Sports Mole rounds up the latest January transfer rumours, including Steven Bergwijn to West Ham United, Valentin Barco to Brighton & Hove Albion and Tiago Djalo to Juventus.
West Ham United have reportedly identified Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn as a potential transfer target.
The Hammers are keen to add to their attacking options, with Mohammed Kudus set to represent Ghana at the upcoming African Cup of Nations.
After recruiting Kudus and Edson Alvarez from Ajax in the summer window, West Ham are plotting a move for another player from the Dutch giants.
According to The Mirror, West Ham are showing an interest in Bergwijn, who has grown unhappy during his time with the 36-time Eredivisie champions.
Bergwijn feels Ajax have failed to follow through with promises made to him following his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, including the idea that the club would sign a number of top stars.
Although they splashed out £135m in the summer window, the new additions failed to have an immediate impact as the club got off to a disastrous start, winning just two of their opening seven league games.
While Ajax have experienced a tough season, Bergwijn has still managed to contribute, registering eight goals and three assists in 20 competitive appearances.
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Meanwhile, down on the South Coast, Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly prepared to Valentin Barco‘s Boca Juniors release clause.
The Seagulls were linked with a potential move in the summer window, but Barco was keen to remain with the club to see out Boca’s Copa Libertadores campaign.
The versatile left-sided player helped the Argentinian side reach the final, before they fell to an extra-time defeat to Brazilian outfit, Fluminense.
With the transfer market open for business, Ole are reporting that Brighton are willing to meet the player’s $10m (£7.9m) release clause.
The report claims that Boca are reluctant to accept Brighton’s initial offer, which is believed to be $9m (£7.1m) plus 10% of any future sale.
Barco has allegedly delivered an ultimatum to his employers, informing them they need to accept Brighton’s proposal or his release clause will be activated.
The 19-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Manchester City, has made 35 appearances for the Argentinan giants, chipping in with one goal and four assists.
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Over in Italy, Juventus have allegedly reached an agreement with Lille over the transfer of Portuguese defender Tiago Djalo.
The 23-year-old has been out of action since March last year after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a draw with 1-1 draw with Lens.
Despite spending the last 10 months on the sidelines, Djalo is attracting interest from Serie A’s two main title contenders, Juventus and Inter Milan.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Juventus have agreed a €3.5m (£3m) fee with Lille for a January transfer.
While Inter are unwilling to match Juventus’ proposal, they are keen to sign Djalo on a free transfer when his contract expires in June
As a result, the Lille centre-back must choose whether to join Massimiliano Allegri‘s side before the end of the month or wait until the end of the season to link up with the Nerazzurri.
However, if he decides to wait until the summer, Djalo could find himself frozen out of the Lille side for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
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Back in the Premier League, Brentford are reportedly set to sign Turkish youngster Yunus Emre Konak from Sivasspor.
The Bees have made an effort to bring in young players to work in their B team with a view to making the step up to the senior side.
Ethan Brierley, Kim Ji-soo and Yehor Yarmoliuk are among the young players who have joined the club in the last couple of years.
According to Goal, the Premier League club are now on the verge of signing Sivasspor’s highly-rated teenage midfielder, Konak.
The report claims that Brentford have reached an agreement in principle after submitting an official offer to the Turkish club.
Konak, who joined Sivasspor in 2018, broke into the first team at the beginning of the season, making his senior debut in August’s Turkish Super Lig draw with Samsunspor.
