Welcome to our daily transfer news roundup from across Europe. We are a week into the transfer window and the rumour mills are going haywire. The big news of the day is regarding a Barcelona superstar leaving the club in the ongoing transfer market.
Here are all the transfer news and rumours from 8th January 2016:
Serie A
Inter Milan to battle with Manchester United for Kostas Manolas
According to reports in the Daily Express, Inter Milan are interested in the services of Roma defender Kostas Manolas as the race for the signature of the Greek international heats up. Manchester United have been heavily linked with the 25-year-old and are rumoured to be plotting a £47.6m move for the centre-back.
Fiorentina want Simone Zaza
Fiorentina are the latest club to give out-of-favour Juventus forward Simone Zaza a way out of Turin. The Florence outfit see Zaza as a replacement for Nikola Kalinic – who has been linked with a move to the lucrative Chinese Super League, if reports in London Evening Standard are to be believed.
According to the report, Fiorentina are willing to sign the striker on loan until the end of the season, with an option to sign him permanently for £15m in the summer.
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund want Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem
According to the Guardian, Borussia Dortmund are in talks with Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem to get the 19-year-old back to Germany. However, the Signal Iduna Park outfit might have to wait until the summer when the youngster's contract with the North London side expires.
Schalke sign Holger Badstuber from Bayern Munich
Manchester City target Holger Badstuber has joined Schalke on loan until the end of the season from reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, the club have confirmed in a press release.
Speaking about the move, Badstuber said: “I’m thankful that FC Bayern have agreed to my request. I’d like to get some much-needed match practice at Schalke and I’m looking forward to my time in Gelsenkirchen.”
Premier League
Southampton and West Brom want Napoli's Manolo Gabbiadini
West Bromwich Albion and Southampton are interested in signing Napoli forward Manolo Gabbiadini, according to Sky Italia. According to the report, the two Premier League clubs and Schalke have submitted bids for the Italian, which have been deemed too low by the Naples outfit.
The report adds that Napoli want something in the region between €20-22m for the services of the out-of-favour forward.
West Ham want Joe Hart to replace Adrian
According to the Sun, West Ham United want to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart – who is currently on loan with Torino – in the summer to replace Adrian, who is on his way out of the club.
Stoke City approach Stoke City for Saido Berahino
According to Sky Sports, Stoke City have made a formal approach to West Brom to sign out-of-favour striker Saido Berahino, however, the details of the bid are not yet disclosed but the report adds that it is less than what Tottenham Hotspur bid for his services two years ago – which was £20m.
The Britannia outfit saw a bid rejected for the English striker in the summer also and it remains to be seen what happens with their latest approach.
La Liga
Ivan Rakitic to leave Barcelona
According to reports in Spain and Croatia, Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is adamant on leaving the club in the ongoing transfer window as the Croatian is not impressed by the club’s decision to not offer him a new contract earlier.
Rakitic’s current contract with the Camp Nou outfit expires in the summer of 2019 but Barcelona are willing to renew his contract amidst strong interest from Manchester City. However, the Croatian has found first-team action hard to come by in recent weeks despite not being injured and was also left out of Barcelona's squad for the 1-1 draw against Villarreal.
The reports suggest that Rakitic does not want to stay at Barcelona anymore and is favouring a move to the Premier League.
Nicolas Gaitan heading to Premier League
According to the Daily Mirror, Atletico Madrid winger Nicolas Gaitan could be on his way out of Vicente Calderon, only months after signing for the La Liga giants in the summer. The 28-year-old has found first-team action hard to come by ever since he moved from Benfica to Spain.
Rest of the World
Didier Drogba open to Marseille return
In a shock turn of events, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has suggested that he is open to a return to France with former side Marseille. The Ivorian's contract with MLS outfit Montreal Impact came to an end recently and he is now a free-agent. However, Drogba has insisted that he would not return if he has to take a huge wage cut.
He said: "There is an option to return to France, but I will no say more. I hope to be able to hold my promise one day [to return to Marseille]. It can be done. You just have to take the time to sit down and talk.
"My comeback at Marseille is the eternal question for more than 12 years now. Every time I respond, and people say I'm just talking. But you let a player go, and financially he is making a good living since then, and now you want him to come back and divide his salary in two.
"And after that, you say he doesn't like Marseille. Who works to earn less? No one. I would like to come back as a player, but I can't force the board to bring me back."
Lyon offered €70m for Alexandre Lacazette
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that the club received a €70m bid for French striker Alexandre Lacazette, which has been rejected as the club do not intend to sell their prized asset.
Speaking in an interview with RMC, Aulas said: "It is true that the offers we have received for Alexandre range from €40m - from West Ham last year - to €70m right now. Obviously, Alexandre is indispensable for us. Just like Nabil [Fekir] and Corentin [Tolisso] and all the other players for whom we have received offers. We have six or seven offers on the table for our best players.”
