Wednesday's transfer news: Man United chase Bruno Fernandes and Marcos Llorente, plus Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea latest
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The January transfer window is starting to hot up with Manchester United unable to resist dipping in as they edge towards a move that could be worth up to £60m for Bruno Fernandes, yet Arsenal, too, promise to be busy in the remaining days, though they will need to be more creative with funds restricted for now. Manchester City’s John Stones could follow Mikel Arteta to the Emirates if reports are to be believed, while Liverpool have proven how best to approach the month, snapping up Takumi Minamino from RB Salzburg to further boost their hopes of a treble this term.
While United remain active in the market for new players, perhaps their biggest opportunity remains off the pitch with Mauricio Pochettino currently available. Fresh from their transfer ban being lifted, Chelsea added youngster Bryan Fiabema, but more significant signings are on the horizon. Manchester United and Arsenal have been linked with Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani, who will be available for free this summer, but Atletico Madrid could move first for the Uruguayan, with Diego Simeone eager to add him this month to boost their Champions League campaign given their limited options up top right now. Chelsea have highlighted their defence as an area to upgrade, leading to rumours of moves for Issa Diop of West Ham and their former centre-back Nathan Ake at Bournemouth, with £40m the likely fee for both players.
Tottenham Hotspur could be ambitious with Jose Mourinho eager to overhaul his squad and now desperate to strengthen in the market due to Harry Kane’s long-term injury. Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti could be targeted, but with Ernesto Valverde’s departure and the arrival of Quique Setien, Spurs may have to look elsewhere, while one of the stars of last season Matthijs de Ligt has failed to settle at Juventus and has been linked with a loan move back to Ajax, but the season-ending injury to Merih Demiral should end any possibility of that for now.
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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.
Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of signing Porto striker Zé Luís on loan.
Record and SIC in Portugal, report that Spurs are just awaiting approval from the FA now.
The 28-year-old is a Jorge Mendes client and has seven goals in 12 appearances this term.
It was one of those lines that sounded ominous at the time, and now seems like it will be another sound bite that goes down in the history of a great manager.
Just a few months into Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool, Sir Alex Ferguson was discussing the German’s impact and how impressive he’d been. “He’s revived Liverpool’s enthusiasm,” the great Scot told Kicker. “He’s a strong personality. That’s absolutely vital at a big club. I’m worried about him because the one thing United don’t want is Liverpool to get above us.”
Ferguson, in other words, had an instinct for where it was going. What was happening at Liverpool just felt right. It fit.
Pep Guardiola will not walk away from Manchester City at the end of the season.
The Spaniard has one year remaining on his contract after the current campaign ans the Telegraph report he fully intends to stay until at least 2021.
The City boss is however undecided over whether to extend his stay at the Etihad by signing an extension and will wait to see the club's intent in the market to prove their belief in him.
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has strengthened his ties with Everton after paying £30million up front to secure an exclusive option on naming rights for the club’s proposed new stadium.
The 66-year-old, who sold his shares in Arsenal for a reported £550m in the summer of 2018, is a long-time business partner of the Toffees’ majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and has been linked with buying a stake in the club.
Usmanov’s holding company USM already sponsors the club’s Finch Farm training ground and the Russian tycoon has now ploughed in further money with an agreement in place for the naming rights for Bramley-Moore Dock, which is scheduled to be completed by 2023.
Man United youngster Tahith Chong is a target for Inter Milan.
Fabrizio Romano of Sky Sport Italia reports the soon-to-be free agent has been offered to the Italians, though many teams are interested.
The 20-year-old has so far rejected the offer to extend his stay at Old Trafford, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisting he is powerless now to stop the Dutch winger to leave.
He said: "There are players we wanna get signed, of course. And Tahith is a player we think is going to develop. We've offered him a very good contract and the ball is in his court."
Jose Mourinho has told Christian Eriksen to leave Tottenham with his head held high amid reports of an imminent exit to Inter Milan.
The Denmark international’s Spurs career is definitely coming to an end, it is just a case of whether it will be this month or in the summer.
Reports in Italy suggest Eriksen has agreed a deal with the Serie A side, which could mean his outing in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough could be his farewell appearance.
Arsenal are monitoring Franck Kessie with a view to a £21m move.
Corriere dello Sport report than the Ivorian has become available, with West Ham also keen on the 23-year-old.
Milan had been linked with a swap move involving Kessie, with rivals Inter Milan sending Matias Vecino back to them.
Mikel Arteta now appears keen though, but remained coy when pushed on the Gunners' involvement this month.
He said: "At the moment there is nothing coming up. The club is working on a few things but you know how difficult this window is and I’m not expecting many things."
*** DONE DEAL KLAXON ***
Spurs sign Gedson
Tottenham have announced the signing of Gedson Fernandes from Benfica on loan with an option to buy.
A statement from the club read: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement for the 18-month loan of Gedson Fernandes from Benfica with an option to make the transfer permanent."
Bayern Munich have ruled out a move for Jerome Boateng, who has been linked with Arsenal this month.
The German champions will not allow Boateng to leave due to their small squad, claim Sport Bild.
*** DONE DEAL KLAXON ***
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has left the club to join Real Oviedo on loan.
The highly-rated Ukrainian goalkeeper will pick up experience at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere for the remainder of the season.
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