Hull City
With the survival fight in mind, Hull City manager Steve Bruce reaffirmed his interest in signing former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe from Toronto FC.
Bruce made known his wish to bring Defoe back from North America following his side’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.
“Most clubs in our position would like a player like Jermain,” he said.
“If there is a chance, we would be interested in him, but I don’t want to get the hopes up of all the Hull supporters. He might be too expensive.”
Chelsea
Jose Mourinho confirmed that veteran Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is leaving Chelsea, amid reports linking him to Leicester City, meaning that Petr Cech will remain at Stamford Bridge in January.
Mourinho declared that Cech, often rumoured to be unhappy behind Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge and eager to move on someplace where he can be the No 1 keeper, would stay with Premier League leaders Chelsea after the club's 3-0 win over Watford in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
“There is no chance he will go,” Mourinho said of Cech. “I will bring Jamal Blackman back from Middlesbrough. He can stay with Thibaut Courtois and Petr, which is a good experience for him.”
Read More: The National’s Transfer Talk page
Al Ittihad Jeddah
Steaua Bucharest midfielder Lucian Sanmartean has agreed a one-year deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, the player’s agent said on Sunday.
Sanmartean was voted Romania’s Footballer of the Year last month after guiding the national team to the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group.
Sanmartean’s agent Anamaria Reghecampf said the player signed a contract, starting on July 1, adding there’s still a possibility for the 34-year-old to join Al Ittihad in the coming weeks if the two clubs reach an additional agreement.
Sanmartean, known for his brilliant technique and ability to dribble past defenders, will join his fellow countryman Victor Piturca, who parted company with Romania to take charge of Al Ittihad in October.
Al Ittihad are fifth in the Saudi Professional League with 23 points from 13 matches.
Nice
Newcastle United announced on Sunday that they have released French winger Hatem Ben Arfa from his contract, paving the way for him to complete his move to Nice.
The Ligue 1 side said on Saturday that they have agreed a deal with the 27-year-old, who returned to Newcastle after failing to make an impact during a loan spell at Hull City earlier this season.
The France international winger, who joined Newcastle from Marseille in 2010, is due to undergo a medical examination with Nice on Monday, with sources reporting that he will sign an 18-month contract.
“Newcastle United can today (Sunday) confirm that Hatem Ben Arfa and the club have reached an agreement to terminate the contract between both parties with immediate effect by mutual consent,” Newcastle said in a statement. “Newcastle United wishes Hatem all the best for his future.”
Napoli
Hundreds of Napoli fans crowded into the city’s airport to greet forward Manolo Gabbiadini ahead of his expected move to their club from Sampdoria on Sunday.
Television pictures showed chaotic scenes as the crowd, estimated by Italian media at between 600 and 1,000 people, crammed into the arrivals hall at Naples airport, jumping up and down and chanting anti-Juventus slogans.
However, they failed to get a glimpse of the 23-year-old who was ushered straight from the plane into a waiting car on police orders for security reasons, media reports said.
Napoli later said on their website that Gabbiadini had passed his medical, although they did not confirm that he had signed.
“I’m happy to be at Napoli, I knew that the fans are very passionate and I want to repay the supporters for their affection on the pitch,” he said.
Gabbiadini, who has won two caps for Italy, has had an impressive scoring record since joining Sampdoria 18 months ago, hitting seven Serie A goals in 13 outings this season.
He is co-owned by Sampdoria and Juventus.
Manchester City
Manuel Pellegrini spoke of his desire to keep James Milner at the Etihad Stadium after watching the midfielder save Manchester City’s blushes in their narrow FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Milner scored the second goal of his double in injury time to send City through to the fourth round with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Championship side on Sunday.
City have yet to convince Milner to sign a new deal beyond the summer - when his contract is due to expire - but Pellegrini remains hopeful the England international will stay at the club.
“(There is) no news. I hope we will find an arrangement,” said the City manager when asked about negotiations with Milner, who turned 29 on Sunday.
“But I think that I have said already what I think about James Milner. He is very useful. He always plays with 100 per cent commitment and intensity.
“I am very happy for him and also as it his birthday.”
Stoke City
Stoke manager Mark Hughes expects the club to soon wrap up the loan signing of defender Philipp Wollscheid from Bayer Leverkusen.
The club have shaken hands with their Bundesliga counterparts on an agreement that would see 25-year-old Germany international Wollscheid switch for the rest of the season.
“It is a deal that is likely to happen and we are likely to see him here early next week I would suggest,” said Hughes, quoted on Stoke’s website on Sunday evening.
“He has superb quality and in my opinion he is a very good footballer, so we are very pleased to have agreed the terms of the deal.
“He has moved for decent money in the past and he has played for the reigning world champions, so he has real good pedigree.”
Speaking more generally about January transfer window plans in his post-match press conference after Stoke’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Wrexham, Hughes added: “In terms of spending huge amounts of money, we don’t anticipate that is going to happen in January.
“We will just see what is out there. If something makes sense, and we think it will help us, we will pursue it if we’ve got the means to.”
With regard to potential outgoings, Tony Pulis taking over as West Brom head coach has prompted talk of the former Stoke manager trying to lure some of Hughes’ players to The Hawthorns this month.
Among those is striker Peter Crouch, who Pulis signed for Stoke in 2011 and is currently on a contract with them that runs out in the summer.
Stoke are looking to keep Crouch on, but reports have suggested contract negotiations have stalled between the two parties.
When asked about the tall frontman being linked with West Brom, Hughes said: “There is an obvious connection, so people do the sums and two and two make five.
“There is a willingness from our point of view in that we want to make Peter happy, that he is content here for the next two or three years, or however long it is that his future is with us.
“Those are the conversations we are going to have with him and it’s up to us to make sure we get something in front of Peter that he is happy with.”
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