Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton feels Erik ten Hag's hard-line disciplinary approach is paying dividends.

Ten Hag has already stopped Alejandro Garnacho from playing matches on the club's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia due to bad timekeeping. He dropped Marcus Rashford to the bench at Wolves on 31 December for the same reason.

And famously, the United boss axed Cristiano Ronaldo from his squad to play at Chelsea in October due to his refusal to come off the bench in the previous game against Tottenham.

"He has brought a clear messaging, clear lines of what’s acceptable and what’s not," Heaton observes about Ten Hag.

"There is responsibility on everyone.

"My personal view is that it really does make a difference.

"When there is a consequence to players, a discipline, you know not to cross the line, if you do you’ll be out."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

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Manchester United keeper Tom Heaton has had a fair old wait to make his first start for the club.

Heaton spent five years at Old Trafford as a youngster without making a first-team appearance, then, after moving back to United from Aston Villa at the start of last season, his only game was as a substitute, in a Champions League game against Young Boys 13 months ago.

Finally, he started in the EFL Cup against Charlton last night, keeping a clean sheet as United advanced to the last four.

"I was slightly frustrated not to play in the earlier rounds," he said.

"I had a bad time with injury and it’s unfortunate when things don’t fall your way. But I’m chomping at the bit to play games and get opportunities.

"I’ve never taken my eyes off the ball."

Heaton faces more competition now following the arrival of Jack Butland on loan from Crystal Palace.

Manchester United's reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton was happy to talk, however, after keeping a clean sheet following a rare start at Old Trafford...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

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Erik ten Hag wasn't giving much away on Wout Weghorst last night, answering with a simple 'No, unfortunately, I can't', when asked if there was any update on Manchester United's move for the Dutchman.

However, it is understood a loan move for the striker is edging closer, albeit slowly.

Besiktas want a replacement for Weghorst in order to complete the deal.

United's win against Charlton last night means they have two League Cup semi-finals to fit into their busy January schedule.

Everything United all in one place - bookmark the page or if you're using the app, hit the bell icon for club notifications.

Sky Sports are reporting that Manchester United have agreed a deal in principle to sign Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst.

Manager Erik ten Hag was not willing to confirm that last night after United's victory over Charlton in the EFL Cup...

Arsenal

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An Arsenal move for Eden Hazard "cannot wait", says freelance football presenter Alison Bender.

The 32-year-old forward has had an unsettled time since swapping Chelsea for Real Madrid in 2019 and has been linked with a return to the Premier League to bolster the Gunners' frontline.

"Arsenal cannot wait till the summer," Bender told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast. "You just have this tingle - they've never been in a better position, the fans are in a good place and they are playing really good football.

"Now is the time to strengthen and get someone in. To have someone in reserve for injuries is a really important thing."

Everything Arsenal in one place - bookmark the page or if you're using the app hit the bell icon for club notifications.

Chelsea have made their move, but which other Premier League clubs are ready to pounce in the January window.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal are understood to be closing in on deals. Which club will be next to make an announcement?

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Chelsea have been tracking a number of players, alongside their pursuit of Joao Felix.

Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro is another talent being considered, but he is also on Tottenham's radar.

It could be a question of who wants him more.

That's the view of freelance football presenter Alison Bender, who told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast that it would take his full 45 million euro (£40m) release clause to prise Porro away from the Portugal side.

"It's always tricky when there's a release clause," she said. "It's about who wants him the most and is able to stump up the cash.

"Graham Potter is under such pressure and Antonio Conte is publicly speaking out and saying Spurs need to spend more to compete."

Listen to the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast here.

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The consensus this week in the latest edition of BBC Radio London's The Far Post podcast was that Graham Potter deserved to be cut some slack after struggling with a lengthy injury list.

Chelsea managers would normally come under pressure after losing six of nine games, but the feeling is that Potter needs more time - and a transfer window - before he can be judged.

Interestingly, the panel directed most of their questions towards Blues owner Todd Boehly - will the arrival of Joao Felix put the pressure back on Potter?

"It will be interesting to see who is advising the new owner because he’s got very little experience of football in this country or football in general," said ex-Charlton defender Steve Brown on The Far Post podcast.

"The easy thing to do when you’re as wealthy as they are is to sack him. That’s the easiest way out as soon as the supporters get on his back. I’d like to think he’s being advised not to do that because it’s just extremely harsh on Potter.

“When you play in a team and you lose your two best players, your three best players, you are struggling – so if you’ve got nine missing, it’s more than the spine of a team, give the guy a bit of slack.

"The way they’ve invested in him, invested in his staff – he brought every member of staff up with him from Brighton – you’ve got to give them time under the circumstances."

BBC Radio London sports editor Phil Parry agreed, adding: "He’s inherited a mess. I don’t know how much time and patience he’s going to get but that’s what he’s going to need.

“If you are changing culture it takes a while. Football has this crazy lack of patience, you can’t build anything. It’s like trying to build a house and to say to the builders you’ve got three days to do it and actually you’ve got no bricks and no mortar."

Listen to more about Chelsea and Potter on The Far Post Podcast on BBC Sounds

Everything Chelsea in one place – bookmark the page or if you’re using the app hit the bell icon for club notifications

Interestingly enough, we are due to hear from Graham Potter today at 13:30 GMT.

The Chelsea manager is due to speak to the media in a news conference to preview Thursday's Premier League game at Fulham.

We will bring you all the reaction from both Potter and the Fulham camp on these pages.

Sam: Morata, Higuain, Lukaku, Werner, now Felix. Good signing for Chelsea let’s hope he has better success than his predecessors.

Chris: Cash is king? Why on earth Felix would choose Chelsea over Arsenal at this moment in time? Would he get in the starting XI? Chelsea are in meltdown whilst Arsenal are playing some excellent football.

Jose Enrique, the Spanish defender who played for Liverpool and Newcastle, believes Joao Felix was not able to express himself in Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid side.

He wrote on Twitter, external: "World class talent but is true that never could prove himself in Simeone's side because the way Atletico Madrid plays, but I believe he can do really well at Chelsea. Atletico pay over 100m euros for him few years a go..."

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Chelsea don't need to justify the signing of Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid - the Portugal forward is regarded as one of the most promising young attacking talents in Europe.

But the Stamford Bridge outfit listed some of his key achievements so far in the statement on their website announcing the deal of a player that has already won league titles in Portugal and Spain.

"As well as team glory, the Portuguese international has been recognised individually, with his 2019 Golden Boy award honouring him as the best young player in Europe," said Chelsea.

"He was also named Atleti Player of the Season last term by the club’s supporters.

"At the Qatar FIFA World Cup, Joao Felix scored a vital goal in Portugal’s opening game, a 3-2 win over Ghana, and he provided two assists during the tournament. He already has 28 caps to his name."

Certainly sounds good on paper!

Ryan: On paper, Joao Felix has played against Barcelona and Real alongside Suarez, Griezemann and Costa, so it should be very fascinating!

Milo: Don't care about Felix joining Chelsea.. at Utd we have plenty of "stylish attackers who are most effective roaming across the forward line involving themselves in build up play". We need a no.9 to finish off the move. We need someone to replace Martial.

Milo referencing the fact Manchester United were also linked with a possible move for Joao Felix.

Atletico Madrid are quick to highlight that Joao Felix might have joined Chelsea on loan, but the 23-year-old Portugal forward is still their man.

To underline the point, they also announced that he has extended his contract with the La Liga club until 2027.

"Agreement with @ChelseaFC, external for the loan until the end of the season of @joaofelix70, external , who extends his relationship with our club for one year, until 2027," Atletico posted on Twitter.

"Thank you, João, we wish you the best of luck in this new professional challenge!"

Image source, BBC Sport

Joao Felix, 23, who has signed for Chelsea on loan until the end of the season, helped Atletico win the 2020/21 La Liga title and, as a teenager at Benfica, was a league champion in his debut year.

"Chelsea is one of the great teams in the world and I hope to help the team reach their objectives," the Portugal forward told the Chelsea website, external.

"So I am very, very happy to be here and very excited to play at Stamford Bridge."

Read more on the developing story here.

Chelsea fans - are you happy with the signing of Joao Felix?

Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

It will be interesting to find out how much the Stamford Bridge outfit have had to pay to get their man.

They have beaten a number of other Premier League and Champions League clubs to his signing.

The 23-year-old forward looked good for Portugal at the World Cup and has been one of the most productive attacking players in La Liga since the start of last season.

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Portugal forward Joao Felix, 23, on loan from Atletico Madrid for the remainder of the season.

"A skilful and stylish attacker, Joao Felix is most effective when roaming fluidly across the forward line and involving himself in the build-up play," read a statement on the Chelsea website, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea