Transfer news live: Manchester United Napoli star, Cristiano Ronaldo fee set and Liverpool's Thomas Lemar latest
All the very latest news, rumours and done deals ahead of the January window
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With only two days left of December – and of 2017 – all eyes look to January as the transfer window is starting to spice up as one of the best in recent memory.
Liverpool FC have already splurged a world-record fee for a defender on Virgil van Dijk from Southampton fc and could continue the spending with Thomas Lemar – although Chelsea and Arsenal are also in the hunt.
After a bumper summer January could be a record-breaker and we will have all the latest news, views, rumours, gossip and done deals for you right here so don't touch that dial.
Without further ado, off we go.
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Everton manager Sam Allardyce has admitted the club are interested in signing the Turkish striker Cenk Tosun, who is primed to leave Beşiktaş in the New Year. The Toffees are eager to sign a new forward to replace Romelu Lukaku, who was sold to Manchester United in the summer. And new Everton manager Allardyce admitted on Friday morning that the club have a number of targets in mind when the transfer window reopens on January 1.
“We are interested in him and many others,” Allardyce said.“We need a front man if we can find one. We will be actively looking for a front man in this window.
“I need more goals in the side than what we have at the moment.
“If we are to just maintain our position because we have started to struggle to create chances and score goals in recent matches.
“It is still one of the major problems that we have.”
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West Ham will allow David Moyes money to spend in the January window with Newcastle United’s midfielder Jonjo Shelvey high on his wishlist.
The Mirror claim Moyes will look to tempt the 25-year-old and take advantage of Newcastle’s ownership troubles with the club looking to be sold as soon as possible.
The Southampton to Liverpool route is a well-worn one with Virgil van Dijk following the likes of Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Sadio Mane and Ricky Lambert in what is a world-record fee for a defender.
However, the Saints may finally be getting something back.
The Mirror report that Daniel Sturridge will move to the south coast this winter – although not for anything less than £25m.
Manchester City are set to offer Nicolas Otamendi a new deal at the club, according to ESPN.
The Argentine has moved from strength to strength under Pep Guardiola this season, with the City backline conceding the fewest goals of any team this season.
Otamendi signed a five-year deal when he joined from Valencia in 2015 and is set for talks over an extension.
Guardiola recently praised the defender, saying City would not be in the position they are without him.
"We have a superman in the team, as Nico Otamendi helped us absolutely. Without Nico, it would not be possible, what we have done," Guardiola told a news conference ahead of the New Year's Eve trip to Crystal Palace.
"Everyone speaks about a bit of players such as Raheem [Sterling], like David [Silva], like Kevin [De Bruyne], like Sergio [Aguero], and they deserve it, but if I would like to point to a player who deserves full respect, for what they have done until now, it's Nico.
"Nico has been amazing. He is a guy who even with pain in the ankle, in the knee, in the back, he always fights. He's one the hugest competitors I've ever seen in my life.
Alexis Sanchez is on his way to Real Madrid next month, if reports in Spain today are to be believed.
The forward's form has wavered this season but reappeared in style against Crystal Palace this week, scoring two goals just in time for the January transfer window to open. He would prefer a move to La Liga over a chance to reunite with his former coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, and Arsenal may be persuaded to cash in now rather than wait until the summer.
Swansea midfielder Leon Britton has turned down a role in new manager Carlos Carvalhal's backroom staff to focus on his playing career for the remainder of the season.
Britton, who was part of the coaching setup under former boss Paul Clement, was in caretaker charge of the Swans for two matches prior to the appointment of Carvalhal earlier this week.
The new boss on Saturday named his backroom staff, with fellow Portuguese Joao Mario and Bruno Lage joining as coaches and Jhony Conceicao and Paulo Sampaio accepting roles as analysts.
"In fairness to the manager and chairman, they offered me the opportunity to stay as part of the new coaching set-up," Britton, 35, said. "They left the decision entirely down to me, and I had to decide whether I wanted to be a coach or a player.
"I thought long and hard about it and while I enjoyed the coaching experience and learnt a lot in a short space of time, I still feel I can have a positive impact on the pitch as a player.
"I am not ready to retire as a player yet, so I will review things again at the end of the season." PA
Chelsea are reportedly lining up an offer for Eden Hazard “in excess of €340,000” per week to prevent the winger from leaving the Blues for Real Madrid.
Hazard has had initial talks with Chelsea about a new contract, although no formal offer is expected for some time, and there is a “relaxation” on all sides despite his father’s comments about rejecting an extension early on Friday.
Thierry Hazard had told Belgian paper Le Soir that the 26-year-old had turned down an offer because he wants to eventually go to Real Madrid.
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