Recap transfer news: Man United near Sanchez confirmation, Chelsea aim to complete £22m deal, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan close & latest Liverpool gossip
Arsenal are hoping to wrap up the signing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United, with Alexis Sanchez set to head the other way in a swap deal which may not please all the Gooners out there.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have been struck by the news that they could face a transfer ban for potentially breaching Fifa rules over the transfer of under 18 players.
Arsene Wenger has more plans for the day too, as the Gunners are scrambling to find a worthy replacement for Sanchez and they could be ready to drop £100m on Bordeaux winger Malcom and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Sanchez leaves team hotel
According to The Mirror, Alexis Sanchez said goodbye to his Arsenal team mates after a dramatic late development.
Sanchez was set to be included in Arsenal’s squad to face Crystal Palace on Saturday, but the player got a call in the last few hours and and left the team hotel.
Coquelin - Arsenal stars have no problem with Sanchez
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin denies newspaper claims that Alexis Sanchez’s desire to leave the Gunners led to a fall-out with his team-mates.
I hear a lot of things that the dressing room wasn’t getting on well with him but I don’t really know where that comes from. Sometimes that’s what people say when you’ve got a great player, we talk about ego but he is someone who is always keen to work and I didn’t have any problem with him. I don’t think the squad have a problem. I think the only problem is the uncertainty around him. They probably don’t know what next week is going to be, if he’s going to be here or not.
Malcom to Spurs
Bordeaux winger Malcom has been linked with a move to Tottenham throughout the January transfer window and those reports intensified on Friday - but what is the fact and what is fiction?
football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold has the latest.
Guardiola congratulates United on Sanchez
The Manchester City manager has conceded defeat in his efforts to bring Sanchez to the Etihad Stadium. For so long, City were favourites to sign the Chilean, but neighbours United are set to swoop with a player exchange deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
What I know right now is Alexis is still an Arsenal player. I think he is going to go to United so congratulations to both of them. In the end, the players and managers decide where they want to play. Good luck.
Mourinho: Sanchez deal close
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Jose Mourinho confirmed that a deal to bring Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United is close to completion.
I think clearly everybody knows that we are there and especially when Arsenal manager speaks so clearly like he did, there is no point in trying to hide or deny.
Robin van Persie back at Feyenoord
The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker has completed a move back to boyhood club Feyenoord, after a three-year stint in Turkey with Fenerbahçe.
KEY EVENT
Chelsea to hold Roma talks for duo
According to the Telegraph, Chelsea will hold talks with Roma over a potential double deal for Emerson Palmieri and Edin Dzeko next week.
Antonio Conte is looking for reinforcements in attack and also at left-back, and the Roma duo could be the solution.
Aaron Lennon set to join Burnley
Tottenham have just loaned Georges-Kévin N’Koudou to Burnley, but a former Spurs player is set to join the Frenchman at Turf Moor.
Burnley have agreed a deal with Everton to sign winger Aaron Lennon for an undisclosed fee. The 30-year-old is surplus to requirements at Goodison Park following the arrival of Theo Walcott.
Mkhitaryan says his goodbyes
A teary goodbye...
Chelsea deal imminent
Chelsea could be on the verge of getting a new left-back. Reports suggest Emerson is on his way from Roma.
Palace in for Inter forward
According to Calciomercato, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Inter Milan striker Eder.
The 31-year-old away has only scored one goal this season, and there is talk Palace could land their man with a bid of around €10-11m.
KEY EVENT
Arsenal close to Aubameyang deal
The Gunners could be close to completing a deal for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
According to reports from Germany, the club’s sporting director is set to fly into the capital this weekend to thrash out a deal for the Gabon international.
Arsenal fans will have their fingers crossed that the club can get this deal done and dusted very quickly.
Jose Mourinho on Luke Shaw
It doesn’t look like Luke Shaw will be going anywhere after catching the eye of Jose Mourinho.
Linked with a move to Spurs, the left-back has taken his chance for the Red Devils in wake of Ashley Young’s suspension.
Here’s what Mourinho had to say about the 22-year-old at his press conference this afternoon:
I can say that in this moment I don’t see many left-backs better than this Luke Shaw.He had played very well. He was already improving and playing well when I start playing him after that long spell without minutes. I remember the first time he was coming step by step, and now with a good run of matches and continuity, he is solid.Physically much better, mentally much stronger, tactically understanding the game much better and what we need in different phases and circumstances. I’m really happy.
Pochettino gives Llorente update
Despite only joining Spurs in August, Fernando Llorente has been linked with a move to Chelsea.
Here’s what Pochettino had to say about a possible transfer:
That is a rumour. I didn’t hear anything official. Nobody said anything to me about it. That is just a rumour that I hear from the media, nothing official.
Meetings over Mkhitaryan
Talks taking place right now.
Moyes on Joao Mario
I’m not talking about players at other clubs. He’s a good player, an interesting player.
Moyes on Carroll to Chelsea
We have said all along, we received no offer from Chelsea on Carroll for a loan, we wouldn’t have accepted it anyway.
Alexis Sanchez trains with Arsenal
He’s not in Manchester!
Alexis is at London Colney today and he has trained with the first-team ahead of tomorrow’s match against Crystal Palace.
Mourinho on Mkhitaryan
He is not selected. But he’s in very good condition, training really well and in good conditions like the others.
Mourinho on Sanchez
Nothing new [on Sanchez].I think clearly everybody knows that we are there and especially when Arsenal manager speaks so clearly like he did, there is no point in trying to hide or deny.It’s not done at all, so in this moment Mkhitaryan is our player, Sanchez an Arsenal player.
Conte on potential new arrivals at Chelsea
Confident is a big work and we have to wait. I give the opinion to the club but the final decision is for the club. I have to wait and to see what happens in this market? I am very calm in this aspect because I am working with my players and I am happy with the commitment. Otherwise we continue in this way and continue to put ourselves every day.
Conte on Crouch
My answer is the same. I am not interested in this conversation. To be respectful for my players and other players of other clubs. This is period is a transfer market, if something happens you are the first media to know the news.
Conte on Dzeko
As you know very well that it is not right to talk about players on other teams. There is a transfer period and if something happens then you might be the one to know first.
Chelsea transfer update
Antonio Conte is set to speak to the media in about five minutes ahead of his side’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion.
We’ll be bringing you the latest as he gives an update on the club’s transfer plans.
It’ll be interesting to see what he has to say about Peter Crouch and Edin Dzeko.
Cresswell to Everton?
Sam Allardyce is believed to be keen on a reunion with West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell, according to the Daily Mail.
Everton are in desperate need of strengthening in that area and they will be looking to do some business before the transfer window closes.
Although David Moyes won’t want to lose the player, Cresswell may certainly be tempted given it would allow him to move back to Merseyside.
Juventus prefer Can over Ozil
With reports this morning suggesting that Mesut Ozil is close to signing a new contract with Arsenal, reports from Italy now claim that Juventus favour a move for Liverpool’s Emre Can ahead of the German star.
The Bianconeri are believed to have been keen on a deal for the ex-Real Madrid man, while also keeping tabs on Spurs’ Christian Eriksen.
However, it now seems that they want to get a deal for Can done and dusted.
Now just sign that deal, Mesut!
Spurs fans send a message
After Cameron Carter-Vickers sealed a loan move to Championship side Ipswich Town earlier today, some Spurs fans have made it clear who they want to arrive in north London.
With the Lilywhites announcing the youngster’s loan spell from their Twitter account, a number of fans saw that as the perfect chance to let the club know that they want PSG’s Lucas Moura to sign before the transfer deadline.
Here’s the best responses from the fans.
Potential arrival at Palace
Roy Hodgson could be about to add to his Crystal Palace squad by clinching a deal for Erdal Rakip.
Reports from Portugal suggest that the Benfica midfielder is in London at present and he should complete his move to Selhurst Park later today.
However, it will only be a loan deal as the Portuguese club feel he has a bright future at the Estadio da Luz.
KEY EVENT
Arsenal pull out of Malcom deal
Arsene were being heavily linked with a move for Bordeaux winger Malcom this time last week.
Reports in England suggest the the Gunners have pulled out of a deal for the Brazilian this month because he is too ‘inexperienced’.
That is not how things are being viewed in France, however.
Dzeko's agent speaks
Irfan Redzepagic, the agent of Edin Dzeko, has responded to those Chelsea links:
The truth is that Dzeko wants to stay at Roma. Have I spoken to Conte or Chelsea? My role means I can’t reveal certain transfer market dynamics.All I can say is that Conte likes Dzeko. But then who doesn’t like Edin?
Nothing imminent
Mino Raiola is still digging those heels in.
Could this put the Sanchez deal at risk?
Dzeko update
Update on Sanchez, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang and Malcom
West Ham name price for forward
With Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez linked with a move away from the Hammers, Andre Ayew is another West Ham forward rumoured to be potentially heading for the exit door.
Swansea City, the player’s former club, are said to be keen on signing the Ghana international as they bid to secure Premier League survival.
Here’s how much the Hammers want for the 28-year-old.
Done deal
A Spurs youngster has headed out on loan.
Confirmed!
Bayern announce Goretzka deal.
Arsenal and Chelsea had been linked, but Liverpool pushed the hardest of the Premier League clubs. Klopp will be disappointed.
Moyes on watching Batshuayi
David Moyes was in the crowd at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening and many people assumed he was there to watch Michy Batshuayi in action.
However, the Scotsman has dismissed those suggestions in his column with the London Evening Standard.
Here’s what he’s had to say:
I went to watch Chelsea play Norwich in the FA Cup on Wednesday night and I knew that would increase the speculation about Andy Carroll and Chelsea with Michy Batshuayi coming to us.Categorically, I did not go to Stamford Bridge to watch Batshuayi or any other player in particular. I like to get out and watch plenty of matches, I hadn’t seen Norwich this season and there were some players there who had been mentioned to me as having been doing well.
Mkhitaryan update
Mkhitaryan is still up north - suggests the midday deadline will not be hit.
Goretzka makes his decision
Chelsea fans on Crouch
The fans aren’t happy at all with the club’s reported interest in Peter Crouch.
Given some were dead against a move for Andy Carroll, the news that broke last night has left fans fuming!
Here’s what some have had to say.
Cryptic hint from Giroud's agent
Does this mean he’ll be on the move?!
Michael Manuello, the player’s agent, has suggested that his client could potentially leave the Emirates this month.
Borussia Dortmund are keen on the Frenchman and he could possibly go as part of the deal that would take Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the capital.
More from Walcott on leaving Arsenal
Walcott on his Everton move
The ex-Arsenal man is currently speaking to the press at USM Finch Farm alongside his new manager Sam Allardyce.
Here’s what he said about his move from the Emirates:
I felt the manager seems to get the best out of the players, especially when first coming on. I want to be part of this club’s history, and I feel like I can be with the levels of the players coming in. For me that was the main attraction. I had a brief spell with the manager at England and I wanted more of that.
Chelsea keen on midfielder
Linked with a move to Arsenal throughout last summer, Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri is now reportedly attracting the interest of Chelsea.
As well as the Blues, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City are also keen on the Ivorian, according to the Mirror.
Given Chelsea already have the likes of N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater, as well as the January addition of Ross Barkley, do they actually need him?
Wolves want West Ham man
The Birmingham Mail claim that Championship side Wolves are eyeing up a move for West Ham’s Jose Fonte this month.
The league leaders are keen to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2012 and they are in the market to add some quality to their side to get them over the line.
Fonte is currently on the sidelines as he recovers from ankle surgery.
Spurs keen on midfielder
Reports emerging from Italy suggest that the Lilywhites are interested in a deal for Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic.
The Croat looks set to depart the San Siro this month and Liverpool are also believed to be keen on the player.
Chelsea want Edin Dzeko
Linked with moves for Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch, Chelsea are now said to be keen on a deal for Roma’s Edin Dzeko.
In fact, they also want to bring left-back Emerson Palmieri to the club from the Serie A side.
With Dzeko and Palmieri potentially arriving in west London, Michy Batshuayi could be set to move in the opposite direction on loan.
Here’s all the information you need to know.
Massive boost for Arsenal
This is the news that all Arsenal fans have been waiting for!
While it is not official just yet, the Sun claim that Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere are set to sign new long-term deals with the club.
Given Alexis Sanchez is on the verge of a move to Manchester United, this is brilliant news for the Gunners.
It could be a good end to the month for Arsenal if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also join!
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