Transfer news live: Henderson completes Ajax move, Bayern interested in Trippier plus Man Utd and Arsenal latest

Celtic new boy Nicolas Kuhn believes Parkhead is the perfect place to achieve his ambitions at club and country level.

The 24-year-old attacker, who signed a five-and-a-half-year deal from Rapid Vienna on Tuesday, played at youth level for Germany up until under-20s and was in the academy teams of RB Leipzig and Ajax before joining Bayern Munich in 2020 following an initial loan move.

Kuhn did not quite make the breakthrough at those European giants before moving to Austria in 2022 but is now looking to kick on, with Champions League football and a senior call-up for Germany in his sights.

Speaking at Celtic Park, he said: “Of course they (Ajax and Bayern) were big clubs. I learned a lot, it was a good school. There were a lot of players who had a good career and who made big steps to big clubs so I learned a lot and now I want to show what I can do here.

“At Ajax I played with the whole squad that got to the semi-finals of the Champions League (2019), I trained the whole year with the first team. At Bayern I played with players like (Robert) Lewandowski and (Joshua) Kimmich and all the guys you know.

“I think at Ajax I did really good in the youths. When I first arrived, we won the second league with the second team. I trained the whole time with the first team. In the youth league, I was the top scorer and I deserved a chance. But then I made the move to Bayern. After the first season, we were also champions with the second team in the third league in Germany.

“Then there were some private problems so I made a step back. People were looking at where I was playing but for me it was a good step. So I can take two steps forward now. I’ve improved a lot, I think. I’ve now played regularly and I’ve stayed fit. That’s the most important thing. Now I can show what I’m able to do.

“When I was at Erzgebirge Aue for one year on loan, I said I wanted to play in the Champions League and for the national team. Now I’ve made a big step to a big club. So, of course, in the future, I want to play for the national team as well.”

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has admitted he would like to bring Phillips to Selhurst Park as he looks for a replacement for the injured Cheikh Doucoure.

But Klopp believes that no one gets every decision right in life and feels assessments of Henderson’s choices have been too harsh.

Jordan Henderson looks set to seal a return to European football at Ajax, bringing to an end a heavily criticised stint in Saudi Arabia.

Henderson left Liverpool last summer to join Al-Ettifaq, but the Saudi club appear likely to terminate the England midfielder’s contract to allow him to join the Eredivisie side. New reports suggest that Henderson may not even have yet been compensated for his time in Middle Eastern country’s Pro League.

Arsenal are at the front of the queue to sign the highly rated attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from Paris Saint-Germain, according to Sport Bild.

PSG would consider a sale of Simons, who is currently on loan at RB Leipzig, to balance the books. Any deal would need to be completed in the summer.

Simons, who can play in the No 10 role and on both wings, has scored four goals and registered seven assists across 17 Bundesliga games this season, catching the eye of a number of clubs around Europe.

Niamh Charles has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with Chelsea that will keep her at the WSL champions until the summer of 2027.

The England international joined the Blues from Liverpool in 2020 and has won seven major trophies under Emma Hayes.

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are both interested in signing the Real Sociedad winger Ander Barrenetxea, according to the Sun.

Barrenetxea is a Spanish U21 international who tends to play on the left side but can also fill in as a striker. He has made 22 appearances in La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey this season, scoring four times and registering two assists.

The 22-year-old has been scouted by both clubs, and it is thought Mikel Arteta sees him as providing good competition for Gabriel Martinelli on Arsenal’s left flank.

It was Deeney’s first managerial role after he joined the League Two side as a player-coach in the summer before being promoted to the top job following the sacking of Dave Horseman on the 20th of December.

When he took over the role, the club were already at risk of relegation from the football league following a run of just one win in seven matches, and under his tenure Rovers lost three and drew the other three of his games in charge.

However, Deeney faced criticism in the role, including when he publicly called out his players following their 2-0 defeat at home to Harrogate on Saturday.

Newcastle also have their eye on Atalanta’s talented Brazilian, Ederson, according to reports in Italy.

The club sent their head scout to watch the 24-year-old, who has five goals and one assist in Serie A this season playing as a central midfielder, and are keen to pursue a permanent transfer.

But Atalanta are reluctant to sell in January, so the summer looks a more likely moment for any deal.

Jordan Henderson has returned to Europe after joining Ajax from Saudi club Al-Ettifaq.

The former Liverpool midfielder, who will wear the No 6 shirt at Ajax, has departed the Saudi Pro League after just six months.