The latest deals, moves and rumours as the January transfer window opens.
Kuol in talks over Hearts loan
Newcastle’s Garang Kuol is in Edinburgh today for talks over a loan-move to Hearts.
Teenager striker Kuol signed for Newcastle last week from Central Coast Mariners, having turned out for Australia in the World Cup.
If he signs, highly-rated Kuol will have three Australia international teammates in the Hearts squad.
Kuol was courted by Barcelona before he opted for Newcastle.
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Jack Butland to have United medical within 24 hours
Crystal Palace keeper Jack Butland is on the verge of signing for Manchester United with his medical expected in the next 24 hours.
The deal would involve a straight loan until the end of the season during which United will pay his full wages.
The former England international will provide competition for David de Gea following Martin Dubravka’s return to Newcastle United.
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Will Rice leave West Ham in the summer?
Former Premier League player Jay Bothroyd told Sky Sports News:
“I think West Ham have conceded that Declan Rice is going to go. Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool – he’s a top player. In his position, one of the best in the world, but I think West Ham still have that pull of players. They can sign good players, they’ve always signed good players.
“Now, I think they really need to look at it and move up the table because in the summer, I think Declan Rice will be gone, so they need to be in a position where they can spend money, replace the players that might leave. But the most important thing right now is to start playing better and scoring goals more often.”
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Are ‘chaotic’ Chelsea unattractive to Mudryk?
The Athletic’s Dan Bardell told Sky Sports News:
“You’ve got to look at what’s the best deal for the club and what’s the best deal for the player, and if i was a forward player, I’d look at Chelsea and think of the forward players that have gone there over the last few years and think, ‘has anyone actually joined Chelsea in the last two or three windows, played in that front position and excelled?’ Probably not.
“Arsenal now, feel a better proposition for me if I was a player looking to move to the Premier League, from a football perspective. Chelsea, at the moment, feels a bit chaotic. Sterling joined in the summer – his best position is on the left flank, which is Mudryk’s best position, yet Sterling’s hardly played on the left flank for Chelsea.
“I’d look at that if I was Mudryk, and an Arsenal fan by the looks of things, and you’d went to go there, you’ve got a genuine shot playing the Premier League.
“The way that the Premier League has gone this season, there’s a very real chance that three of Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool aren’t going to make the Champions League this year, and I wouldn’t back Chelsea to get that.”
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Shakhtar officials in London amid Chelsea interest in Mudryk
Shakhtar Donetsk officials are in London today and will attend the match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge tonight.
As we reported yesterday, Chelsea are planning talks with Shakhtar over signing their winger Mykhailo Mudryk.
Negotiations have also been ongoing with Arsenal.
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‘Chelsea submit players plus cash offer for Fernandez’
Chelsea have offered Benfica £75 million plus three players in an attempt to sign Enzo Fernandez, according to Record.
The Portuguese outlet are reporting that Hakim Ziyech could be one of those, as well as a further two loan players: David Datro Fofana and Audrey Santos.
The latter, however, is yet to sign from Vasco da Gama.
Fernandez – who only joined the As Aguias in the summer – is thought to have a £106m release clause in his contract.
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Blind set to sign for Bayern
Bayern Munich are about to sign Dutch international Daley Blind, Sky Germany are reporting.
The free agent landed in Munich on Thursday morning and is currently undergoing a medical.
He will then sign a contract until the end of the season.
Blind’s contract with Ajax was mutually terminated shortly after Christmas.
Blind said at the time: “This isn’t how I imagined my end at Ajax, but due to circumstances it happened that way.”
According to reports in Holland, one reason for the separation was a breach of trust with coach Alfred Schreuder.
Ex-Manchester United defender Blind played in all five of Holland’s games at the World Cup.
