Transfer news LIVE: Firmino linked with Barcelona, Arsenal's Vlahovic bid, Real Madrid plan for Haaland & Mbappe

Firmino is a wanted man
Firmino is a wanted man / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
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Welcome to the 90min Sunday live blog. Games may be taking centre stage across Europe this weekend, but that doesn't stop the rumour mill from churning out transfer story after transfer story.

The gossip seems to be getting more and more zany as the days pass. The latest example is former Chelsea hot-head Diego Costa being linked with Arsenal (!). Elsewhere, Manchester United wantaway Anthony Martial is embroiled in a war of words with his manager Ralf Rangnick, Liverpool's Roberto Firmino has been touted as an option for Barcelona, and Chelsea have continued to be linked with full-backs - with Layvin Kurzawa the latest man talked about.

The drama is never-ending, so follow our live blog below to make sure you don't miss any updates from the Premier League and around the world.


Today's top stories


Transfer live blog

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We hope you've enjoyed our coverage today - check back for more tomorrow!


10pm - MAN UTD 'OPEN DIALOGUE' OVER AMADOU HAIDARA

*LAST STORY OF THE NIGHT KLAXON*

And we're going to go out on a high. Jonathan Shrager has reported that Man Utd and RB Leipzig are in 'open dialogue' over midfield star Amadou Haidara.

As explained in our '1 signing clubs should make this January' article, Haidara is exactly what the Red Devils need:

"One signing will not fix Man Utd. However, Amadou Haidara is a good young player who would fill the need for a dynamic midfielder at Old Trafford."


9.30pm - NEWCASTLE EYEING MOVE FOR KEYLOR NAVAS

This is a story that cropped up immediately after the takeover and everyone thought 'well, what a stupid rumour', and now it's back in RMC Sport form.

It makes a bit more sense this time round however, especially when you consider how leaky Newcastle's defence has been.

The French outlet that the Magpies have now 'made contact' with PSG in order to get the lowdown on the Costa Rican's availability. Definitely one to keep an eye on.


8.55pm - PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS INTERESTED IN ALEXANDER ISAK

According to Fichajes, Alexander Isak is the subject of interest from Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham this January - with the forward being seen as an alternative to Dusan Vlahovic by the Gunners.

Isak hasn't enjoyed the greatest of seasons at Real Sociedad, scoring just four goals, but has proved himself to be a top talent in the past with his fantastic performances a Euro 2020.


8.30pm - EXCLUSIVE: EVERTON CONSIDERING ROONEY, MARTINEZ AND POTTER

90min exclusive straight from Matt O'Connor-Simpson:

"Roberto Martinez, Wayne Rooney and Graham Potter are emerging as Everton's top three targets for their vacant managerial position following the departure of Rafa Benitez."

Read the full story here.


8.10pm - INTER DIRECTORS AGREE NEW CONTRACTS

While every other team in Europe is clamouring to bring in new players, Inter's squad is so settled and playing so well that the club can afford to use January to sign their Directors up to new contracts.

Speaking on Sunday, CEO Beppe Marotta confirmed that the contracts have all been agreed:

"The agreement has already been reached, but I think it is proper for the club to make it official at the right time. We’re already happy to stay on at one of the greatest clubs in world football.”


7.25pm - SPURS HOLD KESSIE TALKS

Milan’s midfield maestro Franck Kessie looks set to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season and interest in him has been swirling for a while. 

Tottenham have repeatedly been linked - no surprise really, they’re alarmingly weak in the middle of the park - and as per Pete O’Rourke talks have already begun over a pre-contract agreement. 

This would be some coup, which is why it probably won’t be happening…


7.10pm - JUVENTUS LINKED WITH AZMOUN

Max Allegri may have hinted that Juventus are in for a quiet month but that has not stopped I Bianconeri being linked with a host of names.

The latest player to be mentioned by Tuttosport is Zenit frontman Sardar Azmoun. His contract expires in June so he would not command very much in terms of a transfer fee - and we all know how much Juve love a bargain.


6.45pm - LIVERPOOL IN CONTACT WITH BARCELONA OVER RONALD ARAUJO

Here's a transfer that won't happen, but we'll tell you about it anyways because Sport are reporting it.

Barcelona's best defender Araujo is be linked with a move to Liverpool, whom Barcelona reportedly would sell if they were offered £66m for his services.


6.25pm - DANI OLMO 'OFFERED' TO REAL MADRID

El Nacional are reporting the RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo has been offered to Real Madrid by the player's representatives.

Olmo is said to be keen to leave Germany in the near future, with the midfielder asking Leipzig to allow him to leave if an 'exciting' opportunity arises.

We're pretty sure a move to Real Madrid would be classified as 'exciting'...


6.05pm - BARCELONA, LIVERPOOL & MAN CITY INTERESTED IN BRAZILIAN STARLET

Endrick: remember the name, and sign him on FM22.

The 15-year-old Palmeiras kid is the subject of interest from a number of Europe's top clubs (according to the Mirror), and for good reason.

Endrick has scored 167 goals in 171 youth team games and impressed at the Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol Junior - a tournament Barca, Liverpool and City all sent scouts to.


5.55pm - REAL MADRID READY TO PAY £292m FOR ERLING HAALAND AND KYLIAN MBAPPE

Yep, £292m.

I agree, that is a lot of money.

But, as reported by Marca, that's how much Real Madrid are prepared to shell out in order to finance moves for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

The extraordinary number reported by Marca includes salaries for both Haaland and Mbappe, and the rumoured £62m release clause needed to get the former - with the latter available to sign at the end of his current PSG contract which runs until June.

For all the info on this story, click here.


5.24pm - ARSENAL EYEING MOVE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP STAR

After being very much ripped to shreds by Nottingham Forest last weekend, Arsenal are (via Daily Mirror) said to be keen to sign one of their star players: Djed Spence.

The 21-year-old is currently on loan at the City Ground from Middlesbrough, and would cost the Gunners around £10m to sign outright.


4.55pm - FIORENTINA MANAGER COMMENTS ON DUSAN VLAHOVIC

Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Italiano has commented on Vlahovic's current situation in Florence, having been heavily linked with Arsenal, Tottenham and Juventus in recent months.

Speaking to the press, Italiano said that the forward's attitude is still fantastic, and that he will continue to play him so long as he is at the club:

“Look, people have been talking about Vlahovic’s situation for months. He is a professional, he works hard and scores goals, so as long as that continues, I will give the same response to these questions.

“Vlahovic is a Fiorentina player and as long as that is the case, he will do what he needs to do. We’ll talk about other scenarios if needs be.

“I will only begin to get irritated if and when Vlahovic steps onto the pitch and doesn’t do his duty. So far, that hasn’t happened and nothing has changed. All coaches with a hitman like him want to make the most of his presence.”


4.30pm - BARCELONA JOIN RACE TO SIGN ADAMA TRAORE

According to Sport, Barcelona are the latest club to consider a move for Wolves' Adama Traore.

Barca are said to be interested in making a move for the Spanish winger in order to replace Ousmane Dembele - whom the club are keen to sell this January.


4.00pm - CHELSEA IN TALKS TO SIGN LAYVIN KURZAWA

As you probably already know, Chelsea are in dire need of a left-back this January.

With Ben Chilwell being out for the season and Marcos Alonso being, well, not very good, the Blues have been scouring Europe to bring in some full-back cover - and they may have finally found it.

According to RMC Sport, the Blues have opened talks with PSG over the signing of Layvin Kurzawa.


3.49pm - DIVOCK ORIGI WANTED BY PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB

As well as enquiring about Benteke, Burnley are also said to be mulling over a bid for Liverpool's Divock Origi.

The Liverpool forward is out of contract in the summer, and the Daily Star are reporting that while Burnley are interested now, Liverpool are keen to keep Origi until the end of the season.


3.30pm - BURNLEY EYE CHRISTIAN BENTEKE AS CHRIS WOOD REPLACEMENT

According to the Daily Mail, Burnley have made an enquiry for Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke after losing their star striker Chris Wood to Newcastle United.

As a result of the enquiry, Palace have placed a £12m price tag on Benteke who, despite barely ever scoring goals, has been a useful player for Patrick Vieira this season - playing 20 Premier Leagues under the new manager.


3.10pm - PAULO DYBALA ON CONTRACT SITUATION

There's been plenty of rumours flying around regarding Paulo Dybala's future in recent days. The Juve forward, after reportedly all but agreeing a new deal with Juventus at the end of 2021, has reneged on the deal due to the club trying to change the terms last minute.

As such, basically every competent Premier League, and Tottenham, have been linked with Dybala in the last week and, finally, the forward has been asked about the situation:

"Many things have happened...I prefer not to talk about it.

“I’ve nothing to prove to anyone [to sign a new deal with Juventus]. The club has decided to talk with me in February or March. I’m here available for the manager.”


3.00pm - OFFICIAL: Everton sack Rafa Benitez

It's been coming.

Everton have officially confirmed the sacking of the much-maligned Rafa Benitez following the disastrous defeat to Norwich on Saturday.


2.36pm - MAN UTD SLAP HUGE PRICE TAG ON PHIL JONES

Well...Man Utd certainly think a lot of Phil Jones.

Although the defender has played one league game in two years, according to the Daily Star the Red Devils have put a £15m price tag on the injury-prone defender.

Burnley and Newcastle are said to be the interest parties, but likely won't be when they find out United want £15m for the defender.


2:26pm - AC MILAN NOT LOOKING TO SIGN FIKAYO TOMORI REPLACEMENT

It's fair to say that AC Milan's centre-back options are pretty depleted right now. Simon Kjaer is out indefinitely with an injury, Fikayo Tomori is undergoing knee surgery and Alessio Romagnoli is also dealing with a short-term ailment.

Despite these issues, Stefano Pioli has said the club aren't interested in signing a new defender 'for the sake of it':

“We don’t want to bring in someone for the sake of it, but find a player who improves the squad. Pierre Kalulu and Matteo Gabbia are proving themselves ready for important games, so if we see an opportunity, then fine, otherwise Tomori should only miss three or four games. If it was up to him, he’d play again tomorrow, but it will take three to four weeks."


2:10pm - ARSENAL AND WEST HAM INTERESTED IN FILIP KOSTIC

Italian outlet Calciomercato are reporting that Arsenal & West Ham have declared an interest in Eintracht Frankfurt's main man Filip Kostic.

The winger/wing-back has been one of the most consistent players in the Bundesliga since moving to Frankfurt in 2018, and would certainly be a brilliant signing for either team.

We'd take the reports with a pinch of salt however. The initial article on the story by Calciomercato is about 15 words long, and judging Arsenal's recent transfer policy of signing young players, signing a 29-year-old wouldn't really make sense.


2:00pm - NEWCASTLE FAIL WITH DONNY VAN DE BEEK LOAN OFFER

Newcastle cannot stay out of the headlines at the moment. Some big news this afternoon as according to The Telegraph the Magpies have been unsuccessful in a loan bid for Man Utd outcast Donny van de Beek.

The player himself rejected the move as he was not enticed by Newcastle's current predicament in the Premier League, with Eddie Howe's side embroiled in a relegation battle.

Despite Van de Beek's lack of game time, Man Utd also do not want to weaken their squad in the middle of the season.


1:53pm - XAVI PREPARED TO SELL DEMBELE IN JANUARY

Bit of a bombshell coming out of Spain this afternoon.

According to AS, Barcelona boss Xavi is not happy with contract rebel Ousmane Dembele and is prepared to sell him this month.

The Frenchman's current deal expires in the summer and he has so far failed to renew with his demands deemed too high.

The report claims Xavi would rather sell now to generate some income and create space on the wage bill for a new signing, rather than ostracising the winger for the rest of the season. Bomba.


1:33pm - LIVERPOOL & MAN UTD CONTACT ARAUJO

Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United are said to have contacted Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo.

A product of La Masia, the Uruguay international has 18 months left on his current deal, so the English giants have apparently been on the blower to sound him out over a possible future move.

This is probably not one to get too excited over for either set of supporters, though. Barcelona are currently working on a new deal for the defender, and you'd imagine it'd take some convincing for him to reject it.


1:11pm - CHELSEA PONDER PERISIC

Veteran Inter wide man Ivan Perisic has emerged as a potential target for Chelsea as the Blues root around for a replacement for long-term injury absentee Ben Chilwell.

The Croatian's contract at San Siro expires in six months and a renewal is not yet forthcoming. The Mirror report that Chelsea are therefore considering a move this month, with the Nerazzurri willing to listen to reasonable offers rather than lose the player for free in the summer.

Formerly an attacking winger, Perisic is capable of operating up and down the left flank and can also provide cover on the right. He is still a regular starter for the Scudetto holders at left wing-back.


12:39pm - DORTMUND CHIEF ADMITS SURPRISE AT HAALAND COMMENTS

Borussia Dortmund chief Michael Zorc has admitted the club were surprised by Erling Haaland's comments on Friday night.

The Norwegian claimed BVB have been pressuring him into making a decision on his future, with Europe's biggest clubs interested in signing him.

Zorc said: "I did not expect Haaland's comments. His remarks surprised us a bit. At the moment, there is no deadline, there haven't been any talks yet. But it's understandable, of course. You have to talk about it at some moment."


12:14pm - BARCELONA INTERESTED IN ROBERTO FIRMINO

Is Roberto Firmino nearing the end of his time at Liverpool?

El Nacional claim Diogo Jota's spell with the Reds so far has been so good that they are willing to depart with Firmino should they receive a respectable bid.

The Catalan outlet says €20m could do the trick for Barça, with Firmino's contract expiring in 2023.


12:06pm - ATLETICO NOT CONSIDERING FELIX DEPARTURE

Atletico Madrid are not interested in letting Joao Felix leave the club, despite reported interest from Premier League champions Manchester City.

The Portugal international, who has scored two La Liga goals this season, is seen as 'untouchable' by Atleti, according to Marca. Barcelona have previously been linked.


11:47am - ARSENAL LODGE CASH PLUS PLAYER BID FOR VLAHOVIC

Italian outlet Corriere della Sera say Arsenal have offered Fiorentina €60m plus midfielder Lucas Torreira for the in demand Dusan Vlahovic.

The Gunners are on the lookout for a new striker and Vlahovic has been heavily linked, though 90min understands the Serbian will not be rushed into deciding his future.


11:02am - LEEDS CLOSING IN ON 'PITBULL' MIDFIELDER

Leeds have agreed a fee of around £6m with Standard Liege to sign midfielder Nicolas Raskin.

United need depth in midfield with Kalvin Phillips' injury issues and The Sunday Mirror say a fee has been agreed.

He's been described as a 'pitbull' of a midfielder in the past, so hopefully the transfer gets completed and we can watch Mr Worldwide strut his stuff in the Premier League.


10:44am - SOUTHAMPTON TARGET PERMANENT BROJA TRANSFER

Southampton are in talks with Chelsea over the permanent signing of Armando Broja.

The forward has scored five Premier League goals in his first top flight season for the Saints, having joined on loan from the Blues.

The Guardian claim other clubs are interested in the 20-year-old, though he could be given a chance at Chelsea if he's there next term.


10:34am - NEWCASTLE TARGET TO STAY IN FRANCE

Defender Sven Botman has been linked with a move to Newcastle this window, but it looks like he'll be staying in France until at least the end of the season.

The Magpies have made a few bids for the Dutchman but Lille president Olivier Letang has revealed the club don't intend to let him leave any time soon.

“We had enquiries last summer for Sven but we were clear in saying that we needed Sven this season. We had a run in the Champions League and we managed to finish first in our group. We have big objectives for the end of the season so Sven will stay with us until the end of the season to help us achieve these objectives.”


10:27am - WOLVES REACH AGREEMENT FOR 21-YEAR-OLD WINGER

Wolves are close to finalising their first signing of the winter window, with numerous reports indicating that Estoril winger Chiquinho will sign for around £3m.

The 21-year-old is set to pen a long term deal with the Wanderers and The Athletic say he will come into Bruno Lage's first team squad. He isn't, however, expected to be a direct replacement for Adama Traore, who scored against Southampton on Saturday and has been linked with a move to Tottenham.


10:17am - NEWCASTLE CONTACT PSG FOR KEYLOR NAVAS

Newcastle have been linked with every footballer under the sun since their takeover and now they're said to be keen on a move for PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

The Costa Rican looked to have little future in Paris when Gianluigi Donnarumma was signed in the summer but has still played regularly enough this season, making 12 Ligue 1 appearances.

RMC Sport claim the Magpies have contacted the French champions over Navas, though PSG 'closed the door to a departure'. No need for Martin Dubravka to worry just yet, then.


9.25am - CHELSEA TOLD TO INCREASE DE JONG OFFER

Frenkie de Jong was the most wanted central midfielder in the world in 2019 when he starred in Ajax's run to the Champions League semi finals, but these days he's not the flavour of the month at Barcelona.

The emergence of Pedri, Gavi and Nico has seen De Jong drop down the Camp Nou pecking order and El Nacional claim Chelsea are keen to bring the Dutchman to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues - who took Saul from Atletico Madrid on loan at the start of the campaign - will need to up their bid to €60m if they want to sign the 24-year-old, according to the report.


9:19am - €350m FOR BARÇA AND REAL MADRID TARGET HAALAND?

Marca say Barcelona and Real Madrid will have to pay €350m if they want to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

That figure would include the €75m release clause fee, on top of commissions to agent Mino Raiola and the Norwegian's father.

That really is crazy money.


9:11am - NEUER CLOSE TO NEW BAYERN CONTRACT

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is close to securing a new contract with the German giants.

He said: "Bayern is an outstanding club - we made history during my time here and we keep trying. Of course I want to be part of that."

A three year deal is said to be on the table.


8:57am - ERIKSEN LINING UP PREMIER LEAGUE RETURN

Christian Eriksen is closing in on a return to the Premier League, having suffered a cardiac arrest last year at Euro 2020.

The Dane was released by Inter last month and The Times claim he has had approaches from several English clubs and wants to finalise a deal by the end of the week.


8:53am - MARTIAL REJECTS RANGNICK CLAIM

Martial has denied Ralf Rangnick's claim that he refused to be in the squad to face Aston Villa on Saturday night.

The Frenchman wants to leave United and hasn't played for them since early December. On Saturday, Rangnick said Martial "didn't want to be in the squad", but Martial has now rejected that statement.

On social media, he said: "I will never refuse to play a match for Man Utd.

"I've been here for seven years and I never disrespected and will never disrespect the club and the fans."


8:30am - GOOD MORNING!

It's Sunday morning - time to get that kettle on and sprawl across the sofa while devouring the latest transfer rumours.

We start with a little snippet on Anthony Martial, who wasn't included in Manchester United's squad in their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa....