The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is open again. Transfer Talk has been scouring the world’s media and setting our correspondents loose to see who could be heading to/out of your club this month.
TOP STORY: PSG want Coutinho in De Jong revenge bid
PSG’s owners don’t take defeat very well, especially in the transfer market. So when Barcelona beat them to the €75m signing of Ajax star Frenkie de Jong, you can bet they will do something about it.
First up, sources have told ESPN FC that sporting director Antero Henrique has massively disappointed the club’s Qatari owners and is set to leave the club by May, with former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in contact with coach Thomas Tuchel.
Second, RMC Sport journalist Daniel Riolo claims that PSG are ready to enter a “commercial war” with Barcelona in revenge for taking their main transfer target away from them. The main part of that “war” is Philippe Coutinho, who has not impressed too much at Camp Nou since his £142m move from Liverpool and is now a target for PSG.
Of course Coutinho has a contract until 2023 and a €400m release clause, so it won’t be easy. But that’s the plan anyway. Just imagine what PSG will do when Barcelona eventually take Neymar back!
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09.15 GMT: West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic says he’ll stay at the club despite almost leaving when a £35m bid from a Chinese club arrived.
In an Instagram post, Arnautovic wrote: “I guess it’s no secret there has been an offer for me and I have to admit the offer was a very tempting one for me and my family. I have given 100% to my club duties but I have also needed some time to talk to my club, my wife and the rest of my family. I have now decided to put a stop to all the writings and speculation.
“It is clear that London and West Ham United feels like home for me and I hope the West Ham fans have always seen that. Let’s focus on the rest of this season together and let those bubbles fly.”
08.53 GMT: ICYMI – Liverpool have completed the signing of 16-year-old French defender Billy Koumetio from US Orleans for a nominal fee, a source has told ESPN FC.
Koumetio spent a period on trial with Liverpool in 2018 and travelled with the under-17s squad to Berlin for friendlies in November.
08.30 GMT: It’s official. Man City boss Pep Guardiola has gone mad. He says City … yes the incredible rich City … can’t compete with other teams over transfers and wages.
“I think we try to keep the harmony in the locker room with the wages,” Guardiola told a news conference ahead of the FA Cup clash with Burnley (live on ESPN+). “When you have no balance with that then there is always a problem with the mood in the locker room.
“One of the good things that City have done is keeping that balance. The reality is that it’s not just one or two teams paying a lot on wages. There are many. Many, many. Before the rumours was that it was just PSG and Manchester City. That is over. Everybody can pay a lot in fees and wages.
“It’s not just in England, it’s in Italy, in Spain, France. Maybe not in Germany. There are many and sometimes we can’t compete with that. We have to be quicker, faster and don’t get nervous. At the end we want players who want to come here.”
PAPER TALK (By Mark Thompson, Football Whispers)
Lukaku won’t join Newcastle
Jordan, that is. According to The Telegraph, Jordan Lukaku‘s loan move to Tyneside could fall through because of fitness concerns.
The winger and younger brother of Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku was due to join Newcastle on loan, with the possibility that the North East club might make the transfer permanent in the summer.
That permanent move could have been worth £19 million to Lazio, but concerns over fitness and personal terms might scupper that.
Youri move, Leicester
Leicester City are said to be showing “considerable interest” in Monaco’s 21-year-old midfielder Youri Tielemans, as the Leicester Mercury reports.
The Belgian would put the club back by around £20m, but that doesn’t seem to be putting them off.
Even if confidence in Claude Puel isn’t at its highest, Leicester is a more stable place to be than Monaco at the moment, with Leonardo Jardim back at the helm replacing Thierry Henry just three months after he was sacked in October.
Wolves want more bite
Wolverhampton Wanderers are still in the market for another striker, reports the Express & Star.
The player would have to be content being a backup to Raul Jimenez, though. A move for Tammy Abraham earlier in the window didn’t materialise.
Wolves were also rumoured to be interested in another centre-back or wing-back as cover, but they’re now thought to be content with the youth options they have available to them from the under-23 team, if needed.
And Arsenal might still get Suarez
Despite talks stalling, Arsenal are still hopeful of signing Barcelona’s Denis Suarez, reports the Evening Standard.
Negotiations “remain active,” but Barcelona want £20m now or a loan move with an agreement that Arsenal will definitely fork out for the Spaniard in the summer.
The Gunners might be scared of commitment, because they’d prefer to take him on loan until the end of the season with just an option to buy at the end of it.
Bye, Bye Charlie
Charlie Austin will leave Southampton this month, according to The Telegraph.
The Saints are undergoing something of a clear-out, with Cedric Soares and Wesley Hoedt also linked with moves away from the club.
The striker has supposedly reached an agreement with Southampton that he can leave if the price is right, and both Wolves and Aston Villa are interested.
Football Whispers’ transfer algorithm gives the likelihood of rumours happening a score out of 5.
Christopher Nkunku to Arsenal — 4.0
Twenty-one-year-old Nkunku played for current Arsenal manager Unai Emery at Paris Saint-Germain last season, and that link means a move to London could be on the cards, reports ESPN FC sources. It’s not just Emery who’s interested though. The manager has backing from the rest of the club that Nkunku is a transfer to pursue.
Gerard Deulofeu to AC Milan — 2.6
Milan want to bring in Deulofeu before the end of the window, according to Tuttosport. It would be a loan with the option to buy at the end of it, which seems like it’s becoming an increasingly common way of doing business.
Juan Mata to Arsenal – 2.4
United have beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup, but the Gunners could be pinching one of their players, according to The Mirror. Mata is out of his contract at the end of the season, and Arsenal are one of the sides keeping an eye on him.
Andre Gomes to AS Roma — 2.1
Everton might have a fight on their hands as both Roma and Lazio are interested in bringing in the Barcelona midfielder, Calcio Mercato understands. Neither are looking to bring him in, in January, but want to make a move in the summer.
Anthony Martial to Sevilla – 1.8
After cooling on Alvaro Morata, Sevilla have turned the attention to Martial, as ESPN has reported. The Spanish club are reportedly willing to test Martial’s resolve as he and his representatives discuss a possible contract extension at Manchester United.