Barcelona superstar agrees to join Arsenal, Real Madrid star on the verge of shock exit, Chelsea superstar holds talks with Atletico Madrid and more LaLiga news: 14 January 2019

All the latest LaLiga transfer news, rumours and updates of the day in one place!

Alvaro Morata holds talks with Atletico Madrid as Sevilla pull out

Chelsea's misfiring striker Alvaro Morata is seemingly ready to give up on his time at West London and at the Premier League. The former Real Madrid striker who has had to endure a difficult period at Stamford Bridge after joining Chelsea in the summer of 2017 amid huge fanfare is now looking for a move away from the club.

Now, according to Goal, Morata was in the Spanish capital over the weekend in the hopes of negotiating a move back to Spain with Atletico Madrid keen on bringing him back to the LaLiga. The report claims that Sevilla were also interested in the Spaniard but have now pulled out of efforts to sign him after deeming him unaffordable.

Sevilla's director of football Joaquin Caparros attested to the same in a press conference recently, where he said,

"Sevilla is a desirable team for any footballer and Morata wanted to come here, but when we started talking about costs, we realised that it was impossible,"

Atletico Madrid are, therefore, frontrunners to sign the Spanish international. However, a deal will only happen if Chelsea can sign a replacement before the January transfer window ends.

However, the report also adds that Atletico Madrid are keen on bringing Morata on loan until the end of the season on a €3 million move whilst paying only 50% of his wages. Chelsea, on the other hand, is on the lookout for a potential suitor who will take Morata off their hands and pay his full wages which amount to €9 million a season.

Atletico's wage bill is already heavy but the Rojiblancos may be willing to offload summer arrival Gelson Martins who has failed to impress so far this season.

Barcelona interested in Tottenham's Fernando Llorente

Fernando Llorente plays second fiddle to Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur

Fernando Llorente has emerged as a shock transfer target for Barcelona, according to Mundo Deportivo. Following the departure of Munir El Haddadi to Sevilla, Barcelona are open to doing business in the winter and are keen on bringing a striker to the Camp Nou.

A key factor in this potential deal is the relationship that Ernesto Valverde and his second, Jon Aspiazu, share with the 33-year-old striker from their days together at Athletic Bilbao. The report further adds that Barca stalwarts like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba hold Llorente in good stead.

Barcelona have reportedly been looking for a no.9 who can help Luis Suarez and also share the goalscoring burden as the Cules look to seal another domestic triumph.

Kiko Casilla on the verge of signing for Leeds United

Kiko Casilla has fallen down the pecking order further after Courtois' arrival

Leeds United desperately want a goalkeeper as the fitness of their shot-stoppers continue to inspire no confidence. Now according to Marca, Real Madrid and Leeds United are in advanced talk over a potential transfer deal for Real Madrid's back up goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.

Marco Biesla is an admirer of the 32-year-old and believes that he will be the man who can strengthen their backline and ensure Leeds continue to stay on top of the table in the Championship.

Kiko Casilla, according to the report, is keen on making the switch as he is excited by the prospect of first-team football. Now it's all upto Real Madrid who will have to decide whether to let the keeper leave for free or for a nominal one.

Denis Suarez has an agreement with Unai Emery to join Arsenal

North London bound?

Unai Emery has demanded the club sell Mesut Ozil as early as possible as he looks to rope in out-of-favour Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez to the Emirates, according to The Daily Express

Mesut Ozil was left out of the Arsenal lineup against West Ham despite being present for training all week and this has raised further questions regarding his future at North London.

Emery wants to sell Ozil in order to free up the wage bill and also to fund a move for Denis Suarez who reportedly has an agreement with the former Sevilla manager.

Emery said Ozil did not make the cut as others deserved to take the field ahead of him. He explained Ozil's exclusion from the squad by saying,

“The players who were here were the ones who deserved to be at this match.

“Sometimes he is helping us, at other moments not helping us because of injury or because maybe the match is not for him.”