Transfer news LIVE: Higuain Chelsea medical, £400k-a-week at Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: Starsport brings you the latest rumours, gossip and done deals coming out of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League.
Posted Friday, January 18, 2019 by Dailystar.co.uk
Transfer news continues to dominate the back pages with the January window at the halfway stage and Starsport is on hand to bring you all the latest football gossip
Knockaert not joining Leeds' promotion charge
Brighton star Anthony Knockaert will NOT be joining Leeds this month.
According to Argus journalist Andy Naylor, who reports on Brighton, there is no deal in the offing.
In a round-up of the club’s transfer speculation on Twitter, he posted: “You may have seen various bits of speculation linking Albion players with moves.
Knockaert to Leeds, Andone to Barcelona or Galatasaray, Izquierdo to Besiktas. Reliably informed all wide of the mark.”
Anthony Knockaert, who played against Liverpool on Saturday, is not leaving Brighton for Leeds (Pic: GETTY)
Chelsea want Batshuayi to join Everton, not Monaco
Chelsea want to sell Michy Batshuayi to Everton in a £40m deal.
The Toffees are currently restricted to signing the striker on a permanent basis due to Kurt Zouma, as Everton have Chelsea’s French defender on loan until the end of the season.
Marco Silva’s side cannot take a second player on loan from Stamford Bridge, but they are rivalling Monaco for Batshuayi.
Thierry Henry’s Ligue 1 strugglers only want the Belgian on loan, though, and that has left the door open to Everton, as Chelsea do not wish to send the striker out on a temporary basis again.
Batshuayi is said to be desperate to join Monaco on loan, but Chelsea are aiming to recoup as much as £40m this month instead.
The Telegraph say Chelsea have been waiting to see whether they could attract a £40m offer and the club would much rather sell Batshuayi to Everton rather than sanction a six-month loan.
Monaco are unlikely to be able to afford a permanent swoop, but Chelsea still feel they should be able to make a profit on the player.
Michy Batshuayi is wanted by Everton but the Chelsea striker is keen to sign for Monaco on loan (Pic: GETTY)
De Gea to sign within weeks
David de Gea is set to be handed a mega new £400,000-a-week deal at Manchester United.
And there is optimism at Old Trafford the contract will be signed before mid-February.
Since the team’s revival with interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm, De Gea has shown greater willingness, Starsport understands.
And according to The Sun, the contract will see him earn wages of £400,000-a-week - including bonuses.
There is a real possibility De Gea will be settled with a new deal before the Champions League round of 16 first leg tie at home to PSG on February 12.
PSG’s trip to Old Trafford is just under four weeks away.
David de Gea is set to sign on and stay at Manchester United long term (Pic: GETTY)
Will Higuain play for Chelsea at Arsenal?
Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign Gonzalo Higuain on loan, but will he be available in Fantasy Football this weekend?
Juventus are set to confirm an agreement with Chelsea for the player today.
Higuain is then expected to fly to London and complete a medical as soon as possible.
But will he be available for selection in your fantasy football team this weekend?
That will depend on whether Chelsea complete the deal before Friday’s deadline of midday.
The Blues travel to Arsenal this weekend in a crunch clash in both sides bid for a top four finish.
Robertson future lies at Liverpool
Andrew Robertson is set to sign a new five-year deal at Liverpool, Starsport understands.
The Scotland skipper is on the verge of agreeing a new contract which will tie him to Anfield until 2024.
Robertson, 24, will be rewarded with improved terms as well as extending the deal the defender signed in the summer of 2017 when he arrived from Hull.
The £8m bargain buy was given time to settle in by Kop boss Jurgen Klopp after arriving from the relegated side with only three starts before November in his debut campaign.
But the left-back soon became a hit at Anfield and played an important role in Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final last term.
Andrew Robertson is staying at Liverpool long term (Pic: GETTY)
Emery talks Arsenal transfers and Suarez
Unai Emery has been quizzed on Arsenal;s transfer activity ahead of their Premier League visit from Chelsea.
On bringing players in this month and whether there is any progress, Emery said: “This transfer window is not easy to take players that can help us with better performances than the players we have now.
"The club is working and I spoke with Sven, with Raul about different possibilities with players. They are working but it is not easy to take players that can help us with big performances now.
"I think it is more one transfer for something special you need that can help us. We are looking, the club is working with the possibility to loan players and if we can take for helping us in a different position on the team, then maybe we can.”
On Barcelona’s Denis Suarez, who Arsenal are believed to be pursuing, Emery added: “They are conversations between us privately. I don’t want to say to you this private conversation with the club.”
Arsenal forcing Ozil exit?
Mesut Ozil is “working extremely hard” to force his way back into Unai Emery’s plans.
That is according to BBC Sport journalist David Ornstein, who claims Gunners chiefs are looking into the option of ditching the German before the transfer deadline.vised Ozil to find a new club and the club are supporting his decision.
"They’re not just rumours,” Ornstein told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Unai Emery has suggested to Mesut Ozil that it would be best for him to leave the club. And the hierarchy of the club feels that they would like him to move on.
"I think that’s mainly financially driven for a player earning who is £350,000 per week but also related to that is the fact he is not performing anywhere near the level when he has played on a consistent basis as we know he can produce from the past.
"He has no desire to leave, Mesut Ozil, so he won’t be leaving in the January transfer window. I’m told he’s working extremely hard to get himself fit. Reports coming out of London Colney is that he’s now doing extra gym work and he has a positive demeanour. He’s determined to work his way back into the side.”
Transfer news: Unai Emery wants rid of Mesut Ozil (Pic: GETTY)
Gonzalo Higuain on Chelsea
Gonzalo Higuain has broken his silence on the speculation surrounding him amid a transfer to Chelsea.
Higuain is set to join the Blues on loan from Juventus after AC Milan agreed to cancel their temporary deal.
The two Serie A sides faced each other in last night’s Italian Supercoppa in Saudi Arabia.
Higuain was spotted at the airport and journalists were quick to pounce.
He said: “Were you all waiting for me? If you want to create mess (regarding the Chelsea transfer), I’m not the right person for you in this sense.”
Transfer news: Gonzalo Higuain has broken his silence on a move to the Blues (Pic: GETTY)
Arsenal hold Zaniolo talks
Unai Emery has held talks with the agent of Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo.
The 19-year-old is seen as one of Italy’s hottest prospects since joining the capital club from Inter Milan last summer.
Arsenal are on the hunt for attacking midfielders to cover the impending departure of Aaron Ramsey.
And La Gazette dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schirra claims Emery and Gunners director of football Raul Sanllehi have been in touch with Zaniolo’s representative.
"Arsenal is interested in Nicolo Zaniolo for the next season,” Schira wrote on Twitter.
"Emery and Sanllehi have talked with his agent Claudio Vigorelli, but Rome wants to renew him until 2024.”
Transfer news: Arsenal have held talks to sign Nicolo Zaniolo (Pic: GETTY)
Tottenham slammed over Higuain deal
Tottenham should have swooped for Chelsea-bound Gonzalo Higuain, according to Dean Saunders.
"What are Spurs going to do?” he told talkSPORT.
"Harry Kane’s injured.
"I’ve said all along - they’ve finished in the Champions League twice on the bounce which, in their recent history, they haven’t done that.
"They’ve got a great young manager, a great squad.
"They had an advantage over Chelsea at the start of the season because Chelsea weren’t in the Champions League, Spurs were in the Champions League.
"So Higuain, if he’d have had an option in the summer which club to go for, he maybe would’ve took less wages and gone to Spurs because they’re in the Champions League.
"That’s where Spurs had an advantage and they never capitalised on it for me.
"That’s when they had the chance to sign the top players.”
Transfer news: Tottenham have been slammed for not signing Gonzalo Higuain (Pic: GETTY)
Man City agree Palaversa deal
Manchester City have agreed a deal with Hajduk Split for hot prospect Ante Palaversa.
According to The Guardian, the Premier League champions will fork out an initial £7m for the 18-year-old midfielder.
Palaversa is set to see out at the season with Croatian club Hajduk Split.
Despite his youth, Palaversa is rated as one of the Croatian First Football League’s top midfielders.
Transfer news: Tottenham have sold Mousa Dembele (Pic: GETTY)
Tottenham confirm Dembele deal
Tottenham have confirmed the exit of Mousa Dembele to Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F.
The Belgian midfielder spent six-and-a-half years at the club following his move from Fulham.
Dembele’s departure is subject to international clearance.
"We wish Mousa all the best for the future,” the club said.
Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea medical, Arsenal deal hope, Liverpool twist, £25m Man Utd plot (Pic: GETTY)
Gonzalo Higuain Chelsea medical
Gonzalo Higuain is set to travel to London later today for a medical once Juventus confirm a loan deal is in place with Chelsea.
The Argentina international’s loan deal at AC Milan is set to be cancelled after talks between Chelsea and Juventus progressed on Wednesday, according to the Guardian.
The Premier League outfit are set to take over Higuain’s loan for the remainder of the season before extending it for a further 12 months.
Higuain is eager to be reunited with Maurizio Sarri and will now discuss personal terms.
The 31-year-old’s arrival will see Alvaro Morata depart to Atletico Madrid.
He will initially join the Spanish capital club on loan.
Transfer news: Gonzalo Higuain is set to join Chelsea (Pic: GETTY)
Arsenal hopeful of signing Denis Suarez
Arsenal are hopeful of completing a deal to sign Denis Suarez from Barcelona.
According to Sky Sports, the 25-year-old midfielder wants to move to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are only in the market for loan deals due to financial concerns while Barcelona want a permanent switch.
The two clubs are reportedly set to strike a compromise deal.
Transfer news: Arsenal are hopeful of signing Denis Suarez (Pic: GETTY)
Jurgen Klopp makes Liverpool U-turn
Jurgen Klopp is ready to ditch his plan to make no signings in the January transfer window.
According to The Sun newspaper, the Liverpool boss is hoping to land a right-back to provide cover.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is out for a month while Nathaniel Clyne cannot be recalled from Bournemouth.
Liverpool were set to avoid making any signings but Klopp believes an addition to his squad could give them the edge in the Premier League title race.
James Milner and 18-year-old Rafael Camacho, who started out as a winger, are the only options currently available at right-back.
Transfer news: Man Utd want to sign Steven Bergwijn (Pic: GETTY)
Man Utd eye £25m swoop
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Steven Bergwijn.
According to The Sun, the Manchester United boss is hoping to land the Holland international in a £25m deal before the end of the month.
Bergwijn has netted nine goals in 16 Eredivisie games this term and Solskjaer feels he would be a good addition to his attacking ranks.
The Norwegian wants to send scouts out to the Netherlands to keep an eye on the youngster with a view to launching an offer if the feedback is good.
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