Liverpool weigh up last-gasp deadline day move for Kwang-Song Han: Transfer news and rumours round-up

Liverpool are on red alert after transfer target Han Kwang-Song is on the verge of leaving Italian side Cagliari, according to reports.

It has been reported by The Mirror via Calciomercato that Kwang-Song, a 19-year-old North Korean forward, has been recalled from his loan move at Perugia by parent club Cagliari, ahead of a deadline day sale.

And given comments previously made by the player’s agent, it is likely Liverpool will be right at the front of the queue.

“Before going to Cagliari, Liverpool had an interest in him,” Sandro Stemperini confirmed last week. “Liverpool already knew the player.

“Liverpool were seriously interested. After he moved to Cagliari, already in an Italian club, they did not come back, no. Now I know nothing about it.”

Stemperini also said that, unlike Liverpool, Tottenham had not yet been in contact with the Italian club over Kwang-Song’s availability.

“Officially, I do not have a call from Tottenham. There are several offers from Germany…it’s normal that several clubs ask about him.

“Because he is a youngster who is playing very well, who here in Italy is being followed by Juventus, an important club. It’s normal for everyone to talk to me. But officially, from Tottenham, I do not have a call.”

Arsenal have completed the £56m signing of Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a club-record deal.

The 28-year-old forward joins the north Londoners on a "long-term contract" after four seasons at Dortmund.

Aubameyang is reunited with former Dortmund teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who completed his move to Arsenal last week in a player exchange with Alexis Sanchez.

open image in gallery

Arsenal are close to securing the future of Mesut Ozil to a lucrative new contract, which would make the Germany international the highest paid player in the league.

As first reported by Bild, Ozil has agreed to extend his stay at the Emirates by committing to a new three and a half year deal worth a reported £350,000 per week. Arsenal have denied that the deal has been signed yet but an agreement is understood to be close.

If Ozil signs the new deal that would represent the biggest success of the transfer window for Arsenal. They have already signed Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund but were facing the prospect of losing Ozil, who had just six months left on the contract he signed when he joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013.

open image in gallery

He would have been a free agent in the summer, and Manchester United were interested in signing him for free, but Arsene Wenger has grown in confidence after recent negotiations with Ozil’s representatives.

Southampton want to see if there is a deal possible for Tottenham Hotspur's Erik Lamela, as they seek to bolster their attack for a tense relegation battle.

They could also face competition from Roma. The 25-year-old is just back from a long-term thigh injury that kept him out of action for over a year, but only has 18 months on his contract, and has not yet signed a new deal.

If Spurs were to agree to let him go, it would likely only be a loan deal. Lamela could nevertheless face competition for a place in the club’s Champions League squad, something set to be complicated by the signing of Lucas Moura from Paris Saint-Germain.

open image in gallery

Everton are confident of completing the loan signing of Eliaquim Mangala, though they face Premier League competition for the Manchester City centre-back.

Newcastle United and West Ham United are also interested in taking the 26-year-old France international on a temporary basis.

Mangala has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad following the £57m arrival of Aymeric Laporte on Tuesday.

It seems as though Allardyce will have to settle for a left-sided centre-half in Mangala, who will provide competition for Michael Keane, Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka and Mason Holgate.

Mangala joined City from Porto for £42m back in 2014 but has failed to live up to his sizeable price tag in the years since and spent last season out on loan at Valencia.

open image in gallery

Daley Blind could be on his way out of Manchester United after Roma showed interest in the Holland international, the Daily Mirror says. The deal looks like it could hinge on United making back what they paid - £13 million - for the 27-year-old in 2014.

Meanwhile, United's rivals Manchester City will have to pay out £70 million if they wish to land Riyad Mahrez before the window closes, the Daily Star reports. A £50 million bid was not good enough for Leicester and bosses have told their counterparts at the Etihad that they'll have to meet their demands to secure the deal for the 26-year-old, who put in a transfer request on Tuesday night.

Swansea look like they could face competition from Wolfsburg for the signing of Liverpool midfielder Lazar Markovic, the Daily Mail claims.

open image in gallery

Having already been sent out on loan to Sporting Lisbon and Hull since his arrival in the north west, Liverpool are said to be open to losing the player permanently. The Swans have been on the look out for a new signing ever since a deal for Nicolas Gaitan fell through, but Liverpool haven't ruled out considering an offer from Wolfsburg, the paper says.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, may have to battle West Ham for Lille midfielder Ibrahim Amadou, according to the Mirror.

The Hammers have been looking to the French club to salvage their injury woes, but the versatile player, who can play in midfield and defence, is also on the radar of Palace, who have had two bids for the 24-year-old turned down already. It remains to be seen whether they will be willing to meet Lille's £17.6 million price tag.