It was another busy day in the January transfer window as Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic handed in a transfer request amid links to Arsenal, despite Unai Emery hinting that the club may still not make any new signings.
Alvaro Morata completed a long-awaited move to Atletico Madrid, with the deal subject to Gonzalo Higuain’s arrival. The Spaniard joins Atletico on an 18-month loan which includes a £48.5m option to buy.
Further speculation centred on the Blues’ coveted starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi as German publication Bild reported that Chelsea will turn down any deal this window for the 18-year-old.
Relive all the day’s new, rumours and done deals below.
Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.
The January window is upon us with the Premier League’s biggest clubs set to spend, spend, spend as the sales re-open.
We'll bring you all the latest news plus all the done deals and the juiciest gossip throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.
Without further ado, off we go.
We start off this morning with Arsenal's pursuit of Ivan Perisic, with the Inter Milan midfielder reportedly handing in a transfer request in order to try and force through a move.
Arsenal have enquired about the possibility of taking Perisic on loan until the end of the season with an option to sign him for £35m, but Inter want that clause to be an obligation to buy - as with the deal for Barcelona's Denis Suarez - and as such negotiations have reached a stalemate.
But Inter boss Luciano Spalletti has confirmed that Perisic has asked to leave, and it could lead to progress in the bid to bring him to the Premier League.
"Perisic has asked to leave but there is no offer for him. We will see in the coming days," said Spalletti.
"We will listen to the request of Perisic, he has put in a transfer request; we must try to satisfy him but also respect the value of him."
Adrien Rabiot has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this season with his Paris Saint-Germain contract set to expire in the summer, making him one of the most sought-after free transfer targets.
But Tottenham hope to beat the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona to his signature with a move this month - only to be told that he has no interest in moving to Spurs.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe, Rabiot has informed the Premier League side that he is not keen on joining Spurs despite former PSG teammates Lucas Moura and Serge Aurier attempting to talk him into a move, and that he would also prefer to wait in the summer before joining Liverpool.
Liverpool striker Ben Woodburn looks to be on his way back out of the club in a short-term loan move to Hull City.
The forward, who remains the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool history, has returned from a loan with Sheffield United.
But the Daily Mail claims that Woodburn is in talks with Championship side Hull and could be on his way back out of the club this week.
Olivier Giroud has spoken over his uncertain future at Chelsea following the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain, with the Frenchman's playing time set to be severely hampered by the Argentine's arrival.
The former Arsenal striker has spoken to Canal+ about his concern at Higuain's arrival and the possibility that he could look to move back to France, having also had to play second-fiddle to Eden Hazard as a false nine this season.
"The coach makes Hazard play nine which is detrimental to strikers,” Giroud said. “But he is the best player I've ever played with.
"If the club decides to get another striker, like Higuain, it will certainly darken my future at Chelsea.
“I've never said no to a return to France. Lyon and Marseille are two great clubs. My priority is to stay in the Premier League though.”
To Chelsea where Callum Hudson-Odoi's future looks to have been decided.
The 18-year-old is understood to have handed in a transfer request at Stamford Bride in a bid to force through a move to Bayern Munich this month.
The Bavarian giants look set to increase their offer to £40m to try and get a deal over the line this week.
Hudson-Odoi started and scored in Sunday's FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday, but that might have been his farewell gift to Chelsea as he looks to force through a move to Bayern.
Manchester United are monitoring PSV's Steven Bergwijn.
The Red Devils are keen on the Dutch international and could move on him this month.
The Sunday Mirror report that they have asked to be kept abreast of PSV's plans with Bayern Munich also interested.
We told you about Arsenal's interest in one winger earlier.
Well they may have a contingency plan should a deal for Ivan Perisic not materialise.
Barcelona's Malcom is another name in the frame, according to The Sun.
He could be available on a short-term loan.
Up to Manchester United where Eric Bailly won't be going anywhere.
Arsenal have been linked with the Ivorian centre back and a short-term loan-to-buy deal.
But the Mail report Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no intention of letting him go.
Leciester City are understood to be in talks with Monaco over a move for World Cup midfielder Youri Tielemans.
The central midfielder has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs over the years, but Leicester appear to be pressing on with their interest in the 21-year-old.
According to Sky Sports, Leicester are keen to offer around £20m for the Belgium international, which should it go through would free up Andre Silva to leave the club after an unsuccessful spell at the King Power Stadium.
In a fresh twist in the Tielemans pursuit, The Telegraph are reporting that Andre Silva could be used in negotiations to secure a 'loan swap' until the end of the season.
Real Madrid have apparently made Eden Hazard their No 1 target this summer.
The Belgian star is yet to pen a new contract at Chelsea and has routinely been linked with a move to the Bernabeu.
And, according to AS, Real are ready to push ahead with what could be a £100m move after cooling their interest in Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.
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.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken this morning ahead of Manchester United's Premier League clash with Burnley on Tuesday.
The Norwegian was asked about United's transfer plans this week, and he revealed that despite being strongly linked with Old Trafford departures, every player currently in his squad - including Matteo Darmian and Andreas Pereira - will remain at United for the rest of the season.
Mark Critchley was in attendance:
Manchester United will not rush into a decision on appointing a new manager, according to the Sunday Mirror.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won all eight of his games in charge sparking calls for him to get the job full time.
But the club are apparently happy to bide their time.
Manchester City could yet add to their talented squad before the transfer window is out.
Schalke's Sebastian Rudy is the target, according to the Sun, with Pep Guardiola apparently a fan of the German international.
Back to Crystal Palace who want to sign Chelsea's Gary Cahill on loan before Thursday's deadline.
That's according to The Sun on Sunday.
They say that should the Eagles land the 33-year-old former England international then fellow central defender Scott Dann will join Fulham, also on loan.
Stoke have made an enquiry for Burnley striker Sam Vokes.
The 29-year-old Wales international could be available for around £9m this month, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Back to Arsenal who look like they're going to be very busy this week.
They want a number of loan deals with the option of permanent moves come the summer.
Christopher Nkunku and Denis Suarez are two of them with talks ongoing with both PSG and Barcelona, according to the BBC.
Here's more on Olivier Giroud's admission that the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain could put his own Chelsea future in jeopardy.
The striker is out of contract at the end of the season at Stamford Bridge, and he appears to sound out both Lyon and Marseille by admitting they are "great clubs".
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