Good morning and welcome to
Sports Mole's live transfer blog. We are fast moving in on the February 2 closing date, ensuring that speculation linking some of Europe's biggest names with moves away from their current clubs is continuing to intensify.
The big news to emerge late last night concerned Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, who has reportedly agreed terms with Real Madrid over a potential move this month.
Chelsea are also expected to spend big with Juan Cuadrado on their radar, and it has been suggested that a £27m bid has been tabled for the Fiorentina star. Stick around for more on this, plus much more, throughout the day.
One man who has been linked with a move to the Premier League this month is Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede. The Benin international has undergone a remarkable turnaround since being let go by Cardiff City on the cheap 12 months ago, and he is now
on the brink of a £5m switch to the top flight.
However, Rovers boss Gary Bowyer insists that Gestede will not be allowed to leave unless his full valuation is met, with Crystal Palace said to be the closest to reaching an agreement.
It's just gone 8am which can mean only mean one thing - it's time for our latest
Transfer Talk Update, which rounds up all the latest gossip that has been doing the rounds overnight.
Not strictly transfer news, but Manchester United have today been named as the world's second richest football club. The worrying thing for United supporters is that Real Madrid
top the standings with revenue sums of £495.5m, making a £50m move for David de Gea - the fee widely reported to be on the table for the Spaniard - seem like loose change being thrown around.
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Everton midfielder James McCarthy throughout this transfer window, although things appear to have now heated up a little.
A fresh report claims that Spurs are ready to offer a £20m player-plus-cash deal to land the midfielder, with Aaron Lennon and Younes Kaboul potentially heading in the opposite direction. Read more on that right here.
© Getty Images
That brings to an end my time on transfer watch for the time being, so I will now pass the baton over to Danielle Joynson who will be with you for the next few hours.
Thanks Dan! Right, I'll begin my stint with news involving Manchester City. James Milner's future has been a big talking point in recent weeks. Reports have claimed that the two parties are yet to reach an agreement regarding a new deal, which has sparked other clubs into action. The latest speculation is that Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini is
keen to sign Milner on a free transfer in the summer with the offer of £200,000-a-week wages.
© Getty Images
BREAKING NEWS! Tottenham Hotspur have announced that Ryan Mason has signed a new long-term contract at White Hart Lane.
Read more.
UPDATE! Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media this morning and has revealed that there is a
"chance" that the club will sign Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista before the end of the transfer window. Wenger has confirmed that talks are "progressing quite well" between all parties.
Sticking with Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger has
confirmed that defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin will be offered a new contract. The 23-year-old has been sent out on loan three times since joining the Gunners in 2008.
Let's switch our attention to former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who now plies his trade in Germany at Wolfsburg. Manchester City and Manchester United have been linked with the Belgian midfielder, and the player's agent has claimed that while De Bruyne is happy to stay at Wolfsburg, a
move could materialise at the end of the season.
That's all from me for the time being, so I shall hand you back to Dan Lewis, who will keep things ticking over for the next few hours. Enjoy!
Thanks Danielle! I'll start by bringing you some more transfer news concerning Chelsea, who are said to have turned their attention to Shakhtar Donetsk forward Douglas Costa.
The Blues have now been heavily linked with big-money moves for two different players in the last 24 hours, but will we see any deals completed before the day is out? Click here to read more.
DONE DEAL! Luke Daniels completed his move from West Bromwich Albion to Scunthorpe United earlier today, bringing to an end his 11-year stint at The Hawthorns. Read what he has had to say about the switch
right here.
Kenny Jackett has been speaking to
BBC Sport this afternoon, revealing that any talk regarding a new deal for Bakary Sako
will have to wait until the end of the season.
The Mali international is currently away on international duty, and he sees his future in the Premier League - with or without Wolverhampton Wanderers.
UPDATE! We brought you news yesterday surrounding the future of Hamilton Academical youngster Stephen Hendrie, who was linked with a £2m-plus move to West Ham United.
Well that deal has now collapsed, with the Scottish outfit's vice-chairman Ronnie MacDonald slamming the Hammers for failing to see the move through.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is currently speaking to reporters ahead of his side's meeting with Southampton this weekend, and he has revealed that he has made enquires over the availability of "three or four players". More on that to follow in due course.
More on those quotes from Alan Pardew now, with the Crystal Palace boss admitting that he is
keen to bolster his options before the transfer window closes in 11 days' time.
© Getty Images
That brings to an end my stint on transfer duty watch, so once more I'll pass things over to Danielle Joynson who will be with you right through until 7pm.
Thanks Dan! As I'm sure you're aware, Louis van Gaal has been speaking to the media this afternoon in his weekly Manchester United press conference. Today, he's been asked about the future of Darren Fletcher, who has been linked to West Ham, West Brom and Valencia. The Dutch boss didn't give too much away, but he did admit that
he was unsure if Fletcher would be staying at the club. The midfielder is United's current longest-serving player having been at Old Trafford for almost 20 years.
Last night, Real Madrid won the race to sign highly-rated Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard, and the 16-year-old has been speaking about his move to
Real Madrid TV. The teen is believed to have been wanted by numerous Premier League sides, including Liverpool and Manchester United, but Odegaard has revealed that he chose the Bernabeu because they have given him the
best possibility to develop as a player.
DONE DEAL! Reading announce the capture of Chelsea starlet Nathaniel Chalobah on loan until the rest of the season.
Read more.
We've got two stories for you coming out of the Premier League. Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has admitted that he's
running out of patience with Jack Cork, who has one week to decide on whether to sign a new contract or leave. Also, Swansea City boss Garry Monk has
confirmed that Kyle Naughton is training with the club and is expected to complete his £5m move from Tottenham Hotspur imminently.
Brendan Rodgers has some good news for Liverpool fans. The Northern Irishman has revealed that he expects Raheem Sterling's new contract to be
"concluded very imminently".
© Getty Images
DONE DEAL! Manchester United announce that striker Will Keane has signed for League One side Sheffield United until the rest of the season.
Read more.
DONE DEAL! Swansea City announce the arrival of Kyle Naughton from Tottenham Hotspur on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Read more.
Kyle Naughton has been speaking about his move to Swansea City from Tottenham Hotspur, and admits that his main reason for moving to the Liberty Stadium is to gain
more minutes on the pitch.
He told Swans TV: "My main aim is to start playing regular football again. I know it's going to be a tough challenge because there are some very good players here, but that's my goal."
Right, that's all from me for today, but I shall hand you over to my colleague Giuseppe Labellarte, who will keep you updated with all the transfer gossip as it happens over the next few hours. I'll leave you with our latest
Transfer Talk Update. Enjoy!
Thanks Danielle! And good evening folks! I'll be guiding you through the next few hours of
transfer talk and speculation. First up,
reports that Hull City are looking to pip Leicester City to the signing of Lokomotiv Moscow striker Dame N'Doye, who is currently playing for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Crystal Palace are reportedly
close to signing Bolton Wanderers midfielder Lee Chung-yong, but are said to be stumbling over his alleged wage demands of £30,000 per week.
Now for news from Stamford Bridge. Reports say Chelsea will let winger Mohamed Salah leave the club and join Roma during this transfer window - but only if
they commit to sign him permanently at the end of the season.
Mario Balotelli hasn't been having the best of times at Liverpool, but he is still very highly rated in Italy. At a recent press conference, Lazio club president Claudio Lotito has
refused to rule out a move for the maverick striker.
Now onto West Bromwich Albion, who have reportedly offered former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi
a deal at the Hawthorns. The Baggies may however face competition from Crystal Palace.
Tense times for Manchester United fans as David de Gea's agent refuses to
rule out reports that the Spanish goalkeeper is on his way to Real Madrid. According to Jorge Mendes, things in football "change every five minutes".
Well, my time on here is over, but fear not, because my colleague Mark Langshaw will take you through the next few hours of
transfer talk.
Many thanks, Giuseppe. I'll be here until the early hours bringing you all the latest transfer gossip. If you're after a recap of what transpired earlier this evening, our latest
Transfer Talk Update will bring you up to speed.
That rumour linking Jordon Mutch with a move from Queens Park Rangers to Crystal Palace refuses to die, with the
latest reports suggesting the two clubs are locked in negotiations over a fee. The Eagles are said to have had a verbal offer of £4m rejected, with QPR holding out for the £5.5m they originally paid for Mutch when they bought him from Cardiff City.
Liverpool are the latest club
linked with a move for Southampton midfielder Jay Rodriguez. The Reds are said to be monitoring the England international's recovery from the knee injury that has kept him out for the last nine months. Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the player.
© Getty Images
Arsenal have been tipped to
launch a bid for Fiorentina's Brazilian goalkeeper Neto this month. The stopper plans to leave the Italian club this summer, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is believed to be keen to recruit a new goalkeeper before then.
Over to La Liga now as Real Madrid are said to be
on the verge of completing the signing of Cruzeiro youngster Lucas Silva. Word of the transfer comes from the Brazilian club's president, so this is pretty much a done deal.
Sticking with Real Madrid, Asier Illarramendi has
declared that he will not be forced out of the club by the arrival of Lucas Silva. The midfielder intends to fight for a place in the team, but he faces steep competition from Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez and Isco.
Back to the Premier League and Arsenal and Manchester United may have become
embroiled in a tug-of-war over Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista. The Brazilian was believed to be on the verge of joining the Gunners, but Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal could be preparing a last-ditch bid.
© Getty Images
Another piece of Manchester United news for you as
reports suggest that the Red Devils are the frontrunners to sign Daniel Alves from Barcelona. Don't expect this deal to be completed in January, though, as the Brazilian is expected to see his contract out and move in the summer.
We'll be wrapping up for the day shortly, but why not catch up on some of the latest done deals with our most recent Transfer Talk Update? You can find that
here.
And that's all we have time for today, but be sure to rejoin Sports Mole when our live transfer blog resumes at 7am. Goodbye for now!
