Welcome to Independent Football’s live coverage of today’s latest transfer news, gossip and done deals around the Premier League and across the continent, with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and more frantically pushing for deals before Friday’s deadline.
The biggest saga of the window is Manchester United’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon skipper Bruno Fernandes. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to bring in reinforcements after losing Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay to injury. Tottenham, too, look eager to finalise deals this week to satisfy Jose Mourinho, namely Steven Bergwijn from PSV.
While Barcelona are looking for a new striker due to Luis Suarez’s serious injury, while Olivier Giroud, Rodrigo and others have been mentioned, the latest name is now Wissam Ben Yedder, with a £67m offer rumoured to have arrived for Monaco. Arsenal, also looking to compliment Mikel Arteta’s initial ideas at the Emirates, with Everton looking to compete with them for James Rodriguez. While Frank Lampard has spoken out on the need to reinvest due to their inability to spend the Eden Hazard money from last summer due to the transfer ban. The Blues have been offered Spurs target Krzysztof Piatek.
Lyon set to edge Arsenal for Guimaraes
Lyon chief Juninho insists his club are set to beat Arsenal for Bruno Guimaraes.
The Athletico Paranaense midfielder has been a target for the Gunners this window.
And the 22-year-old is now very close to joining the Ligue 1 side, according to Juninho.
“For Bruno Guimaraes, it’s 95 per cent done,” he said. “We’re going to go there to do the last tests. We’ll see him on Wednesday to have his medical visit.”
Fiorentina have matched Napoli’s offer of €15m plus bonuses for Verona star Sofyan Amrabat.
Barcelona could offer Wague and Abel Ruiz in part exchange for Rodrigo.
The Catalans want the Valencia star to fill the void left by the injured Luis Suarez.
While Ruiz could eventually blossom into a direct replacement.
There’s not much time to do it… But here’s everything each Premier League club needs before this week’s deadline.
Borussia Dortmund look to be closing in on signing Emre Can from Juventus.
The former Liverpool star has been out of favour since Maurizio Sarri’s arrival, and the 26-year-old, who has two more years on his contract, looks set to leave for a fee in the region of €25-30m.
Barcelona target Rodrigo’s future at Valencia could be decided in the next 48 hours.
They want a one-off payment of €60m to sell their 28-year-old star.
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas has admitted defeat in his pursuit of Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz.
The talented youngster has rarely featured under Zinedine Zidane, but the player has refused to leave on loan and wants to fight for his place.
“He’s a great player,” Bordalas said when asked about Brahim.
“He told Real Madrid that he wanted to stay there because he’s confident that a chance will come.
“I’d have liked to have him with us, he’d have been a very good addition.
“Players play where they want, though, and Brahim is at Real Madrid.
“He’s made his decision and we have to respect that.”
Charlton are close to signing Florentin Pogba, the brother of Paul Pogba, as a free agent having left MLS side Atlanta United after last season.
The 29-year-old has reportedly been training with the club after failing to earn a contract for the 2020 season.
Sevilla are close to signing Suso from AC Milan.
Matteo Politano is having a medical at Napoli.
It will be an 18-month loan from Inter, with an obligation to buy fro €25m.
His move to Roma was knocked on the head after Inter were upset with the terms of the swap including Leonardo Spinazzola.
This should now make room for a new striker, with Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud seemingly a candidate to boost Antonio Conte’s side.
Christian Eriksen has arrived in Milan for his medical at Inter.
The Spurs midfielder will join Antonio Conte’s side for a fee in the region of £15m.
It will allow Jose Mourinho to reinvest that money into deals in the last remaining days of the window, salvaging some value given the Dane’s contract running out this summer.
Rafa Benitez is being targeted by Newcastle should Saudi Arabia complete a takeover of the club.
Now with Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, Benitez walked away after claiming Mike Ashley made unfair demands to seal his contract extension at St James’ Park.
Arsenal will compete with Everton for the signing of James Rodriguez.
The Colombian does not have a long-term future at Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane.
Spurs will continue talks with AC Milan for Krzysztof Piatek, report Sky Sport Italia.
The Polish striker could join Jose Mourinho’s side for £25m, while Chelsea have also been offered the chance to sign him.
Spurs want a loan with an option to buy, though Milan are adamant he will leave only on a permanent deal.
Barcelona have made a shock £67m move for Wissam Ben Yedder to cover for Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan will miss the majority of the remainder of the season through injury.
And new manager Quique Setien could be handed a big-money replacement in the form of the ex-Sevilla striker, who moved to Monaco last summer for £36m.
Tottenham will move for PSV star Steven Bergwijn.
Jose Mourinho wants cover for Harry Kane and the Dutch forward can replace the Spurs No 10 and also play wide to provide a long-term benefit for the club.
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Dani Olmo to Leipzig, Takumi Minamino to Liverpool and Erling Haaland to Borussia Dortmund remain some of the biggest moves of the window to date with several more of a similar size to come in the following days.
