Top transfer round-up - January 12th: French midfielder on Chelsea's radar
Chelsea aiming to muscle in on Barcelona target
Chelsea are eyeing up a move for Barcelona target Adrien Rabiot as a potential Cesc Fabregas replacement, reports L’Equipe via Foot Mercato.
The Blues are in the market for another central midfielder after Fabregas secured his move to Monaco on Friday night, penning a three-and-a-half year deal with the French giants.
Chelsea supposedly already have deals in place for Leandro Paredes and Nicolo Barella, of Zenit and Cagliari respectively, but are now considering their options.
PSG’s preference would be to sell Rabiot, whose contract expires in the summer, this month with it confirmed he’ll spend the rest of the season on the bench if he remains in Paris.
Read our piece on the midfield alternatives Chelsea should consider this month
Barcelona looking to sell former Liverpool man
Barcelona are considering selling Philippe Coutinho this month as they look to fund a big money move to re-sign Neymar, reports the London Evening Standard.
The Brazilian completed a dream move to Barcelona 12 months ago, but this season has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot at Camp Nou.
Ousmane Dembele has leapfrogged Coutinho in the pecking order under Ernesto Valverde and Barcelona are now re-evaluating the future of the former Liverpool man in Spain.
Should they sell, it’ll be to fund a blockbuster move to sign Neymar, who left Barcelona for PSG in 2017.
Arsenal hoping to sign Juventus defender in Ramsey deal
Juventus are considering offering Medhi Benatia to Arsenal in a bid to help sweeten the deal in their pursuit of Aaron Ramsey, according to Gazzetta dello Sport via the Metro.
Benatia has found first team football hard to come by this season, with the Moroccan dropping behind Leonardo Bonucci in the pecking order in Turin.
Juventus are keen on securing Ramsey’s services on a free transfer in the summer and are pondering sending Benatia the other way.
Gunners boss Unai Emery is looking to add another centre-back and has earmarked Benatia as a possible defensive reinforcement in the past.
Tottenham target attracting interest from Premier League rivals
Leicester and Everton are tracking Tottenham target and Hull City star Jarrod Bowen, reports the Sun.
Bowen is one of the brightest stars in the Championship and his good form hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The 22-year-old was named the December player of the month as he scored six and registered two assists last month to take his total for the season to 11 goals and three assists.
Hull, though, are reluctant to sell their prized asset this month and value Bowen at £20m.
