With less than a week to go in the January window, Transfer Talk brings you live updates on all the latest rumours and done deals. Plus, check out the completed moves.
Real Madrid plot £500m Premier League raid
It has been a miserable season for Real Madrid so far.
The reigning La Liga champions currently stand 19 points behind runaway leaders Barcelona, and were unceremoniously dumped out of the Copa del Rey this week by a 2-1 home defeat to local neighbours Leganes.
Just how do they plan to turn the ship around, you might be wondering. By spending big, on the best talent the Premier League has to offer.
The Daily Mail reports that Madrid will splurge up to £500 million to complete a hat trick of blockbuster signings. Eden Hazard tops Florentino Perez’s wanted list — with the club president prepared to break the official world transfer record by bidding £200m — while David De Gea and Harry Kane complete the stellar lineup of reinforcements.
And who will lead this new team of Galacticos? Well, the Mail also claims that Mauricio Pochettino is being lined up to replace Zinedine Zidane in the hot seat, having impressed the Madrid hierarchy with his reign at Tottenham.
The report states that the Spanish giants have made contact with Pochettino’s representatives, but Daniel Levy is bound to put up a fight to keep the Argentine at Spurs.
Arsenal lodge Evans bid
Good Evans! Arsenal have finally stumped up the cash to try to sign long-term defensive target Jonny Evans from West Brom.
According to the Daily Star, the Gunners have offered £10m for the Northern Ireland international, along with right-back Mathieu Debuchy.
Evans is valued at £23m by the Baggies, but it has been reported that the 30-year-old has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for just £3m if the club are relegated.
That could tempt manager Alan Pardew into selling this month and reinvesting the funds in his squad, with Man City and Leicester also expressing an interest.
Juventus chase Darmian
Matteo Darmian may have found an escape route from his disappointing spell at Manchester United.
The Italy international has struggled to hold down a regular place during his three seasons at Old Trafford and is now on the radar of Serie A champions Juventus, according to The Sun.
Jose Mourinho would be willing to part with the 28-year-old, but United want to finalise an immediate £26m transfer while Juve would prefer a 12-month loan with the obligation to buy for £19.25m at a later date.
Darmian played 90 minutes in United’s FA Cup victory over Yeovil on Friday night, but his days in Manchester appear to be numbered.
Tap-ins
– Newcastle are refusing to sell striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to another Premier League team, reports the Telegraph. The 23-year-old is the subject of an £8m bid from Brighton, but Rafa Benitez is reluctant to strengthen a relegation rival.
– Meanwhile, the Magpies will have to pay €25m if they want to sign Feyenoord’s Nicolai Jorgensen, claims the Northern Echo. The Denmark international has claimed seven goals and three assists in 14 Eredivisie appearances this season.
– Chelsea have set a Monday deadline to complete a deal for Roma striker Edin Dzeko, says the Telegraph. If Dzeko hasn’t finalised a move to Stamford Bridge by then, the Blues will look elsewhere.
– But Chelsea can forget trying to sign West Brom’s Salomon Rondon this month, reports the Daily Mail. The Baggies will not entertain any bids for the striker as they look to secure their Premier League status.
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