Monday’s transfer round-up: Arsenal contact Real Madrid over James Rodriguez as Kevin Prince Boateng joins Barcelona
Relive all of Monday's transfer news plus gossip, rumours and done deals
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Your support makes all the difference.The Premier League's January transfer window saw one of its most bizarre transfer stories as former Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng joined Barcelona on loan until the end of the season from Sassuolo. The deal for the 31-year-old also includes an option to buy for £7.1m.
Arsenal confirmed head of recruitment Sven Mislintat will depart the club after disharmony emerged behind the scenes last week, while the Gunners continue their pursuit of Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez, who's on a two-year loan from Real Madrid at Bayern Munich.
Manchester United are ramping up their search for a director of football, with the club's hierarchy keen to fill the role before a decision is taken over their next permanent manager, meanwhile, Jose Mourinho claims he has turned down three job offers since being sacked.
Relive all of today's transfers news, rumours and done deals on our live blog below.
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Mauricio Pochettino "ticks every box" to be the next long-term manager of Manchester United, according to club record goalscorer Wayne Rooney.
The Tottenham boss is the club's No 1 choice to fill the Old Trafford vacancy since the sacking of Jose Mourinho last month, and Rooney believes his record at Spurs makes him the ideal candidate for the job.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in interim charge of United and has overseen seven wins out of seven since taking on the role, with the latest success being a 2-1 Premier League victory over Brighton on Saturday.
Rooney, working as an analyst for ESPN FC, said: "I think first of all you have to give Ole an opportunity, if he continues the way he is going then I'm sure that will be a discussion for (executive vice-chairman) Ed Woodward and the Glazers whether he keeps the job. But if I had the opportunity to appoint somebody then I would go all out for Pochettino.
File this one in the 'unexpected' folder...
Reports in Italy are suggesting that former Tottenham midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is on the verge of a move to - of all places - Barcelona.
The 31-year-old is currently playing for Serie A side Sassuolo, but Di Marzio reporter Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Ghana international is in advanced talks with the Liga leaders. We'll keep an eye on this one.
Should Barcelona land Boateng, it could give Arsenal to press on with their interest in Denis Suarez.
The Spaniard is well out of favour at the Nou Camp and although Barcelona are open to him leaving, it's understood that any move to Arsenal this month will only be a loan deal due to their restricted finances.
BREAKINGAnother player Arsenal are being strongly linked with is James Rodriguez, the Real Madrid midfielder currently in the second of a two-year loan at Bayern Munich.
The Independent can reveal that the Gunners have contacted Madrid about that deal ending this month in order for him to move to the Premier League, but another factor in the move is the Spanish club's interest in Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.
Madrid are aware that James may come in handy in any deal to prise Eriksen away from Spurs, but Arsenal are keen to beat their north London rivals to the Colombia international.
Details are starting to emerge on Kevin-Prince Boateng's apparent move to Barcelona.
Sky Italia report that the deal to sign him from Sassuolo will be a loan, but includes an option to buy him permanently for £7m between now and the end of the season.
BREAKINGArsenal have finally confirmed that head of recruitment Sven Mislintat is leaving the club after little more than a year with the club.
The Independent revealed the details behind his sudden exit, which leaves the club's future direction in limbo mid-transfer window, and Arsenal have now issued a statement to confirm that he will depart next month on the 8 February.
Luke Brown has the full details:
Back to Chelsea where their search for a striker continues.
The Daily Star report that the Blues have been told they can sign Bournemouth's Callum Wilson this month... for £75m.
Just the 25 times what the Cherries paid for him. I think that'll be a no then.
To Tottenham where Real Madrid have apparently been told they'll have to pay a world record fee if they want Harry Kane.
Madrid are set for an overhaul this summer and have long admired the England captain.
But according to The Sun Spurs have slapped a £310m price tag on their main man.
Everton are reportedly monitoring Algeria international Yacine Brahimi, who is set to be out of contract at Porto at the end of the season.
The Daily Mirror reports that Everton sent a scout to watch the forward in action during his club's 3-1 victory over Nacional on Monday.
Arsenal are looking for reinforcements this month with Belgian international Yannick Carrasco one of them.
However, they cannot afford to sign him from Chinese club Dalian Yifang unless they sell Mesut Ozil first, according to Fox Sports Asia.
The 25-year-old is keen on a return to Europe this month.
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