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Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool set to sign Luis Diaz as Tottenham turn to Dejan Kulusevski

Liverpool are closing in on Porto’s Luis Diaz  (AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool are closing in on Porto’s Luis Diaz (AFP via Getty Images)

The January transfer window is approaching its climax and several clubs are making significant moves to bolster their squads for the second half of the season.

After Tottenham had a bid rejected for Porto’s Luis Diaz, Liverpool have definitively joined the race to sign the Colombian winger and Jurgen Klopp’s side are expected to seal a deal worth around £50m including bonuses for the 25-year-old. The news comes as another major blow to Spurs, who are also set to miss out on long-term target Adama Traore, with the Wolves winger flying to Barcelona on Friday to complete a medical ahead of a loan move to his boyhood club. Towards the bottom of the Premier League, Newcastle are hoping to finalise the headline signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon, while Burnley close in on Mislav Orsic and Wout Weghorst.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Dusan Vlahovic has arrived in Turin to complete his medical ahead of the striker’s move to Juventus. Arsenal’s failed pursuit of the Serbian has left the club frantically searching for a new striker before the deadline, with both Alexander Isak and Jonathan David set to remain at their clubs until the summer.

Follow all the latest transfer news and updates below:

Latest transfer news and rumours

Transfer news: What’s happening with Diaz?

16:50 , Sarah Rendell

So far today, the biggest news is that Tottenham are being beaten to a deal with Porto star Luis Diaz.

The Reds are looking to push through a transfer that would see them pay an initial £37.5million with a maximum of £12.5m in add-ons for the 25-year-old.

It is understood the Colombia international was manager Jurgen Klopp’s first choice for a summer transfer but growing interest forced them to move early.

However, there remains a significant number of hurdles to overcome, the main one being he is currently in Argentina with his national team.

Liverpool are flying a team out to South America to expedite the deal but a medical is already a considerable logistical issue.

Transfer news: Eriksen’s return to Premier League

16:30 , Sarah Rendell

Christian Eriksen’s move back to the Premier League could be finalised within days, according to the Daily Mail.

Brentford have registered interest with the star and it is expected to get over the line. Eriksen hasn’t played football since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. He had to have a device fitted which meant his contract with Inter Milan was terminated.

Earlier this month Brentford manager Thomas Frank said Eriksen deserves a return to the game. He said: “Something unfortunate happened to Christian and now things changed a bit. He deserves to play at the highest level and I hope he will.

“Under normal circumstances there would be no rumours with a club like us. I guess we should be flattered that there are rumours with a player of his qualities.

“It’s the same with all players out there – (Lionel) Messi, (Kylian) Mbappe, Eriksen.”

Transfer news: Villa’s bid is rejected

16:10 , Sarah Rendell

There’s a lot of rejection being thrown around today and this time Aston Villa are feeling it. Reports suggest they put in a £20.5m bid for Juventus’ Rodrigo Bentancur which has been turned down.

Steven Gerrard is thought to have been keen on signing him but the deal needs to be better if he wants to get it over the line.

Gerrard has already had a successful window as he managed to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan. The transfer has already paid off with the star helping Villa recover a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

Transfer news: Andy Carroll signs for West Brom

15:50 , Sarah Rendell

Andy Carroll has signed a short-term contact with West Bronwich Albion. The star will remain at the club until the end of the season.

Head Coach, Valérien Ismaël, said: “Andy is a player who is able to help us straight away. He is ready and brings with him all the attributes we need. It could be a win-win situation for us.

“The fact Andy has played plenty of games for Reading recently is great. He’s fit after playing those games and he’s scored goals during that short-term deal. Hopefully Andy can now score goals for us.

“After the Dike injury we assessed the situation, because it is a big loss, and it was clear that he had made an impact in that short time. We needed to replace him, and we are pleased to welcome Andy who has a lot of experience.”

Transfer news: Newcastle bid rejected

15:30 , Sarah Rendell

Newcastle have had a bid for Brighton’s Dan Burn rejected as their tricky transfer window gets more difficult. They reportedly bid £7 million, according to the BBC.

The club are struggling to get deals over the line in this transfer window and they need to come through to battle to stay up.

A loan deal with Jesse Lingard from Manchester United is on the table. But bosses at Old Trafford have made the price incredibly high. It would work out to £1 million a month which would make Lingard the highest paid footballer in the world.

So why is this window so tricky for Eddie Howe’s side? Our chief footballer writer Miguel Delaney has written: “Others around the Premier League believe it is about even more than that - and about wider views on the new Newcastle.

“While Manchester United insist they are only looking after their own interests and looking to recoup fair value, more than a few sources in the game say it is one area where the interests of the top clubs align.

“The argument is that they know Newcastle can be a real threat in the future, and that relegation would delay the project – perhaps even derail it. As such, they’re not going to make anything easy for them.”

Full story:

Newcastle’s problem in the transfer market? They may have too much money

Transfer news: Sterling contract talks to resume

15:10 , Sarah Rendell

A lot can change in half a season. In the summer window Manchester City made Raheem Sterling available for other clubs and now they are reportedly determined to keep him.

ESPN report City are going to re-open contract talks with the England star who has found fine form since Euro 2020. This season his has scored seven goal in 19 league appearances, helping City to the top of the table.

But his dominance has been noted by other clubs with PSG, Barcelona and Real Madrid interested in signing the player.

Transfer news: Eriksen deal could soon be over the line

14:50 , Sarah Rendell

Christian Eriksen’s move back to the Premier League could be finalised within days, according to the Daily Mail.

Brentford have registered interest with the star and it is expected to get over the line. Eriksen hasn’t played football since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. He had to have a device fitted which meant his contract with Inter Milan was terminated.

Earlier this month Brentford manager Thomas Frank said Eriksen deserves a return to the game. He said: “Something unfortunate happened to Christian and now things changed a bit. He deserves to play at the highest level and I hope he will.

“Under normal circumstances there would be no rumours with a club like us. I guess we should be flattered that there are rumours with a player of his qualities.

“It’s the same with all players out there – (Lionel) Messi, (Kylian) Mbappe, Eriksen.”

Tottenham working on Kulusevski deal

14:35 , Ben Burrows

Tottenham are apparently working on a deal for Juventus midfielder Dejan Kulusevski.

Sporting director Fabio Paratici is said to be a big admirer of the 21-year-old Swedish international and is pushing to get a deal over the line before the deadline, according to The Athletic.

Spurs have endured a difficult month losing out on Luis Diaz and Adama Traore to Liverpool and Barcelona, respectively.

 (PA Wire)
(PA Wire)

Transfer news: Max Eberl leaves Monchengladbach

14:30 , Sarah Rendell

Sporting director of Borussia Monchengladbach Max Eberl has stepped down from his role after 13 years.

The chief has been at the club for 23 years after joining behind the scenes once his playing career had ended. He explained his reason for leaving: “I am drained. I am tired. I just no longer have the energy to carry on fulfilling this role in the way the club deserves.

“The club really tried everything to convince me (to stay). It opened all the doors for me, gave me every opportunity to gain time, to calm down, to continue. “But I have to draw the line. I have hit the point where I say ‘I have to get out, I have to take care.’”

This is the latest blow for the club who are struggling this season under new coach Adi Hütter.

Transfer news: Who could replace Haaland?

14:10 , Sarah Rendell

Erling Haaland has had a number of clubs after him due to his stellar form in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were all circling to sign him in the summer but nothing came to fruition. However, deals may not have been successful in 2021 but It is clear Haaland could leave in the upcoming summer.

Dortmund are putting plans in place in case their star man does leave, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. It’s thought Gianluca Scamacca is at the top of their list and would cost them £37m to buy from Sassuolo.

The star has scored nine goals this season but with Haaland’s tally nearing 20, the German club may need to have other options.

Transfer news: Liverpool to keep Minamino

13:50 , Sarah Rendell

Liverpool have rejected offers for Takumi Minamino from Leeds United and Monaco, according to the BBC.

Manager Jurgen Klopp is said to not want him to leave as he wants depth in all positions. The star hasn’t been getting as much game time as he would like which is potentially why the clubs thought he may be an option.

But Klopp wants to keep him so a deal in the January window is unlikely.

Transfer news: PSG interested in Pogba

13:30 , Sarah Rendell

The rumours surrounding whether Paul Pogba will stay or go at Manchester United have been rumbling on for seasons.

But new reports suggest Paris Saint-Germain once again have the French international in their sights, according to L’Equipe. The club is potentially losing Kylian Mbappe this summer and Pogba could boost their squad.

However, other reports floating around today suggest Pogba’s United teammates Marcus Rashford may also be moving to Mauricio Pochettinio’s side.

PSG are looking to make a move, but which one isn’t yet clear.

Liverpool fly to South America to seal Diaz deal

13:19 , Ben Burrows

Liverpool are flying a team to South America as they try to push through a late move for Porto forward Luis Diaz.

The Reds stole a march on Tottenham and Manchester United to agree a deal which will see them pay an initial £37.5million with a maximum of £12.5m in add-ons if the 25-year-old is hugely successful at the club.

Diaz was manager Jurgen Klopp’s first choice for a summer transfer but growing interest, specifically from United, forced them to move early.

As a result it is understood they will have people on the ground in Argentina when Diaz, who is set to play against Peru at home on Friday evening, arrives for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in order to expedite proceedings.

However, there still remain significant hurdles to overcome, with a medical still a logistical issue as they have to be granted access to the player in between the two internationals and in enough time to be able to complete a deal before Monday’s deadline.

 (PA Archive)
(PA Archive)

Transfer news: Aubameyang to go on loan

13:10 , Sarah Rendell

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reportedly set to go on loan for the rest of the season after disciplinary action has seen him unused.

The star, who was stripped of his captaincy for his actions, has two interested parties on the table - Barcelona and Juventus. Whether these deals would also include a buy out clause is yet to be seen.

It’s also uncertain which club will be able to seize the player.

In December, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said of Aubameyang: “I don’t establish my authority by being dictatorial or being ruthless. I just ask for one thing: respect and commitment.

“At this level, if I don’t get that I pack my bags and go somewhere else because that is the minimum I can ask for. I am sorry but I am going to expect that from everybody who works for the club.”

Transfer news: Rumours suggest Cash is headed to Madrid

12:50 , Sarah Rendell

The rumour mill is always in motion when it comes to football but during a transfer window it goes into hyper speed.

This time it has spilled out a report that Matty Cash is going to move from West Ham to join Atletico Madrid. The Sun says the Spanish side are targeting a summer deal.

The club are looking for a replacement for Kieran Trippier, who moved to Newcastle. Madrid are thought to be willing to spend around £30m in the next window to get the move done.

Newcastle’s troubled transfer window

12:30 , Sarah Rendell

Newcastle are struggling to get deals over the line in this transfer window and they need to come through to battle to stay up.

A loan deal with Jesse Lingard from Manchester United is on the table. But bosses at Old Trafford have made the price incredibly high. It would work out to £1 million a month which would make Lingard the highest paid footballer in the world.

So why is this window so tricky for Eddie Howe’s side? Our chief footballer writer Miguel Delaney has written: “Others around the Premier League believe it is about even more than that - and about wider views on the new Newcastle.

“While Manchester United insist they are only looking after their own interests and looking to recoup fair value, more than a few sources in the game say it is one area where the interests of the top clubs align.

“The argument is that they know Newcastle can be a real threat in the future, and that relegation would delay the project – perhaps even derail it. As such, they’re not going to make anything easy for them.”

Full story:

Newcastle’s problem in the transfer market? They may have too much money

Transfer news: Rangers excited by Diallo loan

12:10 , Sarah Rendell

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst says he’s excited to see what Amad Diallo can do after he signed on loan for the Scottish club.

Diallo joined from Manchester United until the end of the season.

Van Bronckhorst told Sky: “We were delighted that he chose to come to Rangers... We all can see his qualities and what he can bring to us. I’m excited to work with him for the rest of the season.

“There are moments in the season you have to act, to go for the best possible solution. We thought this was the best solution for us today.”

Transfer news: Sheffield want Liverpool’s Williams

11:50 , Sarah Rendell

Sheffield United’s manager Paul Heckingbottom has said the club are interested in signing Liverpool defender Rhys Williams.

Williams is one of many targets for the club but Heckingbottom says Williams is unavailable.

He told The Star: “As far as we know he’s not available as it stands. He’s Liverpool’s player and we just have to keep monitoring lots of players who we think could come in and do a good job for us.

“There are a lot of players out there but we have to be clear of the role we want them to perform.”

Transfer news: What’s the biggest story of the day?

11:35 , Sarah Rendell

So far today, the biggest news is that Tottenham are being beaten to a deal with Porto star Luis Diaz.

The Reds are looking to push through a transfer that would see them pay an initial £37.5million with a maximum of £12.5m in add-ons for the 25-year-old.

It is understood the Colombia international was manager Jurgen Klopp’s first choice for a summer transfer but growing interest forced them to move early.

However, there remains a significant number of hurdles to overcome, the main one being he is currently in Argentina with his national team.

Liverpool are flying a team out to South America to expedite the deal but a medical is already a considerable logistical issue.

Transfer news: United set for more loan deals

11:15 , Sarah Rendell

Manchester United are in the business of loans this transfer window with rumours surround Jesse Lingard, Donny van der Beek and no D’Mani Mellor.

Mellow spent the first half of the season on loan at Salford where he made three appearances and it seems he will be shipped out once again.

This time the destination is Crawley and the deal is thought to be being announced within the next day.

Transfer news: Where will Muller end up?

11:00 , Sarah Rendell

Thomas Muller’s contract with Bayern Munich runs out in 2023 and two Premier League sides are keeping tabs on the situation. Newcastle and Everton are interested in seeing if a shock move could be pulled off, according to Sport Bild.

The German international has continued his good form this season and with both the Magpies and Toffees struggling in their big to stay in the top-flight, Muller would be a huge move.

However, nothing has yet been confirmed and it’s unlikely a coup would happen in the winter window.

Transfer news: Van de Beek to Palace?

10:45 , Sarah Rendell

Donny van de Beek hasn’t had the best time at Manchester United and he could be given the opportunity to prove what he’s worth at another club.

It’s been reported by the Daily Mail he could move on loan to Crystal Palace in the January window.

He has been struggling for minutes at the club and if reports are to be believed he isn’t happy at the Premier League side. If those are true, he will be happy that “positive talks” are happening between the sides.

Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford in 2020 and has made just four league starts since

Transfer news: Rashford in shock move to PSG?

10:30 , Sarah Rendell

French publications are reporting Marcus Rashford could depart Manchester United and move to Paris Saint-Germain.

It’s thought Kylian Mbappe will move away from the French club this summer and England international Rashford could be his potential replacement.

It’s unlikely a deal would come to fruition in the January window but it’s a deal to keep an eye on over the coming months.

What is Newcastle’s problem this transfer window?

10:15 , Sarah Rendell

Newcastle are struggling to get deals over the line in this transfer window, deals they desperately need to try and avoid relegation.

A deal with Jesse Lingard from Manchester United on loan is on the table. But bosses at Old Trafford have made the price incredibly high. It would work out to £1 million a month which would make Lingard the highest paid footballer in the world.

So why is this window so tricky for Eddie Howe’s side? Our chief footballer writer Miguel Delaney has written: “Others around the Premier League believe it is about even more than that - and about wider views on the new Newcastle.

“While Manchester United insist they are only looking after their own interests and looking to recoup fair value, more than a few sources in the game say it is one area where the interests of the top clubs align.

“The argument is that they know Newcastle can be a real threat in the future, and that relegation would delay the project – perhaps even derail it. As such, they’re not going to make anything easy for them.”

Full story:

Newcastle’s problem in the transfer market? They may have too much money

Transfer news: PSG close to Ndombele move

10:01 , Sarah Rendell

Paris Saint-Germain are close to signing Tottenham Hotspur star Tanguy Ndombele on loan, according to The Telegraph.

Ndombele hasn’t impressed at Spurs with fans even booing him off the pitch in an FA Cup match against Morecambe. The 25-year-old would once again be working under Mauricio Pochettino if the PSG move went ahead. The manager was in charge of Tottenham when the player signed for the Premier League club.

It’s been reported Spurs want PSG to cover his wages in full after initial talks of a swap with Leandro Paredes didn’t come to fruition.

The deal is an initial loan with the option to buy at the end of the season.

 (PA Wire)
(PA Wire)

Transfer news: Newcastle interested in Diop

09:46 , Sarah Rendell

Issa Diop could move from West Ham to Newcastle United as Eddie Howe’s side have highlighted their interest, according to L’Equipe.

However, it could be a tricky deal to broker as the Hammers aren’t open to selling the star. It’s clear to see why as Diop has a 89% tackle success rate and no errors that have led to a goal so far this Premier League season.

The French publication says though Diop’s representatives are speaking to Newcastle so it will be a matter of time to see which way this move goes.

Transfer news: Adama Traore to Barca?

09:40 , Sarah Rendell

It’s been reported Wolves’ Adama Traore is in Spain for a medical with Barcelona after a deal with Tottenham couldn’t be struck.

It’s thought Antonio Conte bid £15m for the player but Spurs have denied making an offer. Traore began his career at Barca before moving to the Premier League in 2015.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Traoré day in Barcelona. He’s back in Spain in order to undergo medical and sign as Barça player on loan with buy option [€30m] from Wolves.

“Adama and Barça have also agreed a pre-contract for five years in case FCB will decide to buy him on a permanent in June.”

Transfer news: Andy Carroll close to West Brom move

09:36 , Sarah Rendell

Andy Carroll, who is a free agent after leaving Reading, is reportedly having a medical at West Bromwich Albion today.

The 33-year-old, who has previously played for Newcastle and Liverpool, is being drafted in for the injured Daryl Dike.

The deal would only cover Carroll until the end of the season and it’s unclear where he would be looking to move after that point.

Transfer news: Liverpool leapfrog Spurs in race for Diaz

09:29 , Sarah Rendell

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as we bring you all the latest transfer news from the Premier League and across Europe.

The biggest breaking news this morning is that Liverpool have leapfrogged Tottenham in the race to sign Porto winger Luis Diaz.

The Reds are looking to push through a transfer that would see them pay an initial £37.5million with a maximum of £12.5m in add-ons for the 25-year-old.

It is understood the Colombia international was manager Jurgen Klopp’s first choice for a summer transfer but growing interest forced them to move early.

However, there remains a significant number of hurdles to overcome – not least that the player is currently in Argentina with his national team.

Liverpool are flying a team out to South America to expedite the deal but a medical is already a considerable logistical issue.

Should the deal come off – and the club remain cautious about that prospect – it would be a huge coup for Julian Ward, who succeeds sporting director Michael Edwards in the summer, as this is the first transfer he has taken the lead on.