There’s not long now until the transfer deadline so stay tuned to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s latest transfer news, gossip and done deals as the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all attempt to make late additions to secure a boost for the remainder of the season. The Premier League is among the most active leagues across Europe ahead of Friday’s deadline, while Serie A clubs are always willing to do business.
United’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon skipper Bruno Fernandes in what has been the biggest saga of the window, looks have reached a stalemate, with the club ready to admit defeat in handing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reinforcements despite losing Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay to serious injuries. Former United boss Jose Mourinho looks to have more joy at Spurs, namely through Steven Bergwijn from PSV.
Barcelona are frantically searching for a new striker due to Luis Suarez’s serious injury, with Rodrigo the main candidate, though their search has seen them linked to Olivier Giroud, while a move for ex-Sevilla star Wissam Ben Yedder could prove smart due to the expected speedy transition back to La Liga, but Monaco would demand around £67m if rumours are to be believed. Arsenal, at the beginning of a new era with Mikel Arteta, have failed to spend lavishly to speed up the process, while Frank Lampard is set to be disappointed with Chelsea unable to spend the Eden Hazard money from the sale to Real Madrid last summer despite having their transfer ban lifted. The Blues could pick up a loan deal, with Krzysztof Piatek, also a target for Spurs, mentioned, but they may otherwise keep their budget for next summer.
Bergwijn sets the record straight over Spurs speculation
There is a whole lot written about me, which I have also read myself. I am really disappointed that it has come to this, there is no truth to it.
I never refused to play for PSV, and would never do that. I have been there since I was young. PSV is in my heart. I have never refused to play for PSV, as you can see the media spins everything.
I have indeed called the trainer, Ernest (Faber), this morning, and said that talks are going on, and he gave me permission. We had a good chat, and he wished me luck, everything went respectfully and according to plan.
Spurs are moving closer to signing Steven Bergwijn from PSV.
Sky Sports report that the Dutch forward will take a medical, with personal terms not expected to be a problem.
Though the clubs are still not in agreement over a fee.
Alexis Sanchez will have a Manchester United lifeline as the club look to take back the Chilean after his loan at Inter expires this summer.
After failing to succeed at Old Trafford since his move from Arsenal, his future with the club appeared over after being sent to the San Siro last summer.
Arsenal are braced for a move from Barcelona for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners could demand upwards of £50m for their star striker, which may force Barca to turn to Valencia’s Rodrigo to replace the injured Luis Suarez.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs are all in the running to sign out-of-favour Juventus midfielder Emre Can.
Borussia Dortmund are also pushing hard to bring Can back to the Bundesliga.
Our chief football writer Miguel Delaney reports that United are now prepared to end January without making any major signings:
West Ham are hoping to sign Slavia Prague midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to The Guardian.
David Moyes’s side are also considering an approach to take Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker-Peters on loan, however, it’s believed Spurs would prefer a permanent deal, with both Crystal Palace and Southampton also interested.
Sampdoria midfielder Ronaldo Vieira has also been considered by the Hammers, but any bid is unlikely with the Italian club keen to hold onto the 21-year-old.
Arsenal starlet James Olayinka has joined Northampton Town on loan until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined the club aged seven, was included on the club’s pre-season tour but it yet to make his senior
debut for the Gunners.
Pablo Mari’s move from Flamengo to Arsenal has collapsed.
That’s according to ESPN Brasil, who claim the player is back in Brazil now after undergoing a medical in the capital.
It remains unclear whether the Gunners will look for another defender before Friday’s deadline.
Saints are closing in on a deal to sign Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham.
It will provide relief for Ralph Hasenhuttl for the injured Cedric and Yan Valery.
Blackpool have signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on loan from Leicester.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a 72 hours. On Saturday I made my debut for the first-team in the FA Cup, then the next day I travelled here to get this loan deal sorted,” Dewsbury-Hall said.
“I’m really excited to come here and get some games under my belt. Hopefully I can make a difference to the team and see where it takes us.”
Neymar happy with life at PSG
I am very happy, very happy to help the team to play in this way. On the pitch, I know what I have to do, I am at 100% and I hope that we are going to achieve great things, I am in my best form… I saw the messages on social media at half-time… This is a time of immense sadness for the world of sport. Not just basketball fans. I knew him. This celebration was for him. I hope he rests in peace.
Steven N’Zonzi is joining Rennes on loan until the end of the season.
The French midfielder was linked with West Ham and Celta Vigo, but the 31-year-old will return to Ligue 1, according to Le Parisien.
After a failed loan to Galatasaray, Roma will recall the player and send him to Rennes instead to try and spark a rise in value.
Pedro is a target for Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
The Chelsea star is out of favour under Frank Lampard this term, playing just 12 times across all competitions.
And Goal now report the J-League side have joined MLS teams Inter Miami and New York City in the race for the 32-year-old, whose contract expires in six months.
Real Madrid have rejected Valencia’s pursuit of Dani Ceballos.
The Arsenal loanee has failed to impress at the Emirates this term and is eager to move this month to salvage a season of development.
Napoli have made an offer of €21m for Andrea Petagna.
With Fernando Llorente not in Gennaro Gattuso’s plans, the Partenopei will want another forward and Petagna fits the bill, having scored eight goals in 20 Serie A games this year.
Arsenal’s move for Flamengo centre-back Pablo Mari has hit a stumbling block, with reports in Brazil claiming Arsenal are unable to meet the €9m asking price. Mari had travelled to London, but has now returned to Brazil where he is set to begin pre-season with Flamengo. Arsenal are instead hoping to complete a loan deal with an option to buy.
Arsenal and Everton are interested in signing Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez this month, according to Spanish publication AS.
The Colombian is valued at £34m, however, Arsenal have made clear they can only afford to bring in players on loan this month. It’s not yet known if any deal would see Dani Ceballos’ loan cut short, with the Spaniard reportedly unhappy in north London.
With less than a week now remaining of the January transfer window, clubs across Europe are scrambling to plug the gaps and clear the deadwood.
In the Premier League, the vast majority of clubs are set to be active. Arsenal are still desperately scouring for a centre-back, with attentions firmly turned towards Flamengo’s Pablo Mari after a short-lived pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykola Matviyenko.
Meanwhile, Tottenham may well be the busiest club, with Steven Bergwijn, Willian Jose and Krzysztof Piatek all subject to talks. There could be several exits too, with Kyle Walker-Peters, Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama all on the market, as Southampton and Crystal Palace vie for the former.
Manchester United continue to haggle over Bruno Fernandes, with Sporting’s evaluation of the Portugal international still far higher than expected, while Chelsea struggle to lure want-away PSG striker Edinson Cavani to west London.
Here are 20 of the biggest transfers that could happen before the window closes on 31 January.
Brandon Austin has moved to Viborg on loan until the end of the season.
The Spurs goalkeeper will gain valuable experience in the Danish second tier with his first loan of his career.
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Manchester United are prepared to close the window without a major signing, as their pursuits of Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes and a striker have stalled. That means United’s primary targets for next summer are Leicester City’s James Maddison and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, and they plan to move for one in the summer.
