Transfer news round-up: Maurizio Sarri scolds Bayern Munich over Callum Hudson-Odoi as Cesc Fabregas’ Monaco move is confirmed
Read all of Friday's transfer news plus gossip, rumours and done deals
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The Premier League‘s January transfer window is well underway with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all set to be busy.
It was the Blues whose transfer dealings stole the headlines on Friday as Cesc Fabregas’ long-awaited move to Monaco was finally completed. The Spanish midfielder, who made 501 appearances in England football winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups, joins Thierry Henry’s struggling French side on a three-and-a-half year contract.
However, before the move was confirmed, it was Maurizio Sarri who stole the limelight after the Chelsea manager took aim at Bayern Munich over their approach for 18-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi. Sarri claimed the German champions have shown no respect for Chelsea after Munich’s sporting director, Hasan Salihamidzic, stated publicly that he “really wants to sign” the English starlet.
Read about all of Friday’s news, views, rumours, gossip and done deals below.
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↵Some news from the Championship and a blow to West Brom's promotion hopes.
Leicester have recalled midfielder Harvey Barnes from his loan spell.
The England U21 has impressed at the Hawthorns scoring nine goals but will now head back to the King Power for the remainder of the season.
Back to Manchester United now where Ashley Young could be set for a move away.
The winger/defender/wherever any manager asks him to play's contract is up at the end of the season with foreign clubs now able to negotiate with him.
One of those is said to be Inter Milan, according to the Mirror, who want to snap up the former England man for free in the summer.
More from the second tier as Ipswich Town have completed the signing of former West Ham defender James Collins.
He joins on a deal until the end of the season.
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has voiced his frustration over transfer window inactivity and compared deal-making to "climbing a mountain with butter on one of your hands".
The Bluebirds have suffered a difficult January window so far with moves to land Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne and Nice midfielder Adrien Tameze ending without success.
Warnock also made another visit to France in midweek to watch Nantes striker Emiliano Sala for the second time in a month, but he admits it is unlikely that the Argentinian will be heading to south Wales.
"It's like climbing a mountain with butter on your hands," Warnock said ahead of the crunch relegation battle against Huddersfield on Saturday.
"One day you think you are almost there and then you slide back down.
"You get your hopes built up. People say 'yes, that's a done deal' and all of a sudden the next day it's not a done deal.
"You have to learn to live with that really."
Manolo Gabbiadini has completed his move from Southampton to Sampdoria, the
Premier League club have announced.
The Italian returns to Serie A on a permanent deal.
Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany is wanted by Barcelona, according to The Sun.
It is thought the Spanish side are interested in bringing the 32-year-old, who is out of contract in July, to the Nou Camp to add some experience to their back four.
Sevilla are ready to bow out of the chase for Alvaro Morata, with Atletico Madrid understood to be leading the chase for the Chelsea striker if they can clear space in their wage bill.
Morata is available on loan this month as the Blues look for him to rediscover some form away from Stamford Bridge after a first half of the season in which he struggled to be productive.
Sevilla, sitting third in La Liga and still within touching distance of Barcelona, are looking for players this month who can help them in attack.
Curiously, given who they are chasing, Sevilla might have found their answer in Barcelona's Munir, who is set to finally cut ties with the club where he came through as a much-vaunted academy product.
Fulham are preparing for a January move for Leicester's Islam Slimani, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Claudio Ranieri is looking to boost the club's hopes of Premier League survival, the paper says.
Slimani is currently on loan at Fenerbahce but the Turkish club are said to be prepared to cut the deal short.
Everton manager Marco Silva has played down speculation about a January move for Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi.
The Belgium international had his loan at Valencia cut short and is available this month.
Everton already have defender Kurt Zouma on loan from Chelsea so would have to buy the forward outright but even a reported fee of between £12million to £14m may not be persuasive enough for Silva, who has resorted to playing winger Richarlison as a lone front man this season.
"We are aware of the market, we know what's happened, but it is not something which is a priority for us," said the Portuguese.
"Because we spent some money last summer it is not easy spending big, big money in all the markets.
"For us to do something in this moment it would mean another player would leave the club and it is not something in our mind.
"If you do something it because something has happened in our squad."
Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow is a £4million target for Leeds and Aston Villa, according to The Sun.
The 28-year-old has lost his number one spot since Martin Dubravka's arrival and could be on the move next month, the paper reports.
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