Transfer talk: Chelsea make £16m bid for Douglas Costa, Sergio Ramos to stay with Real Madrid, Papiss Cissa to Shanghai
The biggest transfer news and rumours on Saturday 24 January
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea have made a £16m offer for Shakhtar Donestsk midfielder Douglas Costa, according to reports. The Brazilian has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge after admitting it would be a “dream” to play for the Blues, and the Daily Mail claims Chelsea have followed up that interest with a formal bid for the 24-year-old.
However, they remain in the hunt for Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado, though the prospect of the Colombian winger making a move this month is looking more and more unlikely. The Italian club are digging their heels in over the valuation of the 26-year-old, which they have put at £27m, and Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella has threatened to quit if the play is sold without his release clause being activated.
Aston Villa are ready to sell England midfielder Fabian Delph before the end of the transfer window to prevent him leaving the club on a free transfer. Delph only has six months remaining on his contract after talks broke down regarding an extension, and with Villa performing poorly in the league, the likelihood is that the 25-year-old will seek a move elsewhere.
The Daily Mirror claims that Villa will cut their losses and let him leave in the next week, providing one of his interested clubs offers £4m with both Liverpool and Tottenham believed to be battling out to sign the central midfielder.
Real Madrid
manager has claimed that defender Sergio Ramos is closing on a new contract that will prevent any move to the Premier League. The Spain international is wanted by a host of clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, but according to the Real manager Ramos’ new contract will be a formality. "His importance for the team grows bigger with each day that passes and I don't think that he's worried about his contract renewal,” said Ancelotti.Ancelotti also insisted that Asier Illarramendi will not be leaving the club despite interest from Arsenal. The Spanish midfielder has been in and out of the first team since arriving two years ago, and the Gunners were believed to be preparing a bid in the summer for the 24-year-old, but Ancelotti insists he remains a part of his plans.
Newcastle
striker Papiss Cisse could become one of the highest paid players in the world in a surprise move by Shanghai SIPG. Managed by Sven Goran Eriksson, the cash-rich Shanghai outfit are ready to offer the Senegal international a three-year deal worth £150,000-a-week in an effort to persuade him to move to China. The Independent revealed the news, and with his Newcastle contract into its final 18 months, the Magpies could look to sell him for around £8m - £1m less than they paid Freiburg for him in 2011.
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