Unai Emery says Arsenal are targeting a ‘right or left winger’ before the transfer deadline on January 31st.
The FC panel answer your tweets on Timothy Weah’s role for Celtic, if they’d prefer Christian Pulisic or Callum Hudson-Odoi in their squad and more.
The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is open again. Transfer Talk has been scouring the world’s media and setting our correspondents loose to see who could be heading to/out of your club this month.
TOP STORY: Chelsea eye raid for Rakitic
Chelsea are interested in signing Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona this summer as they look to strengthen their midfield, according to Sport.
The Catalonia-based outlet reports that Chelsea have identified the Croatia playmaker as the man to improve Maurizio Sarri’s team, filling the gap left by Cesc Fabregas’ move to Monaco earlier this month.
Manchester United and Arsenal are also keeping tabs on the 30-year-old’s availability.
Rakitic is one of the world’s top central midfielders (he is ranked No. 6 in the ESPN FC 100), but Frenkie de Jong’s impending arrival at the Camp Nou will provide an additional challenge to his spot in Ernesto Valverde’s first team.
Sport reports that Rakitic wants to stay and fight for his place, which he has held down for most of his time at the club since signing from Sevilla in 2014.
He played a key role in Croatia’s run the the World Cup semifinals last summer, and this season he has scored scored three and assisted five goals.
LIVE BLOG
09.30 GMT: Inter Milan general manager Beppe Marotta has conceded it would be hard to stand in the way of Ivan Perisic as he seeks a move to Arsenal.
Unai Emery is interested in the Croatia winger, who has put in a transfer request, but Arsenal and Inter have yet to discuss terms.
At the weekend, Marotta insisted a transfer would only happen if all sides were satisfied but he has now shown a willingness to negotiate rather than be left with an unhappy player in his squad for the remainder of the season.
“It is hard to keep hold of players if they don’t want to stay,” he told Sky Sport Italia after emerging from a meeting with club directors on Monday evening. “There have been very few moves [this winter] and a lot of unsatisfied players, so it’s up to us to deal with this situation.
“As things stand, no concrete offer has arrived so there are no conditions [to sell Perisic].”
09.10 GMT: DONE DEAL! Paris Saint-Germain have finally completed the signing of midfielder Leandro Paredes from Zenit St Petersburg on a four-and-a-half year deal.
The Argentina international arrives at Parc des Princes for an initial fee of around €40 million with bonuses that will take the deal near the €47m mark.
08.55 GMT: Speaking of Callum Hudson-Odoi, sources have told ESPN FC that Chelsea have rejected his transfer request and will not be selling him to Bayern Munich in January.
Hudson-Odoi formally notified Chelsea of his desire to join Bayern on Saturday, but was nevertheless picked to start by Maurizio Sarri against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup fourth round less than 24 hours later and scored an impressive goal in a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have insisted from the moment that Bayern’s interest became widely known that they want to keep Hudson-Odoi, who enters the final year of his contract at the end of the season and has no intention of committing to a long-term extension.
Willian revealed that he and Hudson-Odoi’s other teammates are trying to talk him out of a move, telling reporters: “We want him to stay. He’s a great talent. A great player. We tell him all the time to stay here.
“We don’t want him to leave. He can become one of the best players for Chelsea, one of the best players in the world, in the future. He has to stay.
“The quality he has, he has everything. He’s fast. Of course, he can improve, he’s only 18, but he can improve a lot to become one of the best players.”
08.35 GMT: There could soon be another young English talent leaving the Premier League for the Bundesliga — and it’s not Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Sources told ESPN FC on Monday that Manchester City academy graduate Rabbi Matondo was close to completing a move to Schalke. Now kicker reports that the 18-year-old winger has arrived in Germany to complete his move.
City could reportedly receive around €13m for Matondo, 18, who would be eligible to face City when the two clubs meet in the Champions League round of 16.
08.00 GMT: Tottenham are planning a £30m summer move for Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, sources have told ESPN FC.
The London club have not signed a player for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad since capturing Lucas Moura from Paris Saint-Germain during the 2018 winter window.
But efforts are already being made to add to the squad at the end of this season, with Spain Under-21 midfielder Soler — who scored in Valencia’s 2-1 Champions League win against Manchester United at La Mestalla in December — regularly watched by Tottenham’s scouting team during this campaign.
Soler has scored two goals in 28 games in all competitions for Valencia this season, but the right-sided player has also created six assists for the club, who have overcome a slow start in La Liga to be challenging for Europa League qualification.
Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring the 22-year-old, but sources have told ESPN FC that Spurs are the frontrunners to sign the player due to their ability to offer a greater prospect of regular football than the French champions.
PAPER TALK (by Charlie Brooks, Football Whispers): Miranda the Monaco miracle man?
Monaco have entered the race to sign Inter Milan defender Miranda, reports Sky Sport Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Brazilian has only managed eight Serie A appearances this season with Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij favoured at the heart of defence, and is thought to be pushing for a move away from Italy.
Monaco seem intent on trying to buy their way out of trouble, having already splashed the cash this January, not only on players, but on re-hiring Leonardo Jardim, to whom they had paid around £7 million in compensation after dismissing him in October.
In order for a deal to be considered though, the Nerazzurri will first need to find a suitable replacement for the ex-Atletico Madrid centre-back.
Benitez on the brink
The Independent reports that Rafa Benitez is for the first time seriously considering his future at Newcastle after another fruitless transfer window.
With his contract at St James’ Park coming to an end this summer, the ex-Liverpool boss could leave before the end of this campaign for free, with a penalty clause no longer valid.
Once again this January, Benitez has been left frustrated at the Geordies’ failure to sign a single player and with little more than 48 hours to go until the market closes, it seems increasingly likely that the 58-year-old will have to make do with his current squad or walk away.
Newcastle were reportedly close to signing Jordan Lukaku last week, however the deal did not materialise, nor did an agreement for key target Miguel Almiron, leading Benitez to confirm that he might not even last until May.
“No I cannot guarantee anything,” Benitez said.
Tottenham spurn De Paul deal
Spurs are believed to have opted against signing Udinese’s Rodrigo De Paul, leaving the door wide open for Inter Milan to pounce.
Calcio Mercato reports that the London club were given an opportunity to move for the 24-year-old star but have decided against doing so, despite injuries to key men Harry Kane and Dele Alli, and two cup exits in just one week.
Inter are now at the front of the queue for the Argentine attacker, which would in turn facilitate Ivan Perisic’s departure to Arsenal before the end of the window.
Cue a change of heart from Spurs and an ensuing deadline day auction between the North London rivals in a bid to claim the transfer bragging rights.
Football Whispers’ transfer algorithm gives the likelihood of rumours happening a score out of 5.
Nathan Ake to Chelsea — 2.5
According to the Daily Star, Chelsea are readying an attempt to re-sign the defender who left for Bournemouth in July 2017. The London club have first refusal on the Dutchman and in a bid to boost their homegrown quota, would reportedly be willing to part ways with £40m.
Youri Tielemans to Leicester — 3.5
Leicester City are rumoured to be in talks with Monaco to sign the Belgian midfielder. The Foxes had been planning for a quiet transfer window, but having let Vicente Iborra leave for Villarreal, they are believed to be pushing for the 21-year-old in what would be a £20m deal.
Gerard Deulofeu to AC Milan — 2.5
The Watford forward is being courted by AC Milan, according to Calcio Mercato. The Spaniard spent six months on loan at San Siro back in 2017 and is believed to be interested in returning to Italy. Watford reportedly want around £26m for the player, whilst the Rossoneri would favour an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy thereafter.
Danny Drinkwater to Fenerbahce — 2.8
Drinkwater could follow Victor Moses from Chelsea to Fenerbahce, according to reports. The English midfielder has been a peripheral figure at Stamford Bridge this season and may look to re-ignite his career at the Turkish club, in what would likely be a loan deal.
Nicolo Barella to Manchester United — 2.0
Manchester United are weighing up a move for the Cagliari midfielder, according to reports in Italy. The Red Devils would have to fork out around £44m to secure the Italian international’s signature, and fend off interest from a host of rival European clubs in the process.
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