Top transfer rumours of the day – January 27, 2015

The January transfer window has reached it’s fourth and final week. In the first few weeks, football fans all over the world were exposed to tremendous transfers including Wilfried Bony to Manchester City, Xherdan Shaqiri, Lukas Podolski to Inter Milan, Yaya Sanogo to Crystal Palace, Fernando Torres to Atletico Madrid and Martin Odegaard to Real Madrid. The last three weeks has seen rumours that were only worth discussing over tea, but some left fans in utter shock. One of the rumours that left fans awestruck was Messi’s £200 million potential transfer to Chelsea. The rumour was quashed by the Argentine himself at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Let’s take a look at the transfer rumours that are doing the rounds today and linking top players with reputed clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Roma.

#1 Manchester United

Manchester United to battle Real Madrid over the signature of Aymeric Laporte

Darren Fletcher has been granted a free transfer by Manchester United. The player will reportedly leave the Old Trafford before the January transfer window closes next week. West Ham United have offered the player a three-and-a-half year deal and are confident that they will beat West Bromwich and Valencia to the signing of the Scotland International. Fletcher, who is a well-known figure at Manchester United, has made 342 first team appearances with the club.

Manchester United to enter race with Real Madrid for the signing of Aymeric Laporte. The French footballer has a buyout price of £31 million and Athletic Bilbao will be reportedly happy to accept an offer from either of the clubs but will not sell him for less. Real Madrid are already planning a move of £31.1 million for the player despite an interest in David de Gia. Other reports also suggest that Red Devils are trying their best to acquire Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane.

#2 Chelsea

Douglas Costa pleads Shakhtar to support his transfer to Chelsea

Wolfsburg receive a boost in the race to acquire Andre Schurrle as the player reveals his interest for the club. Chelsea are willing to let go off Schurrle if Wolfsburg agree to pay £22.5 million for the forward. The Blues manager Jose Mourinho accepted that the club will reach the end of the transfer season with a potential departure if a phenomenal offer is made.

Chelsea target Douglas Costa pleads with Shakhtar Donetsk to support his move to the Stamford Bridge. The Blues have identified Costa as an alternative signing to their top target Juan Cuadrado. Fiorentina reportedly asked Chelsea to pay the £26.8 million buyout clause of Cuadrado to sign the player, but the price seems to be too high for the Blues. A move for either Costa or Cuadrado can be expected once Andre Schurrle or Mohamed Salah leave the club.

#3 Arsenal and Liverpool

Arsenal to swoop Manchester United target Kevin Grosskreutz

Liverpool are willing to enter race with Borussia Dortmund to sign Arsenal forward Chuba Akpom. The 19-year-old will be out of his contract with the Gunners at the end of the season. According to Eurosport, the player has also caught the attention of Dutch sides FC Twente and Feyenoord. Akpom joined Arsenal when he was 6 years old and is still way down in the pecking order at the club.

After signing Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal, Arsenal are looking forward to swoop Manchester United target Kevin Grosskreutz. The Gunners received a boost when reports revealed that the Borussia Dortmund star is an Arsenal fan. The German International has been valued at £3.7 million in the transfer market.

Arsenal are likely to make a move for Morgan Schneiderlin in the summer transfer window. The Gunners are confident over acquiring the player as Southampton are alrady looking for a replacement. The Saints are reportedly considering a bid for Jordy Clasie, who worked with the club manager Ronald Koeman at Feyenoord.

#4 Barcelona and Roma

Roma are interested in signing Vlad Chiriches on loan

Barcelona are most likely to offload Sandro and Adama Traore at Britannia Stadium. Stoke City are willing to sign the duo as Mark Hughes is keen on strengthening his team. When Hughes was quizzed about signing the players from Camp Nou, he said, “They are two options. It's a question of talking to all parties and weighing up what the possibilities are. We're at a point where the market is still open. We'll have to see what the players' view is.”

Roma are planning to launch a final bid to sign Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches on loan. The Serie A club have been showing interest in the player since last summer. Roma’s preference would be signing Chiriches on a loan deal as they are not likely to make a £7 million offer, the amount Spurs paid to acquire Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest.

#5 Others

Mattia Destro could sign for Tottenham in January

AC Milan are planning to make a move for Fenerbahce forward Dirk Kuyt as a possible replacement for the injured Stephen El Shaarawy. The 34-year-old Dutch International has been a huge fan favorite at the Turkish giants since moving from Liverpool in 2012. AC Milan are expecting heavy competition from Valencia, West Ham and Lyon over the signing of the veteran striker.

Tottenham are keen on signing AS Roma striker Mattia Destro before the January transfer window closes. The player has been linked with a move to North London despite his contract with Roma until 2017. The Spurs are willing to complete their move soon to strengthen the squad’s attacking option. Earlier reports suggest that, Arsenal were also interested in signing the striker.

Liverpool have been told by Valencia that they will have to pay £70 million to sign Paco Alcacer. The Reds were linked with the striker since the transfer window opened. However, Valencia sporting director Francisco Rufete said that Alacer will sign for the Spanish club for the next five years, until 2020.