Transfer roundup, Jan. 15: Alexis out, Aubameyang and Malcom in at Arsenal?

Welcome to FC Yahoo‘s daily transfer roundup, where we’ll dissect the January market, assess the credibility of gossip, and discuss the likelihood that deals come to pass. Every day, we’ll split the various links between players and clubs into four categories to sift through the BS and direct your attention to the reports that deserve it.

Here’s the transfer roundup for Monday, Jan. 15:

MONDAY’S DONE DEALS

Manuel Akanji | FC Basel —> Borussia Dortmund — Dortmund announced the signing of the 22-year-old Swiss defender on a four-and-a-half-year contract. Akanji, formerly a Liverpool target, joins for a fee reportedly in the region of $27 million.

Lisandro Lopez | Benfica —> Inter Milan — A loan with an option to buy, reportedly for $13.5 million, at season’s end. And no, it’s not that Lisandro Lopez, the former Porto and Lyon striker. This one is a 28-year-old Argentinean center back who has failed to lock down a regular place for the Portuguese champions. He’ll likely be a backup at Inter as well.

REPORTS

Alexis Sanchez | Arsenal —> Manchester United — It reportedly could be announced within the next 24 hours. It’s a stunning Manchester U-turn for Sanchez, who appeared to be on his way to City just last week. But United came in with more money at the 11th hour. All the details, plus some analysis, are here.

Or, perhaps there could be another late twist? City is definitively out of the running, but the Manchester Evening News reported late Monday that Chelsea had entered the race. It’s unclear whether that – either the leak, or Chelsea’s interest – is genuine, or simply a ploy to drive the price up.

Malcom | Bordeaux —> Arsenal — The Brazilian’s agents were in London over the weekend, and the 20-year-old is reportedly Arsenal’s top target now that it appears Sanchez is on his way out. Reports suggest the Gunners are closing in on a $60.8 million.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Borussia Dortmund —> Arsenal — Guillem Balague reported over the weekend that Arsenal was also pursuing Aybameyang, and was willing to pay $73.7 million for the Gabonese striker. Coincidentally, Aubameyang was suspended by Borussia Dortmund this past weekend for missing a team meeting, and teammates spoke out in support of the suspension. Aubameyang’s name appears in headlines every single window, but there would appear to be something here beyond speculation.

Here’s Balague’s full report:

CHATTER

Manchester United makeweights in Sanchez deal? — Two players have been mentioned as subjects in a potential swap deal between United and Arsenal for Alexis Sanchez. One is Anthony Martial, though those reports have been refuted. The other is Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and there seems to be some truth to reports concerning the Armenian.

The latest claims are that United and Arsenal have agreed to one form of the Sanchez deal that would send Mkhitaryan in the other direction. United is willing to let him go. But Mkhitaryan is reluctant to leave a top-four club and his lucrative salary for a Europa League side and less money.

Mkhitaryan, though, has lost his way at United under Mourinho, with the two reportedly clashing behind the scenes. He fell down the pecking order after a decent start to the 2017-18 campaign. He was even left out of the 18 entirely on a few occasions over the past few months. Mourinho called those decisions “tactical.”

On Monday, Mkhitaryan was out of the 18 again. This time, Mourinho said, “I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision.”

Arsene Wenger has reportedly been an admirer of the former Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder. If the French manager were able to get the best out of him, Mkhitaryan would certainly soften the blow of losing Sanchez. It might even be a long-term win for the Gunners.

Lucas Moura leaving PSG? — No need to settle for rumors about Moura this time. The Brazilian winger spoke to media after PSG’s 1-0 win at Nantes, for which he was an unused substitute. “It feels like the end of a story for me, unfortunately,” Moura said. He’s been linked to Manchester United, whom he very nearly signed for back in 2013.

RUMORS

Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid —> Manchester United — Stop us if you’ve heard this one bef— oh, OK, you have? Never mind, then. (But here’s the report, from AS, if you want to waste your time.)

Radja Nainggolan | Roma —> Guangzhou Evergrande — Roma has received a $54 million offer from the Chinese Super League side, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Andy Carroll | West Ham —> Chelsea — Yes, apparently we’re still kidding ourselves about this. Though it’s the Guardian reporting it, so maybe it’s not completely baseless? Apparently there has been an approach from Chelsea, but Sky Sports reported that West Ham is “bemused” by it.

Joao Mario | Inter Milan —> Watford — This seems unlikely, but the Hornets have made a more for the Portuguese midfielder, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.

JANUARY’S TOP DONE DEALS

(Chronological order)

Lisandro Lopez | Benfica —> Inter Milan (loan)
Manuel Akanji | FC Basel —> Borussia Dortmund ($27 million)
Alex Pritchard | Norwich City —> Huddersfield Town ($16.6 million)
Yerry Mina | Palmeiras —> Barcelona ($14.2 million)
Francis Coquelin | Arsenal —> Valencia ($14.4 million)
Fousseni Diabate | Gazélec Ajaccio —> Leicester City ($4.8 million)
Renato Steffen | FC Basel —> Wolfsburg ($2 million)
Mark Uth | Hoffenheim —> Schalke (summer, free)
Moritz Bauer | Rubin Kazan —> Stoke City ($6.8 million)
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou | Tottenham —> Burnley (loan)
Kevin Mirallas | Everton —> Olympiacos (loan)
Philippe Coutinho | Liverpool —> Barcelona ($192.5 million)
Cenk Tosun | Besiktas —> Everton ($36.5 million)
Wesley Sneijder | Nice —> Al-Gharafa (undisclosed)
Ross Barkley | Everton —> Chelsea ($20.3 million)
Marko Pjaca | Juventus —> Schalke (loan)
Konstantinos Mavropanos | PAS Giannina —> Arsenal ($2.4 million)
Terence Kongolo | Monaco —> Huddersfield Town (loan)
Virgil van Dijk | Southampton —> Liverpool ($101.4 million)
Diego Costa | Chelsea —> Atletico Madrid (€71.5 million)
Adrien Silva | Sporting CP —> Leicester City ($29.8 million)

Previous rumor roundups: Jan. 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

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Henry Bushnell covers global soccer, and occasionally other ball games, for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell.