It’s go time as the January transfer window is open. Find out when it closes across Europe, view the latest transfers as they happen and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.
TOP STORY: Liverpool keen on €70m Isco
Liverpool don’t seem like they need much improvement at this point, having won 22 of their 23 games in the Premier League this season, but Spanish outlet El Desmarque reports they could add Real Madrid midfielder Isco.
Isco, 27, has struggled to keep his place in the Real Madrid XI over recent years and could be looking for a summer move, with a number of Europe’s top clubs on alert.
The paper says Liverpool’s “weak point” is attacking midfield, an area they haven’t been strong in since the €142m departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in 2018, and the Spaniard is a natural fit for Jurgen Klopp’s style.
Liverpool likely won’t add anything to their team in January as they bid for their first Premier League title, but Isco could certainly be an option soon.
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09.03 GMT: Barcelona continue their search for a No. 9, with the club’s hierarchy exploring ways to do a deal for Valencia forward Rodrigo Moreno. However, sources tell ESPN one striker they will not be turning to is Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman has been strongly linked with Inter Milan this month and has now been mentioned in the Catalan press as a short-term replacement for Luis Suarez, who is out for the next four months. But sources at the club insist that Giroud is not on their list of targets.
08.49 GMT: RMC Sport reports that France striker Karim Benzema is set to extend his contact with Real Madrid until 2022.
That’s a good job, as the €60m summer signing Luka Jovic doesn’t seem to have settled well at the Bernabeu.
08.35 GMT: Matildas striker Caitlin Foord has been granted a release from Sydney FC to join FA Women’s Super League giants Arsenal.
The latest in a string of W-League players to sign with a European club, the 25-year-old will link up Australian coach Joe Montemurro at the FAWSL champions.
08.21 GMT: Brahim Diaz will not leave Real Madrid in the winter transfer window despite having five offers from clubs to do so, Cadena Cope reports.
The Spanish attacking midfielder has scored one goal in five appearances in all competitions for Madrid this season, playing only 77 minutes.
According to the Spanish radio station, the 20-year-old has been a target of Real Betis, Getafe, Leganes, Espanyol and Ligue 1 side Nice. However, despite the interest, the Spain under-21 star will not leave Madrid in the winter transfer window.
08.00 GMT: Superdeporte reports that Valencia have shown an interest in signing Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season.
The Spanish midfielder wants his loan spell at Arsenal to end early, as a muscular injury has limited Ceballos to 17 appearances for the London outfit since he joined the Gunners in the summer on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
Back to fitness since the start of the year, Ceballos has not featured off the bench under new manager Mikel Arteta. Ceballos, who is eager to represent Spain at Euro 2020, is keen to join another club on loan this month where he is assured of regular first-team football.
PAPER TALK (by James Capps)
Man United cautious over Cavani deal
Manchester United are reported to be tentatively exploring the possibility of signing Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, but The Telegraph claims the Red Devils have a number of reservations over a potential deal.
Although PSG’s £12.6m valuation of the Uruguayan is reasonably modest, United are keen to avoid making another costly mistake in the transfer market by signing a player in his 30s and on big wages on Alexis Sanchez‘s disastrous spell at Old Trafford after signing from Arsenal in 2018.
Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are reportedly leading the race for the all-time-record goal scorer for PSG, but with United desperate for attacking reinforcements following news that Marcus Rashford will be on the sidelines for up to three months with a back injury, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could give the green light to a move for the 32-year-old.
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Barcelona not in race for Eriksen
Barcelona have reportedly become the latest club to register their interest in Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen, who is a free agent this summer, with Sky Sports claiming the Catalan giants have made an enquiry about signing the Denmark playmaker in the January transfer window.
However, sources at the Catalan club have told ESPN that there will be no move for Eriksen in January. Barca, instead, are focusing all their attention on signing a replacement for the injured Luis Suarez.
Speculation over Eriksen’s future has been rife throughout the season after he entered the final year of his contract, and with Spurs now facing the prospect of losing one of their star players for free in a matter of months, they have now decided to cash in.
Manchester United and Real Madrid are also credited with an interest in Eriksen.
Florentino is a go-go for Euro trio
AC Milan, Manchester United and Roma are all interested in Benfica youngster Florentino Luis, according to reports at Calciomercato.
The 20-year-old has impressed scouts from a string of top European clubs after making his debut for the Portuguese giants less than a year ago, and Milan are believed to have stolen a march on their rivals by holding initial talks with the player’s agent on Wednesday.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are on the lookout for a long-term replacement for Nemanja Matic, with the Serbian looking increasingly likely to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, and Roma are also believed to be poised to make an initial enquiry this month.
A move for the defensive midfielder is likely to cost in excess of £25m.
Tap-ins
– Crystal Palace are interested in bringing former Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco to Selhurst Park on loan until the end of the season, but The Daily Mail claims the Dalian Yifang player’s huge wages could be a stumbling block for any potential deal. The Belgium international is picking up around £180,000 a week in the Chinese Super League.
– Napoli are preparing themselves for the imminent departure of striker Fernando Llorente, and Calciomercato claims the Italians have lined up Mainz forward Jean-Philippe Mateta as a replacement. Gennaro Gattuso’s side are rumoured to be preparing a €20 million bid for the Frenchman.
– The Daily Mail clams Brighton have been offered the chance to sign striker Serhou Guirassy on loan from French side Amiens, with a view to a permanent deal in the summer. The Frenchman also has been linked with moves to fellow Premier League sides Leicester City and Aston Villa.