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JANUARY WINDOW OPENS: WILL MAN UNITED BEAT LIVERPOOL TO OTHMANE MAAMMA TODAY?

Manchester United join Liverpool in the race for Watford’s Othmane Maamma. Get the latest on Ruben Amorim’s 2026 transfer strategy.

January window opens: Will Man United beat Liverpool to Othmane Maamma today?
Meet Watford’s newest Moroccan wonderkid.

Manchester United is expected to be busy in January, trying to bring in new players.

After a poor showing last season that saw them finish 15th, United wants to get back into the top four this year. Coach Ruben Amorim's team has improved, but there's still work to do. Performances at home against teams like Wolves and Everton prove they still struggle with consistency.

The club knows it has a good chance to grab a spot among Europe's best, especially since Tottenham and Newcastle are struggling and Liverpool, currently in fourth place, looks beatable.

There's talk of big signings in January, like Carlos Baleba from Brighton. Midfield is said to be United's main focus. They're also watching players for the future, with a lot of scouting activity around the star of the 2025 Under-20 World Cup.

Man United and other teams are watching Othmane Maamma, a Moroccan U20 player who's making waves in the Championship.

TEAMtalk reports that United had scouts at Watford to watch Othmane Maamma, along with other clubs.

The 20-year-old winger has caught the attention of Liverpool and Newcastle, who have also sent scouts to see him play in the Championship. Brentford, Brighton, and Sunderland were also reportedly there as Watford won against Birmingham, moving into the top six. Maamma has become a key player for Javi Gracia's team.

Watford signed him from Montpellier for just £1 million this summer. He impressed at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in October, scoring one goal and providing four assists as Morocco won the tournament. He was named the tournament's best player after some great performances.

Watford might find it hard to refuse a big offer for Maamma in January. It's believed that many clubs were at Vicarage Road earlier this week to watch him.

Man United could compete with Liverpool for his signature, as they are also looking at Yan Diomande, a 19-year-old winger from RB Leipzig, and Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace.

Amorim said that he doesn't expect changes during the January transfer window.

Amorim told reporters that there are no current plans to change the squad. He added that they are close to the Champions League spots but also close to the teams behind them, so they are concentrating on the next game.

He also said that no players have asked to leave this month, and he doesn't think they will.

Although Amorim is downplaying the rumors, United is likely to make some big moves in 2026.

With uncertain futures for Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo, and Manuel Ugarte, midfielders are a priority. Injuries to Bruno Fernandes and the absence of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui due to AFCON have further complicated things, stretching United's squad thin.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING: CAN DAVID MOYES SECURE VITINHO BEFORE MADRID STRIKES FIRST?

Atlético Madrid is outmanoeuvring Everton for Botafogo right-back Vitinho. Discover if David Moyes can fix his defence in time.

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David Moyes is Lagging Behind Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid has jumped ahead in the race for Botafogo right-back Vitinho, leaving Everton scrambling to catch up, according to Brazilian radio station Tupi FM. Everton have tracked the 26-year-old closely, desperate to shore up their shaky defence, but right now, they’re lagging.

Atlético aren’t messing around—they’ve ramped up their pursuit and are looking hard at how Vitinho might fit into their plans. Everton’s scouts are still hanging around, but at this point, it feels like they’re just hoping for a window to open. Neither club has put in an official bid so far, but Atlético’s aggressive approach puts them firmly in front as the top European option for Vitinho.

Botafogo aren’t in any hurry to sell. Vitinho just wrapped up a brutal 2025 season, logging 59 matches with two goals and four assists. He’s become a mainstay for Botafogo, both in Brazil and in continental competitions. On top of that, his contract runs through December 2029, so Botafogo holds all the cards when it comes to negotiating a fee. For Everton, trying to get back in the mix is going to be an uphill battle. Right now, everything points toward Madrid.

Does David Moyes need Vitinho?

David Moyes needs a real right-back—fast. This season, he’s had to stick central defender Jake O’Brien out on the right, which has killed any attacking threat down that side. Seamus Coleman is 37 and winding down his career, and Nathan Patterson can’t stay fit or consistent. Moyes just doesn’t have a reliable option there.

Vitinho could be the answer. Playing 59 games in a season shows he can handle Moyes’s demands. But if Everton wants him, they have to move quickly. Making bold moves in January isn’t really Everton’s thing, and Moyes usually prefers players who already know the Premier League. Even so, tight finances might push him to look for bargains in South America.

Convincing Vitinho won’t be easy. Everton can offer regular Premier League football, but Atlético has Champions League nights and a bigger stage. If Everton really wants him, they’ll have to meet Botafogo’s asking price and hope the promise of a starting spot outweighs the glamour of Madrid. Right now, though, Atlético has the upper hand.

THE VERDICT: JAMIE CARRAGHER IS RIGHT—CHELSEA NEED A WINNER, NOT A PROJECT MANAGER LIKE LIAM ROSENIOR

Jamie Carragher slams Chelsea's move for Liam Rosenior, claiming the 41-year-old lacks the experience to deliver trophies.

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Jamie Carragher warns Chelsea over new hire

Jamie Carragher isn’t convinced that bringing in Liam Rosenior will get Chelsea any closer to the Premier League title.

Unless something changes at the last minute, Rosenior’s set to take over as manager after Enzo Maresca left on New Year’s Day. Right now, Rosenior is coaching in France at Strasbourg, another club owned by BlueCo. He’s meeting Chelsea’s top brass on Monday to talk things through in person.

Everyone expects Chelsea to announce Rosenior before their next game—a west London derby against Fulham on Wednesday. Over at Strasbourg, club president Marc Keller has already started looking for Rosenior’s replacement, and they’ve narrowed it down to three options.

Chelsea played their first match without Maresca—a 1-1 draw at Manchester City, with Enzo Fernandez grabbing a last-minute equaliser. Calum McFarlane filled in as interim manager for that match but will head back to the U21S once Rosenior arrives.

Rosenior has managed at Strasbourg, Hull City, and Derby County so far. As a player, he spent time with Hull, Fulham, Reading, and Brighton before retiring in 2018.

Carragher liked Maresca and wasn’t surprised to see him go, especially once things soured between him and the Chelsea board. Carragher isn’t sold on Rosenior, though. He thinks this job’s coming too soon for the 41-year-old.

“I was a big fan of Enzo Maresca,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “He held his own against some of the league’s best. But honestly, I saw this coming—if you start speaking out of turn, especially at Chelsea with all those sporting directors, it’s not going to end well. When the results dipped, and he missed a press conference, it was inevitable.”

Rosenior, for his part, tried to keep things low-key when asked about the Chelsea rumours. “There’s a lot of noise, a lot of speculation,” he told local reporters. “But as a coach, if you get caught up in it, you lose focus. I enjoy my time here, and I love this club, but I can’t promise anything—no one can. You could say you’ll stay for years and get sacked the next day.”

Carragher thinks the spotlight now shifts to Chelsea’s ownership. “I’ve been pretty critical of the way they’ve done things these last few years,” he said. “Just look at the managers: they started with Thomas Tuchel, who won the Champions League. Now they’re about to bring in Rosenior, who’s managed Derby, Hull, and Strasbourg.

“It’s a massive opportunity for Rosenior, but Chelsea and their fans aren’t used to these kinds of appointments. They’re used to big names—Mourinho, Hiddink, Conte—guys who come in and make a huge impact. I don’t see Rosenior doing that.

“His main target will be to get them into the Champions League next season, and they can do that. With five English teams likely qualifying again, it’s right there for them. But honestly, I don’t think this is the kind of hire that gets Chelsea back to winning the Premier League or the Champions League. That’s what the club and the fans expect.

“That’s not a knock on Rosenior—he’s young and has time to grow as a coach. But for me, this job’s probably come a bit too early for him to deliver the success Chelsea should be aiming for.”

Gary Neville, the former Manchester United and England defender, isn’t convinced either. He weighed in on his Sky Sports podcast: “You can’t win anything with kids. Alan Hansen was spot on. Chelsea needs some experience at the club. If you’ve got young players, you need an experienced manager too. But here they go again, another young manager. Young players need real authority and guidance.”

Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City leaves them fifth in the table, three points outside the Champions League spots.

Premier League Standings

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