The transfer window opened in early January, and speculation is heating up about potential deals. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Liverpool show interest in Konate
While Liverpool have again been linked with Dayot Upamecano, it’s the RB Leipzig defender’s teammate Ibrahima Konate who most interests Jurgen Klopp, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk.
Liverpool have struggled with several defensive injuries this season, and while Joel Matip is said to be closing in on a return, Klopp is still keen to reinforce in that area in January, particularly given that the Reds’ form has slipped in recent weeks.
And while Bild believes that Liverpool have made contact with Upamecano’s management, Leipzig are reluctant to sell before the end of the season, which means the Reds will need to look elsewhere.
Konate has also been on Liverpool’s radar for some time and, ultimately, is more readily available. Klopp indicated he believes Konate is a player they can prise away before the current window shuts in an effort to keep their title hopes on track.
The 20-year-old is believed to have a release clause of around £45 million.
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16.32 GMT: The Glasgow Herald and Times says that New York Red Bulls are on the verge of sealing a pre-contract agreement to sign Cameron Harper from Celtic. The 19-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and has been offered a fresh deal, but the Red Bulls are hoping to tempt him to Major League Soccer.
Harper was born in Sacramento, California, and is being tracked by other MLS clubs, but the Red Bulls appear to be leading the race. They could even try and agree a deal with Celtic for the player to move to the USA ahead of the new MLS season.
The United States Under-20 international only made his Celtic debut this month and is concerned there many not be first-team opportunities for him at Parkhead.
15.54 GMT: The Sun reports that Juventus could have scuppered their hopes of signing Olivier Giroud from Chelsea by only offering the striker a six-month deal. That would effectively mean Juve only take over the remainder of the player’s Chelsea deal, and Giroud wants more certainty.
Tuttosport says that Giroud wants a deal until the summer of 2022 if he is to commit to a move.
AC Milan and West Ham United are also considering making a move, but Giroud could opt to see out the remainder of his deal at Stamford Bridge and switch clubs in the summer instead.
15.18 GMT: USWNT World Cup winner and three-time NWSL champion Abby Dahlkemper has joined Manchester City from North Carolina Courage on a two-and-a-half year deal, the club confirmed on Saturday.
The American side will retain her National Women Soccer League rights as part of the deal.
14.44 GMT: The postponement of Barcelona‘s presidential election has had a knock-on effect on the club’s transfer plans, with a deal for Manchester City’s Eric Garcia now set to be put on hold until the summer.
Barca coach Ronald Koeman was also hopeful of signing another forward in January, with Lyon’s Memphis Depay a target, but will have to work with the players he already has between now and the end of the season.
13.55 GMT: ESPN’s James Olley now has the inside track on the Mesut Ozil story. He has a verbal agreement with Arsenal to terminate his contract this weekend and will join Fenerbahce in the coming days, sources have told ESPN.
Talks are ongoing over the exact numbers involved but sources have told ESPN that Ozil will not receive all of the approximately £7 million in wages he is owed.
13.08 GMT: Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun is a man in demand. According to The Guardian, there is a three-way battle to sign the 19-year-old striker with his contract running out in the summer. The report states that 15 clubs have a strong interest in the player, but three have pushed to the head of the queue for his signature. The names of those teams are not given, but English clubs would have to pay a much higher compensation figure than those overseas.
Winger Kido Taylor-Hart, 18, is yet to sign professional terms with the Gunners and could also be lured away.
12.19 GMT: Could Alexandre Lacazette be headed for La Liga? AS in Spain is reporting that the 29-year-old could be seen as a cheap option to strengthen the Real Madrid forward line. The France international has been in and out of Mikel Arteta’s team this season, though has enjoyed a good spell of form in recent weeks.
11.31 GMT: It looks like Mesut Ozil‘s Arsenal nightmare is finally over! The Athletic is reporting that an agreement in principle has been reached to terminate his contract. The 32-year-old is expected to now fly to Turkey to put the final touches on a move to Fenerbahce.
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal & Mesut Ozil have an agreement in principle to terminate contract with immediate effect + end his 7.5yr #AFC career. If all goes to plan Fenerbahce expect 32yo to travel this weekend & complete move to #FENER as free agent @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/b9JCDK3miJ
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 16, 2021
10.49 GMT: Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia has been linked with a move to Barcelona for almost a year. His contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he could move to the Camp Nou on a free transfer. But will he move this month for a cut-price fee?
“I hope not, but maybe someone from Barcelona knows more than me,” Pep Guardiola has said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but maybe it’s going to happen.”
10.00 GMT: Danny Rose is something of a forgotten man at Tottenham Hotspur, being without a squad number and having not played a single minute for the club this season. The defender, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Newcastle United, is surplus to requirements and is expected to move on with only a few months left on his contract. The Sun reports that he will snub interest from West Bromwich Albion and hope to secure a move overseas. Clubs in the Bundesliga and La Liga are said to be interested.
09.30 GMT: We’re half way through the transfer window and it’s been a quiet one so far. Let’s see if we get any done deals today.
PAPER ROUND
PSG target Atalanta skipper Gomez
Paris Saint-Germain are considering a bid for Atalanta captain Alejandro Gomez, according to Le10Sport.
The Atalanta skipper is a fan favourite and has been a key part of the team, but he appears to have fallen out with boss Gian Piero Gasperini and the club’s hierarchy.
It would now appear as though he could be on the move in January, but PSG face competition.
It has already been reported in Turkey that Fenerbahce have made an offer for the Argentina international, while Calciomercato reports that Roma are preparing to beat the Milan clubs to register an offer.
However, PSG would be in a position to blow these other clubs out of the water financially, but they would first need to convince the player to move to the French capital.
Bayern in for Militao
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao is lacking game time at the Bernabeu, and Bayern Munich are considering offering the Brazilian a move to the Bundesliga.
Bayern are not alone in identifying the 22-year-old as part of their plans, with Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund all said to be monitoring his situation.
There have been no official bids yet, but Bayern lead a number of clubs looking into Madrid’s plans for the centre-back, who finds himself behind Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Nacho in the pecking order.
Militao was overlooked by Madrid during Thursday’s defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Supercoppa and has also been left out of recent Brazil squads too.
Bayern think Militao could be the perfect replacement if David Alaba departs the Allianz Stadium.
Tap-ins
– Juve boss Andrea Pirlo is reportedly looking for alternative attacking options to complement Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata, and Calciomercato believes Gianluca Scamacca tops their wanted list. Scamacca is owned by Sassuolo and is currently on to loan Genoa, but he has been put on the transfer list. Juventus are exploring a loan option.
– Union Berlin are in the market for a new striker and they appear to be closing in on young Bayern talent Leon Dajaku, according to Bild. Union are suffering an injury crisis and they’re looking to secure a loan deal that would extend beyond the end of the current season. Dajaku has scored once and registered three assists for FC Bayern II in Germany‘s third division so far this season.