Premier League midweek news: Matchday 21

Jonathan Victoria • 10 Jan 2024 Features

Latest news, injury report and the fixtures for the upcoming matchday.

Premier League midweek news: Matchday 21

Matchday 21 is going to be a bit of a weird one, with half the games being played this weekend and the other half being played next weekend.

This is due to cup competitions coming into play, with the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup going on this week and next and the FA Cup third-round replays also disrupting things next week.

Thankfully though, we are out of the proper manic part of the season that is the Christmas and New Year’s fixture congestion period, so soon enough things will be back to normal.

For now, check out the news ahead of the first half of Matchday 21.

Timo Werner officially returns

Timo Werner is here ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/xcTAlMMngc
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 9, 2024

Timo Werner is returning to the Premier League as he agrees a loan move to Tottenham til the end of the season.

The loan, which has an option to buy for €17m as reported by Fabrizio Romano, sees the German striker try his hand back in England after returning to RB Leipzig in August 2022 following a disappointing two-year spell with Chelsea.

Werner isn’t the only player arriving at Spurs this window, as Fabrizio Romano has also given the ‘here we go!’ for Tottenham signing Romanian defender Radu Dragusin from Genoa for €30m.

Jadon Sancho on his way out

🚨🟡⚫️ Jadon Sancho to Borussia Dortmund, here we go! Deal in place between Man United and BVB on loan, NO buy option.

Understand Sancho can travel later today for medical.

BVB will cover part of the salary plus loan fee. €4m package.

Boarding completed ✈️ @TurkishAirlines pic.twitter.com/sExTKKBQwY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 10, 2024

While one team is bringing in, another is offloading as Manchester United looks set to send Jadon Sancho back to Borussia Dortmund on loan.

The English winger has completely fallen out with Erik Ten Hag and the club this season, so a move back to where he was thriving prior could do him a lot of good.

Dortmund will pay United a loan fee of around £3m; however, there is no option to buy at the end as Dortmund can’t afford Sancho’s £250k-a-week wages, meaning he will be returning to United at the end to face a summer of likely more transfer speculation.

Calvert-Lewin free to play

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has had his three-match suspension for serious foul play overturned after a successful appeal.
— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2024

Everton’s appeal to overturn Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s three-game suspension has been successful, meaning the striker will be available for action this weekend.

DCL picked up the suspension due to a straight red card he was shown last Thursday during Everton’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round.

The suspension would’ve been applied to all domestic football competitions, meaning he would’ve been out for the FA Cup third-round replay as well as two Premier League Matchdays.

Injury report

West Ham

The Hammers have been dealt a blow during the FA Cup third round, with Lucas Paqueta, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jarrod Bowen all sustaining injuries that may see them on the sidelines for some time. With Mohammed Kudus also off to join Ghana for AFCON, the reigning UECL champions may be in for a tough few weeks.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool were also hit with an injury blow during their 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory over Arsenal. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out “for a few weeks” with a knee injury.