FOOTBALLING icon Lionel Messi is reportedly set to snub a move which would see him join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Arabian Pro League.
The World Cup winner was linked with an astonishing £306million-a-year contract offer from Al-Hilal.
But reports suggest that Messi will turn that deal down as his future rumbles on.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have suffered a blow to their transfer plans as Borussia Dortmund ace Youssoufa Moukoko has penned a new three-year deal in Germany.
However, SunSport can exclusively reveal that Jude Bellingham prefers a move away from Dortmund despite their huge bid to keep him at the club.
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Arsenal will hold further talks with Real Valladolid over full-back Ivan Fresneda.
The Gunners appear to be closing in on another January target as they look to push themselves over the line in the Premier League title race.
The 18-year-old full-back is highly rated and Valladolid are attempting to get the best possible deal on the youngster.
The Mail report that Arsenal will be come back to the table this week to try and secure a deal.
David de Gea is prepared to take a wage cut to get a new contract settled, SunSport has exclusively reported.
Manchester United have just activated their 12-month option on the goalkeeper, keeping him at the club until the end of next season.
The Spain star, 32, would love to stay way beyond that and is hoping for a minimum three-year extension if he can agree a new deal.
Now Old Trafford sources claim De Gea has told club bosses he is after security, rather than trying to hold them to ransom — and if that means slashing his wages, then he will do so.
United had reportedly set their sights on Yann Sommer as a potential replacement but the goalie signed for Bayern Munich earlier this week.
Everton are trying to find £15million to land Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye.
The Senegal ace is a scoring hit in the Championship with ten goals and seven assists from 28 games. He also took his speed and skills to the Qatar World Cup in the latest part of his fairytale career. Now Toffees chiefs want Ndiaye to join their attack for the relegation fight and are putting together the funds to buy him.
Ndiaye, 22, is central to the Blades’ bid to get back to the top flight but his contract is up after next season. Boss Paul Heckingbottom will be anxious as Ndiaye would be a huge loss and there are doubts about how much of the sale he would get to spend.
Southampton have their eye on Chelsea right wing-back Silko Thomas. The Saints hope to see the 18-year-old before deciding on a move when his Blues deal runs out in the summer.
Thomas played for Sheffield United in an Under-21 game during an extended trial but the Blades need a defensive full-back. The Blues ace started as a winger so is ideal for a team with wing-backs. Despite being in the market for a full-back, Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom is open to signing the teenager and could rival Saints for his signature.
Man City have completed the signing of Maximo Perrone, according to reports. The Argentinian wonderkid joins on a five-year deal from Velez Sarsfield, claims Fabrizio Romano.
“Manchester City have completed the signing of Argentinian talent Máximo Perrone — documents are signed on clubs/player side, here we go confirmed,” he tweeted.
“Perrone joins Man City until June 2028 from Vélez — done deal as revealed in December, now completed & official soon.”
Frank Lampard has spoken up about his future – lamenting the loss of Richarlison as a huge blow ahead of what has become a troubled season.
“It would be hard for me to sit here and talk about the right direction in terms of recent results,” Lampard said.
“I’ve said it before games recently. We stayed up by the skin of our teeth last year. We were five points shy of safety with not many games to go.
“I said the other day I think we would maybe stay where we are and someone gave me a second question and said is that competitive enough talk, as such?
“But for me if you are in a club where, over recent years, the club has moved downwards with serious investment, the environment now, the conditions now are that we don’t have that investment and we sold our number nine and we are trying to rebuild.
“That doesn’t mean that straight away you will start climbing straight away. It means that you are going to have to dig in as a club and I am prepared to dig in.”
Liverpool teenage defender Calvin Ramsay is a loan target for Championship pair Watford and Swansea.
The right-back, 18, has already made his Reds debut after signing from Aberdeen last summer.
And he has done enough to catch the eye of Hornets boss Slaven Bilic and Swans chief Russell Martin. Both sides are chasing promotion and believe the one-cap Scotland defender could help them.
Liverpool are reluctant to let Ramsay out even though he is still in the shadow of Trent Alexander-Arnold and his chances of a start will be slim this season.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has huge faith in the starlet they signed ahead of many rivals and is happy for him to stay put.
Everton are trying to find £15million to land Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye.
The Senegal ace is a scoring hit in the Championship with ten goals and seven assists from 28 games.
He also took his speed and skills to the Qatar World Cup in the latest part of his fairytale career.
Now Toffees chiefs want Ndiaye to join their attack for the relegation fight and are putting together the funds to buy him.
Ndiaye, 22, is central to the Blades’ bid to get back to the top flight but his contract is up after next season.
Boss Paul Heckingbottom will be anxious as Ndiaye would be a huge loss and there are doubts about how much of the sale he would get to spend.
Jude Bellingham is expected to turn down a double-your-money new deal when he meets Borussia Dortmund bosses this week.
And that will officially kickstart the £100million-plus auction for the 19-year-old England midfielder, who is wanted by Liverpool, Real Madrid and both Manchester clubs.
Dortmund have a sit down planned with Bellingham over the next couple of days and want a swift answer on his plans.
It is understood the Bundesliga outfit are prepared to make him the highest-paid player at the club, on around £180,000 a week, for a further five years.
Yet Dortmund are equally aware Bellingham wants to test himself at a higher level, following his eye-catching performances at the World Cup.
SunSport revealed this month that would-be buyers have been told they must pay 75 per cent of any total fee up front — with his former club Birmingham also due a cut.
They are happy not to stand in Bellingham’s way if he does insist he wants to go, as long as he gives them an answer which gives them time to line up a replacement.
Bellingham can expect to receive offers of around £300,000-a-week wages but the grounded teenager has always insisted will put his football progression before finances.
Southampton have their eye on Chelsea right wing-back Silko Thomas.
The Saints hope to see the 18-year-old before deciding on a move when his Blues deal runs out in the summer.
Thomas played for Sheffield United in an Under-21 game during an extended trial but the Blades need a defensive full-back.
The Blues ace started as a winger so is ideal for a team with wing-backs.
Despite being in the market for a full-back, Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom is open to signing the teenager and could rival Saints for his signature.
Man City have completed the signing of Maximo Perrone, according to reports.
The Argentinian wonderkid joins on a five-year deal from Velez Sarsfield, claims Fabrizio Romano.
"Manchester City have completed the signing of Argentinian talent Máximo Perrone — documents are signed on clubs/player side, here we go confirmed," he tweeted.
"Perrone joins Man City until June 2028 from Vélez — done deal as revealed in December, now completed & official soon."
Frank Lampard has spoken up about his future – lamenting the loss of Richarlison as a huge blow ahead of what has become a troubled season.
"It would be hard for me to sit here and talk about the right direction in terms of recent results," Lampard said.
"I've said it before games recently. We stayed up by the skin of our teeth last year. We were five points shy of safety with not many games to go.
"I said the other day I think we would maybe stay where we are and someone gave me a second question and said is that competitive enough talk, as such?
"But for me if you are in a club where, over recent years, the club has moved downwards with serious investment, the environment now, the conditions now are that we don't have that investment and we sold our number nine and we are trying to rebuild.
"That doesn't mean that straight away you will start climbing straight away. It means that you are going to have to dig in as a club and I am prepared to dig in."
Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt will be cleared to speak to interested clubs this week as a queue forms for a loan deal.
Gelhardt’s old club Wigan to make a concrete offer to Leeds to pay a part of his wages but several others have expressed an interest and now have to commit.
While Gelhardt is drawn to a sentimental return to Latics, where he was sold to pay bills when they were in administration, there are "bigger" clubs chasing him.
Stoke and Coventry have come in and joined Blackburn Rovers and Swansea who have been asking for him this month.
Gelhardt will only go to a team where he can play and Leeds are looking for a fair chunk of his salary to be paid plus possible bonuses.
Blackburn have looked into Denis Undaz at Brighton as an alternative but insiders reveal they would be the ideal option.
Newcastle's forgotten keeper Karl Darlow is wanted on loan by Hull City.
Darlow, 32, is the third choice at Toon and if they keep Loris Karius, 29, he could drop even lower in the pecking order.
The Tigers are watching the situation while Championship rivals Huddersfield are also keen.
However, both would need to rely on the Magpies paying the bulk of Darlow’s £2million-a-year salary to make it work.
Darlow's chance for playing time at St James' Park took a bigger hit as Martin Dubravka's loan spell at Manchester United was cut short.
The goalkeeper moved to Old Trafford in the summer to play back-up to David De Gea, but only managed two Carabao Cup appearances for the club.
Liverpool teenage defender Calvin Ramsay is a loan target for Championship pair Watford and Swansea.
The right-back, 18, has already made his Reds debut after signing from Aberdeen last summer.
And he has done enough to catch the eye of Hornets boss Slaven Bilic and Swans chief Russell Martin.
Both sides are chasing promotion and believe the one-cap Scotland defender could help them.
Liverpool are reluctant to let Ramsay out even though he is still in the shadow of Trent Alexander-Arnold and his chances of a start will be slim this season.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has huge faith in the starlet they signed ahead of many rivals and is happy for him to stay put.
It’s half-time as Crystal Palace and Newcastle fight it out at Selhurst Park.
A game of few chances, who can make the breakthrough in the second half?
The Geordies will want a win to keep up the pace with the Champions League places.
Arsenal are locked in discussions with Valladolid over the signing of Iván Fresneda, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian journalist tweeted: "Understand Arsenal have started talks to explore the signing of Iván Fresneda from Valladolid. Discussions are taking place on clubs and agent side."
He added: "Fresneda, on the bench tonight as he has chances to leave next week. There are 3/4 clubs keen on signing Spanish RB."
Chelsea are interested in signing Lyon wonderkid Malo Gusto, according to reports.
The Blues have already spent nearly £200million on young talent this month, as Todd Boehly looks to back Graham Potter.
And their winter splurge doesn't look like ending any time soon.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe, Chelsea want to sign 19-year-old right-back Gusto this month.
The teenager has already made over 50 appearances for Lyon and has been a regular this season.
His performances have earned him seven France under-21 caps and a reputation for being one of the world's best young full-backs.
Youssufa Moukoko has committed his future to Borussia Dortmund by signing a long-term contract until 2026 with the Bundesliga side.
The teenager was a target for several Premier League clubs, but the striker will be staying in Germany.
He said: "I was honoured by interest of other clubs, but ultimately it's a decision of the heart.
"Fans have always supported me, and I also want to give something back to them and the club."
It's half-time in the four Premier League games and Everton are in trouble at West Ham with the Toffees trailing 2-0, which leaves them bottom of the table as it stands.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth are beating Nottingham Forest 1-0, Leicester and Brighton are drawing 1-1 and it's goalless between Southampton and Aston Villa.
Remember, SunSport exclusively revealed that a defeat at the London Stadium is likely to see Lampard lose his job.
So the ex-Chelsea boss has got 45 minutes to turn things around or this could be his final game as Everton manager.
Jonjo Shelvey is on the verge of sealing a shock move to Besiktas, it's been claimed.
The midfielder has fallen down the Newcastle pecking order as of late and is currently on the sidelines due to injury.
And Turkish giants Besiktas are in the process of offering him an escape from St James' Park.
That's according to Spor Arena, who claims the Black Eagles are "in talks" with both Newcastle and Shelvey about a possible transfer.
Negotiations over the potential move to Instanbul for Shelvey – who could potentially link up with Dele Alli who is there on loan from Everton – are said to be "positive."
It's ended goalless in the early kick-off between Liverpool and Chelsea.
And it's a result that doesn't help either.
Both sides are nine points below the top four and are in serious danger of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has completely ruled out Eduardo Camavinga leaving the club this month.
The 20-year-old has been linked with a shock move to Arsenal following his lack of minutes for Los Blancos this season.
But the Madrid boss has denied any claims about a possible exit before the window closes.
He said: "We will not let Camavinga leave, he's untouchable — like Modrić and Toni Kroos."
Liverpool are in talks with Roberto Firmino over extending his stay at Anfield, according to reports.
The 31-year-old is in the final six months of his contract with the Reds.
But according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool would like to hand Firmino an extended stay.
It would only be a short-term extension, but Firmino is happy to stay at the club.
He said: "It's fantastic playing high-level football here with great players.
"I'm happy here and I intend to stay here and help Liverpool."
Fulham have a surprise name on their shortlist of midfield targets – Preston North End dynamo Ben Whiteman.
The former Manchester United trainee, 26, has caught the eye since joining Preston from Doncaster in January 2021.
Fulham boss Marco Silva is looking to strengthen his side's midfield options this month as he looks to build on their impressive first half of the season.
The Cottagers have been linked with a move for Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure in this month's transfer window, but at about £5m Whiteman would be a cheaper alternative.
Whiteman is in the final 18 months of his contract at Preston and would understandably jump at the chance of a move to the Premier League.
Chelsea thought they'd made a flying start at Anfield as they look to end their three-month wait for a Premier League away victory.
A corner causes chaos in the box and although Thiago Silva hits the post from close-range, Kai Havertz is on hand to score the rebound.
But the Germany international is denied his second goal in as many games by VAR following a delayed check.
Still 0-0.
Unai Emery is expected to show Calum Chambers the exit door at Villa Park this month, according to the Mirror.
The ex-Arsenal defender only signed for Aston Villa 12 months ago.
But he's started just one league game all season and has only played eight minutes in Emery's six Premier matches in charge.
New Chelsea signing Mykhailo Mudryk is on the bench against Liverpool this afternoon.
The Ukraine ace was paraded in front of his new fans against Crystal Palace last weekend and could now make his Prem debut at Anfield.
But Noni Madueke, who arrived from PSV on Friday, hasn't been named in the squad.
Jakub Kiwior will undergo his medical at Arsenal today ahead of his move from Spezia.
The centre-back is already travelling to London ahead of his switch to North London.
And Fabrizio Romano now claims two clubs have signed the necessary documents with Poland international on the verge of becoming the club's second signing of the January window.
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