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As the January transfer window draws ever closer, Premier League clubs up and down the country are preparing for what could be a crucial month.
Clubs will have between January 1 and 11pm on January 31 to land the targets who could prove the difference in the second half of the season.
Everton are confident of buying Charlton Athletic youngster Ademola Lookman in the opening weeks of the January transfer window.
The fee for the 19-year-old could rise to £11million, according to The Independent.
The Toffees have shown interest in the forward for some time, though their efforts have intensified in light of the season-ending injury to big money signing Yannick Bolasie.
Lookman, who hails from Wandsworth, has represented England at various youth levels.
Everton will need to fight off Inter Milan for the services of Manchester United outcast Morgan Schneiderlin.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter boss Stefano Pioli wants the Serie A side to sign a defensive midfielder and Schneiderlin is among the club’s targets.
Inter are in need of shoring up their defence this season after a poor start to the season.
Ivan Rakitic has instructed his agent to reject all offers for him, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Croatian midfielder has attracted interest from Manchester United in the past and he has faced competition from Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes this season.
However, Rakitic still has confidence he can be a mainstay in Luis Enrique’s midfield in the future.
SAM MORSHEAD: Cesc Fabregas has hit back at his critics after his recent return to form, saying ‘people forget very quickly who you are and what you can do’.
The Chelsea midfielder was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the early months of the season after finding his path to the first team blocked under Antonio Conte when the Italian chose to set his team up in a 3-4-3 formation.
He didn’t play a minute for the Blues between September 24 and December 3 but returned for the 3-1 victory at Manchester City and kept Nemanja Matic out of the starting line-up for Wednesday night’s win at Sunderland, going on to score the winning goal at the Stadium of Light.
Leeds manager Garry Monk has hinted he wants to make moves for players in the January transfer window.
In a press conference ahead of Leeds’ match with Brentford on Saturday, Monk said the club know where he wants to strengthen.
Leeds sit sixth currently in the Championship after 21 games with 35 points and Monk will be hoping to keep up the pace near the top of the table.
DOMINIC KING: Everton are facing a challenge to persuade Ross Barkley to commit to a new deal following a difficult start to his relationship with Ronald Koeman.
The England midfielder has come in for criticism at various times since the Dutchman arrived at Goodison Park and has looked at times as though he is struggling for confidence; he has also been affected by losing his place in the England squad to Dele Alli.
Koeman has given the impression that he needs to be convinced of Barkley’s qualities and had dropped him for games against Manchester United and Watford before restoring the 23-year-old to his starting line-up against Arsenal on Tuesday.
He has 18 months remaining on the deal he signed back in the summer of 2014 but talks about renegotiating his terms have, for the time being, been placed on hold. He is in no rush to commit to a long-term deal at this stage.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte remains tight-lipped over Oscar’s future.
The Brazilian playmaker has been linked with a £52m move to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG and this would make him the most expensive signing by a Chinese Super League club.
However, Sky Sources understand that Oscar wants to stay and battle for his place at Stamford Bridge.
And Blues boss Conte has said: ‘The situation with Oscar, I think it will be clearer in the next days.’
MATT BARLOW: Chelsea are set to pursue their interest in Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule when the transfer market opens next month.
Sule is rated as one of the top young centre-halves in Germany and has been identified by Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo as a player capable of operating in Antonio Conte’s back-three.
Chelsea had a £20million offer for the 21-year-old rejected in August and were told to up the bid to £30m.
Crystal Palace are holding firm over their £8million valuation over Lucas Lima, according to The Sun.
The Brazilian had been set for a move to south London in the summer but opted to stay with Santos.
However, Eagles manager Alan Pardew is keen to bolster his attacking options and he is targeting a January move for the 26-year-old midfielder.