Transfer news LIVE! Man Utd and Arsenal chase forwards on deadline day – The Independent

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Mathys Tel, Ollie Watkins and Alejandro Garnacho are the players to watch ahead of tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline
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It’s transfer deadline day as Premier League clubs face a frantic few hours to complete last-minute deals before 11pm tonight.
Manchester United are on the hunt for a new forward after Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the season. The Independent understands United face a “struggle” to sign Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel before the deadline despite the 19-year-old favouring a move to Old Trafford and telling the German club he wants to leave.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have not given up hope of signing Tel and may be tempted to put in one final bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins to bolster their Premier League title chances. Mikel Arteta wants to sign a striker but have been told that Watkins will not be leaving for less than £60m after an opening offer for the England international was rejected last week.
Elsewhere, Manchester City’s flaws were exposed by Arsenal in a 5-1 defeat yesterday and Pep Guardiola’s side could yet sign midfielder Douglas Luiz from Juventus. It promises to be a busy day at Chelsea, too, with Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku among the players who may depart.
Chelsea have been linked with Alejandro Garnacho throughout the window, but the 20-year-old Manchester United winger looks unlikely to follow Rashford out of the door. That could all change, however, as we ticks towards tonight’s 11pm deadline. Follow all the latest updates in our live blog below.
The Independent’s Chief Football Writer, Miguel Delaney, says that Mathys Tel is ‘unlikely’ to join Arsenal on deadline day.
Delaney says: “Tel to Arsenal is highly unlikely to happen.
“The Gunners wanted him on loan and it was difficult to strike a deal with Bayern.
“Mikel Arteta only wants business that fits with medium-term plans.”
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea to Crystal Palace)
Completely frozen out under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, Chilwell needs a fresh start – and looks to have got it a few miles south.
The left back has made only one appearance for the Blues this season – against Barrow in the Carabao Cup in September – but Palace boss Oliver Glasner is keen to bolster his defence on deadline-day.
In his prime years at 28, Chilwell has 21 England caps to his name and was a starter under Thomas Tuchel during the German’s tenure at Stamford Bridge. Could some minutes at Palace force an England return for Chilwell in March?
Marco Asensio (PSG to Aston Villa)
After agreeing a loan deal for Marcus Rashford, Unai Emery looks set to strengthen his squad further on deadline-day with PSG playmaker Asensio.
The 29-year-old, who joined the French champions from Real Madrid in 2023, has featured just twice in PSG’s last eight Ligue 1 games and has failed to break into the starting XI under Luis Enrique.
A three-time Champions League winner, the Spanish international would give Emery further squad depth as Villa target a deep run in Europe’s premier club competition this season.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa to Arsenal)
A prime target late in the window for Arsenal, Villa then sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for £71m, strengthening their resolve to retain the England forward.
The Gunners may still push for a move, having seen a bid rejected last week, with Joao Felix making up the numbers for Villa to directly replace both Duran and Watkins, having already acquired Marcus Rashford to fill the final third void.
An injury against Wolves might end any prospect of a deal, but Watkins, a known Arsenal fan, might be eager to make the move before the summer when Mikel Arteta can assess wider options.
Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich to Manchester United)
The 19-year-old forward has been one of the biggest talking points of the January window, having told Bayern he wanted to leave for more playing time after becoming sidelined by manager Vincent Kompany in recent weeks. That news caught the attention of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and both Arsenal and Manchester United are reported to have made contact with Bayern in recent days.
However, a report by Sky Sports in Germany on Monday morning suggested United’s talks with Bayern had collapsed, while there are conflicting reports on whether Arsenal’s interest remains. Tel is thought to prefer a loan move to Old Trafford until the end of the season, with a view to reassessing his options in the summer.
“We are working to try and get some players to join us on Monday because we have to replace Diego Carlos, we have to replace (Emi) Buendia, we have to replace Jhon Duran,” Unai Emery said after Villa’s defeat to Wolves on Saturday.
“It is not easy because we don’t want to replace with players that will not help us like I want. We are being very demanding in it, we have to be intelligent.
“To sign a striker is not easy. We have versatile players and usually Watkins has been consistent, playing matches. He is strong at recovering and playing matches in a row during a week, two or three matches.
“Today he was injured, hopefully it is small. The idea is if we can replace Jhon Duran with another striker. In case we can find a player to help us in the level we want, we will do, but we have versatile players.
“We have to compete and try to get the level we want with the players we have and I think tomorrow or Monday we will be adding two or three more players.”
Benfica are no longer pursuing a deal for Tyrell Malacia after talks with Manchester United broke down.
United held firm on the terms of the deal they wanted in order to sanction the left-back’s departure and Benfica have not met the Old Trafford club’s valuations.
Manchester United have clinched the signing of Patrick Dorgu from Lecce for an initial £25m.
The Denmark international, who is their second signing of the weekend after bringing in teenage defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, has been bought as a wing-back to suit new head coach Ruben Amorim’s system.
The 20-year-old left-back becomes the second signing of the Ruben Amorim era
Sky Sports News’ report that Nottingham Forest have agreed with West Ham to terminate James Ward-Prowse’s loan deal.
He has only made three late substitute appearances in the Premier League since Christmas.
There was no recall option, but the clubs have mutually agreed.
Borussia Dortmund have made a loan move for Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, according to the BBC.
The 21-year-old midfielder isn’t wanted by Enzo Maresca and a loan deal to the Bundesliga side could include an option to buy.
Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in 2022 and signed a six-year contract but has made just four appearances this season, none in the Premier League.
The Blues have also left open the option of sending Chukwuemeka on loan to their partner club Strasbourg, who are also owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
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