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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. Today we have quite a few exciting updates in store.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 23 January 2019.
Gonzalo Higuain arrives in London to undergo medical
Maurizio Sarri has revealed that Gonzalo Higuain's move to Chelsea is all but done as the Argentine touches down in London to undergo his medical. The former Napoli boss is certain that Higuain will be a success in the Premier League.
AC Milan have been waiting to sign a replacement and that had caused Higuain to put his move on hold. However, the Rossoneri reached an agreement with Genoa for Krzysztof Piatek who is now having his medical in Milan.
Speaking ahead of Higuain's move to Chelsea, Sarri said,
"I know Higuain and his agent are negotiating with the club in this moment. I hope, and I think, we will finalise the deal in the next few hours,"
"This season he had some troubles but I think that's part of every player's career, you have your down moments. We hope we can regenerate him quickly so he can pay us back with his goals.
"It's very difficult in January to find one of the most important strikers in the world. So I think the club is working very well because it's not easy to get a new striker."
Higuain enjoyed one of his most prolific seasons under Maurizio Sarri when the pair worked together at Napoli. Sarri is excited to work with his disciple again.
"He is a very strong striker, especially in my first season in Naples, he did very well,"
"He scored 36 goals in 35 matches in Serie A. That season he scored 39 goals so he did very, very well.
"For sure he is one of the best strikers [I have worked with] in my career."
Sarri is also quite certain that Higuain will succeed in the Premier League.
"He played four seasons for Real Madrid so I think he has the right experience to play here."
Manchester United contact Inter Milan for Perisic
Manchester United's obsession with Croatia's World Cup star Ivan Perisic will have yet another chapter. According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is preparing for his first major signing as Manchester United open talks with Inter Milan in the hopes of bringing the winger to Old Trafford before the January transfer window ends.
United have opened talks to find out whether Il Nerrazurri are open to selling the Croat in January. However, this time around, Manchester United will have to battle it out with Atletico Madrid as they have also been credited with an interest in the 29-year-old.
The Red Devils will be hoping that Perisic can revitalize their right wing.
Unai Emery says Arsenal 'need and can' make one or two signings in January
Unai Emery has admitted that Arsenal want to make two signings and that they are well capable of pulling it off before the window ends. He said,
"The club is working with different players. Our message is we only want to sign one or two players, who can help us with performance. The club is working.
Emery quoted the absence of Welbeck and Bellerin to long-term injuries as a reason to make new signings.
"I think we need and we can sign some players to help, after our injuries like Rob Holding, like [Danny] Welbeck, like Hector Bellerin.
"But we can play with the players we have now and have the same message to every supporter. If we have the possibility to sign some important player then we can do.
"Also on the wing - right or left - if one player can help us in this position. But only if they are giving us big quality.
"First it is the quality, and this quality can help us with what we need if he can come here."
Real Madrid set to beat Manchester City to Paulo Dybala's signing
According to The Sun, Real Madrid are hopeful of beating Manchester City to sign Juventus talisman Paulo Dybala for £90 million. Real Madrid have struggled after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and have been looking to bring a galactico who can solve their problems in the attacking third.
Dybala is strong on both the goalscoring and creating fronts. He has scored 54 goals from 115 appearances in the Serie A. Juventus are expected to part with Dybala should a reasonable offer surface as they await Aaron Ramsey's arrival at the end of the season.
Pep Guardiola is a fan of Dybala and if Real Madrid get their man, and they are likely to pip the Cityzens to his signing, the former Barcelona manager will surely be disappointed.
Barcelona set to beat PSG to €90 million Frenkie De Jong signing
The 21-year-old Dutchman who has plenty of admirers among the elite in Europe has reportedly made up his mind to join Ajax, according to The Express. Barcelona are offering De Jong a £14 million a year deal.
De Jong will earn £8.77 million per season. In addition to that, he stands to win £5.26 million in bonuses should he go on to make the prescribed number of appearances and win silverware.
What's surprising about the deal is the fact that Ajax Sporting Director Edwin Van Der Sar had earlier claimed the deal won't go through in January. He had said,
“We're not going to sell a player halfway through the season,” the former Manchester United goalkeeper said.
"No way. If you have financial difficulties you might look at it, but for us no.”
However, the Catalans seem to have convinced Ajax to sell the midfielder for €90 million.
