Transfer rumours: Asensio to Leverkusen, O'Brien to Everton, Foderingham future

The 28-year-old called time on his Real Madrid career to join the French champions as a free agent last summer but has endured an injury-hit start to life at the Parc des Princes.

A significant foot problem has restricted Asensio to just 12 matches in a PSG jersey so far, although he boasts a respectable four goals and three assists from those contests and is under contract until 2026.

However, journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that Leverkusen have been weighing up a late approach for the Spain international, and talks have taken place between the two parties.

Plettenberg adds that Asensio could head for the Parc des Princes exit door in the coming days if the right offer comes along, although it will still be tricky for Leverkusen to pull off a deal.

Asensio made just his fourth start of the Ligue 1 season in Sunday's home clash with Brest, scoring the opening goal of the match as the champions were held to a 2-2 draw.

Another Ligue 1 player attracting glances from elsewhere, Lyon centre-back Jake O'Brien is believed to be on the radar of Premier League strugglers Everton.

The 22-year-old has been a rare bright spark in a disheartening campaign for Les Gones, scoring three goals and setting up one more in 13 top-flight appearances for Pierre Sage's team.

Only Alexandre Lacazette has scored more Ligue 1 goals for Lyon this season than O'Brien, a former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international who left the Crystal Palace youth academy in a £855,000 deal last summer.

According to the Irish Independent, Everton are now aiming to bring O'Brien swiftly back to the Premier League, although Lyon have no pressure to sell the defender, whose contract runs until 2027.

Les Gones currently occupy the relegation playoff position in the Ligue 1 table, though, and they would likely be fighting a losing battle to keep O'Brien if they were demoted to Ligue 2.

Everton's interest in O'Brien comes at a time where Jarrad Branthwaite is being linked with a future move to one of several European heavyweights, namely Manchester United, Real Madrid and Arsenal.

Sticking with the defensive theme, Sheffield United have reportedly made goalkeeper Wes Foderingham available for transfer before the January transfer window slams shut.

The 33-year-old started the campaign as the Blades' undisputed number one but has conceded a whopping 51 goals in 21 Premier League fixtures, keeping just one clean sheet for Chris Wilder's basement side.

Sheffield United have sought to address such concerns by bringing in Ivo Grbic from Atletico Madrid, and the Croatian came straight into the first XI for last weekend's FA Cup fourth-round match with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Grbic experienced a forgettable debut as the Seagulls ran out 5-2 winners, but the former Lille man will be expected to keep Foderingham on the bench for the remainder of the campaign should the latter stay at the club.

However, with Foderingham out of contract at the end of the season, The Sun claims that Sheffield United will entertain late winter bids for the Englishman, who has been left upset by the club's stance.

Foderingham was supposedly optimistic of playing his way into a new deal with the Blades, whom he has featurd 103 times for since joining from Rangers in a free transfer in the summer of 2020.

Finally, Championship playoff hopefuls Sunderland are reportedly leading the race to sign Arsenal protege Charles Sagoe Jr on a short-term loan deal.

The 19-year-old joined the Gunners' renowned Hale End academy from Fulham in the summer of 2015 and made his first-team debut in a 1-0 EFL Cup win over Brentford last September.

Sagoe Jr - whose favoured position is on the left - has not made another first-team appearance for Arsenal since, but he has shone at youth level with three goals and 10 assists from 16 matches across the Premier League 2, EFL Trophy and UEFA Youth League.

A loan move is now considered the next significant step in Sagoe Jr's development, and according to FootballTransfers, Sunderland are locked in talks over a deal for the teenager.

The Black Cats are said to have fended off the interest of several other clubs to position themselves at the head of the queue, having cooled their interest in bringing Manchester United's Amad Diallo back to the Stadium of Light.

Sagoe Jr penned his first professional contract with Arsenal in the summer of 2022, but those terms expire at the end of the season, leaving his long-term future clouded in uncertainty.