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          Louis van Gaal plans transfer swoop for Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne

          • ESPN staffJan 24, 2015, 08:05 PM ET

          The winter window is now open, and that means the LIVE transfer blog swings back into action. Find out the latest news, gossip and deals here.

          TOP STORY: United closing on Clyne but waiting on Laporte?

          Having decided one young Southampton full-back isn't quite enough, Louis van Gaal is intent on adding another to his ranks in the shape of Nathaniel Clyne.

          Sources told ESPN FC last week that the 23-year-old right-back is a target for Manchester United, and the Daily Star reported an Old Trafford scouting delegation watched the England international in the Saints' match at Newcastle last weekend with a view to a 20-million-pound January move.

          One player the Star said United won't be signing this month is Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte. The paper reported the Spanish club are willing to let the 20-year-old French centre-back leave if United meet his 20-million-pound buyout clause (i.e. not release clause) but not until this summer.

          HEADLINES

          - Roberto Mancini keen to take Yaya Toure to Inter Milan
          - Everton near move for Norway keeper Orjan Nyland, sources say
          - Villarreal and Arsenal reach agreement over Gabriel Paulista transfer
          - Tottenham planning bid for Burnley's Danny Ings, sources say
          - Athletic Bilbao coy on interest in Asier Illarramendi

          LIVE BLOG

          22.00 GMT: That's it for today's round of our live Transfer Talk blog. But never fear, we'll be back shortly to make a fresh start with a look ahead at all the news you'll be hearing about in the transfer mill tomorrow.

          21.52 GMT: Alexandre Lacazette, a rumoured transfer target by Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool, was injured in Lyon's 2-0 victory over Metz. The striker scored the opener for Lyon, but pulled up later in the first half with an apparent muscle strain and was substituted. Lyon boss Hubert Fournier confirmed the injury after the game and said it was the only negative on the afternoon.

          20.27 GMT: A bit more about West Brom's interest in Bakary Sako - Wolves boss Kenny Jackett has told BBC West Midlands that "there has been no contact." "We've had no bid," he added. "Whether there's one imminent, I don't know."

          20.23 GMT: The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that Wigan are interested in Leeds defender Jason Pearce -- but the paper says any approach is likely to be rejected despite Pearce having been only on the fringes of the first-team picture at Elland Road since Christmas.

          20.17 GMT: The Press Association is reporting that Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi has agreed a deal with West Bromwich Albion, although nothing has been completed, with the Baggies also chasing Wolves' Mali international Bakary Sako as they seek to boost their attacking options.

          19.50 GMT: Newly-promoted Brentford and boss Mark Warburton have been a breath of fresh air in the Championship, and with the Londoners fourth in the table Warburton is looking at strengthening his squad as they push for back-to-back promotions. Speaking before the weekend win at Norwich, he said: "There is a lot going on, but these things take time. It's about getting a player that adds value to us on the pitch, in the dressing room and on the balance sheet. Hopefully we are coming to a good conclusion. We hope they are permanent signings -- that's the aim." Aston Villa's Jack Grealish is among the Bees' reported targets.

          19.40 GMT: Today appears to be official Samuel Eto'o Photo Day, so here's another snap posted by his new club to be, Sampdoria (confirmation of this deal is expected tomorrow):

          19.30 GMT: Swansea have not agreed a deal with Norwich for defender Martin Olsson, says Canaries boss Alex Neil. The swans have been heavily linked with a move for the Sweden international, but Neil told the Eastern Daily Press: "In Martin's case, if Swansea offered the money that we couldn't turn down then we will deal with that. That has not been the case. There hasn't been any contact from Swansea apart from the initial approach, which was a few days ago. There has been nothing since. As far as we are concerned, it is business as usual."

          19.25 GMT: Brighton boss Chris Hughton has told the city's Evening Argus that new signing Beram Kayal, who joins from Celtic subject to securing a work permit, is a "dynamic" arrival. The Israel international, who has won 26 caps, "can play a few roles, including the holding role, but he also has the energy to break forward," ex-Norwich boss Hughton said.

          19.15 GMT: Callum McManaman is close to completing a move from Wigan Athletic to West Bromwich Albion, according to the Daily Mail. The paper says a deal of close to five million pounds is near to being struck, with the winger a key target for new manager Tony Pulis as he looks to continue sterring the Baggies away from the Premier League danger zone.

          19.00 GMT: Arsenal's deal to bring Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista to north London is all but complete, manager Arsene Wenger told reporters after his side's entertaining 3-2 win at Brighton in the fourth round of the FA Cup. "It's very, very, very close. It should be done, I think, tomorrow," he said.

          18.41 GMT: Aston Villa defender Chris Herd is being linked with a move to Championship strugglers Wigan, who have lost eight of the 10 league games for which Malky Mackay has been in charge.

          18.39 GMT: Celtic's sought-after attacker Kris Commons says he wants to stay - but only if the reigning SPL champions offer him the two-year extension he is after. The 31-year-old said his future was in the club's hands, adding: "I have said that I don't want to leave. This is where I belong. I am comfortable here, but everything has to be right for the club and myself. My agent is speaking to them, and they are speaking to me. They want me to stay and I want to stay, but we can't agree on something at the minute."

          18.00 GMT: Big Sam Allardyce has told reporters he is "not sure" whether West Ham's mooted move for Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will come off. Speaking after guiding his side into the fifth round of the FA Cup with victory at Bristol City, he said: "It's in Darren's hands, I think. I have spoken to his agent."

          17.38 GMT: According to the Daily Star, Real Madrid are ready to cash in on Karim Benzema's sky-high value in the summer. Reports suggest that Madrid would be willing to accept 40 million euros for the Frenchman -- which seems quite a low valuation, in the eyes of Transfer Talk -- putting Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United on alert.

          16.51 GMT: Paul Pogba scored and put in a highly impressive performance as Juventus beat Chievo 2-0, and Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri told Sky Italia afterwards that it would be tricky to keep the France international.

          "To win games you need great players, otherwise there wouldn't be players that clubs pay 100 million euros for," he said in quotes picked up by Football Italia.

          Asked whether Pogba might eventually be sold, he added: "Everything in life has a price, unfortunately. I don't think it is a problem we need to consider right now. It is difficult to replace world-class players but it can be done, as football goes on."

          15.45 GMT: Real Madrid won the race to sign Martin Odegaard from Stromsgodset, and he is set to start his career with reserve side Castilla in the Spanish second tier. Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso seems to think the 16-year-old has made the right call despite his current club's interest. "At that age, playing should be the priority," Alonso was quoted as saying in AS. "It's really difficult in the big clubs among those that can be chosen. At 18, I decided to take a step back and sign for a club in the Segunda, but it was there that I got minutes and evolved as a player. It's a step that I'd advise all young players to take."

          15.10 GMT: Here's more on that good news for Aston Villa -- a rare piece of good news in what has been a difficult campaign for the Birmingham outfit.

          14.51 GMT: And this is what it was all about -- Aston Villa's England midfielder Fabian Delph has signed a new four-and-a-half year deal at Villa Park. Delph had been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, but he'll be staying in the Midlands.

          14.45 GMT: More teasing from Aston Villa. MORE!#

          14.40 GMT: Blackburn Rovers aren't allowing themselves to be distracted by rumours over the future of star striker Rudy Gestede, a rumoured window target for Crystal Palace. The Benin international forward, who struck again in the FA Cup win over Swansea on Saturday, is hot property. But skipper Ryan Lowe said: "It's just football -- you get used to it. People come and go and your job is to perform well every Saturday you're out there."

          14.37 GMT: Aston Villa are such teases sometimes. What could this one mean? We'll find out soon enough...

          14.14 GMT: There could be a changing of the goalkeeping guard beside the seaside, says the Sun on Sunday, which reports that on-loan Blackpool goalkeeper Joe Lewis is set to return to Cardiff, with Sheffield Wednesday's Chris Kirkland arriving in his place. Blackpool, bottom of the Championship, conceded seven second-half goals at Watford yesterday.

          14.11 GMT: Sampdoria are pretty happy with the Samuel Eto'o deal, and who's to blame them?

          14.00 GMT: ESPN FC's Newcastle blogger Lee Ryder thinks one mooted transfer won't be going anywhere:

          13.45 GMT: Samuel Eto'o has said he has passed a medical as he prepares to complete his move from Everton to Sampdoria. The Everton striker used his official Twitter account to thank the doctor who carried out the examination and say he was "ready for a new challenge."

          13.30 GMT: Watford midfielder Keith Andrews wants to return to MK Dons, Milton Keynes manager Karl Robinson has told Sky Sports. He said: "We've tried to make it happen in the last few weeks."

          12.53 GMT: Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde remained coy when asked about his side's interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi. Story here.

          12.41 GMT: New York Cosmos may have thrown their hats into the ring, but it looks like Sampdoria are set to finally complete the signing of Samuel Eto'o from Everton.

          12.23 GMT: Sources have told ESPN FC that Tottenham are planning to make an offer of around seven million pounds for Burnley striker Danny Ings. Story here.

          12.03 GMT: A Valencia update courtesy of Football Espana.

          11.38 GMT: Could former Nottingham Forest and Derby midfielder Kris Commons be on his way back to England?

          11.31 GMT: The Sunday Express blows no one's mind with a report claiming Liverpool are ready to offload Mario Balotelli before the end of the transfer window.

          11.05 GMT: Lucas Silva has told Marca he waived his right to 10 percent of his transfer fee to secure his move from Cruzeiro to Real Madrid. Story here.

          10.47 GMT: Raheem Sterling's agent has played down suggestions -- detailed in Paper Round below -- that the Liverpool star has rejected a second contract offer to stay at Anfield, telling Sky Sports: "At the moment talks are ongoing between Raheem and the club."

          10.41 GMT: Parma technical director Antonello Preiti has said on calcionews24.com that they are "seriously thinking about" bidding for former Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez. The 31-year-old is currently with Al-Gharafa in Qatar.

          10.09 GMT: Arsenal are set to let Joel Campbell join Villarreal on loan. He'd be following Lukas Podolski and Yaya Sanogo out of the club, and our Arsenal blogger John Cross thinks Arsene Wenger might be a little foolish to do so.

          09.52 GMT: Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has hinted at an interest in Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure but said he does not expect to sign Liverpool's Lucas Leiva. Full story here.

          09.43 GMT: Nothing much new here, but the Sunday Mirror says Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City will be fighting it out with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, who is rated at 100 million euros.

          09.15 GMT: The Mail on Sunday claims Chelsea have increased their offer for Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Douglas Costa to 18.7 million pounds, and believes they'll be trying to bring in Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado regardless of whether they land the Brazilian.

          PAPER ROUND

          Sterling stalling over new deal?

          Brendan Rodgers is facing a crucial period in convincing a number of his squad their futures lie with Liverpool, but the Sunday Mirror reported Raheem Sterling has dealt the club a blow by rejecting a second contract offer.

          With Luis Suarez sold last summer and Daniel Sturridge struggling for fitness, 20-year-old Sterling has quickly become Anfield's key player, so the lack of announcement over a new deal will be of particular concern to the fans.

          The Mirror stated Sterling turned down the first offer worth around 70,000 pounds a week, and with a second deal also snubbed, it appears Liverpool will have to return with an offer worth more than the 100,000 pound-a-week barrier -- a real test with Champions League football far from guaranteed next season.

          Who is talking to Memphis?

          After Memphis Depay's star performances for Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup, the PSV Eindhoven starlet was understandably linked with a move to continue his development under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.

          No move materialised, though the Daily Express reported United will now go head-to-head with Tottenham over a 15-million-pound deal for the 20-year-old winger.

          Depay would be a fine replacement for the outbound Aaron Lennon at White Hart Lane, while the Dutch attacker would also offer United much-needed pace, were he to opt for Old Trafford. A Premier League move is likely, so it's up to Spurs and the Red Devils to duke it out now.

          De Gea takes love over money into account

          The heart wants what the heart wants, and the Daily Mirror reported David De Gea has told friends that no amount of money will make a difference in his eventual decision regarding his Manchester United future.

          With the Old Trafford club thought to be preparing a new contract worth 200,000 pounds a week -- more than Real Madrid are reportedly willing to pay the goalkeeper -- the Mirror said De Gea's decision to stay in Manchester or return to Spain will be made by his heart, not his wallet.

          United fans will no doubt be hoping the 23-year-old has enough love for the club -- and, indeed, his first club Atletico Madrid -- to stay away from the Bernabeu, but with 18 months left on his current deal, the ball is firmly in De Gea's court.

          Saints target Dutch duo?

          What's better than your manager earmarking one Dutch starlet? Finding two at the same club, of course, as the Daily Mail reported Southampton boss Ronald Koeman will launch a double raid on Feyenoord this summer for defensive duo Terence Kongolo and Sven van Beek.

          The two 20-year-old centre-backs have featured heavily for their Eredivisie side this season, with Kongolo coming highly rated after being selected by Koeman's rival Louis van Gaal for Netherlands' 2014 World Cup squad.

          With the Daily Mirror reporting the Saints have issued Jack Cork a 48-hour ultimatum to sign a new deal with his current contract up this summer, it seems Koeman is moving early to target reinforcements to ensure his second season at St Mary's is as fruitful as the first.