Liverpool agree £60m Jacquet deal on last day of January window

You always get a wild rumour on transfer deadline day and this month’s appears to be claims, originating in Germany, that Arsenal have made a late attempt to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Given the Italy international’s asking price would be somewhere north of £80m and Newcastle have no time to sign a replacement, even if Arsenal did have that sort of money to spend this month, it would instantly fall into the long shot category.

Telegraph Sport still felt duty bound to check the story out with senior sources at St James’ Park and the replies went something like this – that is just bloody stupid, it is complete rubbish and who is spreading this nonsense?

Stories like this are not plucked out of thin air so someone, somewhere, started it, but Newcastle have moved to knock it down emphatically.

After their emphatic victory over Utrecht on Thursday night securing a Europa League play-off place, Martin O’Neill was asked for the umpteenth time about signings before the window closed. Patiently, he explained: “We’re making progress, yes, and I think we can move it along now in the next couple days. It’s not been easy. Not just for us, for other clubs too, but perhaps Celtic fans think it’s just us. You ask me to guarantee or promise? I can never guarantee anything, I don’t think anyone can, but we’re very hopeful.”

Well, he’s landed one on loan this morning, Freiburg striker Junior Adamu, an Austria international who scored 23 goals in 84 appearances for Red Bull Salzburg before his 22nd birthday but has struggled in the Bundesliga with seven goals in three seasons with Freiburg.

Newcastle United’s long serving club captain Jamaal Lascelles is on the brink of joining Championship strugglers Leicester City.

The 32-year-old has not made a single appearance for Newcastle this season and was expected to leave this month in pursuit of first team football.

Lascelles, though, has been an important figure in Newcastle’s history after he was made captain by former manager Rafa Benitez when he was 22.

He was a key player in the side that won promotion back to the Premier League in 2016 and helped keep the club avoid relegation for four years running under Benitez and Steve Bruce.

Howe continued to put his faith in Lascelles’ leadership skills after the takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and he even came off the bench to play in Newcastle’s Champions League win over PSG back in 2023.

But his first team role has been severely diminished over the last couple of years – not helped by a serious knee injury – and he would have been out of contract at the end of the season.

Originally from Nottingham, Lascelles will return to the Midlands and should add quality and experience to the Leicester defence.

Antonín Kinský and Mads Hermansen (Tottenham and West Ham)

Spurs do not have a track record for doing business with their fierce London rivals but that trend stopped in the summer when they signed Mohammed Kudus – and they have been moving closer to landing another player from West Ham in the mid-season window. There have been talks over a swap deal that would see Antonín Kinský head to West Ham, with Mads Hermansen going in the other direction.

Hermansen arrived from Leicester City in the summer for £16.5m but has only played in five matches this season. It is thought he would get more games at Spurs and provide competition for Guglielmo Vicario. Czech Republic international Kinský arrived a year ago from Slavia Prague.

Andy Robertson (Liverpool)

As it stands, this deal is off. Tottenham made an offer worth around £5m for the Premier League winner last week but Liverpool are not proceeding despite an agreement in principle. Slot would need cover for Robertson’s departure and Kostas Tsimikas has been able to be recalled from his loan at AS Roma. But there is still time left on the window for the situation to be resolved and for the deal to be resurrected.

Robertson has less than six months left on his deal at Anfield and can also talk to clubs about a pre-contract to play in the 2026-27 campaign. The 31-year-old has stated that he wants to be playing more going into the World Cup this summer with Scotland. Milos Kerkez is ahead of him in the pecking order under Slot.

Tim Iroegbunam (Everton)

Lazio made a bid for the midfielder, 22, last week but it was rejected. The Italians were willing to pay around £15m and upping that offer could persuade Everton to do business.

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