Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool set to sign Luis Diaz as Tottenham turn to Dejan Kulusevski
Follow all the latest transfer news from the Premier League and across Europe
The January transfer window is approaching its climax and several clubs are making significant moves to bolster their squads for the second half of the season.
After Tottenham had a bid rejected for Porto’s Luis Diaz, Liverpool have definitively joined the race to sign the Colombian winger and Jurgen Klopp’s side are expected to seal a deal worth around £50m including bonuses for the 25-year-old. The news comes as another major blow to Spurs, who are also set to miss out on long-term target Adama Traore, with the Wolves winger flying to Barcelona on Friday to complete a medical ahead of a loan move to his boyhood club. Towards the bottom of the Premier League, Newcastle are hoping to finalise the headline signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon, while Burnley close in on Mislav Orsic and Wout Weghorst.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Dusan Vlahovic has arrived in Turin to complete his medical ahead of the striker’s move to Juventus. Arsenal’s failed pursuit of the Serbian has left the club frantically searching for a new striker before the deadline, with both Alexander Isak and Jonathan David set to remain at their clubs until the summer.
Follow all the latest transfer news and updates below:
Liverpool jet off to South America to seal Diaz deal
Liverpool are flying a team to South America as they try to push through a late move for Porto forward Luis Diaz.
The Reds stole a march on Tottenham and Manchester United to agree a deal which will see them pay an initial £37.5million with a maximum of £12.5m in add-ons if the 25-year-old is hugely successful at the club.
Diaz was manager Jurgen Klopp’s first choice for a summer transfer but growing interest, specifically from United, forced them to move early.
As a result the PA news agency understands they will have people on the ground in Argentina when Diaz, who is set to play against Peru at home on Friday evening, arrives for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in order to expedite proceedings.
However, there still remain significant hurdles to overcome, with a medical still a logistical issue as they have to be granted access to the player in between the two internationals and in enough time to be able to complete a deal before Monday’s deadline.
Rooney confident Lawrence won’t leave Derby
Wayne Rooney has been reassured star midfielder Tom Lawrence will not be sold to ease Derby’s cash crisis.
The 28-year-old is reported to have been the subject of a bid from the Rams’ Sky Bet Championship rivals Bournemouth, but Rooney was adamant on Friday that he would not be leaving, despite the club being in administration.
Rooney said: “I’m not really sure if there is a bid, but I’ve just come off the phone with the administrators and they have reassured me that Tom Lawrence won’t be going. That’s pleasing because he’s a player I want to keep.
“The administrators have said to me that any players leaving will come through me and they have reassured me now that Tom Lawrence won’t be leaving.
“Tom is the captain of this football club and is having a fantastic season. There’s no issue with me and Tom whatsoever.”
Ramsay set to stay at Aberdeen
Stephen Glass believes Bologna target Calvin Ramsay will still be an Aberdeen player at the end of the transfer window.
Bologna appear keen to sign 18-year-old Ramsay before the transfer window closes on Monday, with reports suggesting the Serie A club have offered £4.8million for the Scotland Under-21 international.
“We’re still at the stage where I have not been told anything is imminent,” Glass said ahead of Aberdeen’s cinch Premiership home game with St Johnstone. “Whether there are or aren’t any bids in, it’s not close enough that it’s going to affect our team on Saturday.
“I think it (transfer speculation) has definitely affected him a touch. Anyone can see that. But we’ll get to Monday night and I think he’ll still be with us, and he’ll be ready to tackle the second part of the season.
“I’m not surprised it’s affected him a little bit. He’s only 18 and it’s the first time he’s been through this. But he’ll be ready to perform for us on Saturday, hopefully again Tuesday night, and hopefully for the rest of the season. He’ll be fine.”
Tottenham turn to Kulusevski
Tottenham have turned their attention to Juventus forward Dejan Kulusevski in order to try and salvage their January transfer window.
The PA news agency understands Spurs are trying to sign the 21-year-old Sweden international before Monday night’s deadline, possibly on loan with an obligation to buy, after missing out on Porto’s Luis Diaz and Wolves’ Adama Traore in the last 24 hours.
Kulusevski is known to Tottenham’s managing director of football Fabio Paratici, who left Juve in the summer, but has not been a regular for the Serie A side this season, starting only 10 of 20 games in the league.
Yet his versatility in forward areas, where he can play as a winger, striker or an attacking midfielder, will appeal to Paratici and boss Antonio Conte, who has identified a number of positions to strengthen this month.
West Brom sign free agent Carroll
West Brom have confirmed the signing of Andy Carroll on a free transfer until the end of the season.
The 33-year-old striker, a free agent after his deal at Reading ended earlier this month, is eligible to play against Millwall on Saturday.
Albion have moved for the former Liverpool and Newcastle player after Daryl Dike suffered a hamstring injury on his full debut against Peterborough which will rule him out for eight weeks.
Dike only moved to the Hawthorns from Orlando City for £7million at the start of the month.
Baggies head coach Valerien Ismael told the club’s official website: “Andy is a player who is able to help us straight away. He is ready and brings with him all the attributes we need. It could be a win-win situation for us.
“The fact Andy has played plenty of games for Reading recently is great. He’s fit after playing those games and he’s scored goals during that short-term deal. Hopefully Andy can now score goals for us.
“After the Dike injury we assessed the situation, because it is a big loss, and it was clear that he had made an impact in that short time.
“We needed to replace him, and we are pleased to welcome Andy who has a lot of experience.”
Transfer news: What’s happening with Diaz?
So far today, the biggest news is that Tottenham are being beaten to a deal with Porto star Luis Diaz.
The Reds are looking to push through a transfer that would see them pay an initial £37.5million with a maximum of £12.5m in add-ons for the 25-year-old.
It is understood the Colombia international was manager Jurgen Klopp’s first choice for a summer transfer but growing interest forced them to move early.
However, there remains a significant number of hurdles to overcome, the main one being he is currently in Argentina with his national team.
Liverpool are flying a team out to South America to expedite the deal but a medical is already a considerable logistical issue.
Transfer news: Eriksen’s return to Premier League
Christian Eriksen’s move back to the Premier League could be finalised within days, according to the Daily Mail.
Brentford have registered interest with the star and it is expected to get over the line. Eriksen hasn’t played football since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. He had to have a device fitted which meant his contract with Inter Milan was terminated.
Earlier this month Brentford manager Thomas Frank said Eriksen deserves a return to the game. He said: “Something unfortunate happened to Christian and now things changed a bit. He deserves to play at the highest level and I hope he will.
“Under normal circumstances there would be no rumours with a club like us. I guess we should be flattered that there are rumours with a player of his qualities.
“It’s the same with all players out there – (Lionel) Messi, (Kylian) Mbappe, Eriksen.”
Transfer news: Villa’s bid is rejected
There’s a lot of rejection being thrown around today and this time Aston Villa are feeling it. Reports suggest they put in a £20.5m bid for Juventus’ Rodrigo Bentancur which has been turned down.
Steven Gerrard is thought to have been keen on signing him but the deal needs to be better if he wants to get it over the line.
Gerrard has already had a successful window as he managed to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan. The transfer has already paid off with the star helping Villa recover a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
Transfer news: Andy Carroll signs for West Brom
Andy Carroll has signed a short-term contact with West Bronwich Albion. The star will remain at the club until the end of the season.
Head Coach, Valérien Ismaël, said: “Andy is a player who is able to help us straight away. He is ready and brings with him all the attributes we need. It could be a win-win situation for us.
“The fact Andy has played plenty of games for Reading recently is great. He’s fit after playing those games and he’s scored goals during that short-term deal. Hopefully Andy can now score goals for us.
“After the Dike injury we assessed the situation, because it is a big loss, and it was clear that he had made an impact in that short time. We needed to replace him, and we are pleased to welcome Andy who has a lot of experience.”
Transfer news: Newcastle bid rejected
Newcastle have had a bid for Brighton’s Dan Burn rejected as their tricky transfer window gets more difficult. They reportedly bid £7 million, according to the BBC.
The club are struggling to get deals over the line in this transfer window and they need to come through to battle to stay up.
A loan deal with Jesse Lingard from Manchester United is on the table. But bosses at Old Trafford have made the price incredibly high. It would work out to £1 million a month which would make Lingard the highest paid footballer in the world.
So why is this window so tricky for Eddie Howe’s side? Our chief footballer writer Miguel Delaney has written: “Others around the Premier League believe it is about even more than that - and about wider views on the new Newcastle.
“While Manchester United insist they are only looking after their own interests and looking to recoup fair value, more than a few sources in the game say it is one area where the interests of the top clubs align.
“The argument is that they know Newcastle can be a real threat in the future, and that relegation would delay the project – perhaps even derail it. As such, they’re not going to make anything easy for them.”
Full story:
Newcastle’s problem in the transfer market? They may have too much money
The Premier League club are desperate for new signings to aid their survival bid – but the rest of Europe are playing hard ball
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