No major Deadline Day signing - so how do Arsenal cover Merino?
Your Site' Sam Blitz:
Arsenal searched around for a central midfielder to replace Mikel Merino. Manager Mikel Arteta admitted they needed to find a solution adding: We need players because we play every two or three days.
Unfortunately, by the time the severity of Merinos foot fracture was revealed, it was too late for Arsenal to find someone. So what do Arsenal do regarding central midfield, with Merino out for most of the rest of the season?
The reason why Merinos absence is a concern for Arsenal is because it removes the main back-up option for Declan Rice in Artetas squad.
Rice has already featured 33 times for Arsenal this season while the Gunners have a minimum 18 matches remaining, though it will likely be more than that given this term. Rice will need a rest at some point, so who could fill Merinos back-up role?
The main contender is Kai Havertz, who has played around 2,000 Premier League minutes as a midfielder including against Leeds on Saturday. However, if Havertz was to start alongside another attacking option in Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze as Rice got a rest, it could lead to an unbalanced midfield.
Another option is Eze, who played in a slightly deeper midfield role alongside Havertz in the recent win over Kairat Almaty. In that game, he created six chances but also made 12 ball recoveries, highlighting how he can fulfil his defensive duties in that role.
There is also Myles Lewis-Skelly who was naturally a midfielder in his academy days. But the left-back has only played 30 minutes of Premier League football in the middle of the park. Christian Norgaard is another midfielder who can cover, but is predominantly a No 6 rather than Merino who specialised at a No 8.
Arsenal also have the option to give free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a new contract, having been training with the clubs academy since December to build his fitness.
The Gunners need to register their Premier League squad by February 5 so have until Thursday to make up their minds on whether The Ox is the answer.
'Biggest change came in head coach position' | Review of Man Utd's January transfer window
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Watford hoping to complete Ekwah deal
Latest from Your Site News' Rob Dorsett:
Watford hope they've completed a deal to sign Pierre Ekwah from St Etienne before the deadline.
It is a loan deal for the midfielder, with an option to buy for 6.5m (5.6m).
Celtic striker Kenny joins Bolton
Bolton Wanderers have signed Celtic striker Johnny Kenny on loan for the rest of the season.
Several clubs in England and Portugal enquired about a loan for the Ireland international.
Bolton tried to sign Kenny last summer, but Celtic rejected a 500,000 bid.
Tottenham closed for business
Latest from Your Site News' Michael Bridge:
Tottenham have confirmed they are closed for business in terms of their first-team, with James Wilson's loan signing from Hearts set to be a move for their Under-21s squad.
Spurs do have big plans to strengthen in the summer - so did not want to be reactive or panic buy in January.
Spurs made two first-team signings in Conor Gallagher and Souza - despite interest in the pair from other clubs, in what was generally a quiet window for most teams.
The club were comfortable waiting for the summer if players were not available.
Spurs also attempted to sign two other Premier League-proven players in Antoine Semenyo and Andy Robertson.
But Semenyo decided to join Man City as they were in the title race, while Robertson could not join from Liverpool as Arne Slot's side could not get Kostas Tsimikas back from his Roma loan to replace him.
'Slim business but very good business'
Your Site News reporter James Cole:
Deadline Day at Fulham started with a great deal of promise but ultimately failed to deliver.
The club were hopeful they could get a deal done for Riccardo Pepi, the PSV Eindhoven striker.
The club had reached an agreement on a 32m package, but that was on the proviso that PSV could find a replacement. They were unable to do so and therefore the deal fell through.
Fulham do however still hope to pick it back up in the summer. 21-year-old Pepi is a long-term target and a long-term successor to Raul Jimenez.
Harry Wilson was also in the headlines early on DD. It emerged Everton had made an approach for him last week - unsurprisingly it was rejected by Fulham. Marco Silva has repeatedly said Wilson is going nowhere in this window.
So, Fulham's January business saw a 30-year-old winger, Adame Traore, leave the club and a 22-year-old winger, Oscar Bobb, arrive.
Slim business, yes - but if Bobb can stay fit and fulfill his potential you have to say potentially very good business too.
Chelsea miss out on key target in busy window
Your Site News' Kaveh Solhekol at Stamford Bridge:
Mamadou Sarr has been recalled from loan at Strasbourg. He will rejoin the Chelsea squad tomorrow. I don't think he'll feature at all against Arsenal in the League Cup on Tuesday night, but I do think he could potentially be involved in the Premier League game away at Wolves.
The latest on Tyrique George is that Everton have agreed a deal to sign him on loan plus an option. We have been told that the option price is very significant.
The latest I have an Axel Disasi is that his loan move to West Ham is hanging in the balance at the moment. We are being told that is because of the players contractual demands. He has passed his medical. We've been down this road before with Disasi as he was close to joining Spurs and Bournemouth on loan in previous windows but the moves have collapsed in similar circumstances at the last minute.
Jeremy Jacquet had a last minute change of heart and decided he would rather sign for Liverpool. I think the feeling is that he would get more game time at Liverpool as Virgil Van Dijk is 35 in the summer. I think he was aware that Mamadou Sarr was being recalled and also, Chelsea do have a lot of centre-backs.
Chelsea striker Fofana signs for Strasbourg on loan
Chelsea striker David Fofana has joined Strasbourg on loan until the end of the season.
The Ivory Coast international signed for the Blues from Molde in January 2023 and featured on four occasions during the remainder of that campaign.
He spent the 2023/24 season out on loan, first at Bundesliga club Union Berlin and then in the Premier League with Burnley, scoring four times.
The 22-year-old spent the 2024/25 season with Goztepe in Turkey.
Stockport re-sign Barry on loan from Villa
Stockport County have re-signed Louie Barry on loan from Aston Villa.
The forward scored 25 goals over two spells at the League One club and has since been on loan at Hull and Sheffield United.
