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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's daily transfer roundup. We are just a little more than a week away from the opening of the January transfer window. The festive period is here already and there is a lot of footballing action going on in Europe, especially so in England.
The clubs are keeping themselves busy off the pitch as well. If last January's transfer activity is anything to go by, clubs are no longer shying away from splurging in the winter transfer window like they used to earlier.
With several top clubs struggling domestically and in Europe, we expect quite a few big-money moves to go over the line over the course of January. Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 23 January 2018.
Solskjaer plotting to bring Josh King to Manchester United
According to The Sun, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to bring former Manchester United junior player and current Bournemouth striker Josh King to Manchester United.
Manchester United's new caretaker manager has reportedly insisted that he will have a say on the club's transfer business. Solskjaer has worked with Josh King while the striker, now 26 years old was learning his trade at Old Trafford.
The Norwegian was in charge of the reserves when King was struggling to make a name for himself at Old Trafford in the u-17 and u-18 circuits. Josh King has shone for the Cherries following their promotion.
After scoring 16 goals in their first season back in the Premier League, King scored 9 last term. He has already netted 5 times this season. However, Cherries' manager Eddie Howe wants to keep King at the club.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the young striker as well and therefore, Manchester United do not have an easy route to signing him.
Isco plotting a move to Manchester City
Isco, who has fallen out of favour at Real Madrid and with his future hanging in the balance, is now looking to plot a move to Manchester City, as per The Daily Express. As Real Madrid look increasingly closer to securing the signing of Eden Hazard, Isco believes that his time at the Santiago Bernabeu may well be up.
Manchester City are not keen on doing business in January but are reportedy weighing up a move for the Spaniard in the summer. Pep Guardiola is a fan of the attacking midfielder and will reportedly take him to Etihad at the blink of an eye.
Hazard's contract will run out at the end of next season and hence, selling him this season will be their last chance at cashing in on the Belgian. Meanwhile, Isco was recently booed throughout the game at the Santiago Bernabeu by the faithful and the relationship between the player as the club has strained considerably following Julen Lopetegui's exit.
PSG make enquiry about Allan to Napoli
According to Calcio Mercato via Corriere Dello Sport, Paris Saint-Germain have made enquired about Allan's availability to Napoli as the Ligue 1 champions look for a replacement for Adrien Rabiot who is set to depart at the end of the season.
Rabiot looks all set to join Barcelona at the end of the season. Brazilian midfielder Allan has been in top form for Carlo Ancelotti's side and will be a worthy replacement for the Frenchman.
The report adds that Napoli are currently hesitant to let Allan leave. But that could change if they are able to sign Cagliari's Nicolo Barella. Napoli, however, will have to beat Inter Milan to Barella's signing as Il Nerazzurri have also been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old Italian.
Chelsea and AC Milan wait for Juve's greenlight to swap Morata for Higuain
Maurizio Sarri is ready to send Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata back to Italy in exchange for veteran striker Gonzalo Higuain, according to Sky Sports. However, Higuain is currently on loan at AC Milan and hence the deal is a lot more complicated than it actually sounds.
Sarri and Higuain have worked together at Napoli and the Argentine produced his finest performances in Italy under the current Chelsea manager. But their reunion will depend upon whether or not Juve will greenlight the move.
Higuain was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea last summer. However, he ended up joining AC Milan on a £16.3 million loan deal. Il Rossoneri have the option to make the move permanent by paying £32 million.
However, if Juventus okay the swap deal, AC Milan will transfer their obligation to pay over to Chelsea and the Blues will have to furnish the rest of the transfer fee.
Sarri talked highly of Higuain when he was recently quizzed at a press conference. But he refused to talk about a potential deal.
Sarri said,
"As you know, I like him very much. He is a wonderful player, a wonderful man.
"But I don't want to talk about Higuain. I have two strikers, two-and-a-half at the moment, and Gonzalo is playing for AC Milan. It's better not to talk about him at the moment."
Barcelona ready to rival Real Madrid and launch a bid for Marcus Rashford
Barcelona are looking to find a suitable replacement for the ageing Luis Suarez. To that end, they have now compiled a dossier on the Manchester United forward and are ready to launch a bid to sign him, according to The Daily Express.
Real Madrid are also looking for a striker who can take over from Karim Benzema. Los Blancos have hence been keeping tabs on Marcus Rashford whose future seems uncertain at Old Trafford.
The youngster's growth had stagnated under Jose Mourinho's regime. The report claims that the Mancunian could look for an exit if things do not significantly change for the better under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Marcus Rashford scored a stunning freekick from 25 yards out in Solskjaer's first game as Manchester United manager and looks set to play a crucial role as another rebuilding project takes shape at Old Trafford and hence, prising him away could prove to be a difficult task.
