Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea target Erling Haaland and David Alaba, Liverpool given Kylian Mbappe boost
All the latest rumours, gossip and done deals from the Premier League and around Europe as the transfer deadline looms
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Your support makes all the difference.Welcome along to live coverage of all Friday’s transfer news, rumours, gossip and done deals from around Europe as the deadline approaches. There have been some notable done deals so far, including Arsenal wrapping up a loan deal with Real Madrid for Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard. While the injury problems are piling up for Jurgen Klopp, who continues to discuss his club’s lack of business this month, with Joel Matip’s injury perhaps finally forcing a change of heart over whether to sign a short-term solution to their defensive crisis.
Tottenham, too, could look for options late in the window with the news Harry Kane is injured again with an ankle problem. While Manchester United could dip into the market to steady their title challenge, which took a hit with defeat to Sheffield United on Wednesday - Christoph Baumgartner is among the names linked to Old Trafford this month.
There will be exits at United too with fringe players likely to be pushed out the door, including Jesse Lingard, who will likely stay in the Premier League and has been linked to West Ham.
Elsewhere Tottenham have made contact with Angel di Maria about a possible move to the north London club, according to L’Equipe, as the 32-year-old’s contract runs out this summer. First, PSG want to bring Spurs midfielder Dele Alli the other way on loan until the rest of the season.
Reports in Germany say the new Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel already has already identified the RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano as his top target as he seeks to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard’s sacking has meanwhile had the knock-on effect of leaving West Ham more confident than ever of keeping hold of Declan Rice. Follow all the latest news below.
ARTETA SPEAKS ON REISS NELSON LOAN MOVE
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken about the potential of winger Reiss Nelson going out on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 21-year-old has been used primarily in secondary competitions this season, such as the Europa League and League Cup, but hasn’t been used that often in the Premier League.
Nelson has only made two league appearances this campaign, and Arteta has commented on speculation that Nelson could go out on loan until the end of the campaign.
“That's a conversation that we are having with the players that are not having a lot of time," said Arteta.
“Obviously we want to keep their development going and we will make decision in the next three days with some of them on what the best thing is to do.
“We try to be clear and transparent with what the plans are and their roles in the team and after that, we decide on the best thing for the players and the club.”
TOTTENHAM PATH TO ERIKSEN COMPLICATED
Tottenham are seeking a reunion with Christian Eriksen as a replacement for Dele Alli, but are struggling to reach an agreement with Inter.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano says that Alli’s move to PSG is being held up until the north London club find a replacement for the Englishman.
Eriksen is one of the names in discussion, but it’s felt that a deal is unlikely due to Inter demanding Tottenham pay 100% of his £300,000 per-week salary.
ARTETA GIVES LUCAS TORREIRA UPDATE
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has given an update on whether Lucas Torreira’s loan spell at Atletico Madrid will be cut short.
Torreira has struggled since making the move to La Liga last summer on a season-long loan deal.
There had been reports that Arsenal could cut his loan spell short. However Arteta says they are monitoring the situation.
Torreira was signed from Sampdoria for £26m in the summer of 2018, but fell down the pecking order at The Emirates in 2019/20 under Arteta.
“We have been talking to Lucas, Edu has been very close to the situation. He hasn’t been playing as many minutes as he would like, as we would like, but to be fair the team is doing so well in Spain and it is understandable they don’t change the team so much.
“We just want to be right behind Lucas, protect him, help him make the right decisions for the future, so let’s see what happens.
“But we are monitoring the situation very closely. I don’t know. At the moment he’s going to stay at Atletico, that’s my belief and I don’t know if that is going to change in the next two or three days.”
DZEKO OFFERED TO MANCHESTER UTD
Reports in Italy suggest that Roma striker Edin Dzeko has been offered to Manchester Utd in this transfer window.
The Bosnian striker has reportedly fell out with coach Paulo Fonseca, and the striker is struggling for form this season in Serie A.
Both La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport speculate that Dzeko’s services have been offered to United.
However, it’s thought that Dzeko’s wage demands, €7m a season, in addition to United being fully stocked in attack, means there is little chance of a deal being done.
It’s also reported that West Ham are interested in Dzeko, but that the 35-year-old wants to play for a side competing for honours.
Dzeko has been in the Italian capital since 2015.
RANGERS COMPLETE SIMPSON SIGNING
Rangers have completed a pre-contract deal for Bournemouth defender Jack Simpson.
Simpson, 24, is out of contract at the end of the season, and will join Steven Gerrard’s side ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
Simpson has been at Bournemouth since he was a youth player, having risen through the academy.
He’s made nine appearances for The Cherries in the Championship this season.
WEST HAM STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER LINGARD
West Ham and Manchester United are still in negotiations over Jesse Lingard.
Lingard has been surplus to requirements at Old Trafford for some time, and has only played three games in all competitions under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season.
According to The Guardian, there is still some distance between the two clubs in negotiations. A loan deal has been mooted.
Lingard’s contract expires at the end of June 2022.
David Moyes has coached the 28-year-old before, dating back to when the Scot took over from Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
The Hammers are in the market for a new striker after selling Sebastian Haller to Ajax earlier in the window.
UPAMECANO JANUARY TRANSFER UNLIKELY
RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano won’t leave the German club in the current transfer window, states Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Upamecano has been linked to a whole host of clubs over the last year, with Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City and Bayern Munich all interested in signing the central defender.
Romano states that a deal to sign the defender this month is highly unlikely, and that he will be sold in the summer window.
SAMPDORIA DEFENDER REJECTS NEWCASTLE ADVANCES
Sampdoria defender Omar Colley has reportedly spurned advances from Newcastle over a move.
Colley, 28, has been high on Steve Bruce’s list over the last 18 months, but according to Sport Mediaset in Italy, the defender has no intention to leave the Genoese club for a move to England.
Colley signed an extension to stay with Sampdoria until 2025, and intends to honour it, states the report.
PSG AGREE ALLI LOAN DEAL
French giants Paris Saint-Germain have agreed a loan deal with Tottenham for midfielder Dele Alli, but are waiting on the Premier League side to find a replacement.
Alli has fallen down the pecking order at Spurs since Jose Mourinho’s arrival, and has been rumoured with a reunion with Mauricio Pochettino since the Argentine was announced as PSG’s new manager.
According to a report in France, a deal for Alli has been agreed upon by the clubs.
However it’s believed that Tottenham want a replacement for Alli signed before they release him.
It has been reported that Tottenham made a move for Martin Odegaard, but the Norwegian agreed to join Arsenal.
SPURS MADE LAST DITCH ODEGAARD MOVE
Tottenham made a last-ditch effort to sign Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard, before he secured his move to London rivals Arsenal.
Odegaard joined The Gunners on loan until the end of the season this week, after rejecting a return to Real Sociedad.
Reports in Norway suggest that Tottenham also made an attempt to sign the 22-year-old at the last minute.
Jose Mourinho had identified Odegaard as a replacement for Dele Alli, who looks set to join PSG on loan.
However Tottenham won’t sanction Alli’s loan move until they have found a replacement.
However their attempt fell on deaf ears, as Odegaard signed for The Gunners.
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