Paper Round: Callum Hudson-Odoi told to stay at Chelsea, Juan Mata offered to extend stay at Man Utd

Chelsea have rejected Callum Hudson-Odoi’s transfer request and turned down Bayern Munich’s £35m offer, telling the winger he will stay at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season, the Guardian reports. German champions Bayern were set to make a final push for the 18-year-old with deadline day approaching on Thursday, but Chelsea have hardened their stance.

Paper Round’s view: Chelsea are playing hardball, and they have six months to convince Hudson-Odoi he is seriously part of their plans. If Eden Hazard does secure his dream move to Real Madrid, it would be difficult to see the Blues being so willing to let Hudson-Odoi go in the summer, even with Christian Pulisic coming in.

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Juan Mata has been offered a new contract at Manchester United in a bid to stave off interest from Barcelona and Juventus, the Evening Standard reports. The Spaniard’s current deal runs out in the summer, meaning he is free to talk with clubs abroad, but United’s hierarchy are keen to hold on to the midfielder after he has impressed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Paper Round’s view: With the future finally looking brighter for all involved at United, it would be no surprise if Mata remained for at least one more year to see where this club can go. It’s only a short-team deal, but the reported £140,000-a-week contract will likely tempt him into staying.

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Unai Emery will be given funds to spend in the summer after the Arsenal head coach was limited to making just loan signings in the January transfer window. The Mirror notes it is a remarkable turn of events for Emery, who was at Paris Saint-Germain when the club spent big on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, but the Arsenal boss is still said to be keen on brining Denis Suarez and Ivan Perisic to the club on loan.

He said: “In the summer it is going to be different. And we are going to have chances to spend money to buy players.”

Paper Round’s view: It has been a very quiet January transfer window for many of the Premier League’s big clubs, and Arsenal could well go the month without making any new additions. Emery is clearly intent on not buying for buying’s sake – it may not help their short-term cause, but will all be for the sake of the long-term project.

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Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez says he cannot guarantee he will be in charge of the club come the end of the season. The Independent, among other papers, notes that the Spaniard’s contract runs out this summer, meaning he can walk away for nothing, while a penalty clause that would have seen him have to pay £6m is now invalid.

Paper Round’s view: It has been a tough time for Benitez in the north east, and he has remained in an unenviable role under Mike Ashley’s ownership. The takeover talks will likely rumble on at the club, who knows if Benitez will still be there when Ashley finally leaves.