Football transfer rumours: Santos in for Neymar instead of Josh Windass? | Football

After failing to secure the services of Sheffield Wednesday’s Josh Windass – son of Dean – Santos are in for Neymar. Not a sentence the Rumour Mill thought it would be writing in 2025, but we are where we are. Sheffield may have long been known as the “São Paulo of Yorkshire” and Windass is among the top scorers in the Championship with 10 goals but a deal for Neymar is probably more desirable given the player’s long history with the club. Neymar came through the academy at Santos, putting up silly numbers and scoring silly goals before his big-money move to Barcelona in 2013. Al-Hilal, Neymar’s current team, have not registered him for the rest of the Saudi season and are keen to get the injury-prone Brazilian’s gargantuan wages off the books, So Santos’s reported loan proposal is expected to be accepted, with other interest from Chicago Fire falling away.

If Neymar does leave Al-Hilal, that could open up more uncertainty for Liverpool with the Saudi club long-time admirers of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s Anfield contract expires this summer, in case you haven’t heard.

Jamie Gittens, formerly Bynoe-Gittens, has been a bright spark for Dortmund in an underwhelming season for Borussia Dortmund, who are currently languishing in mid-table in the Bundesliga. Englishman Gittens has caught the eye of Bayern Munich, obviously, while Chelsea are already said to be interested despite having approximately 179 left wingers already in their squad. João Félix is one that could make way, with Milan exploring a loan move for Chelsea’s Portuguese playmaker.

Dortmund’s season has been so underwhelming that head coach Nuri Sahin could be replaced by Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman keen on the job. One of Ten Hag’s failed signings at Manchester United, Antony, is close to joining Real Betis on loan. The Brazilian’s substitute appearance against Brighton is expected to be his last for United this season and the winger departs with zero goals and zero assists in eight Premier League appearances this campaign.

Wolves had been in talks with Vitória SC midfielder Manu Silva but the Premier League side have now been gazumped by Benfica, who have swooped with a €12m offer. Another team in gold, Hull City, have been very busy this window. Veteran winger Nordin Amrabat made his debut at the weekend, while Blackpool striker Kyle Joseph and Fenerbahce attacker Lincoln Henrique are also expected to join in the coming days. Hull have also reached an agreement for Monaco midfielder Eliot Matazo, with the Belgium Under-21 international costing less than £2m.

Juventus could save Ben Chilwell from his Chelsea purgatory but will need to offload a player or two in order to bring the Englishman to Serie A. Douglas Luiz, who signed for the Old Lady in the summer for £42.4m, could head back to England with Manchester City keen on a loan deal.