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It’s go time as the January transfer window is open. Find out when it closes across Europe, view the latest transfers as they happen and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.
TOP STORY: Arsenal target defenders Kurzawa, Djene
Arsenal’s defence has come under scrutiny this season and they are struggling at left-back while injured duo Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac recover. That means the Sun is linking them with a new arrival in that position: PSG star Layvin Kurzawa.
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Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery was keen on Kurzawa but was unable to pull off a deal for the France international. However, now he’s a free agent in the summer, Kurzawa’s price is down around the €8m mark and the Gunners are confident of making a move.
Mikel Arteta is also keen to bolster central defence and the Sun claims that Getafe centre-back Dakonam Djene is on the radar.
Djene, 28, is also wanted by Premier League quartet Tottenham, Everton, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, but Ligue 1 side Monaco are closest to signing the €25m-rated Togo international and have already had a €15m bid rejected.
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21.05 GMT: Scottish giants Celtic are reportedly close to completing their second signing of the January window.
After signing young Polish striker Patryk Klimala from Jagiellonia Białystok on Wednesday, Sky Sports understands that the Hoops are in the closing stages of signing midfielder Ismaila Soro from Israeli side Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv.
Celtic will reportedly pay £2 million for the Ivorian defensive midfielder, who has previously spent time in Belarus and Moldova.
20.29 GMT: MLS has become a haven for South American talents, particularly Argentines in recent years. The latest Argentine linked with a transfer to the United States is Velez Sarsfield and once-capped Argentina midfielder Gaston Gimenez.
Argentine reporter Agustin Sileo is reporting, via mlssoccer.com that the Fire are interested in Gimenez, who could require a bid upwards of $8 million.
Gimenez, a 28-year-old holding midfielder, would be the latest Argentine to join the league, following the likes of Diego Valeri, Ignacio Piatti, Maxi Moralez, Ezequiel Barco and Pity Martinez.
20.00 GMT: Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are second in the English Championship and are desperate to end their 15-year Premier League drought.
Hoping to avoid the play-offs, which have been so unkind to them over the years, Leeds are looking to bring in a reliable striker to play alongside and/or push Patrick Bamford. Southampton’s Che Adams was reportedly Leeds’ No. 1 target but now talk has shifted to them swooping in for in-form Hull man Jarrod Bowen.
Bowen, who has scored 16 goals this term, is hotly linked with striker-needy Aston Villa but could promotion hopefuls Leeds outbid them? The Sun writes that Leeds are willing to pay £3 million to add Bowen on loan for the rest of the season, a fee which would rise to £15 million if Leeds were to earn promotion.
Leeds recently sent young striker Eddie Nketiah back to Arsenal and after coming short last season, will not be taking any chances in January.
19.19 GMT: It looks like Ashley Young will be the latest Man United player to head to Serie A, sources telling ESPN FC that United and Inter Milan have agreed to a £1.3 million fee for the England man.
The versatile Young, 34, was keen to move in search of more playing time, having started just 10 games this term for United. Young would join Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian as United players to have moved to Italy this season.
Young, whose contract expires this summer, will sign for 18 months with Inter, who are right on Juventus’ tails this season in the Serie A title race.
18.43 GMT: Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke has scored just three Premier League goals over the past three seasons but that hasn’t stopped him from being linked with clubs such as Tottenham, Aston Villa and Bordeaux.
One of those clubs, Bordeaux. has now reportedly pulled out of the Benteke Sweepstakes, according to L’Equipe. The French outlet says that Bordeaux, who signed fellow Premier Leaguer Laurent Koscielny in the summer, are moving on to alternative striker options.
18.06 GMT: Another player Jose Mourinho is reportedly keen on? Ivan Lepinjica.
Who is Ivan Lepinjica you ask? The 20-year-old Croatia and HNK Rijeka midfielder is viewed as the next great Croatian midfielder, following the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic. Tottenham and rivals Chelsea are set to battle over the £4.3 million midfielder, according to HTIC.
The youngster is a deep-lying playmaker, in the mould of Paul Pogba, and Croatia Under-21 international.
17.34 GMT: Joao Cancelo was signed by Man City just this summer for £60 million but could he be on the move again?
Having made only six league starts this campaign under Pep Guardiola, reports indicate that Cancelo is unhappy with his role at the Etihad and would be open to a new challenge. El Desmarque reports that Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has contacted his fellow Portuguese about moving to the Tottenham Stadium.
The report adds that that Barcelona are also interested in Cancelo but that Spurs are closing on a £51.2 million move for the 25-year-old.
17.02 GMT: Wolves have just seen a striker leave the club on loan in Patrick Cutrone (Fiorentina) but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side haven’t taken long to find his replacement.
According to Spanish outlet Efe (via Sport Witness), Wolves are set to sign Ecuadorian striker Leonardo Campana from Barcelona SC (Ecuador). The 19-year-old, who has already been capped four times by Ecuador’s senior team, is another Jorge Mendes client and is expected to fly to London to complete the deal early next week.
16.35 GMT: Neymar wants to pledge his future to Paris Saint-Germain, sources have told ESPN, but any agreement could depend on the club’s progress in the Champions League.
Despite interest from Barcelona, PSG are optimistic about reaching agreement with the Brazil international but no decision will be taken before April or May with everything on hold for the time…
Read more at this link (News Source).
