It’s go time as the winter window opens on Jan. 1 in England, Germany, France and China. Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.
TOP STORY: Man United target Gedson Fernandes in England for talks?
Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes is being strongly linked to Manchester United with Record reporting that his agents have been in England for talks at Old Trafford this week.
The 20-year-old has struggled to hold down a place in the Benfica team this season, with the club said to be happy to let him go while the interest is there.
Benfica are reported to be open to a January loan deal with the possibility of a permanent move later in the year, though it would be for less than his €100m buyout clause.
AC Milan and Lyon have also been linked with Fernandes but the presence of his agents in England has turned the spotlight on Manchester United as the more likely destination. The continuing absence of Paul Pogba and recent injury of Scott McTominay has left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with limited options in midfield and he could well make a move for the Portugal international this month.
LIVE BLOG
15.27 GMT: Both Napoli and Ajax are preparing to tempt Tottenham into selling Jan Vertonghen, according to the Telegraph.
Vertonghen’s contract with Tottenham is up in the summer but both teams are reportedly interested in luring him away before then.
Gennaro Gattuso is said to particularly want a centre-back for the second half of the season to help his team climb the Serie A table. Vertonghen has been playing at both left-back and centre-back under Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.
The 32-year-old was a youth team player at Ajax before they sold him to Spurs seven years ago for £12 million.
14.34 GMT: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to be drawn on Adam Lallana‘s future at the club today at a press conference ahead of their match against Sheffield United tomorrow.
“Everything about Adam Lallana, he knows and I know. I am very happy he is in sensational shape. For him, whether he’s here or somewhere else, the important thing is he shows he is 100 per cent fit,” Klopp said.
13.16 GMT: While everyone is waiting to see what Kylian Mbappe‘s future holds, his 13-year-old brother Ethan has reportedly caught the eye of Real Madrid.
The younger Mbappe played for PSG in the International Champions Cup Futures tournament in front of Real Madrid scouts who were impressed, reports AS.
Real Madrid’s interest in Kylian has always been apparent but could his brother joining the youth side sway him on a move to the Spanish giants?
12.29 GMT: Reports from the Times suggest that Wilfried Zaha could be on the move to Chelsea.
The paper is reporting that Frank Lampard has identified Zaha as a major target and Chelsea are ready to table an offer following Rog Hodgson’s admittance that Crystal Palace would have to consider a serious bid for the player.
A potential stumbling block for Lampard though is the £80 million price tag Crystal Palace have set on their star player.
11.41 GMT: Striker Sam Surridge has been recalled from Swansea by AFC Bournemouth halfway through his season-long loan.
The club confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the 21-year-old would be returning to the Vitality Stadium with immediate effect.
Surridge scored seven goals in 23 appearances for Swansea.
11.13 GMT: If you want to keep track of who has secured the best signings this transfer window, keep an eye on this article from Jonathan Molyneux-Carter which grades the most notable signings from the top teams.
10.30 GMT: The Express are reporting that Chelsea could make a £20 million move for CSKA Moscow striker Fyodor Chalov.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has reportedly told the board he wants a striker and the 21-year-old is one of the names in the mix.
Chalov would offer a back up to on form Tammy Abraham. The CSKA Moscow player has scored six goals so far this season.
09.49 GMT: Tottenham are being linked with a £30m bid for Leicester full-back Ricardo Pereira by the Daily Express.
Pereira, 26, has been one of the standout players in the Premier League this season and his performances have caught the eye of Jose Mourinho. But PSG are also keen.
09.14 GMT: If you were expecting a flurry of done deals this morning, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed but we can bring you the news that Manchester United and Tottenham are going to have a bit of competition to sign Lille midfielder Boubakay Soumare.
Soumare, 20, is highly rated and has attracted interest from plenty of top clubs with L’Equipe reporting that SIX have already made bids for him.
Wolves tried to land him for £34m in the summer but Lille are holding out for more like £50m and seem to have plenty of options.
09.00 GMT: It’s 2020 and the window is open! Hang on, there’s a draught. When does it close again? At the end of the month of course…
Join us throughout January for all the best gossip and done deals. Hopefully there will be a few big ones.
PAPER TALK (By Jon Molyneux-Carter)
Inter join Barca in race for Arsenal striker Aubameyang
Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was handed the captaincy earlier this season after Granit Xhaka was stripped of the armband, but that might not stop him from leaving the club in the coming months, with Inter Milan joining Barcelona in the hunt for his signature, according to the Daily Mirror.
Aubameyang, 30, will have just one year left on his contract next summer, but the club’s recent crisis of confidence has him unsettled and looking at his options.
The Gabon international has been one of the stars of the Premier League since his £56 million arrival two years ago, but the Telegraph reports that he has refused to sign a new deal and his contract could be sold.
Arsenal will cut their losses and use the cash to help fund Mikel Arteta’s list of transfer targets, which is reported to include Atletico Madrid forward Thomas Lemar, RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano and Lyon’s Moussa Dembele.
Chelsea and City chase Chilwell
Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell is set to be the centre of a tug-of-war between Chelsea and Manchester City, reports iNews.
Chilwell, 23, has made himself England’s first-choice left-back with a string of fine performances over the past year, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Leicester have no desire to sell, but with two giants on the trail, bids of £60m-£70m could persuade the club to part ways with the defender.
Arsenal to go back for Kamara?
Arsenal should know all about Glen Kamara as they had him on their books until 2017 when he was released, but the Daily Mail says the club have sent scouts to watch him six times so far this season.
The Gunners have realised their mistake and are willing to make amends by bringing the Finland international midfielder back to the Emirates from Rangers, even though he signed for them only in January 2019 for £50,000 from Dundee.
Kamara, 24, has impressed under Steven Gerrard since arriving, but you have to wonder if he’d be keen to return to Arsenal after the way he was treated.
Tottenham will have to spend £45m for Aarons
Norwich full-back Max Aarons is attracting the interest of Tottenham, and The Athletic has revealed his rumoured price tag.
Aarons, 19, has had a fine start to the season despite Norwich’s relegation battle and would cost around £45m if his contract were to be sold in January.
Tottenham are in need of a right-back, as Kyle Walker-Peters is set to leave on loan, meaning Serge Aurier would be the only senior player in that position.
Tap-ins
– Liverpool are hoping to beat Real Madrid to Sevilla defender Diego Carlos, according to El Desmarque. The Brazilian defender has a buyout clause of £65m in his contract, with the Reds keen to pair him with Virgil van Dijk at the end of the season.
– Germany winger Julian Draxler looks set to leave Paris Saint-Germain this window, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Sevilla all linked, according to the Sun.
– Manchester United might be fresh out of luck when it comes to signing players represented by agent Mino Raiola.
Raiola is unhappy with the treatment of his client Paul Pogba and told Italian newspaper La Repubblica: “Pogba’s problem is Manchester United. It’s a club out of touch with reality and without a sporting project. I wouldn’t bring anyone there now.”
He added: “They’d also ruin [Diego] Maradona, Pele and [Paolo] Maldini. Paul needs a team and club like the Juventus team he played in.”
