DAILY FOOTBALL INFO

We have a deal! And it’s Chelsea who have secured the signing of Matt Miazga from New York Red Bulls. The American central defender has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract. “I am very happy to sign for Chelsea, a world-famous club with a reputation for major success,” the 20-year-old said. “I am delighted to be in the Premier League, the best league in the world, and can’t wait to meet my team-mates and get going. ‘I am still at the beginning of my career but I believe this is the place to develop and learn from some of the best players in the world.” Miazga has played 46 times for the NYRB in the last three seasons and once for the USA national team.

Real Madrid  and adidas are close to sealing the biggest equipment deal in football. The German sportswear giant have reportedly agreed to a €140million-per-year (£106m) renewal of their Real Madrid contract that eclipses  Manchester United’s current record agreement by some 40%. United last year signed a £750million ten-year contract with adidas that saw them take over the deal from archrivals Nike. But Real Madrid are not understood to have entertained conversations with any other parties due to a clause in their adidas contract that assured the Herzogenaurach-based brand first refusal. The two parties thrashed out a ten-year renewal and, if Marca’s €140m figure is correct, then this agreement is as big as Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona’s kit deals combined. Bayern Munich last year penned an €80m contract with adidas. The top ten Real Madrid  - adidas €140m (£106m, 10 years) Manchester United  - adidas €98m (£75m, 11 years) Bayern Munich  - adidas €80m (£60m, 15

Defiant Louis Van Gaal Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has described his treatment as 'horrible and awful' following the recent home defeat by Southampton. The Dutchman has come under renewed pressure amid reports he offered to resign halfway through his three-year contract at Old Trafford. 'It is awful and horrible but you can write....It is the third time I am sacked and I am still sitting here,' he told reporters.  

Injured De Bruyne Kevin De Bruyne looks set to miss the Capital One Cup final after scans revealed he could be out for up to six weeks. The  Manchester City  playmaker sustained knee ligament damage during Wednesday night’s 3-1 win against Everton. He looks likely to be absent for the subsequent Wembley trip next month after proving a major factor in their progression. De Bruyne scored in every round he played, including the second leg against Roberto Martinez's Toffees. GAMES DE BRUYNE COULD MISS  January 30 - vs Aston Villa (A - FA Cup) February 2 - vs Sunderland (A) February 6 - vs Leicester City (H) February 14 - vs Tottenham (H) February 24 - vs Dynamo Kiev (A - CL) February 28 - vs Liverpool (Capital One Cup)  The 24-year-old came off in stoppage time of the victory at the Etihad Stadium after a challenge by Ramiro Funes Mori, with Manuel Pellegrini expected to confirm the extent of the injury in his press conference on Friday.

Messi Lionel Messi  held talks with  Barcelona  's archrivals  Real Madrid  over a shock move to the Bernabeu. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been at the Catalan club since he was a teenager, and recently declared that  he would never play for another European club. But it didn't stop him having discussions with Madrid on three separate occasions, according to Spanish radio station  Cadena Cope. “The first attempt from Real Madrid to sign Messi happened in the summer of 2011. At Madrid they feared that Cristiano Ronaldo would leave the club for a huge offer from Manchester City, and that was when they put into motion the work to replace him with another star. “Real Madrid used an intermediary to arrange this meeting who wasn’t a club employee but was someone very close to Florentino Perez. The response was rapid and clear: ‘Thanks for the interest, but Leo isn’t moving.’ Real Madrid then made renewed efforts in summer 2013 when, once again, C

Manchester United are worried assistant manager Ryan Giggs will end his 28-year association with the club if he is overlooked as boss Louis van Gaal's successor.  (Daily Mirror) Van Gaal will not step aside for his friend Jose Mourinho or anyone else, says his Dutch biographer Maarten Meijer.  (Manchester Evening News) Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, 36, is in "serious talks" with Colorado Rapids and is "highly likely" to end his 10-year stay with the Goodison Park club and move to Major League Soccer in May. (NBC Sports)

Ronaldo going nowhere! Cristiano Ronaldo is NOT leaving  Real Madrid  in the near future.  At least that's according to club president Florentino Perez, who has spoken for the first time since Real were hit with a transfer ban. Florentino Perez says that will not be attempting to sign players this month - despite having a transfer ban looming.

Los Blancos  have appealed their two window embargo  on new arrivals after allegedly breaching protocol with the signing of international minors. City rivals Atletico have also been hit by the same ban, which mirrors that which has recently been served by Barcelona. But Real president Perez has slammed the accusation that they are guilty - and remains defiant about his current squad. He says the La Liga title-chasers have no reason to add new faces while Zinedine Zidane is in charge. The FIFA sanction is hurtful. It is a very serious matter to smear Real Madrid's reputation in this way," Perez told  AS.

Ronaldo & Bale Real Madrid  have an anxious wait after submitted their appeal of their transfer ban. Los Blancos and city rivals Atletico were s lapped with suspensions from signing players  during the summer 2016 and January 2017 transfer windows earlier this month.

Pato Chelsea appear to have finalised a deal for Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato. According to Brazilian TV channel SporTV, the Blues have agreed a six-month loan deal with Corinthians for the forward, who will travel to London tonight.

Improved offer for Ayew? Sunderland appear undeterred in their pursuit of Swansea City talisman Andre Ayew - with reports claiming the Black Cats have lodged an improved cash plus player bid involving Fabio Borini. The Swans' relegations rivals made an audacious move to lure Ayew from the Liberty Stadium earlier this month, testing the water with an offer  believed to be as low as £6m  . That was immediately knocked back and last week Alan Curtis publicly stated Swans chairman Huw Jenkins had reassured him there was no way Ayew would be allowed to leave this month. Now, though, Sunderland have reportedly attempted to test the Swans' resolve over the Ghanaian further with a cash plus player offer of £10m and former Liberty cult hero Fabio Borini. Sky Sports   say the Black Cats have upped the ante in their pursuit of Ayew after their initial approach 10 days ago by improving the financial terms of their offer and using Borini as a makeweight. Borini won

Will Louis say goodbye? Louis van Gaal is set to return to Manchester United’s Carrington training complex with his Old Trafford future at crisis point and the Dutchman contemplating his position.  Manchester Evening News reported that  the Dutchman definitely offered to quit last month during United’s dreadful December. It is believed the Reds hierarchy refused to accept any resignation, steadfastly believing the 64-year-old would pull through the critical period. The club’s stance has not altered since he rode out the mid-winter storm when the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League and lost three Premier League matches on the bounce.  With United convincing Van Gaal to forget retiring he engineered a minor revival in 2016. But that came to a shuddering halt against Southampton. After the abysmal Old Trafford defeat United’s squad were given a two-day break by Van Gaal and he flew back to the Netherlands.

Jurgen Klopp will need two years to begin to turn  Liverpool ’s fortunes around. That is the damning verdict of Kop legend and former Reds manager Graeme Souness, who insists the current squad is miles away from being serious contenders. Klopp  was seen as the Anfield club’s messiah, but Souness fears even he cannot work miracles and will need to do major transfer business to make any sort of progress.

Ed Woodward is ready to defy an avalanche of public opinion and back Louis van Gaal to survive as  Manchester United  manager. Woodward, the Old Trafford giants’ executive vice chairman, is adamant the Dutchman retains his absolute backing.

Mattia Perin Italian website Tuttomercatoweb report that the Manchester United are monitoring Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin. The 23-year-old made his Italy debut in 2014 after making the Azzurri’s 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil.

Chelsea are ready to let  Loic Remy  move to Crystal Palace before next Monday’s deadline – as long as the Blues secure  Alexandre Pato . Remy Remy, who played under Eagles boss Alan Pardew at Newcastle, has always been one of Palace’s top January targets but looked set to stay at  Chelsea. However, some movement in the Pato deal over the last 24 hours has led to renewed optimism Remy and Pardew could be reunited. Palace  are desperate for a striker, with their entire group of centre-forwards having managed just one goal between them all season.

Ramires heading far east Chelsea midfielder Ramires could be set for a shock £25million transfer to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning - teaming up with former Blues ace Dan Petrescu. Ramires only signed a new four-year deal at Stamford Bridge in October, but has fallen down the pecking order under Guus Hiddink and hasn’t started a Premier League game since the Dutchman’s arrival. Now the Daily Mail report that the 28-year-old - who arrived for £18million from Benfica in 2010 - could now head to the Far East.

Manager Louis van Gaal is believed to be on the brink of quitting Manchester United after admitting he has let the fans down.  (Sun) Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Shakhtar Donetsk striker Alex Teixeira, 26. (Daily Star via Futbol Ukraine) But there is still a big gap between what the Reds are willing to pay for the Brazilian and the valuation set by the Ukrainian club. (Liverpool Echo) Fiorentina midfielder Mario Suarez is considering a move to Watford after the 28-year-old initially rejected a move to Vicarage Road.  (Mirror) Roma have confirmed they are in negotiations with Chinese side Jiangsu Suning over the transfer of former Arsenal forward Gervinho , 28.  (Guardian)

Atletico Madrid have admitted they face a fight to hold on to  Antoine Griezmann  . Griezmann on the move? The 24-year-old is admired by both Manchester clubs and  Chelsea  along with Real Madrid and PSG. He has scored 43 times in 81 appearances since joining Atletico in 2014 and is under contract until 2020. Boss Diego Simeone, however, has conceded that Griezmann and  Atletico  could yet get an offer that they cannot refuse either this month or in the summer.

Borthwick-Jackson United are planning to splash the cash... to keep Cameron Borthwick-Jackson at Old Trafford. Louis van Gaal will give the young left-back a new £10,000-a-week deal this week, according to the  Daily Mirror . That figure would represent a 500 per cent pay rise for the England Under-19 man, who reportedly earns around £2,000 a week at the moment. Borthwick-Jackson has impressed in recent weeks, breaking into the first team and impressing in the 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield a week ago. It looks like he will be given an extended run in the United side with Ashley Young ruled out for up to three months after undergoing groin surgery. First-choice left back Luke Shaw is a long-term casualty after his double leg break in September, while Marcos Rojo is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Jose Mourinho Jose Mourinho's camp have firmly denied claims that the former Chelsea manager wrote a six-page letter to Manchester United stating  his case to become the club's next manager. The Independent on Sunday claimed that former Chelsea manager Mourinho has sent United the letter in which he outlines why he would be a suitable fit for the position, which is currently  occupied by under-pressure Dutchman Louis van Gaal . However Jorge Mendes, Mourinho's agent, strongly denied the existence of the letter. “It doesn’t cross anyone’s mind that a manager such José Mourinho is writing letters to clubs, asking for a job," said Mendes in a statement. "It’s ridiculous and absolutely nonsense.”

Newcastle could end their interest in Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, according to Sky. It is thought that the free-spending Magpies have had a loan bid for the England international turned down this month. Spurs are believed to want £14million for Townsend’s services - and the price tag is putting off Toon chiefs. Watford are now thought to be monitoring his progress.

West Ham are pursuing Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz, according to Sky Sports.  The Hammers are looking to bring in a new striker this transfer window - speculation confirmed by David Gold during a recent interview. It is believed that Emmanuel Emineke is the club’s primary target having submitted a loan offer for his services. But Turkish international Yilmaz, who has scored 81 goals in 140 games for Gala, is also on their wish list. He is valued at around £5million, but would likely be subject of a loan move until the end of the season with the option to buy.

Tottenham are keen on signing highly-rated Gambia star Jagne Pa Modou, according to the Daily Star. The left-back is currently valued at £4million by Swiss side FC Sion, where he is currently plying his trade. But it is thought that Daniel Levy is keen to drive down the price of the 26-year-old, as he is in the last year of his contract. Modou (centre) can also play on the left side of midfield and featured in both games against Liverpool in the Europa League earlier this season.

Zabaleta Roberto Mancini is also reportedly looking at signing Pablo Zabaleta from Manchester City. The defender has suffered a host of injury problems this campaign and has lost his place in the City starting XI to the ever-impressing Bacary Sagna. And according to the Daily Express, Mancini wants Inter Milan to set up a reunion with his former right-back. Zabaleta recently admitted that his long-term future at City was in question and speculation of his next move is hotting up.

Inter Milan will battle with Chelsea and Liverpool to sign Ezequiel Lavezzi from Paris Saint-Germain, according to Gazetta dello Sport. Roberto Mancini is keen to bring in the Argentinian and end his miserable spell with the French champions. Lavezzi is thought to be available for as little as €4million this winter.

According to reports in Ukraine, Alex Teixeira’s move from Liverpool could be edging closer. It has been reported that Teixeira has now agreed personal terms with the Reds. If it is correct, it will pile the pressure on Shakhtar Donetsk to agree a fee with Liverpool for the striker. A fee of around £25million was rejected by the Ukrainian giants and they value the player further in the region of £35million.