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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. We are 12 days away from January and that means that we're less than 2 weeks away from the opening of the January transfer window.
The rumour mill is busier than ever and it turns out none of the big clubs are going to hold back from splashing their cash in the winter transfer window. In the past, teams have shied away from spending big in January but that trend has changed of late.
As such, we expect several high-profile deals to go over the line over the course of the next few weeks. And here we have the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 19 December 2018.
Crystal Palace looking to sign Dominic Solanke on loan
According to the Evening Standard, The Eagles want Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke on loan in January. Crystal Palace's struggles in front of goal have worsened and thus manager Roy Hodgson wants to onboard players who can bolster his team's attacking ranks.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is also reportedly keeping an eye on the England u21 international. Solanke is yet to feature for Liverpool this season and would certainly be open for a loan move if that would mean getting some time on the field.
Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek improved greatly over the course of his stay at Selhurst Park and therefore, the Eagles are hoping that Solanke will draw inspiration from the same and join in January.
Crystal Palace are currently at 15th on the Premier League table, just 3 points off the drop zone. With limited funds to bank on during the winter, a loan deal for a promising striker like Dominic Solanke is about as attractive as a deal could get for Roy Hodgson's unit.
Manchester United had tabled an offer for Koulibaly; move now impossible
So it turns out the board had decided to back Jose Mourinho in the winter and get him the defender that he wants after all. The Red Devils reportedly made a whopping £95 million offer for the Senegalese defender. However, De Laurentiis has now confirmed that Napoli rejected that bid.
Speaking at a Corriere del Mezzogiorno event, De Laurentiis said,
"[Jose] Mourinho wanted him, we rejected £95 million,
But now it's impossible that he leaves Napoli."
Jose Mourinho has now been sacked by Manchester United and thus are expected to play the winter transfer window slightly differently than previously ordained.
Mourinho had made his discontent in not getting a defensive signing in the summer heard quite publicly and it all contributed to the negativity that enveloped the club; something that inevitably led to the 'Special One' getting the sack.
Arsenal lead the race to sign Lille winger Nicolas Pepe
Nicolas Pepe has been one of the head-turners from Ligue 1 this term. The Ivory Coast international has been on fire for Lille and has played a pivotal part in their impressive campaign so far.
Arsenal are, as per Daily Star, leading the race to sign the winger who has already scored 12 goals and registered 6 assists so far in Ligue 1 this season. The report adds that Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in securing the services of Pepe and hence the Gunners will have to act immediately.
The report adds that French publication L'Equipe has reported that Lille have changed their stance and are now open for talks regarding the 23-year-old.
Out-of-favour Isco could join Chelsea in the coming days
The Real Madrid superstar Isco, who has been banished to the sidelines at the Bernabeu is all set to be offered a way out of the Bernabeu by Chelsea, according to The Sun. Chelsea are reportedly ready to launch a £70 million bid today.
To prise him away, Chelsea are going to offer Isco a £250,000-a-week contract. The report also claims that Isco is thus all prepared to snub Arsenal and force a move to Chelsea.
Earlier reports had suggested that Isco has been denied a meeting with Florentino Perez and is growing increasingly frustrated under the regime of Santiago Solari. Isco was recently booed throughout the game at Santiago Bernabeu and did not respond well to it.
Los Blancos' top brass is reportedly sceptical of Isco's attitude and are open to selling him if he publicly asks for a move.
Adrien Rabiot agrees terms with Barcelona
Adrien Rabiot has chosen his destination. He will move to the Camp Nou when his current contract with Ligue 1 champions PSG expire in the summer, according to the Express (via Le Parisien).
The report claims that the French midfielder will leave the club in the coming months. Rabiot has been sidelined after he rejected multiple contract extension offers.
With his current contract running out in the upcoming summer, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea and even Juventus were reported to be interested in Rabiot.
The Cules have been on the lookout for a midfielder of Rabiot's credentials to replace the ageing Sergio Busquets and it now looks like they've got their man.
