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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. The January football transfer window may be over but that has done little to keep the rumour mill shut. Clubs are already drawing up plans and finalizing their strategies ahead of a busy summer and we are in no shortage for some exciting updates on the transfer front.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 5th February 2019.
Eric Bailly given assurance of a Manchester United future
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain were rumoured to have been flying around, eager to bring the unsettled Ivory Coast international home during the summer after having fallen out of favour under former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. However, things have taken a turn for the better as far as Bailly's United career is concerned.
Also see: La Liga Transfer News | La Liga Fixtures
According to The Sun, Eric Bailly has been assured of a Manchester United future. However, Bailly has hardly been the go-to central defender under new caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as well. He has started only two Premier League game since Solskjaer took charge and got himself red carded on the first occasion.
The report claims that the manager and the player had a conversation recently where Solskjaer informed Bailly that he is a huge part of his future plans at Manchester United.
When the Red Devils take on Paris Saint-Germain in a week's time, they will look to Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly to deal with the electrifying pace of Kylian Mbappe who will lead the PSG frontline alongside Edinson Cavani in the absence of Neymar.
Arsenal wanted to sign Eric Bailly in January on a potential loan deal. However, United weren't going to let that happen. The Red Devils are now sitting at 5th on the Premier League table having overtaken the Gunners.
Liverpool eyeing Lorenzo Insigne to bolster their attack
A tepid display against West Ham which saw the Reds squander a wonderful opportunity to widen the gap at the top of the table has evoked a slight sense of dread amongst the fans with Manchester City breathing down their necks. Saving Salah, Firmino and Mane, Liverpool's attack is pretty thin and this hasn't gone unnoticed by Jurgen Klopp.
According to The Guardian (via La Repubblica), Liverpool tabled a £61 million offer for Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli. However, they were apprehensive of their rating of the player and did not want to approach Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis for fear of being rebuffed criminally.
The report claims that Raiola took the offer to Napoli and they dismissed it straight away as it was nowhere near their valuation of the Italian. However, this does not mean that Napoli and Liverpool will not hold meetings over a potential deal. De Laurentiis is expected to accept a bid in the ballpark of €150 million
Jose Mourinho wants Inter job back
According to Calcio Mercato (via Libero), the 'Special One' wants to make a historic return to the San Siro and manage Inter Milan with whom he has won a Champions League before his time at Real Madrid.
As per the report, the Nerazzurri job is high on Mourinho's wishlist and has had his agent Jorge Mendes contact Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio and Marotta to let them know as well.
The report suggests that there is no guarantee that Luciano Spalletti will be in charge of Inter Milan next season. Marotta confirmed that Spalletti will be in charge of Inter Milan until the end of the season but he hasn't said the same for the club's future beyond that.
However, Marotta wants former Chelsea and Juventus coach Antonio Conte to take over at the helm. But now that Mourinho has emerged as a strong contender, anything can happen.
Eden Hazard makes up his mind and is ready to inform Chelsea he wants Real Madrid move
After several bouts of public flirtation, Eden Hazard has finally decided that he is going to go ahead and do what he can to secure a dream switch to Real Madrid. According to the Telegraph, the Belgian is now ready to make a move to Los Blancos and is all set to inform Chelsea of the same.
The report suggests that Eden Hazard has not informed Chelsea of his decision yet. Talks over a new contract have not progressed as Hazard has been torn between the Blues and the Blancos.
Eden Hazard's current contract at Chelsea will run out in 2020. Despite that, Chelsea have slapped a £100 million price tag on the talismanic attacker.
According to the report, Hazard said that he has made his decision in a documentary for RMC Sport, wherein he said,
“I know what I will do. I have made my decision.”
Barcelona will first talk to club before they will with Isco for potential move
Isco has been unsettled at Real Madridfor quite a while now. The playmaker has fallen out of favour under coach Santiago Solari and has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Now Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has come out and claimed that the Cules will first talk to Real Madrid and register an interest in the Spaniard before entering into talks with the player himself.
Bartomeu spoke out on how Barcelona would approach Real Madrid ahead of Barcelona's first leg of the Copa Clasico. He told El Partidazo de COPE (courtesy: Goal.com)
"If our coaches asked us for a player and they want to leave Madrid, of course we would sign them,"
"But it has not happened since I'm here.
"There are no non-aggression pacts. Each one tries to make their team more competitive.
"Isco? For the sake of Real Madrid I would speak with the president of Real Madrid [Florentino Perez]."
