Sky Bet Championship side Watford have reportedly made a short-term loan offer for Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho. The Hornets are keen to bring in the forward for the remainder of the season as they bolster their squad for the campaign ahead.

Iheanacho joined Sevilla last summer but has struggled to make an impact at the Spanish club. The 28-year-old has yet to score in nine league appearances for the Rojiblancos, raising questions about his form and fitness. Reports suggest Sevilla is open to letting him leave this month.

During his time at Leicester City, Iheanacho was a consistent performer, scoring 61 goals and providing 34 assists in 232 appearances. Watford will hope he can rediscover that form if the deal goes through, potentially boosting their push for success in the Championship.

Enzo Maresca has admitted that losing defender Wesley Fofana for the remainder of the season would be a "huge loss" for Chelsea after scans confirmed a severe hamstring injury. Fofana, 24, has already been sidelined for over a month, and this latest setback will prolong his injury woes since joining Chelsea from Leicester for £70 million ($87 million) in 2022. In total, Fofana has made just 32 appearances for the club.

"Unfortunately, he could be out for the season," said Chelsea boss Maresca on Friday. "He has a hamstring injury, and sadly, we will be without him for a while. I’ve said many times that I love Wes, and not having him available is a huge loss for us."

Fofana's absence is further complicated by the ongoing injury of fellow French centre-back Benoit Badiashile, who is expected to be out until February. On a positive note, captain Reece James and midfielder Romeo Lavia are both nearing a return ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming trip to Crystal Palace.

Chelsea’s hopes of mounting a title challenge have taken a hit, following a disappointing run of just one point from a possible nine in recent games against Everton, Fulham, and Ipswich. Despite this, the Blues remain in the top four, keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive for next season.

In his first season at Stamford Bridge, Maresca has always emphasized that his young squad was not yet ready to compete for the title. He remains optimistic about the team's progress, despite the setbacks.

“We don’t like to lose games and drop points, but it’s not going to derail our journey,” Maresca commented. “We all know that losses are part of the process. What matters is seeing how the team is improving.”

Napoli are reportedly targeting Chelsea defender Renato Veiga for a potential loan move during the January transfer window.

Renowned football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed the news in a tweet on Friday, stating that the Serie A side is eager to strengthen Antonio Conte’s squad for the second half of the season.

“Napoli have been showing interest in Chelsea defender Renato Veiga as an option for the January window on loan,” Romano tweeted. “There are more clubs interested, but it’s still unclear whether Chelsea will let him leave for more game time or not. Maresca sees Veiga as an important player.”

Despite being seen as valuable by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, Veiga has struggled for regular playing time this season, featuring in just four matches across all competitions.

Napoli’s interest could provide the young defender with a chance to secure more minutes on the pitch, but it remains uncertain if Chelsea will sanction the move. The decision is expected to hinge on the club’s plans for Veiga and their squad depth during the busy second half of the campaign.

🚨🔵 Napoli have been showing interest in Chelsea defender Renato Veiga as an option for the January window on loan.

There are more clubs interest… but still unclear whether Chelsea can let him go playing more or not.

Maresca see Veiga as an important player. pic.twitter.com/SIEmbNU0J3

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 3, 2025

Arne Slot has expressed that despite Manchester United's current struggles, they are “much, much better” than their disappointing Premier League standing suggests, ahead of Liverpool's showdown with their bitter rivals this Sunday.

Liverpool is leading the Premier League with a six-point advantage and are favorites to win their 20th top-flight title, which would bring them level with record-holders United. In stark contrast, United find themselves languishing in 14th place, following five defeats in their last six league matches under new manager Ruben Amorim.

However, Slot, who is also in his first season in English football, has insisted he will not underestimate United when they visit Anfield, even when asked about potentially resting players ahead of the match.

“No, of course, I’m not going to rest any players because it’s a big game,” Slot stated during Friday’s press conference. “I’ve said it before the first fixture (a 3-0 win at Old Trafford), and I’ll say it again: they have much better players than their league position shows. It may take some time for Ruben Amorim to get the best out of them, but they will definitely improve. They are far better than their current standing indicates.”

The Dutchman also expressed sympathy for Amorim, who took over at Old Trafford in November after moving from Sporting Lisbon.

“I think every manager can sympathize with another,” Slot said. “We all know the pressure that comes with this job. It’s no different for him than for me, or for any other manager in the Premier League or elsewhere.”

Slot was also asked about the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid ahead of the January transfer window. With Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and captain Virgil van Dijk all out of contract at the end of the season, they are now eligible to discuss moves with foreign clubs.

Slot reassured fans that Alexander-Arnold is “fully committed” to Liverpool and would be featuring in Sunday’s game. “Hopefully, he continues the form he’s shown in the past half-year,” said Slot. “Everyone saw how excellent his first half of the season was. He’s here; he wants to win here, and he’s fully dedicated.”