Chelsea and Manchester City set to do battle for £55million Virgil van Dijk 

• Man City want to wait until the summer to sign Southampton defender
• But interest from Chelsea in £55million Van Dijk could force their hand
• Liverpool have no plans to move for Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
• Sunderland will do everything to block Jermain Defoe return to West Ham
• CLICK HERE for all the latest news in our live transfer runner

Manchester City are willing to hold off a move for Virgil van Dijk until the summer but are wary of Chelsea interest.

Southampton are keen to keep the Dutch centre-back for this season despite the 25-year-old attracting such interest and will demand around £55million.

That should prove a substantial obstacle for most, despite rumours of a £25m buyout clause, but Chelsea and City have the finance and aren't afraid to spend it.

City though are reluctant to make additions in January yet are primed to move should Chelsea step up their own interest in Van Dijk with Antonio Conte's staff weighing up a number of options.

City made enquiries for Atletico Madrid brothers Lucas and Theo Hernandez last summer after missing out on Aymeric Laporte and Leonardo Bonucci and defence remains the priority area that Guardiola wishes to strengthen, both at full-back and centre-back.

Liverpool are not planning to make a move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in January.

The Arsenal and England forward has been on Liverpool's list of targets in recent months but Jurgen Klopp has alternative options further up his wishlist at this stage.

Liverpool have concerns over the departure of Sadio Mane to the Africa Cup of Nations and have considered the likes of Spartak Moscow's Quincy Promes, Jese at Paris St Germain and Christian Pulisic at Borussia Dortmund but any additions look unlikely at this stage for January.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has two years left of his current contract to run at Arsenal and the 23-year-old has yet to enter into talks to extend or improve his terms. Manchester City showed some interest last season with the player a homegrown option.

Jermain Defoe will have to put in a transfer request to push through any move to West Ham - and even then Sunderland may block it.

West Ham have made the opening moves in a bid to lure the 34-year-old back to the East End but David Moyes has no desire to lose his captain, recognising he is arguably their best hope of Premier League survival.

It is understood Defoe has a clause allowing him to leave should Sunderland be relegated and Moyes wants the striker to at least see out the campaign.

West Ham are desperate for a striker with the likes of Scott Hogan, Michy Batshuayi and Daniel Sturridge also on their wishlist but each represents a gamble of sorts. A loan move for Manchester United's Marcus Rashford is also likely to be rebuffed.

Loan misfit Simone Zaza is leaving in January and he is in talks with Valencia plus clubs in Serie A.

Sunderland, meanwhile, will also rebuff moves from Italy for Fabio Borini.

Roma and AC Milan have made initial contact for the 25-year-old but want loans with view to a permanent deal. 

Moyes would have considered selling for a substantial offer but the risk factor of finding a replacement at the right price who can fit straight into a struggling team outweigh any need to sell.

'It’s normal that a 25-year-old Italian striker, with international experience, is of interest to many Italian teams,' his agent Roberto De Fanti told Pagine Romaniste.

'Fabio was really happy at Roma, but now he’s just focused on Sunderland and there’s no way he’ll leave in January.

'In June we’ll see, as it is for every player.'

Watford forward Jerome Sinclair is wanted by Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City on loan.

The 20-year-old joined from Liverpool in the summer for a £4million fee but has been restricted to three substitute appearances with the latest coming against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

Sinclair is in Walter Mazzarri's plans but needs more regular game time to continue his development.

Stoke City are fielding offers for Glen Johnson with the former England full-back out of contract in the summer.

The 32-year-old was even discussed by Barcelona earlier in the summer as they looked for cheap cover in the right-back position while West Ham have made enquiries in recent weeks.

Stoke though are short of cover themselves at right-back with 31-year-old Phil Bardsley the alternative option. They would prefer to get another younger player in before contemplating letting Johnson go or offer him a contract extension.

They have checked on Sweden international Linus Wahlqvist at Norrkoping in recent months. The 20-year-old has three caps for Sweden.

Watford have held discussions about taking defender Molla Wague from sister club Udinese at the end of the window. 

The Mali international is due to link up with his country for the Africa Cup of Nations but could join Watford on loan once that is over. 

The 25-year-old French-born centre-back has made six appearances this season and can also fill in at right-back.

Leicester City have asked about Sassuolo defender Francesco Acerbi.

The 28-year-old centre-back is wanted by Inter Milan also and Sassuolo want around £12million for the Italy international.

Claudio Ranieri is keen to add a defender and a striker in January after completing the £15m signing of defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi from Genk.

Acerbi is seen as a leader after twice beating cancer during his playing career.

Leicester's alternative option, should they fail to prise Acerbi from Sassuolo, is former Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic, 23, who is at Bundesliga side Schalke. 

Bournemouth look to have failed in a bid to sign Sampdoria right-back Pedro Pereira. The south coast club held talks on Wednesday and offered £5million for the talented 18-year-old but the Portuguese looks set to sign for Benfica instead.

Liverpool midfielder Cameron Brannagan is expected to be out for four weeks with ankle ligament damage.

The 20-year-old was expected to go out on loan with Bolton among his would-be suitors but he injured his ankle in training while taking a shot and scans revealed a grade two sprain.