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Will Fernando Torres leave Atletico Madrid?The January transfer window is in its third week and a number of players are linked with clubs across Europe. While Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid look to bolster their squads before the FIFA enforced transfer ban, other clubs are not far behind when it comes to signing replacements or add more bench strength. Most deals usually take palce on deadline day but the foundation for these deals are usually laid in the days prior. Here are some of the major transfer news and rumours in Europe today.
#1 Serie A
– Fiorentina have completed a move for West Ham striker Mauro Zarate. The 28-year-old Argentinian forward had fallen down the pecking order under Slaven Bilic and was forced to make the move in a bid to play regularly. He posted a message on Twitter thanking his teammates and fans of the London club.
– Tuttosport claim that Juventus have rejected bids from Barcelona for both midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Paulo Dybala. The two 22-year-old stars have been in fine form for the Turin-based club this season.
It is understood that Barcelona may have the first option on buying Pogba in the summer if he requests a transfer but the French international will not be sold in this window. However, they have told the Catalan club to forget about signing Dybala.
– Napoli have rejected a €22m bid from Swansea City for Manolo Gabbiadini. The 24-year-old forward has struggled for game time with Gonzalo Higuain in fine form. Gabbiadini has mainly made substitute appearances in the league this season while scoring regularly in the Europa League.
But Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis wants to keep him and will only sell if the bid is closer to €35m.
#2 La Liga
– According to Fernando Torres’s agent Jose Antonio Martin, the Atletico Madrid striker could soon become the highest-paid player in the world, as quoted by The Sun. While he did not name the clubs interested in the 31-year-old Spaniard, it is understood that he could make a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.
“The fans of Madrid don’t want Torres to be told no continually,” his agent said. “He has an offer that would make him the best-paid in the world. There are nuances. It all depends upon the will of the club.”
– Highly-rated forward Inaki Williams has extended his contract at Athletic Bilbao until 2021 which ensures Premier League side will not be able to pry him away from the Basque side easily. According to their official website, the 21-year-old spanish forward now has a release clause in his contract that is worth €50m.
#3 Premier League
– Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has revealed that he has no plans to leave the club amid interest from four clubs, according to Daily Mail. The full-back was a target for AC Milan, Inter Milan, Zenit St Petersburg and EPL rivals Manchester City.
“I am very happy to stay with Chelsea for another season. After eight years here this is my home and there is no other place I would rather play football,” Ivanovic said. The Serbian defender has been under pressure after failing to perform this season and has even invited the fans’ ire on many occasions.
– Liverpool had reportedly submitted a £24.5m bid for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira but are now willing to increase the bid to get closer to the Ukrainian club’s valuation of £30m. The Reds are on the lookout for quality replacements with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings sidelined with injuries while Christian Benteke has not adapted to Jurgen Klopp’s style of play.
– The Independent claim Alexandre Pato has not reached a verbal agreement with Chelsea and that even Liverpool are interested in the striker. His agent Gilmar Veloz said that the two Premier League sides could face stiff competition from Portuguese Primeira Liga sides Sporting and Benfica.
#4 Rest of Europe
– Bayern Munch striker Robert Lewandowski has been lined with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but his agent Cezary Kucharski told French publication L’Equipe that the Polish international was happy at the Bundesliga club but did not rule out a move in the future.
“We’re very happy at Bayern Munich. We’ll see what happens in the future, but I cannot tell you any more,” Kucharski said. “I don’t think Bayern want to sell him and I don’t want to talk about his price, especially since the championship starts again in Germany on Friday.”
– PSG right-back Gregory van der Wiel is out of contract this summer and could leave the Ligue 1 club. Reports linked him to Chelsea last summer and he could be a replacement for Ivanovic if the club decide to move the Serbian to centre-back.
– Borussia Monchengladbach’s defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka is on the lookout for a club with both Chelsea and Arsenal reportedly interested. However, the German club’s 23-year-old captain will command a high price if he is to leave in this window.
