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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has launched an audacious late £11m bid for FC Basel forward Mohamed Salah despite a move to Liverpool appearing to be a formality.
The Portuguese manager has previous after out-manoeuvring former Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre-Villas Boas to securing the £30m acquisition of Willian last summer.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have held a keen interest in the Egypt international for a matter of months and talks had reached an advanced stage last night.
With Juan Mata on the verge of joining Manchester United for £37m, however, the Blues are prepared to part with the cash required to sign Salah as an immediate replacement.
According to the Daily Mail, Basle are sensing a bidding war and have now asked for £16m for the 21-year-old.
Liverpool are reluctant to go beyond £12m and talks were ongoing last night for a player who has scored 17 goals in 27 games for Egypt.
Salah impressed against Mourinho's men in the Champions League earlier this season, scoring in both of group stage games, including the winner in Switzerland.
Show all 8 1 /8What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Tom Ince to Monaco, £10m Monaco are leading the race to sign Blackpool winger Tom Ince according to reports. The England U21 international was reportedly driven by his father, Blackpool boss Paul Ince, to a meeting with representatives of the French club in London. The Blackpool boss cancelled a press conference ahead of his side's match with Barnsley earlier in the month after refusing to answer questions about his son's future. Instead he reportedly went to meet Monaco representatives, who can speak to the player whose contract expires in six months.
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What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Edinson Cavani to Manchester United, £40m Should United take the plunge and sell Wayne Rooney (either to Chelsea or otherwise) they'll need a replacement to fill his impervious shoes. The England striker will be out of contract next summer and is believed to want to make a decision on his future once the season has developed. Edinson Cavani is the international strike partner of fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez and is reportedly disillusioned by football in Ligue 1. Reports surfaced this month that Sir Alex Ferguson had rung his former player Laurent Blanc, the current PSG manager, to sound out a possible move.
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What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Yohan Cabaye to PSG, £21m Newcastle United are preparing themselves for a considerable offer for Yohan Cabaye from the French giants after it emerged that they are willing to part with £21m for the midfielder. PSG have held a firm interest in the 28-year-old Frenchman for over a year and were expected to rival Arsenal for his signature in the summer. The Gunners' £10m bid was rejected and the Parisian club opted to bide their time despite Cabaye missing three games in an attempt to force a move away from St. James' Park.
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What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Dimitar Berbatov (back) to Tottenham, £1.5m His agent has already claimed that the Bulgarian would like to leave Fulham this month despite his contract expiring at the end of the season. With £2m believed to be enough to secure skillful striker, it would be a low cost, low risk option, but questions remain over his work rate and energy levels. Whether Berbatov would quench the thirst of fans who feel another striker is integral to their top four hopes remains uncertain, but he does come with a natural talent that few in the Premier League can match – if only he produced it regularly.
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What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Miralem Pjanic to Manchester United, £27m Roma star Miralem Pjanic has left the door open on a possible move to reigning Premier League champions Manchester United after admitting that he is 'flattered' by their interest. The 23-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international is also attracting attention from French giants Paris Saint Germain. Despite a move seeming unlikely during January, Pjanic appears open to a potential switch. It's a shame he isn't moving to a club in the capital, just because we could bring out our best 'Pjanic on the streets of London' gags.
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What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Andriy Yarmolenko to Liverpool, £10m Should they miss out on Salah, Liverpool may switch their attention to Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko. The Reds have held a tentative interest in the 24-year-old after he figured prominently for the Ukraine against England in last year's World Cup qualifiers. Yarmolenko has scored eight league goals in sixteen appearances for Kiev this season, and has fourteen goals for Ukraine. Kop manager Brendan Rodgers is rumoured to prefer Salah, but the Swiss club continue to stall on any potential deal.
What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Ravel Morrison to Fulham, £8m West Ham want a minimum of £10m for their sought-after midfielder Ravel Morrison, according to reports. Sam Allardyce's side have already rejected a £5m bid from Fulham and reported the club to the FA for alleged tapping up of the player. Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen has now reportedly been banned from talking about any transfers as the club try to avoid any more trouble. However West Ham No. 2 Neil McDonald said: “I would imagine everybody has a price. Asked if the Hammers want to keep the England under-21 star, he added: “Why not? He’s a talented player and we need talented players."
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What are the biggest January transfers yet to happen? Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester United, £25m United’s search for midfield reinforcements has led them to Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan, although they could face a fight with Real Madrid to sign the Germany international. With Anderson at Fiorentina on loan, it is believed David Moyes has stepped up his interest in 23-year-old Gundogan whose contract expires in 18 months and is valued at £25m. Part of the attraction is that the midfielder is not cup-tied for the Champions League as he has been out for most of the season with a back injury, although German newspaper Bild reports that Real are also admirers. “I will soon make a decision that will be well considered. It’s still really open,” Gundogan said yesterday.
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