Premier League transfer news: Solskjaer handed transfer war-chest, Zidane targets ultra-talented superstar for United and more - December 21, 2018

Hello and welcome to the Premier League latest transfer news and rumours of the day! Here are the top stories of the day!

#5 Update on Cahill and Luiz

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill hasn’t been able to find a place in the starting XI of the team. Maurizio Sarri also seems open to the idea of letting him leave.

According to Sky Sports pundit Dharmesh Sheth, Cahill is not in the plans of Sarri. As a result, there is a chance that he leaves with interest from Fulham looming.

"He's over 30 years old, obviously it looks like he's not in Sarri's plans. Sarri hasn't really spoken much about Cahill, about saying 'yes I want him to stay' and Fulham, we're told, are interested,” he said.

Sheth then added that Cahill’s presence could help solve the defensive problems at Craven Cottage.

"It could be a good match that one given Fulham's defensive problems.”

He then spoke about David Luiz, another player in his 30s but who has a much more prominent role than Cahill. As a result, Sheth doesn’t think that Chelsea would let him leave given that Sarri plays him in almost all matches.

"With regard to who they would potentially release in January, I can't see a situation where they'd allow David Luiz to go.

"Sarri has been picking him every single week and I just can't see how they would release someone like David Luiz.”

Finally, he added that the Brazilian would also like to stay at Stamford Bridge but the Londoner's policy of giving just one-year extensions to players in their 30s could play a vital role.

"As far as Luiz is concerned, he's hopeful the club can reach an agreement to stay beyond this season but again that policy of only offering one-year contracts to players over 30 could prove to be a sticking point.”

#4 Klopp on January window

Klopp gives an update on winter window

With injury problems for Liverpool in defense – both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are currently out injured – there are whispers in the air about Jurgen Klopp using the January window to fix the issue.

However, according to the German, he is unsure as to what could happen in the window. He stated that both the aforementioned players are set to be back before the winter window closes, which is why it doesn’t make sense to sign players in that position.

“I would say no but I don't know exactly what will happen until the transfer window closes," Klopp said.

“In the moment it looks that Joe and Joel will be back before the window closes so why should we do that?

“Could we get somebody just for January with the quality we need? I am not sure that is possible.”

#3 Ozil will be sold

Ozil could leave Arsenal

ESPN pundit Steve Nicol is of the opinion that Mesut Ozil is going to be sold in the January transfer window. The German hasn’t won the trust of new manager Unai Emery, who completely dropped him from the squad against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.

As a result, Nicol has stated that Ozil leaving the Londoners is only a question of when as the new rule of allowing one cup-tied player to be signed makes Ozil’s chances of a departure higher.

However, the wages could be a hindrance, he added.

“Yes [I expect Ozil to leave],” Nicol said. “It’s a matter of time. I’m sure he will be hoping it will happen in January.

“The new rules mean that teams in the Champions League can sign one player. He would be a great addition for anybody.

“Wages are going to be a problem. But I think he will move and a deal will be sorted one way or the other.”

#2 Update on Koulibaly

Koulibaly could be sold

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has given an update on the future of Kalidou Koulibaly, who is very much in demand at the moment. The towering center-back has attracted the attention of Manchester United and could very well end up at Old Trafford somewhere down the line.

However, the Napoli chief has confirmed that there is no way that the Serie A outfit will sell their best defender in January. He did, however, leave the gates open towards a sale somewhere down the line as he can’t keep rejecting “indecent” offers from other clubs.

“We won’t sell Koulibaly in January,” he was quoted as saying.

“But the time will come where we can’t refuse other indecent offers.”

With interest from Manchester United and even Barcelona, it looks as though Koulibaly might be sold in the summer if a big offer comes in. Only time will tell as to which club would pay a world record fee to sign him.

#1 Manchester madness

Dembele wanted by Zidane at United

It is all about the madness at Old Trafford. The storm might have settled a bit with the departure of Jose Mourinho but his permanent replacement is yet to be decided.

However, the favourite to land the job at the Theatre of Dreams in June is Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman has been linked with the job for a while now and according to Don Balon, he has already mapped out a plan.

The Frenchman intends to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona in an operation that could cost €100 million.

Meanwhile, according to Daily Star, Manchester United are going to hand interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a transfer budget of £50 million for the winter, with Toby Alderweireld and Koulibaly being linked to the Red Devils.

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