Transfer news live: Liverpool make final Naby Keita offer, Arsenal make Thomas Lemar bid, United after Gareth Bale

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live transfer blog, where we'll bring you all the breaking news, latest deals and rumours as they happen.

 Next we make the short trip over to Manchester where Jose Mourinho has been cleared to sign Nemanja Matic for the second time as he nears a Chelsea exit. With Juventus switching targets to PSG's Blaise Matuidi, United have the green light to pursue Matic. Miguel Delaney has the story:

And now to the big story overnight, with Manchester United given hope of finally landing long-time transfer target Gareth Bale. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane fanned the flames when he admitted yesterday that there is no guarantee that Bale will remain in Madrid, and with United hoping that Real's interest in Kylian Mbappe will result in them needing to raise funds, they are hoping to capitalise on the opportunity to bring the Welshman back to the Premier League. 

Chelsea have made a late attempt to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches on loan, according to reports.

The 19-year-old Portuguese starlet had appeared destined for a move to AC Milan but Chelsea have now made an inquiry, with The Telegraph reporting that Antonio Conte met with Carlo Ancelotti to discuss a move after the two clubs played a friendly match on Tuesday night.

Sanches made a name for himself at Benfica and with Portugal at Euro 2016, but has struggled since moving to Bayern in a deal totaling €80m.

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Barcelona’s president has once again spoken of his desire to keep Brazilian forward Neymar at the club, although he has admitted that it is impossible to keep hold of players when they have their heart set on moves elsewhere.

The Brazil international is understood to be the subject of interest from PSG, who are reportedly prepared to pay a world record-breaking €222m (£198m) fee for his services.

Barcelona have repeatedly insisted that they have no intention of selling the striker to their European rivals, although Josep Bartomeu stopped short of promising fans Neymar will stay in a recent interview.

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BREAKING NEWS

The investigation into the alleged assault of Ross Barkley at a Liverpool city centre bar has been closed with no further action being taken.

The Everton midfielder deciding against making a formal complaint despite the incident being captured by CCTV and shared on social media. 

Middlesbrough have competed the signing of West Ham United striker Ashley Fletcher for £6.5m.

The former Manchester United youth player has signed a five-year contract at the Riverside, joining Garry Monk's Teesside revamp.

It'll be the return that will feel like a new signing, but for now Santi Cazorla admits that he has no idea when he'll be playing again. The Arsenal man has not been seen on the pitch since October, and the worst part is that his six-year-old son Enzo has started asking him when he will play again.