Premier League transfer news: Javier Pastore to Liverpool, update on Moura to Spurs and more - 18 January 2018

Time is fast running out in the January transfer window and the Premier League clubs have business on their minds.

Some loose ends are being tied, some rumours are going to die and some others have taken birth.

So without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer stories involving Premier League teams that made the headlines on 18th January 2018...

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#5 The merry-go-round

Slimani could move clubs

The transfer window is a very good example of the domino effect. If one club, Y, signs player X, then another player from club Y, let’s name him Z, will be susceptible to moving to another club. These continuous movements occur in all transfer windows.

So with respect to that, we have some rumours regarding Leicester City, Watford and West Brom (and Stoke in the next page). So, according to Daily Star, Watford want Leicester City striker Islam Slimani—for whom Leicester are holding out to get £22 million—and that will open them up for selling Troy Deeney.

And then there are clubs who want Deeney as well. The Watford forward is being monitored by West Brom and Stoke City.

#4 West Ham’s pain and Stoke’s gain

Mario says no to West Ham

David Moyes must be a frustrated man. For most of the window and its prelude, West Ham have been the most actively named club in the rumour mill after Manchester United. However, they don’t have anything to show for it.

And the one player they could have signed on loan has rejected the chance to do so. According to Sky Sports, Joao Mario has rejected a move to the Hammers even though Inter are happy to let him go.

Meanwhile, Stoke City have announced on their official Twitter that they will complete the signing of Greek defender Kostas Stafylidis on loan in the next 24 hours. The Greece international is a left-back and will arrive from FC Augsburg.

#3 Salah’s advice and more on Liverpool

James is wanted as a Coutinho replacement

I had already written about this last night and today, we have a couple of updates on the same. Liverpool have a lot of problems in their squad and the money from Coutinho’s sale could help patch them up to some extent.

The biggest problem for the Reds is the full-back area and, as a result, they are targeting players to bolster that position. And Ederson Palmieri of Roma has been recommended by Mohamed Salah according to Forza Roma—which is why the Reds are willing to spend more than €20 million for him.

Meanwhile, Don Balon has linked Liverpool with two players. In this report, they seem to think that the Reds are after Javier Pastore and want him at Anfield to replace Philippe Coutinho. And in this report, they have linked James Rodriguez’s name with the Merseyside outfit.

#2 Manchester madness and a bit of Tottenham

Sanchez to Man United will happen soon

In the next few days, we are certain to see the outcome of this madness as Alexis Sanchez has been offered a mega-deal to sign for the Red Devils, according to an exclusive from the Telegraph.

The Chilean has reportedly agreed to a deal worth £180 million, which runs for four-and-a-half years. The former Barcelona star will earn £14 million-a-year after tax—which means United will have to pay just a little under £27 million-a-year before tax—and a £20 million signing-on fee plus £10 million agent fees.

Arsenal are also expected to be given £30 million for a player whose contract runs out in the summer, after which he could be signed without Arsenal getting a penny.

Also, the Guardian thinks that Manchester United will get the deal done for Sanchez even if Henrikh Mkhitaryan refuses to move to Arsenal.

Finally, ESPN journalist Dan Kilpatrick claims that Tottenham are not chasing PSG star Lucas Moura.

#1 Arsenal

Mkhitaryan loves Arsenal

The Gunners have been quite active today. The Times is reporting that Arsenal have hit a wall in Malcom’s negotiations as the Brazilian isn’t agreeing to the terms proposed by the Gunners.

The North London outfit are yet to agree on a fee with Bordeaux, who are reportedly “annoyed” with the Londoners over their public approach. Meanwhile, The Sun believes that Jonny Evans could be sold if West Brom get an offer of £23.5 million for the defender.

Both Arsenal and Manchester City are interested in the defender.

A part of me thinks that Arsenal could use the Alexis money to sign Evans, but that’s just my personal opinion.

Also, Arsene Wenger gave his take on the Sanchez-Mkhi deal in a press conference, admitting that the deal is close.

‘That is my understanding, yes,’ he said in a press conference.

‘Yes of course [Mkhitaryan is a player I rate]. If [the deal] is a possibility then it is because I like the player. ‘Look, this would be an exchange of players and I think one will replace the other. We will still be in the transfer market after that.’

‘We played many times against him when he was at Dortmund, so he is certainly appreciative of the quality of our games and the way we play football, so that’s why certainly he loves the club as well.’