The Guinean striker’s record start to the Bundesliga season, which has seen him score 14 goals in his first eight league games, has attracted the attention of teams across Europe. Manchester United and Newcastle are among a number of English clubs to have expressed an interest in signing the player who joined Stuttgart permanently from Rennes this summer after initially moving to Stuttgart on loan. His club have made no secret of his €17.5m (£15.2m) release clause and may be forced to cash in on Guirassy after the 27-year-old’s representatives indicated he would be keen to leave if a side from the Premier League is calling. . However, his expected involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts on January 13, could complicate matters.
Still out of favor with Pep Guardiola after 18 months watching from the sidelines, Phillips is desperate to play again and was told in October he was free to leave “if he decides to do so”. With a place in the England squad for Euro 2024 on the line and having played 89 minutes in the Premier League this season, the 28-year-old has accepted that leaving the treble winners is the only option following his move from Leeds for an initial fee of £42m. Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Juventus are interested in loaning him.
Related: Half-year reports from Premier League fans, part one: Arsenal v Fulham
The Mexican forward capped a spectacular 12 months that produced 31 goals in the Eredivisie by being named man of the year by respected Dutch football magazine Voetbal International. Giménez surpassed Luis Suárez’s record and has been tipped to follow in the Uruguayan striker’s footsteps by moving to the Premier League. Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham have been linked, but Feyenoord are likely to demand around £60 million, and several La Liga clubs are also believed to be interested. Giménez was born in Buenos Aires, but grew up in Mexico, following his father, Christian – a former El Tri internationally – moved there to play professionally.
The England forward has been back in training since mid-September and admitted that his enforced absence, as he serves an eight-month ban for gambling offences, was “like being in a football prison”. Toney’s suspension ends on January 16 and the question is whether he will still be at Brentford by the end of the month, with their technical director, Lee Dykes, admitting last week that “perhaps the time will come very soon for Ivan to move to a another club moves. ”. Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs have discussed a possible move for Toney, who has scored 32 goals in 68 Premier League appearances. How much Brentford are demanding to clear the sale of their prized asset remains to be seen, with a £100m price tag in January likely to deter many suitors – especially considering this is expected to be significantly reduced in the summer.
Viktor Gyökeres, Sporting
Last year Gyökeres helped send Coventry into the Championship play-offs, but he now finds himself high in the top flight of the Portuguese league, having scored 17 times in 20 games in all competitions. The 25-year-old Swedish forward was on Brighton’s books for three years but never made an appearance in the Premier League before moving to the Midlands. Sporting paid a club record €20 million to sign him in the summer, but set his release clause at an eye-watering €100 million. That has reportedly not stopped Arsenal, Chelsea and Milan, among others, from considering a move in January.
AndreFluminense
Fulham have outpaced others attempting to sign the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder after holding talks over a potential £30million transfer, although that could change in the coming weeks. André – part of the Fluminense team that was beaten by Manchester City at the recent Club World Cup – has been heavily scouted by Liverpool and Manchester United in the past and may have his sights set higher. “I look at the Premier League and it’s a big dream to play there,” he said last week. “I am focused on finishing the season at Fluminense. But my dream is clear: to become a Premier League player.”
Leaving Old Trafford appears to be Sancho’s only option while Erik ten Hag remains on site, but finding a suitable destination will be difficult. United are keen to recoup as much as possible of the £73million they paid Borussia Dortmund for the England forward two years ago, but know that is out of the question in the January market. A loan until the end of the season could suit all parties, with RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Barcelona and Juventus linked with a move for the 23-year-old. Sancho was reportedly offered to clubs in Saudi Arabia during a recent trip there by United’s director of football John Murtough.
Related: Premier League fans’ half-year reports, part two: Liverpool v Wolves
The Bournemouth defender has impressed many clubs with his composed performances over the past 18 months and has been stuck with extending a contract that expires in the summer. It is believed that Liverpool and Tottenham have shown interest in the 25-year-old, who has reportedly been offered a new contract to stay. “We’ll see what the market gives us,” said Bournemouth’s manager Andoni Iraola. “As a coach you don’t want to lose him, but you never know when the market will open, you never know what will happen. I think players have to make their own decisions.” Bournemouth are determined not to let their top scorer, Dominic Solanke, leave despite interest from Arsenal and West Ham after he signed a new contract in September.
Sharing jobs with David Raya hasn’t quite worked out for the England goalkeeper and he could be tempted to turn to Mikel Arteta in early January after making five appearances in the Premier League this season. If he did, there would be no shortage of suitors, with Chelsea and Newcastle reportedly interested in a loan deal after injuries to their respective first choices, Robert Sánchez and Nick Pope. Ramsdale was included in the most recent England squad despite being out of favor at his club, but it was notable that Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone was given the honor of playing against Australia in October. The former Sheffield United goalkeeper will know he cannot take his place in the 2024 European Championship for granted.
The 19-year-old only joined Metz in February but made scouts across Europe take notice when he scored from his own half against Monaco in October. Camara, the latest talent to emerge from the Génération Foot academy in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, which also produced Sadio Mané and Ismaïla Sarr, was this month crowned CAF’s Young African Player of the Year after 12 months of staggering progress. After being named player of the tournament when Senegal won the African Domestic Championship in January, he was also named best player at the African under-20s football competition in March. Compared to Kevin De Bruyne and Toni Kroos, the midfielder is reportedly on the radar of several English clubs, including Brighton and Chelsea, who are also expected to sign Senegal under-17 midfielder Pape Daouda Diong. Génération Foot winger Amara Diouf – a 15-year-old who won his first senior cap in September – is another emerging star under heavy scrutiny.