Thursday's transfer news: Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool rumours as they happened
Join us for live transfer news and rumours from Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and beyond as we bring you all of Friday's latest rumours, done deals and collapsed moves from around the world.
Manchester United and Arsenal are both in the headlines this afternoon as they consider moves for Paris Saint-Germain's soon-to-be departed striker Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan is out of contract at the end of the season and available on a free transfer, and reports in his homeland suggest that offers have already been made from the two Premier League clubs along with Atletico Madrid. Chelsea meanwhile are on the hunt for a defender, with eyes on IssaDiop of West Ham and their former centre-back Nathan Ake at Bournemouth, with £40m bis prepared for both depending on who the club decide to focus on.
Tottenham Hotspur meanwhile are looking at Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti despite long-term interest from Arsenal and United, with the France international facing a somewhat uncertain future as Barca are keen to move him on this season, while another star defender who appears to be on the market is Juventus'sMatthijs de Ligt, who despite only arriving in Italy at the start of the season is already being linked with a loan move back to Ajax after failing to settle in Turin. Follow all of the latest below.
Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo has said that he will bring new signings to Molineux this transfer window.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's fixture with Newcastle United, the Portuguese manager also expressed his regret that summer signing Patrick Cutrone had not made more of an impact since joining from AC Milan in a £16.2m move.
The Italian, who scored only 3 goals for Wolves, is now in the process of completing a loan move to Fiorentina which will become permanent in 2021.
The departure leaves Wolves in need of new recruits and Nuno revealed that the West Midlands club are "working on" a number of targets, saying: "We have to. There are a lot of names, not only linked with Wolves, all the clubs but most of them are not true.
"It's a reality, we need to bring players and we will bring players. It needs time, needs proper decisions for us to bring players that can really help us and bring different characteristics to our squad."
Daniel Farke has today touched on Norwich's links to Hertha Berlin midfielder Ondrej Duda saying: "We're looking to strengthen and bring in some options. I think we need a few more options. Duda, we know this player and he is a good player without any doubt. Let's see how the next days develop."
The 43-year-old manager also warded off interest in young full-back Max Aarons, who is linked with a lucrative move to Germany, saying: "I wouldn't spend too much energy listening to all these rumours. Listen, Max is a young guy, only 20 years old and he has four years on his contract.
"It's not the right time for him even to think about a January move. If I am honest when you see so many clubs linked with him you have to be very doubtful.
"In Germany a few days ago they say he had already signed for Bayern Munich, then the next day it is Borussia Dortmund. Here in England rumours each and every top club want him.
"When so many clubs are in the race it is very doubtful if that is the case. He has a long contract here and he's totally at the right place. I think he has played something like 21 Premier League games so far, leave him alone and let him play his football."
Frank Lampard has admitted that it is possible Andreas Christensen could leave Chelsea on loan before the end of the month.
"I can rule it out. I like Andreas as a player; I’ve always liked him. I used to train with him and saw the talent coming through.
"I want Andreas to be the best he can be. When you see the height, the athleticism and the quality on the ball. The reality is we have competition at centre-back here.
"I have to choose on what I see and generally two of them won’t be happy."
Danny Drinkwater could make his Aston Villa debut when they host Manchester City on Sunday.
The midfielder joined on loan from Chelsea this week and is available to face the champions. Matt Targett (hamstring) is also back but Jonathan Kodjia (illness) is likely to miss out.
Keinan Davis (hamstring) is sidelined along with Tom Heaton and Wesley, who both had surgery on season-ending knee injuries this week, as well as John McGinn (fractured ankle) and Jed Steer (Achilles).
Back to Villa where the Premier League new boys are looking for a forward after Wesley's season-ending knee injury on New Year's Day.
They've been linked to Chelsea's Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi but remain frustrated.
Manager Dean Smith says: "We're working on it all the time, do I think we'll have it before Sunday? No. We're working around the clock to bring players in but it's a narrow window and a lot of clubs don't want their better players to be leaving.
"When you are after players, four things need to align, the selling clubs want to sell, the buying club wants to buy and have the funds and then the player and his agents.
"There are four boxes and we're not any closer to doing that at the moment."
Granit Xhaka’s brother has denied the Switzerland international is poised to exit Arsenal this month.
“I don’t know if Hertha BSC were a concrete option for Granit at all. I spoke to him on the phone and he told me that the Bundesliga was an attractive league.
“But, he definitely wanted to stay in the Premier League. He feels very comfortable with Arteta.”
Frank Lampard has been speaking about Chelsea transfer target Moussa Dembele.
"He is a player I know, and the club knows. But it is a surprise for his name to pop up so much when it’s not as much in my conversations. At the moment we are working very hard in the training ground.
"I don’t want to cut and dry on anyone, but it is not one we are talking about."
Norwich manager Daniel Farke has warned rival Premier League clubs to keep their hands off Max Aarons.
“I wouldn’t spend too much energy listening to all these rumours. Max is a young guy and he still has four-and-a-half years of his contract left,” he said at his weekly news conference.
“I think it’s not the right time for him to even think about a move. I would also be doubtful when too many clubs are linked with him.
“He is totally at the right place here, he’s played nearly 20 Premier League games, now leave him alone and let him play some football.”
Some good news for Everton where midfielder Andre Gomes is due back at the club next week to begin individual sessions as he steps up his recovery from a serious ankle injury.
Gomes suffered a dislocation fracture to his right ankle in the draw against Tottenham in November, an injury that had been expected to sideline him for the rest of the season.
But manager Carlo Ancelotti has given a positive update on the 26-year-old's recovery.
"Andre Gomes can come back next week, and start to train individually here," he said. "It is good news. He is doing well in his recovery. It is going fast so I hope as soon as possible he can be with us, because he's a fantastic player."
Frank Lampard has given the clearest indication yet that Olivier Giroud could leave Chelsea this month.
Asked if Chelsea need to recruit a replacement before Giroud can leave, Lampard said: "Not necessarily. With Ollie the situation is, if it's right for everybody, and first and foremost that's us as the club, then we'll look at whether he can leave the club.
"He's been a great professional here, who has continued to train professionally without many opportunities. But I still have to make a decision for the football club, and nothing's done yet.
"Everyone's talking about it so I'm not going to beat around the bush. I think his agent has spoken to the club, but until anything's done he's a Chelsea player."
Jose Mourinho has implied that summer spending is more likely than Spurs making a signing in the January window, saying: "If the boss [Chairman Daniel Levy] arrives with a solution for these difficult months then so be it.
"But if we don't find the right opportunity or the right solution we are going to wait until summer to make a decision for the evolution of the team."
Kilmarnock have loaned Dom Thomas to Dunfermline 24 hours after recalling Greg Kiltie from the Pars.
Thomas signed a new Rugby Park contract in September and made 24 appearances in the first half of the season but will spend the rest of the campaign in the Ladbrokes Championship.
The 23-year-old has enjoyed loan spells with Queen of the South and Dumbarton since moving from Motherwell to Killie in the summer of 2017.
The Bristol Post are reporting that Norwich City have moved ahead of Bristol City in the race to snap up Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah on loan.
The paper claims that Bristol City had been confident of completing a deal only for Norwich to emerge as the late favourites to take Nketiah on loan for the rest of the season.
West Ham have been in talks with Benfica this week over midfielder Gedson Fernandes, but The Guardian are reporting the Hammers fear losing out on the 21-year-old to rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
West Ham had hoped to sign Fernandes on an 18-month loan deal, but it is claimed that the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, has offered him to Tottenham at a very late stage in the negotiations.
In his press conference Roy Hodgson just provided transfer updates on the following players:
Kyle Walker-Peters: “I know talks are taking place. I am very hopeful of getting Kyle here. I think he is a very talented young player and we would benefit from his services."
Wilfried Zaha: “His agent is of no interest to me. I am still very confident Wilf will stay with us and help us reach our goals."
Connor Wickham: “What Connor needs is regular football. He knows we can’t guarantee him that here. The club is aware of that situation, but I have no interest in pushing Connor out the door because he is a very useful man to have."
Ralph Hasenhuttl was today quizzed on Southampton's activity in the January transfer window, especially regarding a widely rumoured exit for 23-year-old forward Che Adams.
The £15m signing is yet to score for the Saints since joining from Birmingham City last summer - but Hassenhuttl, when asked if Adams could leave St Mary's on loan, said: "No. Absolutely no because we need every player. Not only because of injury, but he can help us. Even though he hasn't scored he played a very good game against Chelsea.
"Hes a positive guy and I want him here. We're working with him every day, showing him videos and telling him what he has to do. This is something of an investment in the future. We were convinced when we took him and were still convinced about him."
Adams made his first league start since September in the 2-0 win at Chelsea, but is very much second choice behind Danny Ings - who was rested that day.
Ings, 27, is enjoying a remarkable season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions, and may trouble Leicester's back line in Saturday's 3pm kick off.
Roy Hodgson has been speaking about Crystal Palace new boy Cenk Tosun.
"Cenk has been heavily scouted by the club. We're very pleased to have him with us and know the qualities he can bring to the squad.
"He is in contention to be in tomorrow's squad. I'm very grateful for Everton to allow this to be done in time. It's important as we still have eight players missing.”
United and Chelsea have both been linked with Dinamo and Spain star DaniOlmo. There could also be some big moves across Europe. Real Madrid have been linked with a £68m move for Timo Werner, as well as Flamengo wonder kid Reinier, while Arsenal have turned their eyes to RB Leipzig’s DayotUpamecano as a long-term target.
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