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Football transfer news and rumours: Arsenal ready to let Olivier Giroud join Chelsea?
We are entering the home straight of the January transfer window with only three days left for clubs to finalise their business before the clock strikes 11pm on Wednesday.
Arsenal have been uncharacteristically busy this month, and their pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took a further twist on Sunday night as reports emerged it could pave the way for Olivier Giroud to join Chelsea.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal would allow Giroud to join their London rivals if they meet the £35 milllion valuation for the 31-year-old striker.
The France international might need more minutes to be sure of his place in their World Cup squad, and would find himself potentially fourth-choice at Arsenal should Aubameyang join.
That deal is gather pace with various sources confirming German outlet Kicker's story that Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have agreed a fee in the region of £60 million. BBC Sport's David Ornstein reports that completing the deal depends on the German club finding a replacement, which may or may not be Giroud.
Should the transfer go through, it would be the second time in little more than six months that Arsene Wenger's side had broken their record transfer fee - having paid £52 million for Alexandre Lacazette last summer.
That has been supplemented with player sales however, with Gabriel, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Francis Coquelin, Alexis Sanchez and potentially Giroud departing.
Arsenal also have a long-standing interest in West Brom's Jonny Evans, with the path seemingly clear as Manchester City close in on Athletic Bilbao centre back Aymeric Laporte.
The Daily Mirror report the defender has said his goodbyes and a £57 million deal could be completed within the next 24 hours. Pep Guardiola has admitted City cannot rely on the the fitness of Vincent Kompany, and with Eliaquim Mangala and John Stones enduring a shaky spell Laporte's arrival would be welcome.
Despite reports linking Chelsea with Giroud, Antonio Conte has ruled out letting Michy Batshuayi leave this month according to the Evening Standard.
In the absence of Alvaro Morata, Conte has preferred using Eden Hazard as a false-nine for the biggest games fuelling speculation that Batshuayi had lost his trust. The Belgian scored twice in Chelsea's 3-0 FA Cup win over Newcastle to end a fallow period.
It is clear a back-up striker is Chelsea's priority, but the Daily Star say pursuit of Edin Dzeko has come to an end after talks with Roma reached an impasse.
Manchester United's January business is likely at an end following the capture of Sanchez, but Bild say he could team up with compatriot Arturo Vidal at Old Trafford.
They say Bayern Munich are ready to sell the 30-year-old central midfielder after signing the highly-regarded Leon Goretzka from Schalke, and United could look to take advantage.
Watford are generally quite proactive in the transfer market, and The Sun report new manager Javi Gracia wants to make Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong his first signing. One potential departure from Vicarage Road is club captain Troy Deeney, with West Brom ready to make an £18 million bid according to the Birmingham Mail.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports say Crystal Palace are keen on Burnley striker Ashley Barnes, while the Lancashire club are also exploring the possibility of taking Arsenal defender Rob Holding on loan.
And the rest
Better luck this time
Diafra Sakho is in talks with Rennes over a £9 million move from West Ham. Lets hope it goes better than his attempted August escape plan, which saw him spend hours at Chelmsford races watching his agent's horse run.
Small talk
The Sun report Jose Mourinho has put Sanchez's new locker next to Marcus Rashford's to help them strike up a partnership. Given reports that Sanchez sits alone with headphones on at meal times international duty, that might take a while.
You sure, Pep?
Gary Neville was unconvinced by Pep Guardiola's claim that Man City cannot afford the same transfer fees and wages as City rivals United.
West Ham target midfielder
Pick a card, any card seems to be the extent of West Ham's transfer strategy at times and now the Daily Mail are linking them with a move for Everton's Morgan Schneiderlin.
A player many were urging Arsenal and other big clubs to move for when he moved from Southampton to Manchester United. Where did it all go wrong?
Chelsea's striker search goes on
Our own Matt Law reports that Chelsea have been forced to consider their options after talks with Roma about Edin Dzeko reached an impasses. They are interested in Olivier Giroud, but it remains unclear if Arsenal would let him join their London rivals.
They do love a No.9 up there, Clive
According to our Merseyside man Chris Bascombe, Daniel Sturridge could be ready to join Rafael Benitez's Newcastle on loan until the end of the season.
That would suit all parties, and might even give Sturridge an outside chance of making Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad.
Bad news for West Ham fans
As expected, Arthur Masuaku has been given the maximum punishment of a six-match ban for spitting in their cup exit at Wigan on Saturday.
More Aubameyang chatter
Reports in Germany - Bild to be precise - suggest Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be officially presented as an Arsenal player today. They also state Borussia Dortmund are looking for a replacement, and having baulked at Arsenal's asking price for Olivier Giroud have turned to Michy Batshuayi.
No one likes us, we don't care
Talks are ongoing between Millwall and Tim Cahill over a possible return to the Den, according to Sky Sports News. That would be extremely popular among the club's supporters, who regard Cahill as a hero despite the fact he moved on to pastures new. He once scored the winner in an FA Cup semi-final for them, and here is Cahill with current Millwall gaffer Neil 'Bomber' Harris.
Telegraph Exclusive
Our man Jeremy Wilson reveals Arsenalhave agreed a club record fee £55.4 million deal with Borussia Dortmund for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
An exciting potential signing, no doubt. Arsenal needed to replace Alexis Sanchez's guaranteed end product, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan plus Aubameyang is a big step towards doing that. They are two short-term solutions however, when Arsenal's chances of winning the big trophies in the near future are minimal. Should they have gone for youth and towards a bigger rebuild?
Strikers available
Teams across all four divisions are looking for forwards this month, and Leicester City pair Ahmed Musa and Leonardo Ulloa could be allowed to leave on loan in the next few days. Ulloa certainly has shown in enough to warrant interest from other Premier League clubs. Musa, less so.
Mour, Mour, Mour
Tottenham look in the clear to sign PSG winger Lucas Moura, but football.london report work permit issues are causing a delay despite the deal edging ever closer.
The Brazilian speedster has frustrated during his time in France, but Spurs fans have been crying out for some pace and unpredictability in the final third and he should provide that. Administrative issues are usually sorted out and smoothed other, so no need to panic.
Affairs of the Hart
Read Jason Burt's report on Joe Hart staying at West Ham until the end of the season, despite losing his place between the sticks to Adrian.
Bye bye Zlatan, bye bye...
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to Manchester United to much fanfare late last year, but despite the PR hype has struggled to regain full fitness. ESPN say the great man is nearing a move to LA Galaxy with United well-stocked in attacking areas after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez.
West Ham's scattergun approach continues
Sky Sources say West Ham are keeping tabs on former Southampton striker Graziano Pelle, who is playing in China for Shandong Luneng. Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini are sidelined, so David Moyes needs some offensive reinforcements.
Jonny Evans latest
The Daily Mirror confirm Arsenal are still interested in Evans, but are not interested in matching West Brom's £20 million asking price. That might sound like parsimony, but remember the defender could leave for £3 million this summer if West Brom are relegated, giving Arsenal some leverage in negotiations.