January Transfer Rumours 3

With just ten days of the transfer window left, some clubs will be desperate to reach February unscathed.

Reigning Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund fall into this category. Despite back-to-back titles, their top players are continuously linked with ‘bigger’ European clubs.

Reports in Italy suggest Mats Hummels is the latest target.

Barcelona and Arsenal are the clubs alleged to be following the German central defender closely. This is highly understandable, given Hummels’ ability to start attacks.

He is very accomplished with the ball at his feet, reminiscent of German sweepers such as Sammer and Matthaus, and this would undoubtedly fit the ethos of both clubs.

The €21 million fee quoted underlines the quality Hummels possesses, as well as the potential. At just 24, he is young in centre half terms.

He has experience in huge Champions League and European Championship games, and if he wishes to try a new environment then the time could be near.

Wilfried Zaha has passed his medical at Manchester United and Sky Sports sources understand he has signed a five-and-a-half year deal.

What do Atletico need Insua for?

In any case I guess this means Marcos Rojo will now start for his team

Not seen much of Zaha but he looks average based on his YouTube clips. Not particularly fast, awkward dribbling style and questionable decision making.

That twat hardly ever gets it wrong though. Especially when it comes to British players.

Gil wrote:Not seen much of Zaha but he looks average based on his YouTube clips. Not particularly fast, awkward dribbling style and questionable decision making.

That twat hardly ever gets it wrong though. Especially when it comes to British players.

Jones and Young hasn't set the world alight yet

Smalling has gone off-boil after a great start too

Aye don't agree with that at all Gil, he has got a lot wrong as any manager has.

I don't rate Zaha tbh, personally think Ince is a lot better and has much better end product and decision making.

Time will obviously tell though.

Madrid sign Diego Lopez from Sevilla for a fee of around 3,5 million euros

As and Marca report.

I apologize for ever defending Coloccini. He really did want out and he really wanted out for free. What a tw*t. I hope NUFC strip him of his captaincy asap.

He's staying BC at least till the end of the season and keeping the captaincy....

I sort of wanting the club to give it to Cabaye tbh but we will see how this un ravels.

I'm hearing that Galatasaray have signed Drogba?

West Brom forward Peter Odemwingie has released a lengthy statement pleading with the club to accept his transfer request.

The Premier League's bottom side QPR had a bid for the 31-year-old turned down earlier this month but it was understood that Odemwingie was keen to discuss the move.

He has now put in an official transfer request in an attempt to facilitate his departure but it has been turned down by the Baggies.

Albion's sporting and technical director Richard Garlick said: "Peter is under contract until the summer of 2014 and we have no need or desire to sell our core players. We want to keep the squad intact."

Odemwingie has responded with a long statement which read: "I'm deeply hurt and in some ways offended by the lack of reciprocal common respect from the management of West Bromwich Albion.

"During my time at the club I believe I have delivered performances, effort and goals.

"I never complained when I found out that the club failed to inform me of enquiries that might have interested me and my family in the past.

"Everyone knows how much effort and commitment I always give when I play for the club. The fans have been great with me and I will always respect them.

"Some may say I have contributed, along with all my team mates, to the survival of the club in the Premier League in recent seasons.

"At this stage of my career, this opportunity may not come around again. A new challenge, a new opportunity, and a chance to play under the stewardship of one of the most respected managers in the game (Harry Redknapp).

"I hope the management of West Bromwich Albion will accept my transfer request in the manner that I have requested it.

"West Bromwich Albion may argue that I am too vital a member of the team to allow me to leave now but I could argue that team selection so far this season has not reflected that and there is more than adequate cover for my position currently in the squad, culminating in my playing out of position.

"I have not taken this decision lightly and I would like West Bromwich Albion to accept what, in my opinion, is more than a reasonable offer from QPR for me."

Odemwingie arrived at West Brom in 2010 and has scored 30 goals in 80 appearances for the Baggies.

BC (or any other poster who can), could you translate the letter for us? Or just provide a gist?

Ian Holyman ‏@ian_holyman
Aulas on BeIN Sport: " #Lisandro won't leave. He's indispensable to #OL. We've said 'no' to #Juventus."

Philippe Coutinho looks to be heading to Liverpool after the Reds increased their offer to Inter’s liking.

According to Sport Mediaset, Liverpool have now offered €10M plus a number of bonuses which could see the figure rise higher, and Inter have accepted the bid.

This is despite the fact that the offer is some €2M less than that placed on the table by another English side, Southampton, who offered €12M for the Brazilian.

Coutinho though is keener to land at Anfield than St. Mary’s and has already agreed what personal terms would look like with the Reds.

Selling Coutinho to Liverpool will allow Inter to make a fresh move for Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, a player who is desperately wanted by the Nerazzurri.

Coutinho will hope for more chances to impress at Anfield than he was afforded at Inter, where first team action was at a premium.

It remains to be seen however if there are any late twists in the transfer saga involving the young midfielder.

Liverpool's offer has not been raised, just restructured.

Olympique Lyon midfielder Michel Bastos and Schalke 04 have come to an agreement over the player's proposed move to Germany.

However, the French club have yet to agree on the sale price with the Gelsenkirchen outfit and their president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has revealed that he has an agreement to sell the player to another club.

"Michel has agreed with Schalke, but we have agreed a deal with another club which has not been mentioned in the press," he told BeIN Sport.

"He will probably leave in any case. We did not want to take chances."

In regards to Lisandro Lopez, who in recent weeks has been linked with a move to Italian giants Juve, Aulas confirmed that the player will not be leaving the Stade de Gerland.

"Lisandro will not leave. He is an essential player for us that is why we said 'no' to Juventus," he added.

RedOranje wrote:Liverpool's offer has not been raised, just restructured.

What do you mean?

How much guaranteed money upfront is what was changed.

stevieg8 wrote:

RedOranje wrote:Liverpool's offer has not been raised, just restructured.

What do you mean?

windkick wrote:How much guaranteed money upfront is what was changed.

Basically what he said. LFC are offering the same overall fee, the only difference is that the club are offering to pay more of it immediately so that Inter can use it this window.

There are also bonuses involved in the new bid depending on performances.

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:There are also bonuses involved in the new bid depending on performances.

Yea, Rodgers will take the Inter board out to dinner at San Carlo if Coutinho helps the team to three wins in a row.

RedOranje wrote:

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:There are also bonuses involved in the new bid depending on performances.

Yea, Rodgers will take the Inter board out to dinner at San Carlo if Coutinho helps the team to three wins in a row.

Precisely He may even pay for the apple tart if Coutinho helps us to 4th place.

RMC: Saint-Etienne striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has rejected all offers (including €15m ones!) this January. Wants to stay till summer.

RealGunner wrote:RMC: Saint-Etienne striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has rejected all offers (including €15m ones!) this January. Wants to stay till summer.

L'Equipe and Le 10 Sport seem to see it differently

Saying we are negotiating with them at the moment, they want 12m euros and we have offered 10.5m.

But yeah i do think nothing will happen this window, mainly because he has a cup final to look forward to and can't see him sacking that off for a move.

We'll be back in the summer though

Schalke sign Michel Bastos for a fee of €7m, according to L'Équipe.