Transfer news and rumours today: Wout Faes to leave Leicester, Romain Esse to Crystal Palace, Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce

The 26-year-old was a first-team regular under former head coach Steve Cooper, but since his dismissal and the arrival of new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Belgium international has been limited to just four substitute outings across seven Premier League games.

Faes was handed his first start under Van Nistelrooy in last weekend's 6-2 win over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round and scored his second goal of the season in that match at the King Power Stadium.

However, the Daily Mail reports that Leicester are prepared to let the centre-back leave the club this month if they receive an offer of £15m.

The report adds that Van Nistelrooy's preferred centre-back partnership is Conor Coady and Jannik Vestergaard, which has seen Faes fall down the pecking order.

Faes joined the Foxes for around £15m from French club Reims in the summer of 2022 and is under contract at the King Power until June 2027.

Esse transfer to Crystal Palace "progressing"

Staying in the Premier League and Crystal Palace are edging closer to completing the signing of Millwall teenager Romain Esse.

The 19-year-old was left out of Millwall's squad for Monday's 3-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Cup third round, with manager Alex Neil confirming after the match that talks are "progressing" for the winger to move to Selhurst Park.

Asked if Esse's absence was due to injury, Neil told reporters: "There wasn't an issue. Crystal Palace have shown a lot of interest in Romain, I didn't make him available for the game and I think that the situation is progressing and what I wouldn't do is put that at risk at this stage.

"If that changes then Romain will be back in the squad."

According to Sky Sports News, Palace have triggered the release clause in Esse's contract and have agreed terms with the winger, who is expected to depart Millwall in what would represent a club-record sale.

Esse, who has chipped in with four goals in 23 Championship appearances this season, will not be loaned back to Millwall for the remainder of the season and will be immediately integrated into Oliver Glasner's first-team squad.

Mourinho's Fenerbahce fail with Carlos bid?

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce have reportedly failed with an opening offer to sign Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos.

The 31-year-old made the move to Villa Park in the summer of 2022 from Sevilla for around £26m and has since made a total of 58 appearances in all tournaments.

However, Carlos has only started eight of Villa's 20 Premier League games under Unai Emery this season, with both Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres preferred in the centre of defence.

Carlos has subsequently been tipped to leave the club and it was recently reported that Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce were increasingly confident of reaching an agreement with Villa to sign the defender.

However, The Athletic claims that the initial fee offered by the Turkish giants is lower than what Villa have asked for, particularly as the Premier League club will need to recruit a suitable replacement.

It is understood that Carlos, who has 18 months remaining on his contract at Villa Park, is valued by the Lions at around £10m.

Written by

Oliver Thomas