Transfer News

PSV Eindhoven forward Steven Bergwijn has dismissed claims that he refused to play for his team last weekend amid continued speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. 

Bergwijn was left out of the PSV squad for Sunday's home clash with FC Twente, with a move to Spurs seemingly edging closer to completion. 

Speculation swirled that the Netherlands international had refused to take part in the game, which PSV drew 1-1, in an attempt to expedite a move to the Premier League team. However, he took to Instagram (h/t Sam France of Goal) to confirm he was given permission to miss the match:

"Good evening, PSV fans. A lot was said about me. I've read all of it, and I'm disappointed with how this went down.

"None of it is true. I never refused to play for PSV, and I would never do so in the future. The media is twisting this whole story; I called the coach this morning and said some things are going on, and he gave his permission.

"He then wished me success. Everything went fine, and I did everything in a good manner without going behind PSV's back."

According to Voetbal International (h/t Sport Witness), PSV are "very disappointed" with how Bergwijn has conducted himself during negotiations with Tottenham.

Per Dan Kilpatrick of the Evening Standard, the player was in London on Monday, with the two clubs continuing to hold talks over a transfer. Spurs are said to be close to meeting the £27 million value placed on the 22-year-old.

As Kristof Terreur of Het Laatste Nieuws relayed, some reports from the Netherlands suggest the player didn't have permission to make the trip to England:

So PSV gave Steven Bergwijn no permission to fly to London to have his medical with Spurs... https://t.co/BXmT4KI8Wa

— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) January 26, 2020

If the transfer was to completed, it would be an exciting acquisition for Spurs, as the forward is regarded as one of the best young players in the Netherlands.

While he's typically played in wide areas throughout his career, this season PSV have utilised his speed and smart movement at the point of the attack at times.

Per Football Oranje, the Dutchman has always been productive in the final third:

Steven Bergwijn for PSV

149 appearances
31 goals
41 assists

This season
29 games
6 goals
13 assists

The 22-year-old is PSV's star man but may now be on his way to Tottenham Hotspur.

— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) January 26, 2020

With Christian Eriksen edging closer to a transfer to Inter Milan, Spurs manager Jose Mourinho will be delighted to have another attacking option lined up for this month.

Bergwijn is still raw, and it may take him some time to settle into English football, which is much more physical and fast-paced than the Eredivisie. But with patience and the right coaching, the Dutch international could prove to be a savvy signing for Tottenham.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed rumours of a possible swap deal that will see Juventus' Mattia De Sciglio arrive in the French capital, with reported Arsenal target Layvin Kurzawa moving the other way.

Per Football Italia, Tuchel also said Kurzawa won't face Lille on Sunday while negotiations continue: "I have already given the all-clear to this exchange, but nothing has yet been decided between the two clubs. The situation is still open, so that is why Kurzawa won’t be in the squad against Lille."

L'Equipe were the first to report on the possible swap, and according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, an official announcement seems imminent:

Totally confirmed. Kurzawa to Juventus, De Sciglio to PSG. The swap is going to be completed soon. Personal terms agreed and the two clubs are now completing last details. ⚡️🇫🇷⚪️⚫️ #PSG #Juventus #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 24, 2020

Canal+'s Olivier Tallaron (h/t Get French Football News) reported the Frenchman has already cleared out his locker:

PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa emptied his locker at Camp des Loges this morning, according to @OLIVETALLARON.

Swap deal involving Juventus & Mattia De Sciglio is imminent.

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 25, 2020

Kurzawa was strongly linked to Arsenal earlier in the January transfer window. Football.london's Andy Ha, Joe Doyle and Amie Wilson did a roundup of all the reports surrounding the Gunners and the full-back on Friday, including a report from France Football that stated Kurzawa had agreed to a free-agent deal to move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

His contract will run out at the end of the season, while De Sciglio's deal runs until 2022. In all likelihood, that means Juventus will demand a cash sum from PSG in the swap, and those details need to be ironed out.

Both 27-year-old full-backs profile as solid backups with specific strengths and weaknesses. De Sciglio has been a valued squad member for years because of his versatility—he's comfortable playing on either side of the defence and even has experience in the middle.

He was a favourite of previous manager Massimiliano Allegri, making a surprising 19 starts in Serie A last season. He's started just five matches in the competition under Maurizio Sarri, however, and doesn't appear to have much of a role moving forward.

Kurzawa was once regarded as France's biggest talent at left-back but never lived up to the hype after joining PSG from AS Monaco. He's a much more dynamic offensive weapon, but less solid defensively.

He should be a better fit for Sarri's free-flowing attacking system, offering a similar threat to starter Alex Sandro. Juventus' depth will take a hit―De Sciglio was the main backup at right-back as well―but Danilo has improved since joining from Manchester City and appears ready for a bigger role.

De Sciglio's Swiss Army-type role should stay the same in Paris, where he'll provide cover for Thomas Meunier and Juan Bernat.  

RB Leipzig have confirmed the signing of Spain international forward Dani Olmo from Dinamo Zagreb.

The Bundesliga club announced the deal on their Twitter account on Saturday:

We're delighted to announce the signing of Dani Olmo from @gnkdinamo! ✍️

Welcome to the Bulls, @daniolmo7 🤗

🔴⚪ #DieRotenBullen pic.twitter.com/2WFvwu5ARb

— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) January 25, 2020

BREAKING: RB Leipzig have signed 21-year-old midfielder Dani Olmo from Dinamo Zagreb until 2024 pic.twitter.com/2GHBjVPllC

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 25, 2020

The 21-year-old, who left Barcelona's academy in 2014 to move to Zagreb, has been linked with a number of European football's elite clubs, so Leipzig will consider his acquisition a coup in the midseason window.

Olmo caught the eye in the UEFA Champions League this season. While Zagreb struggled and were only able to win one of their group games, the forward impressed with two goals and an assist.

He netted this brilliant volley to open the scoring in the clash with Manchester City, albeit the team went on to lose 4-1: 

🔵 Stunning finish by Dani Olmo! #UCL | @gnkdinamo pic.twitter.com/mnPkCufA9w

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 18, 2019

Olmo's nose for goals, dynamism and versatility unsurprisingly caught the eye of a number of clubs, with the man himself confirming earlier in January that Barcelona showed an interest in signing him.

However, Leipzig have stolen a march on a number of elite teams to bring in the Spaniard. Scouted Football think that working under a manager like Julian Nagelsmann will help Olmo in his bid to take his game to the next level: 

Dani Olmo to RB Leipzig: an intelligent move that strikes a balance between expectation and a pathway.

He'll work within an ultra-competitive set-up and compete to break into a very good team, whilst developing under an extraordinary coach. Big opportunity with big upside. pic.twitter.com/idsCtQv0IQ

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) January 25, 2020

Per the Bundesliga's Alex Chaffer, Olmo is one of a number of exciting prospects to have arrived in the German top flight in the January transfer window: 

January 2020 has been a pretty special transfer window for the @Bundesliga_EN and most talented young players joining the league.

Erling Haaland
Dani Olmo
Exequiel Palacaios
Jean-Clair Todibo

— Alex Chaffer (@AlexChaffer) January 25, 2020

It will be fascinating to see how Leipzig use the Spain star, as they are already one of the most potent attacking sides on the continent.

This season, Timo Werner has starred at the point of the attack, grabbing 20 Bundesliga goals already. He's been well supported by the likes of Yussuf Poulsen and Patrick Schick. Olmo will add even more competition to the forward positions, as well as on the flanks.

The acquisition will be a huge boost to Leipzig in what is shaping up to be a thrilling season. Ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga matches, they have a four-point lead at the top of the German top flight. They will also face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League last 16, with the first leg set for February 19.

Barcelona manager Quique Setien described Valencia striker Rodrigo as "extraordinary" on Friday amid speculation the Catalan giants want to sign the Spain international in the January transfer window. 

Setien spoke to reporters (h/t Marca) about the 28-year-old ahead of Barcelona's La Liga match with Valencia at Mestalla on Saturday:

"Rodrigo? I like all good players. He's an extraordinary footballer, tomorrow he could give us problems and he is a key player for their team. I would have preferred if he wasn't playing, but we know that if he's not there then there is another player, Valencia have a great squad with or without Rodrigo."

Setien wants Barcelona to sign a new No. 9 in January after losing Luis Suarez to injury for four months, and the club's top target is Rodrigo, according to Sport. Barca have held talks with his agent, Jorge Mendes, and want to bring him in on loan.

Rodrigo joined Valencia from Benfica in 2015 and has become an important player for Los Che. The striker has eight goals in all competitions for Valencia this season and was also on target for Spain in their UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers against Sweden and the Faroe Islands.

Opta highlighted his impressive record for the national team:

10 - Rodrigo Moreno has been involved in ten goals in his 22 appearances for Spain (eight goals & two assists). Required#swedenspain #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/UzTsaaLcuH

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 15, 2019

Rodrigo has been sidelined by injury in recent weeks but could play against Barcelona on Saturday. Valencia coach Albert Celades told reporters "he's ready to play and to help us."

The striker is just one of many attackers who have been linked with a move to Barcelona before the close of the transfer window at the end of the month. 

Catalan newspapers Mundo Deportivo and Sport (h/t Santi Gimenez at AS) have reported that Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bundesliga top scorer Timo Werner are also targets.

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is also reportedly on Barcelona's radar, according to Sport (h/t Football Espana).

Suarez's injury has left Barcelona light in attack and a winter signing does make sense as the club remain in contention in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.

However, time is running out in the transfer window and Barca also have the option of using Antoine Griezmann as a No. 9 for the rest of the season. The Frenchman played in a central role on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey and scored both goals in Barca's 2-1 win over UD Ibiza.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said he is unsure if the club will make any signings in the January transfer window.

The Gunners have endured a season to forget so far, and although Arteta has steadied the ship to a degree since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, they remain down in 10th place in the Premier League table.

Arsenal are still in the hunt for the FA Cup and will face Bournemouth on Monday in the fourth round. The manager was asked about possible incoming players at his press conference on Friday, per James Westwood of Goal.

"I'm not going to be discussing any links publicly," Arteta said. "It's true that at the back we've been short, but there are other positions. At the moment, I am 50-50 [on anyone coming in]."

Per Westwood, Arsenal have been linked with possible acquisitions in defence, with Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko said to be on their radar.

As Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News relayed, Arteta was able to see the defender in action firsthand earlier in the campaign when the Ukrainian giants twice took on Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League:

Shakhtar Donetsk want £30m for Arsenal target Mykola Matviyenko. His agent says the clubs are in talks about a deal for the centre back. Matviyenko played twice against Man City this season when Mikel Arteta was assistant coach there. Arsenal want a centre back but prefer loan

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) January 23, 2020

Ukrainian football writer Zorya Londonsk provided further details about what Arsenal would be getting if they were to bring in Matviyenko:

Relatively young still (23) and impressed none other than Pep in games v City in UCL in recent couple of seasons - linked with them earlier this Jan

Kept Ronaldo at bay for Ukraine last March & part of UKR defence that conceded 3rd least goals in Euro Q campaign - 4 in 8 games pic.twitter.com/GnM8Fhuwus

— Zorya Londonsk (@ZoryaLondonsk) January 22, 2020

There has also been talk of possible outgoings at the Emirates Stadium, with Real Madrid loanee Dani Ceballos' future seemingly uncertain.

"I had a conversation with Dani," Arteta said of the speculation. "I heard about those things, but I have nothing to comment. He needs to get back to fitness and fight for his place."

Ceballos, who enjoyed a fantastic start to his loan spell this season, is looking for a way out of Arsenal in this window, according to Goal's Charles Watts. The Spain international has struggled to break into the team since the arrival of Arteta, with the 23-year-old's last appearance coming in November.

James Dall of ESPN FC noted that Arsenal are already lacking depth in midfield positions:

Arsenal need midfielders but are happy for Dani Ceballos to end his loan spell?

— James Dall (jamesdall.bsky.social) (@JamesDall_) January 23, 2020

James McNicholas of The Athletic doesn't think the Spaniard would be remembered fondly at Arsenal if he was to depart:

If Ceballos terminates his loan now, he will absolutely be remembered as Denis Suarez mk II.

— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) January 23, 2020

Ceballos excelled earlier in the season, providing a thrust and ingenuity to the team's midfield. However, his consistency disappeared and an injury in November left him sidelined. Mesut Ozil's return to favour under Arteta means there is now more competition in the attacking midfield positions, too.

The Gunners are unlikely to compete for a top-four spot in the Premier League, as they sit 10 points behind Chelsea in fourth. Arteta will be keen to shine in the cups, although some acquisitions will be needed if they are to be serious contenders for silverware.  

The B/R Football Ranks transfer column is your guide to which rumours are legit and which ones you can dismiss.

Our secret sources have top intelligence on the inside stories, and our informants have details on all the delicate dealings between top clubs and superstar names.

The aim here is to open up the truths inside this transfer window—we kick off with a deal that has been rumbling for weeks...

            

Nailed On: Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan

On Thursday evening, the Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan moved into the final phase of talks over a deal that will see Christian Eriksen complete his switch to Italy.

Discussions are continuing into Friday, but the contract and bonus structure for Eriksen, who will pick up around £250,000 per week, is all in place, and he is said to be extremely excited about the move.

There are still a couple of details to be ironed out, mainly that Spurs are trying to push the fee as close to £20 million as possible.

Barcelona have shown late interest, but insiders say it would be a big surprise if the deal collapses at this stage.

         

Chances Growing: Paco Alcacer to Valencia 

Erling Haaland's arrival at Borussia Dortmund knocked Paco Alcacer down the pecking order, and now the Bundesliga side are happy for him to leave because he is beginning to become a pain to boss Lucien Favre.

Alcacer has been in Germany since 2018 but now wants to return to Spain, and Valencia is looking his most likely destination, though Sevilla and Atletico Madrid have both also shown interest.

It is thought an initial loan deal will take him from Dortmund to Valencia, as the Spanish club have issues with financial fair play. But he is open to the idea of a return to his old club, and things could kick into gear soon. 

         

Don't Give Up On: Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United

All the personal terms are agreed on this one, but there is a hold up over the fee because Sporting CP know how desperate Manchester United are to sign Bruno Fernandes.

United initially set out with the intent they would not spend more than €50 million (£42.1 million) on the player—because that's the figure initially suggested by intermediaries.

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

Now Sporting want closer to €80 million, and that has annoyed both United and Fernandes, who sources say is not hiding his frustration around the club.

Sporting need cash and will definitely sell Fernandes, but they will hold off until summer if United don't bow to their demands now.

A couple of well-connected figures around both clubs told B/R they believe that an agreement can be reached before the deadline, so there is still some hope for United fans.

         

Long Shot: Danny Rose to Newcastle United

Danny Rose is unhappy at Tottenham—he barely plays now and he does not get along with Jose Mourinho—so he needs a new home.

He's been unsettled for some time, yet his options in terms of a transfer have been limited. Newcastle United are showing interest and are looking to offer a loan switch for the remainder of this season.

It's not a prospect that particularly excites Rose, according to sources, so at this stage it looks an unlikely transfer. Bournemouth or Watford might be more appealing right now.

         

Not Going to Happen: Krzysztof Piatek to Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs certainly looked into the availability of AC Milan's Polish striker, but the terms of a deal are not what they were looking for.

Tottenham hoped they could secure a loan agreement for the rest of this season and would then look into potentially signing him permanently in the summer if things had gone well.

But Milan want to recoup the €35 million they spent on Krzysztof Piatek as soon as possible, so any loan deal would have to come with an obligation to buy.

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

 

Barcelona have reportedly inquired about signing midfielder Christian Eriksen from Tottenham Hotspur before the close of the January transfer window, per Sky Sports News. 

Eriksen is out of contract at Spurs at the end of the season and met chairman Daniel Levy on Tuesday to inform him he wants to sign for Serie A side Inter Milan, according to Sky in Italy (h/t Sky).

However, Barcelona reportedly have now joined the race to sign the Denmark international and will rival the Nerazzurri for his signature.

Inter have made a bid of  £11 million plus bonuses for Eriksen, but Tottenham want a fee of £17 million, per the report.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that while a fee has not yet been agreed, a deal between the two clubs is close:

Eriksen will join Inter on next days. The deal is really close to be completed - and it will be finalized soon.

There’s still no agreement with Tottenham on the final fee (€20M), personal terms OK. It’s just a matter of time, then Eriksen will leave. 🇩🇰 #THFC #Inter #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 23, 2020

Antonio Conte's side have also scheduled a medical for the midfielder for Monday, according to Simon Jones for MailOnline.

Sporting director Piero Ausilio told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Will Magee of Goal) that Inter are confident of signing the Dane despite competition from elsewhere:

"We just made an official bid to Tottenham to sign Christian Eriksen and now we're waiting. Many clubs are interested but we are confident trying to get a top player like Eriksen. As a top player, he has attracted the attention of the most important clubs in Europe. His contract is expiring in June, we are trying our best."

Inter have been busy in the January transfer market as they attempt to strengthen their squad to help their Serie A title push. Ashley Young has already arrived from Manchester United, Victor Moses has joined on loan from Chelsea and the club continue to be linked with a move for Olivier Giroud.

Eriksen does look likely to be the next player to arrive, particularly as Tottenham are not in a strong position to negotiate. The playmaker will be able to walk away for free in the summer when his contract expires.

The Dane was linked with a move abroad in the summer transfer window and was said to be keen on a move to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Juventus, according to ESPN FC's Mark Ogden.

Sports correspondent Tom Allnutt said the Spanish giants could be tempted by his relatively low price:

Madrid and Barcelona didn't need Eriksen in August but for 20m in January? For a 27-year-old, elite attacking midfielder. Barca signed a 30yo back-up keeper for more last summer.

— Tom Allnutt (@TomAllnutt_) January 3, 2020

Barcelona are expected to be active in the January transfer window but their interest in Eriksen may have come too late. The Blaugrana's priority also appears to be bringing in a No. 9 to cover Luis Suarez who has been ruled out for four months after undergoing knee surgery. 

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has talked up a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani amid speculation the Uruguay international will move to the Wanda Metropolitano in the January transfer window. 

Cerez told reporters the club remain in talks with the Ligue 1 champions over a move for Cavani and that he would like to see the 32-year-old arrive in the Spanish capital:

"I don't know [if Cavani will arrive], negotiations will continue and we'll see what happens before the window closes. I would like to see all the great players at Atletico, and Cavani is one of them. We have great strikers and a wonderful squad. There is a drought right now, but rains and a flood will come."

Cavani joined PSG in 2013 from Napoli and has enjoyed great success in France. He has won five league titles and is the club's all-time record goalscorer.

Opta highlighted his impressive goalscoring record: 

248 - Since Edinson Cavani made his Palermo debut in March 2007, only Lionel Messi (420) and Cristiano Ronaldo (398) have scored more goals in Europe's top five leagues than the Uruguayan (248). Matador. pic.twitter.com/EJjH2eVKjM

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 21, 2020

Yet Cavani has dropped down the pecking order this season after PSG added Mauro Icardi to their star-studded attack which also includes Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

PSG sporting director Leonardo has said that Cavani has asked to leave PSG, per football journalist Fabrizio Romano:

Leonardo, PSG sport director: “Edinson Cavani has asked to leave this month but we’ve refused Atletico Madrid bid. Kurzawa? At the moment we’re not in talks with Arsenal”. 🇫🇷 #PSG #AFC #Atleti

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 19, 2020

Atletico Madrid have seen an offer of €10 million (£8.5 million) for Cavani turned down, according to L'Equipe and RMC (h/t Get French Football News).

Cavani has also attracted interest from Premier League side Chelsea. The Blues have made an offer to sign the Uruguayan on loan until the end of the season for a fee of £5 million (€4.2 million), per Gary Jacob at The Times.

Luis Cavani, the striker's father, has said there is a "strong chance" he will join Atletico and added that he thinks "PSG are treating him unfairly," per the Guardian's Jacob Steinberg.

Atletico have struggled for goals this season, despite signing Joao Felix from Benfica in July for a club-record fee of €126 million (£113 million), scoring just 22 goals in 20 La Liga matches.

Inter Milan announced on Thursday that Victor Moses has joined on loan from Chelsea with an option to buy:

🚨 | NEW SIGNING

Transfer complete: @VictorMoses is a Nerazzurri player! ⚫🔵

👉 https://t.co/dLY0g8wIpB#WelcomeVictor #NotForEveryone pic.twitter.com/jl0ZrtqPHf

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) January 23, 2020

Moses had been on loan at Turkish side Fenerbahce but heads to the San Siro in a move that will see him reunited with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

Moses will wear the No. 11 shirt at the San Siro and has spoken about the prospect of playing for the 50-year-old again in Serie A to Inter TV:

"Having the opportunity to work with the coach again is something I'm really happy about. I've spoken to him, and he's already explained the club's project to me. I want to be part of it, I'm happy to be here. I'll give my all and want to help the team. There's a lot of quality here, I want to make my contribution out on the pitch and enjoy myself. That's the most important thing."

Conte successfully converted Moses from a winger to a wing-back during his two years at Stamford Bridge, and the Nigerian played a key role in the Blues' Premier League title win in 2017:

Victor Moses' 2016/17 Premier League season by numbers:

34 games played
28 games won
172 recoveries
120 crosses
54 take-ons completed
47 tackles made
41 interceptions
32 fouls won
28 chances created
3 goals
2 assists
1 title

Reunited with Antonio Conte. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IJ6iLRmFkq

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 23, 2020

Moses and Conte also won the 2018 FA Cup at Chelsea with a 1-0 win over Manchester United, but the Italian was sacked two months later by the Blues and replaced by Maurizio Sarri.

The arrival of Sarri saw Moses fall out of favour at Chelsea, and he left to join Fenerbahce on an 18-month loan in January 2019:

Good luck @VictorMoses, who joins Fenerbahce on loan until the end of the 2019/20 season 👑 pic.twitter.com/ewGRNwOs6u

— Chelsea FC USA (@ChelseaFCinUSA) January 25, 2019

Moses made 16 appearances for Fenerbahce in his first season with the club but has only featured six times in 2019-20 and has been sidelined since November because of injury.

He will now be hoping to kickstart his career with a coach he knows well and enjoyed success with during their time in the Premier League.

Moses becomes Inter Milan's second recruit of the January transfer window and follows Manchester United's Ashley Young in making the move to the San Siro. 

Inter chief executive officer Beppe Marotta told football journalist Fabrizio Romano the club are also in talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a move for Christian Eriksen and will also make a decision on whether to sign Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud.  

Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas has said he can't rule out a transfer for Dimitri Payet after reports linking the player with a switch back to West Ham United.

According to FootMercato (via Sport Witness), the Portuguese manager said Payet remains one of his most important players, but he doesn't know if the former Hammer will return to the Premier League:

"Dim is not transferable. He knows it, we have a special relationship, he also knows the importance he has for the team. After that, it's not only the position of the club, that of the player also counts. I read what came out in L'Equipe and in England today. I don't know if it's true, we have to be ready if it happens. There are a lot of parameters to take into account: the offer for the club, for the player... I don't think it's going to happen. We will wait."

Payet became a cult hero during his 18 months at West Ham before embarking on a second spell with the Olympians.

Marseille have recently appointed former West Ham chief executive Paul Aldridge as an advisor to club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud. Aldridge has been reportedly tasked with selling players to English sides, per Sport Witness.

According to Jordan Seward for Mail Online, Villas-Boas said he learned of Aldridge's appointment in the press and was not consulted by Eyraud.

Villas-Boas arrived at Marseille last May after 12 months with Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League.

TalkSport presenter Adrain Durham said Payet would improve West Ham's current squad:

"All the fans are getting really angry about the Payet link."

"He's better than what you've got!" ⚒️

"Why wouldn't you want him back?" 🤔@talkSPORTDrive on a possible #WHUFC return for Dimitri Payet. pic.twitter.com/NOK43WktP9

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 23, 2020

Sky Sports reported on Thursday the rumours of a potential transfer for Payet back to West Ham are inaccurate, stating there has been no contact between the two clubs.

The Hammers dismissed coach Manuel Pellegrini in December, replacing him with former boss David Moyes. The club are flirting with the relegation zone and are 17th on goal difference above Bournemouth.

Payet, 32, surprised many with his performances in England, but West Ham fans remember the circumstances of his departure in 2017.

West Ham openly criticised the France international after agreeing to sell him to Marseille for £25 million. Payet said he no longer "felt well" at the Hammers, prompting his decision to exit, per BBC Sport.

Moyes needs reinforcements in January in order to direct his team to safety. Three victories in their last 10 in all competitions suggests there's potential to exploit, but consistency has been a recurring issue at the London Stadium.

Payet might be a useful short-term addition, but West Ham need a creative spark beyond the current campaign.