Friday’s transfer news: Man United offered Edinson Cavani, Chelsea favourites for Timo Werner plus Liverpool and Arsenal latest
All the done deals and reports from Friday 17 January
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Bruno Fernandes is on the verge of joining Manchester United, with Sporting set to receive around £60m, but the Portuguese midfielder will play in the Lisbon derby tonight against Benfica, which puts the deal in some doubt. Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente could become available due to a lack of playing time, with Diego Simeone eager to shuffle his squad – namely through Edinson Cavani, but Paris Saint-Germain want a big fee, despite the Uruguayan being out of contract in the summer. Arsenal will hope to give Mikel Arteta a couple of new players, either on short-term loans or free transfers, with Layvin Kurzawa an option from PSG to bolster their left-back options. Manchester City do not look likely to sign players, despite being significantly off the pace that Liverpool have set, and the Reds are comfortable right now, both with their lead in the Premier League and the fact they have acquired Japan’s Takumi Minamino from RB Salzburg.
Chelsea could be busy, both in and out: OIivier Giroud looks set for Inter Milan, while the Italians are also looking to add Ashley Young from Man United as Antonio Conte eyes a title in his first season in charge at the San Siro. Tottenham Hotspur have appeased Jose Mourinho to a degree by adding Gedson Fernandes on an 18-month loan and could dip back into the market to add Ze Luis from Porto to cover for Harry Kane, who is out for almost the entirety of the remainder of the season.
Ernesto Valverde’s departure could see Quique Setien handed a few new faces at Barcelona, but it seems as if the Catalans want to trim their squad firstly, with Jean-Claude Todibo set for Schalke in a £25m deal. The 20-year-old joins on loan with a number of options to buy and buy back. Here we detail the latest rumours and news around the continent as we enter the final two weeks of the season.
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Jose Mourinho says Inter Milan have yet to bid for Christian Eriksen and that the midfielder will play against Watford on Saturday.
"You have to ask the agent and Inter Milan because they know more than me," Mourinho said. "If they are confident, they are confident because they are ready to make us an offer, which didn't happen yet.
"So when I see people speaking, especially people with responsibilities speaking about it, I am a little bit surprised. That's all I can say. I think it's normal that until January 31 his brain is not totally in focus. I think it's a normal consequence of the situation.
"I think it's normal that a player doesn't know very well what is going on, but I still don't understand that optimism because, in this moment, for a few matches people are speaking about is Eriksen going? Eriksen played his last match for the club, and the situation didn't change, Eriksen plays tomorrow."
Another piece of business Spurs will be trying to do is turn Giovani Lo Celso's loan into a permanent deal.
Spurs have an option to buy him for £27.2million during this window, a price that will go up to an obligatory £34million in the summer.
"I imagine yes, I think it is something that comes from the summer," Mourinho said when asked whether a purchase could happen. "I think Giovani is going to stay with us. There are some loans that have the opportunity to be in control of the situation like is happening with Gedson.
"There are some emergency loans and there are other loans where the objective is to be in control of the future of the player without any need of further negotiations."
Inter Milan are understood to be pushing hard to sign Olivier Giroud this month, but Frank Lampard insists that no deal has been agreed with Chelsea.
Former Blues manager Antonio Conte wants to link up with Giroud in Milan, but Lampard again hailed the World Cup-winner's professionalism at Stamford Bridge.
"If everything is right it might happen but it's not, so whilst it's not he's our player," said Lampard.
"And the great thing about Ollie is that he's got great experience and professionalism, and he's been nothing but great with us."
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has warned Aston Villa that a loan move for Foxes forward Islam Slimani is likely to be "too complicated".
Villa are desperately chasing a new striker after Wesley was recently ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, while Keinan Davis is also on the sidelines, and Jonathan Kodjia is set to move to Qatari side Al Gharafa.
It is understood Villa will this weekend sort out the international clearance paperwork that will allow Tanzania international Mbwana Samatta to complete an £8.5million move from Belgian side Genk.
But Villa are also believed to be chasing Slimani, who in August joined Monaco on a season-long loan from Leicester.
"I think that looks like it's probably going to be too complicated," said Rodgers when asked about Slimani joining another club in this transfer window.
"There is interest in him, but he is there at Monaco and due to be there for the season. I'm not sure if anything will happen on that or not, but it will just make it a little bit complicated."
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti kept his cards close to his chest in his weekly press conference when quizzed on incomings this month.
"Just to be clear, I don't want to talk about players that are not here. We are looking at a lot of players and there are a lot of good players around the world."
Arsenal must pay at least £4.3m and could be forced to pay up to £6m for Layvin Kurzawa.
The PSG star is available with his contract set to run down in the summer.
L'Equipe claim there is no formal contact yet between the clubs.
Lyon have struck a deal to sign Karl Toko Ekambi from Villarreal on loan with a £m option to buy.
L'Equipe report that despite Jean Michel Aulas' claims to the contrary, OL will snap up the Cameroonian international.
The hope is that he will be available to play in next Tuesday's Coupe de la Ligue match against Lille, while personal terms also need to be thrashed out.
That's all from us today - thanks for joining, folks. Tune in tomorrow for more of the same!
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