Today's top global international football news, transfers and more - 7th Jan

Today's top global international football news, transfers and more.

Andoni Iraola has secured Julio Soler, a 19-year-old Argentine left-back born in Paraguay, for €15 million from Lanús. Soler, who has already played over 50 matches in Argentina, joins Bournemouth as a long-term prospect but will initially compete with Milos Kerkez for the starting spot while adapting to European football. Known for his offensive potential, Soler is also a U-20 international for Argentina and is set to participate in the South American U-20 Championship in Venezuela later this month.

Pep Guardiola hinted at the possibility of Manchester City making no signings this January, despite the squad being heavily affected by injuries. The Catalan coach stated, "The club must be smart and not sign just for the sake of it," expressing doubt over the feasibility of adding reinforcements.

Kyle Walker, Manchester City star, is under fire from his ex-lover Lauryn Goodman, who accuses him of treating their two children unfairly compared to the four he shares with ex-wife Annie Kilner. According to the Mirror, Goodman is "extremely angry," claiming Walker neglected their children during Christmas. Walker’s camp denies the allegations, stating he provides financial support but blames Goodman for publicizing private matters, allegedly disregarding the children’s well-being.

Liverpool and Manchester United delivered an intense clash at Anfield, ending in a 2-2 draw despite the 23-point gap separating the two teams in the Premier League table. Amad Diallo’s late equalizer denied Liverpool an eight-point lead over Arsenal at the top, while United fought valiantly under Rúben Amorim, defying predictions of a home rout.

Goals from Lisandro Martínez, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah highlighted the match, with Salah’s penalty giving Liverpool a brief lead before Diallo’s strike leveled the score. Both sides pushed for a winner, but missed opportunities, including Harry Maguire’s last-minute blunder, left the score unchanged. Liverpool retains a six-point lead at the top with a game in hand, while United remains far from the top spots.

Harry Maguire delivered a moment to forget in the dying seconds of Manchester United's 2-2 draw against Liverpool. In the 97th minute, with Alisson out of position, Maguire received a perfect pass from Zirkzee near the penalty spot but sent his shot skyward instead of into the net. While doubts linger over whether Zirkzee was offside, the missed opportunity spared Liverpool from their second loss of the season and added another blunder to Maguire's growing highlight reel.

Dean Huijsen, a 19-year-old center-back hailed as one of Europe’s top talents, has become a key figure at Bournemouth after joining from Juventus for €16 million last summer. Despite a slow start, Huijsen has cemented his place in the lineup, starting the last seven matches in a Premier League run of eight unbeaten games. Known for his towering 1.95m frame, aerial dominance, composure on the ball, and ability to break lines, the Dutch-born, Spain U21 international has already scored twice in 14 league appearances, showcasing his potential as a future defensive star.

Jack Grealish must fight to reclaim his starting spot at Manchester City and rediscover the form he displayed during the club’s treble-winning campaign, says Pep Guardiola. Despite playing a crucial role in the 2022-23 season with 50 appearances, five goals, and 11 assists, Grealish has struggled this term, starting only six league games. Guardiola highlighted the competition with Savinho, who started in place of Grealish in City’s 4-1 win over West Ham, urging Grealish to prove he deserves his spot by delivering consistent performances in training and matches.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, widely tipped to join Real Madrid next season, faced harsh criticism after a lackluster performance in Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Manchester United. Former United star Roy Keane, now a pundit, mocked Alexander-Arnold’s defensive skills on Sky Sports, suggesting he might end up at Tranmere Rovers instead of Madrid, calling his defending "schoolboy-like." Tranmere, in a tongue-in-cheek response, dismissed the idea on social media, humorously backing their own right-back, Cameron Norman, over the Liverpool star.

Liverpool is bracing for a transformative summer, with Mohamed Salah confirming his departure, Trent Alexander-Arnold likely heading to Real Madrid, and now Darwin Núñez reportedly up for sale. According to Football Insider, Liverpool is open to offers around €60 million for Núñez, who has struggled under manager Arne Slot, scoring only four goals in 23 appearances this season. With Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and Luis Díaz preferred in attack, the 25-year-old’s role has diminished, prompting interest from Newcastle United, especially amid fears of losing Alexander Isak. Núñez, who joined in 2022 for a club-record fee of €102 million from Benfica, could be part of a significant rebuild at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah, at 32, seems poised to leave Liverpool this summer, with strong indications pointing toward a move to the Saudi Pro League after previously rejecting lucrative offers from the region. While his departure from Liverpool appears certain, former PSG player Laure Boulleau has publicly urged Salah to reconsider and remain in European football, stating on Canal Football Club that leaving for Saudi Arabia could diminish his status compared to staying in Europe.

AC Milan has entered a new era under Sergio Conceição, who made a stunning debut by defeating Juventus 2-1 in the Supercoppa semifinals. Conceição could secure his first title with the club tonight in the final against Inter Milan, but their Serie A campaign tells a different story. Sitting eighth with 27 points, eight shy of Champions League spots but with two games in hand, Milan is focused on bolstering their squad to achieve their primary goal.

One prominent name on their radar is Marcus Rashford, who appears set to leave Manchester United after voicing a desire for new challenges and clashing with manager Rubén Amorim. Reports from England and Calciomercato suggest Milan has already initiated talks for a potential winter loan deal, with Zlatan Ibrahimović reportedly backing the move. However, Milan’s limited financial flexibility complicates the pursuit, as United seeks a sale to fund their own transfers, including Gyökeres. Rashford’s agent is actively exploring options across Europe, keeping speculation about his future alive.

Arsenal continues to suffer from persistent injury troubles, now affecting the attacking lineup. Following the long-term absences of Raheem Sterling (knee) and Bukayo Saka, the Gunners face another blow as 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri is sidelined with a muscle injury. Nwaneri, who scored Arsenal’s goal against Brighton, was substituted at halftime after sustaining the injury in the first half. Mikel Arteta confirmed ahead of the EFL Cup semifinal first leg against Newcastle that the young midfielder will be out for several weeks. Despite his age, Nwaneri has impressed this season, with 18 appearances, five starts, and five goals across all competitions.

Nottingham Forest continued their remarkable run with a convincing 3-0 victory over Wolves, solidifying third place in the Premier League table and keeping Champions League dreams alive. A stellar performance from Morgan Gibbs-White, including the opening goal against his former club, set the tone, assisted brilliantly by Anthony Elanga. Chris Wood doubled the lead before halftime, marking his 12th goal of the season, while Taiwo Awoniyi sealed the win with a late strike. With just 19 goals conceded in 20 matches, Nuno Espírito Santo's side remains defensively solid and offensively efficient, contrasting sharply with a disorganized Wolves team teetering near relegation.

Mohamed Salah appears to be nearing the end of his Liverpool chapter, hinting that this could be his final season at Anfield unless drastic changes occur. Unafraid to speak his mind, Salah recently fired back at Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher via a post on X, accusing him of being "obsessed" after Carragher criticized his performance in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United. Attached to the post was a video where Carragher praised Virgil Van Dijk while suggesting Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold could learn from the Dutch defender.

Despite the criticism, Salah’s form this season is outstanding, with 21 goals and 17 assists across all competitions, including an astonishing 18 goals and 13 assists in just 19 Premier League matches, playing a pivotal role in Liverpool's league dominance. As speculation over his future intensifies, with European giants and Saudi clubs eyeing him, Salah's next move could spark a major transfer battle.

Tyrick Mitchell, Crystal Palace’s standout left-back, has proven himself through determination and resilience, making 166 appearances with 53 blocks this Premier League season—the highest in the league. Known for his humility, Mitchell approaches his career in milestones of 50 matches, refusing to label himself a Premier League player until retirement. Despite a challenging childhood marked by his father’s imprisonment and his mother’s struggles, Mitchell’s journey began at AFC Wembley before joining Brentford’s academy and later Crystal Palace’s youth system, where he rose to the first team in 2020-21.

A role model for underprivileged youth, Mitchell actively supports initiatives like the ‘Palace for Life’ Foundation, earning him the PFA Community Champion Award for his contributions to South London’s communities. Internationally, he debuted for England under Gareth Southgate, representing the Three Lions in matches against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

Tottenham Hotspur has exercised its option to extend Heung-Min Son's contract by one year, keeping the South Korean forward at the club until June 2026. This move quells speculation about a potential transfer to Barcelona and ensures Son will complete a decade with the North London team.

A vital player for the Spurs since 2015, Son has scored 169 goals in 431 matches, becoming the club's fourth-highest scorer. Appointed captain by Ange Postecoglou in 2023, "Sonny" was part of the 2019 Champions League finalist team and earned the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021-22 with 23 goals. Although injuries have affected his impact this season, his commitment remains integral to Tottenham’s future.

Julen Lopetegui's position at West Ham is under serious threat after a season of inconsistent results and disappointing performances. Reports from Sky Sports suggest the club's management has already met with Graham Potter, potentially signaling Lopetegui's imminent dismissal. Recent heavy losses to Manchester City (4-0) and Liverpool (5-0), marked by poor performances and a lack of clear strategy, have exacerbated the situation.

Despite significant summer investments exceeding €100 million on players like Kilman, Summerville, Fullkrug, Todibo, and Guido Rodríguez, West Ham sits 14th in the league with 23 points, far from their goal of a top-six finish. With the team just seven points clear of relegation and 11 points behind European qualification, hopes of achieving preseason ambitions have faded, putting Lopetegui’s tenure in jeopardy.

Real Madrid has formally appealed the two-match suspension handed to Vinícius Jr. by the RFEF's Disciplinary Committee for his red card during the Mestalla incident involving Dimitrievski. The club submitted video evidence claiming a "material error" in the referee's report, arguing that the decision was based on an "incomplete and biased assessment" of events.

Real Madrid further highlighted omissions by VAR, including Dimitrievski's alleged prior aggression, and noted that the referee failed to address the racist insults Vinícius endured during the match. Citing Vinícius’s "spontaneous remorse" and the "constant pressure" he faces from opposing fans and players, the club requested the suspension be nullified.

The RFEF's Disciplinary Committee reduced Vinícius Jr.'s suspension for his violent conduct against Dimitrievski from four matches to two, limited to LaLiga, allowing him to participate in the Spanish Super Cup. This decision contrasts sharply with recent cases, such as Óscar Rodríguez, who received a four-match ban for a similar act during Leganés-Villarreal, and Robert Lewandowski, who was handed a three-match suspension in 2022 for dissent after a red card.

Additionally, Flick served a full two-match ban for protesting in Betis-Barcelona, further highlighting inconsistencies. Despite clear evidence of aggression and disruptive behavior, Vinícius faces a relatively lenient punishment, reigniting criticism of the committee's uneven standards.

Real Madrid has arrived in Jeddah to finalize preparations for the Spanish Super Cup, starting Thursday with a semifinal clash against Mallorca at King Abdullah Sports City (20:00 local time). The team received a boost as Vinícius Jr. was cleared to participate in the tournament, following a two-match disciplinary suspension.

Carlo Ancelotti's squad trained at Valdebebas before departing for Saudi Arabia, while club president Florentino Pérez stayed behind for a board meeting and will join the team on Wednesday. Notably, David Alaba has traveled with the team despite being sidelined due to a knee injury, continuing his rehabilitation alongside his teammates.

Didier Deschamps will end his tenure as France's national team coach following the 2026 World Cup, according to French media reports. Having taken charge in 2012, Deschamps led France to a World Cup victory in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022. His remarkable 14-year stint will make him one of Europe's longest-serving national team coaches, trailing only Joachim Löw and Morten Olsen.

Deschamps’ achievements include a UEFA Nations League title in 2021 and guiding France to the Euro 2016 final. Despite controversies, such as the Benzema-Valbuena scandal and the fall of Federation President Noël Le Graët, Deschamps maintained his position as a steady leader. He will confirm his decision on Wednesday in a televised program, marking the end of an era in French football.

Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is poised to leave Manchester City as his contract expires in June. Renewal talks with the Premier League club seem unlikely, fueling speculation about his next destination. According to reports from The Athletic, De Bruyne has been in negotiations with San Diego FC, a new MLS franchise set to debut in the upcoming season.

While financial terms appear feasible, logistical hurdles remain due to MLS salary cap regulations. San Diego FC envisions De Bruyne as a marquee signing to headline their roster, alongside players like Hirving Lozano, who has already committed to the team. The move would mark a significant shift in De Bruyne’s career, signaling the start of a new journey in the United States.

The Spanish Sports Council (CSD) may allow FC Barcelona to register Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor in LaLiga under a precautionary measure. While official confirmation is pending, they wouldn't be available for Wednesday’s Super Cup match against Athletic Club but might play in the final if Barça qualifies. The decision is temporary, pending a full review of Barça's 52-page appeal within three months.

Newcastle caused a shock in the EFL Cup semi-finals by defeating Arsenal. The team now awaits to find out who their opponent will be, which will be determined in tomorrow's match where Liverpool are the favorites.

FC Barcelona defeated Osasuna Magna 3-5 to break a poor streak of results in La Liga and the Copa Catalunya, where they recently lost the final. Tino Pérez's team dominated most of the match, starting strong with three goals in the first eight minutes. Antonio, Martel, and Pito led the charge, showcasing efficiency and focus, though Osasuna briefly challenged in the first half.

Vinicius Jr. has received a two-match suspension, which he will serve in La Liga. This will not affect his participation in the Spanish Super Cup.

According to reports from The Athletic, Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli are showing strong interest in Vinicius Jr. and are reportedly prepared to offer him a very lucrative contract to tempt him away from Real Madrid. The club see the young Brazilian forward as a key player to strengthen their squad and raise the level of the Saudi League. Although no concrete figures have been revealed, it is speculated that the offer could be one of the biggest in football history, which would undoubtedly test Vinicius' loyalty to the White club and his desire to continue succeeding in European football.

A video of Rodrigo De Paul enjoying a party alongside fellow Argentinian footballers from Atletico Madrid, including Julian Alvarez, has ignited a flurry of commentary and controversy on social media. The footage shows the midfielder using a vape, an electronic cigarette, prompting debate about the conduct of high-performance athletes off the pitch. The video, which quickly went viral, depicts a festive atmosphere with several players sharing a moment of downtime. However, it was De Paul's use of the vape that captured widespread attention, drawing a range of reactions from fans and the media.

While Neymar's desire to reunite with his friends is evident, the financial aspect presents a significant hurdle. The Brazilian earns over $100 million per season at Al-Hilal, a figure unattainable for any MLS team. The highest-paid player in the American league is Lionel Messi, with a salary of around $20 million. This salary difference forces Neymar to forgo a considerable portion of his income if he chooses to play for Inter Miami. However, the prospect of playing alongside Messi and Suarez again might be a strong enough incentive for the Brazilian to consider a pay cut.

The football world is abuzz with news that's set to shake up the transfer market: Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgian maestro of Manchester City, is reportedly on the verge of landing in Major League Soccer (MLS), but not with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami – instead, he's linked with the nascent San Diego FC. According to reports from the respected publication "The Athletic", negotiations between the Californian club and the gifted midfielder are at an advanced stage, which would represent a genuine masterstroke for the North American league and a setback for the aspirations of other clubs, including Inter Miami.

In a recent interview, Neymar didn't hesitate to back Cristiano Ronaldo's stance, who had also stated that the Saudi league is on the rise and surpasses Ligue 1. The Brazilian affirmed: “I agree with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Saudi League has been improving and today, compared, it is better than Ligue 1. Considering the players that are in the Saudi League, it is a better league.”

These words, spoken by a figure of Neymar's stature, haven't gone unnoticed. The fact that a player who knows Ligue 1 first-hand, following his time at PSG, expresses himself in this way gives considerable weight to his opinion.

Atletico Madrid's recruitment scouts have turned their attention to a shining light in Argentinian football: Thiago Almada. The gifted midfielder, fresh from World Cup glory, has become a target for the Rojiblancos, who are keen to bolster their squad with youthful, proven talent. This potential acquisition raises numerous questions about the player's future and Atletico's sporting project. Almada's profile presents an attractive proposition for Diego Simeone's side. His youthfulness, coupled with experience gained in Major League Soccer (MLS) and his pivotal contribution to Argentina's triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, makes him a highly sought-after commodity in the European market.

In a recent interview with CNN Sport, Neymar Jr. fuelled speculation about a potential reunion with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in MLS. The Brazilian star didn't rule out the possibility of playing in the American league, expressing his enthusiasm at the prospect of reviving the famous attacking trio known as "MSN". "Obviously, to play again with Messi and Suárez would be incredible. They are my friends and we talk," Neymar stated. "It would be interesting for football to be able to revive this trio. I'm happy at Al-Hilal and here in Saudi Arabia, but you never know what can happen. Football is full of surprises," he concluded, leaving the door open to a future in MLS alongside his close friends.

In a recent press conference, Barcelona player Raphinha expressed some discomfort with the situation involving Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. The Brazilian admitted that the uncertainty surrounding the future of both players at the club is causing concern, even for him. "What's happening with Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor is affecting things," Raphinha stated, adding a comment that reveals his unease: "If I was at another club and I saw this situation, I would think twice about coming to Barcelona." These statements suggest that the handling of these players' situation could be negatively impacting the external perception of the club and, potentially, its ability to attract new talent.