There’s nothing quite like a good transfer story to get the adrenaline going – and thankfully, we have a lots of those today.
Huge money moves, big name transfers and the transfer window finally (finally!) open.
Here are today’s top stories…
Top Stories
- Cardiff City are pondering a £500,000 bid for Dons star Jonny Hayes, according to reports. The 29-year-old has been a star player for Aberdeen this season and is believed to be in discussions to extend his current deal at the club in 2018. (Press and Journal)
- Caley Thistle captain Gary Warren has called for his team-mates to put a miserable 2016 behind them with a resilient second half of the campaign. (Press and Journal)
- Italian Serie A strugglers Palermo are hoping to sign Logan Bailly during the January transfer window, with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers willing to allow the 31-year-old goalkeeper to leave either on loan or for a nominal fee. (The Sun)
- Brentford manager Dean Smith has told midfielder Jota, who is a transfer target for Rangers, that he is in his first-team plans after the 25-year-old’s return from his loan spell with La Liga side Eibar. (Daily Record)
- Ross County are back where they want to be in the top six of the Scottish Premiership, but forward Liam Boyce believes his club has underachieved this season. (Press and Journal)
- Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack believes the Dons have silenced the doubters with the impressive end to 2016. (Press and Journal)
- Aberdeen star Niall McGinn has reportedly been offered a three-year deal by a rival Scottish Premiership side. The Northern Ireland international is free to speak to other teams with his contract set to expire in the summer and Hearts are understood to have approached the forward. (Press and Journal)
South of the Border
- Chelsea will bid £60m for Southampton’s Netherlands international defender Virgil van Dijk, 25, who is also wanted by Manchester City. (Daily Express)
- The Blues’ leading scorer Diego Costa, 28, is subject of a rumoured £80m bid from Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian but says he is “very happy” at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mirror)
- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is thought to want Real Madrid central defender Pepe, 33, but could face competition from clubs in the lucrative Chinese Super League. (Sun)
- Arsenal want Sevilla’s French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, 28, who is also a target for Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus. (Daily Express)
Done Deals
- Oscar – Shanghai SIPG (£60m)
- Lukas Jutkiewicz – Birmingham (£1m)
- Marco van Ginkel – PSV (loan)
- Callum McManaman – Sheffield Wednesday (loan)
And Finally…
With the January transfer window now open, a number of top players are free to talk to other clubs.
In Scotland, more than 100 Premiership stars will be looking to sort out their future and there are some very big names featured on that list.
