Deadline day LIVE! Transfer news and rumours: Fulham complete Broja signing, Veliz leaves Spurs
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the latest transfer news and rumours from around the world of football on January transfer deadline day!
Stick with us below to keep up to date with all of today's transfer rumours and done deals.
Today's key events
Arsenal target 'pushing for Barcelona return this summer'
Arsenal-linked attacker Xavi Simons is reportedly pushing for a return to Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
Simons is currently contracted to French giants Paris Saint-Germain, but he enjoyed a productive 2023-24 campaign on loan at RB Leipzig where he established himself as a star player.
The 21-year-old scored 10 goals and registered 15 assists in 43 appearances for Leipzig across all competitions, including eight strikes and 13 assists in 32 Bundesliga outings.
Simons helped Die Roten Bullen secure a top-four finish in the Bundesliga and Champions League football for next season, while his club form has also been rewarded with a call-up to the Netherlands' preliminary squad for Euro 2024.
Real Madrid 'draw up three-man shortlist of Kroos replacements'
Real Madrid have reportedly drawn up a three-man shortlist of potential replacements for midfielder Toni Kroos.
The 34-year-old announced earlier this week that he will be leaving Los Blancos and retiring from football after representing Germany at Euro 2024 this summer.
Kroos, widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, has spent the last 10 seasons at Real Madrid, making over 460 appearances and winning a total of 22 trophies.
The 108-cap Germany international helped Carlo Ancelotti's side win the La Liga title this season and is hoping to end his time at the club on a high by lifting his fifth Champions League trophy when they lock horns with Borussia Dortmund in the final on June 3.
Six players West Ham could sign under Julen Lopetegui
After four years under the tutelage of David Moyes, West Ham United will begin a new era with head coach Julen Lopetegui, whose appointment was confirmed on Thursday.
The 57-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year contract with an option of a third, and he will officially begin work with the Hammers on 1 July.
Lopetegui brings a wealth of coaching experience to the London Stadium having previously managed Porto, Real Madrid, Spain and Sevilla, winning the Europa League with the latter in 2020.
The Spaniard, who was most recently in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the second half of 2022-23, claims he is 'where he wants to be' and intends to "make a big, big noise" as he endeavours to take West Ham to the next level.
Villa, Spurs 'battling for £34m-rated Serie A defender'
Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly taking an interest in signing a Serie A defender during the summer transfer window.
During the closing months of the season, the two clubs were involved in a direct battle for the final Champions League qualification spot.
Villa ultimately fended off the challenge of Spurs to secure fourth position in the Premier League table, sealing their first-ever appearance in the competition.
While Villa will have extra revenue from that tournament than Spurs will from the Europa League, both teams are expected to be busy in the transfer market over the coming months.
Spurs 'willing to offload attacker to fund move for PL striker'
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly willing to cash in on Richarlison in order to sign a direct replacement from another Premier League club.
There were times during the 2023-24 campaign when Spurs looked an attractive attacking unit under Ange Postecoglou, who was in his first season in charge.
However, a poor end to the season would see the North Londoners finish with the seventh-best offensive record, as well as possessing the joint-seventh best defensive record.
As a result, Postecoglou is keen to make a number of changes at both ends of the pitch in order to try to secure Spurs a return to the Champions League.
