Tuesday's Manchester United transfer talk news roundup: Jesse Lingard, Victor Lindelof

The January transfer window is now open, with Manchester United continuing to be linked with a host of big names.

The Red Devils have already agreed a deal to sign Amad Traore, and could look to bolster their ranks further to build on an encouraging first half of the season.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news on possible comings and goings from Old Trafford.

Tuesday morning's Manchester United transfer talk news roundup:

Manchester United 'signed Victor Lindelof over Virgil van Dijk'

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Manchester United signed Victor Lindelof over Virgil van Dijk, according to the Liverpool defender's former teammate Charlie Austin.

The Red Devils snapped up Swedish centre-back Lindelof from Benfica in June 2017 for a fee rising to £31m.

Van Dijk moved to Liverpool six months later and has played an integral part in the Reds' Premier League and Champions League success over the past two seasons.

However, Austin, who played alongside Van Dijk at Southampton, claims that things could have turned out a lot different.

"I remember at the back end of his Southampton career we were on the bench together at Chelsea, and I said to him 'come on Virg, what's going on? Surely Man United must have been in for you'," he told talkSPORT.

"He said to me, 'in the summer, it was between me or Lindelof'. I couldn't believe it, I was gobsmacked. There was talk in the summer that he was going to go there and they got Lindelof instead.

"I remember Mauricio [Pellegrino] getting everybody round in pre-season, everyone on the pitch including Virg, and just said 'look lads, Virgil wants to go, the club are not allowing him to go, so he says he's not going to play so he's not going to train with us', in front of everyone.

"[Van Dijk] was gobsmacked, there was no heads up from the manager or anything. It was more down the line of stamping his authority. Two days the later transfer window shut and Virg was starting again on the Saturday.

"He apologised to the lads, but we just said 'Virg, we understand, you were linked with Liverpool and you wanted to go, it's fine by us', we were just happy that he was here because of the quality that he brought."

Lindelof has gone on to make 138 appearances for United in all competitions, 22 of those this season.

West Ham United manager David Moyes: 'Chelsea cannot afford Declan Rice'

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West Ham United manager David Moyes has insisted that Chelsea could not afford to sign Declan Rice with or without Frank Lampard at the helm.

The Hammers' midfield lynchpin was understood to be a long-term target for Lampard, who was sacked from his Stamford Bridge post on Monday morning after a run of mediocre results.

Moyes had previously claimed that Rice would not be allowed to leave unless his side received an extortionate amount of money, and the Hammers boss has now reaffirmed his side's stance on the matter now that Lampard has been relieved of his duties.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of West Ham's midweek game with Crystal Palace, Moyes said: "No matter who was the manager at Chelsea, or whoever came in, it would have been the same answer.

"I said it right at the start and I'm only repeating myself - Bank of England money would be required, and you might even need to add Bank of Scotland on to that as well because he has been so good."

Rice is yet to miss a single minute of Premier League football for West Ham this term, and Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old over the past month.

More transfer news from Manchester United:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 'gives green light to Jesse Lingard exit'
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly open to Jesse Lingard going out on loan before the end of the January transfer window. Read more.

West Ham United 'make approach for Manchester United's Jesse Lingard'
Manchester United's Jesse Lingard is reportedly a loan target for West Ham United, but the Hammers will need to make one of their temporary signings permanent first. Read more.