League match at home to Tottenham, a United bench made up almost entirely of youngsters at the DW Stadium pointed to the stretched resources.

“We consider everything,” Ten Hag said when asked about the window. “So what is in the best interests of the players and also the best interests for us, the team, for Manchester United. So we’ll see how we progress during the window.

“I think there will be some players that are hopeful they can be back for the weekend.”
Ten Hag said he expected Eriksen to return in time for the Spurs match, while Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire could also be available.

In recent days, United have been linked with Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise and Bayern Munich’s Eric Choupo-Moting.

Today’s Rumour Mill from Michael Butler has landed. We have Real Madrid eyeing Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Brighton possibly landing yet another wonderkid in Valentín Barco and a possible Premier League return for Ajax’s Steven Bergwijn.

Have any thoughts on transfers you want to share? Send me an email! Details can be found at the top of this blog.

What’s the latest on Kylian Mbappé? Who knows at this point.

The forward’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain ends in six months, though he does the option to activate a one-year extension. Earlier in the week, it was reported that a deal with Real Madrid, the most likely destination, had been completed. But the player’s camp swiftly denied that rumour.

“There is no agreement around Kylian’s future, especially since there are no discussions started about it,” his representatives said in a statement to RMC Sport. “No type of influence could dictate the timing of Kylian’s discussions, reflections or decision.”

The France international looked Madrid bound in 2022 until he made the decision to sign an extension with PSG. LaLiga were so unhappy with the turn of events that they made a complaint to Uefa that FFP rules were broken

Last summer, his relationship with the French side broke down after he told higher ups that he would not be triggering the clause in his current deal, meaning he would become a free agent in the summer 2024. He was frozen out of the team for a significant period during the club’s pre-season preparations before all was forgiven on the eve of the new season after “positive discussions”.

And here we are. There are rumours linking the World Cup winner with multiple clubs around Europe, including in the Premier League.

Jordan Henderson reportedly wants out of Al-Ettifaq. According to multiple reports, the former Liverpool captain would be interested in a move back to the Premier League.

Ben Jacobs reports that Al-Ettifaq do not want to sell the 33-year-old and will expect any loan deal to cover all of his wages.

He has been offered to Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen according to TalkSport.

Al-Ettifaq are struggling in the Saudi Pro League with the club sitting 28 points off of the leaders in eighth place.

Last week, John Duerden wrote on Al-Ettifaq’s struggles and patience towards Steven Gerrard is waning.

Radu Dragusin is close to a move to Tottenham, according to reports from Sky Sports and Sky Italy.

Spurs have offered an initial fee of £21.5m for the 21-year-old but according to both Sky Germany and the Evening Standard Bayern Munich may look to hijack the deal.

We will start with the latest on Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen who is set for a loan move to Borussia Dortmund.

The defender has only started one Premier League match this season under Mauricio Pochettino and will be keen to get more minutes under his belt.

Here’s more from Jacob Steinberg on Maatsen and an update on Jadon Sancho.

Preamble