Transfer news and rumours: 31 January 2016

It is transfer deadline day in some leagues today and clubs are still scrambling to make some much-needed signings before the January transfer window closes for good. As is often the case, most deals take place on the final day as buying clubs haggle to bring down the player's price while selling clubs call the shots by holding out for as much as possible.We look at all the possible deals that could take place and those that may have to wait till the summer.

#1 La Liga

Will Diego Costa return to Spain?

– Barcelona reportedly want to sign Juan Mata from Manchester United in the summer, according to Don Balon. Mata made a name for himself at Valencia before a move to the Premier League and the report states that United could listen to offers for the midfielder they bought from Chelsea for £37.1m.

– According to AS, Atletico Madrid want to bring Chelsea striker Diego Costa back to the Vicente Calderon and will bid as high as €45m. Diego Simeone had been the main figure in Costa’s rise before his move to the Premier League.

With a transfer ban impending, Atletico are planning ahead and looking to secure their signings as soon as possible. Atletico may also offer Jackson Martinez in the deal after his transfer to the Liga club last summer has flopped.

– Real Madrid are back in the hunt for Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea after failing to land him last summer. According to Mirror, his agent Jorge Mendes has been informed that the Blancos will push for a transfer this summer.

With Real Madrid’s transfer ban provisionally suspended, Madrid could try and get the Spanish no.1 for £23m and also give De Gea a £6.5m signing-on bonus as a means to apologise for their failure to sign him in August last year.

#2 Premier League

Is Romelu Lukaku a target for Manchester United?

– Chelsea will look to sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid should Eden Hazard leave the London club, according to ESPN. The 24-year-old French forward has a reported buyout clause of £60m and Atletico could cash in to rebuild their squad.

– Manchester United are looking to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton, possibly in the summer transfer window, according to The Telegraph. The Red Devils are reportedly ready to spend as much as £65m to sign the Belgian striker as the squad are short of attacking options apart from Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial.

– Red Devils midfielder Nick Powell is close to joining Hull City on a loan deal. Powell has been in and out of the United squad in recent years and is in the final year of his contract.

– The Daily Star also claim that Manchester United want to sign both Harry Kane and Dele Alli from Tottenham Hotspur. The pair have scored 22 goals this season and look like sure-shot players in the Euro 2016 squad for England.

#3 Rest of Europe

Ezequiel Lavezzi is not leaving PSG this season

– According to ESPN, PSG will not be letting Ezequiel Lavezzi leave in this window. Lavezzi’s contract expires at the end of the season but the Ligue 1 club’s boss Laurent Blanc claims they have a plan in place for him.

“We have been very clear on his situation. He cannot say the contrary. We all know that if someone wants to leave the club, all the parts of the club must agree.”

– In-demand Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is not sure if he will remain at Bayern Munich in the future. A number of Premier League clubs are chasing his signature and while he is happy under Pep Guardiola, the Spanish manager’s departure may change things.

“As a professional footballer, it’s hard to say (whether he would stay at Bayern long term)”, Lewandowski said. “Many times I have heard players say such a thing and then comes another coach and they were no longer in such high demand.”