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LIVE Transfer Talk: Arsenal agree deal for Shakhtar's Mykola Matviyenko

It's go time, as the January transfer window is open. Find out when it closes across Europe, view the latest transfers as they happen and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.

TOP STORY: Arsenal agree deal for Shakhtar's Matviyenko

Arsenal have agreed a deal to make Shakhtar's Mykola Matviyenko their first signing since manager Mikel Arteta took charge last month, according to reports in Ukraine.

The centre-back has featured 14 times in the Ukrainian Premier Liga for Shakhtar this season, as well twice facing Manchester City in the Champions League.

Sources told ESPN Brasil on Tuesday that Arsenal's deal to sign Flamengo defender Pablo Mari has collapsed, opening the door to sign Matviyenko.

Mari, 26, arrived in London on Saturday to complete a transfer to the Emirates but the defender is now set to stay at Flamengo.

LIVE BLOG

23.30 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and with only three days remaining in the winter window, remind you to follow this space for all your latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!

23.09 GMT: Could Leroy Sane's move from Manchester City to Bayern Munich be back on?

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has refused to rule it out.

"If we are still interested in principle, which I do not rule out, we will first talk to the club in order to create a friendly atmosphere of conversation," Rummenigge told German journalist Manuel Bonke. Sane, who tore is ACL just 13 minutes into the Community Shield this season, is nearing a return to action, which naturally has reignited the move to Bayern rumours.

The 24-year-old was close to a move to Bayern in the summer but that obviously fell through after his unfortunate injury. Sane will be entering the final year of his contract starting this summer and faces a very uncertain future.

Pep Guardiola said earlier this month: "It's a question for Leroy, his agents and the club. I'm not involved in that," Guardiola said on Sane's future.

"I have no doubts about him and his quality but each one has his own family, desires, dreams and, above that, I cannot do anything else.

Sane was one of the more dynamic players in the Premier League last season, notching 10 goals and 11 assists as City won a second-straight Premier League title.

22.26 GMT: Carlo Ancelotti took the Everton job on as a project and was promised heavy investment by club owner Farhad Moshiri.

So far Ancelotti has won three, lost one and drawn two in the league, accumulating 11 out of a possible 18 points. With the transfer window open for only three more days, Ancelotti is looking for some of that financial backing to sign former Napoli charge Allan, according to Sport Wtiness. The Napoli midfielder won't come cheap, though, as the Partenopei are demanding €80 million for the Brazilian.

The Italian boss has urged the board to sign his "dream" signing, according to Italian outlet Il Mattino. It is unlikely a deal gets done before Friday's deadline but don't be surprised to see the Toffees circle back for the central midfielder come the summer.

21.58 GMT: Man City haven't made any signings this window but a report from Spain suggests a major signing could be on the horizon.

El Desmarque claims that Pep Guardiola's side are close to signing Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar. City's centre-back issues/injury troubles this have been well-documented and the club could badly use a centre-back in January. Midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri have been used in defence this season, while Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones have failed to convince.

The report says City would be willing to pay €95 million to sign the 24-year-old Skriniar and pair him with Aymeric Laporte. City have also been linked with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, Bournemouth's Nathan Ake and Leicester's Caglar Soyuncu but according to El Desmarque, it is Skriniar who will be moving to the Etihad.

The report notes that City likely will wait until the summer to sign the Slovakian, with Guardiola previously stating that City would not be signing new players in January.

21.19 GMT: Are Chelsea set to see another talented youngster leave Stamford Bridge?

Nineteen-year-old Tariq Lamptey is the player in question, with the young full-back's contract set to expire at the end of the season. The lively youngster has made three appearances this season for the Blues and is reportedly being courted by Lille and Torino with pre-contracts, while Goal.com can confirm that Paris Saint-Germain, Wolves and Nice are all also interested in the young full-back.

With an abundance of young talent (Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, etc.), Chelsea can't keep hold of everyone.

20.50 GMT: We mentioned Man United had made a breakthrough with Sporting Lisbon regarding Bruno Fernandes but the Portuguese isn't the only midfielder on the club's radar.

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is also a midfielder United are keen on, sources tell ESPN. Barcelona have made the Croatian, 32, available, although it seems Rakitic would prefer to keep his family in Spain.

If Barcelona moved for Rakitic, the World Cup runner-up would cost the club somewhere in the neighborhood of €20 million.

Fernandes seems to be in the closing stages but might Rakitic follow? United supporters hope...

20.23 GMT: Arsenal's biggest issue is its defence and it looks as if rookie manager Mikel Arteta has identified so much.

With the club nearing a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko, reports are also circling that another defender could arrive at the Emirates this month. The Daily Mail understands that the Gunners are preparing to make a late move for Southampton's Cedric Soares.

The versatile defender, 28, can play centre-back, right-back or even left-back and is out of contract at the end of the season. With Southampton soon to announce the arrival of Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham, Soares figures to be expendable at St Mary's.

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to pay £5 million plus bonuses for the Euro 2016 winner.

19.51 GMT: Minnesota United have a new striker.

The Loons announced on Tuesday that they have signed Paraguayan striker Luis Amarilla on loan -- with an option to buy -- from Velez Sarsfield.

Amarilla certainly fills a void for the Loons, who lost attackers Angelo Rodriguez (mutual departure), Darwin Quintero (trade) and Abu Danladi (Expansion Draft) this offseason. The 24-year-old led the Ecuadorian top flight in goals last season with 19 while on loan at Universidad Catolica and was acquired via Targeted Allocation Money (TAM).

"One of the things we thought we had to address moving into the season was finishing a higher proportion of the chances we create," said Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath. "We think Luis will help us in that category. We had some tight games last year - especially at home - that we should have put away. To do that, you need somebody who's a fox-in-the-box, a guy who can finish it when it comes across the face of goal, and he's got really good movement.

"He's a good age, 24, can link up with people, can play into midfield, but most importantly, he gets all types of goals. Off the goalkeeper, five yards out, overhead kicks, headers, benders, you name it."

19.12 GMT: The Man United and Bruno Fernandes transfer saga is over... well almost.

After weeks of back and forth, United have made a breakthrough with Sporting Lisbon on Fernandes, sources have told ESPN.

The clubs are closing in on a deal worth an initial £46.6 million for Fernandes with another £8.5m in add-ons if certain targets are met. United are now confident the Portugal international, 25, will now move to Old Trafford before Friday's transfer deadline, granted he passes a medical.

Fernandes has racked up 15 goals and 14 assists this season and will be counted on to boost a struggling United attack that is without Marcus Rashford for multiple months.

It took a while, but United, who have shown interest in Fernandes going back to the summer, look to finally be getting their man!

18.46 GMT: Edinson Cavani looks to be close to finally getting his desired move to Atletico Madrid, sources tell ESPN.

The two clubs continued their negotiations on Tuesday and are near to an agreement for the transfer of the striker for a fee of €15 million plus €3m in bonuses.

Cavani, who turns 33 next month, has already agreed to personal terms with Los Colchoneros and could travel to Madrid on Wednesday to undergo a medical and sign his contract.

El Matador will leave PSG as the club's record goalscorer with 198 goals in 283 games after six-and-a-half years in the French capital. With Diego Costa out injured and Alvaro Morata struggling, Cavani will be given a chance to lead the line for Diego Simeone and Co.

18.17 GMT: West Brom keen on a Republic of Ireland attacker?

A report in The Express & Star says that Blades wide man Callum Robinson is a loan target for Slaven Bilic's promotion hopefuls. The Baggies lead the Championship by a single point but have won only three of their last 10 games. In need of an attacking boost, the Baggies could look to Robinson, who has fallen down the pecking order at Bramall Lane.

Robinson, who can play centrally or on the wings, is a proven commodity in the Championship, having hit double digits in goals in two of the past three years with Preston North End.

17.52 GMT: Red Bull Salzburg have been raided this winter with forwards Erling Braut Haaland and Takumi Minamino, and centre-back Marin Pongracic having already left the club for bigger leagues.

The next player to depart the Austrian power could be full-back Rasmus Kristensen, according to Sportsmail. The 22-year-old Dane just joined Salzburg from Ajax in the summer for £4 million but is reportedly on the radar of David Moyes' West Ham.

The report suggests that the Austrian feeder club could turn Kristensen for a quick profit, with West Ham in the market for a Ryan Fredericks (injured) replacement.

17.09 GMT: Wolves are confident of signing Olympiakos winger Daniel Podence before Friday's transfer deadline, according to Sky Sports.

Olympiakos are holding out for £21.5 million for the Portuguese, who previously played with Sporting Lisbon. Podence, 24, has three goals and four assists in 27 games this season and would boost a Wolves forward line that is short of goals outside of Raul Jimenez.

16.40 GMT: West Ham United have had a bid rejected to take New York Red Bulls centre-back Aaron Long on loan until the end of the season, sources have told ESPN.

The structure of the deal, a loan move with an option to buy, did not appeal to the MLS club with West Ham lodged in a Premier League relegation battle, putting a future deal in jeopardy.

16.13 GMT: Inter Milan have completed the signing Christian Eriksen from Spurs, but what impact will the Denmark international bring as the Italian side battle Juventus for the Serie A title.

ESPN FC's Stewart Robson and Craig Burley can't come to an agreement over what Eriken's addition means for Inter.

16.04 GMT: Valencia coach Albert Celades has confirmed "negotiations are ongoing" between the club and Barcelona regarding Rodrigo's transfer.

Barcelona want to sign the Valencia striker before the transfer window closes on Friday.

"Rodrigo is a player that makes a difference, that is why Barcelona want him," Celades said in a news conference on Tuesday. "We all know that there is an ongoing negotiation and we can't hide it."

Rodrigo has been left out of Valencia's squad for Wednesday's Spanish Copa del Rey game at Cultural Leonesa.

15.10 GMT: Spurs are on the verge of signing PSV winger Steven Bergwijn in €31m deal plus €4m in add-ons, sources have told ESPN.

Bergwijn is in London completing a medical at the club before joining on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

15.00 GMT: Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2021.

14.20 GMT: Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes could move to Barcelona as part of a deal for Valencia's Rodrigo, sources have told ESPN.

Barca are pushing for an initial loan for Rodrigo with an obligatory purchase clause included for the summer, sources said, while Valencia would prefer to sell now, not at the end of the season.

The clubs are also discussing a more complicated scenario, which could see Sporting Lisbon's Fernandes come into the picture, sources added.

Fernandes, who has close links to Rodrigo's agent Jorge Mendes and is a January target for United, would sign for Barca before joining Valencia on loan immediately, with Rodrigo moving in the other direction.

14.00 GMT: Tottenham need a replacement for injured striker Harry Kane, with AC Milan's Krzysztof Piatek reportedly a target of the club. ESPN FC's Stewart Robson weighs in.

13.50 GMT: Napoli have announced the signing of Matteo Politano from Inter Milan.

ESPN sources understand that Inter can now sign either Chelsea's Olivier Giroud or Napoli's Fernando Llorente as a replacement.

13.35 GMT: West Ham are close to making their first signing of the January transfer window with Slavia Pargue's Tomas Soucek set to have a medical at the club, according to Sky Sports.

The Czech international has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season, two of which came against Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

13.25 GMT: Chelsea have identified Leicester defender Ben Chilwell and Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech as priority summer transfer targets, sources have told ESPN, but the club are facing defeat in their attempts to sign Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

Manager Frank Lampard has been given the green light to rebuild his squad in the summer, with substantial funds available following the lifting of the club's two-window transfer ban.

Sources have told ESPN that Lampard had been keen to sign Belgium striker Mertens this month, but the 32-year-old has shown little appetite to leave Napoli, who have placed a prohibitive £40m price tag on the striker.

13.12 GMT: Spurs have announced the signing of Giovani Lo Celso on a permanent deal until 2025.

13.00 GMT: Christian Eriksen has completed a move from Tottenham to Inter Milan, bringing an end to his six-and-a-half year spell in north London.

The Denmark international's future had been up in the air at Spurs season and he has put pen to paper until 2024 at the San Siro.

11.20 GMT: Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has suggested a move to the United States is a genuine possibility when he leaves the Etihad stadium.

Gundogan is under contract at City until 2023 and will be 33 when his deal expires. The Germany international said he wants to assess where he is at once he reaches that age and then decide on his next move.

"If I were to say I want to leave and continue playing at a high level, only Spain or Italy would be an option for me," Gundogan said. But if I were to say the sporting challenge might not be that high anymore, then things like the U.S. are definitely an alternative, also because of the life there and the other opportunities you have."

10.35 GMT: ESPN sources revealed on Sunday that Tottenham were set to sign PSV Eindhoven forward Steven Bergwijn.

Jose Mourinho has been in the market for reinforcements in the January transfer window with striker Harry Kane ruled out for the forseeable future.

It is now being reported in Netherlands that Bergwijn has been given the go ahead to travel to London to complete the transfer after being given permission to miss training on Tuesday.

10.11 GMT: Will Bruno Fernandes sign for Manchester United in January? Don't ask Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The United boss refused to be drawn on transfer speculation regarding Fernandes' arrival at Old Trafford at a news conference on Tuesday.

"I haven't got any updates for you on transfers," Solskjaer said. "I think it was a waste [of a question)] -- I gave you the option [not to ask it].

"I haven't got anything to say now. My mind is just on the game."

09.55 GMT: Real Valladolid have signed French winger Hatem Ben Arfa for the remainder of the season, the La Liga club announced on Tuesday.

Ben Arfa, 32, had been without a team since leaving Rennes last summer before joining Valladoild, who are owned by Brazilian legend Ronaldo.

The former Newcastle, Hull City and Paris Saint-Germain player strengthens a Valladolid side that is 16th in La Liga, five points clear of the relegation zone after 21 games.

09.34 GMT: Real Madrid would not be willing to allow Dani Ceballos to join Valencia on loan, according to Marca.

The midfielder is unhappy at a lack of minutes at Arsenal under coach Mikel Arteta, and would favour a move back to La Liga ahead of this summer's European Championship.

Ceballos made his first Arsenal appearance since picking up a hamstring injury in November on Monday night, coming off the bench in a 2-1 FA Cup win at Bournemouth.

The 23-year-old knows Valencia coach Albert Celades well, having played for him regularly with Spain's under-21 side.

However Marca report that Real Madrid would not want Ceballos to strengthen Valencia, who are competing for a top four spot in La Liga and remain a possible opponent in both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

09.15 GMT: Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is edging closer to a return to Argentinian club Estudiantes, according to TyC Sports.

United and the Argentina defender are in advanced talks for the 29-year-old to leave the Red Devils and join his former club on loan. According to the Argentine media outlet, Rojo, who has had limited playing time at United in recent seasons, will arrive in Argentina on Thursday to seal the move.

"I'm optimistic regarding Rojo," Estudiantes executive Agustin Alayes told Radio Continental. "We are convinced and with a lot of enthusiasm. All that we are missing is the other side, which is Manchester, and its willingness to accompany his desire. It's not done yet and we hope to complete it in the coming days.

"Marcos Rojo is very eager for this to happen. We are waiting for a good news from Manchester to confirm if it's a yes or a no. He probably will be able to find the continuity to be again in the forefront."

08.51 GMT: Chelsea are considering a move for AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The Poland international, who has also been a target for Tottenham in the January transfer window, is being looked at by the Blues as Edinson Cavani looks close to joining Atletico Madrid.

Piatek, 24, has scored 13 goals in 36 Serie A appearances since joining Milan from Genoa in a £30m move last January.

08.00 GMT: Manchester United are set to continue talks with Sporting Lisbon as they look to agree a fee for midfielder Bruno Fernandes, sources have told ESPN.

The two clubs have until Friday's transfer deadline to reach a compromise. United are keen to agree a structured deal worth around €60 million but it remains €20m short of Sporting's valuation.

Sources have told ESPN that United are unwilling to go above a guaranteed fee of €55m while the Portuguese wide want €60m up front another €20m in bonuses.

PAPER TALK (by Liam Wheeler): Ancelotti wants Vecino at Everton

It has been a busy month at Inter Milan for Antonio Conte with the arrivals of Ashley Young from Man United and Victor Moses on loan from Chelsea, and according to Calciomercato.com, there still is work to be done before the winter window shuts at the end of January.

The worst-kept secret of this window -- Christian Eriksen's impending move to Inter -- crept forward with reports that the Denmark international was in Milan for a medical, but Conte & Co. aren't done there.

The Italian outlet writes that Carlo Ancelotti has an eye to bringing Matias Vecino to Everton and that the teams have reached an agreement on an approximate valuation of €25m for the Uruguay international, whose sale could allow Conte to spend even more in January on a move for Olivier Giroud that is also in the works.

Can closing on Dortmund deal

Borussia Dortmund are looking to bring Juventus midfielder Emre Can in a shock winter transfer.

The ex-Liverpool man and Germany international joined the Serie A champions in 2018, but he has seen limited action this campaign. Can was left out of Juventus' Champions League roster, but a switch to the Westfalenstadion could provide Dortmund with an experienced Bundesliga player.

Overall, Can has four goals in 45 appearances for the Turin-based club.

Can has 2½ years remaining on his deal at Juventus, after joining on a free transfer from Liverpool. Prior to joining the Reds, the 26-year-old played at Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.

Tap-ins

- Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan is set to join cross-city rivals Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season, the Stoke Sentinel reports. Hogan, 27, helped Sheffield United achieve promotion to the Premier League last season, but he has fallen out of favour at current loan club Stoke City following the sacking of manager Nathan Jones at the beginning of November.

- Cardiff City have identified Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham as the man to set their season alight, according to Wales Online. The forward has been wanted by his former loan club Sheffield Wednesday for some time, but the Owls have struggled to strike a deal as they continue to barter over wage demands, with the Bluebirds now planning to swoop for the 26-year-old.