TRANSFER RUMOURS: Arsenal chase €100m winger as Vinicius Jr bomb drops

The January transfer window is officially here and the rumour mill is in full swing as a result.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the biggest rumours and gossip from 7 January, including the latest updates on Raphinha and Chelsea.

Arsenal rival Man Utd for Diomande

RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old left winger Yan Diomande is in demand, and it’s easy to see why.

The Ivory Coast international has six goals and two assists in the Bundesliga, and he scored his nation’s second goal in a 3-0 AFCON round of 16 victory over Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

Diomande also leads the tournament in dribbles per 90 minutes with 5.5.

As a result, The Athletic reported that he could cost around €100m, although a deal may not happen this month.

Man Utd bid €60m around the New Year, according to Sky, but TEAMtalk reported that a source called the proposed fee “frankly laughable.”

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Chelsea chase unsettled Real Madrid superstar

Real Madrid and Brazil star winger Vinicius Jr. has seemingly been in a battle of wills with head coach Xabi Alonso ever since the latter arrived at the club.

Their relationship has deteriorated to the point that the player may ask for a transfer, and Chelsea are monitoring the situation, according to Sky Germany.

While talk of a €150m bid was downplayed on Tuesday, reporter Florian Plettenberg said the Blues may launch a bid in the summer if the Brazilian doesn’t extend his contract, which expires in 2027.

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Federico Chiesa could spark Liverpool signings

Liverpool have been informed that Federico Chiesa could push for a Juventus return this summer, per La Repubblica.

The clubs have established “formal contact” over the transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool is only interested in a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy.

Chiesa is part of a hugely talented group of wingers and attacking midfielders at Liverpool, but the question is how they would reinvest the funds.

Few of the players who Liverpool manager Arne Slot has used on the wing this season — Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szobozslai, and Chiesa himself — have similar styles of play, making it difficult to determine what type of player Slot would want to replace the depth Chiesa provided.

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Barcelona face battle to keep Raphinha

Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal have bid €100m for FC Barcelona star Raphinha, according to Fichajes.

Al-Hilal is also reported to have offered a “stratospheric” contract in an effort to bring Raphina to Riyadh as Neymar’s replacement.

Neymar appeared in just three league matches, starting twice, in 18 months in Saudi Arabia before rejoining his boyhood club, Santos.

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Other Transfer Rumours

Newcastle striker William Osula, who Eddie Howe called “the complete package” earlier this season, is being looked at by Aston Villa and Eintracht Frankfurt. (TalkSport)

Barcelona are targeting left-back Carlos Romero, who plays for rivals Espanyol and has a €45m release clause, after a ‘flawless’ performance against Lamine Yamal on 3 January in which the defender made six tackles and three interceptions. (AS)

Man City have been linked to Crystal Palace centre-back and captain Mark Guehi this month, and manager Pep Guardiola’s decision to recall 20-year-old Max Alleyne over the more experienced Manuel Akanji has opened the door to sign Guehi. (FootballTransfers)

Juventus central midfielder Weston McKennie is set to leave the Italian giants on a free transfer in the summer with the club allowing his contract to expire, as reports from Italy state that Juve “aren’t even discussing this possibility.” A move to Major League Soccer in his home country, the United States, has been a popular rumour.

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