Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are all still hunting huge signings with just two days before the January transfer deadline. Arsenal are not giving up on Moises Caicedo and are believed to have seen a second bid for the Ecuador midfielder worth around £70million rejected by Brighton, who may have got a replacement in .
Chelsea have re-opened talks over Enzo Fernandez as they also look to make a huge splash in midfield. While a deal is considered difficult after previous bad blood with Benfica, the Blues believe they can still sign Argentina’s World Cup-winning midfielder before the market shuts for business at 11pm on Tuesday night by offering more than his £105m release clause. Chelsea have also been interested in Amadou Onana and Alexis Mac Allister.
Tottenham should clinch the arrival of Pedro Porro today as Sporting Lisbon line up Hector Bellerin, with an offer also reportedly tabled for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie and Jude Bellingham’s brother Jobe. Spurs have also agreed a fee for Chelsea striker Jude Soonsup-Bell. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours, gossip and deals as they happen live below!
Live updates
Chelsea willing to pay €120m for Fernandez
Chelsea are poised to hold more talks with Benfica over Enzo Fernandez today.
Fabrizio Romano’s latest update on the situation claims the Blues are willing to go as high as €120m in a bid to secure what would be another blockbuster transfer.
He adds that everything now depends on Benfica and club president Rui Costa, who has been a thorn in Chelsea’s side on this deal so far.
Apparently everything is already wrapped up with Fernandez himself, with the player having tried to force a switch to Stamford Bridge once already this month.
Spurs make late offer for Hincapie
Could it be that Pedro Porro is not the only defender to join Tottenham before the transfer deadline?
Moises Caicedo’s highly-rated Ecuador team-mate Piero Hincapie is now said to also be firmly on Spurs’ radar.
In fact, German publication Bild claim that Tottenham have tabled a £22m “verbal offer” with Bayer Leverkusen over the versatile 21-year-old.
Tottenham to sign Porro after Bellerin deal
Tottenham should wrap up the signing of Pedro Porro today.
The Spanish defender has been Antonio Conte’s top transfer target throughout the January window as he seeks an upgrade on the likes of Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty at right wing-back.
Negotiations have been slow, but an agreement is believed to have been finally struck last week and Porro waved goodbye to Sporting Lisbon fans after Saturday night’s defeat by Porto in the Portuguese League Cup final.
Key to Spurs’ deal for Porro is Sporting’s ability to source a replacement before the deadline. Standard Sport understands that the club are now close to loaning former Arsenal stalwart Hector Bellerin from Barcelona.
Chelsea holding new Fernandez talks
Chelsea are joining Arsenal in hoping to make a major midfield splash before the January transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow night.
Though their interest in Moises Caicedo has now cooled, the Blues have reignited their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez.
Standard Sport understands that Chelsea have now reopened talks with Benfica over the Argentina World Cup winner and have a plan to tempt the Portuguese giants into accepting a bid over his £105m release clause that would help them to avoid any Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues.
Such a move would allow the cost of the transfer to be spread over a seven-and-a-half or an eight-and-a-half-year contract.
Chelsea are said to consider the move difficult but there is hope it can be struck before the deadline. Watch this space!
Arsenal handed new Caicedo boost
However, good news for Arsenal regarding Moises Caicedo might come in the shape of Brighton’s own latest transfer business.
Per Fabrizio Romano, the Seagulls have now completed the signing of Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari from AIK for a fee of around €6m.
The 19-year-old is said to have arrived in England to undergo a medical and sign a long-term contract at the Amex Stadium.
Though he’s just a teenager, it has been speculated in various publications over recent days that Ayari could well be a replacement for Caicedo, whom manager Roberto De Zerbi said yesterday he hoped would stay but also that Brighton were ready to move on without him if necessary.
Arsenal fail with new £70m Caicedo bid
Arsenal have seen a fresh bid for Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton ahead of Tuesday night’s January transfer deadline.
The Gunners originally saw a £60million offer for the Ecuador midfielder turned down last week, but are desperate to land his signature in order to greatly aid their Premier League title bid, having already signed ex-Seagulls team-mate Leandro Trossard this month.
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have made a second move for Caicedo worth £70m including add-ons.
However, that offer has quickly been dismissed by Brighton. Arsenal now must decide whether or not to come back with a third bid that would likely involve a club-record fee.
