Transfer news: Man Utd to spoil Arsenal and Tottenham plans as Liverpool eye £54m wonderkid
Review the day's transfer stories with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all facing a busy month in the hunt for reinforcements
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Your support makes all the difference.Review all of Friday's transfer news, rumours, done deals and collapsed moves from around the world.
Manchester United and Arsenal were both in the headlines 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 bids 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. Review all of the stories below.
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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.
Good morning, and welcome to The Independent's rolling coverage of today's transfer news. We'll be bringing you all the latest rumours, reports and done deals from across the market!
In today's news, Chelsea have reportedly moved ahead of their rivals in the chase for Thomas Lemar, Tottenham are close to agreeing a deal for a new striker and former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is holding out on a return to management in hopes of making Old Trafford his new office from next season...
With that said, let's dive into all the transfer latest!
Ajax are considering making an attempt to bring Matthijs de Ligt back to the club from Juventus.
According to A Bola in Portugal, the Dutch champions would like the 20-year-old defender, who only left for Serie A last summer, to rejoin on a loan deal.
De Ligt has struggled to impress in his first half-season in Italy.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta does not expect the club to make any major signings in the January transfer window but said he is hopeful captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will sign a contract extension.
After investing heavily in the close-season to secure the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Kieran Tierney, David Luiz and Gabriel Martinelli, British media reported Arsenal are working with a modest transfer budget this month.
"I'm not expecting big things," Arteta told a news conference ahead of Arsenal's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
"I'm expecting big things from the players I have at the moment, the players that are recovering from injuries.
"If we can find something to help us go through the season in a more balanced way in certain areas, and is helpful, we'll look at the options."
According to the rumour mill Manchester United are in the process of ruining transfer plans in north London.
Tottenham Hotspur are long-term suitors of Sporting star Bruno Fernandes but Portuguese outlet A Bola are claiming that the Primeira Liga side have told Manchester United the 25-year-old is theirs for the handsome sum of £59.7m.
That is likely to put him out of Tottenham’s price range – particularly after Jose Mourinho acquiesced to Daniel Levy’s modest transfer budget – but not United’s, who are desperate to sign a new midfielder before the window shuts.
Elsewhere, Corriere dello Sport claim that Kalidou Koulibaly is unhappy at Napoli and that Manchester United are the club ‘most interested’ in signing him.
Koulibaly has been linked to both Tottenham and north London rivals Arsenal this window – although both would struggle to meet his wage demands.
The Sun have this morning splashed with the news that Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly agreed a £28m deal for AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek.
Spurs need to bolster their attacking options after Harry Kane was ruled out until April with a hamstring injury.
Piatek was made available by AC Milan after they tempted Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to the club, with Aston Villa, Newcastle and Crystal Palace all interested in the 24-year-old Poland international at one point.
But The Sun claim Spurs have gazumped them all and are close to securing a £23.8m initial deal for the striker.
Liverpool are supposedly ready to spend big on another rising star.
The Reds have already signed Takumi Minamino this window and, according to Foot Mercato, are now poised to buy 20-year-old winger Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal.
The Nigeria international, who was nominated for the Youth Player of the Year prize at the recent 2019 CAF Awards, has previously caught the eye of Lyon, but it is now reported Liverpool are in pole position to sign him.
The youngster has a release clause of £53.55m – although the report claims an offer around the £34m mark could tempt Villarreal into doing business.
Nigel Pearson's Watford are contemplating an approach for Fulham defender Joe Bryan, Sky has reported.
The 26-year-old left-back, who joined Championship side Fulham in 2018, has been identified as a potential signing by the Hornets in light of their injury issues across the back four.
Watford are 19th in the Premier League, with 19 points from 21 games.
Manager Chris Wilder has ruled out the possibility of club captain Billy Sharp leaving Sheffield United this month, despite the 33-year-old striker struggling for game time this season.
Midfielders Ben Osborn and Luke Freeman will not leave either, according to the Mirror, though both were linked with loan exits.
Wilder will allow others to depart Bramall Lane if offers arrive, however, including Richard Stearman, Leon Clarke and Mark Duffy.
Ashley Young has rejected Manchester United's offer of a one-year contract extension, Sky has reported.
The offer seemed to be an attempt by United to prevent captain Young from joining Inter Milan, but it looks to have been in vain.
Chelsea have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Thomas Lemar this January – with the Blues moving ahead of Spurs in the race for the Atletico Madrid man.
The France international has endured a tough few months in Madrid and has been told he is available for transfer.
Spurs expressed an early interest in the 24-year-old but Chelsea are thought to have moved ahead in the race for his services, according to The Evening Standard.
Lemar is available on a £5m loan deal – or £50m permanently.
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