Transfer news LIVE! Shock Arsenal bid for Watkins rejected and as Chelsea eye Tel and Man Utd medical booked

Arsenal have made a stunning move to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

The Mail reports that an offer has been rejected for the England striker.

The Gunners have moved to beat next week’s deadline to strengthen in attack after Gabriel Jesus’ injury and Kai Havertz’s inconsistent form.

Ayden Heaven looks set to switch London for Old Trafford, with widespread reports indicating that the 18-year-old defender is bound for Manchester United with his route into the Arsenal first-team picture blocked. A signing for the future? Or can Heaven provide Ruben Amorim with a more immediate option with a couple of key defensive injuries in his squad?

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu, the PA news agency understands.

Ruben Amorim’s progress since taking over as head coach in November has been hindered somewhat by the squad’s composition, with a lack of options at left wing-back a key issue.

United have targeted Dorgu, 20, to help bolster that area and the talented Denmark international is edging closer to becoming the Portuguese’s first signing.

Manchester United have hired renowned athletics coach Harry Marra to help improve the players’ fitness and running technique.

The 78-year-old American is considered one of the outstanding coaches in the history of track and field, and is best known for helping decathlete Ashton Eaton to two Olympic gold medals. He also coached Brianne Theisen, Eaton’s wife, who is a world and Olympic medalist in heptathlon.

United have brought in Marra on a short-term basis, according to The Times, thought to be only a matter of weeks, as manager Ruben Amorim looks to turn around the team’s fortunes with his side sitting 12th in the Premier League table.

Amorim has been clear on the physical demands he places on his players, saying in December: “Even with the best starting XI on the planet, without running, they will not win anything. It’s very clear. If you want to win the Premier League, you have to run like mad dogs. If not, we are not going to do it, that is clear.”

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says a move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney will “definitely happen” in the summer but he is trying to bring him in before next week’s transfer window shuts.

Tierney has been in talks over a pre-contract agreement ahead of an emotional return to Celtic Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

But, with loanee Alex Valle back at parent club Barcelona, Rodgers would like the left-back to return north of the border before next week’s transfer deadline.

“He’s still, at this moment, an Arsenal player,” the former Liverpool and Leicester boss said ahead of Celtic’s final Champions League league phase game at Aston Villa.

“I think we’re agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great.

“I think that, like I said, we prepared that for the summer. I don’t want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he’s not a Celtic player here now with us.

“But if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that’s out of our control at this moment in time.”

Rodgers confirmed Valle would not play for the Hoops again after his loan ended.

Walker has joined AC Milan on loan for the rest of the season in a deal that includes an option to stay at the San Siro permanently in the summer.

The 34-year-old has been a staple for both City and England over the past seven years, winning 17 trophies at the Etihad after moving from Tottenham for £45m in 2017. But he found himself on the periphery at times this season and requested to leave in order to play more minutes.

While a hectic Champions League finale tonight will distract some of Europe’s top clubs, it looks like it could be a busy end to the transfer window. Here are five deals that may yet be done:

One Manchester United forward who has already left the club this January is Antony. Richard Jolly chronicles the Old Trafford career of a signing that proved a great misstep.

Manchester United and Marcus Rashford are facing up to a period where one of their best-paid stars is in the cold for months, as a suitable move has yet to present itself and only Juventus looks like a possible option this January.

The club have fielded a number of informal enquiries for the forward since he announced he was open to leaving in December, but Rashford wants to ensure any move is one that fits his preferences.

That involves the chance to compete for trophies this season, while also at a level high enough to persuade England manager Thomas Tuchel that he should be brought back into the international fold.

Marcus Rashford did train with the rest of the Manchester United squad today ahead of the Europa League trip to Romania to face FCSB. Can he seal a move before the window closes?