Transfer news as it happened: Swansea appoint new manager while Liverpool sign Virgil van Dijk

Follow the latest ahead of the January transfer window

Winter transfer window: Ten players looking for a move in January

Liverpool broke the world record fee for a defender on Wednesday after announcing that they have agreed to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton on 1 January for an incredible £75m in a move that could kick the January transfer window into life.

Manchester United are currently weighing up the prospect of losing Marouane Fellaini for free, after the midfielder admitted that he rejected the club’s initial contract offer, and Paris Saint-Germain and believed to be interested in the Belgium international. United are keeping one eye on incoming signings though, with The Independent revealing this week that they want to sign Juventus striker Paulo Dybala. However, the Italian champions will rebuff the Premier League side, with United’s £60m interest falling well short of their £140m valuation.

The Independent can also reveal that Liverpool’s out-of-favour striker Danny Ings is a transfer target for West Bromwich Albion, with Baggies manager Alan Pardew identifying the fit-again striker as the key to his plan to keep the club in the top flight.Chelsea are looking at a bidding war with Bayern Munich in the hunt for Atletico Madrid’s Yannick Carrasco, with something of a squad revamp on the cards at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Finally, it’s being reported that Arsenal have made their first move in trying to sign Jack Wilshere down to a new contract, but have told the midfielder that he must be prepared to accept a lower wage deal to remain at the Emirates.

Follow the live transfer news below...

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Key Points

• Virgil van Dijk heading to Liverpool in £75m deal
• Manchester United set to be rebuffed in Paulo Dybala move and could lose Marouane Fellaini
• Chelsea bidding against Bayern Munich for Yannick Carrasco
• Arsenal make first move to try and keep Jack Wilshere

[28 December 2017 07:46 · Jack de Menezes]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's transfer live blog, where we'll bring you all the latest rumours, done deals and gossip as it unfolds throughout the day.

[28 December 2017 07:59 · Jack de Menezes]

What the papers say

The race to sign Marouane Fellaini from Manchester United is hotting up - with Paris Saint-Germain looking to take the 30-year-old, according to the Daily Mirror. The Belgian is out of contract at Old Trafford in the summer and is yet to agree a new deal, with Besiktas and Galatasaray also said to be keen on landing the midfielder.

Manchester United will be rebuffed in their attempts to sign Juventus' attacking midfielder Paulo Dybala, The Independent reports. The club had been linked with a £60m move for the Argentina international, but the paper reports the Italian giants want more than £140m.

After leaving Sheffield Wednesday on Christmas Eve, Carlos Carvalhal is being linked with the vacant hot-seat at Swansea, according to the Sun. The club are currently bottom of the Premier League, five points adrift of safety, and are looking to replace Paul Clement who was dismissed on December 20.

Chelsea will square off against Bayern Munich in a race to sign Yannick Carrasco from Atletico Madrid, the Sun reports. The LaLiga side are looking at overhauling their squad and the 24-year-old is said to be heading for the exit door.

West Ham will make a bid of £25m for Alfie Mawson in January, the Daily Mail says. The 23-year-old has shone in an otherwise bleak campaign for Swansea and the Hammers have already had an £18m bid rejected.

Social media round-up

MirrorFootball: Watford are ready to offer bumper £70,000-a-week deal to midfielder (Abdoulaye) Doucoure

DailyStar-Sport: Jack Wilshere may have to lower wage demands for new Arsenal deal #AFC

Players to watch

Barcelona could well have a clear run at Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann as Manchester United will not rival their interest, reports Marca.

Aldo Kalulu, a 21-year-old Lyon attacking midfielder is subject to interest from Norwich, France Football reports.

[28 December 2017 09:15 · Jack de Menezes]

Manchester United have ended any interest in Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, with reports in Spain claiming that Barcelona have been cleared to move for the France international in the summer.

Spanish newspaper Marca report that Griezmann will be subject of a Barca offer ahead of the summer, with a move set to be sealed before he heads off to the World Cup.

Antoine Griezmann is poised to join Barcelona 

[28 December 2017 09:30 · Jack de Menezes]

Everton may finally get the striker that they missed out on in the summer after being heavily linked with Besiktas' Cenk Tosun.

The Liverpool Echo reports today that the Toffees are willing to spend up to £20m in January in order to attract the Turkish international to Goodison Park and provide competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Besiktas are believed to be open to a sale despite their ongoing league title campaign.

Everton are willing to spend up to £20m on Besiktas's Cenk Tosun 

[28 December 2017 09:45 · Jack de Menezes]

Arsene Wenger has spoken once again on Jack Wilshere's future, with talks between the player and Arsenal beginning over a new contract.

Wilshere is out of contract in the summer and, despite spending his entire career at Arsenal, the club have proven remarkable lax on extending his current terms.

It's believed that the club will ask Wilshere to take a pay cut from his £110,000-a-week wages in order to remain at the Emirates, and that's something that Arsene Wenger echoed on Wednesday when he faced the media.

I believe if he can meet a point of agreement financially, he will want to stay

[28 December 2017 10:00 · Jack de Menezes]

In our unsurprising news of the day, Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has had enough of being overlooked by Rafa Benitez and finally wants to leave the club.

Mitrovic has had to play second fiddle to not only Dwight Gayle but also Joselu, and The Mirror reports that the Serbian will look to force a move away from St James' Park in January.

Aleksandar Mitrovic will attempt to leave Newcastle in January 

[28 December 2017 10:43 · digitalsport]

Atletico Madrid are reportedly happy to sell Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco in the January window as manager Diego Simeone aims to increase the pressure on La Liga table-toppers Barcelona. Carrasco has been a disruptive presence in the dressing room after bust-ups with teammates Koke and Gabi this season.

It is thought that both Manchester United and Chelsea would be keen to secure the services of the former AS Monaco star, with Bayern Munich also supposedly keen on the wideman who is priced at €50 million by Atletico.

[28 December 2017 11:05 · digitalsport]

Watford are reportedly close to agreeing a new five-year contract with midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Frenchman is the club's top scorer this season with six goals in the league for the Hornets.

Doucoure, should he sign, will see his weekly salary rise to £70,000, making him one of the top earners at the club.

[28 December 2017 11:30 · digitalsport]

Swansea defender Alfie Mawson is nearing a move to West Ham, according to ESPN, with newly appointed West Ham manager David Moyes eager to bring in a centre-back to boost his defensive options as he looks to turn around the Hammers' poor start to the season.

West Ham are said to be willing to pay up to £20 million to tempt the Welsh club to part ways with their 23-year-old defender, who moved to the Swans for only £5 million in 2016 from Barnsley.

[28 December 2017 11:55 · digitalsport]

Arsenal have failed in a £35 million bid for Juventus' 30-year-old defender Medhi Benatia, according to Calciomercato. The Moroccan international has become a key member of the Juve back-line in recent weeks after a slow start due to injury.

With first choice centre-back Shkodran Mustfafi consistently injured, Arsene Wenger is keen to add defensive quality to his side having conceded 23 goals in 19 games this season, the joint most out of any team from the top-seven.