Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip on deadline day
Friday, January 31
- Manchester United have rejected the opportunity to sign Willian Jose
- Tottenham are still interested with the La Liga side asking for around £25m
- West Ham have struck a £22m deal for Hull’s Jarrod Bowen, medical planned
- Manchester United are considering a cut-price deal for Paul Pogba
- Chelsea need to sign a “world class” striker – Clinton Morrison
Adolfo Gaich swoop
Manchester United chief Ed Woodward is still working on signing a new striker to boost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s attack.
And it’s been claimed that he’s reached out to San Lorenzo about signing Argentina international Adolfo Gaich before the transfer deadline.
It’s been claimed United have turned down PSG’s Edinson Cavani, Monaco’s Islam Slimani and Shanghai Shenhua’s Odion Ighalo.
And they’ve also had a bid for Bournemouth hitman Josh King turned down, with the player previously representing the club at youth level.
Now, Fox Sports Argentina say Woodward has picked up the phone to enquire about landing San Lorenzo hitman Gaich.
Yan Couto to Manchester City
Manchester City have won the race for Brazilian youngster Yan Couto, and will sign him in the coming hours.
Barcelona were in the race for the 17-year-old but have withdrawn their interest on the understanding he will join City, according to Sport.
City are said to have agreed a deal worth £12.5m (€15m), with £7.5m of that up front and the rest in bonuses and variable add ons.
The Under-17 ace has been dubbed the ‘new Dani Alves’ and is set to stay with Brazilian side Coritiba until the summer when he turns 18 in June.
Ianis Hagi set to sign
Rangers are set to wrap up the loan signing of Ianis Hagi from Genk.
Rangers will have the option to make the deal permanent in the summer. Hagi is the son of Romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi.
Rangers could also land Florian Kamberi from Hibs in another loan deal.
Kamberi has told Hibs he wants to leave today. Greg Docherty could move the other way to Hibs for the rest of the season.
Islam Slimani latest
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard could bloody the noses of Manchester United and Tottenham by beating them to the punch in the fight for on-loan Monaco striker Islam Slimani.
The Algeria international has emerged as a late January transfer window option for the Blues in case Olivier Giroud heads for the Stamford Bridge exit door.
Giroud is desperate to leave Chelsea in order to get some much-needed minutes under his belt with his place in France’s Euro 2020 plans under threat.
Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web report Slimani is seen as a potential replacement for the in-demand forward, who’s been looked at by Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Tottenham and West Ham this month.
Inter are also in the hunt for Slimani, who is believed to have been offered to United and Tottenham as they seek to bolster their respective injury-depleted attacks.
Lionel Messi contract
Lionel Messi has made a decision on his future.
That’s according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, who claim the Barcelona superstar wants to renew his contract on a yearly basis.
Messi, who has scored 622 goals in 710 appearances for the Catalan giants, is out of contract in June 2021.
The club’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident the Argentine magician will remain at the Nou Camp for several years to come.
But It’s thought Messi will sign a new 12-month deal each season, similar to Andres Iniesta, enabling him to assess his physicality and mood each year.
Josh King rejected
Manchester United have failed in an attempt to sign Bournemouth striker Joshua King
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to sign a forward this month to help fill the hole left by Marcus Rashford, who is nursing a double stress fracture in his lower back.
King was seen as an ideal short-term replacement and United tabled a bid for the 28-year-old, according to the Telegraph.
But their approach was swiftly brushed aside by the Cherries, who find themselves in the thick of a relegation fight.
A source is quoted as saying that King was a deal “we thought we could get done but was met with resistance from Bournemouth”.
World class striker
Chelsea need to sign a “world class” striker before the end of the January transfer window, says ex-Crystal Palace star Clinton Morrison.
Chelsea are yet to make any new signings this month despite head coach Frank Lampard reiterating his desire to strengthen his strike-force.
But the pundit Morrison reckons a forward is a must to help lessen the burden on top-scorer Tammy Abraham.
“Yeah I think they have to do some business,” Morrison said on Sky Sports News. “Frank, he’s been talking about how he wants to do business.
“I think he wants to bring in a left-back, he might even be interested in bringing in a goalkeeper, but definitely a No 9. I think they need a world class No 9 to help Tammy Abraham.”
READ MORE
- Barcelona transfer news LIVE: Barca to complete £25m agreement
Willian Jose snub
Manchester United have rejected the opportunity to sign Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose.
Sky Sports claim the Red Devils were offered the chance to take Jose, 28, to Old Trafford on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
But United weren’t interested.
However, Tottenham are still interested with the La Liga side asking for around £25m to let him go.
West Ham agreement
West Ham have struck a deal for Hull forward Jarrod Bowen.
Crystal Palace had looked the more likely to complete a deal for the talented forward, who has scored 17 goals and provided six assists in 32 appearances this season.
But The Athletic journalist David Ornstein says David Moyes’ side have agreed a deal for the 23-year-old and that a medical will take place later today.
He tweeted: “Hearing West Ham have agreed a £22m deal (£14m + £8m add-ons) to sign Hull City forward Jarrod Bowen. Crystal Palace seemed to be leading the chase but understand 23yo’s preference is #WHUFC & scheduled to have medical ~lunchtime.”