'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hello and welcome to the Premier League latest transfer news and rumours of the day! The transfer window has officially opened and here are the top stories surrounding the Premier League.
#5 Brahim Diaz update
Manchester City midfielder Brahim Diaz is on his way to join Real Madrid in the winter transfer window. The Spaniard rejected all of City’s offers to sign an extension as he has made up his mind to be at the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to Duncan Castles, the midfielder wants to play more, which is why he wants to move to Madrid. The Galacticos, meanwhile, want to make a statement in the winter market.
"Diaz wants to get out and he wants to play so he's pushing for the move to happen and Madrid, from their point of view, want to announce the transfer and have something to show in the January window,” Castles said.
Castles then added that the Merengues initially offered €10 million for him while the Etihad outfit wanted €20 million. The compromise, according to the pundit, is somewhere in between those two figures.
Also See: Manchester Transfer News | EPL Fixtures | EPL Table
As a result, the Manchester outfit are set to get some money in the least for the talented midfielder – something that Manchester United weren’t able to when Paul Pogba joined Juventus on a Bosman transfer.
"They've offered €10million as an immediate transfer fee to City, who have asked for €20m. It looks like it will be settled halfway between them.
"It's not determined yet but City are definitely going to get a reasonable chunk of money for a player who is extremely talented and who will probably be worth a lot more down the line.
"But they have dodged the bullet of the Paul Pogba situation which is having one of your top academy players poached by a leading European rival for essentially nothing."
#4 Higuain to Chelsea
Ever since Maurizio Sarri moved to Chelsea, Gonzalo Higuain has been linked with the Blues. The Argentine forward was exceptional under the tutelage of Sarri at Napoli and two could reunite in London.
At least that is what football finance expert Kieran Maguire seems to believe. According to him, this is Higuain’s last chance to join the Premier League as he is the most likely to move given that he is currently playing on loan at Milan.
“The most likely transfer is if you’ve got an existing player on loan at the club,” he told Starsport. “But they may be looking to move on too.
“So you’d be looking at someone like [Gonzalo] Higuain. He is currently on loan, so it would make sense. If he wants to move to the Premier League, it’s now or never.”
#3 Leicester City and West Ham
Leicester City might be 8th in the Premier League and comfortably above the relegation zone but their hierarchy might not yet be convinced with manager Claude Puel.
According to Mirror, the Foxes are interested in bringing in Rafa Benitez from Newcastle United as the Spaniard’s contract expires in the summer. The report adds that Leicester owner Top Srivaddhanaprabha is a big admirer of the former Real Madrid manager.
Meanwhile, West Ham have only just signed Samir Nasri but it seems as though he isn’t going to be the only arrival in the winter. According to Miliyet, West Ham have upped their offer to sign Gary Medel from Besiktas.
They initially offered €7 million but the Turkish outfit rejected it as they want close to €10 million. And now, the Hammers have made a €8.5 million for the player.
#2 Spurs wanted Balde
Former Lazio striker Keita Balde had interest from Spurs before he moved to Inter on a loan deal from Monaco. The Senegalese forward has scored only four goals for the Nerazzurri so far this season, which might be a bit of a relief for the Londoners.
According to his agent Roberto Calenda, Tottenham asked for him in January last year.
“There were other teams, last January Napoli had moved, then we received a call from Tottenham,” he said.
When asked whether there is still a chance for the aforementioned two clubs to sign him, Calenda was confident that Inter would manage to find a way to pay €34 million to sign the superstar permanently, which means he is essentially out of bounds now.
“He will not be another [Joao] Cancelo because Inter will find a way to redeem him. There is time between now and May.
“The figure? We need 34 million euros, but it is a figure that falls within the parameters of this type of player. If he does what he has to do, do not doubt his stay in Milan.”
#1 Manchester madness ft. Mo Salah
Manchester United seem to be on a roll after hiring Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their interim manager. The players look fresher but it doesn’t stop the Red Devils from being linked with superstars.
The Old Trafford outfit still want Kalidou Koulibaly as, according to Gazetta Dello Sport, any team that wants to buy him will have to pay €120 million in order to acquire his services. Long shot for the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, according to Don Balon, Mohamed Salah is open to leaving Liverpool in the summer transfer market. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested in him but the Catalans might not be able to sign any Liverpool player for a while, giving Madrid the edge on this one.
For more Premier League transfer news and rumours, visit our EPL Transfer News page!
