Welcome to Sports Mole's live transfer blog on Friday, January 16.
We are now at the midway stage of the winter window, meaning that teams across the land now have just a couple of weeks remaining to bolster their squads.
Yesterday saw plenty of movement in the Football League, while the Premier League big boys are expected to continue splashing the cash in the coming days.
Here, we will keep you updated with all the latest gossip and completed deals as and when they emerge throughout the day.
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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live transfer blog. We are expecting to see Krystian Bielik and Jermain Defoe complete their respective moves to Arsenal and Sunderland some time today, while the future of Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj could also be decided.
As ever, we will provide regular updates throughout the day to ensure that you don't miss a thing.
One side who may be forced into the market this January is Spanish giants Real Madrid, who are said to be staring a transfer ban right in the face.
Los Blancos are reportedly being investigated by FIFA regarding the purchase of underage players, and if found guilty of any wrongdoing they are likely to face similar restrictions to those imposed on La Liga rivals Barcelona in future windows.
Fresh reports surrounding the futures of Radamel Falcao, Lucas Leiva and Mohamed Salah have emerged overnight, as well as gossip concerning Marco Reus and Adnan Januzaj, which we have neatly rounded up in one place as part of our first Transfer Talk Update of the day.
We brought you news yesterday regarding Legia Warsaw yongster Krystian Bielik, who is due in North London today to undergo a medical at Arsenal.
Well ahead of a potential move, Legia official Dominik Ebebenge has insisted that the youngster will be a "major success" at the Emirates Stadium. Read more on his views right here.
It has been a quiet transfer window for Chelsea so far in terms of incoming players, although that could all change if fresh reports are to be believed linking Raphael Varane with a move to Stamford Bridge.
The 19-year-old France international worked under Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, remember, and it has been suggested that a £20m bid could be tabled this month.
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Right, that's all from me this morning. I'll now pass things over to Danielle Joynson, who will take you through the next few hours.
UPDATE! Thanks Dan! Good morning everyone. I'll begin my stint with news from Arsenal... Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media this morning in his weekly press conference and he has confirmed that a fee, thought to be in the region of £2m, has been agreed with Legia Warsaw for midfielder Krystian Bielik. The 17-year-old will undergo a medical today.
Let's turn our attention to the Championship and Derby County, who are reportedly closing in on the signing of Raul Albentosa from La Liga side Eibar. Rams manager Steve McClaren admitted last week that the club are interested in the 26-year-old defender.
Earlier today, Charlie Austin was named Premier League Player of the Month for December after scoring five goals in six games, but the future of the Queens Park Rangers striker remains unclear. In this morning's press conference, manager Harry Redknapp admitted that he is "not involved" in the 25-year-old's contract talks, but insists that Austin is "happy" at Loftus Road.
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CONFIRMED! Celtic have announced that Gary Mackay-Steven has signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club from Dundee United in the summer. Read more.
It's time for me to hand you over to my colleague Darren Planet, who will provide you with any transfer updates as they happen over the next three hours. Enjoy!
BREAKING NEWS! It has been expected for the past 48 hours but Sunderland have finally completed the signing of Jermain Defoe from Toronto FC on a three-and-a-half year deal. More details can be found by clicking here.
Despite only signing for Everton in the summer, striker Samuel Eto'o has been strongly linked with a move away from Goodison Park, but manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that nothing will be decided until towards the end of the January transfer window.
DONE DEAL! News from the Championship now where Ipswich Town have swooped for Colchester United striker Freddie Sears for an undisclosed fee. The former West Ham United player scored 14 goals during the first half of the season at the League One outfit.
DONE DEAL! Ever since he emerged as a prospect at Manchester United, Zeki Fryers has found himself moving from club to club in search of first-team action, and that has continued on Friday with Crystal Palace allowing the defender to join Rotherham United on a one-month loan deal.
On that note, I will hand you back over to Danielle Jonyson, who will take you through the next four hours. Enjoy!
Hello again everyone! I return with good news for Leicester City fans. The club have confirmed that new signing Andrej Kramaric has been granted a work permit and will be eligible to make his Premier League debut against Stoke City at the King Power Stadium tomorrow.
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If reports are to be believed, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been handed £150m to spend on new signings this month. However, according to the man himself, the club will not be "very active" in the market. That doesn't sound too hopeful for United fans, but Van Gaal has insisted that he is only interested in players at a "certain level".
Harry Redknapp spoke very frankly this morning about Shaun Wright-Phillips's contract situation. The Queens Park Rangers manager has said that the 33-year-old winger has been told that he can leave, but is refusing to do so because he doesn't want to give up his lucrative contract, which is believed to be worth £65,000 per week.
DONE DEAL! Derby County announce the signing of defender Raul Albentosa from Eibar on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Read more.
ALBENTOSA: #DCFC's new signing Raul Albentosa puts pen-to-paper at the Club #AlbentosaSigns https://t.co/in2TRQc9Bt
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 16, 2015
My stint on transfer watch is over for the day, so I shall hand you over to my colleague Sian Cowper, who will keep you updated with any news as it happens over the next few hours. I'll leave you with our latest Transfer Talk Update.
Thanks Danielle. Cardiff City have announced that midfielder Jo Inge Berget has left the club by mutual consent just a year after joining from Molde.
Wolverhampton Wanderers signed goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak on a short-term deal back in November, and he had been due to end his spell at Molineux at the end of the month. However, the club have now confirmed that the Polish international has signed a contract until the end of the season.
Coventry City youngster James Maddison is thought to be on the radar of a number of Premier League sides, but Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be the favourites to sign the teenager, according to the latest reports.
DONE DEAL! AFC Wimbledon have announced that winger Alfie Potter has joined the club after his contract with fellow League Two side Oxford United was terminated by mutual consent.
Newcastle United duo Callum Roberts and Adam Campbell have joined Conference Premier side Gateshead on short-term loan deals.
Wigan Athletic's Shaun Maloney looked to be heading to the Premier League after Leicester City had a big accepted for the Scotland international. However, the Latics have announced that Maloney failed to agree personal terms with the Foxes.
French side Saint-Etienne have announced that Cameroon midfielder Landry N'Guemo has signed on a free transfer until the end of the season.
Roma currently sit just behind Juventus in the fight for the Serie A title, but director of football Walter Sabatini insists that he will not be adding to his squad during the January transfer window.
Wilfried Bony will join up with Manchester City when he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations in a few weeks, and new teammate Pablo Zabaleta says that his arrival will be a welcome one for the Premier League champions.
Well that's all from me this evening, but stick around as Chris O'Keefe is here to keep you up to date for the next few hours.
Thank you Sian. Yes, we'll be bringing you all the latest news and gossip in the transfer market as well as any done deals. Indeed, we have news from Scotland...
DONE DEAL! Livingston have confirmed that striker Ibra Sekajja has joined the club on a free transfer. Sekajja will stay with the Lions until the end of the season.
Livingston had received a transfer ban from the SFA for undeclared bonus payments to players, but the embargo was lifted on Hogmanay and the West Lothian outfit have wasted little time in bolstering the ranks!
Back in England, it appears that Mario Balotelli will be given a chance to prove himself at Liverpool. However, reports suggest that the Italian forward has only four months to save his Reds career or risk being offloaded in the summer. Why always him?
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Just a quick reminder that Sports Mole's regular Transfer Talk Update is now available. Among those making the headlines, Rafael Varane is linked with a move to Chelsea while Roberto Martinez claims that no decision has been made on Samuel Eto'o's future.
Alex Song is believed to be attracting interest from Liverpool. However, Sam Allardyce says that the Cameroonian may benefit from staying with the East End club.
He is quoted by The Mirror as saying: "Clubs might have a bigger history and tradition than ours but it is not always the case that they will succeed against you."
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As we mentioned earlier, Shaun Maloney's move from Wigan Athletic to Leicester City has broken down. However, reports suggest that the Scottish midfielder has chosen to move to the MLS instead, with Chicago Fire thought to be in talks.
Another player who appears to be on the move is West Brom flop Brown Ideye. The £10m summer recruit from Dynamo Kiev has scored just twice for the club and manager Tony Pulis seems to have lost patience with the player.
Paul Pogba has been heavily linked with moves to several of Europe's big guns over recent months, but Juventus are reportedly willing to offer him a new deal even though his contract doesn't expire until 2019. It is thought that the Bianconeri are keen to increase Pogba's buyout clause.
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Back in Scotland. John Guidetti's future at Celtic is far from certain. Manager Ronny Deila has insisted that the club are not going to wait forever while the Swede decided whether to join the Hoops on a permanent deal.
Samuel Eto'o has been heavily linked with a move away from Everton during the mid-season window. Now, it appears that a deal to take the Cameroon forward to Sampdoria is close to completion.
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Unfortunately, that is where our Transfer Talk live blog comes to an end for another day. However, we will be back bright and early from 7am to bring you all the news and gossip from around planet football. Until then, it's good night from me!
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Daniel Lewis
