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The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is open again. Transfer Talk has been scouring the world’s media and setting our correspondents loose to see who could be heading to/out of your club this month.
TOP STORY: Ozil out, whatever the cost
Arsenal are willing to pay some of Mesut Ozil’s wages after he leaves the Emirates if that would make a potential move more likely, according to the Mirror.
Just one year ago, the German signed a new contract that made him the club’s highest-earning player on £350,000 per week, and it’s not surprising that that eye-watering sum is putting off clubs.
There has been interest from China and loan interest from Inter Milan, but with Unai Emery seemingly not a fan and the wages proving burdensome, Arsenal look like they’re getting desperate.
LIVE BLOG
23.30 GMT: That will wrap up another edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We remind you to check back in a few hours for the latest on Gonzalo Higuain, Mesut Ozil and all the other happenings in the January transfer market. Thanks for joining us and have a goodnight!
23.16 GMT: We talked earlier about Gonzalo Higuain having possibly played his last game for Milan. It turns out he may not be the only Milan player on the move.
ESPN’s Serie A commentator Matteo Bonetti is hearing that Hakan Calhanoglu could also have played his last Milan game, with Bonetti reporting a move to RB Leipzig is imminent.
Hearing Hakan Calhanoglu to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig is close to being done
— Matteo Bonetti (@TheCalcioGuy) January 16, 2019
Part of Milan’s huge spending spree during the summer 2017 window, the Turkey international has produced nine goals and 23 assists in 69 games for the Rossoneri. The German-born winger previously played in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV (2013-14) and Bayer Leverkusen (2014-17).
There has been speculation in the last few days that Calhanoglu, still just 24, could join Higuain out the departure gate with recent rumours saying Milan are trying to free up cash to sign 23-year-old Genoa ace Krzysztof Piatek.
22.23 GMT: A couple of MLS bits to catch you up on…
– According to Costa Rican outlet Yashin Quesada, Minnesota United have rejected a $2 million offer for Costa Rican defender Francisco Calvo.
Minnesota United has said they will not accept anything short of $4 million for Calvo, who was named to CONCACAF’s best XI last season and appeared twice for the Ticos at the World Cup.
– LAFC have resigned veteran defenders Danilo Silva and Dejan Jakovic.
– Orlando City have signed Brazilian defender Ruan from Internacional. The 23-year-old joins on a one-year deal after spending last season on loan at Brazilian Serie B side Ponte Preta.
– The Portland Timbers have acquired French defender Claude Dielna from the New England Revolution for $100,000 in General Allocation Money.
– Finally, the LA Galaxy have resigned veteran midfielder Servando Carrasco. Carrasco, who is set to begin his 11th season in the league, played 19 times for the Galaxy in 2018 and is probably best known as the husband of USWNT star Alex Morgan.
21.48 GMT: According to the Guardian, Man City have reached an agreement with a young star. Sorry Man City fans, no that player is not Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong or Matthijs de Ligt…
The player is 18-year-old central midfielder Ante Palaversa from Croatian side Hajduk Split. Palaversa will cost the Premier League champions an initial £7 million and is expected to finish the season on loan with the Croatian club.
The central midfielder, who serves as Croatia’s Under-19 captain, has reportedly been on City’s radar for some time now and has been compared to Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos in terms of playing style.
21.03 GMT: Chelsea are reportedly growing increasingly confident of signing striker Gonzalo Higuain in January.
Juventus are open to having talks with Chelsea according to the Serie A club’s vice president Pavel Nedved.
“It’s right that we don’t talk about it now out of respect for the player and for AC Milan, but we can talk about it from tomorrow,” Nedved told RAI television prior to Wednesday evening’s Supercoppa, which Juve won 1-0.
The Argentine striker, who is currently on loan at AC Milan from Juventus, has been linked with Chelsea for months now.
Higuain has just six goals in 15 Serie A games for Milan but is a favourite of Maurizio Sarri, whom Higuain scored 36 goals under at Napoli in 2015-16.
A move for Higuain would also allow Chelsea to move on from sputtering frontman Alvaro Morata, who has been rumoured with a move to Atletico Madrid in recent days.
20.30 GMT: From an ex-Monaco player to a current one…
French outlet Telefoot indicates that current Monaco striker Radamel Falcao could leave for China in January.
With ex-Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim in negotiations to become the next manager of Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang, there are rumours Jardim could seek to bring his former No. 9 with him to China.
The 32-year-old Colombian has seven goals for Monaco this season but has only come off the bench in recent games under new manager Thierry Henry. Could El Tigre land in China? A lot of that could depend on what happens with his former Les Monegasque boss.
19.29 GMT: Is James Rodriguez’s time in Germany coming to an end? Recent comments from Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac indicate that no final decision has been made on the Colombian’s future but that the onus is on James to put his best foot forward during the second half of the season.
“James is playing for his future. I expect him to keep pushing,” said Kovac on Wednesday. “I see that he is motivated and focused, he wants to play more…
Read more at this link (News Source).
