The winter transfer window is closed, but now it's time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around following the Jan. 31 deadline day.
TOP STORY: Manchester United want Jota
Manchester United are interested in trying to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Diogo Jota, Calciomercato reports.
The Red Devils are believed to be keeping an eye on the Portuguese youngster following yet another strong season with Wolves up to this point.
Jota has been able to secure back-to-back Europa League hat tricks in his last few games, with one of his biggest moments in English football coming when he scored the winner against United in the FA Cup quarterfinals last season.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men suffering from a range of injury problems, Jota could fill a gap for them if they're still in need of attacking options once the summer transfer window rolls around.
LIVE BLOG
23.00 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!
22.05 GMT: Chelsea have already confirmed one signing from Ajax for the summer but could one of Hakim Ziyech's teammates join him at Stamford Bridge?
The Blues are leading the race for Ajax and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to Sportslens. The website tips Chelsea to nick Barcelona and Tottenham for the young shot-stopper, who most outlets value between €40-45 million.
The 23-year-old. who spent five years at Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, would replace Kepa Arrizabalaga, who signed for a record fee but has been dropped by Chelsea manager Frank Lampard.
21.32 GMT: Meanwhile, across London...
Jose Mourinho had kind words for RB Leipzig playmaker Emil Forsberg in midweek. But is there fire to that smoke?
Forsberg, who has fallen down the pecking order over the past two seasons with the German club, came on as a substitute vs. Spurs and caught the attention of the Portuguese boss. Forsberg's agent has spoken about Mourinho's comments and even hinted at the two linking up in the future.
"Nothing that surprises me at all. Mourinho is a great legend who has worked with Victor Nilsson Lindelöf as well," he said.
"Together with Victor, Forsberg is the biggest star in the national team and has caused total chaos in Leipzig. I'm not surprised.
"I can say this ... everyone will soon see what will happen to Emil Forsberg."
This seems speculative at best but Forsberg does figure to be on the move this summer...
20.49 GMT: Arsenal are reportedly interested in Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, but are not alone according to The Sun.
The English daily claims that Atletico Madrid are also desperate to sign the Germany international, who has a £34 million release clause at present. Arsenal signed a pair of centre-backs in January in Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares on loan as stop-gap replacements but are still looking for long-term answers to their well-publicised defensive woes.
The 24-year-old's release clause expires in June with RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano another target for the Gunners.
20.03 GMT: It has been another painful season in the Midlands for Stoke City supporters.
The Potters are languishing in 19th place in the Championship and Saturday cut bait with unpopular signing Giannelli Imbula. The club have terminated the contract of the DR Congo international, a full 18 month before its expiration. Imbula, 27, has spent the last two and a half seasons on loan with Toulouse, Rayo Vallecano and most recently Lecce.
Stoke's record signing in 2016 (£18.3 million), Imbula played just 28 times in total for the Potters.
19.31 GMT: Phil Foden is still just 19 but at some point he has to start playing regular first-team football.
To the youngster's credit he is remaining patient, especially after publicly answering recent calls for him to go out on loan.
Foden told 90min: "It's not like I've not played any minutes at all. I've made 50 appearances now for City so the numbers speak for themselves.
"I want to stay as long as I can."
Foden has played 24 times this season, starting nine games and scoring three goals and adding six assists.
18.54 GMT: Sheffield United have signed one of their star performers this season to a contract extension.
The Blades announced ahead of their game vs. Brighton, that they had signed midfielder John Fleck to a new deal through 2023. The 28-year-old has been one of the standouts during Sheffield's impressive first season back in the top flight and had even been linked in recent months with Arsenal.
The Scotland international has helped the Blades to two promotions, winning the club Player of the Year award during both of those campaigns. Sheffield, who are currently tied for the Premier League's final Champions League place, will hope top hold on to the prized midfielder as they dream of European football in 2020-21.
18.12 GMT: Remember Gareth Bale's proposed move to China?
Jiangsu Suining coach Cosmin Olaroiu says that his club's summer move for the Welshman was "90 percent done" before Real Madrid demanded a fee.
Talking with The National, Olariou add: "It was very close.
"The club agreed with his agent, his agent was there. We agreed with Madrid and in the last month - I don't know what happened there, they lost some friendly games by a big score - Madrid changed their mind.
"First they said they would release him and we would have to pay his salary, then suddenly they said: 'No, you have to pay for the transfer'.
"And paying the transfer and his salary was a little bit over the budget and so we looked for another player.
"But, actually, I know that it was done 90 per cent in the evening, and then in the morning everything changed. But [that was] Real Madrid, not us."
Bale remains stranded at Real Madrid for now.
17.28 GMT: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended Manchester United's failure to sign Erling Haaland by saying that the timing of his transfer gave Borussia Dortmund a big advantage in signing him.
Haaland, 19, has scored 12 goals in eight games since joining Dortmund from FC Salzburg in January, despite United attempting to sign him.
"Everybody blames Man United for not getting him, but we wouldn't have got him," Klopp said. "We couldn't have got him. It's as easy as that. He wanted a top team, as soon as possible, with an open space... Borussia Dortmund.
"That's timing. I hope you know how much I love and respect the people at Dortmund, but it's not that they made a perfect approach and did this and that, it was more they were there, had the space, No. 9... 'here we go, you are 19 years old, want to play Champions League, top end of Bundesliga, so go for it.' Nobody else had a chance, I'm pretty sure, no matter what they say."
16.16 GMT: Wolves winger Adama Traore has earned rave reviews this season as he has run Premier League defences ragged, but the ESPN FC panel think he still has to develop if he is to earn a move to a top club like Real Madrid.
15.20 GMT: Barcelona are closely monitoring Ajax's 23-year-old goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to Sport.
Cameroon international Onana, who played a key role in Ajax's run to the Champions League semifinals last season, has a contract with the Dutch club until 2022.
14.04 GMT: Chris Smalling has told the BBC he is open to extending his stay at Roma beyond this season's loan from Manchester United.
Smalling, 30, has slotted right in to the Roma defence and has made 19 Serie A appearances since arriving in Italy last summer.
When asked if he was considering staying for next season, he said: "Yeah, I think the plan at the start of the season was to contribute as much as I can and then hopefully if we've all had a good season and hit our ambitions then those discussions can take place.
"I've been more than happy with my first half of the season, it's now just making sure that we kick on and finish the season strongly because we have a lot to play for.
"Coming over here and trying to hit ground running with football was the priority. But my family settling in and me learning the language and enjoying the culture, it's something you need to make the most of. My family and I definitely are."
13.33 GMT: Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry has been linked with a move to Manchester City, potentially as part of a deal that sends Leroy Sane to the German club. But ESPN FC's Ale Moreno believes Gnabry shouldn't be in any rush to leave.
12.58 GMT: Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is set to return to the club at the end of the season when his loan at Besiktas ends, according to The Athletic.
Karius, 26, has not played for Liverpool since his errors which contributed to their defeat to Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final. He has since been on loan at Besiktas, where he has made 51 league appearances.
However, the Turkish club will reportedly not seek to trigger their option to sign the German for £7.25m.
12.06 GMT: LA Galaxy manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto denied a report that he had inquired about bringing Barcelona star Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer last December.
A Radio Continental report early this week claimed that Barros Schelotto reached out to Messi's father, Jorge, last year to see if there were any possibility of making a move to MLS after the club lost Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"Nothing. There is nothing to tell," the Argentine coach said when asked whether talks with Messi had taken place. "Obviously [everybody would like to have Messi] and the fact of having a certain relationship with him also brings about the possibility but there has been no approach recently."
Messi's contract reportedly features an exit clause that allows him to leave at the end of each season, which would leave him free to join the Galaxy -- or any other club -- this summer.
LA already have three designated players in Javier Hernandez, Cristian Pavon and Jonathan dos Santos, which means the five-time MLS Cup champions would have to find a creative way to fit Messi under the league's salary cap. ESPN Argentina reports that the Galaxy want to make Pavon's loan move from Boca Juniors permanent in a deal worth around $20 million.
11.25 GMT: La Liga could be about to see another emergency transfer, although this time not as controversial as Barcelona signing Leganes forward Martin Braithwaite.
AS reports that Valencia have contacted Real Madrid about bringing in centre-back Javi Sanchez as cover for Ezequiel Garay, who will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
The 22-year-old Madrid youth product is currently on loan at Real Valladolid but has not made a single league appearance this season and is keen for a move.
Valencia's limited finances mean they are restricted to a loan signing, while both Valladolid and Real Madrid are unlikely to object to a deal which would suit all parties.
10.41 GMT: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has said the club's board back his decision to drop goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to the bench.
Kepa became the world's most goalkeeper when he moved to Chelsea for £71.5m last season but he has struggled recently and been replaced by Willy Cabellero for last three matches. Chelsea have conceded five goals in that time but Lampard said the board have no issues with his decision.
"I am absolutely together with the club and the board," he told a news conference ahead of Saturday's London derby against Tottenham. "We all want the best. I am paid to make decisions.
"It has been a decision to make on form with the goalkeeping situation. Recently it's just changed, but that's nothing final.
"All Kepa needs to do is train and show a great attitude, as I demand from all the players. And things can obviously change."
09.58 GMT: Real Madrid have "intensified their monitoring" of 17-year-old Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga in recent months, according to Marca.
The Spanish giants have reportedly been following Camavinga for two years, but there has been no contact between clubs and negotiations have not yet begun.
Madrid are expected to look to strengthen central midfield this summer by bringing in an alternative to Casemiro.
Although Camavinga is not as defensive-minded, he represents a younger, better-value option than coach Zinedine Zidane's long-term target Paul Pogba, with Marca valuing him at €70m.
09.30 GMT: Pep Guardiola has said his players remain committed to Manchester City despite the prospect of a Champions League ban hanging over the club.
City have been hit with a two-year ban from Europe by UEFA after being found guilty of Financial Fair Play breaches. The club intend to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Guardiola has said the focus of his squad will not be affected.
"I'm completely sure of the commitment of our players," Guardiola told a news conference ahead of the trip to Leicester on Saturday.
"It's about what they've shown for many years, nothing changes, at the end of the season nobody knows what is going to happen. With calm we decide what we want, but for the next three months the commitment will be incredible."
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle): Liverpool have Werner concern
Liverpool are concerned that forward Timo Werner may not be willing to understand that he'd need to fight for his place in the starting lineup if they went through with the signing, The Athletic reports.
It's been well known that that the link Liverpool and Werner is growing courtesy of recent comments made by the striker himself.
"I know that Liverpool are currently the best team in the world and it makes you very proud to be linked to them," the German said earlier this week after RB Leipzig's win over Tottenham in Champions League action.
Now, with the Reds weighing up whether or not to trigger his £50 million release clause, it appears as if there could be a few more complications than they initially thought.
Werner would be a huge asset for the club but is unlikely to be a guaranteed starter courtesy of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino who are firing on all cylinders.
Pep: Spanish giants could bid for City stars
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola thinks its "normal" that Barcelona and Real Madrid could potentially bid for some of his star players.
Courtesy of their two-season ban from the Champions League, the expectation is that some of Europe's biggest clubs will try to strike while the iron's hot this summer by signing City's biggest names.
While Raheem Sterling is the name that keeps being mentioned, their squad is full of world class talent who would be eyed by Europe's elite.
"Barca and Real Madrid are maybe the strongest and most powerful teams in terms of history. That is normal and I understand completely," Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
Sterling deflected the links to Madrid in an interview with Spanish outlet AS, despite saying it is a "fantastic club" and complementing the nicer weather in Spain.
Tap-ins
- Rangers are interested in triggering the £4m option to sign Ianis Hagi on a permanent deal, Daily Record reports. Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister has confirmed that they'll be looking to build upon his loan deal from Belgian side Genk if he can continue his strong run of form, with the Romanian scoring twice last night to help guide the club towards a big 3-2 comeback win in the UEFA Europa League.
- Adil Rami could be on his way to FC Sochi after having his Fenerbahce contract terminated, RMC Sport reports. The World Cup-winning French defender spent just one year in Turkey after signing from Marseille and now, at the age of 34, he's looking to make one of the final big moves of his career with struggling Sochi hoping that he can help turn their fortunes around.
- Valencia are looking at signing central defender Javi Sanchez, on the books for Real Madrid but on loan at Valladolid. AS reports that Los Che want to take advantage of the La Liga loophole that Barcelona used to sign Martin Braithwaite from Leganes as an emergency stop-gap after the injury of Ezequiel Garay. However, the deal is complicated due to Sanchez's status as a loanee and Real's optimism of his long-term future.