Transfer roundup, Jan. 19: Goretzka to Bayern, van Persie returns, and Barca, Inter agree on Rafinha
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 Friday, Jan. 19:
FRIDAY’S DONE DEALS
Leon Goretzka | Schalke —> Bayern Munich (summer) — Goretzka has agreed to join Bayern when his Schalke contract expires in the summer. Bayern will continue to poach the Bundesliga’s top talent, and continue to top it. Rinse and repeat. The cycle continues.
Jurgen Locadia | PSV Eindhoven —> Brighton — A massive capture for Brighton. The 24-year-old Dutch striker is the club’s record signing at $19.5 million. He should go right into the team as the No. 9, or as a Glenn Murray partner. Locadia has plenty of admirers around Europe, and could absolutely be the difference between relegation and safety.
Ezequiel Barco | Independiente —> Atlanta United — The 18-year-old Argentine playmaker becomes the most expensive player in MLS history – by far – at $15 million. Here’s FC Yahoo’s Leander Schaerlaeckens on why the transfer is a watershed moment for the league.
Robin van Persie | Fenerbahce —> Feyenoord — RVP is coming home. Fourteen years after leaving Feyenoord for Arsenal, the legendary Dutch strike will return on a free transfer. He is 34 years old, has retired from international duty, isn’t the player he wasn’t was. But what a talent he was in his prime.
Fran Rivera | Cadiz —> Real Madrid — Cadiz has confirmed that the 17-year-old Spanish youth international, who was also courted by Barcelona and Arsenal, will join Real.
REPORTS
Rafinha | Barcelona —> Inter Milan (loan) — It’s done – well not quite, but according to Sky Sports Italy it is. Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the Brazilian midfielder will join Inter on loan until the end of the season, at which point the Italian club will have a $42.8 million option to buy.
Aaron Lennon | Everton —> Burnley — One formerly overhyped England winger in at Everton, one formerly overhyped England winger out. Lennon, according to the BBC’s David Ornstein, has agreed terms with Burnley, as have the Toffees. Lennon will complete a medical and move to Turf Moor. It seems like just yesterday that Lennon was a teenager at the World Cup, but he’s already 30 years old. Time flies.
CHATTER
Malcolm to North London? — Not to Arsenal, apparently. Ornstein reported Friday that those talks are dead. Arsenal was apparently put off by the combination of the 20-year-old’s price and inexperience. However, Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham are reportedly interested. If the young Brazilian forward does move to England in January, Spurs would seemingly be his most likely destination.
A Dzeko-Palmieri-Batshuayi swap? — On Thursday, it seemed speculative. Now there are some details to the link between Dzeko and Chelsea. The Blues, according to Sky Italy, are willing to send $61.1 million, plus Michy Batshuayi on loan, to Roma for Dzeko and left back Emerson Palmieri. Roma, though, reportedly wants $79.5 million.
However, Dzeko’s agent says there has been no bid from Chelsea.
No Sanchez-Mkhitaryan update — We head into the weekend with the deal close, but not done. Mino Raiola, Sanchez’s agent, is reportedly proving as difficult to deal with as ever. Expect a deal early next week, though.
Aubameyang mysteriously out of Dortmund squad again — The Gabonese striker was not in Dortmund’s 18 for Friday’s trip to Berlin. Rumors of an impending Arsenal deal continue to swirl. There’s a very good chance this will be the biggest story of the next two weeks.
RUMORS
Peter Crouch | Stoke —> Chelsea — HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. (Telegraph) But apparently – unfortunately – there’s nothing to this rumor.
Quincy Promes | Spartak Moscow —> Southampton — It’s just “interest” from the Saints in the Dutch winger for now. Sky Sports‘ rumored price is $41.6 million.
JANUARY’S TOP DONE DEALS
(Chronological order)
Leon Goretzka | Schalke —> Bayern Munich (summer, free)
Jurgen Locadia | PSV Eindhoven —> Brighton (19.5 million)
Ezequiel Barco | Independiente —> Atlanta United ($15 million)
Robin van Persie | Fenerbahce —> Feyenoord (free)
Kostas Stafylidis | Augsburg —> Stoke City (loan)
Cedric Bakambu | Villarreal —> Beijing Guoan ($49 million)
Theo Walcott | Arsenal —> Everton ($27.6 million)
Martin Hongla | Grenada —> Barcelona (loan)
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 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
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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.
