Premier League, live updates, done deals, rumours, Harry Souttar to Leicester City, transfer window, Enzo Fernandez – TOTOCC

“We shouldn’t be that surprised that Mikel Arteta wants Jorginho – there’s been a long-standing interest in him,” he said.

“I’m told this deal isn’t an alternative for Moises Caicedo because Arsenal throughout the month have been ready to do a deal for Caicedo if Brighton changed their not for sale stance.

“That deal is completely off now and Caicedo will not be sold in this window, as Brighton had said.”

Either way, the addition of makes sense given Arteta had made it clear in recent weeks that he wanted to add to Arsenal’s midfield depth and Paul Merson said Jorginho will be an “outstanding” addition.

“You’re buying experience, he’s won big trophies,” he told Sky Sports.

“He’s a proper holding midfield player. It was only two years ago he won the Champions League, Italy won the Euros – we were asking why England doesn’t produce these players. Two years on, Arsenal could be getting him.

“I know he’s two years older but he’s so intelligent. He’ll protect the back four and he just keeps it simple. He’ll be feeding [Martin] Odegaard, [Bukayo] Saka, [Gabriel] Martinelli… he’s a top signing.”

MAN UTD TO STRIKE IN KEY INJURY REPLACEMENT

In other news, Manchester United is set to sign Marcel Sabitzer, with the Bayern Munich midfielder arriving at Carrington to complete the move on Wednesday.

Sabitzer will be a key signing for United given midfielder Christian Eriksen is set to miss the majority of the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

United confirmed that Eriksen will be sidelined for “an extended period” as a result of the injury he suffered in the team’s 3-1 win against Reading in the FA Cup on the weekend.

The Red Devils were initially actually interested in Sabitzer’s teammate Ryan Gravenberch, who was previously coached by Erik Ten Hag at Ajax and has been struggling for minutes at Bayern.

But Gravenberch reportedly wants to fight for his spot and Bayern was also keen to keep him, seeing United turn their attention to Sabitzer instead.

European football expert Andy Brassell told Sky Sportsthat Sabitzer “looks built for the Premier League”.

“If you look at Sabitzer and the way he was playing when he was at Leipzig – he was one of the best midfielders in the world and he would have walked in to a lot of top six Premier League teams, he really was that good,” he said.

“He’s strong, he’s powerful, he can play a number of different midfield positions – and what Manchester United need is someone at the front of the midfield who can complement Bruno Fernandes without getting in his way.

“Sabitzer is versatile enough to do that, so I feel it could work pretty well. The only question is he has not played much for Bayern, so how quickly can they get him to that point where he can contribute on a regular basis?

“I think this can work well for all parties and United get a player who, at his best, is easily good enough to be a starter for them.”

ANGE POSTECOGLOU CONFIRMS ‘FOUR OR FIVE’ COULD LEAVE CELTIC

Meanwhile, away from the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou confirmed there will be no arrivals at Celtic before the deadline and that instead “four or five” players could be out the door.

“We have already brought in players to insulate us if guys who have not played a lot of football for us find other opportunities,” the Australian said on Wednesday.

“It has to suit all parties obviously. We will see what happens over the next few hours.

“Anyone who is playing football and has been a meaningful contributor won’t be leaving in this window.”

Postecoglou confirmed “four or five” could leave but would not name them in case they are not able to strike a deal before the deadline.

“Potentially the ones who leave are ones who haven’t had a lot of regular game time,” he added.

Oliver Abildgaard is one of those players heading elsewhere, signed by Hellas Verona.

Stephen Welsh is not one of those players who could be on the move though, with Sky Sports reporting the centre back will consider his options again in the summer despite interest from Sheffield on Wednesday.

Giorgos Giakoumakis is another player to watch, with Sky Sports News’ Anthony Joseph reporting Celtic has agreed to a £4.3 million deal to send the striker to Atlanta United.

“Nothing [is] concluded yet, just ongoing discussions,” Postecoglou said in his most recent update on Giakoumakis’ future.

BAYERN MUNICH SIGN CANCELO ON LOAN FROM MAN CITY

Bayern Munich have signed Portugal wing-back Joao Cancelo on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City, the German club confirmed on Tuesday.

Bayern have an option to buy the Portuguese defender for a reported 70 million euros ($AU109 million) at the end of the season.

Cancelo, who has scored seven times in 41 appearances for Portugal, arrived in Munich on Monday and completed a medical on Tuesday morning for a move that could spell the end of France international Benjamin Pavard’s time at Bayern.

The 28-year-old Portuguese defender joined City from Juventus for 65 million euros ($70 million) in 2019 and has a contract with the English champions until 2027.

“FC Bayern is a great club, one of the best in the world, and it’s enormous motivation for me to now play alongside these extraordinary players in a team,” Cancelo said in a statement released by the club on Tuesday.

“I know that this club, this team lives for titles and wins titles every year. I’m also driven by the hunger for success.”

Cancelo has won multiple titles throughout his career, including league titles with Benfica, Juventus and Man City.

Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said the club “had been thinking about (Cancelo) for a while” before making its move, adding: “He’s the optimal fit in our system with his attacking style of play and dynamism, and his mentality and experience fit very well in our team.

“I’m convinced Joao will help us in the coming weeks and months where we want to win titles.”

Bayern secured the deadline-day signing after Cancelo, who has been named in the Premier League Team of the Year for the past two seasons, has fallen out of the Man City first team in recent weeks.

Manager Pep Guardiola has left Cancelo out of the starting line-up in each of the team’s last three games, with academy graduate Rico Lewis, alongside Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker and John Stones all preferred to Cancelo.

Cancelo could make his Bayern debut in the club’s German Cup match away against Mainz on Wednesday, or in their away Bundesliga clash with Wolfsburg on Sunday.

— AFP

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