Arsenal
Transfers – Mourinho: I Would Sell To A Rival, Tottenham Set To Land £7m Romanian, Arsenal Will Not Panic Buy And Gareth Bale Updates
The transfer window is practically in the last week and all the clubs are thus providing a finishing touch to their business. Each day is providing us with a set of news and today is no different. Here is a wrap up of all the main transfer related news of today.
Sunday night transfer rumours
Wayne Rooney- Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has now mentioned that Manchester United should not be worried to sell Rooney to Chelsea. He said that a change of outlook is needed from United and they should not be scared to let Rooney play in the same league.
“To me it is not a difficult decision because you want very much to keep Rooney or you don’t want to keep him?” said Mourinho. But that old-fashioned mentality of, ‘I don’t sell players to clubs in the same country’ – I think doesn’t help”, he stated.
He cited the example of Italy where the top players do change clubs with their own league and ultimately it helps to make the league better. Now it must be seen how Moyes reacts to this move of the Special One.
Vlad Chiriches- Tottenham Hotspurs may soon complete the deal of Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest, as reported by Sky Sports. The 23-year old defender was being scouted by Spurs all summer and now finally a deal seems to have reached between the two parties for a reported fee of £7m. Steaua Bucharest manager Laurentiu Reghecampf has confirmed the deal and has stated “Chiri’s condition is good and the clubs have agreed to transfer him. I’m very happy for him”.
“The two clubs have agreed to transfer him. I’m very happy for him,” Reghecampf said. “I cannot say the amount [for which he was transferred], but it is very high. It will be the most expensive transfer in the history of Steaua.
“The owner says that all there is left to do is sign some documents, but we hope he will help us on Tuesday night if he can.”
Chiriches, who has also played for Benfica, has 19 caps for Romania.
Wenger- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stated that he would not buy players in a hurry just to fill in the numbers and would wait for the right player to come towards the club. Arsenal have not conducted any major business this summer and thus it was expected that Wenger would make some signatures now to add strength to the squad which is now plagued with injury. ”
We are a bit short numbers-wise for the whole season, to go for all the competitions,” Wenger stated. “We have at the moment injured players, like (Alex Oxlade) Chamberlain, like (Mikel) Arteta. But we have as well not to panic and to make the right decision. Under pressure, that’s never easy. But we will do it.”
Gareth Bale- Despite Gareth Bale being the hot topic at the moment, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti snubbed Bale questions and preffered to focus on the game at hand. It is being reported that Bale has already arrived in Spain to complete his deal to Madrid and that it may be announced at anytime now.
“I don’t like to speak for two reasons, first of all because Gareth Bale is not a player of Real Madrid at this moment, and also because I need to have respect for my players. They are here and we are focusing on our game tomorrow,” he insisted.
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson has been announced as a National Year of Reading ambassador following the official launch of the 2026 campaign at Emirates Stadium.
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson unveiled the Go All In initiative on January 13, positioning reading as a gateway to enhancing passions across all walks of life.
Williamson joined a stellar lineup of ambassadors including author Julia Donaldson, illustrator Axel Scheffler, poet Jackie Kay, and several other prominent figures from literature and public life. The event marked a significant moment for literacy promotion in the country, with the campaign centred on the message that reading can deepen enjoyment of whatever people already love.
A Message From the Pitch
Speaking at the launch, Williamson drew parallels between football and reading. She said the National Year of Reading represents a chance to fully commit to personal passions through literature in all its forms. The Arsenal skipper encouraged people to seize the opportunity by picking up books, listening to audiobooks, or diving into articles related to their interests. Her involvement underscores how sports figures can champion reading beyond their professional domains.
Resetting Reading Culture
Joanna Prior, chief executive of Pan Macmillan and chair of The National Literacy Trust, described the launch as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how Britain views books.
The ambition extends beyond traditional reading spaces, aiming to make literature accessible in communities, schools, and even on football pitches. Prior emphasized stripping away pressure and stigma around reading, making it relevant and enjoyable rather than obligatory.
The campaign represents a coordinated national effort to boost literacy rates and foster a genuine love of reading across all demographics and age groups throughout 2026.
Also read: Jodie Taylor Appointed Arsenal Women’s First Ever Technical Director
Arsenal Women host Manchester United on Saturday in a crucial six pointer for Champions League qualification. The Gunners sit just one point above United in the WSL table and victory at Emirates Stadium would give them a strong buffer, while defeat leaves them playing catch up in the race for Europe.
The match marks Arsenal’s return from the winter break following a busy week that saw Renee Slegers sign a new contract and Jodie Taylor promoted to Technical Director. However, the immediate focus is on securing three points against Marc Skinner’s side in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT, Saturday, January 11, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Cooney Cross Absent For Personal Reasons
Arsenal will be without Kyra Cooney Cross who has returned to Australia for personal reasons. Daphne van Domselaar is not quite ready to return from a quad injury while Chloe Kelly remains out with a knee problem. Jenna Nighswonger will not be in the matchday squad as she negotiates a loan move.
New signing Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby will be in the squad alongside recalled goalkeeper Naomi Williams. Manu Zinsberger and Katie Reid are out with ACL injuries. The absence of Cooney Cross means Mariona will likely drop into the deeper midfield role she has occupied for much of the last year.
United Strengthened in January
Manchester United have been busy in the transfer window, adding full back Hanna Lundkvist from San Diego Wave and centre forward Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. Skinner was dealt a poor hand over the summer with a very small squad handling Champions League qualifiers and the group phase.
Predicted Lineup:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Borbe; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Mead, Russo, Smith
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti; Park, Malard, Awujo; Schuller
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
Arsenal confirmed on January 9, 2026 that Jodie Taylor has been appointed as the club’s first ever Technical Director.
The 39-year-old former England striker moves up from her existing role as Technical Services Manager, a position she has held since September 2023 following her retirement from professional football.
Taylor’s promotion comes on the same day Arsenal announced Renee Slegers’ new contract extension through 2029, creating a strategic restructuring of the women’s football department.
A Decade Long Arsenal Connection
Taylor’s relationship with Arsenal spans ten years since first joining as a player in 2016. She scored 10 goals in 17 appearances during her initial spell before returning on a short-term deal in March 2023. Taylor earned 50 plus England caps during her international career and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2017.
She represented her country at the 2015 Women’s World Cup finishing third and played for multiple elite clubs including Lyon, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave throughout her career.
Strategic Structural Development
Taylor’s new role bridges critical areas of football operations including recruitment, analysis, coaching and performance support. She will work closely with Renee Slegers on a daily basis as the Technical Director, providing structural support for coaching decisions and squad development.
Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley praised Taylor’s appointment as integral to continued development of the program as Arsenal challenges for major trophies consistently. Wheatley will now focus on upward management across UEFA, FIFA and domestic boards while Taylor handles day to day operations.
Building a High Performance Environment
Taylor expressed immense pride stepping into her new position, emphasizing Arsenal’s remarkable growth over the past decade. She committed to nurturing a high-performance environment where players, coaching staff and support teams have the right tools to deliver at the highest level.
Her appointment represents investment in female leadership within Arsenal’s technical infrastructure, aligning with the club’s commitment to developing their women’s program systematically and strategically moving forward into their next phase.
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
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