Transfer news UPDATES: Man Utd Koulibaly push, Arsenal deals, Liverpool latest, Chelsea bid
Posted Sunday, January 06, 2019 by Express.co.uk
TRANSFER NEWS live updates - Follow the latest news and gossip as the January transfer window heats up.
Celtic deals
Brendan Rodgers has 'tried to convince' Timothy Weah to sign, according to Sky Sports reporter Luke Shanley.
Rodgers wants to conclude a loan swoop for the PSG striker in time for the 18-year-old to join up with the Celtic squad in Dubai.
Express Sport understands a deal is in the pipeline and Shanley believes it took Rodgers to step in to twist the player's arm to make it happen.
"He's 18 years old and he has had talks with Brendan Rodgers and Brendan Rodgers has tried to convince him to come to Celtic," he revealed on the Transfer Talk podcast.
"Celtic have a link-up with PSG, who Weah pays for, as they sent Odsonne Edouard to Celtic last season. They had him on loan this time last year with a view to buying him.
"PSG certainly saw the benefits of Odsonne Edouard going out to Celtic and in the end they sold him to Celtic. I think there is a tie up between the two clubs.
"It was interesting to note Weah started following a lot of Celtic players on Instagram. Maybe we shouldn't read too much into that.
"But certainly there have been talks and Celtic need strikers.”
Transfer news: Celtic have been in talks with the PSG man (Image: GETTY)
Klopp on Clyne move
Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he allowed Nathaniel Clyne to join Bournemouth.
“Clyney asked if he could go,” he said.
“I thought about it, then said yes you can as we have other options and younger boys coming up.
“You can always keep a player but to keep him in right shape with right amount of confidence that's not always easy.”
Transfer news: Nathaniel Clyne in action for Bournemouth after signing from Liverpool on loan (Image: PA)
Rangers deals close
Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara have been seen leaving Ibrox after holding talks with Rangers.
Both are expected to sign for Steven Gerrard’s side this week in deals that will start in the summer.
The duo are out of contract and will sign pre-contract agreements.
Rangers are set to sign Jermain Defoe today and Steven Davis next week.
Transfer news: Rangers are set to sign Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara (Image: SKY SPORTS)
Koulibaly spotted
Kalidou Koulibaly has been spotted in Dubai as Manchester United prepare to jet in for a mid-season training camp.
The centre-back is on United’s shopping list as they prepare to revamp the squad and bolster their leaky defence.
Before Jose Mourinho’s sacking, the club failed to land a defender in the summer transfer window despite making moves for a number of targets.
One of them being the Senegal international alongside Toby Alderweireld, Jerome Boateng, Harry Maguire, Milan Skriniar and Diego Godin.
United supporters are desperate for the club to go all out for the Napoli man-mountain who has now been spotted in Dubai.
Coincidentally, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to take his Man United squad out to the United Arab Emirates after his side’s FA Cup third round clash with Reading.
Koulibaly bid
Manchester United may be forced to act this month if they want to land top defensive target Kalidou Koulibaly - because Barcelona and Real Madrid are now in the race.
The Napoli defender is understood to be Manchester United’s top defensive target.
But Ed Woodward is believed to be ready to wait until the summer to land his man when he hopes to appoint Mauricio Poachttino as Jose Mourinho’s replacement.
However Woodward could be forced into action with Naples based newspaper Il Mattino reporting that both Barcelona and Real Madrid are keen on Koulibaly.
Transfer news: Kalidou Koulibaly is Manchester United's top target (Image: GETTY)
Celtic done deal
Celtic have signed Oliver Burke from West Brom on loan.
The Scottish international has struggled at the Baggies but joins up with Brendan Rodgers side.
He will undergo a medical before the deal is official.
He has five caps for Scotland and adds to Rodgers options on the wings.
Juve still want Pogba
Juventus are to make Manchester United ace Paul Pogba their top transfer target once the Aaron Ramsey deal is complete, according to reports.
Pogba has struggled since returning to Old Trafford in 2016 though has impressed in recent weeks.
It doesn’t mean he won’t be subject to more speculation in the summer though.
And Tuttosport have claimed that Juventus will focus on bringing Pogba back to Turin once the Ramsey deal is over the line.
The Italian outlet have splashed with the story on their front page, claiming: “First Ramsey, then Pogba.”
Transfer news: Paul Pogba remains a target for Juventus (Image: GETTY)
Oxford wants Arsenal move
Reece Oxford is ready to wait on a dream move to Arsenal.
The Hammers are keen to sell the player in January to free up some funds with Borussia Monchengladbach keen on a deal this month.
But, according to the Mirror, Oxford could wait until the summer to seal a free transfer to Arsenal.
West Ham are believed to value Oxford at around ï¿¡3million, a bargain in today’s inflated market.
Transfer news: Reece Oxford wants to join Arsenal (Image: GETTY)
Barella bid
Chelsea have reportedly made a huge bid for Cagliari star Nicolo Barella.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is on the hunt for a new midfielder with Cesc Fabregas set to depart this month.
The Spaniard has been strongly linked with Monaco where he would team up with former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry.
And reports in Italy suggest Chelsea have already made a 50million euros (ï¿¡45million) for Barella.
Transfer news: Nicolo Barella is on Chelsea's radar (Image: GETTY)
Godin set for Inter deal
Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Diego Godin.
The club offered the Uruguayan a three-year contract last summer with Jose Mourinho prioritising the signing of a central defender, something that never happened.
But according to multiple reports, the 32-year-old is close to agreeing to join Inter Milan on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract.
Talks over an extension with Atletico Madrid broke down and it looks almost certain that his nine-year stay in Madrid will now come to an end.
After holding successful discussions with the Italian club, Godin is set to sign a contract until 2021 with the option for a further year.
Transfer news: Diego Godin looks set to join Inter Milan (Image: GETTY)
Real Madrid deal close
Real Madrid are closing in on a deal for River Plate star Exequiel Palacios, according to his agent.
Renato Corsi, Palacios’s agent, has said a deal is due to be agreed imminently though his player will not make the switch until the summer.
"The leaders of River got together with Real Madrid in Abu Dhabi," Corsi said.
"In the coming days there will be a formal offer and the operation is quite advanced.
"The family, Exequiel and I want him to go in June and Real Madrid don't have a problem with him staying at River until then.
"Real Madrid want him and supposedly River will sell.
"They agree, so between Monday and Tuesday the formal proposal will be presented."
Pochettino transfer latest
Mauricio Pochettino admits it’s unlikely he will add to his squad this month.
The Tottenham boss said: “We have a fantastic squad so it is difficult to find players to improve our team.
“I am very happy with the squad.
“Of course, we can improve but I am so happy.”
Transfer news LIVE: Follow the latest news and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Transfer news: Mauricio Pochettino doesn't expect any signings this month (Image: GETTY)
Koulibaly latest
Manchester United are prepared to bide their time before making a move for No 1 centre-back target Kalidou Koulibaly, it has been claimed.
The Senegal international hinted earlier this week that he might soon join up with friend Paul Pogba at United.
Koulibaly wrote "See you soon bro" on one of the midfielder’s Instagram posts, a comment which sent fans into meltdown.
The London Evening Standard have now claimed Koulibaly remains United’s first-choice to shore up their defence having initially been earmarked last summer.
However, Ed Woodward and co. are said to be happy to wait until the end of the current campaign before relaunching a bid for Koulibaly.
Transfer news: Kalidou Koulibaly could wait until the summer to join Manchester United (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal eye first deal
Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the signing of Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez.
Suarez joined Barcelona in 2016 and made 36 appearances in his debut campaign.
But his appearances have dropped significantly since then and this season he has played in just two La Liga games.
As a result, Arsenal are keen on taking advantage of the 24-year-old’s situation to bolster their squad.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery is well aware of Suarez’s qualities having worked with him at Sevilla and playing 47 times.
Emery is short of funds to spend in the transfer window due to a rising wage bill and poor player sales in recent years.
But transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio claims Arsenal lead the race for Suarez and are ready to close out a deal.
Transfer news: Arsenal are closing in on Denis Suarez (Image: GETTY)
Diego Costa back to Chelsea
Peter Crouch thinks Chelsea need to break the bank to bring Diego Costa back.
“The one thing you need is someone to score you 30 goals and they do not have a player like Harry Kane, Mo Salah or Sergio Aguero,” he wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“Not so long ago, they did. Diego Costa would absolutely transform Chelsea’s fortunes and, if it was down to me, I’d break the bank to re-sign him.
“You can talk about Gonzalo Higuain or Karim Benzema, but I think Costa would be the one to take Chelsea where they want to be.
“There was something about the way Costa’s career finished at Stamford Bridge that doesn’t sit right.
“I know there were huge problems between him and Antonio Conte, but even so, it seemed like they didn’t put up any kind of fight to keep him.”
Transfer news: Diego Costa could return to Chelsea, according to Peter Crouch (Image: GETTY)
Defoe medical
Jermain Defoe will undergo a medical today to seal his loan switch to Rangers, who have also agreed pre-contracts with Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara.
Striker Defoe, 36, will have the assessment in England ahead of his 18-month move from Bournemouth.
The former England international will be the first arrival of the January window, closely followed by the return to Ibrox of Southampton midfielder Steven Davis on an 18-month deal.
Kilmarnock winger Jones, 24, and Dundee midfielder Kamara, 23, were in Glasgow yesterday for medicals and to finalise the terms that will see them join Rangers this summer on free transfers.
Transfer news: Jermain Defoe is set to have a medical at Rangers today (Image: GETTY)
Solskjaer on transfers at Man Utd
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t expect any incomings at Manchester United this month.
The caretaker manager was quizzed on the potential for deals during the January window but he thinks the club are likely to keep their money for the summer.
"I don't expect anyone to come in,” Solskjaer said.
"Obviously if the club have targeted and identified a few and I think they might fit here then I'll give my thumbs up. But it's not just my decision. I'm happy with the squad I've got."
Fekir on the move?
Nabil Fekir could be on the move this month after he was left out of Lyon’s squad for their French Cup clash this weekend.
Fekir nearly joined Liverpool in the summer but a move fell through at the last minute.
His name has been mentioned in connection with Liverpool again this month although a deal would seem unlikely.
But the club captain has been left out of Lyon’s team to face Bourges Foot, ramping up speculation even more.
Transfer news: Nabil Fekir has been linked with Liverpool again (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea ‘close to Higuain deal’
Chelsea are closing in on a deal for Gonzalo Higuain, according to the Sun.
Maurizio Sarri is desperate for more firepower and is frustrated with Alvaro Morata.
But it is claimed the Blues are close to a deal that would see Higuain join and Morata head to AC Milan.
Morata is also wanted by Sevilla but a deal to help Chelsea bring in another forward in exchange would be preferable to the club.
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