Transfer News

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker-Peters has joined Southampton on loan, potentially opening the door for a late Arsenal move for Cedric Soares. 

The 22-year-old will join Saints until the end of the season. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Gunners will make a loan push for Soares worth £5 million, including his full wages.

Right-back Walker-Peters has barely featured for Spurs this season, appearing in three Premier League matches, a Carabao Cup fixture and a single UEFA Champions League outing. 

He's focused on improving both himself and the club:

"I'm looking to use this opportunity to improve as a football player, but most importantly win games here, and show the manager he made the right decision in bringing me here, and also show the fans that.

"I'm just grateful for the opportunity I've been given by the manager and the club. I come here looking to help the club improve and improve myself. I just want to win as many games as possible and enjoy playing football."

Per Alasdair Gold of Football.london, the deal does not include an option to make the move permanent, so Walker-Peters may still have the opportunity to make an impact in the British capital.

Soares has been a regular for Southampton at right-back this season, making 16 starts in the Premier League. His contract will expire in the summer, however, and the 28-year-old was expected to seek a move to a bigger club. By sending him to Arsenal now, Saints will both net a small transfer fee and get his wages off the books.

Capable of playing on either side of the defence, Soares would add depth and Premier League experience to a team in need of a boost. The Gunners sit in 10th place in the Premier League standings, and their defensive fragility has been a big reason why. Arsenal currently have a negative goal differential.

By adding Soares, manager Mikel Arteta can move Ainsley Maitland-Niles back into his more natural midfield role. Soares will likely battle Hector Bellerin for the starting position at right-back.

Barcelona have reportedly had a massive £85 million (€100 million) bid for Everton forward Richarlison turned down by Carlo Ancelotti's side. 

The Catalan giants are searching for a replacement for striker Luis Suarez, who is out for four months after undergoing knee surgery, but the Toffees "rejected the offer immediately," according to Sky Sports.

Richarlison is reportedly "a long-standing target" of Eric Abidal, Barcelona's sporting director, and the Spanish champions also had an enquiry for the 22-year-old "knocked back" last summer, per the report.

Richarlison joined Everton from Watford in 2018 on a five-year deal for a fee that could rise as high as £50 million, according to BBC Sport. 

The Brazilian has gone on to make 66 appearances for the Merseysiders in all competitions, scoring 24 goals and contributing five assists.

His form saw Everton reward him with a new long-term deal in December 2019 that will keep him at Goodison Park at least until 2024. He told EvertonTV at the time he intends "to be here for a long time."

Richarlison has 10 goals and four assists in the Premier League for Everton in 2019-20 and is a key player, but the reported interest from Barcelona and the huge sum mentioned still comes as a big surprise.

Dominic King at the Daily Mail said Everton have described the reported bid from Barca as "nonsense" and now consider the matter closed.

Martyn Ziegler at The Times also expressed doubts over the report, while ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan said "Barca don't have €100m to sign anyone, never mind Richarlison" and noted how the club have been trying to offload youngsters in order to "balance the books".

Barcelona do appear in need reinforcements in attack due to Suarez's injury and with Ousmane Dembele still out with a hamstring problem, meaning the club's only fit forwards are Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and 17-year-old Ansu Fati.

Manager Quique Setien told reporters on Wednesday that "if a No. 9 comes, he'll be welcome" but "if that doesn't happen, I will be delighted with what I have."

Yet finance is an issue for Barcelona who have spent big on Philippe Coutinho, Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong in recent windows. They have already pulled out of a deal to sign Rodrigo from Valencia as they could not agree a fee, according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana).

Setien's men still have time to bring in a player before Friday's deadline but are said to be "searching for a good, mobile & cheap No. 9," according to Sport's Toni Juanmarti.

Manchester United have moved one step closer to signing Sporting CP star Bruno Fernandes after agreeing to a deal with the Portuguese club.

The Red Devils announced the news on Wednesday. 

Sporting (h/t Sport Witness) provided the financial details of the transfer, with United set to pay a €55 million (£46.5 million) initial fee and a further €25 million (£21.1 million) in potential bonuses. The Portuguese side are also entitled to 10 per cent of the profits of a future sale.

Per the announcement, Fernandes still has to pass a medical and agree to personal terms with the Red Devils. 

The 25-year-old will become United's first signing of the January window once he agrees to personal terms and passes his medical. His transfer has been one of the biggest storylines of the window, and speculation was rampant during the summer as well.

The midfielder was one of Europe's most productive players in his position last season, scoring 20 goals and adding 13 assists in the Primeira Liga. He has bagged eight goals and seven assists so far this season, carrying Sporting's attack on his own at times. The team sit 19 points behind rivals Benfica in the Portuguese league standings.

Per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, his heavy usage in Sporting's system makes him a difficult player to project. Every attack runs through Fernandes, leading to a ton of production. He's unlikely to put up similar numbers in the more difficult Premier League, where his role will be smaller.

His ability to create and score will be a welcome addition to a United side that has struggled in both departments. With 36 goals scored in the Premier League, they sit well behind the top three of Liverpool, Manchester City and Leicester, who have all scored 52 or more. 

The January transfer window will shut at 11 p.m. GMT on Friday, so United have a few days left to conclude this deal.

Bruno Fernandes has said the Premier League "always was" his preferred destination amid reports the Sporting CP star is due for a medical at Manchester United on Wednesday.

Goal's Sacha Pisani referred to recent rumours that Barcelona or Valencia could land the player in 2020, but it appears United look set to complete his signing before Friday's January transfer window deadline.

Pisani included quotes from the 19-times capped Portugal international who, when asked if the Premier League was his preferred destination, told SIC: "It always was."

Fernandes, 25, wasn't as explicit when asked whether United were his favoured English club to join, however, as he replied: "Anything really."

David McDonnell of the Mirror wrote the player will fly into Manchester for a medical at United's AON Training Complex ahead of the transfer being completed.

The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano reported via Instagram that the deal will cost United an initial €55 million (£46.5 million). The Red Devils could pay up to €25 million (£21 million) more in add-ons, with the player set to sign a deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2024.

United's reported breakthrough came shortly after Superdeporte (h/t Conrado Valle of AS) reported Barcelona were in the hunt for his signature. It was alleged the Blaugrana hoped to sign the player and loan him to Valencia next season in an effort to help them sign Los Che forward Rodrigo Moreno.

Fernandes has scored 15 goals and recorded 14 assists in 27 appearances across all competitions this campaign. 

He leads the Primeira Liga in shots attempted (271), shots on target (114), goal involvements (67), goals from outside the box (nine) and chances created (239) since the start of the 2017-18 season, per OptaJoe.

Statman Dave highlighted the Portuguese playmaker has been particularly lethal in the UEFA Europa League. His tally of five goals and three assists in five games equates to a direct goal involvements every 56 minutes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope to see more of that impact in attack since goals have dried up somewhat following Marcus Rashford's recent back injury, which could sideline him for two months, per BBC Sport.

If reports are accurate, Fernandes could be a United player by the time they face City in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, with the Red Devils trailing 3-1 on aggregate. 

Solskjaer's side are fifth in the Premier League and return to top-flight action on Saturday at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, when Fernandes could target an English debut.  

Atletico Madrid chief executive Gil Marin has said Thomas Lemar is "not for sale" amid reports of interest from Premier League side Arsenal.

Marin also told Goal and Spox that "there is no way" the 24-year-old "can change" clubs before the transfer window closes at the end of Friday.

Lemar moved to Atletico Madrid in 2018 from French club Monaco and has struggled to impress under Diego Simeone in La Liga. The manager told reporters at the start of January that Lemar "hasn't been able to live up to expectations" at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

The midfielder has only started nine La Liga games for Atletico in 2019-20 and has yet to provide a goal or an assist for the Rojiblancos, who have struggled in attack this season.

Arsenal reportedly had an offer for Lemar turned down by Monaco before he joined Atletico, and his struggles have brought renewed speculation the Gunners could renew their interest.

RMC have reported that the Gunners have been in touch with Atletico and Lemar regarding a deal, per Get French Football News:

Breaking | Arsenal, Atletico Madrid & Thomas Lemar are all in contact about a possible deal, but an agreement is nowhere near, according to RMC. More follows.

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 24, 2020

Tottenham Hotspur were offered the chance to sign Lemar on loan with a "with a €60 million option-to-buy" at the start of January, according to Tom Kershaw at The Independent.

The France international has also been linked with a move to Bayern Munich by German newspaper Bild (h/t Will Griffee for MailOnline).

Marca (h/t Sport Witness) have reported that Atletico need to trim their wage bill if they are to make signings in January, with Lemar being chosen to make way.

Atletico, fifth in the La Liga table, are expected to strengthen their attack in January by signing Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain: 

Le Parisien believe that Edinson Cavani's move to Atletico Madrid will be done this month & report that PSG intend to sign Fernando Llorente to replace him https://t.co/2wP76mxen0

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 28, 2020

Marin's comments suggest Lemar will see out the season with Atletico, although if his struggles at the club continue, it's likely he could be on the lookout for a new club in the summer.

Christian Eriksen has expressed his delight at joining Inter Milan from Tottenham Hotspur before the end of the January transfer window.

The Denmark international completed a move to the San Siro on Tuesday, while Spurs tied up a permanent switch for Real Betis loanee Giovani Lo Celso, per the Lilywhites' official website.

Speaking to Inter TV (h/t Lee Wilmot of Football.London), Eriksen said he can't wait to play in Serie A after seven years in the Premier League:

"I couldn't wait to join, it's wonderful to be here and I'm happy to be a new Inter player. I'm very excited and can't wait to introduce myself to the fans. I've already experienced their warmth, it's been a fantastic welcome. I feel great. [...]

"The numbers say that I did really well in England. It's now time to start a new challenge, I'm really happy to have the opportunity to play in Serie A for a big team. Inter is a fantastic club."

Eriksen has remained on the fringes of Spurs' starting XI this term after failing to sign a new deal to remain in the capital.

Last summer, Matt Law of the Telegraph reported Spurs valued the playmaker at £130 million, but with the Dane's contract running down to its expiry, the club have been forced to accept a much lower fee. Eriksen had told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet (h/t Law) he was ready for a new challenge elsewhere, triggering Spurs' large valuation.

Per Wilmot, Inter have reportedly paid £16.9 million for the 27-year-old's services in what could turn out to be a phenomenal deal for Antonio Conte as his team chase the Serie A title. The Nerazzurri are second behind Juventus by three points.

Inter tweeted a message from their new star wearing their famous club colours:

👂 | LISTEN UP, #INTERFANS!@ChrisEriksen8 has something to say 😜⚫️🔵#WelcomeChristian #NotForEveryone pic.twitter.com/Bz1icmh8l4

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) January 28, 2020

Spurs are now in transition under new manager Jose Mourinho, and the loss of Eriksen is not compensated by Lo Celso. The Argentina international arrived in August on a season-long loan, but Tottenham are now a player lighter.

Eriksen carved out a phenomenal career with Spurs after signing from Ajax in 2013. The attacker became one of the Premier League's modern No. 10s, operating in multiple roles as English club tactics evolved.

Lo Celso, 23, is a rising talent who will benefit from increased responsibility in Mourinho's setup. However, the Argentinian has failed to score in 14 Premier League appearances this season, and Spurs will need to re-evaluate their attacking options while Harry Kane recovers from a hamstring injury.

Sporting CP manager Silas has said he "can't confirm" if Bruno Fernandes has made his last appearance for the club, with rumours ongoing that he could join Manchester United before the end of January. 

Fernandes, 25, retained the Sporting armband and captained his side to a 1-0 win over Maritimo on Monday. Silas told reporters after the game that he still wants his player to stay in Lisbon until at least the end of this campaign, per Goal:

"I can't confirm it [if Fernandes made his last appearance against Maritimo]. I would like him to stay. Right now I don't know if he will stay or not, but I would like to count on him at least until the end of the season.

"Bruno Fernandes is a different player, he sees things that no one sees. Being further back and seeing these movements, the defence begins to decline.

"Any team that had Bruno Fernandes in Portugal would suffer if they lost him. If so we will have to look for solutions."

The Portugal international has been linked with a move to Old Trafford since the summer, but negotiations with Sporting have thus far failed to bear fruit.

Sky Sports recently reported the Red Devils had increased their offer for the player to £46 million, having initially agreed a transfer worth £55 million in principle.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News highlighted the support Fernandes had during Monday's win at the Estadio Jose Alvalade:

Bruno Fernandes’s family and agent were in attendance to watch him start in Sporting Lisbon’s win over Maritimo last night. Again, speaks volumes that Sporting started him. #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) January 28, 2020

Goal's Sacha Pisani referred to previous interest in the midfielder from Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, the latter of whom are managed by Fernandes' Portuguese compatriot Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho recently joked about his former club's pursuit of the Sporting star, via Omnisport:

https://twitter.com/OmnisportNews/status/1220692730470334465

Fernandes has scored 15 goals and recorded 14 assists in 27 appearances for the Lions this season, which includes a record of five strikes in as many UEFA Europa League outings.

United demolished Tranmere Rovers 6-0 in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side failed to score in back-to-back Premier League defeats against Liverpool and Burnley prior to that.

The team have felt the absence of Marcus Rashford in attack, with the striker expected to be sidelined for several months after he suffered a double stress fracture in his back, per Sky Sports.

Silas will have succeeded in keeping Fernandes out of United's clutches if he lines up to face Braga on Sunday, two days after the European winter transfer deadline.

AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek has reportedly been offered to Chelsea, with Tottenham Hotspur also interested in the Poland international.

According to Miguel Delaney of The Independent, the San Siro giants are looking to offload the player, but Spurs are not willing to pay the 24-year-old's £30 million asking price.

That could open the door for the Blues, who are said to be looking for a new forward. It's noted manager Frank Lampard wants to take the scoring load off Tammy Abraham, who was injured during Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.

La Gazzetta dello Sport's Nicolo Schira (h/t Football Italia) reported Spurs could broker a deal involving player exchanges, with Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth or Victor Wanyama potentially offered in order to decrease the fee.

However, Milan are said to prefer a fee matching their valuation or a loan leading to a compulsory sale at the end of a temporary switch.

Both English sides are considering their January options after key injuries, and Spurs must find a way to cover the loss of Harry Kane in attack.

Kane suffered a serious hamstring injury against Southampton on New Year's Day and might not return until the final weeks of the campaign, per BBC Sport.

Piatek has scored four goals in 18 Serie A appearances this term, and the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has added competition for the No. 9 position.

The Pole impressed at Genoa last season, scoring 13 goals in the Italian top-flight before his move to Milan last January. He found the net a further nine times in 18 appearances for the Rossoneri to finish the campaign. 

Piatek might be an excellent option for either London team while they are understrength, but it is questionable if the player would be a starter once Abraham and Kane are fully fit for their respective clubs. 

Barcelona have reportedly made Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang their "top target" for the January transfer window.

The Blaugrana are short of centre-forward options with Luis Suarez expected to be out for the next four months following knee surgery.

According to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, they are keen to add a striker to their ranks this month and have put the Gunners star first on their list of potential acquisitions.

"Although head coach Mikel Arteta has insisted he wants to keep Aubameyang until at least the end of the season, Barca hope that Gabriel Martinelli’s good form may tempt Arsenal into a late rethink," Law added.

It's noted that the Blaugrana "fear" Arsenal would demand a fee in the region of £50 million for their star goalscorer, even though Aubameyang has just 18 months to run on his contract in north London. Law also said that reports in Spain claiming the player has agreed personal terms with the La Liga side are wide of the mark.

Law noted that Arsenal are in a conundrum when it comes to Aubameyang's future and the player potentially losing value:

Would Arsenal fans rather sell Aubameyang this week (and reinvest the money immediately) or wait until the summer and risk him going anyway for less? That's the choice they will face with Barca set to make an inquiry. Rodrigo already lined up as Barca's first-choice alternative. https://t.co/gOOVSgIJu1

— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) January 27, 2020

The 30-year-old was made club captain earlier in the season, with former skipper Granit Xhaka stripped of the honour following his infamous substitution against Crystal Palace.

While his leadership skills are clearly valued at the Emirates Stadium, the forward's goalscoring talent is just as vital, as Aubameyang has honed his reputation as one of the most ruthless finishers in world football.

Squawka Football summed up how much Arsenal depend on the Gabon international to finish chances:

Arsenal's goal-scorers in the Premier League this season:

14 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5 - Alexandre Lacazette
4
3 - Nicolas Pépé
2 - David Luiz, Sokratis
1 - Calum Chambers, Lucas Torreira, Gabriel Martinelli

*gulps* pic.twitter.com/sLzNgTbOPp

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 15, 2020

His most recent strike came in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, a game in which Aubameyang was later sent off for a rash challenge:

Özil ➡️ Lacazette ➡️ Aubameyang ➡️ GOAL!

Arsenal take an early lead at Palace after some beautiful link-up play 😍

His 16th goal of the season! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YEcQhB5iYi

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 11, 2020

The striker is still suspended for that dismissal. While Gabriel Martinelli has come into the side and performed well in his absence, at 18, he still has plenty to learn about leading the line at the highest level.

Barcelona have some of the best attacking players in the world on their books in Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann, but without Suarez, they lack someone who is a natural leading the line. 

Per OptaJose, Messi sought to take responsibility in a blunt attack during Barcelona's 2-0 loss to Valencia on Saturday:

11 - Lionel Messi has had more shots without scoring in a single #LaLiga's game in his Barcelona's career (eleven, level with vs Deportivo de La Coruña at Camp Nou in December 2017). Dismay#FCBarcelona#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/GdOam5HoNj

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 25, 2020

If the La Liga side were to make a significant offer for Aubameyang, then it's one Arsenal would have to consider. With the striker reportedly keen to move on, an extension appears unlikely at this stage, and the Gunners would not be able to demand a huge fee in the summer as a result.

From Barcelona's standpoint, there will surely be some hesitancy over parting with big money for a 30-year-old forward, especially given Suarez recently turned 33 and Messi is 32.  

The countdown to transfer deadline day seems to be filling most fans with anxiety rather than excitement.

Business has generally been slow across Europe's top leagues, but now it will kick into gear—especially in England.

There is a sense of dread among supporters of big clubs that they are not going to get the pick-me-up they need...while smaller clubs worry about the threat of their best players being poached.

There will be plenty of activity over the coming days, so we have reached out to B/R sources to get an idea about what to make of some major storylines before Friday's cut-off.

        

Man United's Slim Pickings

As the Bruno Fernandes saga rolls on, a short-term fix is needed in attack, and the club have been filtering through options over the past week to fill the void left by Marcus Rashford's back injury. They have exhausted almost every avenue—and that's why names like Odion Ighalo and Islam Slimani are now cropping up.

The links may have surprised some fans, but this is where United are at right now. They are having to look into every possible option because it's hard to find suitable quick-fixes at decent fees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcjNkY3SJIY

Edinson Cavani is a more mouthwatering proposition, but Atletico Madrid's intent to sign him is a major sticking point. Sources say there is a very small chance he could join United on loan and then move to Atleti permanently in the summer, but deals like that are rare.

United will probably make one signing before the window closes, but it is the summer that is being marked as a defining point in this regime. If they can land top targets Jadon Sancho and James Maddison later in the year, the current frustration may be forgotten.

      

Arsenal's Dilemma over Pablo Mari

The next 48 hours are key in whether the deal for Flamengo defender Mari can be rescued. The player has been in England and looked set to sign on the dotted line, but the fine details of his contract have caused some concern for the Premier League club.

The Gunners had seen technical director Edu orchestrate this entire deal and had a vision of Mari helping Mikel Arteta's defensive problems.

Yet sources in South America suggest Arsenal fans should not be too disappointed if this transfer does completely collapse as there are serious doubts over whether he is the right man for them. One questioned his ability to step straight into the pace of the Premier League, and another highlighted the fact he could be too slow.  

Shkhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko has also been linked, but a source at the Ukranian club told B/R it is unlikely to happen—even though it is an interesting prospect for the player.

       

AC Milan to Move on Suso and Krzysztof Piatek

Piatek and Suso are up for grabs as the club continues to move on from a disappointing start to this season.

Suso is set for a move to Sevilla, where director of football Monchi has lined him up on a deal that will see him move on loan now and then sign permanently in the summer.

Piatek is proving harder to shift, partly because the player has become less desperate for a move, and partly because the Italian club want to recoup the €35 million they paid for him.

They hope Spurs will return with a more reasonable offer, after lowballing them recently. But Milan are also becoming open to the idea of loaning him out for a fee of around €10 million with an option to buy, rather than obligation to buy.

Chelsea have had a look at Piatek but feel they can probably get through the season without him—so would need a good deal to crop up in order to make it worthwhile.

        

Spurs Need to Replace Harry Kane

The struggle to sign a Harry Kane back-up will eventually be solved—but Spurs are searching far and wide to find a deal that represents good value.

The problem with a Piatek deal has been that Tottenham were unwilling to sign the player on loan unless they had the option to send him back if things did not go well—now that Milan are willing to rethink that structure we could see new talks open.

Meanwhile, Spurs have made an initial offer for Steven Bergwijn—thought to be around €25 million—but sources told B/R that PSV did not consider it close enough to their valuation.

They aim to hold out for a fee nearer to €35 million, though there is an acceptance from sources in the Netherlands that a deal will happen.

      

Borussia Dortmund Wait on Emre Can Decision

An early deal for forward Erling Haaland is already paying off for Lucien Favre's men, and now the Bundesliga title-chasers want to add some guile and steel to their midfield.

The main option right now is Emre Can of Juventus, who can leave if the right terms are met.

Juve are willing to show flexibility, but the player himself is likely to determine what happens next, as personal terms will be difficult. He would see his annual salary cut by around €6 million if he joins Dortmund—so he is holding out to see if any other serious offers arrive.

      

West Ham United's Survival Bid

This is a club you can always rely on to provide some transfer entertainment—and links to Dimitri Payet show just how desperate things are getting.

The Marseille midfielder is very unlikely to return, but there is another fun figure who could turn up at the London Stadium...ex-Man United cult hero Marouane Fellaini.

The Hammers are in danger of being relegated, and manager David Moyes wants to team up with Fellaini again to help steady the ship—but the board are very sceptical of the idea.

Fans are starting to protest about the way the club is run, and this week will determine just how hostile things become. A new forward and midfielder are crucial if the club are to avoid further upset of the support.

Listen to Dean every Wednesday on the B/R Football Ranks podcast. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe here.