Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa has been linked with a move away from Anfield this month with a return to Italy being the most likely destination for the winger who has struggled for game time with the Premier League leaders.

However the player’s agent, LIAN Sports director Fali Ramadani, insists the 27-year-old has no intention of leaving Liverpool.

Speaking to 365Scores, Ramadani explained: “Napoli did not negotiate a contract with Chiesa from Liverpool in the winter period, and the club has no intention of dispensing with the player,

“The player is continuing with Liverpool and is seeking the opportunity to participate in the coming period. This is what I can confirm now.”

Victor Osimhen is a name linked with a move to the Premier League every transfer transfer window but according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Galatasaray are currently 100 per cent convinced he won’t be leaving the club this January.

Plettenberg also says that there are no negotiations taking place with other teams despite Osimhen’s 13 goals and five assists this season.

Juventus have offered to swap Dusan Vlahovic for Joshua Zirkzee as part of a January transfer move according to talkSPORT.

Zirkee has only scored three Premier League goals since his arrival at Old Trafford and is in the firing line as one of the squad players underforming.

The Dutchman signed for £36.5m in the summer but could make an early exit if a swap deal for Vlahovic can be arranged. Vlahovic has just 18 months left on his Juve contract in Turin and the Italian giants hope to benefit from his exit.

The Serbia international is the club’s top scorer this season with 12 goals in all competitions and has the ability to lead the line for United.

The Serie A club’s interest is not advanced at this stage but United are aware that Rashford is wanted at San Siro.

The 27-year-old said last month he was “ready for a new challenge” after spending his entire career at Old Trafford and falling out of favour under new head coach Ruben Amorim.

Arsenal’s search for a striker has led them to South America, where they have reportedly had an opening bid rejected for Botafogo star Igor Jesus.

The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko but with that calibre of player unlikely to be available until the summer, they’re aiming for a cheaper stop-gap solution.

Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte are reporting that Botafogo have rejected an opening offer from the gunners for Jesus, although the amount is unknown, and that although the 23-year-old has an £83m release clause in his contract, a £16.6m bid may be enough to sign him.

Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim has responded to speculation that Joshau Zirkzee may leave Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

Zirkzee only joined from Bologna in the summer but The Sun reported earlier this week that Juventus are keen to bring the struggling striker to Turin on loan. He is still highly regarded in Italy after impressing for Bologna last season.

And after United’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, Amorim didn’t completely dismiss the idea of Zirkzee leaving.

Ruben Amorim: “I want to keep Josh Zirkzee because he gives everything. He’s trying in training but we don’t know, the window is open… we will see what happens.”

By the last few weeks of 2024, there were senior figures in football complaining that they were “spent”. That’s not simply players who went the distance in competitions like Euro 2024, either. You only have to look at Pep Guardiola right now. It’s a feeling shared by many officials. The sport has become non-stop, in terms of pure news and content as much as the continuous calendar. That is one legacy of 2024 for the game, in how “Forever Football” was finalised, but it says much that it won’t even be the biggest consequence of the year. So much more could yet change.

It is almost fitting, given such constant noise and place-setting, that the year built up to two developments in the space of mere days that will completely reshape the game’s future. On Thursday 5 December, the Premier League hearing on the Manchester City case concluded. On Wednesday 11 December, Fifa awarded the 2030 and 2034 World Cups to Morocco-Portugal-Spain and Saudi Arabia, respectively, by “acclamation”.

As the Marcus Rashford saga rumbles on, a new club have emerged as a suitor for the Manchester United forward – AC Milan.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport are reporting that there could be several obstacles in a potential move but an agreement is not impossible and that a loan is more likely, given the Englishman’s salary.

Rashford has already rejected three offers from the Saudi Pro League worth up to £35m a year, as he insists on only going to a competitive club and league if he is to leave Manchester United. The Old Trafford hierarchy are willing to listen to offers for the 27-year-old and the forward himself has publicly stated he is now open to a new challenge.

The Guardian has reported that Newcastle are tracking moves for highly rated youngsters Tyler Dibling and James McAtee, who play for Southampton and Manchester City respectively.

McAtee reportedly has a price tag of around £25m, and he is said to be looking for more first-team opportunities despite featuring for City in recent weeks.

Dibling, who is also attracting interest from Manchester United, would supposedly be available for around £21m.