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Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal updates
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool feature as Express Sport brings you the latest updates and gossip from around the world.
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: Tuesday January 15
- Chelsea have decided how much they will demand for Real Madrid transfer target Eden Hazard
- Mauro Icardi has slammed reports in Italy over a delay on his contract talks
- Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech will retire at the end of the season
- Liverpool could sell Dejan Lovren because of Anfield team-mate impressing, it has been claimed
Cech to retire
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
Cech, who first arrived in the Premier League when signing for Chelsea in 2004, will be 36 come May.
He joined Arsenal in 2015 and has now confirmed he will retire this summer.
"This is my 20th season as a professional player and it has been 20 years since I signed my first professional contract, so it feels like the right time to announce that I will retire at the end of this season," the statement read.
"Having played 15 years in the Premier League, and won every single trophy possible, I feel like I have achieved everything I set out to achieve.
"I will continue to work hard at Arsenal to hopefully win one more trophy this season, then I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for me off the pitch."
Higuain and Gattuso clash
Gonzalo Higuain could be in further trouble at AC Milan after chopping down manager Gennaro Gatusso in training.
Gatusso has been critical of Higuain, who wants to leave his Milan loan and head to Chelsea.
The striker could play his last match for Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana - ironically against his patent club Juventus - on Wednesday.
Milan trained in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Higuain was filmed planting a late tackle on Gattuso during a training regime.
Chelsea target Icardi furious
Mauro Icardi has slammed reports in the Italian press that his contract talks at Inter Milan have stalled.
Chelsea and Real Madrid want to sign Icardi in the summer, when his release clause will be set at £100m.
Inter want Icardi to sign a new contract and scrap that clause - but the player wants a pay rise as part of the deal.
Gazzetta dello Sport claim a contract summit between the player and Inter has been set back.
But Icardi slammed those reports.
“Icar-day put back?” he wrote on Instagram with a screenshot of Gazzetta’s front page.
“Which ‘Icar-day’? There has never been a fixed date. Cyber-lies…”
Koulibaly deal talked up
Manchester United need a defender of Kalidou Koulibaly’s stature, according to Red Devils youth product John Curtis.
"Yes, [Koulibaly] is the kind of player United need," Curtis told Love Sport Radio.
"It’s been a no secret that [Jose] Mourinho wanted get defenders in shore up the back four centrally and I think that is still the case.
"Any manager coming in - be it a [Gareth] Southgate, [Mauricio] Pochettino or [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer - will think that is an obvious area of weakness in the United squad.
"They need a [Virgil] Van Dijk. They need someone who will come in and galvanise that back four. Who that is? I think it’s going to be a big signing from abroad."
Piatek to Real Madrid latest
More on Real Madrid’s interest in Krzysztof Piatek.
As reported earlier today, Real Madrid moving for Piatek could impact on Chelsea’s hopes of landing Gonzalo Higuain.
And Spanish radio station Cadena SER claim Real have Piatek on their radar, with a bid possibly on the cards.
Officials from Real are said to have visitied Genoa to try and negotiate a deal, with a friendly fixture offered as a sweetener.
Piatek moving to Real would mean Milan, who have Higuain on loan, would have to seek a replacement target before deadline day.
And they will not agree to transfer Higuain’s loan from Juventus over to Chelsea unless they have an alternative striker lined up.
Ramsey to sign contract
Aaron Ramsey will sign his contract at Juventus on Friday, Tuttosport report.
Arsenal are all set to lose Ramsey but will only agree to his departure in January if Juventus stump up £20m.
Otherwise the Wales international will switch to Turin on a free transfer when his Gunners deal expires in the summer.
Tuttosport claim Ramsey will pen his pre-contract agreement with Juventus on Friday.
And then talks will turn to Arsenal and whether or not they can agree to a permanent deal this month.
Arsenal interest confirmed
Papa Waigo says Arsenal are tracking Ismaila Sarr, as was reported in France last week.
"[Sarr] was born in my city and started in my soccer school," Waigo said. "He has talent and has shown it in France.
"Arsenal is following him and I'm proud of him. He is very fast, in one against one he is strong, but he also knows how to score.
"He is 20 years old, has to grow again but if the big ones want him, it means that he has quality."
Ramsey plan confirmed
Arsenal ace Aaron Ramsey is wanted by Juventus now to help Cristiano Ronaldo and co. win the Champions League.
That is according to Italian agent Andrea Boscolo, who says the 28-year-old will adapt to life in Italy with ease.
"I know that Juventus is trying to get him now because it could be important for the Champions League," Boscolo said.
"He is an experienced player who will not have difficulty entering the Italian league and Allegri's tactical chessboard. He brings quality and quantity, has important numbers."
Man Utd get Skriniar warning
Inter Milan boss Luciano Spalletti has warned star man Milan Skriniar is not for sale at any price.
Manchester United are keen on signing Skriniar but Spalletti insists a deal is not on the cards.
"I'm sorry but no one has money to sign Milan Skriniar," Spalletti said.
"He'll stay at Inter for sure. There's no price for him."
Toure to Celtic
Yaya Toure has confirmed Celtic are interested in snapping him up.
Toure is seeking a move back to the Premier League, having enjoyed a trophy-laden stint at Manchester City.
But he could be moving north of the border this month with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers keen on a deal.
Asked about the possibility of moving to Parkhead, Toure said: "Maybe.
"Let me speak with Kolo and I'll speak with Brendan Rodgers and maybe we will see.
"Maybe I could end up in England or in Scotland. I want to end up playing at the highest level."
Barca move for Stuani
Barcelona want to bring former Middlesborough striker Cristhian Stuani to the Nou Camp.
Stuani left Boro in 2017 and has excelled at Girona in La Liga.
The 32-year-old has a £13.4m release clause at the Spanish minnows.
And AS claim Barca are ready to move in for the Uruguayan.
Emery wants Arsenal star sold
Arsenal boss Unai Emery wants to get rid of Unai Emery but will not force him out, says Shaka Hislop.
"It’s without question a lot is going on behind the scenes to get Mesut Ozil out," Hislop said.
"He is under no pressure [to leave] because of that five-year contract he signed. He’s probably thinking, 'What’s the difference? I can see it out here in London, it’s great.'
"You bring in a new manager, you have to back him, give Ozil whatever he wants to make him leave.
"It’s become a distraction in the dressing room, he’s clearly not wanted by Emery.
"Whatever it takes [give it to him], don’t go on this ridiculous [path of] Emery trying to upset Ozil to force him out because he’s not going to move.
"You want Ozil out so you try and make life as uncomfortable as possible, the manager will say all kinds of nonsense, get him upset and then take a knockdown price.
"That’s not going to happen. Call him in, ask him what he wants to leave, give it to him, see him out."
Chelsea Barella valuation slammed
Chelsea target Nicolo Barella is not worth the £45m the Blues are prepared to pay for him and modern football is going in a “very wrong direction”.
That is according to former Italy star Antonio Cassano, who said: "Unfortunately today football is going in a very wrong direction.
"Barella is worth €50m [£45m]? Ok, so how much is Thiago Alcantara of Bayern Munich? He is young too, he is 27 years old, he is worth at least 4-5 times more than Barella.
"A player makes two good games, he runs right and left, maybe he is also a player of quantities like Allan or Barella. And then he is worth immediately 50, 60, 80 million? For me it is madness."
David De Gea is 'best goalkeeper in the world' says Solskjaer
De Gea contract demand
Manchester United star Jesse Lingard is desperate for Ed Woodward and co. to tie down David de Gea with a new deal.
"We want him to stay," Lingard said, in the wake of De Gea’s heroics against Tottenham. "Having a keeper like that gives you extra confidence.
"They looked like scoring but he saved us. Some of his saves, you’re like: 'Oh my god.'
"He’s one of the best keepers in the world, if not the best."
Man Utd exit claim
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prepared to let Marouane Fellaini leave Manchester United this month, claims veteran broadcaster Jim White.
"It’s now become apparent Marouane Fellaini can go amid talk that Solskjaer is none to happy with his attitude," White said.
"Fellaini has been on the outside looking in since Mourinho departed the scene.
"And it’s my understanding this morning he could go on loan in this window, and so might [Scott] McTominay.
"But it’s clear that Fellaini, specifically Fellaini, is on borrowed time."
Fellaini has experienced the highs and lows of life at United since arriving at Old Trafford in 2013.
Having struggled under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, he found a role under Jose Mourinho.
This season, though, he has started just six Premier League matches, appearing eight times as a substitute.
Chelsea price up Hazard
Chelsea will demand Real Madrid hand over at least £100m if Eden Hazard asks to leave in the summer, according to reports.
Hazard is one of the most highly-rated wingers in the world and his form has seen him targeted by big-spenders Real.
With just 12 months on his contract, there are fears he could quit Stamford Bridge to head to the Bernabeu.
The Telegraph claim that if Hazard makes it clear he wants to leave, Chelsea will demand Real pay a minimum £100m.
Suarez to Arsenal latest
Arsenal can snare Denis Suarez this month as long as they agree to sign him permanently in the summer.
That is according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, who says Barcelona are happy to sanction a loan deal for now.
"As it stands, we’re talking about Arsenal only wanting loans," Sheth told the Transfer Talk podcast.
"They want to bring Barcelona’s Denis Suarez in on a loan move.
Chelsea: Hazard to Real Madrid a ‘done deal’ says Mariner
"They know each other very well, Emery and Suarez, he played under Emery in the 2014/15 season when he was on loan at Sevilla.
"Barcelona would, we think, be happy to do a deal, but provided it came with an obligation to buy Denis Suarez in the summer.
"We’re told that Suarez wants to do the move and he’s not getting much game time at Barcelona. He’s just made his seventh appearance of the season [in all competitions].
"That’s where it stands with that one, he wants to come as far as we’re concerned."
Lovren to leave Liverpool?
Liverpool ace Dejan Lovren may have to quit Anfield if Fabinho carries on impressing at centre-back, says BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks.
"[Fabinho] has become a far more important addition to the Liverpool set-up than I first realised," Crooks said.
"The Brazilian enforcer looks better at centre-back than he does in midfield.
"At least that's how it appeared against a Brighton side who made life difficult for the league leaders but struggled to really hurt them.
"When there was the slightest threat, Fabinho snuffed it out. His positioning throughout the match was quite impressive.
"Any more displays like that and Dejan Lovren might have to start looking for new employers."
Lovren was third in the centre-back pecking order behind Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez before suffering a hamstring injury.
However, he might find it hard to force his way back into Jurgen Klopp’s side if Fabinho continues to shine and once Gomez returns from his spell on the sidelines.
Everton tell PSG Gueye price
Everton could sell Idrissa Gueye to Paris Saint-Germain for £27m (€30m), claim French newspaper L’Equipe.
The Senegal international is reported to be one of PSG’s priority transfer targets during the January window.
And their manager, Thomas Tuchel, apparently chatted with Gueye last week regarding a potential switch.
Everton are said to have told PSG that they must hand over £27m for the former Lille man.
Gueye was previously happy to stay at Everton, where he has made 93 appearances in all competitions.
But PSG have turned his head with the prospect of playing alongside the world’s two most expensive players in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe on offer.
Agent Pini Zahavi, who brokered Neymar’s move to PSG, has been brought in to help make progress towards a deal.
Zahavi is also working on finding potential replacements to offer to Everton as PSG look to get Gueye on board.