Sevilla are interested in signing Chelsea forward David Datro Fofana. The striker is currently on loan at Union Berlin and the Spanish side would need Chelsea to facilitate cutting that loan short to allow him to join.

Fofana wants to make the move for a fresh start after a difficult spell in Germany. He has scored two goals in 17 appearances for Union and hasn’t started a game since November 25.

The 21-year-old signed for Chelsea from Molde last January for £11m on a contract until 2029, with the option of a further year.

The Wearside club have launched an investigation into how the Black Cats Bar at the Stadium of Light, which will host corporate hospitality for travelling fans, was decked out in black and white and Magpies slogans, sparking fury from home supporters.

But as “disgusted and hurt” Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus vowed to address the issue, Newcastle head coach Howe waved away suggestions the 6,000 visiting supporters had been handed a head-start in the run-up to the eagerly-anticipated third-round fixture.

Arsenal are thinking about a move for Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato as the club looks to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s defence in the long-term.

The 17-year-old is regarded as an exciting prospect in Europea and can play as both a centre-back or a left-back. Hato has 18 months remaining on his current contract though Ajax want to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

Hato’s performances have been a bright spark in a challenging season for Ajax who seem confident that Arsenal will formalise their interest this summer, rather than during the January window.

Arsenal have a recent history of doing transfer business with Ajax, having signed Jurrien Timber from the Dutch club in a deal worth up to £39m last summer.

Borussia Dortmund are finalising the details on the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.

There is optimism that the deal will be formally completed this weekend when Sancho is expected to join up with the Dortmund squad at their training camp in Marbella.

Currently the deal is for a straight loan with no buy options included.

Sancho’s long-term future with Manchester Untied will be assessed in the summer but his contract runs until 2026, with the club holding the option to extend for a further year.

Eintracht Frankfurt have reached a verbal agreement with Wolves over a six-month loan deal for Sasa Kalajdzic. Sky Sports News reported earlier this week that both Eintracht and Wolfsburg were interested in signing him.

Kalajdzic will be involved in Wolves’ FA Cup game at Brentford this evening so completion of the transfer will not be happening soon though the striker should depart before the end of the window.

Eintracht have an initial agreement with Wolves to take him for the rest of the campaign.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed that the Gunners are in the market for more defenders to cover the current spate of injuries in their squad.

“Unfortunately, Jurrien [Timber] has a very long-term injury. He’s doing really well but is still far from training with the team.” said Arteta,

“It’s what we have, with Tomi [Takehiro Tomiyasu] having to leave [for the Asia Cup]. We’re open for the market, but the emphasis is of making the most of the players we have.

“We’ll work with the club to understand if there are any possibilities.”

When asked if Arsenal could get some business done in January, Arteta replied: “It’s a possibility.”

Kieran Tierney won’t be returning to Arsenal from Real Sociedad this month despite the injuries to the Gunners’ remaining left-backs.

The 26-year-old’s season with Real Sociedad has been hit by injury but he is back fit and playing in a side sitting sixth in La Liga with the Champions League knockout stages to look forward to.

Tierney said: “Several people have asked me about this but the answer is no. I am definitely staying here (in January). Arsenal fans are great, they always gave me a lot of support. During the four years I was there, I will always be grateful to the fans.

“I don’t want to speak badly about the Premier League because there are some great atmospheres, but in Spain it really is amazing. If you hear fans from Osasuna and Cadiz, they don’t stop singing. It is great here.”

Arsenal are said to be in advanced stages of giving a new deal to Takehiro Tomiyasu, says transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

The Japanese defender returned from injury in the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat at Fulham last Sunday. He has been a regular figure in the Arsenal team since joining from Bologna in 2021 mixing his time between first XI starts and appearances off the bench.

Tomiyasu is set to depart for the Asia Cup with his national team so the deal may not be done as soon as Arsenal would hope for.

Erik ten Hag described his first meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe as “very positive” but admitted he still has much to learn about the billionaire’s plans for Manchester United.

Ratcliffe’s Ineos group will assume control of footballing operations once his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in the club has been ratified in the coming weeks, and he has been in Manchester this week for a series of meetings with club staff.

The meetings have been described as an opportunity for Ratcliffe, as well as senior Ineos officials Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, to get to know the club before they start work in earnest.

Three Premier League clubs have made enquiries about signing Copenhagen‘s 18 year-old forward Roony Bardghji with Barcelona also reportedly interested.

Bardghji famously scored the winning goal for Copenhagen against Manchester United in their Champions League group game back in November.

He has been offered a contract extension but has yet to sign past the tw years left on his current deal. As a result Copenhagen are willing to listen to offers with the teenager being valued at around €25m.

Bardghji has started 18 games in all competitions this seaso, scoring eight times.