Transfer talk: January 20 - Sneijder close to Inter exit, Cisse to Qatar
The day's big name moves, deals and offers from across world football.
Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente could be on his way to Juventus.
Agencies
Jan 20, 2013
Fernando Llorente looks set to join Juventus after the Italian champions confirmed they were on the verge of completing a deal for the Spain striker.
Beppe Marotta, the Juventus chief executive, revealed ahead of last night's 4-0 win over Udinese that the Serie A champions were closing in on the in-demand forward, who announced at the start of the season he would leave Athletic Bilbao when his contract expires this summer.
"I do not deny that with Llorente and his entourage we are very advanced in our talks," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I am very optimistic, although we may have to wait until July 1."
Marotta denied the club had recieved a bid for Arturo Vidal, amid reported interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
"We have received requests for our players, but we are generally more accustomed to buying than selling," he said.
"It's no real surprise that Bayern want him, but there are no offers."
---
Wesley Sneijder is closing in on a move to Galatasaray after clear the air talks with Massimo Moratti, the Inter Milan president.
The 28-year-old Dutch international had been in negotiations with the Turkish side after Inter accepted a EU10million (Dh47.9m) bid for his services two weeks ago.
Moratti has not closed the door on Sneijder, despite a contract spat with the player, but revealed the Dutchman could join Galatasaray in the next few days.
He told inter.it: "I met Sneijder. I wanted to have a chat with him, I thought we needed to."Have we made peace? I don't think there was ever a war in the first place, and certainly not with me personally."Did we chat to see if we were all moving in the same direction? Which one? It's a surprise...
"Is he close to a move to Galatasaray? Yes, I think so."
---
Djibril Cisse has joined Qatari outfit Al Gharafa on loan from English Premier League strugglers QPR.
The 31-year-old, capped 41 times by France, has joined the ambitious Qatari side until the end of the season and follows Brazilian forward Nene who joined from Paris Saint Germain last week.
Cisse, who has has also played for Liverpool, Lazio and Panathinaikos, among others, has featured in 21 games for QPR this season, scoring four goals.
However, he has dropped down the pecking order at Loftus Road following the signing of his fellow French international Loic Remy from Marseille.
---
Kensuke Nagai is to join up with countryman Eiji Kawashima after signing with Belgian side Standard Liege.
The 23-year-old striker has signed a four and a half year deal with Liege after agreeing the move from current side Nagoya Grampus.
Nagai, who scored 10 goals for Nagoya last season, claimed a brace at the London Olympics as part of the under-23 squad that reached the semi-finals last summer.
He will join national team goalkeeper Kawashima, who moved to the 10-time Belgian champions last season.
