Top transfer round-up: January 23rd – De Jong makes decision on future, while City identify Mendy cover

 

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

 

Barcelona win race for Frenkie de Jong

 

Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong has chosen to join Barcelona at the end of the season.

 

Barcelona have fended off interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City to land the 21-year-old after increasing their offer to €90m.

 

De Jong was widely expected to join PSG but a stunning late intervention from Barcelona has secured them the signature of one of the most sought after prospects in Europe.

 

The 21-year-old 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.

 

Manchester United reject Arsenal’s loan bid for Bailly

 

Arsenal have failed with a loan bid for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly.

 

Unai Emery’s side can only afford loan signings this month but have been served a blow in their pursuit of Bailly.

 

The Ivory Coast international has dropped out of favour at Old Trafford in the last 12 months and has been heavily linked with a move away.

 

Arsenal are just one of United’s league rivals keen on Bailly but a decision will not be made on his future until the summer.

 

Since making his United debut in August 2016, United have a better win ratio in the Premier League when Bailly has started (61%) compared to when he hasn’t featured from the off (53.4%).

 

Newcastle want Atletico Madrid outcast

 

Newcastle have approached Atletico Madrid about loaning out of favour winger Gelson Martins for the rest of the season.

 

Martins only joined Atletico last summer but is free to leave this month after making no impact at the club.

 

Atletico are trying to offload some deadwood this month in order to accommodate Alvaro Morata’s wages.

 

Martins has only started one league game for Atletico this season and made just seven appearances as a substitute.

 

In his last two years at Sporting, the Portugal international played a direct hand in 31 goals in 63 league games.

 

Manchester City want Chilwell as Mendy alternative

 

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants to sign a new left-back at the end of the season and has earmarked a move for Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell.

 

Guardiola is running out of patience with Benjamin Mendy, who has only started 15 league matches since joining from Monaco in a £49m deal in the summer of 2017.

 

Mendy is on his way back from another knee injury and City do not have another recognised left-back in the squad.

 

Chilwell only signed a new long-term deal with Leicester in October, having previously been linked with a move to Liverpool.

 

However, Guardiola is keen on the England international to provide competition for places at left-back next season.

 

Only Aaron Wan-Bissaka (40) has completed more dribbles of defenders than Chilwell (34) in the Premier League this season.

 

 

Paris Saint-Germain make shock move for Renato Sanches

 

Paris Saint-Germain are getting desperate in their search for a new midfielder and have turned to Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches.

 

Sanches has endured a remarkable fall from grace since helping Portugal win the European Championships in 2016.

 

The 21-year-old failed to make any impression during a loan stint at Swansea and is now struggling to fulfil his potential at Bayern.

 

Sanches has only started four league matches for the Bundesliga giants this season and Niko Kovac’s side have not won any of them.

 

Juventus pull out of deal for Manchester United defender

 

Juventus have taken a step back in their pursuit of Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian.

 

The Italy international has been linked with a move to Juventus in each of the last two transfer windows but United have played hardball in negotiations.

 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are willing to let Darmian return to Italy but only for a €6m loan fee.

 

United also want a clause inserted that will force the buying club to pay a further €6m to make the move permanent in the summer.

 

Juventus are not interested in those terms and have since cooled their interest, leaving Darmian facing the prospect of staying at Old Trafford for the rest of the season.

 

Since August 2015, United, unsurprisingly, have a better win ratio in the Premier league when Darmian has not started (59.6%) compared to when he has featured from the off (45.8%).

Top transfer round-up: January 23rd – De Jong makes decision on future, while City identify Mendy cover