Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Kvaratskhelia CONFIRMATION, Man Utd TRUTH, Chelsea TRIO out

Tom Weber

• Updated: 11 Jan 2025 16:47 GMT
• 7 min read

Fabrizio Romano has provided some massive updates on the biggest transfer stories from around Europe, including news on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marcus Rashford and Omar Marmoush.

PSG close in on Kvaratskhelia

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Italian transfer expert has announced that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is close to joining PSG after Antonio Conte confirmed that the player has asked to leave.

"Antonio Conte, Napoli manager, confirms that Kvaratskhelia has asked to leave the club now in January immediately. Kvaratskhelia will not sign a new deal and Kvaratskhelia will be available for sure now in the January window. Kvaratskhelia is close to joining Paris Saint-Germain.

"PSG are working on it, really strong, really powerful. Now they have to complete this story. At the moment, it's not a done deal. But PSG are the clear favourites. We heard of a swap deal, Napoli-Man Utd for Rashford. Napoli are not in the mix for Rashford. We heard of other clubs in England.

READ MORE: Man Utd and Liverpool on alert as Kvaratskhelia makes SENSATIONAL transfer demand

"It's obvious for many clubs to call and ask for the situation of Kvaratskhelia when they saw the news of him being available on the market. But from what I'm told, PSG remain the favourites. They reached an agreement with the agent of the player. On the salary, the salary will be four, five times better than the current salary offered by Napoli. So imagine how high it will be.

"And also important to mention that PSG are the only club, as of today, Saturday, in direct negotiations with Napoli for Kvaratskhelia. So the negotiation is ongoing, is advanced between Napoli and PSG. Early next week, from Monday, Tuesday, Napoli and PSG will talk and try to close the deal.

"Napoli want €80 million. This is the price. Eight, zero million for Kvaratskhelia. PSG are trying to offer Milan Skriniar as part of the deal. Napoli don't want Skriniar on a permanent transfer because he's on a big salary.

"Let's see if the situation could change with a loan. But Napoli's priority target for the defence is Danilo from Juventus. But in general, the situation between Napoli and PSG is very concrete. Very strong, very advanced."

READ MORE: Man Utd favourites for €40m deal thanks to Amorim relationship

Rashford fake news

Romano then provided fresh information on Marcus Rashford's future at Man Utd after links with a host of new clubs. "There are many fake news on Rashford, really many, many fake news. For example, Como, not true, no negotiations, not an option. For example, Monaco, not true, no negotiations, not an option.

"From what I'm hearing also Saudi is not under consideration. Galatasaray called for Rashford but Rashford is not considering that option today. So, for Rashford there is the interest of Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund for sure, and now also Barcelona had a meeting for Rashford.

"There was a direct meeting. Rashford is open to understanding the situation of Barcelona. But for Barca, it will really depend on the financial situation. We know that. And so let's see what's going to happen next. Still early stages for the Rashford story. For sure, there are no conversations for a swap deal as of today with Kvaratskhelia."

Mainoo contract update

Staying with Man Utd, Romano also provided an update on Kobbie Mainoo's contract situation. "At the moment, Man Utd, as [Ruben] Amorim said in the press conference, but it's also the club feeling and the management feeling, they want to insist on contract negotiations with Kobbie Mainoo.

"So after extending the contract of Amad Diallo till 2030, now Man Utd will try to push also with Mainoo. So Amorim in the press conference said we want to keep our best players, we want to keep our academy players, I'm very happy with Kobbie and how he's developing. But now, for Man United, it's going to be time to try and reach an agreement with the player.

"Remember that there were changes in the situation because there were changes in Man Utd's board. So, new owners, then new directors, then Dan Ashworth, then Dan Ashworth leaves, and now Jason Wilcox taking care of this. So, many changes, and it means that sometimes you have to restart on some points in the conversation."

Araujo could leave Barcelona

Next up on the agenda was a clarification on Ronald Araujo's future after Hansi Flick insisted that he wanted to keep the Juventus-linked defender.

"On Araujo, today Flick said that he wants to keep him in the team, but let's see how the negotiation will be. Because next week, not this week, this week there is the Super Cup in Saudi - Barca are fully focused on the pitch, on the title - but then from next week, Barcelona and Juventus will be in negotiations for Araujo.

"There will be a first official bid. There will be a concrete negotiation. There will be a negotiation for a permanent transfer or loan with obligation. Loan, I mean straight loan, or loan with a buy option is something that is not interesting at all for Barcelona.

"In Italy, some reports swear about a loan, a loan with a buy option because Araujo didn't play in the first six months with an injury, so maybe he needs to find game time. It would make absolutely no sense for Barcelona to accept a proposal on loan for a player who is out of contract in 2026.

"And as of today, there is no agreement to extend. It's not even advanced or close. So guys, at the moment, the situation with Araujo is that Juventus will present an official bid, Juventus feel that the player could be open to the move, and now it depends on Barca and Juve from next week."

Chelsea trio can leave

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Blues trio Ben Chilwell, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka can leave the club this month. Romano has the latest on the situation.

"Three players out for Chelsea. We knew about Chilwell, not even called up [for Morecambe in the FA Cup]. We also knew about the situation of Casadei. There are clubs in the race for Casadei. One is Torino. They had two bids rejected. They will do one more with a big percentage on future sale for Chelsea and the possibility to include a buyback clause.

"Feyenoord are also trying, but they feel that Italy could be a more likely destination, and there could be one more Italian club to enter the race. Not Napoli, because Napoli are signing [Philip] Billing from Bournemouth, but there could be one more Italian club to enter the negotiations for Casadei.

"And then Chukwuemeka, also not included in Chelsea's squad today because he could leave the club in the January window. For him, there is interest also from Italy, but he's expensive. Also interest from Germany. There are German clubs interested in Carney.

"Remember, that he has a clause, something around £40m. So let's see what's going to happen there with Carney, but for sure an interesting situation to follow because one more player expected to leave Chelsea in the January window."

Man City pushing for triple deal

Finally, Romano issued an update on Man City's ongoing efforts to strengthen their squad. "We said, 'here we go' for [Abdukodir] Khusanov. So Uzbekistan centre-back, first Uzbek player to play in the Premier League, he's a new Man City player.

"They are booking the medical, all the formal steps, €40 million plus add-ons, so the package is agreed, four year and a half contract for him, option included, so everything is ready for Khusanov to be a new Man City player immediately.

"Man City remain in negotiations with Palmeiras for Vitor Reis who agreed on personal terms. The 18-year-old centre-back in this case would join in the summer, so the idea of Palmeiras is to ask Man City to keep the player for the rest of the season and for the Club's World Cup and then travel to Manchester.

"And then the new offensive player will be Omar Marmoush. The agreement between Man City and Eintracht is getting closer. According to my information, this deal has very, very, very good chances to happen. Marmoush agreed on personal terms with Man City.

"Man City's people see him as the perfect replacement for Julian Alvarez, who was not replaced in the summer with a striker, with a winger. And so now the idea is to go strong for Marmoush. My opinion is that the deal will happen, the conversation is advanced, there's an agreement with the player."