Transfer news and gossip: Liverpool blasted over failed deal, Chelsea eye Cagliari ace as Fabregas replacement

The transfer window is in full swing and there are plenty of news, rumours and gossip in the newspapers and online. Here’s latest transfer-related news…

Chelsea are close to offloading Alvaro Morata to AC Milan on loan, with Gonzalo Higuain moving to Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard has flopped in the Premier League, unable to live up to his billing as the number one striker at Stamford Bridge since his £65million move from Real Madrid in 2017. (The Sun)

Chelsea have also identified Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella as a January transfer target as they prepare for the departure of Cesc Fabregas. (Daily Telegraph)

Fabregas looked to have made his final appearance for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with the World Cup winner leaving the field in tears. He is expected to join former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry at Monaco. FULL STORY HERE.

Neil Warnock labelled Liverpool a ‘disgrace’ for their handling of Nathaniel Clyne’s move to Bournemouth. The Cardiff City manager was keen on acquiring the right-back, only for him to join the Cherries on loan. FULL STORY HERE

Manchester City have taken the unprecedented step of including a “Manchester United tax” in rising star Brahim Diaz’s £22 million transfer to Real Madrid. Real will pay an initial £15.5m for Diaz with a further £6.5m payable in add-ons depending on the Spain Under-21 attacking midfielder’s success with the European champions. But City have insisted on a special United clause that they hope will protect themselves financially should their bitter local rivals try to buy Diaz from Real in the future. (Daily Telegraph)

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana will NOT be allowed to leave Anfield on loan this month. Lallana has been linked with a loan deal as he steps up his recovery from a groin strain that has restricted him to two Premier League starts this season but Jurgen Klopp is understood to want to reintegrate Lallana into the first team. (Sky Sports)

Tammy Abraham is reportedly close to joining Wolves on loan from Chelsea. The striker has been on loan with Aston Villa in the Championship this season and has scored 16 goals. FULL STORY HERE

Beijing Sinobo Guoan have made an approach to sign Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele. The 31-year-old’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season and the Chinese Super League club have freed a space to sign a new foreign player after Jonathan Soriano joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. (Sky Sports)

Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez, 24, is on the verge of joining Arsenal. Suarez played under Arsenal boss Unai Emery at Sevilla. (Sport)

Unai Emery is urging Arsenal to retain Aaron Ramsey until the end of the season, rather than cash in on the midfielder in January. The 28-year-old is free to talk to overseas clubs after entering the final six months of his existing contract with the Gunners, who withdrew their offer of an extension in September, and Juventus are in talks over a deal. (London Evening Standard)

Reece Oxford is ready to wait until the summer to get a move to Arsenal. West Ham are keen to sell in January and are pushing a move to a German club with Borussia Monchengladbach keen to sign the 20-year-old defender. But it is understood Oxford would prefer to stay in England rather than go back to Germany where he has already had two loan spells at Monchengladbach. (Daily Mirror)

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot will join Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer. The 23-year-old’s contract runs out in the summer and he has agreed a signing on fee of €10m (£9m) as well as a salary of just over £170,000 a week for five years with the La Liga leaders. (Guardian)

Manchester City have failed in a bid to sign highly-rated teenager Jean Clair Todibo from Toulouse, with the Frenchman close to sealing a move to Barcelona.  Todibo, 19, is considered one of the best young central defenders in European football, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season he was coveted by many of the continent’s top sides. (Independent)

West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has denied suggestions that Andy Carroll and Marko Arnautovic could be leaving in the January transfer window. (Sky Sports)