The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs closes on Thursday (find out league-by-league deadlines here.) Transfer Talk has been scouring the world’s media and setting correspondents loose to see who came and went from your club in the winter window. Click here for the latest deals and keep track of who has joined the big boys.
TOP STORY: No Carrasco, no Deulofeu, no party for AC Milan
AC Milan were desperate to fulfill Gennaro Gattuso’s transfer desires this January, by providing their manager with a left winger, but ultimately failed and Calcio Mercato have revealed why.
Dalian Yifang’s Yannick Carrasco was reportedly the club’s No. 1 target and despite the player offering to lower his salary to join the Italian giants, the Chinese club decided to block the move at the final hour.
Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu was also being considered by sporting director Leonardo, however, upon learning that the Hornets wanted €30 million for their Spaniard, the Rossoneri pulled out of the race.
With those two transfer sagas over, Milan are already looking ahead to their summer transfer business with Everton’s Ademola Lookman, Nice’s Allan Saint-Maximin and Club Brugge’s Arnaut Groeneveld all believed to be on their wishlist.
LIVE BLOG
08.40 GMT: Arsenal failed to sign Ivan Perisic and Inter boss Luciano Spalletti said the winger had been ‘conned’ by the Gunners.
Speaking to Rai Sport after the defeat to Lazio, Spalletti said: “We’ve got to get Perisic back on track … there was this story on the market, but he is a professional, understands his role and yesterday it was already a very different mood. These things happen in the transfer window, the player received an impressive proposal and was tempted. However, he then realised it was not a true offer, that he’d been conned, and took a step back.”
08.30 GMT: Well, it’s the morning after the night before and seems clubs are more newsworthy for the players they missed out on, than those they signed.
ICYMI:
– D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta will not join Paris Saint-Germain, a source has confirmed to ESPN FC.
– Chelsea have agreed to send striker Michy Batshuayi on loan to Crystal Palace for the rest of the season, the south London club announced on Friday.
– Fulham have signed Serbian winger Lazar Markovic on a free transfer from Liverpool for the remainder of the season.
PAPER TALK (by Charlie Brooke, Football Whispers)
Sarri shall not be moved, for now
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has insisted that he will continue in his role at Stamford Bridge amid rumours that his job was under threat, according to the Mirror.
The Blues suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday night and after the game Sarri is believed to have locked his players in the changing room for a one-hour inquest into their woes.
The Italian veteran reportedly feels the team are ignoring his instructions and have still failed to grasp “the basics” of his style and philosophy.
The ex-Napoli manager has not hidden his frustration in recent weeks, nor have the fans, with the travelling Chelsea faithful singing “you don’t know what you’re doing” at the Vitality Stadium.
Another day, another Chelsea manager at risk.
Football Whispers’ transfer algorithm gives the likelihood of rumours happening a score out of five.
Callum Hudson-Odoi to Bayern Munich — 4.1
This is a rumour that just won’t go away and, although Hudson-Odoi couldn’t push through a move to Bayern in January, the German giants are unlikely to give up their interest in the talented young Englishman and may well look to test Chelsea’s resolve once again the summer.
Adrien Rabiot to Liverpool — 3.2
After Barcelona pulled out of the race to sign the PSG outcast, one of Liverpool or Tottenham now seem the most likely destination for the 23-year-old Frenchman. The midfielder has six months remaining on his contract and is reportedly not interested in signing a new deal. A move this summer is inevitable.
Aaron Ramsey to Juventus — 4.9
This transfer is arguably the worst kept secret in football, however, Juventus were unable to bring forward the deal to sign Ramsey in January. According to Calcio Mercato, the Old Lady will now have to wait until the summer to officially sign the Welshman, after Arsenal refused to accelerate the deal for less than €20m.
Maxi Gomez to West Ham — 2.9
Sky Sports had reported that West Ham were closing in on a deal to sign the Celta Vigo man, with the striker set to arrive in the summer, however any move will now have to wait until the summer. The Hammers were expected to pay less than the Uruguayan’s supposed €50m release clause given the compromise though an agreement was never reached.
Javier Hernandez to Valencia — 4.2
West Ham reportedly rejected Valencia’s €8m offer for “Chicharito” despite the Mexican’s desire to leave London for more game time. After the Hammers failed to land key target Maxi Gomez, it appears they were loathe to lose Hernandez. Both deals may be resurrected in the summer.