Chelsea have put Cesc Fabregas’ proposed move to Monaco on hold until they can bring in a replacement for the Spaniard.
The Blues have identified two possible replacements in Cagliari star Nicolo Barrera and Zenit St Petersburg’s Leandro Paredes and will not sanction Fabregas’ move to Ligue 1 until one of those deals is agreed.
Sevilla meanwhile are interested in signing Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata on loan.
According to AS, Morata’s agent Juanma Lopez has travelled to the Andalusian city to hold talks with Sevilla director of football Joaquin Caparros over the possibility of a loan move.
Real Betis meanwhile are interested in signing West Ham striker Lucas Perez on loan. The Hammers could still hold onto the former Arsenal man until the end of the season if they are unable to bring in a replacement.
Arsenal are exploring the possibility of making former midfielder Edu the club’s new director of football.
The Gunners are keen to add further expertise to their first-team operations as part of a restructuring which began when Arsene Wenger was in charge and continued this season with chief executive Ivan Gazidis’s departure to AC Milan.
Athletic Bilbao sporting director Rafa Alkorta has told Cadena Ser the club are eager to re-sign Man Utd midfielder Ander Herrera and Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente.
Elsewhere, Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele is nearing a move to China.