- EXCLUSIVES from Graeme Bailey
Here is the latest exclusive transfer news from HITC Football as the January window continues…
PSG man wanted by Newcastle United and West Ham United
Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike is attracting major Premier League interest.
The French forward was a wonderkid at Stade de Reims but a 2022 move to Paris Saint-Germain hasn’t quite worked out.
Ekitike hasn’t played a single game since the end of the summer transfer window having turned down a move to Eintracht Frankfurt as part of a deal for Randal Kolo Muani.
PSG would like to move Ekitike on in January and HITC Football understands that a host of Premier League clubs are interested.
West Ham United and long-term admirers Newcastle United are interested whilst Crystal Palace, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen too.
Ekitike is understood to be keen on a move to England and there are seemingly a number of options on the table for him.
West Ham offered chance to sign ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger
West Ham are also looking at wide options with Mohammed Kudus now at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana.
The Hammers could shop at Ajax again having signed Edson Alvarez and Kudus from the Amsterdam giants over the summer.
Sources indicate that Steven Bergwijn is being offered to West Ham and is open to returning to England.
Bergwijn joined Tottenham Hotspur back in January 2020 and made a strong start to life in North London.
The Dutchman couldn’t continue that form and fell down the pecking order before returning to the Netherlands with Ajax in 2022.
West Ham may now have a chance to bring Bergwijn back to the Premier League – but other wide men are in the mix…
Leeds United talent on West Ham radar
The Hammers are also interested in Leeds United wide man Wilfried Gnonto.
Gnonto looked exciting last season but has only started seven Championship games this term.
Leeds are now thought to be open to selling Gnonto this month and West Ham could make a move to sign him.
Italian clubs are interested in Gnonto as well though with Roma, AC Milan, Napoli, Lazio and Atalanta all interested.
The diminutive attacker clearly has big talent and potential but needs first-team action and could leave Elland Road this month.
West Ham keen to offload striker
More news from West Ham now as David Moyes and co look to wheel and deal in the transfer market.
A striker is wanted but that may mean offloading Danny Ings – and the Hammers are currently struggling to sell him.
Ings only joined West Ham in January of 2023, signing a deal until 2026 on wages of around £150,000-a-week.
The 31-year-old has only managed three goals in 40 games and West Ham would seemingly like to move him on.
Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all interested but those big wages are proving to be a problem.
Jordan Henderson wants Premier League return
England international Jordan Henderson decided to leave Liverpool for a move to Al Ettifaq last summer, reuniting with Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia
Henderson has only been in the Middle East for a few months but already wants a return to English football.
We understand that a host of Premier League clubs have been made aware of Henderson’s potential availability having communicated his desire to leave Al Ettifaq.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Ham United have all been contacted over a potential move for Henderson.
A loan with option to buy could be on the horizon for Henderson, even with Al Ettifaq not exactly impressed with his desire to move on already.
Manchester United head on Italian scouting mission
Manchester United raided Atalanta for striker Rasmus Hojlund back in August and could now target another of their top talents.
Defender Giorgio Scalvini is on the United radar and Red Devils scouts were in attendance to watch him in action for Atalanta on Sunday.
Scalvini featured in a 1-1 draw against Jose Mourinho’s Roma, with Paulo Dybala on the scoresheet for the hosts.
A £10million release clause in Dybala’s deal means he is on the United radar but Scalvini appears to be the big target.
Scalvini seems unlikely to move in January but he could become a priority for United come the end of the season.
Liverpool talent on the verge of another loan deal
Playmaker Fabio Carvalho left Liverpool for a loan move to RB Leipzig over the summer, aiming for valuable first-team action.
That didn’t really happen though, leaving Liverpool to recall Carvalho and line up another January move.
We understand that Carvalho is now poised to complete a move to Championship side Hull City, where he will spend the rest of the season.
Hull boss Liam Rosenior has spoken to Carvalho and has played a key role in convincing him to pick the Tigers over Southampton.
This is a major coup for Hull and one which should aid their push for a Championship play-off place this season.
Wolves striker on the move again
Another Portuguese player who will be making a new loan move is Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Goncalo Guedes.
The former Valencia star struggled to settle at Molineux following a 2022 switch and spent the last year on loan at Benfica.
Guedes has only played 116 minutes of league action this season and Wolves are now sending him elsewhere.
We understand that Guedes will now head back to Spain with a loan move to Villarreal in an attempt to get back on track.
Villarreal will have the option to make the move permanent in the summer and will help replace Ben Brereton Diaz following his move to Sheffield United.
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