January transfer window: Hermoso in Tigres switch and more football moves – live | Transfer window

For those interested, here’s the full list of January 2003 signings. Yes it’s a Wikipedia article. And yes, it’s legit.

Aston Villa have signed 19-year-old Kerr Smith. It’s the young centre back’s first professional deal. He’s already impressed for the youth team since joining in January from Dundee United. He’ll now go out on loan to St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Well, two actually. There were mere seconds between the emails so I’m going to take it as a draw.

“The January transfer window was first introduced in the Premier League back in 2003 – but who was its most expensive signing?”

Anthony (no last name given) simply provided the correct answer but didn’t include the fee, though the correct clubs were mentioned.

Alexandra Ashton, though, sent this in:

“I don’t quite recall the year, but would it happen to be Jonathan Woodgate from Leeds to Newcastle for £9m? I know that was when Venables resigned due to him being sold… but I’m unsure whether £9m would make it the most expensive signing of the window.”

That is bang on! Congrats to you both. Prizes on their way*

* There are no prizes beyond the unfettered pride you must both be feeling right now.

Time for the next instalment of Ed Aaron’s top 10 transfer targets for January.

Next up the Feyenoord’s striker, Santiago Giménez. Here’s Ed’s take:

The Mexico forward capped a spectacular 12 months that yielded 31 Eredivisie goals by being named man of the year by the respected Dutch football magazine Voetbal International. Giménez surpassed the record held by Luis Suárez and has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Uruguay striker by moving to the Premier League. Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham have been linked but Feyenoord are likely to demand about £60m, with several La Liga clubs also believed to be interested. Giménez was born in Buenos Aires but grew up in Mexico after his father, Christian – a former El Tri international – moved there to play professionally.

“Alan Smith!”

I can just picture Andy Wakelin crying out at his desk. I hope you didn’t spill your coffee Andy because it’s not the right answer.

At the risk of going all Clive Myrie on you all, can I please ask that answers include the fee and the clubs involved. I’ll give bonus points if at least one of those variables are correct.

The latest on the never ending saga with the most inevitable conclusion:

“Was it James Milner by chance”

That’s from John Jones to our question regarding the record signing in the 2003 January transfer window.

I must admit that Milner was my first guess (no idea why, just the first name that popped in my head).

Sadly for both of us, John, it is the incorrect answer.

West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer could be getting a tax break in his near future as AS Monaco are in “advanced talks” to secure his signature. (Please don’t send angry emails, I’m not really sure how Monaco’s tax system works).

Kehrer joined the Hammers for an initial £10m from PSG in the summer of 2022 – but he has not started a Premier League game this season.

Joining Kehrer out the exit door could be Nayef Aguerd. The 27-year-old Moroccan has struggled at times with his positional awareness at the back but has established himself under David Moyes. Still, an ‘unnamed Saudi club’ – according to Sky Sports – are closing in on the signing.

However, West Ham won’t let their man go until they’ve found a suitable replacement.

Speaking of Liverpool, could they pull the biggest fish of all and nab Kylian Mbappé? They’ll be in a tussle with Real Madrid who must surely be favourites in that tug-o-war.

Tom Davies has the lowdown on today’s Rumour Mill:

Starting to get some answers to Niall’s question which was: The January transfer window was first introduced in the Premier League back in 2003 – but who was its most expensive signing?

Simon Frank on X says, “His name is Rio”. Is that Ferdinand?

Captain Leroy – also on X – says with more confidence, “2003 January transfer window….god, AKA Robbie fowler joined city from Leeds for £6 mill.”

Unfortunately they’re both wrong.

I’ll give you a hint. The fee was £3 million more than what Cpt Leroy suggested.

More Liverpool fans writing in with some requests. (If only it worked like that).

“How about Liverpool sign Luca Netz from Mönchengladbach instead? Probably a more economical option with more upside.”

That’s from Joe Pearson. He’s 20-years-old left back, in case you weren’t aware. (Netz, not Joe).

A report from the Daily Mail suggests that Mohamed Elneny could soon be out the door at Arsenal.

The 31-year-old Egyptian international has attracted interest from Turkey with Trabzonspor and Besiktas the leading candidates.

Elneny joined the Gunners in 2015 from FC Basel in Switzerland and has made 159 appearances.

Ed Aarons has picked out 10 January transfers targets. We’ve already spoken about the first – Serhou Guirassy from Stuttgart. So let’s keep the ball rolling and unpack the second on the list, Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips.

Here’s what Ed had to say on the holding midfielder:

Still not fancied by Pep Guardiola after 18 months of watching from the sidelines, Phillips is desperate to get back to playing and was told in October that he was free to leave “if he decides to do it”. With a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad on the line and having featured for 89 minutes in the Premier League this season, the 28-year-old has accepted that leaving the treble winners is the only option after his transfer from Leeds for an initial £42m. Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Juventus are interested in taking him on loan.

Some Manchester United news now. And doesn’t that club need something fresh?

Two important but underperforming players in Casemiro and Raphaël Varane are staying put, though reports suggest United are looking to recruit in central midfield and defence.

Jadon Sancho might be on his way out despite being the face on the official club calendar for the month of January.

Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy has attracted interest and could come with a £15.6 million price tag.

“Will Liverpool sign Antonee Robinson?”

That’s what reader Kurt Perleberg wants to know.

To be honest, Kurt, I’m not sure. But you’ve given me some homework so I’ll do what I can do dig that out.

While we’re on that. Do write in with any transfers you’d like to see. Who’s on your wish list for a late Christmas gift?

Thanks Niall. Top shift. Howdy folks. Glad to be at the wheel.

To kick things off, Carlo Ancleotti has declared his undying love for Real Madrid (which is handy as he’s currently Real Madrid’s manager.)

This from the capataz according to Fabrizio Romano:

I love Real Madrid and I want to stay here. I could stay here also after being the manager

I had contacts with Brazil, for sure — but it was all in stand-by as I was always waiting for Real Madrid. I’m happy to stay here

Time to hand over to Daniel Gallan, who will guide through all this afternoon’s news.

On Monday, we brought news that Jeremy Sarmiento was heading back to Brighton after his loan at West Brom was cut short. Well, it seems that Sarmiento won’t be hanging around long – reports in his native Ecuador claim he is going back out on loan, this time to promotion-chasing Ipswich Town.

I posted this question earlier: The January transfer window was first introduced in the Premier League back in 2003 – but who was its most expensive signing?

Nobody has the right answer yet – mainly because nobody has guessed. A clue: like the second-most expensive signing that month, he was an England international, leaving Leeds United.

Before the inevitable rush of transfers this afternoon, why not spend five minutes soaking up David Squires’ vision for football in 2024?

Ed Aarons has picked out some big names who could move during the January window, starting with a Bundesliga hotshot …

Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)

The Guinea striker’s record‑breaking start to the Bundesliga season that brought him 14 goals in his first eight league games has caught the attention of teams across Europe. Manchester United and Newcastle are among a number of English clubs to have expressed interest in signing the player who joined Stuttgart on a permanent basis from Rennes in the summer, having initially moved there on loan.

Champions League-chasing Stuttgart have made no secret about Guirassy’s release clause of €17.5m (£15.2m) and may be forced to cash in after the 27-year-old’s representatives indicated he would be keen to leave if a Premier League side comes calling. His involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts on 13 January, could complicate things, however.

“I imagine there’ll be the usual schadenfreude around Rooney’s demise at Birmingham, but as a Derby fan who remembers the dignity and class with which he conducted himself in impossible circumstances at the Rams, I feel for him,” writes David Hopkins.

“Feels like Birmingham brought him in partly to benefit from his high profile, in a situation which clearly would take some time to work through, then cut him loose without giving him a fair shake. All very shabby.”

Here’s the full story, with Wayne Rooney giving his reaction to the decision.

Football is a results business – and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed. Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback.

Birmingham sack Rooney

Brandon Vázquez to Brentford? Facundo Torres to Arsenal or Ajax? Here are the MLS stars that could make a move to Europe this January.

Away from transfers, there are widespread reports around this morning that Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Birmingham City.

Since replacing John Eustace at St Andrews, Rooney has won two of 15 games in charge. After Monday’s defeat at Leeds, the club are 20th in the Championship, six points off the relegation zone.

Some loan admin to report: Burnley winger Dara Costelloe has ended his loan spell at St Johnstone and immediately moved to Dundee until the end of the season. Meanwhile, Brighton midfielder Jensen Weir has been recalled from his loan spell at Blackpool.

A Spurs update, from Fabrizio Romano; it looks like Radu Dragusin could soon follow in Gheorghe Popescu and Vlad Chiriches’ footsteps.

Tom Cairney has extended his Fulham contract until June 2025, taking the Cottagers’ captain past a decade of service with the club.

“It means everything to me to extend my contract. Ten years is a hell of a long time in football, a very rare thing,” the 32-year-old, who joined from Blackburn for £3m in 2015, told the club website.

“I said from quite early on that Fulham feels like home. I just want to thank everyone for the support over the years – the fans have been incredible with me, and I’ll just look to keep repaying them.”

In what I’m calling transfer-adjacent news, official squads for the Africa Cup of Nations continue to drop. Algeria have left out Saïd Benrahma, which could be good news for West Ham – although both Lyon and Marseille are reportedly keen on a January move.

Time for a quiz question. The January transfer window was first introduced in the Premier League back in 2003 – but who was its most expensive signing? Answers via the usual channels, and there’s no prize.

Atalanta sign defender Isak Hien

Jenni Hermoso joins Mexico’s Tigres

Let’s kick things off with the Rumour Mill, and it’s a bumper crop today.

Preamble