Transfer news RECAP: Man City join Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the race to sign Joao Palhinha, while Arsenal 'gear up to sign Sporting Lisbon star defender'

Thanks for joining us for all the transfer news, we'll be back with you tomorrow as we get closer and closer to the opening of the transfer window next month!

Manchester United football director John Murtough was in Saudia Arabia for transfer talks earlier this month with the club seeking to sell players to raise funds for January signings.

Mail Sport has learned that Murtough held discussions with representatives of the Saudi Pro League in Riyadh, with Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and Casemiro among the United players available for transfer.

Murtough is understood to have left Saudi Arabia without reaching agreement on any transfers, but established some important new relationships for United and further talks are planned.

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David Raya believes his battle with Aaron Ramsdale to be first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal has made them both better players.

Spain international Raya is currently Mikel Arteta's preferred option between the sticks and he became the first goalkeeper this season to keep a Premier League clean sheet against Brighton as the Gunners won 2-0 on Sunday to go top of the table.

Second-half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz secured the points for Arsenal, with Raya returning in goal after Ramsdale played in the 1-1 Champions League dead-rubber group game against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

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This man must feel like 35 million bucks!

Tottenham have held further talks over a potential move for Nice centre back Jean-Clair Todibo.

Newcastle and Manchester United are also admirers.

Who needs him most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

With just over a week until Christmas Day, a number of clubs have been putting together wishlists of their own as they prepare for the opening of the January transfer window.

As injuries wrack up and a packed fixture list begins to take its toll, a number of Premier League sides are assessing whether their ranks have the necessary depth to challenge in the second-half of the season.

Chelsea will field untested former MLS goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic in the absence of shot-stopper Robert Sanchez, but could look to the market longer term to bolster their ranks.

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Naby Keita's limited appearances for new side Werder Bremen since signing over the summer could be part due to his attitude off the pitch, according to reports in Germany.

The former Liverpool star moved back to the Bundesliga after his contract at Anfield expired, after previously featuring for RB Leipzig between 2016 and 2018.

But since joining the 14th-placed German outfit, Keita's spell has been plagued with injuries similar to those that plagued his five-year stint at Anfield.

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Chelsea are preparing to ramp up their interest in Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the wake of Robert Sanchez's injury, according to reports.

The Blues No 1 was forced off with a knee injury in Chelsea's most recent Premier League clash with Everton, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino hinted that the former Brighton goalkeeper would miss the entirety of the festive period ahead of the side's match against Sheffield United on Saturday.

'When you suffer an injury and lose your No 1 keeper so far, it is a player we are going to miss but we have other players that are working hard to be ready when this type of thing happens,' Pochettino said on Friday. 'Of course very sad because we are going to lose a player for a few weeks.'

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Saudi Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo has revealed the Saudi Pro League are 'not shying away' from more January transfer signings.

The state-backed league spent an incredible £750m in one window to bring in a host of global footballing superstars.

Of the £750m-plus outlay, more than £680m was splashed by the four PIF-owned clubs which is not surprising given they are backed by a fund worth an estimated £538bn.

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Ivan Toney is 'excited' about the prospect of joining Arsenal, with the north London club the front-runner for the striker's signature in the January window, according to reports.

The future of the Brentford star - who hasn't seen competitive league action since May as he continues to serve an eight-month suspension for betting breaches - has been hotly contested since the summer transfer window.

Toney's prolific Premier League form has caught the eye of a number of suitors, most notably the Gunners and London rivals Chelsea.

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Manchester City are eyeing up a potential move form in-form Spanish full back Miguel Gutierrez at LaLiga's surprise package Girona.

The Spanish club have shocked the footballing world throughout this La Liga season so far as they sit first in the league and three points ahead of Real Madrid.

Manager Michel has revolutionised a side that just finished tenth last season, as they have manaed just one loss in the best start to a league season in their history.

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The Saudi Pro League will make renewed attempts to sign Mohamed Salah next summer with the Liverpool forward the main target in the cash-rich competition’s next phase of expansion.

Al-Ittihad caused consternation at Anfield last summer by making a staggering £200million bid for Salah late in the transfer window which Liverpool were ultimately able to resist, and a more strategic attempt to woo the Egyptian superstar is planned over the coming months.

After investing £750m on new players during the last transfer window the SPL’s spending is set to slow down next year as they are locked into all their broadcast and commercial contracts for the next 18 months, but Salah is regarded as an exception.

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Arsenal are closing in on the recruitment of Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio, according to reports in Portugal.

The Gunners had a front-row seat to the 22-year-old's talents when they faced off with the Portuguese club in the Europa League last season.

Mikel Arteta's side eventually fell to Sporting after losing the second-leg of their round of 16 meeting on penalties, with Inacio one of the five players who were nerveless from the spot to send Arsenal out of the competition.

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Manchester City have joined the race to sign Fulham midfielder Palhinha in January, according to reports.

The 28-year-old has again been one of the standout performers for Marco Silva's men this season despite his failed move away from the club last summer.

The midfielder was set to complete a move to German champions Bayern Munich and had flown to complete his medical, but the transfer fell through on deadline day due after the Cottagers were unable to find a replacement.

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Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek is drawing closer to the completion of a six-month loan switch to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Old Trafford outcast has struggled since his 2020 move to United, failing to string together a run of positive form, increasingly hampered by injury, and dropping out of the plans of a succession of managers.

A reunion with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has failed to reignite his career, and in the three years since making the move to the Red Devils, Van de Beek has started just six games.

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The busy festive period is well and truly underway across Europe as teams are pushing their squads to the limit with matches to prepare for every few days in December.

The Premier League concluded with Liverpool's drab and lethargic 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Sunday and will return for another round of fixtures on Thursday when Crystal Palace host Brighton at Selhurst Park.

Arsenal took pole position in the Premier League thanks to Sunday's 2-0 win over Brighton and capitalised on Manchester City's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace without star man Erling Haaland.

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Hello and welcome to Mail Sport's coverage of all the top transfer stories today. With the January window only a couple of weeks away, clubs are getting ready to strike for their targets.

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, could all do business to aid their ambitions of a Premier League title.

While Chelsea and Manchester United look to clear some of the unwanted members of their squads.

We'll have all the stories and headlines so make sure you stay tuned for the developments!