AC Milan see Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori as January defensive target


The transfer window opened in early January, and speculation is heating up about potential deals. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.

TOP STORY: AC Milan interested in Tomori

AC Milan are interested in signing Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori, Fabrizio Romano reports.

Romano says that Tomori is eager to leave Stamford Bridge in January as he has slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after the arrival of Thiago Silva this summer. And, with Milan making contact over a potential deal, Tomori is reportedly happy with the idea of a switch to the San Siro.

Mohamed Simakan of Strasbourg is still the primary target for Milan, as they are negotiating a €15m deal, but if that falls through, Tomori will be next in the queue as the Serie A leaders look to bolster their defence.

However, Chelsea would likely only let Tomori leave on loan, with Leeds United, Newcastle United and Rennes also interested in the 23-year-old.

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10.52 GMT: Valencia are making a concerted effort to sign Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks on loan, sources have told ESPN’s James Olley.

The 24-year-old has made 16 appearances this season but speculation has mounted over a possible departure as he failed to start a Premier League game between Sept. 27 and Dec. 27.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is open to keeping Winks and hinted at a more prominent role of late, starting him in three of the club’s last five games in all competitions.

Valencia have already had one loan bid rejected due to an insufficient loan fee but are expected to return with an improved offer.

Winks is not pushing to leave but if the two clubs reach an agreement, he will seek clarification from Mourinho over his likely involvement during the second half of the season before deciding whether to move. One important factor for Winks is retaining his place in the England squad ahead of this summer’s delayed Euro 2020 finals.

10.30 GMT: Martin Braithwaite says there is no chance he will leave Barcelona this month, despite rumours the club could look to move him on if an offer arrived.

Braithwaite, 29, joined Barca from Levante in February for €18m. He has scored five goals in 19 appearances this season for Ronald Koeman’s side.

However, it has been suggested in the Catalan press that Barca could look to move the Danish striker on if it helped fund a move for Lyon’s Memphis Depay.

“There is no way that I will leave in the winter transfer market or even at the end of the season,” Braithwaite told TV3. “Next season, I will keep on fighting for my goals.”

On the possibility of Depay arriving, he added: “I like that the club is looking for other players in the market. It is meant to be like that at a club like Barcelona, which aims to have the best players in the world. You need to have internal competition. It does not frighten me, it motivates me. You need the best players to motivate everyone.”

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App Icon Android 709.37 GMT: Manchester United are expecting Timothy Fosu-Mensah to join Bayer Leverkusen this month, sources have told ESPN.

The defender is set to turn down a return to former club Ajax to join Leverkusen because of his desire to play in the Bundesliga. The fee is expected to be around £1.5m and United are also hopeful of negotiating a sell-on clause and possibly a buy-back option.

The 23-year-old is a senior Dutch international but has struggled to break into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first team this season and asked the club to sanction a move away in order to find more first team football.

09.15 GMT: Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has said the club would be happy to open talks with Paris Saint-Germain over striker Moise Kean joining them on a permanent basis in the summer.

Kean, 20, has reinvigorated his career since joining PSG on loan this season, scoring nine goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances. The Italy international struggled last season in the Premier League following his £25m move from Juventus, and Ancelotti said he wants what is best for the player.

“He is having a really good experience at Paris Saint-Germain,” the Everton manager told Sky. “He is scoring a lot of goals, he shows his quality. He is our player and he will be back in June.

“All the time we have to take into consideration what the player thinks because the players are human. If the player wants to come back we will be happy to have him, if the player wants to stay with Paris Saint-Germain, we have to talk with Paris Saint-Germain.

“Whatever the player likes, I don’t want a player back who is not happy to come [back]. If the player is happy to come, he is welcome back.”

– Laurens: How PSG plan to woo Messi to join Neymar and Mbappe

transfers08.30 GMT: Chicago Fire FC have signed 17-year-old Colombian forward Jhon Jader Duran from Envigado FC.

Duran, the youngest international signing in MLS history, will remain with Envigado this year and move to the club when he turns 18.

“Jhon is a very special and highly rated young talent, who will be an excellent addition to our club,” sporting director Georg Heitz said in a club statement. “We’re extremely excited that Jhon has decided to take the next step in his career with the Chicago Fire, as he received interest from numerous clubs from around the world. His signing is a testament to our ownership’s vision to become a top destination for talented young players.”

transfers08.00 GMT: Melbourne City have signed Norwegian midfielder Noor Eckhoff as they attempt to turn around their stuttering start to the W-League season.

The Norway youth international has signed for the remainder of the W-League season after previously spending three years in the Norwegian Toppserien competition.

Eckhoff, 21, joins a City team that has slumped to one draw and two losses, including a 6-0 derby hammering from Melbourne Victory.

Eckhoff will link with fellow new signing and fringe Australia international Alex Chidiac in City’s midfield.

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Juventus pursue Scamacca signing

Italian champions Juventus are ready and willing to fight it out over the signing of Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca, Tuttosport reports.

At just 22 years of age, Scamacca is viewed as having a big future ahead of him in European football, and while he may be on loan at Genoa, the Old Lady are prepared to push on with a deal — especially after the recent injury to Paulo Dybala.

AC Milan are reported to be in talks with Scamacca’s agent, says the Italian outlet, but they add that won’t deter Juventus from joining the pursuit of the Italy U21 international.

Slimani set for Lyon medical

Leicester City striker Islam Slimani is set to undergo a medical with French club Lyon ahead of a proposed move, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Slimani has failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI at the King Power Stadium and, as a result, his departure from the former Premier League champions has seemed almost inevitable in recent months.

With Lyon looking for a Moussa Dembele replacement when the French striker leaves for Atletico Madrid, Slimani is being pinpointed as the man to fill the void.

Tap-ins

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Newcastle United have thrown their name into the hat as the pursuit to sign Moises Caicedo continues. The teenage sensation, who is a rising star for Independiente del Valle, has been the subject of advanced negotiations between his club and Brighton & Hove Albion, who recently surprised everyone by jumping to the front of the line in the battle to sign him. However, there may be a spanner thrown into the works as the Magpies have been attempting to make some noise of their own in the last few hours.

Estadio Deportivo says that Sevilla FC have reached a deal to sign goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during the summer transfer window. He is in the last six months of his contract and an arrangement has been put in place that will see him make his way over from fellow Spanish club Eibar when the season comes to an end.




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