Football Live Transfer Blog: EPL, La Liga, and Rest of Europe [3rd January 2017]

All the best transfer news and rumours in one place

Updated: 04 January 2017 11:00 IST - Published: 03 January 2017 09:50 IST

Thank you for joining us on the Live Transfer Blog today! There were plenty of big rumours, with 3 big deals done as well. With about a month to go, clubs will be looking to strengthen their squads and it promises to be a crazy period of rumours and speculation.

Catch up with us tomorrow morning once again, until then, Ciao!

Julian Draxler est prêt à relever un nouveau défi avec le @PSG_inside ! 🔴🔵 #WillkommenDraxler pic.twitter.com/DgPs98Rv5w
— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside) January 3, 2017

BIGGEST DONE DEAL OF THE DAY!

JULIAN DRAXLER IS OFFICIALLY NOW A PSG PLAYER:

The German star was linked with a host of top European clubs ever since he made public his desire to leave Wolfsburg. In December, it was confirmed that PSG had beaten the likes of Arsenal to his signing and now they have made it official.

Arsenal set to offer long-term contract to Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere has been impressive in his loan spell at Bournemouth and now Arsene Wenger is reportedly set to offer a contract extension to the England midfielder

Marseille plan shock 40 million pound bid for Dimitri Payet

The West Ham star has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the transfer window, however, latest reports suggest that struggling Ligue 1 side Marseille are ready to break the bank to get Payet back.

It will come as a huge surprise if this move does indeed happen

OFFICIAL: @TomasRincon5 signs for Juventus: https://t.co/VWvYAszSnA #BienvenidoTomas pic.twitter.com/fh1jieaUCe
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) January 3, 2017

ANOTHER DONE DEAL!

Juventus complete signing of Rincon from Genoa

The Venezuelan midfielder had been in good form for Serie A side Genoa and Juventus have acted quickly and signed Rincon on a long-term contract until summer of 2020

Barcelona make contact with Everton manager Ronald Koeman

Luis Enrique's future has been subject to some speculation with some reports suggesting that he might step down as Barcelona manager in the summer.

And now, Catalan daily, Sport has reported that Barcelona might be looking at their former star and current Everton manager Ronald Koeman to take over if Enrique does indeed end up leaving in the summer

Chelsea's Musonda returns early from loan spell at Real Betis

Charly Musonda has returned to Chelsea early from his loan spell with Real Betis, the Spanish club said on Monday.Belgium under-21 international Musonda initially moved to Betis in January 2016, and the attacking midfielder extended his stay after impressing during the second half of last season.

However, he has made just one La Liga start and eight substitute appearances so far this term."Real Betis and Chelsea FC have reached an agreement to terminate the loan of player Charly Musonda Jr to the Green-and-White team," read a statement on Betis's official website.

Musonda will get a chance to establish himself at Chelsea after manager Antonio Conte said he would take a look at him and another 20-year-old returning loanee, Brazilian winger Kenedy.

Could Smalling make a shock move to Everton?

Everton interested in signing Chris Smalling

Everton are considering a January move for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling. Should Mourinho succeed in signing Victor Lindelof, Smalling could fall behind in the pecking order and manager Ronald Koeman is interested in securing the England international.

Everton have recently experienced an upturn in form and Manchester United might be reluctant to sell Smalling to a Premier League rival.

Manchester City interested in signing Bayern Munich defender Badstuber

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have not been extremely solid at the back and now according to sources in ESPN, the Spanish manager is interested in bringing Bayern Munich's Badstuber to the Etihad.

The pair have already worked together during Pep's time at Bayern and Guardiola sees him as an ideal solution to the problematic back-line.

Liverpool eyeing RB Leipzig star Emil Forsberg

25-year-old attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg has been in stunning form for Bundesliga surprise package RB Leipzig this season and now latest reports claim that Premier League giants Liverpool are interested in signing the attacker.

Forsberg has already bagged 5 goals and provided 8 assists this season and Jurgen Klopp thinks that the player suits the Liverpool style of play perfectly.

Manchester United scouting Livingston youngster

Manchester United are favourites to sign young Livingston forward Matthew Knox. The Scottish teenager is wanted by all the top clubs in the Premier League and has already had trials with Tottenham, Everton, Liverpool, Norwich City and Rangers.

He has been training with the Red Devils since Monday and reports from Daily Mail suggest that the United coaching hierarchy have been very impressed with the Scottish striker.

HUGE NEWS! - REPORTS SUGGEST DYBALA AGREES MOVE TO REAL MADRID

Juventus striker Paulo Dybala is one of the most wanted youngsters in the world and now latest reports from Mundo Deportivo claim that a deal has been agreed between Los Blancos and the Argentine.

The 23-year-old has also been linked with rivals Barcelona, but Mundo Deportivo claims that Perez is ready to spend over the odds and make Dybala the latest galactico next summer.

Although the youngster has a long-term contract with Juventus, Real Madrid are confident of convincing him to make a switch in the summer and see him as an able replacement for Karim Benzema

Sanchez has been rock solid for Ajax this season

Barcelona planning move for Ajax centre-back

Barcelona are back in the race to sign Ajax centre-back Davinson Sanchez according to reports from Spanish daily Sport. The Catalan giants were interested in the Colombian earlier, but he had rejected a move citing lack of first team opportunities.

However, Luis Enrique sees the youngster as a perfect fit in his team and is confident of convincing him to join Barcelona in this transfer window.

Dele Alli has been in fine form for Tottenham

Dele Alli to follow Bale and join Real Madrid?

Real Madrid are reportedly lining up a huge summer bid for Tottenham's Dele Alli according to the Mirror. Los Blancos are said to be keeping tabs on the attacking midfielder and he could become the third Spurs player in recent times (after Modric and Bale) to make a move to Madrid.

A move in the January transfer window is out of the question as Madrid are currently serving a transfer ban. However, Real Madrid are set to go all out in the summer and offer Alli a contract which will improve significantly on his 60,000 pounds/week wages which he is currently earning at Tottenham

WE HAVE A DONE DEAL!

Besiktas have signed Dutch forward Ryan Babel on a two-and-a-half-year contract, the Turkish side announced on Monday. The 30-year-old had been a free agent after coming to the end of a short-term contract with Deportivo La Coruna on New Year's Eve, and returns to Turkey having previously spent two years with Kasimpasa.

Babel won two Dutch titles during two separate spells with Ajax, and also played for Liverpool, Hoffenheim and Al Ain.He was part of the Dutch side that reached the 2010 World Cup final and will be charged with helping defending league champions Besiktas to overhaul unlikely leaders Istanbul Basaksehir and retain their title.

Arsene Wenger interested in signing Miralem Pjanic

According to reports from the Sun, Wenger has opened talks with Juventus midfielder Pjanic.

The Frenchman sees Pjanic as an ideal long-term replacement for Santi Cazorla.

However, a transfer this January looks unlikely as Juventus are unwilling to let their star midfielder go in the middle of the season

Good morning folks and welcome to our live transfer blog. The transfer window is a crazy period and we will do our best to keep you updated with all the latest and biggest transfer news and rumours from around the world. Stay tuned, there are some huge transfer rumours coming up!