<
        >

          Chelsea pursue Roma teammates Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri

          • ESPN staffJan 20, 2018, 01:01 AM

          The transfer window is heating up! Transfer Talk brings you live updates on all the latest rumours and done deals. Check out all the confirmed January moves so far on our transfers page.

          Chelsea chase Roma pair

          Despite reports that Roma are reluctant to discuss a deal for Edin Dzeko, Chelsea remain keen on the striker as well as his teammate Emerson Palmieri, the Telegraph reports.

          Blues boss Antonio Conte is eager to recruit a target man this month to provide a Plan B in attack, with Peter Crouch and Christian Benteke also in the frame after an ankle injury ruled out West Ham's Andy Carroll.

          Given Crouch turns 37 later this month, Dzeko may be viewed as a longer-term option but would be cup-tied for the Champions League, having already appeared in the competition this season.

          Chelsea want a loan deal for Palmieri, who would provide competition for Marcos Alonso at left-back, but Roma are holding out for a £22 million transfer.

          LIVE BLOG

          22.23 GMT: That's going to do it for Saturday's live edition of Transfer Talk. Thanks very much for joining us, and be sure to check back in a few short hours when we return with all the latest gossip pulled from Sunday's back pages.

          21.50 GMT: Arsenal are weighing up a move for Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas Moura before the close of the transfer window, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC. Read the full story.

          21.17 GMT: Another update on the ongoing saga that is the swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan trading places at Arsenal and Manchester United: The BBC's David Ornstein reports that Mkhitaryan has now agreed personal terms with the Gunners and will undergo a medical in the next two days, but adds that United won't pay any fees on top of the player; Sanchez for Mkhitaryan, nothing more.

          20.44 GMT: Stoke City are hoping to sign New York City FC's budding English star Jack Harrison after making an official enquiry for his services, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC. Read the full story.

          20.01 GMT: DONE DEAL The news first broke on Friday, but now it's official: The LA Galaxy have traded Gyasi Zardes and $400,000 in allocation money to Columbus Crew SC striker Ola Kamara.

          19.18 GMT: The Mirror reports that West Ham have reached an agreement with Inter Milan to take midfielder Joao Mario on loan for the remainder of the season, but David Moyes will travel to Italy to scout the 25-year-old Portuguese international before signing off on the deal.

          18.45 GMT: Alexis Sanchez has travelled north to complete his transfer to Manchester United, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says, while Jose Mourinho insisted the move is "so close." Read the full story.

          18.12 GMT: DONE DEAL -- The Montreal Impact have announced the signing of 31-year-old centre-back Zakaria Diallo from Ligue 2 outfit Brest on a two-year contract.

          17.39 GMT: The Mail reports that Manchester United and Arsenal have agreed on terms that would see Alexis Sanchez move to Old Trafford in exchange for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and £20 million. Both players have reportedly traveled to their new homes, and are set to undergo medicals.

          17.06 GMT: As negotiations with Sampdoria over striker Duvan Zapata having stalled, Borussia Dortmund are turning their attention to Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi to replace the seemingly Arsenal-bound Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gianluca Di Marzio reports.

          16.33 GMT: Sergio Ramos and Marcelo are pushing Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, according to Mundo Deportivo. The report suggests that Los Blancos will offer Les Parisiens Cristiano Ronaldo in a player-plus-cash deal after the World Cup.

          16:00 GMT: Confirmation from Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke that they have received an initial bid from Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Watzke has told Ruhr-Nachrichten: "I can confirm that there has been a first enquiry from Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang."

          See, told you.

          15:30 GMT: Francis Coquelin may have left Arsenal in this window, heading to Spanish club Valencia, but he has a reassuring message for Gunners fans worried about how things will be after Alexis Sanchez leaves. The midfielder told the BBC: "People tend to forget what Wenger has done for the club. I understand the frustration but everyone should stand by him, everyone should be behind [him]. That's the only way results are going to turn around.If they let Sanchez go, what I am sure of is they will have to strengthen the team, because he will be a big miss. For fans, they demand a competitive team. They will be upset if no-one comes in the transfer market and they let Sanchez go."

          15:00 GMT: Could be a breakthrough in the Aubameyang saga today, as German outlet kicker reports that Dortmund have received an initial bid for the striker today.

          14:30 GMT: If Arsenal were also hoping to bring in Malcom as well as Aubameyang, they may be in for a disappointment -- Tottenham are interested in signing Bordeaux's Brazilian winger, sources have told ESPN FC. Read more here

          14:00 GMT: BREAKING -- Alexis Sanchez was left out of Arsenal's matchday squad for Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace amid continued interest from Manchester United. Read more here

          13:30 GMT: An update of Rafinha's proposed move from Barcelona to Inter Millan -- the Brazilian's father, 1994 World Cup winner Mazinho, has had his say: "Rafinha's objective is just to play. It's difficult for him to do that at Barcelona. There are a lot of good players and it's been similar for five years now. He has had bad luck with injuries in these last two years. He wants to play and feel happy doing what he likes doing at an excellent club like Inter Milan. We hope that these three or four months will help him get back into the Brazil squad for the World Cup. He's going to take advantage of this chance in Italy."

          13:00 GMT: Interesting comments from Arsene Wenger, pegging Jack Wilshere as a future Arsenal captain despite the midfielder's current contract expiring in the summer. Wenger said: "I see him [as a possible captain] because he's an Arsenal man. He was here at the age of 10. Not only because he was here for a long time, but he has some leadership qualities, he has a football brain, he is completely focused on Arsenal. The fact that he has been away [on loan], he comes back, he realises as well that life is not so bad here maybe. And that is something that is important, that he can be one of the leaders of the future." Read more here

          12:40 GMT: Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid future has faced renewed scrutiny this month, with talk of the club's feted "BBC" attack being broken up in the summer. Coach Zinedine Zidane has welcomed the return of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo ahead of Sunday afternoon's La Liga game at home to Deportivo La Coruna, with the trio set to play together for the first time in 273 days. Could they unite to rescue each others' futures at the Bernabeu? Read more here

          12:20 GMT: Barcelona have taken a rather surprising step of issuing a statement this morning to deny media reports that a deal has been agreed to sign Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann. The statement reads: "FC Barcelona strongly denies the information that has appeared over the course of the last few hours in different media regarding Atlético Madrid player, Antoine Griezmann, and an alleged deal with our club. FC Barcelona expresses its objections in the face of these events and reiterates its full respect for the institution of Atlético Madrid." Read more here

          12:00 GMT: Barcelona midfielder Rafinha Alcantara has agreed to join Inter Milan on loan until the end of the season, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC. Inter will have an option to sign the Brazil international in the summer for €35 million, with another €3m then potentially due in add-ons if the deal is completed. However, that option to buy will become compulsory if the Italian side achieve Champions League qualification.

          11:40 GMT: Watford manager Marco Silva has admitted that speculation linking forward Richarlison with Arsenal and Chelsea has distracted the Brazilian: "What we can do is be smart with him and take care of him. I don't want to put all the pressure on him. He had a fantastic impact on Watford and in the Premier League. Everybody is talking about him. Arsenal, Chelsea and all these things are normal in one professional career. We need to support him as he's a boy and needs to understand during one season everything can happen."

          11:20 GMT: Jurgen Klopp has challenged Loris Karius to prove that Liverpool do not need to go out and purchase a new goalkeeper. Karius, 24, has taken permanent command of the No. 1 jersey ahead of Simon Mignolet. Stoke City's Jack Butland has been linked with a move to Liverpool recently, but Klopp believes his goalkeepers are harshly judged when compared to others. He said: "My favourite solution, always, is that we do it with our boys. They step up, they deliver, they improve. The problem they have is that everyone is watching them [through a magnifying glass] and saying: 'Still not good enough!'

          11:00 GMT: Talk of Olivier Giroud's future is a staple of any transfer window, and The Independent reports that the France striker could be used as a makeweight in the deal with Dortmund to bring Aubameyang to the Emirates.

          10:40 GMT: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was once again left out of the Dortmund squad as they played at Hertha Berlin on Friday. Rather than stay at home and watch the game on TV, the striker went and played some five-a-side, according to Bild. As if to ensure the message was received loud and clear, he was pictured sporting a Dortmund shirt with the name of Ousmane Dembele, who left last summer for Barcelona, on the back.

          10:20 GMT: Hebei Fortune coach Manuel Pellegrino has confirmed the Chinese Super League club's interest in Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano: "The idea is that he comes here. We have to see what the situation is in Barca, but he's a player that I am really interested in. It was me that gave him his debut in the Argentine Primera with River Plate. He's a leader and I think he would do well in the Chinese league."

          10:00 GMT: Theo Walcott's arrival at Everton appears to have spelled the end for Aaron Lennon at Goodison Park. The former England winger is set for a move to Burnley, according to multiple reports. Lennon, 30, could find first-team opportunities with the Toffees limited following Walcott coming in from Arsenal and the return of Yannick Bolaise, with sources telling ESPN FC that Newcastle were considering a move. However, reports say Burnley have agreed to personal terms with Lennon just a day after announcing forward Jon Walters could be out for up to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on his knee.

          09:40 GMT: The final member instalment of this inter-United-Arsenal transfer trilogy involves Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Borussia Dortmund striker is wanted by Arsene Wenger, although the German club's sporting director Michael Zorc says he is still waiting for a "concrete" transfer offer for the Gabon international. Read more here

          09:20 GMT: Henrikh Mkhitaryan heading from Old Trafford to Arsenal is a key factor in the Sanchez deal. The Armenia playmaker bid a "tearful" farewell to his United teammates at training on Friday, according to the Daily Mail. Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has backed Mkhitaryan to be a success at Arsenal if he signs for the Gunners. Read more here

          09:00 GMT: It's may be matchday in league across Europe, but that doesn't stop the rumour mill from turning. Alexis Sanchez's move to Manchester United remains the biggest story in this window, although a deal is yet to be struck with United and he may yet feature for Arsenal this weekend. On Friday, United manager Jose Mourinho insisted the impending arrival of Sanchez is not a quick fix. Read more here

          Man United want Diarra

          Manchester United are trying to hijack Paris Saint-Germain's move for Lassana Diarra, according to Le Parisien.

          The 32-year-old midfielder has been lined up for a short-term switch to the Parc des Princes to cover for the injured Thiago Motta.

          Jose Mourinho previously managed Diarra at Chelsea and Real Madrid, however, and wants to work with the former France international again at Old Trafford.

          The report states that Diarra was in England last week, possibly for talks with United, but at present he would prefer to join PSG.

          Meanwhile, the Daily Mail says says Mourinho has dropped his search for a new left-back after being impressed by Luke Shaw's determination to win back his place.

          Arsenal line up second swap deal

          With Henrikh Mkhitaryan set to arrive at Arsenal in exchange for Alexis Sanchez, Arsene Wenger is plotting his second swap deal of the January transfer window to land Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

          The Independent reports that the Gunners boss is prepared to offer Olivier Giroud in part-exchange for Aubameyang, rather than pay Dortmund's £70 million asking price.

          Giroud has been forced to accept a bit-part role at Arsenal this season and would presumably be open to the idea of a new challenge.

          Aubameyang was left out of the Dortmund team for the second week running as Peter Stoger's side were held to a 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin on Friday night.

          Managerial merry-go-round cranks into gear

          While most of the headlines concern potential player transfers in the winter window, the Daily Mirror carries an interesting story about Paris Saint-Germain's interest in Pep Guardiola.

          The Manchester City boss has 16 months left on his contract at the Etihad, with the club's hierarchy keen to arrange an extension.

          But PSG are apparently confident of getting their man, even if they have to wait another two seasons to lure Guardiola to Paris.

          Meanwhile, the Daily Star says Luis Enrique will replace Antonio Conte at Chelsea in the summer.

          The Spaniard will be joined at Stamford Bridge by former Blues defender Juliano Belletti, who is set to take a director of football role at the club.

          Tap-ins

          -- Spurs are the new favourites to land Bordeaux winger Malcom in a €40 million transfer at the end of the season, according to the Telegraph. Arsenal have also been linked with the Brazilian but have preferred to focus their efforts elsewhere.

          -- Crystal Palace's striker search has taken them to Inter Milan forward Eder, claims the Croydon Advertiser. The Italy international is the subject of a £9.75 million bid from the Eagles.

          -- The Liverpool Echo reports that Everton are chasing versatile Lille defender Adama Soumaoro. The 25-year-old could be brought in to cover for the injured Leighton Baines at left-back.

          -- Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has refused to rule out a loan switch for United States youngster Emerson Hyndman, according to the Bournemouth Echo, but expects a decision to be made "late in the transfer window."