Top transfer rumours of the day – January 23, 2015

The transfer window has almost reached the end of the third week and the rumour mill has not stopped surprising football fans. Some of these rumours have turned into reality while some others have been negated by officials or players. The most talked about rumour was regarding Messi’s transfer to Chelsea or Manchester City. The air was later cleared by the Argentine himself at the Ballon D’Or ceremony. Few major done deals of the year 2015 are – Wilfried Bony to Manchester City, Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski to Inter Milan, Yaya Sanogo to Crystal Palace, Fernando Torres to Atletico Madrid, Martin Odegaard to Real Madrid. Let’s take a look at the rumours that are doing the rounds today and are audacious enough to link top players with reputed European clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sampdoria and Lazio.

#1 Manchester United and Chelsea

Juan Cuadrado will soon don the blue jersey at the Stamford Bridge

• Manchester United are planning to hijack Arsenal target Gabriel Paulista. Louis van Gaal is planning a last minute bid to sign Villareal center-back Paulista. The Red Devils boss is said to be a huge admirer of the 24-year-old and is willing to match any offer made by the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger hinted that Arsenal might seal the deal sooner or later. He said, “Talks are slowly progressing, but there is a chance we can strike a deal.”

• Chelsea are set to sign Florentina winger Juan Cuadrado as they have agreed to pay £23 million. However, contrary to earlier reports, Mohamed Salah will not be a part of the deal. The Egyptian midfielder will be reportedly heading to Roma on a loan deal for six months. The loan fee is said to be around £550,000 and if Roma decides to sign the player for permanent then around £11 million will have to be paid.

#2 Arsenal and Liverpool

Jay Rodriguez is set to return to action within a week or two

• Arsenal join the race to sign Roma star Radja Nainggolan along with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. The midfielder is co-owned by Roma and Cagliari who are reportedly demanding £13 million each to let go off their ownership. Any Premier League club who are looking forward to sign the 26-year-old will have to cough up a total of £26 million to acquire him. Nainggolan has become a smash hit for the Giallorossi after creating a formidable midfield partnership with Daniele De Rossi and Miralem Pjanic.

• Liverpool are willing to make a last minute swoop for Jay Rodriguez from Southampton.The English striker has been on the radar of Manchester City and Tottenham in the January transfer window. Rodriguez has been out of action since April due to a serious knee injury and doctors are yet to give his reported return this week a green signal. The Southampton star has a market value of £20 million and Liverpool will have to match that price to sign the player.

#3 Real Madrid and Barcelona

Barcelona veteran Dani Alves will be out of contract at the end of the season

• Sergio Ramos has reportedly rejected Real Madrid’s extension offer as the defender found out that his new contract will have a revised salary which will be less than that of Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. Ramos’ current deal ties him to the club until 2017 but his reported refusal to a new contract at Bernabeu has attracted Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City to strike a deal with the player.

• Barcelona veteran Dani Alves will reportedly sign a deal with Manchester United. The Catalan Club boss Luis Enrique has told the board to not renew his current deal which will expire at the end of the season. Chelsea and Arsenal are also willing to sign the player, but United boss Louis van Gaal has asked Victor Valdes to convince Alves to sign for the Red Devils.

#4 Sampdoria and Lazio

Samuel Eto’o to complete his transfer to Sampdoria by end of the week

• Sampdoria are all set to sign the Everton striker Samuel Eto’o. The player is reportedly in Italy for a medical test with the Serie A club. The Italian club President revealed that the club is down to last details of the transfer. He said, “We are down to the last details. What are the chances of the move being completed? Let's be cautious and say 50 per cent”. Meanwhile, Everton manager Roberto Martinez previously said he wanted Eto’o to stay at Goodison Park but now it seems that Everton will imminently lose him.

• Serie A club Lazio are willing to make a January move for Mario Balotelli. The club president Claudio Lotito has failed to deny club’s interest in the Italian striker. However, Balotelli’s agent has reportedly revealed that the 24-year-old wants to stay and fight for first team oppurtunity at Anfield.

#5 Others

James Milner will be offered £200,000 per week if he chooses to sign for Inter Milan

• Hull City are lining up a bold bid to sign Aaron Lennon from Tottenham. The price expected by the latter to part ways with the player is £7 million. Stoke City and Everton are also interested in acquiring the player. Hull city manager Steve Bruce is confident on signing the player in order to add an extra attacking edge to the squad.

• West Bromwich Albion have made an offer to sign free agent Shola Ameobi. The former Newcastle center forward is available for free after he ended his contract with Turkish side Gaziantep. West Brom manager Tony Pulis is determined to sign the player in order to strengthen his attacking options.

• Inter Milan have made an offer of £200,000 a week to James Milner to acquire his signature. The Manchester City midfielder will be out of his contract at the Etihad when the season ends. Manuel Pellegrini has been trying to tie Milner to a long term contract with Manchester City, but has reached no milestone as the Englishman is adamant about more game time assurity in the new contract.