Underway, we take a look at five Serie A players who are reportedly attracting interest from Premier League clubs. With plenty of Premier League sides looking to get some business done in January, we have handpicked five names from Italy who could be on their way to England this month. This article is for January transfer window rumors.
1. Kostas Manolas (transfer window)
Could Manchester United bring in a central defender in the January window? Manolas is a target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, but United would have to pay the €36m (£32.3m) release clause in his contract. The 27-year-old Greece international has been a regular in Roma’s backline since moving to Italy from Olympiakos in 2014.
2. Nicolo Barella (transfer window)
The Cagliari midfielder is on Chelsea’s shortlist as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas, according to Sky sources. The 21-year-old Italy international would reportedly cost £45m to acquire. The Italy international has played 20 times for the Serie A side who sit 13th in the table. Barella can play either in central midfield or as a number 10.
GOODNEWS
3. Marko Pjaca is linked to Fulham
The 23-year-old Juventus winger is attracting interest from Fulham according to Sky in Italy as Claudio Ranieri looks to bolster his squad with Fulham sitting 19th in the Premier League table. Pjaca is currently on loan at Fiorentina where he has made 14 appearances and scored once. AC Milan are also reportedly interested in acquiring his services. The manager has side he will do what he can to hold onto the forward, but that he could be “difficult to convince” 02.
Gonzalo Higuain wants move It is up to Gonzalo Higuain to choose his Milan future amid reported interest from Chelsea, according to manager Gennaro Gattuso. The Argentina international joined Milan on loan from Juventus over the summer and has scored eight goals in all competitions this season.
Though Milan have the option to buy at the end of the season, Higuain has reportedly been the subject of interest from Chelsea, who are managed by his old boss at Napoli, Maurizio Sarri. Any deal between Chelsea and Higuain would be made more complicated by fact he is on loan, but that does not make it an impossibility.
Gattuso has previously voiced his desire for the 31-year-old Higuain to remain with the club, but admitted it may well fall on the striker to make the final call on his decision. Speaking after Milan’s 2-0 Coppa Italia victory over Sampdoria in which Higuain went 111 minutes but didn’t score, Gattuso praised the striker yet conceded his uncertainty over what the future holds. “[Higuain] was active today,” Gattuso told Milan TV.
“He didn’t score but he did everything right .“We have a very honest relationship, we say things to people’s faces. There is great honesty. “When a player makes certain choices, it becomes difficult to convince him otherwise. One can try.At this moment, he is a Milan player and we’re holding on tight. “I don’t know what will happen. We are honest with each other and I want him to maintain this attitude, which has never been lacking thus far.” The Milan boss also claimed that he would do what he could to try and hold onto the striker during his post-match press conference.
“I haven’t figured out what Higuain is unhappy with, because I see him look content and involved in the locker room atmosphere. ‘We’ll see what happens. If it was up to me, I’d keep him at my house and feed him my dinner.” Milan’s victory was their second straight after a five-game winless run across all competitions. Patrick Cutrone scored both goals in extra time as they got past the hosts, leaving Gattuso pleased at the result. “The players did very well today,” Gattuso said. “We knew Sampdoria were a great team so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. All these in transfer window news.
03. Balerdi on verge of Dortmund switch Balerdi on verge of Dortmund switch, admits Boca president President Daniel Angelici confirmed the 19-year-old will have a medical at the German side after the clubs struck an agreement Boca Juniors president Daniel Angelici has confirmed the club has agreed the sale of Leonardo Balerdi to Borussia Dortmund.The 19-year-old has only made five league appearances for the beaten Copa Libertadores finalists, but is regarded as a top prospect. Reports in Argentina have indicated Dortmund agreed to pay €15 million (£13m/$17m) for the defender, with a further €2m potentially due to Boca in add-ons.
And Angelici suggested the deal could go through in a matter of days, with Balerdi departing after fellow defender Lisandro Magallan joined Ajax earlier this month. “Balerdi will travel to Germany this weekend and the medical check will be carried out on Monday,” he told Radio Continental.
FACTS
04. Fabinho accuses PSG of dirty transfer tactics and has no regrets at snubbing them for Liverpool The versatile Brazilian joined the Reds in the summer of 2018 and feels talk of a return to France since then was merely intended to be a distraction. Fabinho has no regrets at having linked up with Liverpool in 2018 and has accused Paris Saint-Germain of dirty tactics in sparking transfer speculation since then.
The versatile Brazilian was snapped up from Monaco by Jurgen Klopp last summer amid plenty of rival interest. It has not been the easiest of adjustment periods for the 25-year-old, but he has shown signs of encouragement since being eased into the Reds fold.He is happy to be at Anfield and aiding a Premier League title bid, with there no desire on his part to consider being anywhere else.
A return to France was mooted earlier in the season, with PSG said to be keen, but Fabinho claims such speculation was merely a distraction technique ahead of an eagerly-anticipated Champions League encounter. He told L’Equipe: “I never thought of going elsewhere. “I know a lot of things were written in the newspapers, but it wasn’t true. What’s funny is that this PSG loan story came out just before our Champions League match [in November]. All these in transfer window news.
“And I had already experienced a similar story the day before the final of the Coupe de la Ligue between PSG and Monaco [in March 2018]. It’s a strange coincidence, isn’t it?” Fabinho admits that he had already passed up the chance to link up with PSG prior to accepting an offer from Liverpool. Having had to wait until October for a Premier League bow, Fabinho has been a regular in Klopp’s plans since.
His ability to operate in a number of different positions is proving to be a useful asset, with the South American currently being required to fill in at center-half during a defensive injury crisis. All these in transfer window news.
05. Monaco sign Vainqueur on loan despite injury
A calf problem looked to have ended the midfielder’s hopes of signing for Thierry Henry’s side, but the club have now gone ahead with the deal
Monaco have further boosted Thierry Henry’s midfield options with the signing of William Vainqueur on loan until the end of the season. The 2016-17 French champions, mired in Ligue 1’s relegation zone, had initially elected not to sign the former Nantes and Roma midfielder from Antalyaspor because of a calf injury. All these in transfer window news.
However, they had a change of heart after being convinced by the 30-year-old, who follows fellow midfielder Cesc Fabregas in moving to the Stade Louis II. Explaining their decision, Monaco vice-president and general manager Vadim Vasilyev told the club’s official website: “William showed a determination and a willingness to get involved that led us to reconsider the situation. In this difficult sporting period, we need good players but also real men to bounce back. The values he has displayed have definitely convinced us to take him among us to help the group fulfil the goal.” Vainqueur added: “My first feeling was disappointment when I knew I was not ready to play for AS Monaco immediately.
But I really wanted to wear Monegasque colors so I spontaneously proposed to the club to make every effort to evolve in Monaco. “It is a great joy to know that I am going to be part of this project with a high quality workforce, I will do my best to help the club achieve its goals for this second half of the season. And Henry isn’t done in there in terms of wanting more additions in the January window.
As revealed by Goal, the Ligue strugglers are in advanced talks to sign Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea after his loan spell with Valencia was cut short. Second-bottom Monaco are five points adrift of guaranteed safety and three points behind Dijon, who occupy the relegation playoff place. They face Marseille, a club Vainqueur played for on loan in 2016-17,
06. Juventus join race for Luca Modric
07. Everton ready to sell pair of players in January Everton are ready to sell Oumar Niasse and Morgan Schneiderlin in January at cut-rate prices, according to the Daily Mail. Schneiderlin has Roma interested, while Crystal Palace, Fulham and Cardiff interested in both Niasse and Cenk Tosun, who the Toffees are also looking to offload.
08. Manchester United add Southgate to shortlist Fears Mauricio Pochettino will not join the club have grown stronger. Manchester United have added England manager Gareth Southgate to their shortlist over fears Mauricio Pochettino will remain at Tottenham, reports the Telegraph. Pochettino remains the top choice of Ed Woodward, but it is not clear he would be willing to leave his post to join United. Southgate is contracted with England through the 2022 World Cup, and is no guarantee to take the job either, as he may believe another top job will open up for him in the future.
08. Newport County after Man Utd defender.
Manchester United defender Regan Poole is wanted by Newport County. The 20-year-old centre-back joined the Red Devils for an initial £100,000 fee in 2015 and is wanted back at the Welsh League Two side on loan.
09. West Ham may move on Wilson if Arnautovic leaves
West Ham may make an attempt on Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson if Marko Arnautovic departs this window, reports the Daily Mail. Arnautovic appeared to wave goodbye to the fans after his substitution against Arsenal, with Manuel Pellegrini admitting a decision about the striker’s future must be made. And should it lay away from the club, West Ham see Wilson, who is also reportedly a Chelsea target, as a possible replacement.
10. William knocks off Chelsea exit reports
Chelsea’s William brushed off reports that he might be leaving the club after securing a vital three points against Newcastle United on Saturday. The Brazilian curled home what proved to be the Blues’ winner at Stamford Bridge after 57 minutes, making it 2-1 against a stubborn Magpies side. There has been talk of renewed Barcelona interest but William gave the topic short shrift after his match-winning turn at the weekend.
