Welcome to our daily transfer news roundup from across Europe. And the big news today is again regarding the future of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi with another twist in his contract saga with the Camp Nou outfit.
Here are all the transfer news and rumours from 19th January 2017:
Serie A
Riccardo Orsolini undergoing medical at Juventus
Ascoli winger Riccardo Orsolini is undergoing a medical with Serie A giants Juventus ahead of completing a move to the Turin outfit. The 19-year-old has impressed for the Serie B side and will be loaned back to them for the remainder of the season.
Speaking in an interview with PicenoTime, Ascoli director Ivan Lanni had admitted last week that a deal has been agreed with Juventus. He said: “An agreement has been reached with Juventus. We couldn't say much, but there's always been a desire to close things out with Juve. The process is very complex. There's a basic deal, variables and talks related to various players. What's certain is that Orsolini will remain with Ascoli until the end of the season."
Alexis Sanchez not for sale
According to the Daily Mirror, Premier League giants Arsenal have informed Juventus that they have no intention of selling superstar Alexis Sanchez, despite his contract talks not making significant progress in recent weeks.
The Chilean’s contract with the North London outfit expires in the summer of 2018 and he is yet to agree on a new contract with the club. It was earlier reported that the Old Lady were prepared to offer Miralem Pjanic in a swap deal for the former Barcelona man.
Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund prepared to sell Adrian Ramos to China
According to ESPN, Borussia Dortmund have, in principle, agreed a deal for the transfer of striker Adrian Ramos to Chinese Super League outfit Chongqing Lifan. The China-based club will part with around €12 million for the services of the 30-year-old.
Schalke not interested in Shinji Okazaki
Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel has confirmed that the club have no interest in signing Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki on loan in the ongoing transfer window. The 30-year-old signed for the reigning Premier League champions from Mainz and has been linked with a return to Germany.
Speaking in an interview with Reviersport, Heidel said: "(Okazaki) is not on the agenda.”
Premier League
Manchester United linked with £70m move for Bernardo Silva
According to The Sun, Manchester United are willing to spend up to £70m in the summer for the transfer of AS Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese sensation has long been hailed as one of the brightest prospects in the world of football and has impressed for Monaco so far in the season.
Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho and Silva have the same agent – Jorge Mendes, with whom both Real Madrid and the Old Trafford outfit share a good rapport. Silva is reportedly one of the two main targets that United have identified for the summer with the second one being Antoine Griezmann.
Diego Costa wants huge pay rise to stay at Chelsea
According to the Sun, Diego Costa wants a whopping £300,000-a-week to stay with Premier League leaders Chelsea. The Spanish international has been attracted interest from the Chinese Super League and was reportedly involved in a bust-up with manager Antonio Conte recently. According to the report, the 28-year-old only returned to training after receiving assurances over a new contract from the Blues hierarchy.
Costa is currently earning around half of what he is demanding and Chelsea are prepared to offer him around £225,000-a-week in a deal which will run for 5-years.
La Liga
New twist in Lionel Messi’s contract saga
There is a new twist in Lionel Messi’s contract saga, which refuses to die down and will probably only come to an end when the Argentine superstar either pens a new deal with Barcelona or completes a transfer to another club.
Yesterday it was first reported that Messi had admitted in an interview that he is prepared to stay at Barcelona. However, his father and agent Jorge Messi questioned the authenticity of the interview and it was subsequently taken down.
Now his father, Jorge, has admitted in another interview with Cadena SER that there is no danger of the 29-year-old leaving Camp Nou.
He said: "There is no danger that Messi will leave Barcelona.”
Diego Simeone not surprised by interest in Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is not surprised by the host of clubs interested in the services of superstar striker Antoine Griezmann. However, the Argentinian did accept that only clubs that can afford him are interested in signing him, possibly suggesting that for the right price the Vicente Calderon outfit might allow the Frenchman to leave.
Speaking in an interview, as quoted by AS, Simeone said: "He is in an extraordinary moment, is working well, has gotten back on the scoresheet and his form is good. It is normal that the best teams in the world want him. I am not surprised that the teams who are looking are the ones who can afford him."
Rest of the World
Dimitri Payet rejects £500,000-a-week offers from China
According to Sky Sports, West Ham United outcast Dimitri Payet has rejected offers of up to £500,000-a-week from Chinese Super League outfits as he only wants to return to France with Olympique Marseille. The report adds that Chinese Super League outfit Hebei China Fortune and two other clubs were interested in his services and had got in touch with his agent over a £26m per year transfer to China.
However, the Frenchman is not interested in a move away from Europe and in fact is willing to take a pay cut of up to 30 percent to secure a move back to Stade Velodrome. Marseille have had their two bids rejected for Payet by West Ham.
Lyon agree £21.7m deal for Memphis Depay
French outfit Olympique Lyon have agreed a deal which could rise to £21.7m with Manchester United for the transfer of flop Memphis Depay. The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford from PSV in the summer of 2015 but has struggled to establish himself under new manager Jose Mourinho and had been linked with a move away from Manchester. This will be United’s second departure of the ongoing transfer window with the first one being the transfer of Morgan Schneiderlin to Everton.
