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: Spurs quest to sign Piatek back on
Tottenham appear to be busy heading into the last week of the transfer window. Yesterday we revealed that Gareth Bale was Jose Mourinho’s big target, with the north Londoners working tirelessly to bring the Welshman back to the club. And today, ESPN sources revealed that Spurs had made a bid to PSV Eindhoven for Steven Bergwijn.
Tonight, the Daily Mail reports that the continuing quest to land AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek has resumed, with Spurs returning to Milan for talks in an effort to fill the hole left by the injured Harry Kane.
Tottenham’s efforts to sign Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose appear to have stalled, which has rekindled efforts to land long-term target Piatek. Milan are keen to get £25 million for the Poland striker, while Spurs appear to be keener to strike a short-term six-month deal in a loan move with an option to buy.
Mourinho has admitted wanting to bring in three new faces this week, so expect them to dominate the headlines, with Manchester United also said to be keen on Piatek’s services.
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22.57 GMT: Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps have confirmed the signing of 25-year-old French winger David Milinkovic on a season-long loan from Championship club Hull City.
Our new 7️⃣
Welcome to The Village, David ?#VWFC
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) January 27, 2020
22.34 GMT: Celtic have announced the signing of 21-year-old midfielder Ismaila Soro from Israeli side Bnei Yehuda.
✍ We are delighted to announce the signing of Ismaila Soro, who has joined #CelticFC on a four-and-a-half year deal.#WelcomeSoro! ???
➡️ https://t.co/rTUvuIC4mW pic.twitter.com/814zXxVGvY
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 27, 2020
22.11 GMT: Hertha Berlin have announced the signing of Lucas Tousart to a long-term deal from Lyon, and loaned him straight back to the Ligue 1 club. The reported fee of €24m makes him the club’s record signing and sporting executive Michael Preetz called the transfer “an investment into the future.”
Bienvenue à Berlin, @lucas_tousart29
?️ https://t.co/CAojHuX39i#hahohe pic.twitter.com/XGGQkFYqHe
— Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) January 27, 2020
21.48 GMT: Tomas Soucek is the reigning Czech player of the year, and West Ham are in discussions with Slavia Prague over a move for the 24-year-old midfielder, who’s valued at €20m, according to Sky Sports.
21.25 GMT: Watford are keen on adding Burnley centre-back Ben Gibson on loan for the remainder of the season with a purchase option for the summer, the Mail reports, but the Clarets are unwilling to let the 27-year-old leave Turf Moor until the club lines up a replacement.
21.02 GMT: Chivas centre-back Oswaldo Alanis, who doesn’t look to be in Luis Fernando Tena’s plans, is closing in on a reunion with Matias Almeyda at San Jose Earthquakes, according to MedioTiempo.
20.39 GMT: Calciomercato writes that AC Milan have rejected Sevilla’s offer for Suso that would see the 26-year-old playmaker move to Andalusia on an 18-month loan with an option to buy. The Rossoneri want Sevilla to be obliged to buy, because at the end of the proposed loan, should the Spanish club decline their purchase option, Suso would return to the San Siro with a mere 12 months remaining on his contract – minimising the player’s value for any potential sale after the loan.
20.16 GMT: While Dani Ceballos‘ first choice to escape his miserable loan spell at Arsenal is to move to Valencia, Marca reports that Real Madrid are not keen on one of their players moving to a rival for La Liga’s Champions League places, especially one still participating in the European competition’s knockout rounds. Real Betis are also said to be interested in the 23-year-old midfielder.
19.53 GMT: Mexico City side Pumas have announced that 26-year-old Chilean forward Felipe Mora has joined MLS outfit Portland Timbers, with the Athletic reporting that the deal will be structured as a loan with an option for the Pacific Northwest club to buy.
Gracias por tu profesionalismo al llevar nuestros colores.
¡Éxito en tu siguiente proyecto, Felipe Mora! #SoyDePumas pic.twitter.com/lgUd1p2e8x
— PUMAS (@PumasMX) January 27, 2020
19.30 GMT: Vissel Kobe have joined Inter Miami, New York City FC and unnamed Spanish clubs in the race for Pedro, who has just six months remaining on his Chelsea contract, according to Goal.
19.07 GMT: Liga MX giants and CONCACAF Champions League holders Monterrey have confirmed the signing of 26-year-old midfielder and former Argentina international Matias Kranevitter from Zenit St. Petersburg.
???♂️| ¡Bienvenido al Club de Futbol Monterrey #Rayados, Matías Kranevitter! ????
¡A defender la camiseta Azul y Blanco #EnLaVidaYEnLaCancha! #ArribaElMonterrey ??⚪️#NotaRayada ?? https://t.co/7jL8eGfVwN pic.twitter.com/iWm3hUcpb1
— Rayados (@Rayados) January 27, 2020
18.44 GMT: Chelsea are monitoring Tottenham’s pursuit of AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek as a potential alternative to Edinson Cavani, the Telegraph writes, and adds that the Paris Saint-Germain seems to have his heart set on a move to Atletico Madrid. One other option noted is that of Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic, whom the Blues are not said to be actively pursuing, but could turn to should they miss out on their primary targets.
18.21 GMT: Club America forward Roger Martinez‘s future remains up in the air, with the Colombia international frozen out of the squad. He’d previously been of interest to David Beckham’s MLS expansion side Inter Miami, according to ESPN Mexico, but is reportedly holding out for a move to Europe.
17.58 GMT: Sky Sports cites its colleagues in Germany as reporting that Juventus midfielder Emre Can is close to completing a move to Borussia Dortmund, having featured in just eight of the Bianconeri‘s 21 Serie A contests this season.
17.35 GMT: Arsenal are bracing for an approach from Barcelona for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to the Telegraph, but the Catalan club is expecting to be priced out of a move for the 30-year-old, expecting the Gunners to demand £50m for a player with less than 18 months remaining on his contract. Should that be the case, the Blaugrana will turn their attention to Valencia front man and Spain international Rodrigo.
17.12 GMT: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted Shkodran Mustafi could have a long-future at the club if he cuts out the errors that have plagued his game of late.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with bringing in a defender this month, leaving the German international’s future with the Gunners uncertain, particularly after his costly back-pass against Chelsea last week saw David Luiz pick up a red card.
When asked whether Mustafi has a future at the club, Arteta said: “When he is my player and when he is training with me the way he does every day, of course.
“The plans maybe in the summer were different with him. I came here, he is here and his attitude is always right and he wants to help.
“Yes he made a mistake, but it’s OK. I like more the reaction and I look more at the reaction.”
16.43 GMT: Remember Hatem Ben Arfa? Well, he is close to completing a move to La Liga side Real Valladolid, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The former Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain man has been a free agent since leaving Rennes in the summer.
16.16 GMT: Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Tottenham target Krzysztof Piatek, according to Italian football expert Nicolo Schira.
AC Milan forward Piatek has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham this month after Harry Kane was ruled out for several months with the England captain undergoing ankle surgery.
But, with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard wanting more options up top, Chelsea could be in line to sign the Poland international, who has scored four goals in 18 Serie A appearances this season.
15.33 GMT: Manchester United’s pursuit of Bruno Fernandes doesn’t seem to be any closer to a conclusion after the Portuguese international was named in Sporting’s squad for their league game against Martimo later today.
? Estes são os Leões convocados para o jogo desta noite, frente ao CS Marítimo.#SCPCSM pic.twitter.com/5jobxapU5J
— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) January 27, 2020
15.01 GMT: West Ham have had an initial approach for U.S. international centre-back Aaron Long rejected by New York Red Bulls, according to Sky Sports.
Only Southampton, Norwich and Aston Villa have conceded more goals than West Ham in the Premier League this season than the Hammers, so the club are keen to reinforce their defensive options this month.
But their initial offer of a $500,000 fee to loan Long until the end of the season with an option to buy for $4.5 million has been turned down by the MLS side.
14.34 GMT: We’ve caught wind of murmurs of another potential big move! Charlton are interested in bringing Pogba to the Valley…
Alright, alright. We’re not speaking about the Manchester United playmaker, we’re talking about his brother, Florentin Pogba.
Pogba spent the 2020 season at Atlanta United but is now a free agent after his contract was not renewed. That has led him to train with Charlton’s under-23 squad with the club considering extending an offer to the Guinea international, according to the Daily Mail.
14.02 GMT: Hazard signs for Dundee!… Celtic goalkeeper Conor Hazard, that is!
The 21-year-old returns to Dens Park after spending the end of 2019 on an emergency loan with The Dee.
We are delighted to announce that Conor Hazard has returned to the club on a loan deal from Celtic to the end of the season #thedee
➡️ https://t.co/6cMFm4SbAu pic.twitter.com/SaPDMqInqb
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) January 27, 2020
13.38: GMT: DEAL OFF! In an update from 11:56 GMT, sources have confirmed to ESPN Brasil that Flamengo defender Pablo Mari‘s proposed move to Arsenal is now off.
Sources told ESPN that the two clubs could not agree on the structure of the deal, and the 26-year-old centre-back has already returned to Brazil despite completing his medical in London at the weekend.
Mari had been lined up by the Gunners to compete for a first-team place with David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi. Perhaps in the knowledge that the deal was destined to fail, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told a news conference on Sunday when asked if Mustafi had a future at the club: “When he is my player and when he is training with me the way he does every day, of course.
“The plans maybe in the summer were different with him. I came here, he is here and his attitude is always right and he wants to help.
“Yes he made a mistake, but it’s OK. I like more the reaction and I look more at the reaction.”
13.22 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur have sent young goalkeeper Brandon Austin on loan to Danish club Viborg until the end of the season.
Austin, 21, signed a new contract with Spurs last December that runs until 2022, but with the club re-signing Michel Vorm on a short-term contract his first-team chances at the London club have been reduced for the time being.
12.55 GMT: Championship side Leeds United have signed striker Jean-Kevin Augustin on loan from Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig for the remainder of the season.
Augustin, 22, spent the first half of the season on loan at Monaco, where he managed just one goal in 12 appearances.
No more likes. It’s official ?? #MOT @LUFC pic.twitter.com/Zl4dy4AiNY
— Jean-Kévin Augustin (@33_augustin) January 27, 2020
12.21 GMT: Hertha Berlin’s Arne Maier, 21, believes it is the “best solution” to leave his hometown club in January, he told Bild. The midfielder, one of the German talents of his generation, has been haunted by injuries in the past few months and feels a change of scenery could revive his career, also because of Hertha coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s transfer strategy of reinforcing the midfield. The club, however, have told Maier they will not grant him his wish, kicker reports.
11.56 GMT: Arsenal’s proposed signing of Flamengo defender Pablo Mari is close to collapsing, according to the Daily Mail.
Sources told ESPN at the weekend that the 26-year-old Spaniard arrived in London on Saturday after the two clubs agreed to him initially moving on loan with a view to a permanent deal. Mari had a release clause of €30 million euros but the clubs have agreed to €10m, according to sources.
However, the Mail now reports that the negotiations between the Gunners and the reigning Copa Liberadores holders have since stalled.
11.33 GMT: PSV Eindhoven forward Steven Bergwijn is set to sign for Tottenham, sources have told ESPN. Jose Mourinho has been in the market for reinforcements in the January transfer window with Harry Kane ruled out for the forseeable future. Kane has a hamstring injury and may not be fit until April, leading Mourinho to enter the market to secure a signing in his ongoing absence.
While Tottenham have also been working on a deal for Real Sociedad’s Willian Jose this month, sources have told ESPN that the club expect to announce the signing of PSV’s Bergwijn instead.
The 22-year-old Netherlands international, capped seven times, has been at PSV since 2011, when he joined their youth set-up from Ajax. He has five goals in 16 league appearances this season.
11.10 GMT: Just 12 days after undergoing a medical ahead of a move to Roma, Matteo Politano is back at Villa Stuart for tests — but this time for a transfer to Napoli.
Politano was due to join Roma from Inter Milan as part of an exchange with Leonardo Spinazzola moving in the other direction, only for the deal to break down. The Italy winger, however, will now leave Inter for Napoli pending a medical, according to Corriere Dello Sport.
10.49 GMT: Ademola Lookman could leave Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig in the final days of the winter transfer period, kicker reports.
Having only joined the club on a permanent transfer last summer, the 22-year-old has been a flop under head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Former Everton winger Lookman did little to increase his chances of getting more playing time when contributing to Eintracht Frankfurt’s second goal in the 2-0 defeat of Leipzig at the weekend. But while the club are willing to let the England youth international leave, there is currently no possible taker for Lookman.
10.23 GMT: Real Madrid star Gareth Bale is regularly linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur whenever his future at the Bernabeu is up for discussion. But could a second spell at Spurs really be on the cards? ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop isn’t so sure…
09.47 GMT: It looks like Christian Eriksen has arrived in Italy ahead of completing his proposed move to Inter Milan. According to the Daily Mail, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is due to have his medical on Monday ahead of his £17.5m move.
Eriksen, 27, had been one of Tottenham’s key players ever since joining them from Ajax in 2013, but after last season’s Champions League final defeat he announced his intention to leave and his performances this season were not up to his previous standards.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said on Saturday: “You can read what you want to read, I don’t want to say anything. I just want to say that this situation shouldn’t happen on the 25th of January. And it is not Tottenham’s fault that on the 25 of January we are in the situation.
“The only thing I can say is Eriksen, since I arrive, he is behaving in a very, very professional way, with me and the team. Tottenham is the last one to blame for this situation, but to be on the 25th of January in a situation like this is not nice.”
#thfc Eriksen apparently arrival in Milan this morning after taking a private jet from London. Medical and contract to done today. pic.twitter.com/qa45HkaF7X
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) January 27, 2020
09.17 GMT: Joshua Kimmich wants to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich in the next couple of years. However, the Germany international does not know how much time he will allow himself to complete the task.
“It’s my goal to shape an era with Bayern Munich, with the big goal of winning Champions League,” Kimmich, under contract at the Allianz until 2023, told kicker, adding about a possible move abroad. “Sure, that’s a question worth asking. But I don’t really have an answer right now. Because I don’t know what will be best for my career in two or three years from now.”
Kimmich is ranked as the world’s No. 2 right-back in ESPN’s FC 100.
08.47 GMT: The future of Valencia striker and Barcelona target Rodrigo could be determined in the next 48 hours, according to Superdeporte.
The Valencia-based media outlet reports that Valencia have so far rejected all offers made by Barca for the Spain international. Valencia will only accept a one-off payment of €60m from Barca for Rodrigo.
Barca, who lost 2-0 at Valencia on Saturday, are eager to strengthen their attack with Luis Suarez out injured. Rodrigo has been a target of Barca in recent transfer windows although the 28-year-old was very close to leaving the Mestalla stadium in the summer for Atletico Madrid.
08.23 GMT: Borussia Dortmund are in pole position to sign Juventus midfielder Emre Can, German outlet Bild reports. The Germany international wants a transfer to gain important playing time ahead of the 2020 European Championships.
Under contract until 2022, the 26-year-old wants to leave Italy this winter after falling down the pecking order under Juve coach Maurizio Sarri. While clubs like Manchester United, Tottenham, Bayern and Arsenal are all linked with the versatile defensive midfielfder, Dortmund are in pole to land Can.
However, Can, currently on a reported annual gross salary of €14m, would have to accept a significant pay cut if he were to join Dortmund, who reportedly plan to play him in defence and not in a holding role.
Having already signed wunderkind Erling Haaland this January, Dortmund might have to first offload attacker Paco Alcacer or winger Jacob Bruun Larsen so they can afford to complete the transfer, according to kicker.
08.00 GMT: PSG and Atletico Madrid are getting close to an agreement regarding the transfer of striker Edinson Cavani, sources have told ESPN. The deal is not complete but all parties are optimistic that it will be done in the next couple of days.
Cavani, 33 next month, has been left out of the PSG squad travelling to Lille for their Ligue 1 game on Sunday evening, despite being fully fit after a groin injury.
The Uruguay international is out of contract in June after six-and-a-half years at the club. He joined from Napoli for €63m in the summer of 2013 and is the club’s record goal scorer with 198 goals in 283 games in all competitions.
PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd): Gabigol close to permanent Fla move
Expect a busy 24 hours in Milan, as AC’s rivals Inter are also set for a big day in the transfer window. With Christian Eriksen expected to join the club, striker Gabriel “Gabigol” Barbosa could confirm his exit.
Flamengo officials have been in the Italian capital this weekend to try and conclude negotiations, and their offer is said to be €18 million plus 20% of any resale, according to Italian transfer guru Gianluca di Marzio.
He says that both clubs are keen to conclude a deal by Tuesday. Flamengo have benefitted from Gabigol’s services, as the striker not only scored 34 goals and hit 11 assists for them last season, he also scored the decisive goals that landed the Copa Libertadores trophy at the expense of River Plate.
Inter are keen to not only fund the signing of Erikssen but also add further to their squad for the run-in as they sit three points behind league leaders Juventus.
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Tap-ins
– Dutch side PSV Eindhoven have reportedly bid £4.2m for Crystal Palace full-back Patrick van Aanholt, reports Sky Sports. The Eredivisie club are keen to add the full-back to their squad before the transfer window closes, and while Van Anholt has 18 months remaining on his contract, he is expected to make the move. The Dutch international has scored twice in 17 appearances this season and would return to PSV for the first time since leaving in 2007 to join Chelsea.
– Juventus experienced a double blow at Napoli Sunday evening. As well as losing 2-1, and missing out on the chance to open up a six-point lead against rivals Inter Milan in the Serie A table, they’ve also seemingly missed out on signing Allan from their hosts, too. Maurizio Sarri is a big fan of the Brazilian midfielder and sees him as the ideal replacement for Emre Can, who is predicted to leave in January. However, Italian newspaper Tuttosport suggests that Allan has agreed to renew his contract at Napoli.
– It seems that Getafe have given up on the hope of signing Real Madrid youngster Brahim Diaz, say Marca. Boss Jose Bordalas wanted to add the talented winger to his squad as he looks to continue his challenge on the top four. Yet after seeing his side beat Real Betis to overtake Atletico Madrid in fourth place, it would appear that the player himself would rather stay and fight for a place at the Bernabeu than take his chances elsewhere.
– Leicester City are closing in on the signing of a new centre-back, according to the Leicester Mercury. The Foxes are keen to bolster their back line before the end of the transfer window and Southampton’s Jannik Vestergaard appears to top their shopping list. The Dane could cost up to £18m, which has seen Leicester explore the possibility of a loan move. Boss Brendan Rodgers also has eyes for Preston’s Ben Davies.