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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Sports Staff

Wednesday's transfer roundup: Chelsea confirm Gonzalo Higuain deal as Barcelona sign Frenkie De Jong

The Premier League's January transfer window is upon us with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all set to be busy.

Chelsea have made the biggest splash with the signing of Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic with Gonzalo Higuain joining him on loan from AC Milan. Don't expect the Blues to stop there, however, with Cagliari's Nicolo Barella and Zenit's Leandro Paredes still on their radar. And what of outgoings with the futures of Eden Hazard and Callum Hudson-Odoi firmly up in the air. Liverpool were the summer's biggest spenders with no fewer than four new arrivals. Goalkeeper Alisson was the headline-grabber with the Brazilian already proving worth every penny of the world-record fee the Reds shelled out for the Brazilian. Could Jurgen Klopp bolster his title challengers this month?

United got a couple of new faces in through the door in the summer but it hasn't made a difference with Jose Mourinho out and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in. Will he spend them out of trouble in the January sales?  We will have all the latest news, views, rumours, gossip and done deals right here so don't touch that dial.

Roma’s Monchi is one of the top names being considered for Arsenal’s technical director, and there is a growing feeling a deal can be done.
 
The London club are pressing ahead with restructuring of the technical staff, in moves that played a part in Sven Mislintat’s impending departure.
 
The outgoing head of recruitment had initially been seen as a candidate for technical director, but main target Monchi is probably one of the few football figures in Europe with a reputation equal to that of Mislintat for finding players, and would represent another coup.
 
Roma are said to be bracing themselves for the departure of the 50-year-old, who only joined from Sevilla in April 2017, signing a four-month contract.
 
It was at the Spanish club that Monchi - full name Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo - enjoyed a close relationship with current Arsenal manager Unai Emery.
 
 
Let's take a trip to the champions and a possible surprise loan move before the window.
 
Schalke's Sebastian Rudy is the target, according to The Sun, with Pep Guardiola apparently a fan of the German international.
 
 

Manuel Pellegrini does not know whether wantaway striker Marko Arnautovic has played his last game for the club.

Arnautovic did not travel with the Hammers for last weekend's defeat at Bournemouth after revealing he wants a big-money move to China.

West Ham have turned down an initial bid of £35million from Shanghai SIPG and maintain they do not want to lose their joint top-scorer.

Pellegrini wants to keep the Austrian, at least until the summer, but will agree to the sale this month if his price tag is met.

Yet despite the speculation, Arnautovic remains at the club and has trained with his teammates all week.

Tottenham are struggling for options in attack, with Dele Alli and Harry Kane injured and Son Heung-min away on Asian Cup duty so Andy Carroll may be the answer, according to The Sun.
 
The West Ham forward is a free agent in the summer and could be snapped up for £2million, the paper said.
 
 

Japan international Takashi Inui has moved from Real Betis to fellow La Liga side Alaves on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 30-year-old midfielder has spent the last four seasons in the Spanish top flight, first signing for Eibar in 2015 from Eintracht Frankfurt.

He left on a free transfer to Betis last season after his contract with Eibar expired, but has failed to make an impact at the Seville club, appearing in eight league games and failing to score.

 
Over to France where PSG could be set to make the biggest splash of this winter window.
 
The French champions are set to complete a £88m move for Napoli midfielder Allan in the next few days.
 
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis is said to be in Paris, according to today's Gazzetta dello Sport, with a deal close.
 
 
Well here's some confirmation of sorts of what we've known for a little while.
 
Bild's Bayern Munich correspondent Christian Falk reports that Aaron Ramsey has now signed a deal to join Juventus on a free in the summer.
 
Bayern were at one stage very confident of landing him themselves but it's Juve who have got their man.
 
Arsenal continue to push for a deal for Barcelona's Denis Suarez as his replacement with that one looking like it will run and run.
 
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has yet to decide whether wantaway striker Marko Arnautovic will be in the squad to face AFC Wimbledon.

Arnautovic did not travel with the Hammers for last weekend's defeat at Bournemouth after telling the club he wants a big-money move to China.

But despite the speculation, the Austrian remains at West Ham and has trained with his team-mates all week.

The Hammers head to Kingsmeadow in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday and Pellegrini said: "On Friday, we will see the names of the players in the squad list.

"Marko is working with us without any problems. It is impossible for me to know the future."

 
We mentioned Newcastle's interest in adding some new faces this month earlier.
 
Well it seems they have one.
 
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio says Lazio's Jordan Lukaku - yep, Romelu's brother - is on his way to Tyneside on loan.
 
 
To Manchester United where the resurgent Red Devils are looking to tie down two of their in-form stars.
 
Paul Pogba could be first at the negotiating table according to the Sunwhile Anthony Martial is said to not be far behind report ESPN.
 
United getting their (in house) business done early.
 
 
Some managerial news and an exit in the Netherlands.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has managed Feyenoord for three-and-a-half seasons and won the league in 2017.

But his time will be up at the end of this current season.

"Gio has done a great job here and is still doing well," technical director Martin van Geel told the club's official website.

"We were therefore happy to sit down with him next month, as planned, for the first time to talk about a possible contract extension."

He added: "Gio is an emotional person and if he himself has the idea of ​​wanting something different after this season, we can only respect that."

 
Back to the Emirates and what could be a headline-grabbing, late-window move.
 
Arsenal have investigated the possibility of signing James Rodriguez on an initial loan deal, with intermediaries having made contact.
 
The Colombian star is currently on an extended loan at Bayern Munich, and set to return to parent club Real Madrid at the end of the season.
 
The European champions want to sell James on a permanent deal at that point, with that having attracted interest from Arsenal as well as Napoli.
 
All clubs have would favour an initial loan now, something it is believed that Bayern would not be averse to.
 
 
Leicester midfielder Adrien Silva is looking to agree a loan deal with Bordeaux, according to L'Equipe.
 
However, Sky Sports report Inter Milan are also keen. One to keep an eye on.
 
 
Cardiff won't be granted any extra time to sign a striker despite Emiliano Sala's disappearance.
 
The search for the Argentine's missing plane continues over the English Channel.
 
Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo said: “I think from the club's perspective, we are managing the situation but we have another department that has to continue with looking at the transfers.

“I am basically multi-tasking three or four jobs at once. It is really difficult physically and emotionally and mentally to cope in a situation like this.
 
“We have to segregate our minds into looking for Emiliano, segregate our minds into helping the family - and the club is trying its best to provide the most care for the family and giving them the information they want, we want to tell them all the facts line-by-line.
 
“We are still running a business which continues, we still have to meet the transfer deadline.
 
“We have spoken to the Premier League on how tough it is for us to cope given there are eight days to go [until the deadline] and we have been watching Emiliano for months and we got it over the line finally.
 
“And now we have eight days to go and we don't really know how to cope with this scenario but we have to meet the deadline.
 
“The bottom line from the Premier League is that you have to meet the deadline like everyone else.”
 
 
Could Rafa Benitez leave Newcastle?
 
It never feels too far away with the Spaniard but, according to the Telegraph, unless the club the two signings he asked for this month he's off.
 
Monaco's Antonio Barreca and Atletico Madrid's Gelson Martins have been linked today.
 
 
Timo Werner is likely to stay with RB Leizig for the next two or three years, according to the club's technical director Ralf Rangnick.
 
Werner has been persistently linked with Liverpool over several transfer windows and Bayern Munich are also understood to be interested in the striker.
 
However, Rangnick believes Bayern are in no rush to bring Werner to Bavaria, and therefore believes that the 22-year-old will stay at Leipzig for the foreseeable future.
 
“If Bayern are serious, then it will be difficult for us. But they often play with one striker, so I see him staying with us for the next two or three years," he told Sky Germany.
 
 
Watford have no interest in selling Abdoulaye Doucoure this month.
 
The in-form midfielder is catching the eye this season with Paris Saint-Germain particularly interested.
 
But the Evening Standard say the 26-year-old is staying put, for now at least.
 
 
A done deal in the Championship.
 
Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel is back in English football after signing for Middlesbrough on a deal until the end of the season.
 
To Spain where another Real Madrid star could be set to follow Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.
 
Marcelo is the latest player to be linked with a switch according to Marca who is reported to have told bosses at the Bernabeu "if they make an offer for me, you have to let me go".
 
 
Could Wilfried Zaha be off to Germany?
 
Well, Borussia Dortmund are keen on him according to Bild.
 
Crystal Palace would want upwards of £50m for the 26-year-old but have money to spend after agreeing to sell Christian Pulisic to Chelsea.
 
 

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Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, rumours and done deals throughout the January window​

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