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The Independent UK

Sport

Sports Staff

Friday's transfer round-up: Maurizio Sarri hints at Gonzalo Higuain signing as Marko Arnautovic left out West Ham squad

It was a quieter Friday in the January transfer window as deals edged towards the line but not quite over.

Chelsea remain in hot pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain with a loan deal which would see the Argentinian join the Blues until the edge of the season still being negotiated, while Eddie Howe confirmed that no bids had been received for Callum Wilson.

Marko Arnautovic was dropped from Manuel Pellegrini's West Ham squad with the striker not in the right frame of mind to play after it was reported that his move to Shanghai SIPG had broken down. However, Chinese Super League rivals Guangzhou Evergrande are now also considering a move for the Austrian.

Relive all of Friday's transfer stories below.

2019-01-18T07:40:42.340Z

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.

2019-01-18T07:45:17.350Z

To Chelsea where their search for a striker could finally be over.

The Evening Standard reports the Blues hope to seal a deal with Juventus over a deal to bring Gonzalo Higuain to Stamford Bridge by lunchtime today so he's eligible to face Arsenal tomorrow.

There remains work to be done with the Argentine currently on loan at AC Milan and the Italian giants more keen on a permanent sale rather than a temporary one.

2019-01-18T07:53:07.000Z

Over to Liverpool where a surprise target has emerged.

Schalke's Weston McKennie is the object of Jurgen Klopp's affection with the Reds boss said to be a big fan of the USA international.

The Sun say the 20-year-old could be available for £20m.

2019-01-18T08:05:07.000Z

Tottenham are actively looking sign a forward on a permanent deal this January, in order to ease the pressure on a stretched squad after the injury to Harry Kane.

Although Kane himself is hopeful of another quick recovery like last season, the threat to Spurs’ season that the injury represents has led to a change of approach regarding the January market.

The club and Pochettino have realised the need to bring in another option - especially with Son Heung-Min on Asian Cup duty with South Korea - and have been meeting in the last few days to discuss potential options.

Tottenham have already resurrected previous interest in two Spanish-based attackers, Malcom of Barcelona, and Antonio Sanabria of Real Betis.

Tottenham turn to Barcelona's Malcom

2019-01-18T08:18:07.000Z

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey is set to join Juventus in the summer but could move even earlier than that.

The Welsh international is out of contract in the summer and with no new deal forthcoming is free to talk to foreign clubs with the Italian champions winning the race.

He'll join for nothing on July 1 as the likes of Bayern Munich, PSG and Real Madrid miss out with the Times reporting he's put pen to paper on a deal worth £300,000 per week.

Nice work if you can get it.

2019-01-18T08:33:07.000Z

Manchester United are ready to double Marcus Rashford's wages to close to £150,000 per week to keep him at Old Trafford.

That's according to the Mirror who say a host of Europe's top clubs are keen on the England international.

2019-01-18T08:46:07.000Z

West Ham have apparently had two offers for Genoa's Krzysztof Piatek rejected.

The Mail reports that the Hammers are interested in the 23-year-old Polish striker this month with AC Milan also keen.

2019-01-18T09:00:07.000Z

Back to Chelsea who look like they're going to be busy over the final fortnight of the window.

The Blues are said to be finally closing in on a deal for Zenit's Argentina international midfielder Leandro Paredes.

The move will cost upwards of £31m according to the Express.

2019-01-18T09:15:03.943Z

Premier League clubs are continuing to earn and spend more money than the rest of Europe with Manchester City the most expensively assembled squad in history, a Uefa report has revealed.

The European Club Footballing Landscape report, the 10th edition of the governing body's look at the financial health of clubs in its 55 member associations, shows that England's top-tier sides have the biggest revenue and the highest wage bills.

In 2017, Premier League clubs' aggregate revenue came to 5.3billion euros (£4.6bn), almost double that of La Liga (£2.5bn) and the Bundesliga (£2.4bn) and considerably more than Serie A (£1.9bn) and Ligue 1 (£1.4bn).

United top the list for total revenue, standing at £593million for 2017, less than £1m more than Real Madrid, though the Old Trafford club are projected to fall down the order in the 2018 list.

There are 13 Premier League clubs in the top 30 and that is down largely to television money, which accounts for 54 per cent of clubs' total revenue.

2019-01-18T09:23:28.866Z

Speaking this morning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Marouane Fellaini has suffered an injury.

"He'll probably be (out) at least three or four weeks," Solskjaer said. "He's got a calf problem and that's sad because there's X factors in different players and we all know Felli's X factor.

"Then again, he'll be working hard to get back in when all the big games are coming as well."

That doesn't mean he'll be going into the transfer market, however, he says.

2019-01-18T09:40:53.000Z

To Arsenal and a new, left-field target has apparently emerged.

James Rodriguez of Bayern Munich is reportedly on the Gunners radar and could be available for as little as £3million.

Six months remain on the two-year loan deal the Colombian signed from Real Madrid 18 months ago and Bayern would be happy to let the attacking midfielder leave early after falling down the pecking order at the Allianz Arena under new boss Niko Kovac.

2019-01-18T09:55:53.000Z

Over to Tottenham where Christian Eriksen appears unlikely to sign a new deal with the club.

Real Madrid are his No 1 suitors and AS report that they are the only club he will consider moving to.

Yet more bad news for Spurs who would hope to recoup £100m for the Denmark international in any sale.

2019-01-18T10:05:23.826Z

To Leicester and some new contract news for you.

Marc Albrighton has signed on the dotted line until 2022.

2019-01-18T10:18:53.000Z

Over to Chelsea where Alvaro Morata looks to be edging closer and closer to the exit door.

The Spaniard appears certain to leave Stamford Bridge this month with a number of clubs interested in taking him until the end of the season.

It is understood Atletico Madrid are chief among them with Sevilla now bowing out over his wage demands.

The Blues do have plans to replace him, however. More on those shortly.

2019-01-18T10:31:04.000Z

Manchester United are reluctant to let Scott McTominay leave this month despite the midfielder being linked with a loan move away from the club.

The Scotland international has attracted interest from Celtic north of the border as well as several English clubs.

However, following a calf injury to Marouane Fellaini, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer intends to keep McTominay at Old Trafford.

The United caretaker manager also revealed that the club are discussing new terms with McTominay.

Manchester United reluctant to let Scott McTominay leave

2019-01-18T10:45:04.000Z

Marko Arnautovic rollercoaster spell in east London appears to be coming to an end.

The Austrian wants out this month amid a mega money offer from China.

And The Sun report that a £35m move to Shanghai SIPG should be completed before the end of the week.

2019-01-18T10:58:04.000Z

Let’s go back to Arsenal where it could be the end of the Mesut Ozil era at the Emirates.

Unai Emery is said to be ready to let the German leave the club this month, according to the Mail.

He wants to free up some wage bill to fund two new signings this month.

2019-01-18T11:13:04.000Z

Bayern Munich are still confident of signing Callum Hudson-Odoi despite Chelsea's insistence that they will hold on to the England youth international.

The Bundesliga giants most recently submitted an offer of £30m to sign the teenager, who is out of contract in the summer and looking for assurances over first-team minutes.

Hudson-Odoi is understood to initially have needed some convincing over a move to Germany but has been impressed by Bayern's commitment to trying to bring him to the Allianz Arena.

That said Chelsea are reportedly ready to offer him £50,000 per week to keep hold of him, according to the Daily Mail.