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Transfer news LIVE: Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal latest as City close on Alexis Sanchez

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All the latest transfer news, rumours and done deals from the January window

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Thursday's transfer talk

The January transfer window is already a record-breaker and Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are as busy as ever.

Philippe Coutinho's £142m move to Barcelona has grabbed the early headlines with Liverpool now tasked with finding a replacement before the month is out. Monaco's Thomas Lemar, Leicester's Riyad Mahrez are top of the list while an early move for summer arrival Naby Keita is still a possibility. Manchester United are attempting to bridge the 15 point gap at the top and are looking at PSG's Lucas Moura to do it. Jose Mourinho also wants a left-back with Tottenham's Danny Rose and Juventus' Alex Sandro targets. Pep Guardiola is top of the tree but is seemingly still not satisfied with Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez set to become a Manchester City player within days.

It promises to be another action-packed day and we will be across all of it for you throughout so keep it here and don't touch that dial.

Follow all the latest below...

Live Updates

SPURS NEWS
Tottenham have made contact with Hamburg regarding striker Jann-Fiete Arp, the Mirror claim.
 
Arp, who turned 18 last week, has scored 18 goals in 19 Germany Under-17 games, as well as twice in the Bundesliga.
 
In an interview with Sky Germany last week, Arp admitted he hasn't signed a new contract yet.
 
"Everything is imaginable. There is still some time until 2019. At the moment I have other worries."
 
Arp is a Spurs fan and regularly posts about them on Instagram.
 
LIVERPOOL NEWS
The BBC report that Liverpool won't move for Naby Keita in this window unless given encouragement by RB Leipzig.
 
The Reds formed a good relationship with the club during the summer during initial negotiations. Leipzig's stance on the matter appears to be firm, but if it does change at any point this month, Liverpool will be willing to bring him to Anfield sooner.
 
WATFORD NEWS
Watford are ready to sign Andre Carrillo on a permanent deal, Record say.
 
The Peruvian international has been a regular under Marco Silva and looks set to play at this summer's World Cup.
 
The Hornets have the option to trigger a €15m clause in Carrillo's loan contract from Benfica, but they're expected to try and negotiate for a lower deal with a sell-on fee.
 
CHELSEA NEWS
Arda Turan has posted an image on Twitter in wake of his proposed move to Istanbul Basaksehir that fans believe to be cryptic.
 
The text, which is on top of an image of Galatasaray's old Ali Sami Yen Stadium, translates to "Dreams from my infancy and my youth... Memories should never be forgotten and they will live forever".
 
Fans believe this is in reference to Galatasaray not making an attempt to re-sign the Turkish international. Turan played for them between 2005 and 2011 before moving to Atletico Madrid.
 
He is expected to complete his move to their city rivals Basaksehir from Barcelona by the end of the week.
ARSENAL NEWS
Valencia have further teased the imminent arrival of Francis Coquelin from Arsenal...
AC Milan's sporting director claims Gianluigi Donnarumma always wanted to stay at the San Siro side, but didn't rule out an exit for the teenager.
 
Massimiliano Mirabelli revealed that the teenage goalkeeper could be let go if he wants, but that rumours of an exit last summer were false.
 
""Gigio [Donnarumma] renewed with great joy and has always expressed his desire to remain at Milan. We would be very happy if he finished his career here," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
 
"The moment he doesn't want to stay - which is not the case now – we would favour an exit. No one stays reluctantly."
 
The 18-year-old Italy international has been linked with moves to Real Madrid, PSG and Juventus.
 
LIVERPOOL NEWS
RB Leipzig have reiterated that they have no intention of letting Liverpool bring Naby Keita to the Premier League early after reports of a January move in exchange for a ‘top-up’ of the transfer fee already agreed between the clubs.
 
Liverpool sold star man Coutinho for a fee that could reach £142m and are looking to fill the hole left by the Brazilian if possible. 
 
While history suggests that the Reds will likely wait, major German publications BILD and Kicker both carried stories on Wednesday suggesting that Liverpool had looked to secure Keita six months early in exchange for a top-up payment in the region of £17m. 
 
Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhüttl was keen to dismiss that when asked on Thursday about the Guinean’s premature departure. 
 
"There's no reason to allow Keita leave early,” he said, “and that's the way it is staying.”
 
While unloading £17m to boost their chances of a Champions League berth makes plenty of sense for Jurgen Klopp’s side, it doesn’t’ interest the Bundesliga outfit for the same reason – just in reverse. 
 
After being eliminated from their first-ever Champions League campaign, RB Leipzig are desperate to return to Europe’s top table but will need to win the Europa League or finish in Germany’s top four to do so. 
 
With four teams from third to seventh place all tied on 28 points, the league situation is too dicey for Leipzig to part with the beating heart of their midfield for the sake of £17m when Champions League qualification would rake in much more than that.
 
SPURS NEWS
Tottenham are confident Dele Alli will a sign a new deal that will double his wages, as they continue an ongoing plan to tie the core of the current squad down to new deals.
 
Although formal talks have yet to start with the 21-year-old, initial soundings have been positive, and the English international has made clear his happiness at the club and willingness to sign a contract that would take him up to £100,000 a week.
 
Details from Miguel Delaney here:
 
MANCHESTER UNITED NEWS
Jose Mourinho has asked Justin Kluivert to remain at Ajax this month so that he can move to Manchester United in the summer, Sport say.
 
The 18-year-old - son of Patrick Kluivert - has scored eight times in 40 games for the Dutch giants.
 
A winger is clearly a priority in the transfer market for the Red Devils, having also been linked with PSG's Lucas Moura, and Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic, as reported by The Independent.
 

Exclusive from Miguel Delaney:

Manchester United are willing to strongly challenge Liverpool if the Anfield club go in for Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic in the summer, as the American talent has emerged as a big target for the Old Trafford hierarchy.

While the 19-year-old attacker is obviously seen as an excellent football signing in his own right and fill a hole for Jose Mourinho’s side, an extra angle is the view that talent could well make him the USA’s first megastar in the sport, with all of the commercial value that will bring. United’s marketing side would see him as another Paul Pogba in that regard, as do many other suitors.

Liverpool are expected to make a move for Pulisic in the summer window, though, with Jurgen Klopp a huge admirer of his former club’s player.

READ MORE:

MANCHESTER UNITED NEWS
Manchester United have made contact with Alexis Sanchez, according to Sky in Italy and the Guardian.
 
Both reporting that the Red Devils are dueling with Manchester City for the signature of the Arsenal man.
 
It's further believed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been offered to the Gunners in exchange, but they may be put off by the Armenian's wage demands.
 
Will either Manchester club land the Chilean?
EVERTON NEWS
An update on Everton's interest in Theo Walcott.
 
The Toffees are ready to launch a £20m bid to bring the Arsenal winger to Goodison Park, the Telegraph say.
 
Southampton are also looking into a deal for former Saint Walcott, but it's believed Everton would be more likely to match his £110,000-a-week wages.
 
There appears to be a Premier League lottery for Hamburg right-back Dennis Diekmeier.
 
The Hamburger Morgenpost claim a top flight club in England's top flight have offered the German a four-year contract, but the club won't be named.
 
Diekmeier, 28, has six months left on his current deal at the Bundesliga side.
MANCHESTER UNITED NEWS
Fulham will not sell teenager Ryan Sessegnon this month despite interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, vice-chairman Tony Khan has insisted.

The 17-year-old was likely to be targeted by either of the Premier League clubs should either Luke Shaw or Danny Rose move in January in a move that was could eclipse the British transfer record for a teenager – currently held by Anthony Martial at £36m in 2015.

“As it’s been the subject of a great deal of speculation, I’d like to announce that Ryan Sessegnon is staying with Fulham football club and will not be departing during this January transfer window,” Khan told the Telegraph.

“Ryan is a very important part of the Fulham family, and we’re grateful that he’ll be with us as we fight to achieve promotion this season.”
 
READ MORE:
 
NEWCASTLE NEWS
Rafa Benitez has laid down the gauntlet with the Newcastle board over transfers.
 
The Newcastle Chronicle report that he wants all January signings in before the 20th.
 
The Magpies have been linked with Liverpool striker Danny Ings and Chelsea wingers Kenedy and Charly Musonda, but are yet to make a signing this window.
 
LIVERPOOL NEWS
Liverpool are keen for Roberto Firmino to extend his deal at the club.
 
The Brazilian's current deal expires in 2020 but after impressing since his arrival from Hoffenheim back in 2015 the Reds are keen to reward him, according to Sky Sports.
 
Firmino has scored 30 goals in 76 appearances on Merseyside and is set to be an even more crucial figure following the departure of friend Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.
 
 
LIVERPOOL NEWS
More from Bild as they claim Liverpool could complete a deal to bring Naby Keita's transfer forward to this window.
 
Any rearrangement would cost between €15m and €20m, bringing his final cost to over €90m. After Philippe Coutinho's big money move to Barcelona, there's logic in trying to hasten this deal rather than sign another player.
 
It's claimed that Keita, who's not been in the best of form this season, stopped learning German and has been taking English classes since the summer as he gears up for his move to Merseyside.
 
RB Leipzig are keen to hold onto Keita until the end of the season, but should they receive another feasible offer from Liverpool, they could be swayed.
 
WEST HAM NEWS
Reports in Germany say that West Ham are interested in bringing Andre Schurrle back to the Premier League.
 
Bild say the World Cup-winner isn't too keen on returning to England, but if he wants first team football then the Hammers might be his best shot.
 
Schurrle 14 goals in 65 games for Chelsea, before moving on to Wolfsburg and now Borussia Dortmund.
 

Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande have denied they are ready to make a huge bid for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang and maintain that they are focusing on young, homegrown talent.

Chinese media had reported that Guangzhou and Beijing Guoan were both looking to sign the Gabon international in a £62m deal this month.

But Evergrande say they have no plans to spend significant sums on players from overseas.

"Since 2017, we have set out clear principals to sign foreign players who compliment Chinese football and we refuse to pay a premium for any player," the club said.

"Neither will we join in bidding wars in the transfer market as we are now switching our focus to youth development.

"We will stick to the Evergrande model of building a fully linked youth system to realise our vision of fielding a fully Chinese squad by 2020 to ensure we can consistently contribute to a healthy, stable and sustainable environment for Chinese football."

 
Bayern Munich want Jupp Heynckes to extend his stay on as manager.
 
The 73-year-old was coaxed out of retirement when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked earlier this season and after an impressive run the Bundesliga league leaders want him to stay.
 
But the man himself is not so sure.
 
"I've already said everything about that," Heynckes said to more questions on his future at the team's winter training camp in Qatar.
 
"I don't want to say anything more." 
 
 

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