Hatem Ben Arfa has joined Real Valladolid on a deal until the end of the season.
Ronaldo, who is a majority owner at the La Liga club, welcomed the French midfielder, 32, who last played for Rennes last year.
There’s not long now until the transfer deadline so stay tuned to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s latest transfer news, gossip and done deals as the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all attempt to make late additions to secure a boost for the remainder of the season. The Premier League is among the most active leagues across Europe ahead of Friday’s deadline, while Serie A clubs are always willing to do business.
United’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon skipper Bruno Fernandes in what has been the biggest saga of the window, looks have reached a stalemate, with the club ready to admit defeat in handing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reinforcements despite losing Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay to serious injuries. Former United boss Jose Mourinho looks to have more joy at Spurs, namely through Steven Bergwijn from PSV.
Barcelona are frantically searching for a new striker due to Luis Suarez’s serious injury, with Rodrigo the main candidate, though their search has seen them linked to Olivier Giroud, while a move for ex-Sevilla star Wissam Ben Yedder could prove smart due to the expected speedy transition back to La Liga, but Monaco would demand around £67m if rumours are to be believed. Arsenal, at the beginning of a new era with Mikel Arteta, have failed to spend lavishly to speed up the process, while Frank Lampard is set to be disappointed with Chelsea unable to spend the Eden Hazard money from the sale to Real Madrid last summer despite having their transfer ban lifted. The Blues could pick up a loan deal, with Krzysztof Piatek, also a target for Spurs, mentioned, but they may otherwise keep their budget for next summer.
Hatem Ben Arfa has joined Real Valladolid on a deal until the end of the season.
Ronaldo, who is a majority owner at the La Liga club, welcomed the French midfielder, 32, who last played for Rennes last year.
Thiago Silva could leave PSG with no offer of a new contract on the table.
“PSG have not yet approached Thiago," said the player's agent Paulo Tonietto to France Football.
"He wants to stay, but there are limits. If PSG don’t come to us, we will take a decision. We cannot wait forever. Leonardo is a friend of mine, but I am not going to beg him for a meeting.
"Several Brazilian and European clubs have contacted me, but we are waiting to first speak with PSG, this is where Thiago wants to continue. He wants to respect the club. We do not want to think about a Plan B. Not yet.”
Arsenal's move for Pablo Mari has hit the rocks after the Gunners reportedly changed the terms with Flamengo over a reported £7.5m fee.
A Flamengo director, who opted to remain anonymous, said:
We expect him at Ninho do Urubu this afternoon (to start pre-season). We had agreed to sell him for a fee, he arrived in London, Arsenal changed (the terms). Flamengo is a serious club.
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Spurs have struck a deal with PSV for Steven Bergwijn.
He will be done with Barcelona when he wants. His relationship with Barcelona is forever.
He has plenty more football to play here. Leo Messi will be around for a while.
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We don't talk about players from other teams. But [Rodrigo's] name is on the table of the coaches.
And a replacement will arrive. I do not know whether it will be from Barcelona B or from outside [the club]. I like many players.
That same report says there will not be a buyback clause though, which suggests the La Liga champions are torn over allowing the 21-year-old to go.
There is a whole lot written about me, which I have also read myself. I am really disappointed that it has come to this, there is no truth to it.
I never refused to play for PSV, and would never do that. I have been there since I was young. PSV is in my heart. I have never refused to play for PSV, as you can see the media spins everything.
I have indeed called the trainer, Ernest (Faber), this morning, and said that talks are going on, and he gave me permission. We had a good chat, and he wished me luck, everything went respectfully and according to plan.
Spurs are moving closer to signing Steven Bergwijn from PSV.
Sky Sports report that the Dutch forward will take a medical, with personal terms not expected to be a problem.
Though the clubs are still not in agreement over a fee.
Alexis Sanchez will have a Manchester United lifeline as the club look to take back the Chilean after his loan at Inter expires this summer.
After failing to succeed at Old Trafford since his move from Arsenal, his future with the club appeared over after being sent to the San Siro last summer.
Arsenal are braced for a move from Barcelona for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners could demand upwards of £50m for their star striker, which may force Barca to turn to Valencia's Rodrigo to replace the injured Luis Suarez.
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Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs are all in the running to sign out-of-favour Juventus midfielder Emre Can.
Borussia Dortmund are also pushing hard to bring Can back to the Bundesliga.
Our chief football writer Miguel Delaney reports that United are now prepared to end January without making any major signings:
West Ham are hoping to sign Slavia Prague midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to The Guardian.
David Moyes's side are also considering an approach to take Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker-Peters on loan, however, it's believed Spurs would prefer a permanent deal, with both Crystal Palace and Southampton also interested.
Sampdoria midfielder Ronaldo Vieira has also been considered by the Hammers, but any bid is unlikely with the Italian club keen to hold onto the 21-year-old.
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Arsenal starlet James Olayinka has joined Northampton Town on loan until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined the club aged seven, was included on the club's pre-season tour but it yet to make his senior
debut for the Gunners.
Pablo Mari's move from Flamengo to Arsenal has collapsed.
That's according to ESPN Brasil, who claim the player is back in Brazil now after undergoing a medical in the capital.
It remains unclear whether the Gunners will look for another defender before Friday's deadline.
Saints are closing in on a deal to sign Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham.
It will provide relief for Ralph Hasenhuttl for the injured Cedric and Yan Valery.
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Blackpool have signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on loan from Leicester.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a 72 hours. On Saturday I made my debut for the first-team in the FA Cup, then the next day I travelled here to get this loan deal sorted," Dewsbury-Hall said.
"I’m really excited to come here and get some games under my belt. Hopefully I can make a difference to the team and see where it takes us.”
I am very happy, very happy to help the team to play in this way. On the pitch, I know what I have to do, I am at 100% and I hope that we are going to achieve great things, I am in my best form… I saw the messages on social media at half-time… This is a time of immense sadness for the world of sport. Not just basketball fans. I knew him. This celebration was for him. I hope he rests in peace.
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Manchester United are prepared to close the window without a major signing, as their pursuits of Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes and a striker have stalled. That means United’s primary targets for next summer are Leicester City’s James Maddison and Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, and they plan to move for one in the summer.