Transfer news and rumours - 21 January 2016

Real Madrid are willing to let Gareth Bale leave as United and Chelsea waitAs we head into the final ten days of the transfer window, rumours are getting more concrete and agents are speaking up a lot more. Last night saw a flurry of articles linking various English Premier League clubs with a Brazilian star. Bundesliga's leaders are starting to get busy by getting in the kind of players Carlo Ancelotti would want come the beginning of the next season. We look at some of the best rumours and news from Europe's top leagues.

#1 Serie A

According to various reports across Italian media, the agent of Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is holding talks with AC Milan over a possible transfer. The Belgian's had a Jekyll and Hyde of a season at Old Trafford with manager, Louis van Gaal, apparently not a big fan of the former Everton man.

Sky Sports Italia claim that AC Milan are not ready to pay the asking price of £19m up front but are willing to settle for a loan deal at least until the end of the season.

Stil on AC Milan, it seems their striker Mario Balotelli could be on his way out again. Premier League club, West Ham, have shown interest in signing him on a permanent basis, report Sportsmole.

Newly-released Inter defender, Nemanja Vidic, has no intention of staying in Italy and plans to move back to the Premier League, several reports suggest. The former Manchester United man never made the grade at Inter due to a series of unfortunate injuries. However, he's back fit and is looking for a chance to impress in England once again.

#2 La Liga

Marseille defender Nicolas N’Koulou is a hot target this transfer window. Gary Neville's Valencia have reportedly held talks with his agent to seal this move this month. Various Premier League clubs have also known to have shown interest but Neville is hoping the promise of regular starts will entice the Cameroonian to join his side.

Speaking of defenders, Barcelona are desperate to sell their Brasilian full-back, Douglas. The former Sao Paulo man has made just three appearances for the club. The Mirror report that the Catalans are ready to offer him for nothing at all but clubs don't seem to be interested in buying him. Aleix Vidal has finally been registered as a player for the Champions League winners and they're now clearing the dead wood so to speak.

Atletico Madrid midfielder, Saul, is a transfer target for Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United but his father says the move is unlikely to happen.

"Saúl has a [release] clause of €45million," the midfielder's father told Radio COPE.

"At the moment the boy is happy at the club and doesn't want to leave. He has the confidence of the club."

#3 Premier League

Gilmar Veloz, the agent of Alexandre Pato, says there are still four teams who could get his client and two of them are from the Premier League. “The guys are working on getting an offer, but nothing Corinthians are yet to receive one,” he told UOL Esporte in Brazil.

“The January market is very limited,” Veloz added, before being asked which sides still are still in the race to sign the striker.

“Chelsea, Liverpool, Sporting [Lisbon] and Benfica. All four have a chance.”

Crystal Palace manager, Alan Pardew, has confirmed that they're on the lookout to bring in a striker and are reportedly looking into former Arsenal man, Nicklas Bendtner. The Wolfsburg striker has failed to make a mark in Germany and could look to come back to the Premier League with the Eagles flying high.

Elsewhere, Manchester United and Chelsea have been given a huge boost in their pursuit of Real Madrid machine, Gareth Bale. The Welshman's agent was asked if whether his client had started renegotiating with Real Madrid for an extension to which he replied 'rubbish'. The former Tottenham man will cost United, Chelsea and every other suitor a huge sum of money – possibly record-breaking.

Manchester United's reserve goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, has bid farewell to the fans with an emotional Instagram post. It is still unclear what the intentions of the former Barcelona man are.

#4 Other leagues

Ligue 1 side, Saint-Etienne, have resigned Franck Tabanou from Swansea. Six months after joining the Welsh side, he's gone back to his former club on loan for the rest of season.

Michael Schade, Chairman of Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen has confirmed that some of his players might move this summer. Leverkusen's Lars Bender has been continuously linked with a move to Premier League club, Arsenal. Speaking of the club's stars, Schade told The Telegraph, "Bayer Leverkusen can’t be as arrogant to say that we are creating world stars and they will retire here.

“If we are able to create a world star or top player, then one day this player wants to play for one of the top (clubs in the world), of course.”

Schalke's starlet Leroy Sane is a target for all the top clubs across Europe but is valued at €55million by the Bundesliga club. Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid are all known admirers. Club manager, André Breitenreiter, says Sane is loved in Schalke but if either one of Barcelona and Real Madrid come calling, he won't stand in Sane's way.

As a player, when Barcelona or Real Madrid call, it’s a dream. And of course you have to wonder how many times this possibility comes about. Leroy must decide for himself. But I am convinced that he is very well cared for at Schalke.

“Here he can take the next step, and then eventually to switch to one of two or three world-class clubs and to be able to compete there with the best players in the world.”