Premier League transfer news LIVE: Varane likely to leave Man United, Bournemouth to reject offers for Solanke, Brentford want to keep Toney

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Richard Arnold is set to leave his role as Manchester United's CEO by the end of 2023, talkSPORT understands.

An official announcement is expected to be made later on Wednesday.

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to complete his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in United imminently.

talkSPORT understands it was the INEOS chief's decision to remove Arnold from his position of CEO as the club approach fresh investment.

Arnold first joined the Premier League giants as a group commercial director in 2007 before working his way up the ranks.

He then replaced Ed Woodward as their CEO in February 2022 before a year of uncertainty surrounding the future ownership of the club.

ICYMI

Arsenal are ready to hijack Newcastle’s move for Ruben Neves.

As talkSPORT reported earlier this month, Newcastle have explored the possibility of signing Neves on loan to cover for the banned Sandro Tonali.

However, Premier League clubs are expected to vote next week in favour of a block on clubs loaning players from within their own ownership group.

Neves is registered with Al-Hilal, who are owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), as are Newcastle.

The change in regulations could benefit Arsenal, who have made bolstering their midfield a priority with Thomas Partey ruled out at least until the New Year with an ongoing thigh issue.

Arsenal’s sporting director Edu is known to be a long-term admirer of former Wolves star Neves.

Over the hill

Burnley are set to activate the extra year’s option in Josh Brownhill’s contract to ward off interest from a host of Premier League rivals.

West Ham and Wolves are among the clubs monitoring Brownhill’s situation, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2024.

Manager Vincent Kompany has made it clear to the Burnley board they cannot afford to lose fans’ favourite Brownhill, who scored in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Transfer battle

talkSPORT sources understand that Newcastle could see any potential move for Ruben Neves scuppered by Arsenal.

The Magpies are potentially looking at bringing the Portuguese international to St James' Park on loan in January.

But the Toon's idea could be blown out of the water by their Premier League rivals next week at a vote on associated party deals.

Neves' current team, Al-Hilal, are owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment and PIF are also the Toon's majority shareholders.

If the vote passes, loans between clubs co-owned and owned by the same people will be temporarily banned, allowing Arsenal to swoop in and sign Neves.

The Gunners are huge fans of the former Wolves man and would welcome his arrival at the Emirates.

James committed to Chelsea

Chelsea captain Reece James remains fully committed to the Blues despite Manchester City and Real Madrid looking at the right-back.

90min report the England international is fully invested in the project at Stamford Bridge and wants to help the club become title challengers again.

But City and Real's interest is unlikely to go anywhere, with the Premier League champions aware they need to replace Kyle Walker and Madrid want some competition for Dani Carvajal.

The big thing for James is staying fit because injuries have ruined his last two seasons.

Evan's in demand

talkSPORT understands that Brighton won't accept anything less than £100million for Evan Ferguson next summer.

The Irish striker has just penned a new long-term deal with the Seagulls keeping him at the club until 2029.

It doesn't include a release clause and Tony Bloom believes that Ferguson is already worth more than Moises Caicedo.

Many Premier League clubs are expected to come back in for the young forward, with Tottenham leading the way.

Spurs see the striker as the ideal Harry Kane replacement, while Manchester United and Chelsea are also keen.

Raphinha price tag revealed

Since joining Barcelona from Leeds in the summer of 2022, it would be fair to say that Raphinha hasn't showed his true ability.

The Brazilian winger was one of the most exciting players in the Premier League but has yet to replicate that form in Spain.

And Football Transfers report the LaLiga giants' stance has changed and they are willing to sell him for 70million euros.

Newcastle, Chelsea and a couple of Saudi clubs are keen.

However, the winger doesn't want to leave, which could cause Barcelona some problems.

Tottenham target Junior

No, not that one!

Tottenham aren't going to be buying Vinicius Junior anytime soon.

Instead, they are looking to bring in Juventus' Samuel Iling-Junior.

The England Under-21 international is mainly a winger but can play in the centre and would add some depth to Ange Postecoglou's squad.

The Independent report the former Chelsea youth player is rated highly by the Old Lady and is starting to break into the starting XI.

It's unclear how much he would cost, but Tottenham hope to use their good relationship with Juventus to their advantage.

The Diomande at the back

Newcastle are lining up a January swoop for Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande.

The Sun claim the Magpies are targeting defensive reinforcements due to the club's ongoing injury crisis.

Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Matt Targett and Javier Manquillo are among the Toon's missing players, leaving them short in defence.

And the 19-year-old is one of the Toon's top targets, and they have watched him at least three times this year.

The Ivorian has £70million release clause in his deal, which could force the Magpies to negotiate, but this is definitely one to watch.

Todibo to ease Man United's defensive crisis

Manchester United are lining up a January swoop for Jean-Clair Todibo.

The Sun report the Red Devils want a right-sided centre-back to boost Erik ten Hag's options, with Raphael Varane struggling with fitness problems and Lisandro Martinez out until the new year.

Todibo was linked in January but any move could be scuppered by a Premier League vote next week on associated party transactions.

This is because Nice are owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is set to take a stake in Man United.

If the vote is successful, loans between clubs owned or co-owned by the same people will be banned.

Pedro wants to join 'big club'

Brighton's Joao Pedro has revealed that he dreams of playing for a 'big club' in the Champions League.

The Brazilian has started well for the Seagulls after joining from Watford for a club-record fee in the summer.

Pedro has had a first taste of European football for Roberto de Zerbi's side but he wants to take it further in the future.

He told Globo Esporte: "I have a dream of winning a World Cup, winning titles for the national team, going to a big club to play in the Champions League, that dream that every boy has of reaching the top."

Although, Pedro remains happy at Brighton for now and has described manager De Zerbi as 'obsessed' with football.

Spurs swoop for Cristante

According to reports in Italy, Tottenham are eyeing a move for Roma midfielder Bryan Cristante.

Ange Postecoglou is aware that starting centre-mids Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma will leave for AFCON this winter.

And that means Big Ange's squad will be light in that area, with the Spurs boss keen to add a new face.

Cristante is reported to be a target but Jose Mourinho does not want to sell and the Italian signed a new deal earlier this year.

Despite that, Tottenham are still expected to try and convince the 28-year-old to join this January.

Raphinha return?

Barcelona winger Raphinha could be set for a return to England, according to Sport.

The former Leeds star is attracting interest from Chelsea and Newcastle with Barca prepared to listen to offers this summer.

Deco, the Spanish giants' sporting director, is reported to still believe that Raphinha can play a key role.

However, the club hierarchy are keen on selling him should his poor form in La Liga fail to improve.

The 26-year-old has only scored twice in 11 games this season.

Bayern still want Palhinha

Bayern Munich's sporting director has confirmed that the club are still interested in signing Joao Palhinha.

This comes after the German giants were set to sign the Fulham midfielder in the summer but the deal fell through on Deadline Day.

Palhinha has since signed a new contract at Craven Cottage but Bayern are still looking at bringing him in.

Sporting director Christoph Freund told BILD: "Of course, he is still on our radar. The club worked intensively with Palhinha in the summer.

"I was there for a bit on the last, strange day of the transfer window, but you can't say yet what will happen.

"We are generally exploring the market."

Ruben eyes Premier League return

Ruben Neves is open to a Premier League return in January, amid talk that Newcastle are keen on signing the former Wolves man.

talkSPORT's Saudi correspondent Ben Jacobs reports that the Magpies are exploring a possible loan with an option to buy for the Portuguese international, who need a replacement for Sandro Tonali due to his long-term ban for illegal betting.

However, nothing will advance until after the 20 top-flight clubs vote next week on associated party transactions, which could stop Newcastle signing Neves.

This is because Al-Hilal are owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, who are the majority shareholders of the north east giants.

But should clubs vote to keep the same rules, Neves to Newcastle could advance quickly.

Talk of the toon

Former Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse is training with non-league side Macclesfield with a view to a permanent deal.

The 38-year-old is a free agent after leaving Ligue 2 side Amiens at the end of last summer.

Cisse, who was the top scorer last season at the French outfit, managing 12 goals, is believed to be living close to seventh-tier side Macclesfield.

The Senegalese star spent five campaigns in the Premier League with Newcastle, netting 44 times, including a memorable strike against Chelsea in 2012.

Following his Magpies departure in 2016, he joined Shandong Taishan in Chinese Super League, before going on to have a spell in Turkey with Fenerbahce, Alanyaspor and Rizespor.

He now embarks on a new chapter in his career with Macclesfield, who started in the North West Counties Premier Division back in 2020.

The club has since managed back-to-back promotions and has ex-Wales midfielder and pundit Robbie Savage as their director of football.

Former Ipswich and Hull defender Alex Bruce is the manager, with ex-Manchester United academy manager Paul McGuinness his assistant.

Werning lights

Former Chelsea striker Timo Werner could be set to depart RB Leipzig in January - just a year after he returned to the German club.

Werner is yet to establish himself as a key player having scored just nine Bundesiga goals last season, and has just two goals to his name this term.

He is currently behind Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko and Yussuf Poulsen in the pecking order, and club sporting Rouven Schroder has refused to rule out the German leaving.

Schroder said: "We look carefully at our squad, and we want players who have that something a bit different in their heads. Those are the types of players who we will pick.

"Timo is going through a difficult spell, and we are supporting him. Life isn't always sunshine.

"If he has the notion that he would like to do something else, then we will deal with it.

"He is a part of our team, and he has to face up to competition for places."

Gift of the gab

Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Moscardo claims Chelsea were keen on luring him to the Premier League in the summer.

The 18-year-old continues to be a standout star with Corinthians in his homeland and is also a target for Arsenal and Barcelona.

"There was a proposal from Chelsea months ago, but I talk a lot with my agent and my parents and they try to give me as little information as possible," Moscardo said.

"They say there is not long until the end of the season, they tell me to dedicate myself and do well, and that at the end of the season, there will be good things."

Record transfer

Manchester City are reportedly set to sign teenager Finley Gorman from Leeds for a British record fee for a 15-year-old.

According to The Athletic, a seven-figure fee has been agreed between the two clubs.

An England Under-16 international, Gorman is the youngest player to score twice in a Premier League U18 match, having done so at the age of 14 years and 326 days.

While a transfer is yet to be fully finalised, it has been said that the expectation is that the attacking midfielder will swap Elland Road for the Etihad.

The youngster is not eligible for a professional contract at Leeds until September 2025 as he is still on schoolboy terms.

Get Rich

Jadon Sancho and Richarlison are being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia for January transfers, talkSPORT understands.

The pair are long-term targets for the Saudi Pro League and interest is set to be ramped up when the transfer window opens.

talkSPORT reported in October that a move to Saudi is the most likely option for Manchester United outcast Sancho.

Feeling Blue

Harry Redknapp insists Chelsea have to be thinking of a top-four finish this season - but believes they need to strengthen in attack.

He said on the Sports Breakfast: "Credit to Chelsea, they've come back, the result the other day against Tottenham.

"[But] I still think they're quite a way off it, I still think they've got a lot to do.

"But they're getting one or two [players] back, Reece James came back in yesterday at right-back, he's a big plus for them.

"I still think they need a front man, I know the lad [Nicolas Jackson] has scored a few goals, he's had a good week with his goals [hat-trick vs Spurs, one against City].

"But if they want to push on and be challenging, they'll do well this year if they can make top four, that'll be a big, big bonus for them, it's not going to be easy, but that's got to be their goal."

Better the devil you know

Harry Maguire feels vindicated in his decision to snub a summer transfer after forcing his way back into Erik ten Hag's starting XI.

Asked whether he feels as if it is personal vindication for staying, he said: "Of course.

"I played a few games last year, 16 or 17 starts, and I felt like I performed really well in the games I played in. I just didn't play as many as I would have liked.

"On the other hand, Rapha (Varane) and Licha (Martinez) were playing brilliantly and kept numerous clean sheets. I had to bide my time and be patient.

"I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness, I broke down with injuries twice, so I never got the rhythm and never got the run of games that I could prove myself to the manager.

"I have got that now, I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club.

"I was willing to stay and fight for my place and we have four, five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high."