Transfer news LIVE updates: Chelsea hijack Sanchez bid, Liverpool, Arsenal, Barca and more TRANSFER NEWS i
Arsene Wenger: Sanchez could leave in next 48 hours
Transfer news LIVE updates: All the latest gossip and rumours regarding Europe's top clubs
Transfer news LIVE updates: All the latest gossip and rumours regarding Europe's top clubs
Mignolet hints at Liverpool exit
04:00: Simon Mignolet has given a strong hint he could leave Liverpool THIS MONTH with on eye on the World Cup after falling behind Loris Karius in the starting line-up.
The Belgian is one of the longest-serving players at Liverpool having joined back in 2013, but has often come under scrutiny for his error-strewn performances.
Liverpool have been linked with moves for Jack Butland and Roma’s Alisson in recent weeks.
And Mignolet admits his current situation could see him force through a move away from Anfield.
“In the Christmas period we had rotated again and I felt that that was not a healthy situation for a keeper.
“After everything that has happened this season, I know where I stand and the situation has become clearer.”
Real Madrid plan for life after Ronaldo
03:00: Real Madrid are getting ready for a huge overhaul over the next two summers with reports suggesting Harry Kane, Paulo Dybala and Neymar have been targeted as their new front three.
Zinedine Zidane is under increasing pressure despite having won the double last season and winning the Champions League twice in both seasons in charge.
Cristiano Ronaldo is said to be unhappy with the current squad at the Bernabeu and rumours have suggested he could look to a seal move back to Manchester United before calling time on his career.
And Diario Gol claim Real are prepared to let Ronaldo leave in order to plan for the future.
Real want Joachim Low to take over from Zidane should Los Blancos fail to succeed in the Champions League.
And Perez is prepared to back his potential new man in the market by offloading Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in order to sign Kane, Dybala and Neymar.
Messi and Suarez transfer demand
01:30: Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have teamed up to demand Barcelona sell Andre Gomes this month, according to reports.
Barcelona haven’t finished their business in the January transfer window just yet.
Arda Turan has already left on a loan deal to Istanbul Basaksehir.
And the likes of Javier Mascherano, Rafinha, Gerard Deulofeu and Aleix Vidal are all expected to join the Turkey international out the door at the Nou Camp.
However, according to Diario Gol, both Messi and Suarez have demanded Barcelona cash in on Andre Gomes this month as well.
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Monday January 15
Newcastle takeover EXCLUSIVE
11:45: Amanda Staveley is increasing her bid to buy out Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
Following further talks between the two parties, Staveley is tabling a new offer in excess of £300m.
There has been no response from Ashley’s camp and it is understood he is waiting until next month’s announcement on the Premier League’s new TV deal before making a decision.
Whatever the outcome of this latest bid, there will be no cash windfall for manager Rafa Benitez to spend in this month’s transfer window.
Chelsea prepare Sanchez bid
22:00: Chelsea are ready to throw a spanner in the works to disrupt Manchester United's transfer plans by making a late bid for Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.
A deal looks to be edging closer for Alexis Sanchez to join Manchester United with reports in France claiming the Gunners have accepted an offer.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also expected to move in the opposite direction.
However, Express Sport understands Chelsea have now entered the race late on for the Chilean and are ready to make a late bid.
GETTYRonaldo ‘fed up’
20:05: Cristiano Ronaldo is 'seriously fed up at Real Madrid', according to former Sky Sports pundit Richard Keys.
However, he is unsure if a return to Manchester United could be on the cards.
"Ronaldo is a very unhappy boy, but as to whether Mourinho will want to renew acquaintances with him - I’m not sure.
"Although they’re both managed by Jorge Mendes, neither enjoyed working with the other in Madrid. There’s a long way to go yet in this story."
Sanchez swap deal with Mkhitaryan
19:00: Manchester United have won the race for Alexis Sanchez that will also see Henrikh Mkhitrayan join Arsenal, according to reports.
United will pay the Gunners £40m for Sanchez, who is out of contract in the summer, while Mkhitaryan will move to north London in the opposite direction.
The Daily Star say United have offered Sanchez a long-term deal worth in excess of £300,000-a-week, plus a £35m signing on fee.
A move to Old Trafford would see Sanchez become United’s highest-paid player.
United refuse to print Sanchez shirts
18:33: The Manchester United club shop were asked to print Alexis Sanchez on the back of their shirts tonight - and their response was brilliant.
But the response was priceless as the shop worker warned: He could sign for City!
An assistant at the official United megastore said: "We can't print it until there's been an official announcement."
He then quickly corrected himself to say: "I mean if there's an official announcement!"
He added: "Until it's officially announced we won't do it. Take it to Sports Direct - they'll probably do it!
"What happens if we don't get him and he signs for City? You'll be walking round with an Alexis shirt!"
But the response was priceless as the shop worker warned: He could sign for City!
An assistant at the official United megastore said: "We can't print it until there's been an official announcement."
He then quickly corrected himself to say: "I mean if there's an official announcement!"
He added: "Until it's officially announced we won't do it. Take it to Sports Direct - they'll probably do it!
"What happens if we don't get him and he signs for City? You'll be walking round with an Alexis shirt!"
TWITTERUnited reject Martial/Sanchez swap
17:45: Manchester United have firmly rejected a swap deal involving Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez, reports claim.
According to French publication RMC, Arsenal approached United offering Alexis Sanchez in exchange for Martial, who Arsene Wenger is desperate to bring to the Emirates.
RMC’s chief football editor Mohamed Bouhafsi tweeted: “Manchester United have categorically rejected a swap deal offered by Arsenal for Alexis Sanchez in exchange for Anthony Martial, negotiations continue for Sanchez.”
Alexis Sanchez to Man Utd: 15 other hijacked deals
17:30: Alexis Sanchez is set to snub Manchester City in favour of rivals Manchester United – but which other infamous hijacked deals have taken place in Premier League history?
United are currently prepared to bid more for the Chilean than rivals City and appear set to carry out the latest in a long list of infamous hijacked Premier League deals.
Take a look through the gallery HERE to see 15 of the best hijacked Premier League transfers.
Arsenal handed major Riyad Mahrez boost…
17:15: Arsenal transfer target Riyad Mahrez has reached an agreement to leave Leicester, according to reports in France.
Riyad Mahrez has been expected to leave Leicester ever since he handed in a formal transfer request in the summer.
Express Sport understands he wants a move to Arsenal, having bought a property in London last year, and France Football reporter Nail Djellit has suggested a move could be on the cards as Mahrez has reached an agreement to leave the Foxes.
“Riyad Mahrez still wants to leave Leicester. He has an exit agreement with his president. Claude Puel wants to keep him - logical - but the player wants something else,” Djellit wrote on Twitter.
Eagles swoop for Khouma Babacar
17:00: Crystal Palace are hoping to bring Fiorentina and Senegal striker Khouma Babacar to south London for £15 million, the Guardian reports.
Babacar, 24, is said to be among up to five potential Selhurst Park recruits including Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, Lille centre-half Ibrahim Amadou, Everton striker Oumar Niasse and West Ham finisher Diafra Sakho.
GETTYCarroll fear
16:45: West Ham are concerned that Andy Carroll will look to force through a move to Chelsea, reports claim.
The Blues are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements having played out three successive goalless draws for the first time in their history.
The reigning champions have looked over-reliant on Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata, who have not scored from open play between them in Chelsea's past five games.
The Telegraph claim Carroll, 29, is firmly on Chelsea’s radar and West Ham he will attempt to push for the move during the January transfer window.
Alexis or Lucas
16.05: Manchester United will end their interest in Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas Moura if they complete a deal for Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez this month.
PSG star Moura was a target for United boss Jose Mourinho earlier this month and is keen on a move to England.
But Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol says his destination will not be Old Trafford if Sanchez becomes a Red Devil.
“What about the latest news on another target, Lucas Moura at PSG,” Solhekol said.
“Now, if United so sign Alexis Sanchez, that will end their interest in Moura.
“He expects to leave PSG this month and he’s hinted that he’d be interested in a move to England.”
Giggs gives Sanchez verdict
15.35: Manchester United would be extremely lucky if they end up signing Alexis Sanchez in a cut-price deal this month, says Ryan Giggs.
Giggs, who signed a four-year deal to become Wales boss today, says it is not often a player of Sanchez’s calibre is available for such a low fee.
“Well Alexis Sanchez is a top player,” he told Sky Sports.
“Whoever gets him or whether he stays at Arsenal, they’re lucky, because he’s not only a goalscorer but he makes goals, he works hard.
“So whoever gets him will be a lucky team because he is a top, top player.
“It doesn’t happen very often does it where you’re running down your contract, you’ve only got six months to go and you’re able to get a player relatively cheap in this environment.”
Sanchez would have spoken to Klopp
15.05: Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez would have spoken to both Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho over a potential move to their respective clubs, says Steve McClaren.
McClaren reckons Sanchez would have spoken to all the managers keen on signing him, including those at Manchester United and Liverpool.
“Everybody knows in football behind the scenes there will be a lot of phone calls, a lot of conversations,” he said on Sky Sports.
“If it’s the usual route he will have spoken to Mourinho, he would have spoken with Klopp, all the interested parties.
“He will have decided that one or that one, or I’ll wait.”
GETTYAsensio to Man Utd latest
14:42: Marco Asensio may leave Real Madrid for Manchester United if Eden Hazard rocks up at the Bernabeu.
Diario Gol claim Asensio is wary of Hazard’s arrival at Real.
Los Blancos are interested in signing the Chelsea star in the summer - although the Blues are determined to keep the Belgian.
And the report claims Asensio won’t hang around if Hazard comes in to usurp him.
He will look to join United as he rates his chances of securing game time at Old Trafford, even if the club sign Alexis Sanchez this month.
Liverpool considered Sanchez
13:51: Liverpool considered a bid to sign Alexis Sanchez before the two Manchester clubs got involved.
Manchester United and Manchester City are currently battling it out to sign Sanchez.
It looks as though the Arsenal star will sign a £350,000-a-week deal at United.
But the Mirror claim Liverpool’s top brass held talks over a deal for the Chilean.
The report suggests Liverpool refused to be drawn into a transfer battle when they heard of Sanchez’s wage demands.
Suarez on 2014 World Cup bite
13:20: Luis Suarez admits spoke to Barcelona during the 2014 World Cup about a move from Liverpool - amid doubts he had ruined his chances of leaving Anfield.
Suarez joined Barcelona after the his controversial World Cup outing where he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.
The player was banned for club and international fixtures, which cast a doubt over whether or not Barca would move for the then-Liverpool star.
But he has revealed his relief that a £75m deal eventually went through in an interview with his Barca team-mate Gerard Pique.
Asked if he thought the bite would jeopardise the switch, he said: "Yes, yes because [joining Barcelona] was everything, right?
“Apart from thinking about the World Cup, being able to fulfil my dream of coming here to Barca, I had gone all overboard.
“In the days that passed, before they kicked me out of the World Cup, that's when I spoke at the time with (former director) Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta and the president.
“They told me to rest assured that Barca loved me anyway.
“And I have no problem saying that I cried because… they were accepting me.
“And I went through all the times I spent and the s*** that I had sent, it was difficult to trust me.
“The truth is that Barca have behaved spectacularly with me and I will always be grateful.”
TWITTERWales appoint Giggs
13:12: Wales have appointed Ryan Giggs as their new manager.
The Manchester United legend, who oversaw four games at Old Trafford when David Moyes was sacked in 2014, was unveiled today.
Giggs played 64 times for Wales and has been linked with the role in the past.
He replaces Chris Coleman, who joined Sunderland last year after failing to secure Wales’ place at the 2018 World Cup.
Joachim Low to Real Madrid
12:45: Real Madrid are in talks with Joachim Low over the possibility of replacing Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane’s time at Real looks to be running out as his side labour for points in La Liga.
They lost 1-0 at home to Villarreal at the weekend.
And Spanish site soymadridista claim Low is being lined up as Zidane’s replacement.
Low is currently preparing his Germany side for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Keita transfer latest twist
12:27: Liverpool backed out of a deal to sign Naby Keita six months early because RB Leipzig demanded £17.8m.
That is according to German newspaper Bild, who claim Liverpool refused to stump up the fee.
Liverpool have already agreed to sign Keita in the summer but wanted the fast forward the deal to January.
And Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick has explained why his star man will be staying in the Bundesliga for the rest of the season.
“[The transfer] would only have been possible if we had reached an amicable solution in the sense of an exorbitant additional transfer payment,” he said.
GETTYMartial swap deal
11:17: Arsene Wenger wants Anthony Martial AND cash in a swap with deal with Manchester United for Alexis Sanchez.
United are the favourites to sign Sanchez in a £35m deal.
There are claims Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be thrown into the deal, with Arsenal’s head scout Sven Mislintat backing the move.
But the Daily Star claim Wenger isn’t interested in Mkhitaryan and instead has eye on Martial.
United spot £36m up front of Martial when they signed him from Monaco in 2015.
And that fee could rise to £56m with add-ons and bonuses.
Ronaldo to Man Utd?
10:45: Cristiano Ronaldo wants to return to Manchester United, according to Spanish newspaper AS.
The Real Madrid star is reportedly unhappy that he has not been handed a new Bernabeu deal.
And that means a United comeback is in his sights, with an end of season move most likely.
Whether United will be willing to hand him the Lionel Messi-level wages he wants remains to be seen.
GETTYAubameyang to Arsenal
09:45: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of a number of candidates lined up to replace Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal.
Sanchez is set to join Manchester United in a £35m deal.
And Borussia Dortmund star Aubameyang could replace the forward.
Check out the gallery below on how he could line up in the Arsenal XI if Arsene Wenger dips into the transfer market.
Barcelona transfer news
09:31: Luis Suarez expects Andre Gomes to leave Barcelona.
Don Balon claim the Uruguay international doubts midfielder Gomes has a future at the Nou Camp.
And that is part if because of Philippe Coutinho’s arrival.
Suarez has supposedly told Coutinho the Brazilian’s signing at Barcelona will force Gomes out.
Sanchez money claim
08:30: Manchester City will offer Alexis Sanchez more money to keep the Chilean out of Jose Mourinho’s clutches.
At least that’s what Manchester United legend Gary Neville has suggested on Twitter this morning.
“We both know City will up their offer to him of more [cash emoji],” he said.
“And you will say he chose Pep for less money [winking emoji].
“They actually need to [sign Sanchez] with Aguero on his own at the moment.
“Business wise it doesn’t make sense to let Alexis go to United.
“It will cost City more in the summer to get another.”
One man behind Mkhitaryan deal
08:10: Arsenal want Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United.
And the Daily Mail claim one man is behind a deal.
That person is new Gunners scout Sven Mislintat, who wants the player at the Emirates.
Mislintat knows all about the Armenia international having been behind his move to Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
GETTYAlexis Sanchez latest
07:38: More on Alexis Sanchez, with Express Sport understanding that a deal for the forward to join Manchester United can be complete within 48 hours (05:00).
And the news hasn’t gone down well at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola admits he is still in the dark over Sanchez as City hold out on a summer deal for the Chilean.
"He's an Arsenal player,” Guardiola said yesterday.
“We have the squad we have. I don't know what's going to happen in this transfer window."
Over to you, Alexis!
Can to Real Madrid?
07:22: Gary Neville says Emre Can is good enough to play for Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
Can is out of contract at Liverpool this summer and is expected to join Juventus.
Neville said: “It’s a big blow for Liverpool. It probably won’t make the headlines of Coutinho but for me to lose him, Juventus are a clever club.
“They sign players who are intelligent, who know the game, are shrewd and for me I’ve liked him for 18 months, two years.
“I know he’s got a mixed reception on Merseyside in terms of how good he is, I've even had debates with Jamie Carragher.
“I've said I think he’s a player that will play for Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.”
Juventus targeting move for Ozil
06:00: Juventus are reportedly hoping to make a move for Premier League duo Mesut Ozil and Christian Eriksen.
The Serie A giants have been linked with a move for Emre Can but they are prepared to turn their attentions elsewhere.
Italian outlet Calciomercato claim Juventus have been monitoring Eriksen’s situation at Tottenham for some time.
And they are also hoping to take advantage of Oil’s contract situation at Arsenal.
Chelsea eye Carroll loan
05:30: Chelsea are reportedly stepping up their interest in bringing Andy Carroll to Stamford Bridge this month, but are only prepared to offer a loan deal.
Antonio Conte has opted against turning to back-up striker Michy Batshuayi with his future at Stamford Bridge seemingly coming to an end.
But with Morata’s form in front of goal a growing concern at Chelsea, they are hoping to dive into the January to bring in another forward.
The Guardian claim Chelsea have turned their attentions on striking a deal with West Ham for Carroll.
But they are only prepared to take the 29-year-old on a six-month loan.
Sanchez to complete Man Utd transfer
05:00: Alexis Sanchez is set to complete a £350,000-a-week switch to Manchester United in the next 48 hours.
Arsenal’s Chile striker was left out of the squad for their shocking 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger admitted he expected the deal to be completed imminently.
United have edged ahead of rivals Manchester City in the bidding for Sanchez, being prepared to match Arsenal’s £35million valuation this month, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan possibly going the other way as part of the deal.
Arsenal’s other main target is Bordeaux’s Brazilian winger Malcom – for whom a £35m deal is close – with the player’s representatives in London yesterday.
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GETTYAubameyang to Arsenal huge hint
04:30: Borrusia For chief Michael Zorc has claimed the club are furious with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over his recent behaviour in the wake of Arsenal’s interest.
Aubameyang was left out of Dortmund’s side to face Wolfsburg yesterday with head coach Peter Stoger claiming he was punished due to missing a “very important team meeting”.
It comes in the wake of strong rumours suggesting Arsenal are set to complete a stunning £53million deal this month.
And Dortmund sporting director Zorc has hinted Aubameyang’s days with the Bundesliga outfit are numbered.
“At some point you can’t tolerate it any more,” Zorc said.
“I don’t know what’s going on inside his head. We had a very contentious discussion today. We’re not used to this behaviour from him.”
Liverpool contact Leicester about Mahrez
04:00: Liverpool have reportedly contacted Leicester to inform them they have no interest in signing Riyad Mahrez.
Thomas Lemar has once again been heavily linked with a move to Anfield with Arsenal also mentioned as potential suitors.
And rumours have suggested Liverpool want to fast-track Naby Keita’s arrival, although RB Leipzig have since denied those reports.
One surprise target who emerged following Coutinho’s move was Mahrez, who made it clear in the summer he wanted to leave Leicester.
However, The Times claim Liverpool are adamant they have no interest whatsoever and have contacted Leicester to say they will not be making a bid for him.
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