Cole Palmer is open to a move to Manchester United. Plus, Liverpool won’t consider offers for Virgil van Dijk.

Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Chelsea attacking midfielder Cole Palmer is open to joining Manchester United, according to The Sun. The 23-year-old is reportedly unsettled living in London, and while he would be unwilling to return to Manchester City, he is believed to be interested in a switch to United, who he supported as a child. Meanwhile, the Mirror reports that midfielder Bruno Fernandes is prepared to extend his contract at Old Trafford if he receives an offer worth £400,000 per week. Fernandes, 31, is said to know his value, and he is aware the club’s hierarchy don’t want him to leave. A decision is expected to be made at the end of the season

– Nottingham Forest have joined the race to sign Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Daily Mail reports that the Premier League club have made a £35 million offer for the 28-year-old, but it is thought that Palace would prefer a higher value proposal to give them the opportunity to sign a replacement. Mateta has recently been linked with Juventus, who Fabrizio Romano reports have made an enquiry for on-loan Tottenham Hotspur forward Randal Kolo Muani. The 27-year-old is said to have been identified as the latest name on their shortlist, but a deal could be difficult with Spurs unwilling to part ways with him.

– Progress has been made by Fulham in their pursuit of Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb, per Florian Plettenberg. A verbal agreement regarding personal terms is reported to have been reached with the 22-year-old, and there are now just the “final details” remaining before the permanent deal, expected to be worth in the region of £35 million to £45million, can be confirmed between the two clubs. He is not their only transfer target: Sources told ESPN on Sunday that Fulham made a €32 million offer for USMNT and PSV Eindhoven forward Ricardo Pepi.

– Liverpool won’t consider offers for captain Virgil van Dijk this summer, reports Football Insider. The 34-year-old remains contracted at Anfield until the summer of 2027, and Liverpool are reluctant to part ways with defenders amid plans to improve their depth in that position. Elsewhere, left-back Andy Robertson could still leave the club amid interest from Tottenham this month, according to TEAMtalk. Despite previous reports indicating that the 31-year-old Scotland international was set to remain at Anfield due to squad depth, the club are considering recalling on-loan Roma left-back Kostas Tsimikas, which could open up the door for Robertson to complete a switch to north London.

DONE DEALS

To follow…

OTHER RUMORS

– Bayern Munich are in talks with striker Harry Kane regarding a new contract. (Sky Germany)

– Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush is pushing to leave the club to go in search of regular first-team football. He has been linked with Aston Villa and Tottenham . (Ekrem Konur)

– Bournemouth are interested in Inter Milan winger Luis Henrique. (Gianluca Di Marzio)

– Talks regarding a loan move for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi are ongoing with West Ham. (L’Equipe)

– Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Defensor Sporting left-back Patricio Pacifico. (Fabrizio Romano)

– A move to reunite with Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz is being lined up by Aston Villa. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Fulham and West Ham remain interested in Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling (The Sun)

– An agreement over a new contract until the summer of 2031 has been reached by Barcelona and Fermin Lopez. (Ben Jacobs)

– West Ham are closing in on a loan deal that includes a mandatory permanent clause for Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. (Matte Moretto)

– Nottingham Forest are leading the race to sign Napoli left-back Mathias Olivera. (Nicolo Schira)

– Monaco are expected to explore opportunities to part ways with midfielder Paul Pogba. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– FC Cincinnati forward Kevin Denkey is attracting interest from Napoli and Crystal Palace. (Ekrem Konur)

– Valencia are keen on acquiring a right-back before the transfer window closes. (Marca)

Real Madrid‘s Trent Alexander-Arnold is being targeted for a return to the Premier League with Manchester City, while Chelsea want Aston Villa‘s Morgan Rogers to join forces with Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades

TRANSFERS TO WATCH

TRENDING RUMORS

– Manchester City are keeping tabs on Trent Alexander-Arnold amid uncertainty about the right back’s future with Real Madrid, according to TEAMtalk. While there is frustration around how his debut season with Madrid has gone so far, starting just five LaLiga matches this season amid various injury problems, the 27-year-old is determined to fight for his place at the Bernabéu. City haven’t made a formal offer yet but are carefully assessing the situation, although a move for the England international would be expensive as he only signed a six-year contract in the summer following his free transfer from Liverpool.

– Chelsea want to reunite Cole Palmer with friend and Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, TEAMtalk reports. Reports emerged last week that Manchester-born Palmer is homesick, leading to links with Manchester United, but the 23-year-old won’t push for a move away from Stamford Bridge and will have his long-term situation assessed in the summer. While some could view Rogers as a potential replacement for Palmer, TEAMtalk reports that Chelsea want the pair to play together.

– Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is getting closer to joining Liverpool, and the 21-year-old is keen to join the Reds on a five-year contract, according to Nicolo Schira. The England international has been linked with various clubs due to his impressive performances at Selhurst Park, most notably Manchester United.

– Chelsea are working on a deal to sign Stade Rennais center back Jérémy Jacquet for next season, having activated their recall clause to bring Aaron Anselmino back from his loan at Borussia Dortmund, Fabrizio Romano reports. The Blues face competition from Liverpool and Bayern Munich to recruit the 20-year-old in the summer.

– Juventus are focusing their attention on Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. This comes with La Gazzetta also having reported that Juve director Giorgio Chiellini has written off any chance of Juventus bringing in Fenerbahce striker Youssef En-Nesyri, who is also a target for Everton and Sevilla. Elsewhere, Nicolo Schira reports that Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta has already agreed personal terms for a four-year contract with the Bianconeri, although the Eagles want a permanent €35M departure while Juventus want a loan with an option to make the deal permanent that becomes an obligation if they qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

– Paris Saint-Germain could compete with Barcelona to permanently sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the summer. (Football Insider)

– Feyenoord right back Givairo Read remains high on Bayern Munich’s list for the summer, and the Bavarians have already held concrete talks with the 19-year-old’s agent, but they will still face competition to complete the signing. (Florian Plettenberg)

– West Ham United could reignite their long-term interest in Manchester United center back Harry Maguire if a new contract at Old Trafford isn’t agreed upon. (Football Insider)

– Everton striker Beto has been offered to Juventus by an intermediary. (Nicolo Schira)

– Everton, Brentford, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are all monitoring Fulham winger Harry Wilson‘s situation. (Caught Offside)

– Vasco da Gama striker Rayan is set to have a medical on Monday ahead of joining AFC Bournemouth in a deal worth £24.7M plus add-ons. (The Athletic)

– Corinthians forward Memphis Depay has been the topic of inquiries from several Gulf clubs including Shabab Al Ahli and Al Wasl. (Footmercato)

– Aston Villa have opened talks to try to sign Union Berlin centerr back Danilho Doekhi as a free agent in the summer. (Nicolo Schira)

– AC Milan are ready to attempt to sign Lazio center back Mario Gila this transfer window. (Nicolo Schira)

– Roma want to sign Atlético Madrid left back Matteo Ruggeri, although Los Colchoneros will let the 23-year-old leave only if they can find a replacement. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Roma have been linked with another left back having opened talks with Wolverhampton Wanderers for David Møller Wolfe. (Nicolo Schira)

– Juventus and Napoli both have their eyes on Sevilla right back Juanlu Sánchez. (Tuttosport)

– Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement with Borussia Monchengladbach for goalkeeper Jonas Omlin to join them on loan until the end of the season. (Sky Sports Deutschland)

– Sevilla’s negotiations with Marseille for striker Neal Maupay are now at an advanced stage. (Footmercato)

MELBOURNE, Australia — Jessica Pegula‘s Australian Open campaign through the first three rounds had been built on unrivaled composure and smart tennis. On Monday, she added something else: a statement.

The world No. 6 didn’t just beat defending champion and close friend Madison Keys on Rod Laver Arena, she completely dismantled her game with intelligence and discipline, showing a level of tactical nous that feels every bit like a player who is ready to win a Grand Slam.

The 31-year-old advanced to the quarterfinals in Melbourne with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 9th-seed Keys to extend her flawless run — and is still yet to drop a set all tournament.

This was already the most intriguing matchup of the day. It was set up as a clash between Keys’ explosive, powerful shot making versus Pegula’s efficiency. What unfolded was, well, that, but also something a bit more telling. It was a lesson in how to combat an opponent’s strengths with shape, variety and pressure.

“[I’m] happy with the way I was able to serve I think on some really big, key points, execute my strategy,” Pegula said after the match.

“I have been seeing, hitting, moving, I feel like very well this whole tournament, and to be able to keep that up against such a great player as Madi and defending champion was going to be a lot tougher of a task today, but I think I was still able to do that really well.”

From the opening games of the first set, Pegula’s intent was clear. She was always on the front foot, stepping forward on the Keys serve to break early, and had service games with impeccable placement to constantly force movement in her opponent, rather than allowing Keys to plant herself and get the upper-hand in points with aggressive returns.

Wide serves, angled groundstrokes, looping forehands, slices, and then a flat cross-court strike. Anything that prevented the 2025 winner from finding rhythm, Pegula did.

Keys still produced the spectacular, of course. There were big serves, and moments of brilliance, including several big backhand winners down the line that reminded everyone why her ceiling remains as high as anyone’s on tour — and Pegula that she’d need to stay consistent and not drop her level or the threat of a Keys comeback would always be on.

But the problem for Keys was her own consistency. Too often she ended the point with a winner, or Pegula’s variety and depth forced an error.

The numbers told the story in a really brutal way.

After 10 games, with Pegula holding a 6-3, 1-0 lead, Keys had hit 14 winners but also 20 unforced errors. Pegula? Five and five. By the end of the match, Keys finished with a whopping 26 winners but 28 unforced errors. Pegula? 12 and 13.

It was high-risk, powerful ball-striking tennis clashing against a high-IQ, steady game, and the latter is what prevailed.

The second set followed much the same pattern with Pegula holding a slight lead the whole way through. It was a physical edge, but also a psychological one. She continued to absorb the Keys serve, she wouldn’t blink, she forced the extra balls, hit the angles, and her execution under fourth-round pressure was immense.

Even on serve, where an argument could be made that Pegula may be slightly vulnerable, there was a clear contrast. Just one double fault compared to six.

“It was really important to focus on my serve,” Pegula said. “It was very tough on that one side serving into the sun. I lost that game. And I was kind of, like, you know what … she hit a couple good shots, whatever. Just don’t dwell on it that much.

“I needed to really stay focused. I think just keep my feet moving, keep my body weight going forward. Sometimes when you get a little nervous or playing really well, sometimes you kind of just relax, and it’s hard to do that against someone like Madi who can flip matches really quickly by hitting a couple of big forehands and winners, and all of a sudden she hits a couple good serves, and it’s already back to even.”

There was so much added interest in this contest. The two co-host “The Player’s Box” podcast and are close friends. It was the first women’s Australian Open match between top 10-seeded Americans since Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport played in the 2005 final.

Pegula now moves into quarterfinals, playing incredibly efficient tennis that can unravel most rivals. No sets dropped. Only 17 games lost.

For years her consistency has been admired and rightly so, but the critics had often labeled her the great quarterfinal regular. Maybe that’s fair — she hadn’t broken through that stage of a Slam until 2024.

She arrived in Melbourne still chasing that major title and those same questions still lingered. When will she finally breakthrough? When will she finally claim the ultimate? Is she “too consistent”? Are there enough weapons? Is she great without being a champion?

For Pegula, it’s all just outside noise that she doesn’t think about.

“I felt like if I’m making quarters of a Slam, that’s pretty good,” she said. “So I never really understood the negativity towards it, or I guess just the headline of, you know, how does she get past the quarters?

“I mean, the fact that I’m putting myself in that many positions I feel like is a feat in itself. … [At the] US Open, I [made] finals, made semis, and that felt like normal. So to me it doesn’t really feel that much different. I think maybe even now I’m even more comfortable knowing that I’ve gotten further, it doesn’t feel, I don’t know, as big of a deal to be in the quarters.”

It’s performances like this, against the defending champion no less, that offer the best possible counter-argument. It’s performances like this that also suggest maybe that breakthrough isn’t coming, maybe it’s actually already in play. And maybe it’s time to shift the narratives.

Pegula’s task doesn’t get any easier: She’ll face No. 4 seed Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinal. While Pegula is 3-0 against her, this will be the first time they’ve played at the Grand Slam level.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — American rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any ropes or protective equipment.

Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top of the spire of the 1,667-foot tower about 90 minutes after he started. Wearing a red short-sleeved shirt, he waved his arms back and forth over his head.

“It was like, what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day,” he said afterward. “It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was — what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”

Honnold, known for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, climbed up one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he had to maneuver around and clamber up the sides of large ornamental structures that jut out from the tower, pulling himself up with his bare hands.

The building has 101 floors, with the hardest part being the 64 floors of the middle section — the “bamboo boxes” that give the building its signature look. Divided into eight, each segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where he took short rests as he made his way upward.

Honnold’s free solo climb of the iconic building in Taiwan’s capital city was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The ascent, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed for 24 hours due to rain.

“When I was leaving the ground, you’re like, oh, it’s kind of intense, there’s so many people watching,” he said. “But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. I mean basically it just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive, all these nice people are out supporting me and having a good time.”

The climb drew both excitement and concern over the ethical implications of attempting such a high-risk endeavor on live broadcast.

Honnold isn’t the first climber to ascend the skyscraper, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest building.