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.
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.
LIVE BLOG
23.20 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!
22.54 GMT: Tottenham need to sign a striker in January but it looks as if Milan's Krzysztof Piatek may be slipping through their grasp.
MilanNews.it suggests that Tottenham, Sevilla and Aston Villa are all in for the Polish striker, with Milan asking for the full €35 million Milan paid Genoa last season. Calciomercato is claiming that Sevilla are now the frontrunners for the 24-year-old, who scored 20 goals between Milan and Genoa last season.
Piatek looks to be on the move this month but his destination remains a mystery with the three clubs all battling for his services.
22.22 GMT: We have a trade to report in MLS as Minnesota United have acquired LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
The Loons reportedly are sending $150,000 in General Allocation Money in 2020 and $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money in 2021 to LAFC for the shot-stopper. Minnesota was unable to come to terms with MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Vito Mannone and also kicked the tires on ex-Man City and England No. 1 Joe Hart.
LAFC signed veteran Dutch 'keeper Kenneth Vermeer from Feyenoord on Wednesday.
21.46 GMT: Middlesbrough have a new goalkeeper, as the Championship club have announced they have have signed Dejan Stojanovic from Swiss side St. Gallen.
We're delighted to confirm the signing of Dejan Stojanović ✍
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 16, 2020
Welcome to #Boro, Dejan! 🔴⚪️ #UTB
The 26-year-old was born in Austria but is of Macedonia-Serbian heritage and before joining St. Gallen previously played in Italy with Crotone and Bologna.
Middlesbrough were in the market for a goalkeeper as the club's No. 1, Darren Randolph, sealed a move to West Ham on Wednesday as a replacement for injured Lukasz Fabianski. Stojanovic has big shoes to fill as Randolph was the Goalkeeper of the Year in the Championship last season.
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 being and no deal on the table at the moment.
16.12 GMT: Tottenham's Christian Eriksen is edging closer to a move to Inter Milan as the two clubs have almost agreed a €17m fee, sources have told ESPN.
Eriksen, 27, has only six months left on his Tottenham contract and wants to leave the club in January. His agent, Martin Shoots, arrived in Milan on Thursday to finalise a deal and now there are only a few small details still to sort out.
The Denmark international will sign a deal until June 2024 with Antonio Conte's side. The Italian manager wanted a creative player to strengthen his squad. He knows Eriksen very well and believes he will fit perfectly in his 3-5-2 formation.
Inter are also finalising the arrival of full back Leonardo Spinazzola from Roma and French striker Olivier Giroud from Chelsea.
15.55 GMT: United States international Sergino Dest talks exclusively to ESPN about his hopes for the future at international level and with club side Ajax.
15.38 GMT: Barcelona were interested, but now they are not and that leaves the door open for AC Milan to sign Dinamo Zagreb star Dani Olmo for €30m.
Olmo, 21, has a contract at Dinamo which is due to expire in 2021, so the club want to sell now before his value starts to drop.
The forward left Barcelona for Zagreb in 2014 as a youth, but Mundo Deportivo claims the club pulled out of a deal to bring him back and that AC Milan chief Zvonimir Boban is ready to land the player.
15.03 GMT: Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali is very highly rated around Europe and Corriere dello Sport claims that Juventus have started the ball rolling on talks over a €50m summer move.
Tonali, 19, is viewed as 'the new Andrea Pirlo', given the legendary Italian also began his career at Brescia, and so a move to Juventus (then Milan, then NYCFC) makes sense. But Liverpool are also reported to be monitoring the situation for a player they presumably want to turn into 'the new Steve Gerrard.'
14.37 GMT: Aston Villa have been looking for a new striker to replace the injured Wesley, with an £8.5m deal for Mbwana Samatta from Belgian side Genk on the cards, reports the Daily Mirror.
Samatta, 27, is a Tanzania international and has scored 76 goals in 191 games for Genk.
14.13 GMT: Sporting CP coach Silas has said only a "catastrophe" would prevent Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes from missing Friday's league derby against Benfica.
Fernandes has agreed personal terms with United but the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement for the Sporting captain to move to Old Trafford.
"The only certainty I have is that Bruno will be present," Silas said in Thursday's news conference when asked about Friday's game at the Jose Alvalade stadium. "We have prepared the game with him, he has trained very well, he is an extraordinary player, the best in the league.
"Only a catastrophe would see him miss this. He will be [there] as he always is."
14.06 GMT: Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi could be leaving the club this month and he has said that he disagrees with much of the social media criticism aimed at him by the club's fans.
Mustafi, who has made just 10 appearances in all competitions this season, has received online abuse from Arsenal fans blaming him for the club's poor defensive record.
"It's difficult to handle when things are going well and then when things are not working out it's even tougher," Mustafi said in an interview with the club's website. "When things are going well, it's easy to read those comments. Then when things aren't going well, obviously you don't like the stuff you read. You don't agree with a lot of comments, so it makes it difficult."
He added: "It was difficult sometimes to understand because even in a few bad games where I wasn't involved, I was the one to blame."
13.46 GMT: Sevilla have signed striker Youssef En-Nesyri from Leganes for an undisclosed fee, subject to a medical.
His arrival should speed up Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez's expected departure to the LA Galaxy.
En-Nesyri, 22, has signed a contract through June 2025 with the Andalusian club. The Morocco international has scored four goals and set up two more in 18 league appearances for Leganes this season. In total, he scored 15 goals in 53 official appearances for Leganes since joining the Madrid from Malaga in 2018.
Sevilla did not reveal the cost of the transfer but according to reports, the club paid his €20m release clause.
13.36 GMT: Arsenal looks set to lose out to Barcelona in the hunt for teenage defender Yan Couto.
Couto, 17, who plays at right-back for Brazilian side Coritiba, had been linked with a summer move to the Emirates. However, Globoesporte reports that Barcelona are leading the race for the Brazilian under-17 international.
13.15 GMT: Tottenham signed teenage forward Jack Clarke from Leeds last summer and sent him back on loan for the season, but that hasn't really worked out and the 19-year-old has now joined QPR.
Sometimes transfer deals are so perfectly timed. Who do QPR play this weekend? Leeds, of course.
13.02 GMT: Five-time NBA champion and two-time MVP Kobe Bryant has said Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez joining LA Galaxy would be "beautiful" for Major League Soccer.
Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the LA Lakers and is a shareholder at MLS' official sports drink sponsor Bodyarmor, said he is excited by the prospect of Mexico's all-time leading goal scorer moving to Los Angeles.
"It's a beautiful thing," Byrant told TUDN. "For MLS and for Los Angeles it is important to have very competitive stars. For MLS to have a great name like Chicharito It is very important for the game."
12.43 GMT: Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare has a choice: Man United or Chelsea.
Sky Sports reports that Arsenal, Real Madrid and Valencia have dropped out of the race and the 20-year-old will make a decision on his future after Lille play PSG on Jan. 26.
12.14 GMT: Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez did not train with Sevilla's squad today ahead of Saturday's league game at Real Madrid
The club confirmed his absence was due to "reasons regarding negotiations over his possible departure," with sources telling ESPN that the Mexico striker is in talks with MLS side LA Galaxy over a transfer.
12.02 GMT: The Evening Standard reports that "Tottenham's proposed deal for Porto striker Ze Luis is off."
The 28-year-old Cape Verde international was being tracked by Spurs as they seek a backup for injured Harry Kane, but apparently "Jose Mourinho is prioritising other attacking targets."
11.44 GMT: French outlet RMC Sport reports that Chelsea are close to signing 17-year-old PSG midfielder Kays Ruiz-Atil.
Ruiz-Atil is clearly one for the future, but the Blues are moving to tie him down now before other clubs get interested.
11.30 GMT: Leicester midfielder Andy King has moved to Huddersfield on loan.
11.12 GMT: Xavi Hernandez has confirmed he turned down an offer to coach Barcelona as it is "too soon" in his managerial career.
Barcelona appointed Quique Setien as Ernesto Valverde's replacement after Xavi, who is coach of Qatari team Al-Sadd, declined the offer to return to the club where he won the Champions League four times and La Liga on eight occasions.
10.45 GMT: Manchester United have agreed personal terms with Bruno Fernandes but the transfer still hinges on agreeing a fee with Sporting Lisbon, sources have told ESPN.
United have held talks with the Portuguese side about signing the midfielder this month but a deal between the clubs is yet to be reached.
Sporting value Fernandes at around €80m while United are keen to pay closer to €60m.
10.20 GMT: Former Arsenal and Bayern Munich forward Lukas Podolski has caused a stir in Malaysia by turning up at the Super League champions, Johor Darul Ta'zim.
Podolski, 34, plays at J1 League outfit Vissel Kobe at this point in time, but it seems a move could be close.
PODOLSKI IN THE HOUSE!
— JOHORSouthernTigers (@OfficialJohor) January 15, 2020
More photos at https://t.co/Uugx3SzgHK#JDT#LuaskanKuasamuJohor pic.twitter.com/oLeNIVdU8j
10.06 GMT: Manchester United's move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes seems a formality, but is he the right player for the club?
09.32 GMT: Barcelona haven't had the best of times trying to sign young players in recent years -- remember their FIFA ban?
But, according to Mundo Deportivo, they are keen to land Cerezo Osaka's Jun Nishikawa when he turns 18.
Nishikawa plays for Japan's U20 side and Barca came across the youngster when scouting Hiroki Abe, who signed for them in the summer from Kashima Antlers.
09.11 GMT: Sevilla are on the verge of signing Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri from Leganes, according to Cadena Cope radio.
The La Liga side are eager to strengthen their attack with the imminent departure of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez to LA Galaxy and will pay the €20m release clause to land En-Nesyri.
En-Nesyri, 22, has scored four goals and set up two more in 18 league appearances for Leganes. He is tied to the Madrid outfit until June 2023.
08.52 GMT: Germany striker Timo Werner has dismissed the possibility of leaving Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig anytime soon, but he has said he would be keen on England as a destination when he does eventually move.
"The Premier League is the most interesting league, if we're being honest," the 23-year-old told Bild. "There are several Bayern Munichs and Real Madrids there. I also really like playing in rainy weather, so England generally wouldn't be too bad!"
Werner has scored 18 goals and notched six assists in 17 Bundesliga games this season, also netting three times in six Champions League appearances.
08.29 GMT: Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina has spoken of his delight at returning to the Premier League on a six-month loan at Aston Villa, and hinted that he may see his future away from parent club AC Milan
"Here I have the opportunity to play every week and return to feel like a footballer," the former Liverpool No. 1 told Onda Cero radio. "I've joined until the end of the season and will do all that I can to help Villa defend its [Premier League] status.
"I signed for AC Milan a year and a half ago. The situation then was that [Gianluigi] Donnaruma was going to leave but in the end he stayed. That is why I tried to give my best to play and help Gigi grow.
"I've been lucky to play in four different leagues and get to know four different cultures. But in the end, the league in which one feels more like a footballer is the Premier League, where I've had my best years as a sportsman."
08.00 GMT: Ashley Young's hopes of leaving Manchester United for Inter Milan this month has suffered a setback after Roma left-back Leonardo Spinazzola had a medical with the Italian club on Wednesday.
A move to Serie A had been on the cards for Young, who is out of contract in the summer.
The BBC reports that Spinazzola was with Inter yesterday to complete a deal which would see attacker Matteo Politano move the other way.
However, reports in Italy claim that Spinazzola's injury history may delay or even scupper the move.
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle)
West Ham want Chelsea's Barkley on loan deal
Newly re-appointed West Ham United boss David Moyes is seeking a reunion with Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley on loan, according to the Mirror.
Moyes was in charge at Everton as Barkley came through the club's youth system, with the England midfielder then making the switch to Chelsea in 2018.
The stacked midfield at Chelsea -- with the likes of Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante, Mason Mount, and Jorginho -- has left Barkley in a lurch at Stamford Bridge and could potentially leave him out of favour in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020.
Should Barkley make the short-term commute switch from West London to East London, it could help him get back into the swing of things with the Three Lions. And if not, then Moyes has other plans to reinvigorate the Hammers -- including perhaps a move for 23-year-old AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.
PSG ask Atletico to up Cavani offer
Atletico Madrid have their sights set on striker Edinson Cavani, and while they'd like to get the 32-year-old in January, they've so far been unable to come to an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.
The PSG board claim that Cavani has a role to play in the second half of the season, despite the fact that he's featured in exactly half of the club's Ligue 1 matches this term. The club is also reportedly concerned about fan reaction to selling their all-time leading goal scorer for such a paltry sum.
The Uruguayan has only six months remaining on his contract at Parc des Princes, but that hasn't stopped the Parisian outfit from setting the asking price at €30m, according to Marca. Atleti, so far, have offered just €10m.
When asked about Cavani's situation, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said Wednesday: "I have already explained Edinson's situation many times. It has not changed. I do not want him to leave as it is better for us to be with him to achieve our objectives -- clearly."
Negotiations are expected to be protracted and, should a deal not be finalised this month, "El Matador" could well move to the Spanish capital on a free transfer come the summer.
Van de Beek seeks move over Ajax stay
Donny van de Beek is set to reject a new contract with the Dutch giants in favour of a move away from the club this summer, The Telegraph reports.
While Dutch outlet De Telegraaf reported yesterday that Van de Beek has rejected interest from Manchester United to agree a €55m summer move to Real Madrid, it still appears as if Ajax are holding out hope they can change his mind in the form of a big contract offer.
If this new report is to be believed, however, the youngster appears to be ready to test the waters with other top European clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur have also shown interest, but the jury is still out on where he'll end up.
Tap-ins
- According to Tuttomercatoweb, Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo threw a spanner into the works of the club's potential deal for Bruno Fernandes after telling them that he did not want to join Sporting Lisbon in return. The report suggests that the Argentine will still be leaving Old Trafford in January, but not as a factor in this transfer.
- Wolves are close to finalising a deal for Ecuadorian youngster Leonardo Campana, according to Spanish outlet EFE. The deal will be done next week, with the 19-year-old then making the move from Ecuadorian club Barcelona SC to the Premier League side. Campana has been referred to as the "Joao Felix of South America" by Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes.