The Premier League's January transfer window saw one of its most bizarre transfer stories as former Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng joined Barcelona on loan until the end of the season from Sassuolo. The deal for the 31-year-old also includes an option to buy for £7.1m.
Arsenal confirmed head of recruitment Sven Mislintat will depart the club after disharmony emerged behind the scenes last week, while the Gunners continue their pursuit of Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez, who's on a two-year loan from Real Madrid at Bayern Munich.
Manchester United are ramping up their search for a director of football, with the club's hierarchy keen to fill the role before a decision is taken over their next permanent manager, meanwhile, Jose Mourinho claims he has turned down three job offers since being sacked.
Relive all of today's transfers news, rumours and done deals on our live blog 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 this morning with one of the more surprising transfer stories...
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 £2m.
Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain is set to finalise his loan move to Chelsea this week, the Daily Express says.
The Argentine was left out of AC Milan's squad for Monday's Serie A clash with Genoa, with manager Gennaro Gattuso admitting that the imminent move to Chelsea means he cannot select the striker due to his frame of mind.
"We had a poor training session today because of all these rumours," Gattuso said.
"We spoke after the training session and I did not consider him ready. Speculation disrupted preparations."
Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole may be set for a move to Derby where he will reunite with his old team-mate Frank Lampard, the Daily Mirror says.
Ex-England left-back Cole, 38, most recently played for the LA Galaxy and was released at the end of the 2018 season.
Frenkie de Jong continues to be subject of keen interest, with the Daily Mail reporting Barcelona and Paris St Germain are both looking to convince the Ajax midfielder to sign for them.
Now this is a bit of a surprise...
Paul Scholes is set to be named the new manager of Oldham, the Daily Mail says. The Latics dismissed Frankie Bunn last month after six months in charge at Boundary Park.
Players to watch
Eden Hazard: The Belgium international will not be joining Real Madrid during the January transfer window but wants Chelsea to reject any other offers ahead of a summer move, reports Marca.
Matteo Darmian: The 29-year-old Manchester United defender is close to agreeing a loan move to Juventus, the Guardian says.
Adrien Silva: The Leicester midfielder is looking to agree a loan deal with Bordeaux, according to L'Equipe.
Chelsea could be very busy over the next fortnight.
They are said to have asked Barcelona about the possibility of signing Philippe Coutinho this month.
The former Liverpool star is struggling for game time and could be available for £100m.
Manchester United have also been linked.
Staying at Chelsea and Callum Hudson-Odoi has his heart set on leaving the club for Bayern Munich.
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.
Such is his desire to leave he has apparently turned down an offer of a new £85,000 per week contract, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Arsenal want Marc Overmars to become their new technical director.
That's according to the Sunday Mirror who say the former winger, who is currently at Ajax, is the Gunners' top target as they continue their restructure.
Head of recruitment Sven Mislintat is set to leave the club after a breakdown in relationship behind the scenes.
o the Marko Arnautovic saga and a twist in the tale.
The Mail on Sunday report the Austrian's dream move to China has collapsed at the 11th hour.
Arnautovic was hoping to complete a switch to Shanghai SIPG and pick up upwards of £300,000 per week but that appears to now be just a pipe dream.
Manuel Pellegrini dropped the 29-year-old for the game with Bournemouth yesterday with his top scorer apparently "not in the right frame of mind to play".
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 on Sunday, with Pep Guardiola apparently a fan of the German international.
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.
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.
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.
However, it's understood that Tottenham have no interest in Malcom of Barcelona.
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.
So what of Mesut Ozil.
Well, according to the Mirror, Arsenal are willing to subsidise his £350,000 per week wage to get him out the door this month.
Inter Milan are keen on a loan deal.
Staying with 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.
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.
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.
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.
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