As the January transfer window deadline approaches, several deals are completed or underway. 

Premier League champions Liverpool signed defender Ben Davies from Preston North End. Davies will be a backup option for Liverpool’s defense after several of the club’s first team defenders are all sidelined with injuries. 

In addition to Davies, Liverpool are reportedly in talks to sign another defender on loan with option to buy, Ozan Kabak, from Bundesliga club Schalke. The Turkish defender has been reportedly in the club’s consideration for a long time. The Reds were also linked with Marseille defender Duje Caleta Car, but the move reportedly stalled. 

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli is rumored to be in talks with Ligue 1 club PSG to seal a move before the deadline. PSG head coach and Tottenham former head coach Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly pushing for the move to happen. However, there are reports that claim that the move is off and that Alli will stay at Tottenham for the rest of the season.

Arsenal recently signed Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard on loan after the young midfielder did not get enough playing time at Real Madrid. Also, while not identifying any other specific transfer targets, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta claimed that he is optimistic of new arrivals before the deadline.  

The Gunners are linked with Southamption’s Ryan Bertrand, Marseille’s Jordan Amavi and Crystal Palace’s Patrick Van Aanholt. 

La Liga club Sevilla signed midfielder Alejandro Papu Gomez from Serie A club Atalanta. Gomez left the club after falling out with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Meanwhile, Atalanta signed midfielder Viktor Kovalenko from Shakhtar Donetsk. 

Juventus defender Daniele Rugani completed a loan move to Serie A club Cagliari. Rugani recently played in Ligue 1 club Rennes on loan from Juventus. Rugani struggled to get playing time at the French club. 

Bayern Munich’s promising star Joshua Zirkzee completed a loan move to Serie A club Parma. 

Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund booked its spot in the UEFA Champions League last 16 after a draw against SS Lazio. 

Before the end of the first half, Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro scored the game’s first goal. In the second half, Lazio was awarded a penalty which Ciro Immobile scored. After this draw, Lazio will have to compete with Club Brugge to qualify for the round of 16. 

Club Brugge defeated Zenit St. Petersburg, 3-0. Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere scored a goal in the first half. In the second half, the Belgian club was awarded a penalty scored by Hans Vanaken followed by the third goal from Noa Lang. 

Manchester United, PSG and RB Leipzig are all fighting for the top spot in Group H. PSG defeated Manchester United, 3-1. PSG’s Neymar scored an early goal followed by the equalizer from United’s Marcus Rashford. In the second half, PSG’s Marquinhos scored to give his side an upper hand in the game. Shortly after, United player Fred was sent off after a second yellow card, creating further difficulties for his team. In the added time, Neymar scored the third goal. 

RB Leipzig defeated Istanbul Basaksehir, 4-3. Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen scored the first goal followed by a goal from Nordi Mukiele. Before halftime, Başakşehir Irfan Kahveci scored a goal. In the second half, Leipzig’s Dani Olmo scored his side’s third goal followed by two more goals from Kahveci. In the added time, Leipzig’s Alexander Sorloth scored to hand side a victory against the Turkish club.

Goal hero Olivier Giroud scored four goals to help Chelsea defeat Sevilla 4-0. Giroud is the oldest player to score a hat trick in the competition.

Speaking of goals, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 750th career goal in Juventus’ 3-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv. Juventus players Federico Chiesa and Alvaro Morata also scored.

Messi less FC Barcelona managed to defeat Ferencvaros, 3-0. Antoine Griezmann scored the first goal followed by a goal from Martin Braithwaite. Afterward, FC Barcelona was awarded a penalty which Ousmane Dembele scored. 

Russian club Krasnodar received its first win in the competition after defeating Ligue 1 club Rennes,1-0. Krasnodar’s Marcus Berg scored the only goal in the game.

Real Madrid have released a club statement expressing “complete support” for captain Sergio Ramos after Sevilla officially complained about his goal celebration during Thursday’s 3-3 tie in the Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid Defends Sergio Ramos Over Controversial Goal Celebration Vs Sevilla

The 30-year-old Spanish central defender, who joined Real from Sevilla in 2005, scored a “Panenka-style” penalty to make it 3-2 in the 83rd minute, and celebrated by sarcastically cupping his hands to his ears.

Ramos said the Sevilla fans had “remembered my mother and insulted me from the first minute,” but added: “I asked for forgiveness and my celebration wasn’t meant as a lack of respect or an insult to anyone.”

As noted in his statement, Ramos’ celebration was prompted by Sevilla fans verbally abusing him and using derogatory language referring to his mother and wife.

Real Madrid issued the following statement: “Real Madrid wishes to express its total and absolute support for our captain Sergio Ramos, whose behavior is and has always been exemplary throughout his career.”

“Real Madrid has been inflexible when it comes to applying with absolute firmness its “zero tolerance” policy against violent individuals,” the statement added.

Sevilla sent its official complaint of the celebration to La Liga’s governing body, the LFP, calling for Ramos to be reprimanded.

Sevilla also, however, distanced itself from the aforementioned vulgar chants sung by some of the fans at their own Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

“At the same time, Sevilla FC wants to make clear that it condemns the insults the player received, which cannot be justified or protected in any case, and we reiterate that Sevilla fans should eradicate insults both towards clubs and opposing players,” said the statement.

“It is something that only deteriorates the club’s image and can carry serious sanctions,” it added.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane had already played down the incident and, speaking at his pre-game press conference on Saturday, added: “The statement which Sevilla released is the same as ours — maximum respect for all players, not just Sergio. There will be lots more nonsense but what we want is to play a game of football, nothing else.”

Zidane continued: “Above all, Ramos is our captain– an example to everyone. The fans just want to see a game of football. This issue is over. Sevilla think the same, to play a great game, and that is what we all want to see/”

Sevilla also expressed its desire to relay their “unwavering commitment against violence,” as well as “racism, xenophobia and intolerance.”

SEVILLE, SPAIN – JANUARY 12: Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring the second goal of Real Madrid CF with his team mates during the Copa del Rey Round of 16 Second Leg match between Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid CF at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on January 12, 2017 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)