Arsenal's January Transfer Wishlist: Kroupi and Schade Targets
The Premier League may only just be settling into its early-season rhythm, but the transfer market never really sleeps. Club scouts are already clocking up the miles, agents are on the phone, and January plans are being sketched out in boardrooms across the country.
Arsenal eye Kroupi and Schade for winter reinforcement
Arsenal, still fine‑tuning a squad built to chase major honours, have set their sights on two attacking options ahead of the January window.
Eli Junior Kroupi and Kevin Schade are both on the club’s list of potential targets, according to football.london. It’s a clear signal that Arsenal want more thrust in the final third, more variety around their existing front line, and perhaps a longer-term project or two to grow under Mikel Arteta’s demanding structure.
The Gunners have spent recent windows reshaping the spine of the team. Now the focus turns to the edges of the attack, where pace, one‑v‑one ability and depth could define the second half of their season.
Carrick backed despite Manchester United’s stuttering start
At Manchester United, the conversation is less about new faces and more about the man in the dugout.
Michael Carrick still retains the backing of the club’s hierarchy despite a poor start to the campaign, according to The Sun. Results have stung, performances have raised questions, yet the message from above remains one of support rather than panic.
For now, Carrick has time. Time to steady a dressing room under scrutiny, time to impose a clearer identity, and time to prove that a rough opening is a bump in the road rather than the shape of the season.
Palmer pushing way back into Tuchel’s England plans
Cole Palmer’s sharp opening to the season with Chelsea is set to be rewarded on the international stage.
The Sun reports that the forward is poised to return to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad after catching the eye early in the campaign. Palmer’s creativity and composure have given Chelsea a different dimension in attack; now they could restore him to the national set‑up as well.
For an England side constantly searching for balance between control and cutting edge, a confident Palmer is a valuable card to play.
Mac Allister camp shuts down Liverpool exit talk
At Liverpool, contract noise around one of their key midfielders has been quickly challenged.
Alexis Mac Allister’s father has denied speculation that the World Cup winner is looking to quit the club amid an impasse over a new deal, according to The Mirror.
The message is blunt: no push to leave, no looming exit strategy. Liverpool, still reshaping their midfield after a period of heavy turnover, will welcome any hint of stability around one of their central figures.
Chelsea test waters for £69m Nico Williams move
Chelsea’s recruitment drive shows no sign of slowing.
The club want to explore a £69m move for Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, report Fichajes. It fits a familiar pattern at Stamford Bridge: identify elite-level athleticism and one‑on‑one threat, then move aggressively if the numbers add up.
Williams would add yet more speed and directness to a squad already stacked with attacking potential but still searching for ruthless consistency.
Liverpool face huge price for Bournemouth’s Rayan
Liverpool, meanwhile, are being warned that wide reinforcements will not come cheap.
ESPN Brazil report that the club would have to pay £130m to prise Bournemouth winger Rayan away from the south coast, despite Andoni Iraola’s strong relationship with the Cherries.
That figure underlines Bournemouth’s stance: they will not be a soft touch in the market. If Liverpool want the player, they will have to treat him as a marquee signing, not a bargain opportunity.
Evans emerges as leading candidate for Hibernian job
North of the border, attention turns to the dugout.
Steve Evans has emerged as the early front‑runner to become the next Hibernian manager, according to The Scottish Sun. Hibs, a club with expectations that routinely outstrip their recent league positions, are weighing up a coach known for his forceful personality and combative teams.
If appointed, Evans would inherit a fanbase desperate for stability and a side in need of a clear, uncompromising identity.
Rangers line up cut-price Penrice deal
Across the city, Rangers are working a different angle: value.
The Daily Record reports that the club hold an option with AEK Athens to sign James Penrice permanently for less than £1m. For a side constantly juggling domestic dominance with European demands, a low-cost, ready-made option offers both depth and flexibility.
It is the kind of deal that rarely grabs headlines in September, but often shapes squads in March.
The rumours are already flying, the numbers are climbing, and the short winter window is creeping into view. The question now is simple: who blinks first?
