Live Football Transfer Blog: EPL, LaLiga and Rest of Europe (22nd January)

Catch all the transfer news from across the globe LIVE!

Finally the Sanchez saga is over. Phew, I thought this would go on forever. Anyways, see ya tomorrow. Ciao!

ALEXIS' MESSAGE FOR ARSENAL

"I want to say thanks to the Technical Staff, to the medical team and all teammates with whom I shared many nice things for the club and especially those people who do not see themselves on the covers, but without them nothing would be possible, which are there to prepare food for us and take care of us day by day, those who keep our shoes clean and the grass in the best conditions. Many thanks to you for helping us to improve every day. Thank you very much.

"There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage. I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked to the Mister to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution.I remember today, a conversation I had with Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn.

"Thanks for everything Gunners! All we achieved and the good moments that I gave to the club, I want to dedicate it to the fans, they are the most important. Thanks for every time you sing Alexis Sanchez Baby."

GET EXCITED! 😝@DeBruyneKev has today signed a new contract at the Club!

INFO ▶️ https://t.co/NGc7Vqh62x #mancity pic.twitter.com/bj1YuseMgG
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 22, 2018

Welcome to Arsenal, @HenrikhMkh 👊https://t.co/NqL8qq1uGK
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 22, 2018

🎹 Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Introducing #Alexis7…#GGMU #MUFC @Alexis_Sanchez pic.twitter.com/t9RIIx4mE4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 22, 2018

Guardiola's squad is pushing for Shahtar Donetsk's Fred in January.

The transfer from the Ukrainian club to the figure of 30-40 million euros. The player wants the transfer.

Video technology: Football lawmakers IFAB say 98.9% decision accuracy with VAR over 804 competitive matches. Say 100% accuracy impossible due to human perception and subjectivity in decision-making. #SSN
— Bryan Swanson (@skysports_bryan) January 22, 2018

Leicester City have shortlisted Monaco full-back Almamy Touré as an alternative target to Marseille's Bouna Sarr.

Congratulations to @HKane, who our fans have voted as the @VauxhallEngland Men’s Player of the Year! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/y7ZuA7DPUL
— England (@England) January 22, 2018

BREAKING: FIFA executive Philippe Le Floc'h says video replays will be used at this summer's World Cup. #SSN pic.twitter.com/gVxGsL7BDD
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 22, 2018

Jonny Evans can leave West Brom for £3 million in the summer if the club are relegated from the Premier League.

Manchester City are interested in signing the former Manchester United centre-half, while Arsenal have also been linked with a January bid.

Reports have suggested Evans would cost upwards of £20m in the January transfer window, but he could move on at the end of the season for a cut-price fee, if 19th-placed West Brom fail to stay up.

Arsenal have made an enquiry about signing Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.

Arsene Wenger is in the market for a new centre-half and fears missing out to Manchester City on a deal for West Brom’s Jonny Evans.

If that proves to be the case, Wenger plans a move for Evans’ former United team-mate Smalling once the swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been completed.

AUBAMEYANG LATEST

A source close to negotiations has told Sky Germany it is a difficult transfer, and nothing is expected in the next couple of days, with a number of intermediaries involved.

Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Olivier Giroud this month.

Sven Mislintat, Arsenal’s head of recruitment, is an important negotiator in the deal. Mislintat joined the club from Dortmund last November.

No fee has been agreed between clubs.

Edin Dzeko wants reassurances of regular football before agreeing to join Chelsea as Emerson Palmieri is set to fly to London to complete a switch to Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle United are hopeful of signing two players this week as they look to give Rafa Benitez the transfer boost he's looking for before the window closes for business.

Bayern Munich watched Ajax’s teenage defender Matthijs de Ligt during Sunday’s 2-0 home win over Feyenoord.

The 18-year-old, who is under contract at Ajax until 2021, has repeatedly been linked with a move to Barcelona after establishing himself as one of the brightest defensive prospects in Europe.

BREAKING: Bordeaux manager Gus Poyet rules out Malcom leaving club in January. #SSN pic.twitter.com/8QGetT1GRS
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 22, 2018

After pulling out of the race for Thomas Lemar, Liverpool have turned their attention to Christian Pulisic.

The Reds moved away from Monaco's Lemar due to his £100 million price tag, but they believe Pulisic has a similiar skill set.

Balotelli is waiting for an offer to return to Italy. It would be from Juventus, who want him for free in the summer to accompany Higuain in attack.

Shanghai SIPG midfielder Odil Ahmedov has revealed that he still regrets the day that he was unable to complete a move to Arsenal.

Back in 2012, the Uzbekistan captain was close to sealing a permanent transfer to the Gunners from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala during the summer window. However, the move was halted by the Dagestan club's billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov.

West Ham assistant manager Stuart Pearce watched Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker against Genk on Sunday.

Manchester United have held a long-standing interest in Dendoncker, with Anderlecht recently insisting only an ‘insane’ bid will persuade them to sell in the January transfer window.

#VälkommenErdal! 👋

Erdal Rakip has joined #CPFC 🦅 on loan from @SLBenfica until the end of the season!

Find out more 👇https://t.co/cXVayOCkIo pic.twitter.com/olXckw1zHc
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 22, 2018

West Ham United’s Marko Arnautovic is the latest name on Chelsea’s list of potential January striker signings.

Chelsea are in the market for a new forward and had been interested in Arnautovic’s team-mate Andy Carroll before injury scuppered a possible deal.

Stoke City’s Peter Crouch – a former team-mate of Arnautovic’s – and Burnley’s Ashley Barnes are other names under consideration before the transfer deadline.

Ronaldo on his future: "I'm thinking about buying a club in the second division in Spain or England. I want to do something innovative. I think I'm prepared for the challenge."

Sky in Italy are reporting that Swansea have offered £9m for Ajax winger Amin Younes.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has been tempted by a €100 million offer from Bayern Munich.

The Welshman was on top form on Sunday, scoring twice to help his side recover from a goal down to destroy Deportivo 7-1.

But his future at the Bernabeu has long been in question, and Bayern may join long-term admirers Manchester United in fighting for his signature.

On Sturridge. Sevilla have not made any offer for him so it is only Inter or he stays at #LFC. Club fighting for 3 competitions so happy if he stays put

El Sevilla no ha hecho oferta por Sturridge. Así que Inter o se queda pic.twitter.com/lJFE600Ow8
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) January 22, 2018

There seems a good deal of hope around Chelsea that they will sign both Emerson Palmeieri and Edin Dzeko. As reported on Friday, key talks today #cfc
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) January 22, 2018

West Ham the latest Premier League club to show an interest in Chievo's Samuel Bastien. Huddersfield and Bournemouth have also made enquiries over Belgian midfielder #whufc
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) January 22, 2018

Cristiano Ronaldo may be prepared to lower his wages in order to find a way out of Real Madrid.

The Portugal international has cut a frustrated figure in Spain in recent weeks, amid reports he would be interested in returning to Manchester United. And to make the move happen, Ronaldo could even decrease his current salary in order to attract more transfer attention.

Nicolas Gaitan apparently has five options as he looks to resolve his future away from Atletico Madrid.

The 29-year-old is a Swansea transfer target, but that move does not appeal to him, according to Marca.It is said he would prefer a return to Boca Juniors, while Inter, Monterrey and Shanghai Shenhua also want him.

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has agreed an 18-month contract with Getafe.

The French international is a free agent, having been released by Crystal Palace in the summer, and has been training with the Spanish club over the last month in a bid to win a contract.

Look who’s here! 😍@Persie_Official #RVPISBACK pic.twitter.com/IHIHoGCG3q
— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) January 22, 2018

Cristian Pavon has opened the door to a possible €37 million move to Arsenal by admitting his future could lie away from Boca Juniors.

Pavon is tied to a contract at Boca until 2022, but is reported to have a €37m release clause in that deal.

Sky in Italy are saying Chelsea could complete deals to sign Roma duo Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri today.

Chelsea have improved their offer in the last few hours but are trying to work out whether to include Michy Batshuayi on loan as part of the deal.

Dzeko’s agent is expected in London between tonight and tomorrow while Emerson’s representatives are happy and are just waiting for the nod from the clubs.

Roma are asking for 50m euros plus 10m in bonus.

Olivier Giroud will join Borussia Dortmund on loan for the rest of the season if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes a move to Arsenal.

Key figures from Arsenal travelled to Germany on Sunday to hold talks with Dortmund over a deal for Aubameyang, having made their first offer of €50 million on Saturday.

Dortmund reportedly want at least €60m for Aubameyang, but will also accept Giroud joining on an initial loan deal for the rest of the season as part of an agreement to get the deal done.

Despite transfer talk surrounding Juan Mata and a possible return to Valencia, the Manchester United midfielder has NO intention of leaving Old Trafford.

The Valencia-based newspaper says that although the La Liga side may be interested in him, Mata has turned them down before, and there's no reason to think he'll change his mind this time.

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal in principle to sign Poland international defender Jaroslaw Jach, according to Sky sources.

The 23-year-old centre-back plays for Zaglebie Lubin, who are fifth in the Polish first division. Jach is reportedly in London for a medical.

A deal is expected to be completed in the next few days and could be announced today.

Athletic Club and @kepa_46 have signed the renewal contract by which the player will remain in the rojiblanca discipline until 30 June 2025. His cancellation clause will be 80 million Euros. #athletic pic.twitter.com/4lDrSCFIha
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) January 22, 2018

Alexis Sanchez just needs work permit changing now. No office in Manchester.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) January 22, 2018

Daniel Sturridge has told Liverpool he wants a move to Sevilla.

Jurgen Klopp will allow Daniel Sturridge to leave and the 28-year-old has been widely linked with a move to Inter Milan.

Inter are understood to want a loan deal, with an option to buy, but they are not willing to pay the €40m (£35m) Liverpool want to make the move permanent, according to Sky in Italy.

Hello again. Time to get back on to the transfer train...