Transfer news and rumours of the day: January 10, 2016

Liverpool closing in on Pato?The January transfer window is open and many teams have already made their intentions clear with signings as well as attempted bids. The rumour mill gets exciting day by day and has already seen some surprise already. The drama is set to unfold in the coming weeks with clubs looking to bring in reinforcements as they approach the second half of their campaigns. For obvious reasons, the winter transfer window promises to be a nail-biter.Here are the latest transfer news and rumours of the day.

#1 Serie A

- Roma are set to pip AFC Bournemouth to the signing of out of favour AC Milan striker El Shaarawy according to Eurosport. Reports claim that a deal will be completed by Monday evening for €2m with option to buy for €12m that must be activated after 10 matches. The striker was sent on loan to Monaco in the summer but he did not live up to the expectations.

“El Shaarawy is not part of the coach’s plans,” Monaco president Vasilyev Vadim said on the club's official website last night. “We are currently in negotiations for his departure.”

- According to La Gazzetta dello sport, Napoli defender Juan Camilo Zuniga is expected to complete a move to Bologna in the coming days after the clubs reportedly agreed a fee for the Colombian international. Zuniga has failed to play a single game under new manager Maurizio Sarri this season and is eager to get out of his nightmare at the club.

- Debreceni VSC forward Norbert Balogh is expected to arrive in Italy today for his medical at Palermo. According to Football Italia, the 19-year-old Hungarian will be in the stands for their afternoon Serie A game against Hellas Verona. Balogh has scored five goals with five assists in 24 competitive games for Debrecen this season.

#2 La Liga

- Barcelona have made Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey their prime transfer target this time according to the Daily Star. The Blaugrana boss Luis Enrique is said to be a huge fan of the player and Arsene Wenger is well aware of it. The midfielder could leave the Emirates if Barca come calling after being linked with a move to the Nou Camp in the past.

- According to reports in Spain, Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez is being linked with a move to Premier League giants Manchester United. Louis van Gaal is looking out for reinforcements to improve the performances at Old Trafford and Spanish journalist Antonio Ruiz has now claimed that the Red Devils are keen to sign the central midfielder in a deal worth £15m.

- Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema might be open to a move away from the club and Arsenal are set to re-ignite their interest in the Frenchman, the Telegraph reports. Arsene Wenger’s hopes of signing the striker have received a timely boost after the sacking of Rafael Benitez who had convinced Benzema not to leave in the summer.

#3 English Premier League

- According to the Express, Premier League trio Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are ready to battle it out for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who could be open to a PL move in the summer. The Polish striker is reportedly keen to leave Germany, where he won four Bundesliga titles as well as a German Supercup and German DFB Cup, to try out a new challenge.

- Liverpool could sign long term target Mario Suarez for £6million from Fiorentina according to the Mirror. His agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, admitted a host of clubs are monitoring Suarez: "It depends, there is no lack of interest. There are two Spanish teams, three English teams and one French team after him."

- Newcastle United have submitted a massive bid of around £18.8M for Napoli’s Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly reports Calciomercato.it. The defender has been in good form for Napoli since finally nailing down a first team place in the Napoli side after Rafa Benitez left for Real Madrid in the summer and he is attracting the attention of a number of clubs.

#4 Rest of Europe

- Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reportedly interested in trying to lure Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone to Stamford Bridge in the summer. Several high profile managers across Europe including Pep Guardiola were linked with the job but it is Simeone who leads the race according to Goal. The Argentine has had a successful time in Spain and it is believed that Abramovich would pay him €10 million a year for the hot-seat at Chelsea.

- Crystal Palace are believed to be in the race for Sporting Lisbon attacker Islam Slimani. The Eagles are reportedly ready to pay around £22.5m to trigger the Algerian’s release clause and bring him to the Premier League. The 27-year-old had an impressive World Cup in Brazil with Algeria and has scored 41 goals in 90 appearances for his current club.

- According to Tuttomercatoweb.com, Serie A giants Inter are planning to launch a bid for Corinthians left-back Guillherme Arana. The 18-year-old has become a key part of the Brazilian side despite his tender age and Inter are trying to negotiate a deal worth around €4 million to acquire his services.

Edited by Staff Editor