Football Feb 04, 2026

Championship highlights: Middlesbrough back up to second; Saints beat Sheff Utd

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Championship highlights: Middlesbrough back up to second; Saints beat Sheff Utd

FULL STORY: Devastated Mateta considering knee surgery after failed AC Milan move

Your Premier League club's January window assessed

The winter transfer window is closed and more than 400m was spent on signings by Premier League teams - but how did your club do in the market?

Your Site analyses every side's business in this window...

O'Neill 'delighted' Engels bids rejected & hopes new signings boost title race bid

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was 'delighted' the club's board rejected a bid of 25m for Arne Engels from Nottingham Forest, and hopes three Deadline Day signings can boost their title bid.

One on One podcast: Joao Pedro on his career, Chelsea and Brazil

Chelsea's Joao Pedro is the latest guest on Your Site' One on One podcast.

Pedro takes us inside the first few weeks of Liam Rosenior's reign as head coach, moving to Watford from Brazil, stepping into the Premier League with Brighton and what it was like to get the call to join Chelsea. 

He also looks ahead to Brazil's World Cup and Pedro reveals which position he thinks is his best.

Hughes 'absolutely convinced' Liverpool's big money signings will pay off

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has spoken candidly about his relationship with head coach Arne Slot - and is "absolutely convinced" that their big-money signings will pay off.

Speaking on The Reds Roundtable podcast, Hughes said: "Fundamentally, there's the understanding for both parties that everything involving matchday, team selection, tactics, that's always the manager or head coach. 

"That's their domain. It's very important not to step into that.

"Of course we talk about football and performances but I always let Arne lead that. Naturally in a conversation I will come up with an opinion and not just react to Arne's, but always waiting for the right time to share these things is critical."

Liverpool made a number of huge signings in the summer, with some needing time to adapt to the Premier League in a stuttering season for the Reds.

On transfers, Hughes added: "You have to constantly try to help people off the pitch in their adaptation.

"It's normal to expect that young people coming from another country would take time to adjust to their surroundings, a different type of football than they may have been used to. So much that isn't necessarily alien but different.

"You want to be there to support them and not suffocate them with it, let them find their own feet. All these players are here for a very good reason, they are top players. Everybody has played their part in getting them to the club and we were all very happy with what we did in the summer, not just me.

"As long as the players are the right ones in the first place, and we are absolutely convinced every time we bring someone in that they are, then the performances on the pitch will quickly follow. (But) you have to make sure you don't focus just on the new players.

"It's a team sport and just because new people are coming in you can just suddenly leave the players who have been here for a number of years or Federico Chiesa, who has only been here for one year."

You can watch the full 35-minute discussion on the Liverpool FC YouTube Channel.

Papers: Ronaldo considers European return amid Al Nassr 'strike'

Deadline day round-up...

Here's what did, and didn't happen on WSL Deadline Day...

  • Everton signed Roma midfielder Zara Kramzar on an initial loan which will be made permanent this summer
  • Arsenal signed goalkeeper Barbora Votikova on loan from Slavia Prague amid their ongoing crisis between the sticks

  • London City Lionesses signed Danish midfielder Malou Marcetto from Liga F side Madrid CFF

  • Chelsea's saw a bid to sign PSG midfielder Jennifer Echegini rejected

Window closed!

The WSL transfer window is officially closed.

Business over and done with. See you in a few months, everyone

Obviously the transfer blog's sticking about though. The summer rumblings have already begun.

Kante close to Fenerbahce move

Former Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has left Al-Ittihad ahead of a likely move to Turkish side Fenerbahce

The Turkish side are yet to confirm the move - but have teased it on their social media accounts, a day after it looked like his transfer had fallen through owing to what Fenerbahce claimed were administrative errors from Al-Ittihad.

In a 24-hour turnaround, Al-Itthad said in a statement: "Al-Ittihad Club has agreed to sell the remaining period of the contract of first-team player N'Golo Kante, appreciating his time with the team and his contribution to winning the Saudi Professional League title and the King's Cup, and wishing him success in his future professional career."

Late on Tuesday night, Fenerbahce wrote on X: "As can be understood from our statement, there is blood, sweat, and tears in Kante, but giving up is not in our dictionary..." 

Deal done!

What did we tell you... Everton have completed the late signing of Slovenia and AS Roma midfielder Zara Kramzar on an initial loan.

The 20-year-old was named the best young international talent at the 2023 European Women's Football Gala.

After completing the move, she told the club website: I feel so excited. I think we all worked a lot for this. I am happy to be here and start my journey.

I cant wait. I am really looking forward to playing at Goodison Park and seeing the fans. I am excited to learn a lot about Everton.

I like to play in big stadiums. I am looking forward to it and to score goals in front of the fans and to leave everything on the pitch for them and for the club."

Tags:

football live-blog

Share this article

Related Posts

Championship promotion race: How did the January window impact the battle to reach the Premier League?

Championship promotion race: How did the January window impact the battle to reach the Premier League?

The January window is shut and the race for the Premier League is well and truly on.But how did winter business impact the Championship promotion batt...

Rangers transfer news: How Ibrox side went about January transfer window and who was involved to boost Scottish Premiership title bid

Rangers transfer news: How Ibrox side went about January transfer window and who was involved to boost Scottish Premiership title bid

Rangers knew the January transfer window was crucial if they were to have any chance in this title race.In truth, it is a fight they didn't expect to...

Cristiano Ronaldo transfer news: Al Nassr forward returns to training with officials hoping his strike is over

Cristiano Ronaldo transfer news: Al Nassr forward returns to training with officials hoping his strike is over

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Al Nassr training and senior Saudi officials expect him to end his strike.Ronaldo had been considering his future in...

Cristiano Ronaldo transfer news: Al Nassr forward expected to end his Saudi Arabia strike

Cristiano Ronaldo transfer news: Al Nassr forward expected to end his Saudi Arabia strike

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Al Nassr training and senior Saudi officials expect him to end his strike.Ronaldo had been considering his future in...

Aberdeen vs Celtic postponed due to waterlogged pitch after 'weeks of prolonged rain' at Pittodrie

Aberdeen vs Celtic postponed due to waterlogged pitch after 'weeks of prolonged rain' at Pittodrie

Celtic's hopes of cutting the gap to Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership hit a snag after their trip to Aberdeen, due to be shown live on Yo...

Brighton 1-1 Everton: Beto scores late equaliser to deny Seagulls Premier League victory

Brighton 1-1 Everton: Beto scores late equaliser to deny Seagulls Premier League victory

Beto's late equaliser snatched a point for Everton at Brighton, with the Seagulls dropping points after conceding a late goal for a second game in a r...