Follow live news and the latest updates as we cast our eye across all of the day’s transfer news, rumours and gossip from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and across Europe.
Manchester United and Arsenal have both been in the headlines this afternoon as they consider moves for Paris Saint-Germain’s soon-to-be departed striker Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan is out of contract at the end of the season and available on a free transfer, and reports in his homeland suggest that offers have already been made from the two Premier League clubs along with Atletico Madrid. Chelsea meanwhile are on the hunt for a defender, with eyes on Issa Diop of West Ham and their former centre-back Nathan Ake at Bournemouth, with £40m prepared for both depending on who the club decide to focus on.
Tottenham Hotspur meanwhile are looking at Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti despite long-term interest from Arsenal and United, with the France international facing a somewhat uncertain future as Barca are keen to move him on this season, while another star defender who appears to be on the market is Juventus’s Matthijs de Ligt, who despite only arriving in Italy at the start of the season is already being linked with a loan move back to Ajax after failing to settle in Turin. Follow all of the latest below.
Inter Milan chief executive Beppe Marotta has confirmed his club are interested in signing three Premier League stars: Christian Eriksen, Olivier Giroud and Victor Moses, who is currently on loan at Fenerbache from Chelsea.
“Moses is definitely a candidate,” he said this weekend.
“Eriksen is a Tottenham player whose contract expires in June. The fact of having been to dinner with his agent is legitimate, authorised by current rules and therefore not limited.
“From here to say if he will arrive in January or June, there is competition and we don’t know what is going to happen.
“I do not deny that we spoke with Giroud’s entourage and now we will make the right assessment. The two operations – this one and that of [Matteo] Politano – could be linked but what does not happen today in the market can happen tomorrow.”
Think Manchester United can solve all of their problems by dipping into the transfer market this month? Then you’re WRONG.
Allow Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney to explain why.
I’m a huge fan of one of the transfer tidbits in SPORT this morning: Inter Milan reportedly want to snap up Luka Modric from Real Madrid.
The Spanish outlet report that 34-year-old Modric – who will be a free agent in January 2021 – is increasingly open to leaving the Bernabéu and that Real will not block any move, out of respect for the midfielder’s loyal service over the years.
Modric and Christian Eriksen in the same midfield – what a glorious thought.
Somebody sound the strangest rumour of the day klaxon [???]: The Telegraph have this morning claimed that Spurs boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign Leicester City flop Islam Slimani.
The 31-year-old is currently out on loan at Monaco where he has banged in eight goals in 11 starts – after managing 8 in 35 for the Foxes.
And that has reportedly convinced Mourinho that the big Algerian is the man to temporarily replace Harry Kane, rather than AC Milan misfit Krzysztof Piatek.
Some long overdue good news for Arsenal supporters: France Football this morning claims the club have agreed a deal for a new player.
They report that Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa – who has also been linked to the usual home of washed-up old PSG stars, Tottenham Hotspur – has agreed a deal with Mikel Arteta’s side and will join on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare – who has been linked to both Manchester United and Chelsea this window – has insisted to L’Equipe that he will not leave Ligue 1 side Lille this window.
He said: “I want to do a full season, yes. I feel good, my team-mates are helping me. It is not time to leave. I don’t want to leave with regrets.
“Yes, of course [I would like to leave], I have already discussed with the coach. I told him very clearly. I have a very clear idea of where I want to go in my career. I know where I am today. And that suits me.”
Paul Pogba has reportedly been contacted by his old Juventus teammates as they attempt to lure him back to Turin.
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Juan Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain have all reached out to the Frenchman and are desperate to see him return to Italy.
The trio are supposedly talking to Pogba via WhatsApp, with the midfielder’s future at Manchester United still up in the air.
A story published in The Mirror yesterday morning and now doing the rounds in the foreign press is that Liverpool are set to revitalise their interest in RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner.
The £60m man was previously a target for Arsenal and has also been linked with Chelsea, who it was claimed earlier this month had already opened negotiations with the 23-year-old.
However, The Mirror claim all this rival interest in Werner has spooked Liverpool into action, with the club now accelerating their initial plans to sign him in the summer.
Manchester United have – of course – been attempting to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon all month and Sky Sports have today reported that the midfielder is “desperate” to seal a move to Old Trafford.
However, a story in today’s Daily Star suggests that United will instead now prioritise signing a striker given the injury suffered by Rashford.
And the man they claim United will elevate above Fernandes as their primary transfer target this month? Edinson Cavani – who has reportedly handed in a transfer request at Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester United are operating with a relatively thin squad but are particularly short of options in the attacking area with no alternatives to Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
And, after yesterday’s defeat by Liverpool, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested that the loss of Marcus Rashford to injury added to the need to bring in some new faces to the club.
“We’re always looking at chances to improve the squad – with Marcus out for a while we have to look at it closely. We might look at some short-term deals. We are looking at numbers,” he said.
Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of today’s transfer news, rumours and done deals.
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United and Chelsea have both been linked with Dinamo and Spain star Dani Olmo. There could also be some big moves across Europe. Real Madrid have been linked with a £68m move for Timo Werner, as well as Flamengo wonder kid Reinier, while Arsenal have turned their eyes to RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano as a long-term target.
