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LIVE Transfer Talk: Manchester United ahead of Liverpool in Upamecano chase

The transfer window opened in early January, and speculation is heating up about potential deals. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.

TOP STORY: United jump line for Upamecano signing

Manchester United are set to beat Liverpool and others to the signing of RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, reports The Sun.

Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp had targeted Upamecano to strengthen his defence, though Liverpool were adamant they wouldn't pursue the 22-year-old in January because of budgetary constraints. And now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is poised to step in, though Upamecano's release clause can be activated only in the summer.

United had scouted the defender for over a year and were close to landing him last summer. However, they were forced to step back when the player's father started making extra demands. Now, they feel better placed to land their man, according to the report.

Liverpool have come under fire for not finding a replacement for Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez, a decision that could yet prove costly in the title race.

United are also said to be considering Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, who is keen to leave the Bernabeu.

- FA Cup on ESPN+: Man United vs. Liverpool at 1 p.m. ET (U.S. Only)
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LIVE BLOG

21.25 GMT: That's all for today's edition of Transfer Talk Live but please check back in a few hours for more of the biggest deals and rumours from the football world. Thanks and take care.

20.29 GMT: Manchester United left-back Brandon Williams has been given a week to secure a move out of Old Trafford, reports The Sun, with West Ham and Southampton particularly interested in the player.

Luke Shaw's emergence and the signing of Alex Telles from Porto has created a logjam on the left for the 20-year-old. Williams has caught the attention of England boss Gareth Southgate with previous displays but needs regular games to have a shot at making the Three Lions squad for the upcoming European Championship, which is why the clock is ticking on a move.

19.19 GMT: The Sun says Burnley are set to beat out Mikel Arteta & Co. for the signature of 19-year-old Stoke "sensation" Nathan Collins.

Collins, a defender, is said to be Sean Dyche's top choice to replace James Tarkowski who is set to leave the club sooner rather than later and can be had for around £10 million, according to the report.

And with bidding for the towering Collins set to start soon, Arsenal simply don't have the funds to reach Stoke's demands.

18.13 GMT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted he's never had any problems with midfielder Paul Pogba, and praised the World Cup winner's attitude for Premier League leaders Manchester United. 

Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, has been outspoken about his wish for the France international to leave Old Trafford in January. But Solskjaer said despite much outside noise over playing time, performance or a potential move away, Pogba has been a model citizen for the club.

"My job is to be open and honest with him. I've never had a problem with him," Solskjaer said. "I talk openly and directly with Paul. I'm not going to tell anyone what my advice to him is but I have always had a good relationship with him. He comes from a great family, he's a very sensible boy and he knows what I'm talking about when we speak.

"He's up front and honest with me too. And what people don't see with Paul is even when he isn't playing, he's contributed loads in the background. Sometimes he's even acted as the interpreter between me and different players -- even when he isn't playing. He always respects my decisions and we've always had a very good working relationship."

17.14 GMT: With Mesut Ozil now officially departed for Fenerbahce (see 14.16 GMT), Arsenal have more space in their squad to bring in midfielder Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.

Sources told ESPN's James Olley and David Cartlidge on Friday that the Gunners are close to completing a loan move for the Norway international, who is frustrated by his lack of game time at the Spanish champions.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta gave an update on the deal after Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Southampton (stream the replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.).

"Since last night I don't have any news," he said. "I will probably get a few phone calls today and see where we are with everything."

16.33 GMT: Leicester City winger Demarai Gray is a target for Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, The Sun on Sunday reports.

Gray has made one Premier League appearance this season as he has fallen out of favour with manager Brendan Rodgers. The 24-year-old is out of contract in the summer.

Palace see the former England U21 international as the ideal replacement for the 29-year-old Andros Townsend, whose deal also expires at the end of this season.

15.49 GMT: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says it is unlikely Billy Gilmour will be loaned out after impressing in Sunday's 3-1 FA Cup win over Luton Town at Stamford Bridge (stream the replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.).

Gilmour, 19, started alongside Mason Mount in Chelsea's midfield in their comfortable fourth-round win over Luton. It was Gilmour's third start of the season and Lampard was impressed with the young midfielder's performance, with him playing a key role in teeing up Tammy Abraham's hat-trick goal.

"He was outstanding," Lampard said. "His comfort on the ball, the way he moves it, his discipline and his personality was great. Playing like he did today, he makes it very difficult for me not to give him a run.

"With his youth and the injury he's had, and the difficult time we've had in the last month or so, I think it's been me trying to find the right time to get Billy in there. Today it felt like the right time."

Chelsea have loaned defender Fikayo Tomori out to AC Milan in this transfer window, but despite his lack of game time, Lampard says Gilmour is likely to stay at Stamford Bridge rather than being allowed out on loan.

"Looking at him there today, then he won't be going on loan," Lampard said. "Of course I'll keep that slightly open until the end of the month, but Billy's a Chelsea player and the levels he showed today show he's right for being a Chelsea player in the middle of the park."

15.03 GMT: Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek is willing to wait for his chance to stake a claim in the first team, according to the Sunday Times.

Van de Beek, 23, has made 21 appearances since arriving from Ajax in September, although only two of those have been Premier League starts.

Sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson that United have rebuffed loan enquiries for Van de Beek, and will look to keep the majority of the squad together this month as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prepares to fight on three fronts -- in the FA Cup, Europa League, and the Premier League -- for silverware.

The Sunday Times reports that Solskjaer has a good relationship with the Netherlands international, who turned down advances from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich last summer because he connected so well with the United boss during talks.

14.16 GMT: It's finally been confirmed -- Mesut Ozil has left Arsenal to join Turkish side Fenerbahce.

Ozil, 32, spent seven-and-a-half years at Arsenal after joining from Real Madrid in 2013 for a then-club record fee of £42.5 million and went on to win the FA Cup three times. He also helped the club reach the Carabao Cup final in 2018 and the Europa League final in 2019, as well as making 184 Premier League appearances.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: "Mesut's achievements at Arsenal are undisputed. It was a privilege to play alongside him and, more recently, coach him. His creativity and vision led to many goals during his time in the Arsenal shirt.

"Mesut was at the heart of many great moments for this club over the years, including those three FA Cup final wins. These successes will always be part of our history. We thank Mesut and wish him all the best with Fenerbahce."

Despite being Arsenal's highest-paid player on a contract worth £350,000-a-week, Ozil saw his playing time limited under Mikel Arteta and he was not included in the squad registered to play in the 2020-21 Premier League and Europa League.

Ozil said: "I'd like to thank the club for this amazing journey over the past seven-and-a-half years. The support I have felt from the team and fans during my time here has been truly incredible and something I will always be grateful for. Together we won trophies for the first time in years and created memories that will last a lifetime.

"The Arsenal fans will forever remain in my heart. I'd like to thank Edu Gaspar for helping bring about a professional and dignified solution in the past few days, and I wish everyone at the club the best in their attempt to continue to bring Arsenal back to the top, where we belong."

Ozil also posted a lengthy farewell message to Arsenal fans on Instagram.

13.34 GMT: Struggling Hertha Berlin have fired coach Bruno Labbadia and long-time sports director Michael Preetz, following Saturday's 4-1 home loss to Werder Bremen that left them in 14th place in the Bundesliga (stream the replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.).

Hertha have won one of their last eight league games, having also lost the last two, after pumping in hundreds of millions of pounds through investor Lars Windhorst in recent months.

The experienced Labbadia, who has also worked at VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburg SV and VfB Stuttgart, took over in April last year charged with helping Hertha stay up, which he did. But this season the 54-year-old has been far from successful for the capital's biggest club, who are struggling for form.

Preetz, a former Hertha player who has been with the club for close to 25 years, also paid the price for an unsuccessful squad assembly that has failed to deliver.

- Bundesliga on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)

13.03 GMT: Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno has hinted that veteran midfielder Luka Modric has been handed a contract extension.

Modric, 35, is out of contract in the summer, but recent reports in Spain have claimed the Croatia international has agreed anew one-year deal at the Bernabeu.

Speaking after Saturday's 4-1 win at Alaves, Buragueno said: "There are players like Modric who make this sport better.

"His pass to [Ferland] Mendy in the first half was a fine thing. It's a luxury for us to have him.

"He's given us so much; he's still giving us so much and he'll continue to do so."

12.08 GMT: Chelsea have rejected a loan move for left-back Emerson Palmieri from Premier League rivals West Ham, the Sunday Mirror reports.

Emerson, 26, has made one Premier League appearance this season, with both of his matches this year coming in the FA Cup.

West Ham's reserve left-back Arthur Masuaku is out injured for at least another month, leading to the Hammers looking to bring in another player as cover for first-choice Aaron Cresswell.

However, Chelsea will not sanction a cross-London move for Italy international Emerson.

11.11 GMT: Rafa Benitez has only been out of work for a day, but he is already being linked with a host of big jobs in Europe.

Benitez left Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro on Saturday, with the Spaniard saying that the COVID-19 pandemic was a factor in his decision to leave a job that paid a reported $16m a year. However, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss is unlikely to be short of offers.

The Sunday Times reports Benitez's former club Napoli and their Serie A rivals Roma are two potential destinations, while the Sunday Mirror puts him in the frame for the job at Celtic to replace Neil Lennon, with his former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard running away with the Scottish title at their crosstown rivals Rangers.

09.58 GMT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sanctioned Jesse Lingard's loan move from Manchester United during the January transfer window and the final decision now rests with the club's board, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.

Solskjaer has been keen to keep Lingard at Old Trafford ahead of a busy second half of the season but, after talks with the midfielder, has agreed he should be allowed to move to find regular first-team football.

Despite significant interest from abroad, Lingard, 28, is keen to stay in the Premier League and Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion are among a host of suitors.

England manager Gareth Southgate and assistant Steve Holland have given glowing references to a number of managers after Lingard played a key role in the run to the World Cup semifinals in 2018.

A final decision about Lingard's immediate future is set to be made in the coming days. Lingard has found opportunities hard to come by this season, featuring just three times and starting twice.

09.00 GMT: Mesut Ozil's proposed move to Fenerbahce is set to be announced as early as Monday, Sky Sports reports.

Ozil, 32, has had his contract at Arsenal six months before it was due to expire, and finished a period of quarantine in Turkey on Friday.

Sky reports that the midfielder is in the final stages of agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal with Fenerbahce, and he will take part in a light raining session with the rest of the squad before being officially unveiled.

- Olley: Where did it go wrong for Ozil at Arsenal?

PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd)

Dzeko has his pick in likely Roma exit

Edin Dzeko is being linked with a move away from Roma after having fallen out with boss Paulo Fonseca, and Calciomercato reports a move to Juventus on loan is most likely.

However, the Italian site is also linking the Bosnian striker with a move to Paris Saint-Germain or Internazionale, after he was left out of the side to face Spezia on Saturday.

Dzeko has reportedly been told he can leave before the end of January because Fonseca is unlikely to change his tactical approach.

And Juve, who are keen to add a fourth striker, would appear to be at the front of the queue. Andrea Pirlo was keen to sign Dzeko in the summer and may now have more chance of landing the man he feels can help the Bianconeri battle on three fronts.

PSG and Inter are also considering Dzeko as a perfect short-term option as cover for their own attacking forces.

Lingard future to be decided after Liverpool cup tie

Manchester United striker Jesse Lingard is wanted on loan by Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United, but his future won't be decided until after his team's FA Cup tie with Liverpool (stream live on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in U.S.), reports the Daily Mail.

United's Solskjaer is keen to see the outcome of the game and assess United's potential future fixtures before committing to a decision on the England international.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is desperate for reinforcements after his side extended their recent dismal run to 10 games without a win in a loss to Aston Villa on Saturday. Bruce is keen to land Lingard, as well as Leicester City's Hamza Choudhury.

Lingard has been in inconsistent form for a year, and though he featured in United's FA Cup third-round win against Watford, he is yet to play in the Premier League this season.

However, should United find themselves in the FA Cup and the Premier League title race, as well as the Europa League, Solskjaer may well feel he needs cover in case of injury.

Tap-ins

- Everton are keen to sign AC Milan striker Rafael Leao, but they'll need to offer more than the €30 million already rejected by the Rossoneri, reports Calciomercato. Milan chiefs have rebuffed the Toffees' initial offer and have stated that their valuation of the 21-year-old is much higher. 

- West Ham United are hoping to sign Odsonne Edouard from Celtic before the end of the January transfer window, but the player is said to be keen to move elsewhere, reports the Daily Star. West Ham boss David Moyes is desperate to replace Sebastian Haller, who joined Ajax earlier this month, and Edouard fits the bill, having scored 74 goals in 151 games for Celtic. West Ham are willing to offer £35m. 

- Barcelona want to sign Juan Bernat from PSG this summer, according to Mundo Deportivo. The defender's contract ends on June 30, and though he is out with a serious knee injury, he remains very high on the agenda of the Catalan club for next season. 

- Arsenal and Burnley are believed to be battling it out for Stoke defender Nathan Collins, with the Clarets apparently favourites to land the £10m-rated youngster, according to The Sun. The 19-year-old is Burnley's top choice to replace James Tarkowski and would represent a long-term signing that fits well with the new American owners' vision. 

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