The winter transfer window is less than three days away from shutting down and the timesofmalta.com SportsDesk will follow with you all the latest gossip and rumours from the football world, including the Maltese Premier League. So stay with us to follow all the latest deals.

12.36am That's all for today! It's been a long month, full of transfer news and we are grateful for your support.

We will back in July for the Summer transfer window, however, stay tuned to our page as we will try to bring you the latest about Gżira United and Senglea Athletic, and whether their potential moves have went through or not. 

12.13am Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic has joined Anderlecht on loan for the rest of the season, the English club said on Twitter.

Markovic has not featured for Liverpool this season and had also been linked with a loan move to Premier League side Swansea City.

The Serbia international joined Liverpool in 2014 and has made 34 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.

He has previously spent time on loan with Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon and Hull City.

12.12am Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan has moved to Bolton on loan till the end of the season

11.50pm Hector Moreno’s spell with Roma is already over as the defender has joined Real Sociedad on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

A move had been in the works since the start of deadline day, and Moreno will now be entrusted to fill the void left by Inigo Martinez after his transfer to Athletic Bilbao.

Reports suggest Roma have recouped the €6m they paid PSV for the Mexican, who played just six times at the Olimpico, last summer.

11.49pm Genoa have officially signed Moroccan defender Jawad El Yamiq from Raja Casablanca.

Transfermarkt reports Genoa have paid €640,000 for El Yamiq, who has three caps for Morocco and could feature at the World Cup this summer, alongside Juventus' Medhi Benatia.

The 25-year-old is the second player to arrive at Marassi on deadline day after Oscar Hiljemark.

11.34pm We have some fresh news about the Veronese saga.

The deal which had to move the Italian fullback to the Maroons is likely to has collapsed.

Sources close to the transfer told Times of Malta that despite there was the availability from Mosta to send Veronese, there has not been enough time to complete the move.

However, with 20 minutes left, we may still have any late changes.  

11.20pm SPAL have officially signed Sampdoria defender Lorenco Simic on loan for the rest of the season.

Simic spent the first half of the season at Serie B side Empoli, where he scored three goals in 15 appearances.

The 21-year-old, who represents Croatia at Under-21 level, will now look to play a role in helping SPAL avoid a quick return to the second tier.

11.18pm Galatasaray have officially signed Inter full-back Yuto Nagatomo on loan until the end of the season.

A statement on Inter’s official website confirms Nagatomo has joined Gala on loan for an undisclosed fee, with no mention of a purchase option.

The Japanese made over 200 appearances in seven years with the Nerazzurri, but only nine of those have been Serie A starts this season.

11.10pm We are under an hour ahead of the conclusion of the January transfer window where we are still awaiting news about whether the deal of Thomas Veronese of Mosta to Gżira United will go through and also awaiting confirmation about the signing of Argentine midfielder Braian Volpini from Senglea Athletic. 

Stay tuned to us in the final minutes of Deadline Day!

10.56pm More news from Mosta, as the Blues have released Brazilian forward Wendel Alex, despite his impressive performances with the club. 

Wendel joined the Blues last November and left an impression on his debut, netting a hat trick against Lija Athletic. 

He is reportedly linked with a move to his native Brazil.

Johann Scicluna's side have been definitely the team of the month, with all their signings and departures ahead of the second half of the 2017/2018 campaign, where they are striving to preserve their Premier League status. 

10.46pm Bologna have officially signed winger Riccardo Orsolini on an 18-month loan with an option to buy and a counter-option for Juventus.

The deal was confirmed in a statement on Bologna’s official website, with the Rossoblu taking over Atalanta’s arrangement.

10.35pm Swansea re-sign striker Andre Ayew from West Ham on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a club-record fee.

10.21pm Leicester striker Islam Slimani has passed his medical at Newcastle United, according to Sky sources.

10.08pm Meanwhile, Gary Muir is set to see out the season with Gżira United after he rejected a move to Tarxien Rainbows.

Previously, he was linked with a move with Mosta which would have included fullback Thomas Veronese in a straight swap deal. 

9.58pm Gżira United have reached an agreement with Mosta to sign wingback Thomas Veronese.

The Maroons have been in talks with their Premier League rivals for a few days and it looked as though they would fail to reach an accord to take the Italian defender.

However, in the last few hours the Maroons managed to make a breakthrough as they struck a dea with Mosta to sign the experienced player on a three-year deal.

Gżira are now facing a race against time to finalise all the paperwork before the midnight deadline.

9.51pm Midfielder Badou Ndiaye has completed his move to Stoke from Galatasaray.

9.43pm Roma have signed Argentinian left-back Jonathan Silva on loan from Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal.

9.42pm Eliaquim Mangala is at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground undergoing a medical ahead of his proposed loan from Manchester City.

9.32pm Sassuolo have officially signed full-back Pol Lirola from Juventus on a permanent basis after his loan spell.

The 20-year-old right-back went from Espanyol to the Juventus youth academy and joined Sassuolo on loan in the summer of 2016.

He has now made that loan spell permanent.

Spaniard Lirola received 18 competitive appearances for the Neroverdi this season, contributing one assist.

9.16pm BOV Premier League side Mosta have added furthermore recruitments to their roster with the signing of three Italian players.

Johann Scicluna's side have brought in Matteo Piccinno, Federico Tessadri and Danny Grillo.

Mosta have been one of the most active teams in the January transfer window, in particular on deadline where they have acquired no less than six players. 

9.03pm Chievo have completed the signing of Napoli midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini on loan until the end of the season.

The deal was announced on Chievo’s official website, although there is no mention of a three-and-a-half-year contract being negotiated for the summer.

The former Italy man has spent the past 18 months at Napoli but made just a handful of appearances at the San Paolo and had also been linked with Sampdoria.

8.56pm The German transfer window may have closed at 6pm but RB Leipzig were able to secure the services of Ademola Lookman for the remainder of the season before it slammed shut.

There is no option for Leipzig to buy the England U21 international but the Bundesliga club can start using their latest acquisition as early as Saturday’s clash with Borussia Monchengladbach.

8.48pm Roma defender Hector Moreno is reportedly in talks over a possible move to Real Sociedad.

La Real have €32m to spend on a centre-back after selling Inigo Martinez to arch-rivals Athletic Bilbao, and Gazzetta dello Sport believes they have identified Moreno as his replacement.

However, the newspaper notes it is “still not certain” if the Mexican will leave the Olimpico now or in the summer.

8.26pm Stoke City now have all the necessary documents to proceed with the £15m transfer of Badou Ndiaye from Galatasaray, Sky Sports News understands.

They’ve completed a work permit application, and are ready to register the deal with the Premier League.

Stoke’s officials waited for almost 10hours for the Turkish club to return the signed paperwork, after reaching agreement with Galatasaray and the player on all matters this morning.

8.24pm Juventus and Cagliari have reportedly failed to reach an agreement for Han Kwang-song after a meeting today.

The Bianconeri are keen to sign the North Korean striker and they held a lunch meeting with the Sardinian club today to try and work out a deal.

However, Sky Italia reports that the Isolani turned down the proposed transfer which would have seen half the fee made up by Alberto Cerri and Fabrizio Caligara moving to Cagliari.

8.17pm Rolando Aarons has joined Serie A side Hellas Verona from Newcastle on loan until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old has linked up with the Italian outfit – who are managed by former Magpies coach Fabio Pecchia – for the remainder of the campaign and could make his debut in their league game against Roma on Sunday.

8.06pm Chievo are thought to be close to a deal for FK Rad centre-back Strahinja Tanasijević.

The 20-year-old has played nine games in the SuperLiga so far this season, but his side are bottom of the table.

According to Sky Italia he’ll join Chievo before the close of business today, on loan with an option to buy.

7.45pm So Tottenham make their first signing of the January transfer window with four-and-a-half hours to spare.

Brazil international Lucas Moura makes a £25m switch to Spurs, signing a five-and-a-half–year deal with the north London club.

Moura has been handed the No 27 shirt in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

7.33pm Lija Athletic striker Raphael Kooh Sohna is set to stay with the Premier League strugglers despite reports linking him with a potential move to Ħamrun Spartans.

Sources from the club told Times of Malta that despite the interest shown in him from various clubs, he won't leave the Whites-Reds and will see out the season under the guidance of Joseph Galea. 

The 27-year old scored seven goals in 13 appearances for the club this season. 

7.28pm Jack Colback is heading from Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season.

He will be one of five loan departures from Newcastle today, along with Henri Saivet, Rolando Aarons, Aleksandr Mitrovic and Freddie Woodman.

7.24pm Sticking with West Ham and they have confirmed that Reece Oxford has returned to Germany on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach until the end of the season, where he spent the first half of the campaign.

7.15pm Manchester United duo Daley Blind and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be leaving the Red Devils this evening.

"Daley Blind and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been at Carrington today for rehab. They will both still be Manchester United players by the end of this window, despite speculation," SkySports reporter James Cooper said.

"Roma were interested in Blind but United weren't interested in loan deals - a sale couldn't happen so he stays.

"Ibrahimovic is still not fit - he's certainly on LA Galaxy's agenda but I think it's an ongoing situation. They're waiting for him to prove his fitness."

6.46pm A loan move for Eliaquim Mangala to Everton has been agreed in principle with Manchester City.

The loan would be until the end of the season and Everton would cover his wages with no fee. It is now effectively up to the player whether he wants the move.

6.29pm Goalkeeper Jurgen Borg's career will continue in the BOV Premier League after joining Senglea Athletic. 

The 23-year-old had been caught in a contract wrangle with his former club Hibernians but he has just been given the green light to resume his career after winning an appeal with the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

Borg has agreed to join Gżira United but will spend the rest of the season with the Cottonera club on  loan until the end of the season.

Borg could make his debut this weekend when Senglea face Tarxien Rainbows. 

Meanwhile, Borg is unlikely to be the only arrival on Deadline Day at Senglea as the Yellow-Reds could sign an Argentine midfielder Braian Volpini.

However, the deal will only go through if the necessary papers are filed in time at the MFA offices tonight.

6.26pm Christian Cassar will continue the season with Luxol St Andrews.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper started the season with Tarxien Rainbows. However, last December he parted ways with the Premier League strugglers after he was released from his contract.

The former Marsaxlokk goalkeeper was looking for a new club in January and Luxol St Andrews offered him a place in their team.

Cassar is St Andrews third signing of the winter transfer window after they had brought in Belgian defender Jason Vandelannoite and Frissel Hunter, an American striker.

6.06pm Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the loan signing of Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi until the end of the season.

6.03pm Chelsea have reinforced their attacking line with the signing of French striker Olivier Giroud from Arsenal on an 18-month contract, the Premier League clubs confirmed on Wednesday.

"Chelsea is one of the biggest teams in the Premier League," the 31-year-old said in a statement. "They have won maybe the most trophies in the last six or seven years. It's a massive club and I am proud to sign for Chelsea, and I'm looking forward to playing."

5.43pm Mosta added another overseas player to their squad after they signed Italian midfielder Giordano Trovade.

The 19-year-old central midfielder came through the youth ranks of Padova before joining Bologna for whom he played with the U-17 and U-19 teams.

Trovade has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season with an option of signing a one-year contract in the summer.

Trovade is the latest of a number of overseas players that joined Mosta this month which included Moussa Souare, of Guinea, Damir Bartulovic, of Slovenia and Italian duo Massimo Sammartino and Daniele Biondo and Ghana's Emmanuel Agyemang.

Souare, former Inter Primavera, joined Mosta on a two-year loan in a transfer move triggered by Lorenzo Di Caprio as an intermediary and Max Leghissa, Technical Director of Mosta. 

Mosta are expected to include Trovade in their squad for Sunday's league match against Hibernians at the National Stadium.

5.29pm Multiple reports suggest Javier Pastore’s agent is leaving Milan, as Paris Saint-Germain make it clear there’s no deal to be done with Inter.

The Nerazzurri have been working hard on a deal for the Argentinian international, but it has proved difficult.

PSG need to sell players to ensure they comply with Financial Fair Play, while the Beneamata can’t buy until July for the same reason.

Marcelo Simonian, the midfielder’s agent had been in Italy to try and bridge the gap, but now both Sky Italia and Premium Sport report that he’s leaving Milan.

5.24pm Chelsea have reached agreement in principle with Arsenal for the transfer of Olivier Giroud, Sky Sports News understands.

We believe the 31-year old striker has undergone a medical and will sign a contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until June 2019, with an option for another year.

Giroud’s agent travelled to London this morning to conclude the deal, thought to include a transfer fee of £15.3m with £2.2m in bonuses.

Arsenal and Chelsea are yet to comment.

5.05pm Watford winger Isaac Success has joined Malaga on loan until the end of the season.

5.00pm Davy Klaasen's proposed move to Napoli is off.

Talks have broken down and it appears Napoli are looking at other options. Klaasen now seems set to remain with Everton and will fight for his place.

4.38pm PSG's Lucas Moura would be Tottenham's first January Deadline Day signing since Dele Alli in 2015. SSN's Paul Gilmour reckons Spurs fans shouldn't have to wait too much longer...

"All the signs are poitning towards an announcement soon for Lucas Moura. The medical's complete and we expect confirmation soon. of a deal worth, we understand, around the £25m mark."

No chance of Moura featuring against Manchester United tonight, though - he would have had to have been registered yesterday.

4.33pm Sky sources are saying that Wigan have rejected a second bid from Brighton for Nick Powell.

It’s understood the fee offered is well below Wigan’s valuation.

4.17pm It looks like that Chelsea have got the towering striker they were looking for as Goal.com's Chris Wheatley has confirmed that Oliver Giroud is set to join Chelsea. 

3.54pm West Ham have had a bid rejected by Anderlecht for midfielder Leander Dendoncker.

3.30pm Former Chelsea forward Samuel Eto’o has joined Konyaspor.

3.15pm Crystal Palace have made an offer worth up to £16m for Lille midfielder Ibrahim Amadou.

The offer is a £2m loan fee until the end of the season with a £14m obligation to buy.

Lille are considering the bid but West Ham and another Premier League club are also in talks to sign Amadou, who is valued at £18m.

3.00pm Sevilla have confirmed the signing of Sandro Ramirez from Everton on loan for the rest of the season.

2.45pm Davy Klaassen's potential move from Everton to Napoli could be off.

Napoli have been trying to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy, but Sky in Italy is telling that the Serie A side have only just realised he's cup tied for the Europa League and that could mean they focus on bringing in other targets.

Prior to that they had been reporting that a deal was close, although sources at Everton have maintained it was never that far down the line.

2.30pm Verona have reportedly allowed striker Giampaolo Pazzini to join Spanish side Levante, while Rolando Aarons is set to arrive from Newcastle United.

Verona appeared to have taken Pazzini off the market, but Tuttomercato reports they have relented, leaving Levante free to sign Pazzini on loan with a compulsory purchase option if they stay in La Liga.

The 33-year-old has scored four goals in 19 Serie A appearances this season, while his prospective new team are among the lowest scorers in the Spanish top flight.

Coming through the doors at the Bentegodi, on the other hand, could be English winger Aarons.

The 22-year-old is a former England Under-20 international but has made just nine appearances for Newcastle this season.

2pm Rangers have turned down an improved £8m bid from Chinese side Beijing Renhe for their striker Alfredo Morelos, according to Sky sources.

Yesterday we told you that they had offered £7m up front for the striker.

We understand the striker is not one of Rangers’ best paid players and is keen to discuss a move to the Chinese club.

1.40pm Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen has reportedly given the OK to move to Napoli, but image rights could be a problem.

The Dutchman is out of favour at Goodison Park since Sam Allardyce took over, and it was revealed last night that the Partenopei are hoping to do a deal for him.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, negotiations are ongoing between the clubs, and Klaassen has agreed in principle to sign for the Serie A leaders.

1.30pm Newcastle have agreed a deal with Leicester to take Islam Slimani on loan.

A source close to the club said that a deal has been agreed between the two clubs, but we’ve had nothing official from either club.

West Ham and Monaco were also interested but Newcastle appear to have won the race.

1.20pm Galatasaray are in talks for the loan of Inter Milan veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo, the Turkish top-flight club said on Wednesday.

"Official transfer talks have been started with football player Yuto Nagatomo and his club FC Internazionale Milano regarding the temporary transfer of the player" said the Istanbul-based side in a statement.

The Japan international, capped 101 times, joined the Serie A club from AC Cesena in 2011.

The 31-year-old has made 11 appearances in the league so far this season for Inter, who are currently fourth in the standings on 44 points.

1.10pm There are reports saying that Michy Batshuayi is having a medical with Borussia Dortmund, but the striker was not at the Chelsea team hotel last night and has been allowed to travel abroad.

He has agreed terms with Dortmund and had also agreed terms with Sevilla.

It will be a six-month loan without an option to buy and Chelsea had insisted on a buy-back option if the deal was made permanent.

Our sources reiterate that Batshuayi goes nowhere without Olivier Giroud heading to Stamford Bridge.

1.05pm Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record fee, understood to be £60m.

The length of Aubameyang's Arsenal deal has not been confirmed with the club saying the Gabon international has signed "a long-term contract".

The club announced on their official website the transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes and the 28-year-old's squad number will be confirmed soon.

1.00pm Good afternoon and welcome to the final day of the winter transfer window. Stay with us to follow the last few deals in Malta and in Europe.

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9.10pm That's it for today, thank you for staying to us and joins tomorrow for Deadline Day. Good night.

9.00pm Manchester City are understood to have registered a third bid of £55m for Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez.

The transfer, if successful, would put Mahrez second among City's most expensive purchases, behind new arrival Aymeric Laporte (£57m).

Mahrez would be by far Leicester's most expensive export, dwarfing the £35m they received for Danny Drinkwater from Chelsea.

8.30pm Birkirkara have completed the loan signing of Ognjen Rolovic from Kerċem Ajax, the Premier League club reported.

The Montenegrin striker has won the admiration of coach Paul Zammit who has decided to bring him to the Valley club on loan until the end of the season with an option of making the deal permanent in the summer.

He is the current top-scorer of the Gozo First Division League with eleven goals from ten matches. He has also scored five goals in four matches of the BOOST FA Trophy, where Kerċem reached the fourth-round.

Rolovic is the last overseas player to join the Stripes this month after the club decided not to pursue their interest in a Brazilian forward who currently plies his trade in Portugal.

8.00pm Napoli have reportedly offered €20m plus €2m bonuses for Matteo Politano, but Sassuolo won’t let him go without a replacement.

The winger has made it perfectly clear he wants to join the Partenopei, as confirmed by the Neroverdi, but his club is refusing to release him.

According to Sky Sport Italia, the latest offer on the table is worth €20m plus another €2m in bonuses.

However, Sassuolo won’t let Politano leave until a replacement is lined up and the transfer deadline is tomorrow night.

7.50pm Watford have signed Belgium U21 winger Dodi Lukeabakio from Anderlecht on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

7.30pm Manchester City have signed England Under-21 midfielder Jack Harrison from New York City FC and loaned him immediately to Middlesbrough.

Harrison, 21, caught the eye in Major League Soccer and has earned a move to the Premier League, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.

City announced he would initially step down to the Sky Bet Championship with Middlesbrough, however, moving to the club until the end of the season.

7.15pm Former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes has left Sevilla to join Spanish second-tier side Cordoba.

7.00pm West Ham have made an enquiry to Lille for their captain Ibrahim Amadou.

Crystal Palace have made two bids – the most recent a loan offer with the option to buy, but they are still some way off the £17.6m valuation placed on him by the French club.

West Ham have 14 players currently unavailable through injury and David Moyes has targeted midfielders and defenders in this window.

6.45pm Riyad Mahrez has handed in a transfer request at Leicester following a £50m bid from Manchester City.

This is the second transfer request the Algerian has tender – the first came last May.

At the time, Mahrez said: “Out of the huge admiration and respect I hold for Leicester City Football Club I wanted to be totally honest and transparent with them and have therefore informed the club that I feel now is the time for me to move on.

6.30pm Riccardo Orsolini is reportedly close to ending his loan spell at Atalanta, in favour of a move to Bologna.

The Juventus winger hasn’t made a single start for the Orobici in Serie A or the Europa League this season, managing just eight substitute appearances in the league.

Both the player and his parent club want him to get more playing time, and rumours have been growing in recent days that he’ll move to Bologna instead.

6.15pm Riyad Mahrez has emerged as a potential late target for Manchester City in the January transfer window.

Press Association Sport understands City are interested in the Algeria playmaker, who was linked with Liverpool earlier this month, and have not ruled out making a bid.

Leicester have not received any offers for the 26-year-old this month but their stance has not changed since last summer, when they rejected interest from Roma.

6.00pm On-loan forward Jese still has an important role to play for Stoke this season, according to manager Paul Lambert.

The Paris St Germain striker, signed by previous boss Mark Hughes, got off to a dream start at the bet365 Stadium by scoring the winning goal against Arsenal on his debut in August.

However, he had made just eight appearances since and has not played since November after being allowed to return to his native Spain for personal reasons.

"It's good to have him in and around the training ground once again and I've seen little glimpses from him since he's come back," said Lambert.

"Going forward, he looks impressive but that has never been in question because we know the type of player he is.

"He still needs to get up to speed with his fitness but in the short time that I've been here, he's been very good offensively."

5.30pm Yuto Nagatomo looks set to leave Inter, joining Galatasaray on loan with an option to buy.

The Turkish giants have been looking for a left-back, but a move for Juventus’ Kwadwo Asamoah collapsed in the summer.

Now Sky Italia and Premium Sport are both reporting that they are very close to signing Nagatomo, on a €1m loan with a €6-7m option to buy.

5.15pm Swansea midfielder Roque Mesa has joined Sevilla on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club have announced.

Mesa has made 16 appearances for the Swans since his £11million summer switch from Las Palmas, his last coming in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Wolves on January 17.

The 28-year-old has not featured in the Premier League since being substituted at half-time in manager Carlos Carvalhal's first game in charge, a 2-1 win at Watford.

4.45pm Antonio Conte has refused to confirm speculation that Chelsea are set to complete a deal for Roma defender Emerson Palmieri.

"If you remember, I said in case the club decides to send on loan Kenedy, we have two options, to buy another player or to work with a young player, like (Dujon) Sterling," said Conte in his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's game with Bournemouth.

"But I don't know (if a player will join), if there is news then the club will inform you about new players.

"I will be happy in both cases, if the club decides to add players but otherwise I'm very happy to continue to work with these players because they show me every day great behaviours, great commitment."

4.15pm Athletic Bilbao have signed defender Inigo Martinez from Basque rivals Real Sociedad for €32 million ($40 million) on a five-and-a-half-year deal, the La Liga club said on Tuesday.

The fee is a record for a Spanish defender and the deal is the most expensive transfer in Bilbao’s history.

Martinez, linked to Barcelona this month, will replace Aymeric Laporte who has joined Manchester City and his signing continued Bilbao's policy of only recruiting players born in the Basque region.

4.00pm Sliema Wanderers have decided to send young midfielder Seck Mbaye Serigne on loan with Gozitan side Oratory Youths.

The 20-year-old Senegal midfielder joined the Wanderers last August after spending last season with Italian side Ribelle.

At the Wanderers, Seck failed to break into the first-team squad and they have now decided to send him to Gozo as they look to help him gain regular first-team football. 

3.45pm Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande are chasing Rangers’ striker Alfredo Moralos - and they have offered £7m up front for the striker.

The Colombian has scored 13 times for Rangers since his £1.5m transfer from HJK Helsinki last summer.

The striker is not one of Rangers’ best-paid players and is keen to talk to the Chinese club.

3.30pm Edison Luiz Dos Santos, aka Tarabai, will not return to Maltese football after the Brazilian striker joined Saudi Arabian club Al Raed from Hibernians.

The prolific Brazilian striker had left the Paolites last January, following a loan stint in South Korea with Seoul E-Land, to join Saudi club Al Batin.

At Al Batin, Tarabai made 16 appearances and scored three goals.

His performances have attracted the interest of top Saudi club Al Raed who reached an agreement with Hibernians to take Tarabai on a permanent deal.

3.00pm Fiorentina have officially announced the signing of midfielder Bryan Dabo from Saint-Étienne.

The 25-year-old has one cap for the French Under-21 side, and previously played for Montpellier, as well as having a loan spell in England with Blackburn Rovers.

“Fiorentina announces the outright signing of the player Bryan Dabo from the Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire,” a statement on the Viola’s website confirms.

“Dabo, born on February 13 1992 in Marseille, boasts one cap for the Under-21 side of his country.

“In his career he has won the French title with Montpellier in the 2011-12 season. The new Viola player will be in Florence today for his medicals.”

2.30pm Gżira United continued to strengthen their ranks with the signing of midfielder Raymond Mendy.

The 22-year-old Gambian trained with the Maroons for the last week and left a very positive impression on coach Darren Abdilla who gave his go ahead so the club could offer him a contract.

Mendy took little time to agree personal terms with Gżira and he put pen to paper on an 18-month contract.

Mendy started the season with Tunisian club CS Sfaxien who are currently third in the top-flight this season.

He is expected to make his debut on Friday when Gżira United play St Andrews at the Centenary Stadium.

2.20pm Manchester City have signed Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao as Pep Guardiola's sixth signing of the 2017/18 season, signing a deal until 2023.

"I am very happy to be here," Laporte declared. "City are a Club with a lot of ambition and they are one of the best teams in Europe.

"I am looking forward to working under Pep Guardiola and trying to help the Club to achieve success.

"It means a lot that the Club have shown faith in me and I am excited to get started."

2.05pm Manchester City have completed the signing of French defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao on a deal until 2023, the Premier League club have announced.

2.00pm Mosta are set to maintain their transfer drive with the acquisition of two other young promising overseas players.

The Premier League side are understood to have reached an agreement to sign Slovenian forward Damir Bartulovic and Guinea striker Moussa Souare.

Bartulovic, who represented his country at U-19 level, came through the youth ranks of Italian side Vicenza before moving to Chievo Verona and Como. 

On the other hand, Souare, also spent most of his career in Italy where he had spells at U-19 level with Inter, Sassuolo and Bologna before joining Lega Pro side Monopoli.

On Tuesday, the Blues announced the signing of Ghana Emmanuel Agyemang. The 19-year-old, who came through the youth system of Italian Serie B club Novara, has joined the Premier League club on an 18-month contract.

1.45pm Manchester City are close to agreeing a deal to sign Jack Harrison from sister club New York City, according to SkySports.

The England Under 21 winger has impressed since breaking through in MLS.

He’s landed in the UK today and we understand the two clubs are hopeful of confirming the transfer for around £4m this afternoon.

1.30pm Leicester forward Ahmed Musa has returned to former club CSKA Moscow on loan until the end of the season.

The Nigeria international joined the Foxes in a then club-record £16million deal in August 2016, and has since notched five goals in 33 appearances for the East Midlands outfit.

Musa has only mustered one Leicester appearance this term however, when he found the net in a Carabao Cup clash at Sheffield United.

And now the 25-year-old has been farmed out to the club where he spent five seasons, racking up more than 50 goals at the Russian Premier League side.

1.00pm Arsenal are getting agonisingly close to completing a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the deal is not done yet.

Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal worth about £60m but Dortmund won't let him go until they find a replacement.

The names they are focusing on are Olivier Giroud, Michy Batshuayi and French striker Anthony Modeste.

Arsenal hoping Dortmund find someone today so they can fly Aubameyang in for a medical.

12.30pm Zach Muscat is set to continue the season with Lega Pro side Arezzo. 

The Malta international defender looked set to leave his club during the January tranfer window amid interest from Pistoiese.

Sources have told Times of Malta that the Pistoiese  coach Paolo Indiani had shown firm interest in the former Birkirkara defender and was pushing to strike a deal this month.

However, Arezzo's top hierarchy and coach Massimo Pavanel were determined not to let Muscat leave and decided to take him out of the market.

Muscat will now spend the last six months of his contract with Arezzo.

12.10pm Arsenal must remain patient in their pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the transfer hinges on Borussia Dortmund landing a replacement before allowing the striker to leave.

Press Association Sport understands a deal has been agreed in principle between the clubs, subject to Dortmund bringing in their own forward.

The German club have been linked with Gunners striker Olivier Giroud and Chelsea frontman Michy Batshuayi as possible replacements for the Gabon international.

12.05pm Lucas Moura has arrived in London ahead of a proposed move to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Brazilian striker is set to undergo a medical after Spurs had a fee of around £25million agreed with Paris St Germain for the Brazil international.

12.00pm Good afternoon everyone and welcome to another day of transfer activity. Stay with us to follow all the latest proceedings in these last few hours of the winter transfer window.

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11.27pm Good night folks! That's all from us today. We invite to join us tomorrow for another day full of transfer news as we are heading into deadline day within less than 48 hours. 

11.20pm Tottenham have reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Lucas Moura, according to Sky sources.

The move, which is understood to be for a fee of £25m, is subject to personal terms being finalised and a medical completed.

Sky Sports News reported that talks between Tottenham and PSG were underway over the weekend and it was understood that Moura's preference was a transfer to the Premier League.

11.18pm Barcelona have confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Watford for the loan of Gerard Deulofeu until the end of the season.

The agreement means Watford will cover his salary and a potential add on of 1m Euros.

10.58pm Napoli are reportedly close to a deal for Sassuolo’s Matteo Politano, for €18m plus Adam Ounas on loan.

The Neroverdi were reluctant to sell the winger this month, but he has been increasingly linked with a move away.

Juventus were thought to be interested in signing him, but general manager Giuseppe Marotta confirmed earlier today that they won’t be doing any January business.

10.30pm Daniel Sturridge has joined West Brom on loan from Liverpool for the rest of the season.

10.15pm Millwall have confirmed the signing of Tim Cahill, returning to The Den over 13 years since his last appearance and has put pen-to-paper on a deal which runs until the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

He netted 57 goals in 251 appearances for Millwall between 1998-2004 and will wear the number seven shirt. However, he will not be available for selection for Tuesday's game against Derby.

10.05pm BOV Premier League strugglers Lija Athletic have signed Daniel Vukomanovic.

The 21-year-old central defender was recently on the books of FC Zurich, FC Winterthur, FC Dietikon Senioren and FC Schaffhausen and was represented the Swiss national team at U-17 level. 

9.42pm More updates from Malta as Birkirkara have acquired the services of Rolovic on loan from Kerċem Ajax.

Earlier before, we reported that the Montenegrin forward has impressed with the Gozitan side this season and has attracted the interest of coach Paul Zammit. 

9.21pm Back to Malta, as finally we are looking set to a conclusion in the Thomas Veronese transfer story.

Sources close to the transfer told Times of Malta that the Italian defender's transfer to the Maroons is imminent, however there has been no official announcements by either Gżira or Mosta, Veronese's club, until the 31-year-old puts pen to paper with the former BOV Premier League leaders.

According to local reports, Gżira are likely to bring on Veronese in a swap deal with Mosta which would include British wing-back Gary Muir.

8.58pm Missed the latest on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's potential move to Arsenal? Where have you been all day?! Here's where it's at:

• Arsenal have reached a £60m agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to Sky sources.
• Sky Sports News understands completion of the transfer is subject to Dortmund securing a replacement.
• Should he arrive before Wednesday's deadline, Sky Sports News understands Arsenal will be willing to let Olivier Giroud leave the club, with Chelsea very interested in the France striker.
• One source told Sky Sports News on Sunday night that Giroud may yet be involved in the deal to bring Aubameyang to the Emirates by switching to Dortmund.
• Widespread reports on Monday claimed Dortmund were considering a move for Michy Batshuayi, who has been told he can leave Chelsea on loan if they sign a new centre-forward.

8.40pm Former Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar has joined Flamengo for three months, after which he’ll retire.

The Brazilian left Benfica in November, and it was assumed that he would hang up his gloves after a successful career.

Now though the 38-year-old has returned to the team where he started his career, signing a three month contract on what is described as “a symbolic salary”.

“I’m happy to come b