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      Wayne Rooney raids Man Utd for youngster Teden Mengi as Derby sign defender, 18, on loan transfer until end of season

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      DERBY COUNTY have completed the loan signing of Teden Mengi from Manchester United.
      Wayne Rooney, who became permanent Derby boss in January, has bolstered his defence by turning to old mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer..

      Mengi has signed on loan at the Rams until the end of the seasonCredit: Rex Features

      The teenager grinned ear-to-ear upon sealing his moveCredit: Rex Features

      Having joined until the end of the season, Mengi told Rams TV: “I’m really excited and I’m buzzing to be here.
      “When I first heard Derby County were interested, it was a no-brainer for me to be in the Championship against good opponents and to be playing men’s football. I am really happy to be here.
      “I think I did well in the Under-23s last season so I think I need a new challenge. I am a fighter with a willingness to defend and a ball-playing centre-back and vocal as well. I am ready to kick on and this is a brilliant opportunity for me.”
      Mengi, 18, also admitted that Rooney played a big part in attracting him to the Rams.

      He continued: “He has been brilliant.
      “As soon as I found out Derby were interested, Wayne was on the phone. He was telling me what the club is about and what he wants from me. He has been brilliant with me so far.”
      On the nature of the move, the highly-rated defender added: “They tell you the situation and ask you how you feel about it. At the end of the day, it is down to the player to make the decision.
      “I did have the conversations with the coaches and they thought this would be brilliant for me and brilliant for my development as I am still young in the game, but I will try to thrive for more.”

      ⚽ Read our DEADLINE DAY BLOG for the very latest transfer news

      Mengi made his Man United senior debut last yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      The move comes with the Championship side in the midst of financial concerns while they wait for a takeover by Sheikh Khaled’s Derventio Holdings to go through.
      Rooney is said to have stepped in to help the Rams out by deferring a portion of his £90,000-a-week wages to ensure his players get paid.
      Derby sit 18th in the table having won their last three matches.
      Mengi has been training regularly with United’s first team squad and made his debut in the Europa League against LASK last season.
      The Premier League title contenders have already cut short winger Tahith Chong’s loan at Werder Bremen so he can instead join Club Brugge.
      And in a similar move, James Garner ended his spell at Watford to move to Nottingham Forest.
      United have so far only made one signing this month, completing the £37million move for winger Amad Diallo from Atalanta.
      They have shipped out 12 players since the start of the season, however, including Jesse Lingard on loan to West Ham and releasing striker Odion Ighalo.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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      Ex-Real Madrid and Tottenham star Woodgate to replace Jones as Tindall’s Bournemouth coach despite Middlesbrough sacking

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      JONATHAN WOODGATE is set for a return to the dug-out by replacing Graeme Jones as Bournemouth’s first-team coach.
      The 41-year-old was appointed manager of his hometown club Middlesbrough in the summer of 2019.

      Jonathan Woodgate will join Bournemouth’s coaching team this weekCredit: Getty

      But the former Leeds United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Real Madrid and England defender was axed just 12 months into his first job as boss.
      He had penned a three-year contract after the departure of Tony Pulis, who he worked under as coach for two years at The Riverside, but could only lead Boro to nine wins out of 38 in the Championship.
      The Teessiders were just one place above the drop zone before Neil Warnock took over and rescued them last term.
      Now Woodgate will be looking to take his first steps back into management by getting back to work on the South Coast.

      And Sun Sport understands he will officially join Jason Tindall’s backroom staff this week and could even be officially confirmed today.
      The struggling Cherries lost the highly-rated Jones to Steve Bruce’s Newcastle earlier this week and have now moved quickly to replace him.
      Tindall will be hoping his arrival can help reignite his side’s promotion push after a slump down the table.
      The Cherries were among the favourites with the bookies for an instant return to the top-flight at the start of the season following relegation from the Premier League.

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      But they have won just one out of their last seven league matches and sit just two points above Woodate’s former club Boro in sixth.
      They will look to bounce back from their latest setback, a 3-1 hammering at Reading, with two home games this week.
      The Cherries host Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow before they welcome Birmingham to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
      Woodgate hung up his boots in 2016 and worked as a European scout for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool before joining Boro’s coaching staff.

      Several success stories have come from January transfers

      Jonathan Woodgate had an infamous debut for Real Madrid against Bilbao More

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      Man Utd terminate James Garner’s Watford loan transfer and are set to send him to Nottingham Forest for rest of season

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have terminated James Garner’s loan at Watford and will reportedly send him to Nottingham Forest until the end of the season.
      The Red Devils were said to be unhappy with the game time the 19-year-old was getting at Vicarage Road.

      Manchester United have cancelled James Garner’s loan at WatfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And the 19-year-old will now go to Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Garner has played just 40 minutes of football since December 19 after Vladimir Ivic was replaced by Xisco Munoz as manager.
      And both clubs agreed to terminate the loan early despite a positive start to his time in Hertfordshire under Ivic.
      He will now head to fellow Championship side Forest after Bournemouth midfielder Dan Gosling rejected the chance to join them, according to MEN.
      The teenager will complete his medical on Saturday.

      And an official announcement is expected in the coming days.
      Garner made his United debut as a substitute in a 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace in February 2019.
      He has made seven senior appearances for the first-team at Old Trafford since.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “Jimmy [Garner] has done really well [at Watford].

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      “Then there was a change of manager and under the new manager he has had only two games and Jimmy hasn’t really had a look-in.
      “The first four or five months were really positive for Jimmy. He’s a boy that we really believe in.
      “Of course he needs that game time and exposure and the Championship is a very good level of football.”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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      Ex-Man Utd keeper Roy Carroll signs for his 13th club at the age of 43 as he joins Irish League side Dungannon

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      ROY CARROLL has signed for Irish League side Dungannon Swifts – at the age of 43.
      The former Manchester United goalkeeper has joined his 13th side more than 25 years after making his league debut.

      Carroll, 43, has joined Dungannon Swifts

      The Northern Irish club are the 13th of Carroll’s career

      Carroll has been without a professional club for 18 months, most recently playing for amateur side FC Mindwell in Northern Ireland.
      He told Dungannon’s website: “I’m coming back to play in the Irish League and no matter what team you sign for, it’s just great to get back out and play football.
      “A real pull for me to Dungannon is that the club has two young keepers and I feel it would be good for me to come in and help them as much as I can.”
      Carroll has made almost 700 professional appearances during his career.

      He joined United in 2001 after starring for Football League sides Hull City and Wigan Athletic.
      The goalie failed to hold down a place during his four years at Old Trafford but did win the Premier League and FA Cup.
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      Carroll has won 11 trophies during his 25-year careerCredit: Pacemaker Press

      He was on the bench when United defeated Millwall 3-0 in the 2004 FA Cup finalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Carroll famously dropped the ball over the line only for the referee to disallow the goal

      During a match against Tottenham in 2005, he famously dropped a long-range shot from Pedro Mendes over the line – only for the referee not to give the goal.

      The Northern Ireland international moved to West Ham in 2005 but struggled with injuries and left for Scottish giants Rangers in 2007.
      He returned to England six months later, joining Paul Jewell’s doomed Derby County team that picked up just 11 points – the fewest in Premier League history.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      Carroll later enjoyed success abroad, winning the Greek Super League with Olympiacos and two Irish League titles with Linfield.
      He also had spells with OB in Denmark, OFI Crete in Greece and Notts County.
      Carroll made 45 appearances for Northern Ireland between 1997 and 2017 and was part of their squad for Euro 2016.
      He was Barnet’s caretaker manager in 2011, winning the Herts Senior Cup in his only game in charge.

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      Boro ace Duncan Watmore has been getting distinctions on and off the pitch

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      DUNCAN WATMORE wants to prove he is a master on AND off the pitch.
      The Middlesbrough striker this week celebrated graduating from York University with a Masters degree with a distinction in International Business Leadership and Management.

      How Watmore might have looked as he picked up his Masters in International Business Leadership and Management

      This came just weeks after winning Championship player-of-the-month

      This came only a couple of weeks after he earned another distinction – being named SkyBet’s Championship player of the month after a storming start to life at Boro.
      Watmore has had a horrendous four years with injuries – so it is no wonder he has been working on getting academic qualifications in case his career is cut short. 
      Watmore’s Masters follows him already graduating from Newcastle University with a first-class honours degree in Economics & Business Management.
      He admitted: “I don’t want to just identify as a footballer. I’ll always give 100 per cent and be as good as I can be but there are lots of other things in life.

      “I enjoy the fundamental side of learning. I’ve always thought I can do something after football. 
      “There has always been a part of me that knows how short football can be, especially after those injury problems, so I always wanted that backup – to know I have a different string to my bow and a different career path I could choose.
      “I’ve always enjoyed economics and business and just learning different topics. That mental stimulus is something I love.”

      Since bursting on to the Premier League scene as a promising 22-year-old for Sunderland, Watmore has not had much luck since.

      Two cruciate knee ligament injuries ruled him out for nine and 13 months respectively – plus an ankle problem – ruined his early career.
      In that time he had to watch from the sidelines as Sunderland crashed from the Premier League to League One and then failed to get out of the third tier.
      Then as Watmore felt his injuries woes were behind him, Covid-19 curtailed last season and he was released.
      And it was not until Boro boss Neil Warnock decided to gamble on him in November he was able to play again after another frustrating nine months out.
      Watmore told SunSport: “I’m happy after a tricky year where I couldn’t play because of coronavirus and being without a club.“It was so frustrating because I had got over my knee issues and was sharper in training and matches.
      “Then I was without a club, knowing my body was in good condition, but other clubs hadn’t seen that in me because I’d barely been on the pitch.

      Watmore has got off to a flying start back in football with Middlesbrough
      “I knew I had to work to put myself into that position.
      “I put together a good plan. I trained during lockdown – as well as having rest days – and managed my body to get into the best physical shape.
      “So even without a club I was able to stay fit and I’m physically in as good a place as I’ve been before.
      “I just needed a club to take a chance and allow me to show my knee could hold up – and thankfully Boro did.”
      Watmore said the opportunity to play for Warnock was too good to turn down – with the veteran boss, 71, winning four promotions to the top flight four times with Notts County, Sheffield United, QPR and Cardiff.
      He said: “I had a couple of offers from League One clubs and some abroad – but as soon as I heard Boro were interested I wanted to come.
      “Firstly because Neil Warnock is the manager. He has a good reputation.
      “All the lads I met and the people around the club – as well as everyone I talked to – spoke so highly of Boro.”

      I just needed a club to take a chance and allow me to show my knee could hold up – and thankfully Boro did.”

      The 26-year-old has rewarded Boro by scoring five goals in his nine starts so far.
      Watmore has been deployed as a striker– despite playing almost always as a winger during his seven years at Sunderland.
      Warnock did play him wide in the recent 2-1 win at Forest and praised him for his performance.
      Watmore said: “I like playing in both positions. I enjoy playing down the middle because I feel I can score goals.
      “Without wanting to use a cliché, I’m happy to play wherever I’m wanted.

      The Boro ace – who is from Cheshire – loves life in the north east
      “If I’m going to get into the team by playing wide and tracking back then I am happy to do that.
      “I’m always working on my fitness and energy levels to make sure I can get up the pitch and be a threat but also do the defensive work if required.
      “The start I’ve had in terms of goals this season has been pleasing. I’ve always backed myself to score.
      “But there will be times when I’m not scoring so will have to do much more defensive work and provide more support.”
      Warnock has impressed Watmore in his first few months at the club.
      The striker said: “He has good deep knowledge of the game and is switched on.
      “I know exactly what he wants from me when I step out onto the pitch.“
      “He has a great sense of humour. Every day he’ll say something which makes you laugh.

      Boro boss Neil Warnock is one of the biggest reasons Watmore joined
      “But he’s serious when it comes to football.
      “It’s balanced and I know all the lads feel the same. It’s a great environment.
      “And he has that experience of getting teams out of the Championship multiple times and at multiple clubs.
      “It’s a great feeling to know you have a manager who has done that and you can trust him. Trust is an important thing.”
      Watmore’s form has inevitably linked him with Premier League clubs – West Brom and Burnley among them.And he would love to return to the top flight and believes it is possible at Boro.
      He said: “I’m just grateful to be playing football. The injuries I had were horrendous. There were times I thought I’d not play again and that this was the end of the road.
      “And sometimes it’s easy to get caught up having too many goals and ambitions.

      I’m just grateful to be playing football. The injuries I had were horrendous. There were times I thought I’d not play again and that this was the end of the road.”

      “I’ve learned it’s important to appreciate what you’ve got and keep things in perspective.
      “It’s a tough world out there right now and I’ve a job and am lucky to be in the position I am.
      “I just want to be the best I can be. 
      “If I got into the Premier League again with Boro that would be fantastic. That is the goal of everyone at the club and it’s something we’re striving towards.”
      Meanwhile Watmore is currently spending his spare time reading the book Kleptopia: How Dirty Money is Conquering the World.
      He said: “It’s about financial corruption in governments across the world. It’s quite alarming.”
      Watmore is certainly not your everyday footballer. More

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      West Ham offered chance to sign Craig Dawson on £3m permanent transfer by Watford after impressive loan spell

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      WATFORD have offered West Ham the option of making Craig Dawson’s loan move permanent before the transfer window closes.
      Dawson joined the Hammers for the season in October as nothing more than squad cover in defence for David Moyes.

      West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Craig Dawson earlyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But the 30-year-old has taken his chance with a string of impressive performances which has cemented himself as first choice in the side.
      Now Watford are prepared to bring forward the option on West Ham signing him on a permanent basis, knowing it will help provide them with funds mid-season.
      A fee close to £3million has been asked for, though the Premier League club are under no obligation to complete the deal now and may prefer to wait until the summer.
      But if they were to tie the centre-back down long-term, it would free up a domestic loan spot which they can then utilise by bringing in someone else to boost their push for a top six finish.

      Said Benrahma’s loan is also set to be made permanent, according to several reports.
      The Algerian has impressed having gradually worked his way into Moyes’ starting XI.
      He was particularly effective during the Hammers’ 3-2 win at Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
      And the Hammers are expected to announce the permanent deal in the coming days with the fee believed to be around £20m plus add-ons.

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      The centre-back is currently on loan from Watford until the end of the seasonCredit: PA:Press Association

      One of the available loan spots could be filled by Manchester United outcast Jesse Lingard.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer held talks with the 28-year-old last week amid another spell out the side.
      Lingard has only appeared three times this season, all in cup competitions, and has managed just one league goal in more than two years.
      Therefore the chance to get much-needed gametime under old boss Moyes is seen as appealing to the United academy product.
      West Ham are hoping to turn their good form of late into a serious push for European qualification.

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      Nottingham Forest set to land Bournemouth midfielder Dan Gosling on loan transfer until end of season

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST boss Chris Hughton is in talks with Dan Gosling about a move from Bournemouth.
      Midfield dynamo Gosling is ready to move for more first-team football and the Cherries will let him go to make way for a possible new arrival.

      Dan Gosling is set to leave Bournemouth for Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Gosling is due to tie up a switch until the end of the season with Forest after a medical and go straight into their squad.
      Bournemouth want to move for Preston contract rebel Ben Pearson who is refusing to sign a new deal and could now be sold for around £500,000.
      Jack Simpson and Nnamdi Ofoborh could both leave the club and seal moves to Rangers in the next 48 hours ahead of their contracts expiring in June.
      Bournemouth boss Jason Tindall said this week: “I think Jack’s made his mind up in terms of that’s where he wants to go and play his football.

      “I think that one is pretty much going to happen. Nnamdi I think is in a similar position.
      “I’ve got such a big squad to choose from. The likes of Jaidon Anthony, Gav Kilkenny and the other young guys – I think with their future firmly here at the football club, sometimes you have to give that priority.”
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      The Cherries face a huge clash away to high-flying Reading on Friday night.

      While Forest host Barnsley hoping to bounce back from an FA Cup hammering at Swansea, with just a two-point gap to the drop zone.
      Benfica midfielder Filip Krovinovic has already signed on loan this month.
      Hughton said of the deal: “Filip comes with good pedigree and is a player we’ve been tracking for a while.

      “We have found it difficult to get the goals that we’ve needed to win more games, so this is an area we’ve been looking to strengthen.
      “In Filip we have a creative player who played a full season of Championship last year so knows the division.
      “This had a strong bearing in my thinking and, from an offensive point of view, he gives us more options.”

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      Everton reject Yannick Bolasie joins Middlesbrough on loan transfer until end of season with contract running down

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      MIDDLESBROUGH have confirmed the signing of Yannick Bolasie on loan from Everton.
      The 31-year-old winger has not played a single minute for the Toffees this term after Carlo Ancelotti left him out of his 25-man Premier League squad.

      Yannick Bolasie has joined Middlesbrough on loan from EvertonCredit: Middlesbrough FC

      He looked to be on his way to the Riverside on October’s transfer deadline day only for the move to break down at the last minute – leaving both the player and Boro boss Neil Warnock frustrated.
      Now the veteran, who managed the attacker at Crystal Palace, has finally got his man in a transfer exclusively reported by SunSport last month after persuading him to snub a move to Turkey for the Riverside.
      Warnock said: “I spoke to him this week and he was going to go to Turkey.
      “I told him to come and play for me and just enjoy yourself for a couple of months. He can go to Turkey another time.

      “He does owe me anyhow because I did well for him at Crystal Palace.
      Warnock added: “I’ve known Yannick for many years.
      “I asked him if he could help us out until the end of the season and get some fitness in at the same time. 
      “We can’t expect wonders but he’s a good lad and he can play different positions for me. He’ll be good in the dressing room and it’s a big boost for us.”

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      Bolasie, who is out of contract at Goodison Park in June, will go straight into the Boro squad for the trip to table-topping Norwich on Saturday.
      Bolasie joined Everton for £25m in 2016 but his time at Goodison has been hampered by injury.
      He has headed out to Aston Villa, Anderlecht and Sporting Lisbon but has failed to convince Ancelotti to make him part of his plans on Merseyside.
      Bolasie, who has nine goals in 40 appearances for DR Congo, will now be hoping he can help get Boro’s faltering play-off push back on track after they suffered a third defeat in four at home Rotherham on Wednesday.

      Several success stories have come from January transfers

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