Premier League transfer news: Barca star to United, Gelson Martins to Liverpool and more - 17 January 2018

Chelsea v Arsenal - Carabao Cup Semi-Final: First Leg
The Alexis saga is taking quite long to be concluded

We're more than halfway through the January transfer window and the Premier League clubs are on a mission to make some moves in the market that could benefit them in the long run. No doubt, this is crunch time for any club aspiring to make signings.

As a result, we have quite a few updates here about existing links along with some fresh rumours. So without further delay, here we go!


#5 West Ham and Everton

Newcastle United v Preston North End - Sky Bet Championship
Atsu is a Traore alternative

A bit more of West Ham on this blog—which is completely understandable since David Moyes is on a mission to clear his bad repute since leaving Everton. The Scot has, according to Northern Echo, targeted Newcastle’s Christian Atsu.

The same report claims that while Adama Traore is Moyes’ first-choice, he will go for Atsu should that endeavour fail.

Meanwhile, David Moyes’ former club Everton are also among the active seekers in this window as they are looking for reinforcements to strengthen their squad. However, he might be looking at youngsters instead of experienced veterans as according to Kent Live, he is interested in acquiring the signature of Charlton starlet Alex Willis.

#4 Swansea’s steal and Tottenham’s whatever

AC Milan v KF Shkendija 79 - UEFA Europa League Qualifying Play-Offs Round: First Leg
Silva would be the quite the coup for the Swans

Lying at the bottom of the Premier League is never a good thing for any team. And Swansea City find themselves in that perilous situation. They have to strengthen their team if they want to stay in the division and the first place they should start finding reinforcements for is their forward line.

The Swans have scored only 14 times in 23 Premier League games and, as a result, are targeting Milan’s Andre Silva, according to The Guardian. The same report also claims that the 1st placed Championship team, Wolves, are also in the reckoning for him.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have been linked with a host of players in this mill, but are yet to make a signing. One of the players that have been heavily associated with the club is James Maddison. According to Evening Standard, Spurs are keen to sign him, but Norwich want to hold on to him and will ask for at least £20 million for his signature.

#3 Liverpool and Arsenal

Portugal v Mexico: Group A - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017
Martins is a talented winger

The Merseyside outfit is another club that will be very busy in the final few days of the transfer window—in the transfer rumours’ section, of course. The Reds have some money to spend after Coutinho’s departure, so they are surely one club to write about.

Anyways, according to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Roma are looking to sell Ederson Palmieri to the Premier League with Liverpool in pole position. The price set by the Roman club is €25 million.

A player that is being linked with both Liverpool and Arsenal is Sporting’s Gelson Martins. According to Record, Arsenal are highly interested in the talented player, who they see as an Alexis Sanchez replacement while Liverpool are also in the race for him.

The winger has a €60 million release clause in his contract.

#2 Mkhi-Sanchez saga

Manchester United v Derby County - The Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Raiola is playing hardball here

Mino, Mino, Mino… what a man this agent is. Apparently, Mino Raiola is stalling Sanchez’s deal to United due to Mkhitaryan’s transfer to Arsenal. He revealed to The Times that Sanchez’s deal depends on Mkhitaryan accepting to join Arsenal.

“Manchester United are not going to sign Sanchez unless Mkhi agrees to join Arsenal,” Raiola told the outlet

“Mkhi is going to do what is best for him. He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract so it’s his decision. Sanchez is part of the Mkhi deal, not the other way around.”

Meanwhile, the Mirror claims that the real intention of Mino Raiola is to earn a lot of money from ‘Mkhi’ joining Arsenal—more than £5 million as agent fee—while also securing a pay-rise for his Armenian client, who earns £150,000-a-week and, according to the Daily Record, wants to be the best-paid footballer at Arsenal.

#1 Manchester madness

International Champions Cup 2016 - Leicester City v Barcelona
Vidal could actually be a good signing for United

These last 14 days of the transfer window is going to feature a lot of madness from Manchester. It is only natural, don’t you think? After all, United have been the most active club in the rumours’ section. So if they don’t finish with more of the same, it would just be a shame.

Estadio Deportivo claims that Manchester United have held talks with Aleix Vidal’s representatives. The Spaniard has fallen further down the pecking order as he now the third choice right-back at Barcelona after Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo. Liverpool’s name has also been mentioned in the report.

Meanwhile, according to this report from Manchester Evening News, Manchester City have narrowed down their transfer target list to just one player after losing out on Alexis Sanchez. The Citizens are now said to be looking at defender Inigo Martinez, who could cost around £28 million.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith