Live transfer blog: January 5th - Chelsea find Fabregas replacement while Inter eye Godin

 

Here we run through the latest rumours and round-up the possible movers dominating today’s gossip columns.

 

Wolves close in on Tammy Abraham

 

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith insisted on Friday that Tammy Abraham was better off staying at the club rather than move to the Premier League but he looks to be doing exactly that.

 

Wolves are now just waiting for FIFA approval before they can sign Abraham on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the season.

 

Nuno’s side wanted to sign Abraham on a permanent deal but have been forced to settle with a loan switch after Chelsea ruled out his departure on a full-time basis.

 

Abraham, who has been left out of Villa’s squad to face Swansea on Saturday, is the joint top-scorer in the Championship this season with 16 goals in 20 appearances.

 

Chelsea identify Fabregas replacement

 

Chelsea have earmarked rising Cagliari star Nicolo Barella as their top transfer target to replace Cesc Fabregas this month.

 

Fabregas, who has entered the final six months of his existing Chelsea deal, will join Monaco after Saturday’s FA Cup third round clash with Nottingham Forest.

 

Maurizio Sarri will likely only have sanctioned a deal for Fabregas to leave in the knowledge he can bring in a replacement and appears to have set his sights on Barella.

 

The 21-year-old is valued at £49m by the Serie A side and is also attracting interest from Inter and Sarri’s former side Napoli.

 

Barella has completed more tackles of those aged 23 and under in Serie A this season (49).

 

Inter set to win race for Atletico defender Godin

 

Inter are deep in talks to sign Atletico Madrid veteran Diego Godin.

 

Godin has entered the final six months of his current Atletico deal and is on course to leave the club for nothing at the end of the season.

 

Atletico rejected a £20m bid from United in the summer and were expected to hand Godin a bumper new contract.

 

However, nothing has materialised on that front and now Diego Simeone’s side are set to lose their best defender to Inter on a two-year deal.

 

Godin has made two errors leading to an opposition goal in La Liga this season, having failed to make one in the five seasons prior to this one.

 

 

Emery to reunite with Denis Suarez at Arsenal

 

Unai Emery’s past relationship with Denis Suarez has given Arsenal the edge in the race to sign the Barcelona midfielder this month.

 

Suarez is free to leave Barcelona after failing to make any impact at the club since returning to Camp Nou two years ago.

 

Serie A sides have expressed an interest in the former Spain international but Arsenal are poised to wrap up a deal for the midfielder.

 

With Aaron Ramsey set to leave the club, Emery has earmarked Suarez as his replacement and should get a loan deal with an option to buy over the line before the month is out.

 

Suarez has only played less than half a match of football in league and European competition this season but has a poor pass success rate of just 71% in that time.

 

West Ham want another former Manchester City player

 

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini is trying to get the old band back together this month with former Manchester City midfielder Javi Gracia next on his wanted list.

 

The Hammers have already signed Samir Nasri and now want to bolster their midfield options by handing Garcia a route out of Real Betis.

 

Garcia made no impact during his two-year stint at City but Pellegrini is still keen to work with the 31-year-old once again, as reports suggest Pedro Obiang could be on his way out of the club.

 

Of players that have started a Europa League match this season, Garcia has the best pass success rate (95%).

Live transfer blog: January 5th - Chelsea find Fabregas replacement while Inter eye Godin