Transfer news and gossip live: United want £25m Championship star, Liverpool given green light for defender move

All the latest transfer news plus gossip and rumours throughout the day

Winter transfer window: Ten players looking for a move in January

It's nearly here... no, not Christmas, the January transfer window is now just around the corner and the rumour mill is cranking into gear accordingly.

Clubs spent money like it was going out of fashion last summer and with more TV cash than ever before up for grabs then the winter window could be another record breaker with managers up and down the country frantically drawing up shortlists as we speak.

As ever it is a time for rumour, counter-rumour, gossip and conjecture and we will be across all of it for you right here so don't touch that dial.

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Key Points

Manchester United are prepared to bid £25m for Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon

[23 December 2017 09:26 · Ben Burrows]

Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.

The winter transfer window is now just around the corner with some of world football's biggest names possibly on the move.

Neymar smashed the world transfer record by swapping Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer but with money seemingly to burn January could be the biggest ever with many closer to home possibly following the Brazilian in making multi-million pound moves.

We'll bring you all the latest news, done deals and breaking rumours throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.

Without further ado, off we go.

[23 December 2017 09:38 · Ben Burrows]

Liverpool will go in for Monaco's £90m-rated Thomas Lemar in January, as they attempt to bolster their chances of securing a top-four spot, and beat Arsenal to the French international's signature

Jürgen Klopp has a longstanding interest in the 22-year-old forward, and the belief at Anfield is that his first choice is Liverpool, even though Arsenal came close to signing him in August.

Arsene Wenger was looking to sign an attacker as a potential replacement for Alexis Sanchez, but the deal fell down, partly due to Lemar's desire to play Champions League football.

More here:

[23 December 2017 09:45 · Ben Burrows]

Antonio Conte says he anticipates Chelsea doing business in January, with The Independent understanding that his main target is the type of forward player who can operate in a few positions across the front line.

The Italian is more content with his squad than in September - and again mentioned the progress of 17-year-old Ethan Ampadu - but says they will buy if the right deal becomes available.

He also stated he still wants to improve the depth of his squad.

[23 December 2017 10:15 · Ben Burrows]

Manchester City’s main transfer target this January will be a centre-half, with Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk currently the top option, although the club also want to sign a number-six and a forward - still likely Alexis Sanchez - over the next six months.

Both Pep Guardiola and director of football Txiki Begiristain met with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak when the latter flew in at the weekend, sitting ahead of the 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur to talk about the next 18 months of planning.

While their ongoing interest in Sanchez was discussed, it is understood that Guardiola is now no longer so intent on signing the Chilean this season, as he is content with the chemistry and integration of his attack.

[23 December 2017 10:30 · Ben Burrows]

West Bromwich Albion could be ready to cash in on Jonny Evansshould he fail to sign a new contract.

The Baggies rejected bids from Arsenal, Leicester and Manchester City for Evans in the summer and are braced for more interest during next month’s transfer window.

Albion captain Evans has 18-months left on his current contract after joining from Manchester United for a fee rising to £8m in 2015 and has been linked with a return to Old Trafford.

[23 December 2017 10:45 · Ben Burrows]

Kevin De Bruyne’s new Manchester City contract will stipulate he is paid in euros, due to the pound’s fallen exchange rate, in a discussion point that is becoming increasingly common in the Premier League.

The Independent understands that a number of players feel that they have lost out on current contracts due to the effect on the currency after Britain voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, and that it is now forming a part of all contract discussions.

De Bruyne was previously on around £115,000 a week as part of his old deal, but with the Belgian set to sign a lucrative new six-year deal over the next few weeks, it will dictate that he is now paid €225,000 basic. That figure will end up at €265,000 with bonuses and image rights.

[23 December 2017 11:00 · Ben Burrows]

Manchester United’s EFL Cup defeat to Bristol City has caused Jose Mourinho to re-assess his transfer plans, as he has become more concerned about his squad’s depth.

While it had been the case that the club’s funds would be limited this January, with maybe only a left-back like Alex Sandro targeted,The Independent has been told that the Portuguese is now pushing for more signings.

Mourinho was critical of a largely second-string side after the dramatic defeat at Ashton Gate on Wednesday, albeit without naming players directly, and it is understood he now wants to bolster his options while preferably making sales.

[23 December 2017 11:20 · Ben Burrows]

Everton manager Sam Allardyce has revealed he will attempt to make two signings in the transfer window after being given money to spend by owner Farhad Moshiri.

Allardyce remains wary of not bloating Everton’s squad January, but will still attempt to strengthen key areas with the addition of a full-back and a striker.

The 63-year-old also confirmed he was “very interested” in Sevilla’s Steven Nzonzi but given the midfield options already at his disposal the Toffees’ spending will be determined by other priorities.

[23 December 2017 11:40 · Ben Burrows]

Ryan Giggs has claimed that he told Manchester United to sign both Gabriel Jesus and Kylian Mbappe when they were worth just £5m.

The Welshman was assistant manager to Louis van Gaal for two seasons before leaving the club once Jose Mourinho took charge in 2016 and he suggested that United’s transfer policy was to blame for missing out on a lot of young talent.

Jesus joined rivals Manchester City from Palmeiras last January, while Mbappe, who was recently voted Fifa’s the Golden Boy, joined Paris Saint-Germain for £160m.

[23 December 2017 12:00 · Ben Burrows]

The City Football Group’s South American expansion has been a key part of their recruitment plan, with the aim of snapping up some of the world’s best young players in a famously productive footballing continent and then training them into Premier League calibre players at their network of clubs.

And Manchester City are expected to shortly confirm the signing of Paraguayan midfielder Jesus Medina, 20, before farming him out on loan to another CFG side.

Medina, who plays for Libertad in his homeland and recently made his international debut against Mexico, was thought to be close to signing for Argentinean giants Boca Juniors until City made a move.