The transfer window might be shut, but don’t think the wheeling and dealing won’t continue! Check out all the latest deals here.
Chelsea accept £60m Oscar bid from Shanghai SIPG
Chelsea midfielder Oscar hasn’t found much success under Antonio Conte, but his former boss Andre Villas-Boas seems set to bring him to China as the Daily Telegraph report that the Blues have accepted a massive £60m bid from Shanghai SIPG.
Oscar, 25, is reportedly completing the formalities of the deal with the Chinese giants beating Jiangsu Suning, who made an offer to sign the Brazilian last summer, and Guangzhou Evergrande to the punch. And a source told ESPN FC that he is considering the move.
If completed, the move would top the club-record £50m the Blues received for David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 and Oscar would join fellow countrymen Hulk and Elkeson at the Chinese Super League club.
The Telegraph reports that he would earn in the region of £350,000-a-week at Shanghai.
Roma to tempt Chelsea in Fabregas swoop
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been linked with plenty of moves of late, with a potential return to his former club Arsenal, a switch to West Ham and a transfer to AC Milan among them.
The Sun reports that the latest club to be keen on the Spain international are Roma, who want to sign him on an initial six-month loan deal and could add a sweetener to the permanent summer move that might follow.
That permanent move, the Mirror says, may well include either Germany international defender Antonio Rudiger or Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan — both of whom have been reported targets for Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in the recent past.
The recently confirmed delay to Milan’s takeover by Chinese investors — March is the new target date — has thrown their winter transfer plans into the air, giving Roma an advantage in the race to tempt Fabregas to Italy.
Milan had looked at the 29-year-old as a replacement for the injured Riccardo Montolivo in October, with recent reports saying they were “continuing to track” his situation.
Fabregas made only his second Premier League start of the season in the win at Manchester City but came off the bench to set up Chelsea’s winning goal against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, with his lack of first-team opportunities alerting several clubs.
Mourinho blocks keeper loan move
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has turned down an approach by Wolves to sign goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on loan because he is angered by the lack of opportunities they have given to Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, according to the Telegraph.
It reports that Mourinho “insisted” Johnstone would be staying at Old Trafford because of his disappointment over the lack of playing time afforded to the on-loan Borthwick-Jackson, who appears set to return to United next month.
The defender has appeared for the Championship club just seven times since arriving in the summer, and has not played under recently appointed boss Paul Lambert.
Saints supremo Puel not rushing to buy
Southampton manager Claude Puel has said the loss of striker Charlie Austin to injury won’t see him dashing to make signings when the window reopens.
Puel stressed that he would be approaching January “with calmness” despite having confirmed at the weekend that Austin will be out for three or four months with a dislocated shoulder suffered in Thursday’s Europa League home game against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
He has said it is “important” to give chances to players already at the club, including Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez, rather than looking to spend big money on reinforcements.
Tap-ins
– Steve Bruce has already worked wonders at Aston Villa, dragging them from the depths of the Championship to the fringes of the playoff chase, and now he wants to beef up his squad as he looks to maintain that momentum.
His top target, according to the Sun, is Norwich City winger Robbie Brady — and one-time Canaries player Bruce “is making a dramatic £10 million move for the midfield magician.”
The Sun reports that Bruce, who has previously worked with Brady at Hull City, will offer the Republic of Ireland international a £50,000-a-week deal.
– Staying in the Championship, Villa (yes, them again) and Sheffield Wednesday are reported to be in the frame to sign Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes.
The Mirror says Boro boss Aitor Karanka wants to freshen up his squad and will do that by moving on players including the Scotland international, who has found opportunities limited at the Riverside.
Both Villa and the Owls are willing to dig deep for Rhodes, who cost Boro £9 million when he arrived from Blackburn Rovers.
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