Real Madrid and Manchester United to battle it out for €120 million star, Chelsea want Barcelona superstar as Eden Hazard replacement and more: Transfer Roundup, 7 February 2019

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's daily transfer roundup. It's February and we should be having a relatively quiet time on the transfer front. However, that's not the case. Top clubs all across Europe are already drawing up plans for the upcoming summer transfer window.

This winter transfer window was much quieter than the previous one. This can only mean that the top clubs are all planning to invest heavily in the summer so that they don't upset their rhythm halfway through the season.

Also see : EPL Transfer News, Copa America Standings, Gold Cup Standings.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 7 February 2019.

Emmanuel Petit slams Arsenal's transfer policy

With Aaron Ramsey set to depart on a free in the summer, Mesut Ozil's expensive future looking nothing but an ordeal in profligacy and a lack of transfer activity in the winter transfer window, former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has in an interview with The Independent, called the Gunners out over their transfer policy.

Petit has questioned the support that the club is offering Unai Emery and has said that there is no point to his appointment following Wenger's sacking if the manager will not be backed. Petit said,

"The frustration level must be very high for Emery, as in only his second transfer window as Arsenal manager he was told he cannot sign anybody,"

"You look at the money Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City spend and, unless you join them and put the cash on the table to compete for the best players, you are going nowhere.

"If you sack Arsene Wenger and then say to the guy who replaces him 'you have no money to spend on new players', I would ask; what was the point of sacking Wenger in the first place?”

Tiemoue Bakayoko wants to stay at Milan beyond the summer

Tiemoue Bakayoko endured a torrid spell at Chelsea and ended up getting booed by his own supporters. However, that looks very much a thing of the past now as Bakayoko continues to enjoy his fresh lease of life at the San Siro after joining the Rossoneri on a loan deal.

Bakayoko recently told French newspaper Nice Matin (courtesy: Sky Sports) that he would like to make his stay permanent.

"Things are going well for the club and I right now,"

"Then you have the atmosphere at San Siro, which is extraordinary. Milan are a legendary club. Who wouldn't like to stay at a club like Milan for a long time?

"Having said that, I'm still under contract with Chelsea for the next three years. I don't have all the cards.”

Would Chelsea take him back after all? Chelsea have no dearth for midfielders but are struggling to get their combination right.

Juventus set to meet Mino Raiola over potential swap deal for De Ligt

De Ligt has been impressive at centre-back for Ajax this season

Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt has an army of admirers. Juventus have been keeping tabs on the promising youngster for quite a long time and are now trying to engineer a swap deal for him, according to TuttoSport.

Mino Raiola is De Ligt's agent and Juventus are preparing to meet him in Turin over the coming days. Il Bianconeri want to talk with Raiola over a potential deal in the summer which would also involve young striker Moise Kean.

The 18-year-old striker wanted to move in the summer in search of more game time. However, it is understood that Max Allegri blocked that move. As per the report, now Juventus are open to sending Moise Kean on loan or on a permanent deal to Ajax if that will help convince Ajax to sell De Ligt to the Turin outfit.

Chelsea want Philippe Coutinho as Eden Hazard replacement

Coutinho is struggling to make an impact at Barcelona

Chelsea are growing increasingly resigned to the fact that they will lose Eden Hazard in the summer. As a result, they are already cooking up contingency plans and prominent among them is a potential move for out-of-favour Barcelona ace Philippe Coutinho, according to the Independent.

As per the report, Chelsea are keeping an eye on the Brazilian whose future is growing increasingly uncertain at the Camp Nou after yet another dismal performance; this time in El Clasico where he was tipped to shine in the absence of Lionel Messi.

Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in the playmaker. Coutinho joined Barcelona in the winter transfer window of 2018 amid huge fanfare. He started brilliantly but ever since his form has faded and has hit disappointing lows.

Liverpool are not keen on taking him back to Anfield. However, Barcelona have now sent a message to the interested clubs. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Marca,

‘We expect a lot from him [Coutinho],’

‘We do not want to sell him, he’s one of the good players we want to have.’

Real Madrid and Manchester United to battle it out for 'new Cristiano Ronaldo'

Los Blancos and the Red Devils are keeping tabs on Benfica youngster Joao Felix who broke out on the scene only earlier this year but has already been dubbed the 'new Cristiano Ronaldo', according to ESPN.

Joao Felix made his debut for the senior Benfica team earlier this year and has already scored 8 goals this season including quite a few very important ones including a late equalizer in the Lisbon derby against Sporting.

ESPN's source claims that Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and West Ham are all keeping an eye on the 19-year-old.

However, Benfica have placed Felix's release clause at €120 million in order to protect their asset. In an interview with TuttoSport, Felix revealed that his dream is to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

He said,