With just a month remaining before the opening of the January transfer window, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Juventus’ McKennie to move to Tottenham?
United States men’s national team midfielder Weston McKennie could leave Juventus, with Tottenham Hotspur interested in signing him, as has been reported by Calciomercato.
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The 24-year-old was a part of manager Gregg Berhalter’s starting lineup for all four of the US’ World Cup matches in Qatar until defeat against Netherlands in the round of 16. With the US out of the tournament, McKennie will now return to Turin, where things haven’t always been as simple for the midfielder in a Bianconeri shirt.
At Juventus, McKennie faces competition from the likes of Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot, Manuel Locatelli, Nicolo Fagioli and Fabio Miretti, while Leandro Paredes is also with the club on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. He has managed a total of 16 appearances for Juventus across Serie A and the Champions League this term, scoring three goals and providing the assist for one another.
I Bianconeri reportedly turned down a swap deal involving McKennie and Manchester United‘s Donny van de Beek in the summer of 2021, but Premier League interest in the American has endured thanks to Spurs.
It is reported that the interest from the North London club could also translate into an offer, although Juve are currently in turmoil given the club’s board of directors, president Andrea Agnelli and vice president Pavel Nedved, resigned en masse recently following preliminary investigation by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office into fraudulent accounting and alleged hidden payments to players.
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21.40 GMT: Jesus Vallejo has attracted interest from clubs in LaLiga of late, but he wants to fight for his place at Real Madrid, writes Mundo Deportivo.
Espanyol have identified the 25-year-old centre-back as a potential option in their search for a centre-back, but the latest suggests that he will look to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. Vallejo’s contract at the club isn’t set to expire until the summer of 2025.
21.24 GMT: Internazionale have been offered the chance to sign Chris Smalling, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 33-year-old Roma centre-back will enter the final six months of his contract in January, and it is reported that his agent has already been in contact with the Nerazzurri, who see him as a potential replacement for Stefan De Vrij.
20.58 GMT: Schalke 04 are open to loaning out Florian Flick until the end of the season, according to Sky Sports Germany.
Nurnberg and Arminia Bielefeld are two of the clubs interested in acquiring him, with the 22-year-old midfielder hopeful of earning regular minutes ahead of the U21 European Championships next summer.
It is understood that while Schalke are open to a loan move, they have no plans to part ways with him permanently.
20.38 GMT: Burnley believe that current manager Vincent Kompany could be targeted as a candidate for the vacant Belgium manager’s job, reports the Telegraph.
The former Manchester City star has guided the Clarets to the top of the Championship table, but following Roberto Martinez’s decision to step down after failing to qualify from the group stage at the FIFA World Cup, it is understood that Kompany is seen as a strong candidate to take over.
19.53 GMT: In more LaLiga news, Barcelona believe they have missed out on Youri Tielemans, reveals Marca.
Despite seeing the 25-year-old Leicester City midfielder as a potential successor for Sergio Busquets, the Blaugrana believe that he has already reached an agreement with another club, with the Belgium international not showing interest in opening talks over a switch to the Camp Nou.
He made just one start for Belgium during the FIFA World Cup.
19.28 GMT: Samuel Lino could be set to remain at Atletico Madrid despite interest from Valencia, reports Sport.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has impressed while on loan at Los Che this season, but amid reports of Diego Simeone’s side potentially parting ways with Matheus Cunha, the latest indicates that Lino could be seen as his replacement.
18.50 GMT: Croatia right-back Josip Juranovic is attracting suitors following his performances at the World Cup, understands Fabrizio Romano.
It is understood that Celtic would be open to moving him on if the right offer comes in, having acquired an alternative in Alistair Johnston. Juranovic, 27, has made 17 appearances for Celtic across all competitions this season.
17.49 GMT: Ruslan Malinovskyi was on the radar of a number of the clubs in the summer, and it looks as though West Ham could make a move for him in January, according to Italy-based newspaper Il Giorno.
The 29-year-old Atalanta attacking midfielder has seen a slight dip in his form this season, having scored just one goal in 14 appearances. It is reported that Marseille are also keen on landing him.
17.00 GMT: Manchester United have identified Rafael Leao as a potential alternative to Cody Gakpo, writes the Mirror.
With belief Gakpo’s valuation has now doubled following his performances at the FIFA World Cup, it is reported that the Red Devils will turn their attention to the 23-year-old AC Milan forward, who scored in Portugal’s opening game against Ghana.
He is yet to agree new terms at the San Siro despite ongoing contract talks, while also being linked with Chelsea.
15.28 GMT: Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder Ibrahima Bamba is among the top transfer targets for Arsenal in the summer, according to Calciomercato.
Bamba, 20, has impressed in the Portuguese league and Arsenal are keen to bring him in.
Italy and Ivory Coast will be fighting over the midfielder for his international allegiance.
14.25 GMT: Chelsea want to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol in January, says TEAMtalk.
Gvardiol, 20, is one of the best young centre-backs in Europe and reportedly now has a release clause of EUR50m, having been the subject of an EUR80m bid from the Blues last summer before signing a new contract.
TEAMtalk claims: “Chelsea are confident that they can get a deal done, and they want him and [France forward] Christopher Nkunku sorted by January.”
13.36 GMT: Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr have offered Cristiano Ronaldo a three-year deal to join after the World Cup worth $225m a year, according to CBS, while Marca claims that Ronaldo has already agreed to move to the club on a 2 1/2 -year contract on Jan. 1 for $211m a year.
Ronaldo, 37, left Manchester United by mutual consent last month and is a free agent. The Portugal forward is set to wait until after the World Cup before deciding on his next move, sources have told ESPN.
Sources added that Al-Nassr are willing to offer him a 3 1/2 -year contract worth more than $123m a year, which would keep him playing until his 40s. As part of the agreement, Al-Nassr have indicated they would be willing to compensate Ronaldo for the wages he would have earned had he seen out the last six months of his contract at Man United — around $19.6m.
Ronaldo has asked his representatives to be kept out of negotiations over his future in club football while he is in Qatar, but sources said that talks over a move to Al-Nassr have taken place.
13.12 GMT: With earlier reports claiming Inter Milan want to signgoalkeeper Yann Sommer from Borussia Monchengladbach, Bild says Manchester United are also keen.
Sommer, 33, has a contract which ends in the summer and United reportedly want the Switzerland international to join on a free transfer and provide competition for David de Gea.
12.45 GMT: Spain and Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta says the new owners at the Premier League club convinced him to snub an offer from Barcelona at the end of last season.
Azpilicueta’s contract at Chelsea was due to expire last summer if he did not play 30 games — a target he did hit in the end — and ESPN reported at the time that Barca coach Xavi Hernandez was desperate to sign him.
The right-back admits there was a period of uncertainty after Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club, but new owner Todd Boehly came in and persuaded him to stay.
“It was a unique situation at Chelsea at the time,” he told Cadena Ser on Sunday. “I had the 30-game clause, there were sanctions on the club, we did not know who was going to be the new owner and, if I didn’t [play 30 games], I was a free agent.
“I have always been committed to Chelsea, though, and I thought it was best to stay. I am happy there. The new owners arrived and showed me they really wanted me to stay. London is my home and my kids speak better English than Spanish. When I took the decision, I think Xavi understood. If things are made clear, people understand.”
Azpilicueta, 33, is in his 11th season at Stamford Bridge. He has won 13 trophies during his decade at the club, including two Premier League titles and one Champions League.
12.00 GMT: England midfielder Jude Bellingham has really shown what he is capable of this tournament. And Borussia Dortmund’s desired EUR120m transfer fee will continue to rise with each good game.
Luis Echegaray is impressed by Jude Bellingham’s performance in the England round of 16 win against Senegal.
10.40 GMT: Arsenal are not planning on signing a replacement for injured striker Gabriel Jesus in January, according to Football Insider.
Jesus, 25, picked up a knee injury that ruled him out of the rest of the World Cup during Brazil’s 1-0 defeat against Cameroon. He has five goals and six assists in 14 Premier League games for Premier League leaders Arsenal so far this season, but it’s unclear when he might return to action.
The Gunners may have ?50m to spend in January, with “a wide attacker and central midfielder as their priorities.” But a short-term replacement for Jesus is not on the agenda.
09.53 GMT: Borussia Dortmund full-back Thomas Meunier was on the radar of Manchester United and Barcelona over the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Meunier, 31, would have been keen to move on, but Dortmundanted to keep him so he ended up staying.
09.11 GMT: ICYMI – The son of the Real Madrid legend Marcelo, Enzo Alves, has signed his first contract with the club.
Enzo, 13, has featured for Madrid’s academy teams since 2017. The teenager confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Saturday, saying “My first contract with the best club in the world. Very happy.”
Enzo is a highly rated centre forward who plays for Real Madrid’s under-14 side. He is represented by the agency founded by his father, Group Doze.
08.30 GMT: AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli expects striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic start training again later this month.
Ibrahimovic, 41, scored eight goals and set up three more in 23 league appearances last season to help Milan win its first Scudetto in 11 years. But the Swedish forward underwent ACL surgery in May.
“At the end of December, beginning of January he will work on the pitch,” Pioli said. “His example, his determination, his mentality and his capacity to prepare each training session has probably increased the level of the team. His teammates have done well to follow him and grow. We also (Simon) Kjaer, (Olivier) Giroud and (Mike) Maignan. We have four or five players that are leaders that helped me so much.”
Mark Ogden thinks England look stronger than France, Brazil and Argentina after the 3-0 win against Senegal.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Manchester United are ready to make a January move for PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo in January, according to The Sun, which adds that the Red Devils are especially keen to bring in attacking reinforcements after Cristiano Ronaldo‘s departure. PSV want at least a EUR60m transfer fee to sign Gakpo, whose contract runs until 2026.
– Internazionale could capitalise on Denzel Dumfries‘ World Cup performances by offloading him in January due to the growth in his transfer value, according to Calciomercato. The right wing-back caught the eye as he recorded two assists and a goal as Netherlands beat the United States in the round of 16. Inter could let him leave as soon as January.
– Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus would consider offers from Premier League clubs as long as Champions League football is also on offer, claims The Sun. Barcelona are keen on the Ghana international while Tottenham Hotspur have previously been linked, with Ajax expected to ask for a fee in the region of EUR50m.
– With Yann Sommer‘s contract at Borussia Monchengladbach ending in the summer, Internazionale have already made the goalkeeper an offer, reports Tuttosport, which adds that Inter are also looking at Fenerbahce’s Altay Bayindir. The Serie A outfit are looking to bring in competition for Andre Onana but could even move on the Cameroon international to raise funds if they sign Sommer.
– Wolverhampton Wanderers are hoping to sign Atletico Madrid duo Felipe and Matheus Cunha, according to Fabrizio Romano. The hope is that the two Brazilians could be signed as a “package” deal.
– Brighton & Hove Albion and Sassuolo are among the clubs looking at Montpellier defender Maxime Esteve, as reported by L’Equipe. The 20-year-old has impressed in Ligue 1 this term, having already been the topic of approaches from German clubs in the summer, with it expected that there will be January offers for the Frenchman.