FourFourTwo's daily transfer deal wrap-up: Manchester United target Bundesliga star but face still competition from Liverpool

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, December 2023
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The January transfer window is well underway, the only trouble is that ghastly Financial Fair Play (FFP) has meant that clubs have been unable to spend the vast quantities that they normally would.

But fear not: there are still deals going on, with transfer gossip still very much on the agenda during the winter months.

Here, FourFourTwo runs through all of the transfers that could happen in January, according to the latest gossip and rumours from the last 24 hours.

Daily transfer deal wrap-up

David Hancko of Feyenoord celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Feyenoord at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on October 04, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

David Hancko is on Liverpool's radar (Image credit: Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Liverpool have been revealed as a club interested in signing David Hancko this year, defender who has already explained how he is similar to his compatriot Virgil van Dijk. With the Reds captain becoming 33 this year, Jurgen Klopp is after someone to fill his boots at Anfield for years to come. (TeamTalk)

Manchester United have joined Liverpool and Tottenham in the race for Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back Ko Itakura. It’s thought that the Japan international is emerging as a prime target for the Red Devils, who are looking to bolster their defence this window.  Itakura has a release clause set at approximately £13 million that will become active in the summer. (FootballTransfers)

West Ham are keen on bringing in wantaway Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips this window. A sticking point is thought to be the £7 milllion fee that the Citizens are asking for the 28-year-old, but there is a feeling their resolve will be tested as the end of the window draws closer. The former Leeds player has struggled to make an impact at the Eithad over the past couple of seasons and is now hopeful of a move away. (Sky Sports)

Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City poses with the Super Cup Trophy at the winners shoot after winning the UEFA Super Cup 2023 match between Manchester City FC and Sevilla FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on August 16, 2023 in Piraeus, Greece.

Kalvin Phillips could finally leave Manchester City (Image credit: Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The Hammers are also looking at moving for a loan deal for Emile Smith Rowe, who is without much game time at Arsenal. Despite showing his quality in seasons gone by, the attacker has found himself down below the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium. David Moyes is thought to be a huge admirer of the 23-year-old. (The Telegraph)

Newcastle sent scouts to look at Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough. The club watched over the youngster in his club’s League Cup encounter against Chelsea earlier in the season - a game in which he found the net. It’s not the first time that the Magpies have been linked to the midfielder, who is also courting interest from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham. (The Daily Mail)

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United applauds the fans after the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Borussia Dortmund at St. James' Park on October 25, 2023 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Kieran Trippier is linked with a move away from Newcastle United (Image credit: Getty Images)

Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier is admired by Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich’s head coach. The Bundesliga giants managed to bring in Eric Dier from Spurs earlier this window, while in the summer, Harry Kane was bought for a club-record from the Lilywhites. (Fabrizio Romano)

Spurs have begun talks with Club Brugge over a potential move for Antonio Nusa. No bid has been forthcoming yet but there is the option of a buy-with-loan-back structure. The player was linked to Chelsea last summer but nothing materialised from it. (Ben Jacobs)

Manchester City could find themselves compelled to seek a replacement for Erling Haaland earlier than anticipated, with the Norwegian striker currently engaged in discussions with Real Madrid. The links between the hitman and Los Blancos have always been there, but now things are really kicking into gear. (Mundo Deportivo)

Jacque Talbot

Jacque Talbot is a freelance football journalist who predominantly specialises in transfer stories and exclusives. He began his career in 2016 covering the world-renowned Sandbach United, of North West Counties fame, before earning a spot on the sports desks of national papers, where he bounced between several outlets such as Sportbible, the Express, Mirror, and Daily Star. An NCTJ graduate of the News Associates who swapped investigative journalism in the Costa del Sol for football reporting in Northern England, he first wrote for FourFourTwo in December 2023.