TRANSFER WINDOW LIVE

It's 2017 and that means only one thing - the January transfer window is open.

The festive fixtures are in full flow but attention is firmly fixed towards the sales.

Premier League clubs up and down the country are expected to be busy, as the race for places hots up in the second half of the season.

Who at the top can bolster their challenge of league leaders Chelsea?

Who at the bottom can sign the man to reinvigorate their season and drag them away from the drop zone?

Who can add firepower to make a late charge on the European spots?

We'll keep you up to date with everything right here, so stick around...

 

N'Zonzi to Arsenal?

Arsenal have joined the race to sign Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi.
That is according to the Daily Express, who say the Gunners will battle Chelsea and Manchester City for the former Blackburn man’s signature, with Serie A side Juventus also interested.
Arsene Wenger is keen to strengthen his squad after seeing Arsenal’s title challenge falter in recent weeks, despite a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.
N’Zonzi scored 11 Premier League goals across spells with Rovers and Stoke between 2009 and 2015.

Lindelof move still on? Transfer news and gossip from Monday's papers

Portuguese reports say Benfica defender Victor Lindelof will still be joining Manchester United despite the move hitting a snag.
Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have been getting the job the Swede is expected to do done after a sorry start to the season, and leading Jose Mourinho to think that the deal isn’t necessary.
But A Bola is sure Benfica are ready to lose Lindelof in the current transfer window.
“Benfica remains convinced that the transfer of Lindelof to Manchester United will really advance,” they say.
PLUS, a new Premier League giant has joined the race for Virgil van Dijk and there’s reports of a BIG bid for Harry Kane.

Costa dismisses £80m China transfer talk

Diego Costa insists he is happy at Chelsea and has no plans to leave.
And that is bad news for Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian, who are plotting a staggering £80million move for the striker.
Spain international Costa , who has hit 14 goals for the Premier League leaders this season, is the latest Blues star to emerge as a target for China’s mega-rich clubs.
Shanghai SIPG sealed a £60m deal for midfielder Oscar last month, and his Brazilian countryman Ramires joined Jiangsu Suning for £25m a year ago.
But Costa says he is happy and settled at Stamford Bridge, after wanting to return to previous club Atletico Madrid in the summer.

Swans ready to back new boss Clement with £30m transfer kitty, when appointed

Swansea are ready to back Paul Clement with a hefty transfer budget to try and spend their way out of trouble.
Bayern Munich No.2 Clement has been offered a contract until 2019 and is expected to be named as the Swans’ new boss in the next 24 hours.
The Premier League’s bottom club are preparing to splash the cash, with as much as £30million available to Bob Bradley’s replacement.
There is a realisation at the Welsh club that the last three transfer windows have gone badly and their squad is in decline.
Owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan have signalled they are willing to invest in the team, with relegation staring them in the face.

Wijnaldum tells Dutch pal Promes to follow him to Liverpool

Georginio Wijnaldum has told close friend Quincy Promes: Come and join me!
Liverpool star Wijnaldum blasted them to a crucial victory over Manchester City at the weekend, and afterwards made no secret of his desire to get his Holland team-mate to Anfield.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp has long been an admirer of winger Promes and tried to sign him while in charge of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund.
Now he is ready to launch a £20million bid to land the Spartak Moscow winger in this transfer window.

Witsel to China?

Axel Witsel was an Everton target but his next destination after Zenit St Petersburg, as has become the case for so much top talent, could be China.
Juventus was considered the best bet for the Belgian, but it could be Shanghai instead.
Belgian radio station RTBF in fact say he has already signed a deal with a Chinese Super League side.
Witsel spoke to the same station in September, lamenting Zenit’s refusal to sell in to the Serie A giants.
“It’s really hard [to take],” he told RTBF.
“I still have to thank Juventus because they did everything for me until the end.
“It’s a shame that Zenit did not accept €25m when I had a year left on my contract.
“I’m disappointed because I went there and passed medical tests, so I saw myself at Juventus in my head, but it didn’t happen.”

Celtic keen on Larsson

Celtic are ready to make a £8.5million bid for Jordan Larsson – 19-year-old son of Parkhead legend Henrik.
The Sweden Under-21 striker, whose dad who scored 242 goals in 313 appearances for the Hoops, is currently with Helsingborgs, who have been relegated from the Swedish top flight.
But he was attacked by thugs who ran on to the pitch after the demotion was confirmed – and is determined to leave.
Larsson is also wanted by Dutch outfit Feyenoord – another of his father’s old clubs.

Norwich must sell to buy

Norwich will have to sell stars in January if they are to invest in new players to revive their promotion hopes.
The relegated Canaries have lost eight of their last 10 games in the Championship to drop out of the top six.
It has made the club’s hush-hush decision to give boss Alex Neil a lucrative new contract in the summer look crazy.
Neil will need a £2million pay-off under the terms of his £1m-a-year deal if he is axed.
City will now have to sell players to generate new funds to invest in signings and potentially pay-off struggling Neil.

United scout Valencia starlet

Manchester United scouts in Spain have been running the rule over Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler.
The 19-year-old has shone despite his club’s poor form in La Liga, and has a £6.8million release clause.

Arsenal join race for Sevilla's N'Zonzi

Arsenal have joined the race to sign Steven N’Zonzi from Sevilla, the Daily Express claim.
N’Zonzi, 28, reportedly wants to leave the Spanish club this month, with Juventus, Chelsea and Manchester City all interested in his services.
Sevilla are just four points off La Liga leaders Barcelona but expect N’Zonzi to depart and are likely to listen to offers over £25million for the former Stoke and Blackburn man.

(Photo: Getty)

14:58

Swansea to test Villa over Ayew

Swansea will test Steve Bruce’s determination to keep Jordan Ayew at Aston Villa.
The Swans need help up front and have identified the brother of former Liberty Stadium favourite Andre as the man to help save them from the drop.
Ayew cost around £8million from Lorient last season and Bruce is cool on the Ghana forward.
He has six strikers and can afford to let one leave.
But Ayew is unavailable this month due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Derby bid for Forest's Lansbury

This would ruffle a few feathers in the East Midlands.
Derby have made a £2.5m bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury. So says our man Stan.
Seem a low number? Lansbury’s contract is up at the end of the season.
Wouldn’t be a popular decision at the City Ground, mind.

14:34

Inter put Lucas interest on hold

Inter Milan have put their pursuit of Lucas Leiva on hold, according to reports.
Calcio Mercato say Inter have instead made Atalanta midfielder Roberto Gagliardini their No 1 target.
Gazzetta dello Sport reportedly as recently as Thursday that Lucas’ loan move to Inter was virtually a done deal but the transfer now appears to be in the balance.

West Ham eyeing Basel's Xhaka

West Ham are considering a move for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka’s brother Taulant.
They have been sounded out about the Basel midfielder’s potential availability in January.
Valencia are also watching developments on the 25 year old who can also play in defence.
West Ham are backing Slaven Bilic in the transfer window and Xhaka would cost around £4m.

Liverpool lead Forsberg chase

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has turned his attention to RB Leipzig star Emil Forsberg, after growing resigned to missing out on Christian Pulisic.
Borussia Dortmund starlet Pulisic has been a long-time target for the Reds boss, however BVB have continually reiterated their stance that the 18-year-old American winger is not for sale.
Liverpool saw an £11million bid rejected during the summer, hoping to profit on uncertainty surrounding the player’s position at Dortmund, following his breakthrough in 2015-16, after the signings of Ousmane Dembele, Andre Schurrle and Emre Mor.
However Pulisic’s development has continued to accelerate under Thomas Tuchel this term, with the US international having made 18 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit.

Hart wants Liverpool move

Joe Hart wants a return to the Premier League – and Liverpool are on his radar.
The out-of-favour Manchester City keeper was farmed out to Torino on a season-long loan by Pep Guardiola at the end of the summer transfer window.
The Spanish coach told England first-choice Hart he didn’t believe he could adapt to the style he wanted at the Etihad, and, instead, signed 33-year-old Chile international Claudio Bravo in a £15.4million deal from Barcelona.
Despite criticism for recent mistakes in Serie A, Hart is enjoying his Italian job – but he is desperate to get back to England in the summer.
And he has told pals he would jump at the chance to make the switch to Anfield under Jurgen Klopp.

Toure weighing up City future

Yaya Toure’s agent is heading to England in a bid to resolve the midfielder’s future at Manchester City.
Outspoken Dimitri Seluk will base himself in London for the whole of January, as he looks for clubs to firm up initial interest in client Toure, following the
Ivory Coast international’s stunning return to form.
Toure is out of contract at the Etihad at the end of the season and that means Seluk is free to officially begin talking to foreign clubs from Sunday.
The former Monaco and Barcelona star has not given up hope of landing an extension with City – especially after being brought in from the cold by Pep Guardiola when the pair made peace in November.

Depay told to quit United

Memphis Depay has been told to quit Manchester United this month for the sake of his international career.
And the Dutchman should take notice, because the person urging him to leave Old Trafford is Holland coach Danny Blind.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman has been linked extensively with a move for the player this month.
But while Blind believes a move to Goodison Park could be good for Depay, he knows his star has fallen to such an extent that he could well struggle to get in the starting line-up there, too.
Blind said: “Memphis must make a transfer in January. He is not on the core of the squad. This is why he should move.
“To Ronald Koeman’s Everton? Koeman knows him best, that can make a big difference.
“It has come to a stage where it might even be hard for him to get into the Everton side.
“On the wings at Everton they have players who will be serious competition for him. If those wingers stay, then it won’t be a piece of cake for Memphis to become a regular at Everton.”

12:04

Hull want Eto'o

Samuel Eto’o is ready to return to the Premier League – with struggling Hull City.
The 35-year-old striker who has played for Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Everton, winning the European Cup three times and being voted man of the match in the 2006 final, is now at Turkish club Antalyaspor.
But they are willing to let the Cameroon international, a four-time African Player of the Year, go out on loan for the rest of the season.
Relegation candidates Hull — the top flight’s lowest scorers with 16 goals after 19 matches - have been alerted.

Dortmund target Arsenal youngster Zelalem

Arsenal youngster Gedion Zelalem is a target for Borussia Dortmund.
The German giants will try to land the gifted 19-year-old, who was born in Berlin to Ethiopian parents, this month.
Zelalem, who has represented both Germany and the United States at youth level, was tipped for great things when he was on the fringes of the Gunners’ first team aged 16 – but he is now frustrated at a lack of opportunities.
He spent last season on loan in the Scottish second tier with Rangers.

Middlesbrough keen on Everton's Deulofeu

Middlesbrough have asked Everton to keep them informed about Gerard Deulofeu’s situation at Goodison Park.
The 22-year-old forward has moved down the Toffees ’ pecking order since Ronald Koeman took charge, starting just four league matches so far this season, and Boro boss Aitor Karanka is a fan.
The Spaniard has also inquired about his countryman Bojan Krkic at Stoke — like Deulofeu, a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy — as he looks to move on a few players from his ranks.

Burton sign Sordell

We don’t want to alarm you out there but are you ready? We have our first done deal of 2017.
Marvin Sordell has signed for Burton Albion.
Brewers boss Nigel Clough is delighted to get his man.
“Marvin has Premier League experience but has lost his way a little bit over the last couple of seasons and this gives him the chance to prove he has still got it in the Championship.
“He has scored goals generally throughout his career and has got a few in League One this season. It’s an opportunity now for him to show us what he can do until the end of the season.”

Wolves pondering Chambers swoop

Wolves are considering a January bid for Ipswich captain Luke Chambers.
The versatile defender, 31, who can play full-back or in the centre, is out of contract at Portman Road this summer.
He quit previous club Nottingham Forest on a Bosman in 2012.
Championship Town now face a dilemma whether to cash in this month or risk losing him for nothing.
Boss Paul Lambert is in the market for reinforcements with Blackburn’s Ben Marshall another option.

Peterborough facing battle to keep Forrester

Peterborough face a battle to hang on to their latest promising star Chris Forrester.
The Irish midfielder turned 24 in December and has admirers at Championship Brentford, Derby and Reading.
Forrester has thrived as captain at League One Posh this term following his impressive progress after a 2015 move from Irish club St Patrick’s Athletic.
He first caught the eye of bigger clubs with a fine performance in a televised FA Cup clash with Premier League West Brom last season and has continued to improve.
He signed a new three-year contract last summer but could be tempted by a switch to the Championship.

Liverpool want Norwich's Murphy

Liverpool want to sign Jacob Murphy from Norwich and then loan him back in a bid to beat Tottenham to his signature.
The winger has impressed at Carrow Road this season and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has had him watched.
But Liverpool are ready to steal a march on their Premier League rivals by moving for him this month. And they will try to sweeten the deal for the Canaries by letting him stay put for the rest of the campaign.
Everton have also been linked with a double move for the 21-year-old, and his twin brother Josh.

Arsenal transfer gossip round-up

Alexis Sanchez is Juventus’ No 1 transfer target for the summer, according to reports.
Football Italia say the Italian champions will swoop for Chilean Sanchez if he doesn’t extend his contract at the Emirates.
Sanchez’s current deal expires in the summer of 2018 and he is said to be growing frustrated at Arsenal’s failure to win major trophies.
A move to the Chinese Super League is reportedly on the table but Sanchez would prefer to remain playing at the top level in Europe.

Everton ready to launch £50m Van Dijk bid

Ronald Koeman will launch a £50million bid for Virgil van Dijk after making a direct plea to wealthy Everton backer Farhad Moshiri.
The Goodison boss has told the Iranian billionaire that the Dutch defender – who Koeman signed for Southampton when he was in charge on the south coast – is his No.1 target and he wants the deal done now.
Moshiri is determined to be a big player in this transfer window and has assured Koeman the finances are in place for a major splash – and that will start with a move for the 25-year-old Saints centre-half.
Van Dijk has emerged as one the most in-demand players in the Premier League and it is believed the bidding could go as high as £50m, with Manchester City also interested.

Birmingham boss Zola to raid Chelsea

Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola has been promised up to £11million to spend in January and is ready to raid his old club Chelsea.
Gary Rowett’s successor at St Andrews is searching for his first win after defeats to Brighton and Derby.
Brum head to Barnsley today with Chelsea legend Zola having put out feelers to Stamford Bridge to take some of their best youngsters on loan.
It could now see the likes of Chelsea starlets such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Dominic Solanke potentially head to the Midlands on loan.

United transfer gossip round-up

Chris Smalling could be nudged towards the Old Trafford exit door this month, according to reports.
The Star on Sunday say Smalling is first in line to leave Manchester United if Jose Mourinho decides to resurrect the deal to sign Victor Lindelof from Benfica.
Everton are reportedly monitoring the England defender’s situation at United and could swoop if there are any signs that he is no longer wanted at United.
Smalling was one of United’s standout players last season but a toe injury cost him a place in the team in October and Mourinho has since favoured a defensive partnership comprising of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo.

Mourinho to offer Pepe a deal

Jose Mourinho will offer Real Madrid defender Pepe a short-term contract at United in the summer.
Pepe’s current deal at the Bernabeu will expire in six months and the Sunday Express say United will attempt to nab him on a free at the end of the season.
Mourinho worked with the Portugal international in the Spanish capital.