Al Nassr’s big money bid for Kaoru Mitoma rejected on deadline day.
Brighton winger, Kaoru Mitoma has been the subject of intense interest from Al Nassr, one of four Saudi Pro League clubs backed by the Public Investment Fund. According to The Athletic, Brighton turned down an initial €65m (£54.4m/$67.7m) bid on Thursday, while CBS Sports’ James Benge reports that Al Nassr was preparing a final offer of up to £90m ($112m/€107.5m). However, Brighton remained firm on keeping the 27-year-old. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Al Nassr made a €90m-plus-€5m add-ons bid before the Saudi transfer deadline, but Brighton rejected it. Since arriving from Kawasaki Frontale in 2021, Mitoma has played 92 matches, scoring 18 goals. He has been pivotal this season, appearing in all 23 Premier League games with five goals and three assists. With his contract running until 2027, Brighton is under no pressure to sell as they aim for European football under head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
🚨🇯🇵 Brighton reject £75m bid from Al Nassr for Mitoma, reports @JackRosser_! ❌
The English club are firm that they do not want to sell the player. pic.twitter.com/uC36Xx6Nmu
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 31, 2025
Mathys Tel rejects Tottenham’s permanent bid amid Premier League interests.
Tottenham Hotspur’s efforts to strengthen their squad suffered a setback as Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel declined their offer, sources told ESPN. Bayern had accepted Spurs’ €60 million ($62.5m) bid on Thursday, but the 19-year-old opted to explore other opportunities. Tel, a highly-rated France U21 international, has drawn interest from several Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Aston Villa. Villa views him as a potential replacement for Jhon Durán, who recently joined Al Nassr. Tottenham hoped their promise of more first-team opportunities would persuade Tel, given his limited 458 minutes across 14 games this season. However, the wealth of interest convinced him to turn them down. Manchester United has made initial inquiries, though a formal bid may depend on the futures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. While Tel’s next move remains undecided, a transfer away from Bayern before the deadline is still likely.
🚨 Understand Mathys Tel’s currently NOT expected to be in Bayern squad for tomorrow’s game.
French striker still takes time to assess all the options after rejecting Spurs.
❗️ Loan with buy option can still be a possibility with Man United keen; as well as staying at Bayern. pic.twitter.com/lYqmov6M1e
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2025
Napoli sets sight on Saint-Maximin as a potential Kvaratskhelia replacement.
Serie A giant, Napoli are eyeing a move for former Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin as a potential replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in a €70m transfer earlier in January. While the Italian club previously explored deals for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, Saint-Maximin has now emerged as a primary target. Currently on loan at Fenerbahce from Al-Ahli, Saint-Maximin’s transfer would require several administrative hurdles. His loan spell in Turkey must be terminated before he can return to Al-Ahli and then move to Napoli. A key challenge is timing—Saudi Arabia’s transfer window closes at midnight on January 31, while Italy’s remains open until February 3. Sky Sport Italia reports that Al-Ahli must cancel his loan before their deadline to facilitate a move. However, they can still sell him as long as the buying club’s window is open, keeping Napoli’s hopes alive.
🚨🔵 EXCL: Napoli have made contact with Al Ahli for Allan Saint-Maximin with loan proposal sent!
Negotiations ongoing with Al Ahli as Saudi club is busy to get Galeno deal done, medical booked.
Napoli also opened talks with Anderlecht for Amuzu, waiting for club’s decision. pic.twitter.com/jP7Vgk4D0T
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2025
Santiago Giménez close to joining AC Milan wit final details set to be sorted.
AC Milan are closing in on a deal for Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez, but a minor obstacle remains. Speculation about the Mexican forward’s move to Serie A has grown in recent days, though Milan’s initial offers fell short of Feyenoord’s valuation. According to Gazzetta dello Sport Journalist Marco Guidi, Milan held discussions with Feyenoord and agent Rafaela Pimenta to finalize a fee in the €35-40 million range. However, the Rossoneri have yet to submit a bid matching that figure. Despite the two clubs being drawn against each other in the Champions League, negotiations remain unaffected. Transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano reports that Giménez is eagerly awaiting the final approval, with Milan expected to increase their offer. A key factor in facilitating his arrival is Álvaro Morata’s pending move to Galatasaray, which paves the way for Giménez to make his mark in Italian football once the deal is finalized.
🚨🇲🇽 JUST IN: AC Milan’s NEW OFFER to Feyenoord for SANTIAGO GIMENEZ is €32 MILLION + bonuses. 🇳🇱🇮🇹⏳
Via @DiMarzio – @SkySport pic.twitter.com/V2eNjVZNt2
— All Fútbol MX 🇲🇽 (@AllFutbolMX) January 31, 2025
Wembanyama stars against Giannis as the San Antonio Spurs blows out the Bucks.
Eager to finish a tough January on a high note, the San Antonio Spurs delivered one of their most focused performances of the month, dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks 144-118. After a tightly contested first half, the Spurs erupted in the second, outscoring Milwaukee 74-47 and turning a narrow one-point deficit into a dominant victory. The game’s highlight was the electrifying showdown between Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wembanyama posted an impressive 30 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks, securing his first career win over Giannis, who finished with 35 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. Keldon Johnson contributed 24 points, while rookie Stephon Castle added 20 as San Antonio snapped a two-game losing streak and secured just their second win in seven games. For Milwaukee, Damian Lillard recorded 22 points, and Khris Middleton added 21, but their efforts weren’t enough to counter the Spurs’ explosive second half.
WEMBY and GIANNIS went AT IT tonight 😈
Wemby: 30 PTS, 14 REB, 6 BLK, 5 3PM
Giannis: 35 PTS, 14 REB, 6 AST, 56.5 FG%The @spurs come away with the win at home! pic.twitter.com/nDPsZd2PvV
— NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2025