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Hello and welcome to the Premier League latest transfer news and rumours for the day! There are two more days to go in the winter market and here are the biggest stories of the day surrounding the Premier League…
#5 Rakitic to Chelsea
Ivan Rakitic’s name has been linked with Chelsea for a couple days now but it seems as though the Catalans want to sell him rather than Chelsea really wanting him, at least that is what Guillem Balague claims.
The Spanish journalist revealed that Barca have a problem with their ever-increasing wage bill and that they still want to bring Adrien Rabiot, which is why they will have to sell some players.
"The problem with Barcelona is they are increasing the wage list, having decreased it of course," he said.
"But with the signing of De Jong, they’re trying to get (Adrien) Rabiot, they may have to get rid of some players.”
He then added that De Jong was actually informed that two regular players shall be sold and one of them is Rakitic.
"In fact, De Jong was told by him coming in meant that two regulars were going to go.
"One of them could be Rakitic, that’s what Barcelona is trying - to get rid of Rakitic.”
However, it would be difficult to let go of the player as according to Balague, the Croat is happy at Barcelona and his name being linked to Chelsea has more to do with the Blaugrana wanting him out.
"But Rakitic will tell you he’s 31, he’s absolutely happy at Barcelona.
"To go somewhere else will have to be something absolutely amazing, there’s nothing like that on the table.
"The cover of Sport had Rakitic linked to Chelsea but right now no offer of any kind because it’s more like Barcelona wanted to push out."
#4 Sarri asks Hazard to leave
Eden Hazard and Maurizio Sarri might not be sharing the best of relationships. In fact, it has now gotten to the point where the Italian has actually asked the player to leave if he so desires.
Hazard has been vocal about his dream to play for Real Madrid and while Sarri did ask him to leave, he also added that he hopes the Belgian stays and improves at Stamford Bridge.
"Eden is 28 so, if he wants to go, I think he has to go. I hope the opposite. I hope he wants to stay and improve,” Sarri said.
He then went on to suggest that Hazard has not reached his full potential yet and his comments in the press are just a way to motivate the Belgian captain.
“He has the potential to be the best player in Europe and, sometimes, he's happy with something less. “
“It's my job to improve him and put him in a position to do his best. Sometimes that means I have to say something [critical] in the press to do that. It's normal. It's my job."
#3 David Seaman on Arsenal
Former Arsenal star David Seaman has opined that the Gunners don’t really need Denis Suarez. Unai Emery is set to have the Spaniard in his team before the transfer window slams shut but David Seaman thinks he is getting the wrong player.
According to him, Arsenal already have a lot of midfielders and that they should be focused on bringing defenders because of the injury problems the Gunners have faced this season.
“We don’t need midfielders, we need defenders,” Seaman said.
“We’ve got big injuries to quite a few of them already, we need good defenders coming in.
“Emery knows him [Suarez] and likes what he sees, but for me we’re crying out for defenders.”
With Yannick Carrasco and Denis Suarez linked, it seems as though the Gunners might not be signing the players Seaman wants.
#2 West Ham want Maxi Gomez
So far, so London. It feels like this transfer window is for the London clubs alone as most of the stories in the media are about them. In this one, we have something on the Hammers, who are apparently interested in Maxi Gomez.
According to Dharmesh Sheth, if West Ham wants to sign Gomez in this window, then they would have to pay his release clause in full, which is around €50 million. However, Celta would be willing to accept a lower price if West Ham tries to sign him in the summer.
“The information I was getting for someone who was close to the deal was saying that there were 2 different prices: one if they bought him in January and they’d want the full release clause, but if West Ham waited and bought him in the summer then there would be a reduction in the price,” he said.
#1 Chelsea
A lot of stories in the mill are just about Chelsea. As a result, it would be very safe to claim that they have overtaken Manchester United as the most popular club in this space.
Today, according to reports in Spain, Real Madrid signing Eden Hazard could end up if Philippe Coutinho joins Chelsea for €120 million.
The report adds Florentino Perez already has an agreement with Hazard for a move in the summer and that Coutinho’s stock has fallen with the rise of Ousmane Dembele.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have rejected inquiries from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus for defender Andreas Christensen according to this report. He might not have played many minutes under Sarri but Chelsea has no intention of letting him go right now.
For more Premier League transfer news and rumours, visit our EPL Transfer News page!
