Transfer round-up: 16 January; Costa to stay at Chelsea, for now

Falcao gets interest from China

The Chinese Super League has really made a splash in the football transfer market, with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Oscar, and John Obi Mikel already recruited, and more are expected to follow.

Radamel Falcao fits the bill, as he had a relatively high profile and plenty of talent, but unsuccessful loan spells in England with Manchester United and Chelsea saw him return to Monaco with his reputation considerably diminished.

But now the 30-year-old Colombian forward is reportedly the subject of a €50 million bid from Tianjin Quanjian, the team manager by Fabio Cannavaro who are reportedly also chasing and successfully unsettling Chelsea striker Diego Costa, having already brought in Axel Witsel from Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Costa to stay at Chelsea, for now

Talking of Diego Costa, the Spain international stirred things up over the weekend with news of a falling out with Blues manager Antonio Conte in the midst of a very lucrative offer from China.

Costa was subsequently left out of the squad that defeated Leicester City, and when the dust settled Conte claimed that the Brazilian will play again for the Blues, before also insisting that ‘money is not everything’.

Now The Sun is reporting a truce between the club and the player, but insist that he is unlikely to sign a new deal, and the move is now just delayed until the end of the season.

Real Madrid track Swedish star

Always on the lookout for emerging talent to snap up, Real Madrid have been linked with a move for teenage forward Alexander Isak.

The Swedish striker currently plays for AIK Fotboll, and recently made his debut for the national team in the 6-0 friendly win against the Ivory Coast, and scored his first goal for them against Slovakia.

Isak would do well to learn from the cautionary tale of fellow Nordic wonderkid Martin Ødegaard, but although Madrid are currently banned from signing any new players, Sky Sports report that Los Blancos will sign him up on a five-year deal.

Other bits of transfer news

• Sevilla are reportedly looking to bring in Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford on loan.
• Manchester City are hoping to recruit versatile defender Ben Davies from domestic rivals Tottenham.
• Jose Mourinho is hoping to reunite with Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic at Old Trafford. Mourinho brought the Serbian back to London from Benfica and now hopes for him to take Morgan Schneiderlin’s place in the squad.