Top transfer round-up - January 20th: Real Madrid beat Manchester United to defensive talent
Here we run through the latest rumours and round-up the possible movers dominating today’s gossip columns.
Real Madrid agree deal for Manchester United target
Real Madrid have fended off competition from Manchester United for Porto starlet Eder Militao.
The Spanish giants have agreed personal terms with the 21-year-old and will pay his €50m release clause.
Militao will spend the rest of the season with Porto before signing a six-year deal with Madrid.
The Brazilian defender is the fourth highest WhoScored rated player in Liga NOS this season (7.51).
Manchester United defender closing in on Juventus move
Matteo Darmian will finally secure a return to Serie A with Juventus close to signing the Manchester United full-back.
The 29-year-old has spent the last four years at United but has never nailed down a regular starting berth at Old Trafford.
Darmian has been keen to return to Italy for the last 12 months and Juventus are finally on the verge of securing his services.
The Italy international will spend the remainder of the season at Juventus on loan before making the switch permanent in the summer.
Darmian has only started five games in all competitions this season but United are unbeaten in those matches (W3, D2).
AC Milan agree deal for Higuain replacement
AC Milan have come to a total agreement with Genoa for star striker Krzysztof Piatek paving the way for Gonzalo Higuain to join Chelsea.
The Serie A giants have agreed an initial €35m deal with Genoa and Piatek is due to sign a five-year deal with Gennaro Gattuso’s side.
Piatek has been a revelation in Italy this season and proved the bargain of the summer after Genoa shelled out a reported €4m fee for his services.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Duvan Zapata (both 14) have scored more Serie A goals than Piatek this season (13).
Chelsea emerge as suitors for Coutinho
Chelsea are interested in signing Phillipe Coutinho from Barcelona at the end of the season.
Coutinho’s Barcelona future has been plunged into doubt in the last month after losing his place in the team.
The Brazil international has only been at Barcelona for 12 months but may have to leave at the end of the season for regular playing time.
Chelsea are keen on the former Liverpool playmaker and will continue to monitor his future at Camp Nou.
Only two players have scored more La Liga goals from outside the box than Coutinho (5) since the start of last season.
Arnautovic misses out on move to China
Marko Arnautovic will stay at West Ham for the remainder of the season after Guangzhou Evergrande withdrew their offer for the striker.
The 29-year-old’s head has been turned by interest from China in the last week and was left out of West Ham’s squad that faced Bournemouth on Saturday.
West Ham rejected an initial £35m bid from Guangzhou Evergrande but Fabio Cannavaro’s side were willing to increase their offer to £45m.
Arnautovic would have pocketed wages in the region of £280,000-a-week if a deal was agreed but the Chinse Super League giants have now pulled the plug on their interest.
The Austria international has scored 23.1% of West Ham’s Premier League goals since joining the Hammers in the summer of 2017.
Manchester City eye shock loan deal for German midfielder
Manchester City are pondering a shock January move for Schalke midfielder Sebastian Rudy.
Pep Guardiola had previously ruled out any incomings this month but is concerned about a lack of protection for Fernandinho.
With Guardiola’s side still competitive in four competitions this season, Fernandinho is the one player City really cannot afford to lose.
Guardiola knows Rudy well from his time in Germany and is reportedly mulling a loan deal for the 28-year-old.
Rudy has made just eight league appearances this season and a transfer to City would certainly be a shock.
