Transfer news LIVE: Coutinho to Man Utd link, Suarez 'close' to Arsenal, Chelsea deal
Posted Tuesday, January 08, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Ibrorra joins Villarreal
Leicester midfielder Vicente Iborra has joined Villarreal for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club have announced.
The 30-year-old Spaniard joined Leicester from Sevilla in the summer of 2017 and made 37 appearances for the Foxes.
Iborra has agreed a four-and-half-year contract with Villarreal that ties him to the La Liga club until June 2023, the Yellow Submarine said on their website.
Transfer news: Vicente Iborra has joined Villarreal (Image: GETTY)
Tammy Abraham to join Wolves
Tammy Abraham could complete a move to Wolves in the coming days.
The Chelsea forward is on loan at Aston Villa but is set to join Villa instead.
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth says only paperwork is holding up the deal.
Sheth said: "We're told Wolves hopes to tie up a deal in the next few days subject to international clearance.
"They hope to include him in the squad to face Manchester City in next week's Monday night football.
"He had signed for the season with Aston Villa but Chelsea inserted a recall option and after talks it seems Abraham is best served playing Premier League football."
Hudson-Odoi latest
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth says Callum Hudson-Odoi could still sign a new deal and Chelsea are stalling on a response to Bayern.
"We're told Bayern Munich are still awaiting a response from their latest bid worth more than £30m," he said during the Sky Sports Transfer Centre this morning.
"RB Leipzig remain interested and would comply with the buyback clause Chelsea want.
"Hudson-Odoi's preferred destination is Bayern but another source has told me not to rule out the player signing a new contract at Chelsea. His current deal has 18 months to run."
Transfer news: Callum Hudson-Odoi's latest transfer news (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal close to Suarez deal
Arsenal are close to the capture of Denis Saurez, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
Arsenal are hoping to open their cheque book this month as they battle to finish in the top four.
Suarez has been linked with a move for the last week and Sheth has revealed a deal is close.
"As for arrivals at the Emirates," he said on the Sky Sports Transfer Centre.
"What a signing this could be. Sky in Italy claim Barcelona winger Denis Suarez is close to joining.
"Arsenal boss Unai Emery indicated at the weekend that the club are after a player who could operate on the right or left wing and he's worked with Suarez before. The player spent a season on loan at Sevilla in 2014 when Emery was in charge.
"Interestingly Suarez travelled for yesterday's game with Getafe but he didn't make Barcelona's 18-man squad."
Transfer news: Denis Suarez is close to joining Arsenal (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea latest
Maurizio Sarri's side started the season well but have drifted out of the title race and now need to hold Arsenal and Manchester United off for a place in the top four.
Chelsea have already snapped up Christian Pulisic, although he will join the club properly in the summer after being loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season.
Sarri is desperate for more fire power with Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud struggling to get the goals this term.
Gonzalo Higuain has been on his radar and the Blues are set to move for Edinson Cavani.
But who else could Chelsea be looking at? Top six most likely signings here.
Transfer news: Who could Chelsea sign this January? (Image: GETTY)
Coutinho statement
Barcelona's director of institutional and sporting relations Guillermo Amor has insisted Phillipe Coutinho does have a future at the club, despite his recent stint on the bench.
Coutinho has been linked with a shock move to Manchester United
"Coutinho's a player with a lot of experience, one of the best players in Europe and he is ready to play [for] five minutes or 90 minutes," Amor said during an interview with Movistar.
"He's a player that thinks more about the team than himself and there are no doubts about him being one of the best players in the world.
"He's always played well for Barca, he could play [every game] from the off.
"Barca signed him because he's one of the best in the world and he's going to give us a lot.
"He's got many years left on his contract and a lot to give to Barcelona."
Transfer news: Philippe Coutinho has been linked with Manchester United (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea accept loan bid
Chelsea are set to allow David Zappacosta to join Lazio on loan until the end of the season, when they could then receive £13.5million for their out-of-favour right-back.
The Blues bought Zappacosta on a four-year contract from Torino on deadline day in August 2017 when Antonio Conte was in charge.
The Italian was recruited as a back-up for Victor Moses in the 3-4-3 right wing-back position, and made 22 league appearances last season.
Chelsea paid £23m for the player, and it is unlikely they will be able to recoup their expenditure.
A loan deal with the option to buy may be the best chance the Blues have of flogging Zappacosta for the best price, and it appears technical director Marina Granovskaia is pursuing that avenue.
Italian newspaper Il Messaggero are reporting that Chelsea have accepted a loan bid from Lazio for Zappacosta, with potential for a £13.5m summer move.
Transfer news: David Zappacosta could leave Chelsea this month (Image: GETTY)
Gauld closes in on Hibs move
Ryan Gauld is due in Dubai tomorrow to seal his switch from Sporting Lisbon to Hibs.
Easter Road boss Neil Lennon is on the verge of landing the playmaker on a six-month loan deal from the Portuguese giants.
Barring any injury issues or last-minute complications while on loan at Farense, the 23-year-old will today set out for the UAE.
Gauld's medical tests are set to take place in the Middle East tomorrow and the paperwork could be completed in time for him to officially sign ahead of Friday's friendly against Al-Wasl.
The former Dundee United kid moved to Lisbon four years ago in a £3million deal, but has yet to make the breakthrough with loan stints at Vitoria Setubal, Aves and Farense, as well as playing for Sporting's B team.
Transfer news: Hibs are closing in on Ryan Gauld (Image: GETTY)
Lampard wanted Ampadu
Frank Lampard has tried to sign Ethan Ampadu on loan for Derby.
But Chelsea have told him he's going nowhere.
"We have asked, but I don't think he's leaving Chelsea," he said.
"He can play in a few positions, that's why he would be so valuable to anybody and why he's staying at Chelsea."
Transfer news: Ethan Ampadu was on Frank Lampard's radar (Image: GETTY)
Barca want recruits
Ernesto Valverde has admitted he is open to bringing in new faces this month, so long as they improve his Barcelona squad.
The Spanish champions have been linked with a slew of players in recent weeks, including Ajax duo Matthijs de Ligt and Frankie de Jong.
It has been reported that the club are keen on signing five new players before the start of the 2019/20 season.
Valverde was asked about his plans for the January window after his troops' 2-1 victory over Getafe on Sunday evening and hinted that he could open his chequebook this month.
"We are always open to improving but we will have to see if any players come in," Valverde said.
Transfer news: Follow the latest news and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Solskjaer to decide on five
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be given a say on the futures of five players in the summer.
Juan Mata and Ander Herrera are out of contract this summer.
But The Sun claim Solskjaer has been asked to give his opinion on whether they should be offered new deals.
The likes of Phil Jones and Antonio Valencia are also in the same predicament and face an uncertain future at Old Trafford.
Andreas Pereira is perhaps the player Solskjaer will have the most say on.
Transfer news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will decide on the futures of five players (Image: GETTY)
Fekir latest
Liverpool have decided against signing Nabil Fekir from Lyon after the deal fell through in the summer.
Fekir was close to completing a move to Anfield before the World Cup but the deal collapsed after closer inspection of his past knee injuries.
But links for the midfielder have continued into January, however the Liverpool Echo report that there is 'no chance' of a deal this month.
Liverpool have allowed Dominic Solanke and Nathaniel Clyne to leave the club but are not expecting any more movement.
Transfer news: Nabil Fekir doesn't look like joining Liverpool this month (Image: GETTY)
Suarez to Arsenal
Barcelona want £20m for Denis Suarez as Arsenal begin talks with his representatives.
Barca are keen not to sell this month which could open up the possibility of a loan move which would be made permanent in the summer.
Suarez would come in as a replacement for Aaron Ramsey who looks set to join Juventus in the summer.
Ever Banega is another option for Unai Emery but Suarez is the current favourite.
Transfer news: Denis Suarez is on Arsenal's radar (Image: GETTY)
Rangers sign two
Rangers have completed the signings of Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis on loan.
Defoe joined for 18 months from Bournemouth while Davis joins until the end of the season.
Rangers have also signed Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara on pre-contract deals in a productive January window so far.
Steven Gerrard's side beat Celtic to go level on points with the league leaders in the last game before the break.
Chelsea eye Cavani deal
Chelsea want to sign PSG striker Edinson Cavani for £50m this month.
Cavani is the new name on the Chelsea shortlist as patience runs out with Alvaro Morata.
Chelsea had been trying to sign Gonzalo Higuain but look to have moved to Cavani.
The Sunday Express revealed the Blues will launch a bid for the Uruguay striker.
Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea are in the running for Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea deal backed
Chelsea ought to snap up Nicolo Barella this month if they get the chance, European football expert Andy Brassell says.
"He's someone who looks the real deal," Brassell told talkSPORT. "He has been tremendous this season.
"It's gong to be an expensive deal of course because it's January. Barella has all the European clubs interested in him.
"If Chelsea can get him it's a real coup. It would take him time to adapt to the Premier League but he would be a real asset to them."
Transfer news LIVE: Atletico Madrid or Inter Milan will beat Manchester United to Diego Godin (Image: GETTY)
Godin to Man Utd decision
Manchester United are out of the race to sign Diego Godin from Atletico Madrid, according to Italian site Tutto Mercato Web
United are said to have offered a two-year contract worth £8.6m (€9.6m) to Godin that would have seen him join them in July.
That represents a significant reduction from the £6.3m-a-year deal (€7m) previously proposed and he has snubbed it.
Atletico and Inter Milan are now scrapping it out with both tabling agreements worth £5.4m (€6m) a season to the former Villarreal ace.
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