Liverpool turn to Riyad Mahrez as Arsenal eye Thomas Lemar: Friday transfer news and rumours round-up

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

Liverpool want Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez to be their Philippe Coutinho replacement and have already entered into negotiations with the player, if this morning’s transfer rumours are to be believed.

The Reds finally agreed to sell Coutinho to Barcelona last week, for £142m.

Jurgen Klopp wants to sign a replacement sooner rather than later and The Express claim that his side have already entered into talks with Mahrez, who wants to leave Leicester.

The Algerian, who was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year at the end of Leicester’s title-winning 2015/16 season, handed in a transfer request last summer and is increasingly eager to leave the King Power Stadium.

Liverpool are thought to be keen on his signature because their other transfer target, Thomas Lemar, is wanted by Arsenal – which would no doubt drive the price up even further.

Monaco seem to want a bidding war to break out; Leonardo Jardim this week indicated that the player is up for sale because a club like Monaco “cannot say no”.

Salah to stay

The Egyptian is going nowhere (Getty)

Mohamed Salah has reiterated his desire to stay at Liverpool.

Reports from around Europe have linked him with a move to Real Madrid, but the Egyptian, who's scored 23 goals for the Reds since his summer arrival, says he's happy at Anfield.

"I have heard so many rumours it does not bother me. I have been treated very well at Liverpool and right now, I belong to Liverpool."

But Keita to move?

Naby Keita could yet be allowed to move to Liverpool this month (Getty)

RB Leipzig could be about to change their stance on the future of Naby Keita.

Bild claim that the midfielder could complete his move to Liverpool this month, as the club are now 'fed up' of dealing with the player and his antics.

Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhüttl said yesterday that the Guinean will remain with the club until the end of the season, but it's believed that the club have changed their mind behind the scenes.

An extra €15m-€20m should be enough for the Reds to get their man earlier than planned, bringing the overall deal to over €90m.

Dybala talk wide of the mark

The striker is not United bound (AFP)

An alleged tweet from Adidas confirming Manchester United to have signed Paulo Dybala from Juventus being shared on social media is a fake, rather than having been deleted.

Nike recently accidentally confirmed Philippe Coutinho’s move to Barcelona earlier this month before the move became official, with the US sportswear company being the primary sponsor of both the club and the player.

And Twitter users believed the same slip-up had been made by Adidas, who sponsor Manchester United and Dybala – although it appears the tweet (or tweets) being shared has actually been doctored.

One tweet being shared allegedly says: “New predator, New club, New challange, Welcome Dybala to the theatre of Dreams #PREDATOR”, while another one reads: “New Predator, New club, New challenge, Welcome Dybala To the Theatre of Dreams”.

Everton want Walcott

Theo Walcott has struggled to nail down a first-team place this season (Getty)

Everton are in talks with Arsenal to sign forward Theo Walcott.

The 28-year-old's Arsenal contract does not run out until 2019 but he has made just 15 appearances this season and has yet to make a Premier League start.

"I think you are all aware of our interest in Theo," said Everton boss Sam Allardyce.

"If that is possible to get over the line I'd be delighted.”

News and rumours from around the web

Manchester United are looking to bolster their strikeforce in the January transfer window and are reported to have made inquiries about signing Jamie Vardy from Leicester City and Javier Hernandez from West Ham, according to the Telegraph. Vardy missed out on the golden boot in the 2015-16 season by one goal and already has nine in this campaign, while Hernandez played at Old Trafford between 2010 and 2015.

Liverpool are looking to offload Daniel Sturridge - but want £30million for the striker, the Liverpool Echo reports. Sturridge, 28, is looking to leave Anfield during the transfer window for first-team football as he bids to be part of England's World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp wants to bring in Leicester and Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez as a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, the Daily Express reports.