Top transfer round-up – January 16th: Manchester United outcast set to leave, while Sturridge has MLS interest
Here we run through the latest rumours and round-up the possible movers dominating today’s gossip columns.
West Ham reject Valencia’s bid for Hernandez
West Ham have turned down Valencia’s loan offer for Javier Hernandez.
The Mexico international has agreed personal terms with Valencia and is keen to secure a move back to Spain.
Hernandez has spent the last two years at West Ham but has generally struggled for playing time and is desperate for regular football.
Valencia are in the process of terminating Michy Batshuayi’s loan stint from Chelsea and are on the market for a new striker.
However, West Ham will not let Hernandez leave the club this month unless they can get a replacement through the door, which is unlikely.
With Marko Arnautovic heavily linked with a move to China, Hernandez may have to stay at West Ham until the summer.
Hernandez has only scored 12 goals in 42 league games since joining West Ham from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2017.
Arsenal encouraged in pursuit of James Rodriguez
Arsenal have been given encouragement that there is a deal to be done for Bayern Munich creator James Rodriguez this month.
Rodriguez has entered the final six months of his two-year loan at Bayern but does not feature in their plans going forward.
The Colombia international is keen to leave Bayern either this month or wait to return to Real Madrid in the summer.
Bayern will let Rodriguez leave if any club are willing to pay the £3m release clause to get him out of his current agreement.
Any deal involving Arsenal will likely hinge on whether they can shift Mesut Ozil, which could prove problematic due to his wages in excess of £300,000-a-week.
Since the start of last season, Rodriguez is making a key pass more frequently (every 25.6 minutes of action) than any other player to have made at least 20 appearances in the Bundesliga.
Manchester United transfer list Fellaini
Interim Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to offers for out of favour midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
Fellaini is yet to start a game under Solskjaer and does not fit the style of play the new United boss wants to play.
The Belgium international has interest from China, as well as Porto and AC Milan and Solskjaer is ready to cut ties with the 31-year-old.
United have a significantly better win ratio when Fellaini hasn’t started in the Premier League this season (62.5%) compared to when he has featured from the off (33.3%).
Manchester United with and without Marouane Fellaini starting in the Premier League this season
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 16, 2019
For more player stats -- https://t.co/DjadVbn4Xy pic.twitter.com/tGShKOq1Hf
AC Milan want Piatek to replace Higuain
It looks increasingly likely that Gonzalo Higuain will join Chelsea this month as AC Milan have identified Genoa sensation Krzysztof Piatek as their ideal replacement.
Genoa spent a reported €4m fee to sign Piatek in the summer but now the Poland international, who is dubbed the next Robert Lewandowski, has courted interest from a number of big clubs across Europe.
The Serie A side want to hold on to Piatek for the rest of the season but will sell this month if any side match their €40m valuation, which Milan interested in the 23-year-old.
Piatek’s arrival at Milan would pave the way for Higuain to move to Chelsea and reunite with former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (14) has scored more Serie A goals than Piatek (13) this season.
Liverpool striker Sturridge expecting MLS offers
Daniel Sturridge has entered the final six months of his existing Liverpool deal and is expected to receive offers from MLS sides.
There was talk about a new Liverpool deal earlier this season but that has subsided and the 29-year-old is expected to leave on a free at the end of the season.
Sturridge has struggled with injuries over the last few years and has dropped way down the pecking order Jurgen Klopp, though there was a brief resurgence in September when he scored in three straight appearances.
However, Sturridge has only started at least 10 league games in a single season in one of the previous five campaigns, managing just two starts so far this term.
Eriksen unlikely to sign new Tottenham deal
Christian Eriksen is unlikely to sign a new Tottenham deal and is keen on a move to Real Madrid.
The Denmark international’s existing deal is due to expire in the summer of 2020 and Tottenham have failed to make any progress in talks about a renewal.
Eriksen has been touted as Luka Modric’s long-term replacement at Real Madrid and Tottenham may be forced to cash in on their star midfielder at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old will only have 12 months left to run on his current Tottenham deal in the summer and there is a risk he could run down his deal and leave for nothing at the end of next season.
Since August 2016, Eriksen has provided more assists than any other player in the Premier League (34).
Paris Saint-Germain favourites for De Jong’s signature
Paris Saint-Germain have moved ahead in the race to sign Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Barcelona and Manchester City have both been heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old but his valuation has escalated due to PSG’s interest.
City were the favourites at one stage but Pep Guardiola has ruled out paying extortionate fees for a new defensive midfielder.
De Jong averages more passes per game than any other player in the Eredivisie this season (80.1), while also boasting an impressive 92.2% pass success rate.
