The 2022 January transfer window is closed, but there’s still plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Arsenal, Man United interested in Fabian
Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz could have an offer from the Premier League to consider with Arsenal and Manchester United both interested in securing his signature, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
The 25-year-old Spain international has a contract until 2023 in Naples and has already been attracting interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. While Fabian is said to prefer a move to Spain, the two English outfits are keen to see whether a deal can be reached considering he earns just €50,000-a-week in Italy — a figure that will increase drastically regardless of his next location.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is continuing the search for midfield reinforcements after failing to complete a deal for Juventus‘ Arthur in January, while Manchester United continue to search for a replacement for Paul Pogba. However, whether either Premier League side is able to sign Fabian might well depend on their qualification for next season’s Champions League.
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11.15 GMT: Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is Barcelona’s “impossible dream,” according to a report in Sport.
Despite the emergence of Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez over the last 18 months, Barca still want to add another midfielder to the squad as they contemplate life after Sergio Busquets, who turns 34 in the summer.
Sport reported on Monday that negotiations are at an advanced stage to sign Milan midfielder Franck Kessie on a free transfer at the end of the season, but only because Tchouameni has been deemed unattainable.
Tuesday’s report says Barca contacted Monaco about a deal for the France international but have been put off by the €60m price tag — any money they do have this summer will be invested in a forward, with Erling Haaland still the priority.
They would also face fierce competition for Tchouameni if they decided to pursue a move for the 22-year-old. Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United are among the other clubs to have been linked with him.
10.51 GMT: Ajax want Jordi Cruyff to replace Marc Overmars as the club’s sporting director, according to reports in Mundo Deportivo and De Telegraaf. Overmars left his position at the Dutch club in February after multiple complaints from female colleagues over inappropriate messages.
Cruyff, who is currently working at Barcelona, has emerged as the No. 1 target to replace him and Ajax have already made contact with him to see if he would be interested in filling the vacancy. He returned to Barca in an advisory role in June and has taken on more responsibility since the departure of sporting director Ramon Planes in December.
However, his job at Camp Nou is overseen by general director Mateu Alemany and the reports suggest Ajax would give him much more control over sporting matters.
Cruyff, whose father Johan was a legend at both Ajax and Barca, came through Ajax’s academy before moving to Barcelona. Since retiring in 2010, Jordi has worked around the world, including in Israel and China, as both a coach and a sporting director.
10.28 GMT: Napoli striker Victor Osimhen won’t be moving to Manchester United as the Italian club want too much money, says the Daily Star.
Osimhen, 23, has 17 goals in 40 league appearances for Napoli after moving for €70m from Lille in July 2020.
United need potential replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani, who are both expected to leave Old Trafford in the summer, but the Nigeria international striker is valued at over €100m by Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis.
10.05 GMT: Marca claims that PSG are planning to push for Kylian Mbappe to sign a new contract.
Mbappe, 23, has a contract which expires in the summer and time is running out before the French giants lose him on a free transfer. Real Madrid are his most likely destination but PSG haven’t given up hope yet.
The forward made it clear he wanted to leave Paris last summer, while also stating that he hoped his wish would be granted so PSG would get a transfer fee. However, the club rejected offers from Real Madrid of up to €200m and could now regret that decision.
If they can persuade Mbappe to stay, it will likely be a short-term contract with a realistic release clause that may allow him to depart if a bid arrives.
09.37 GMT: Footmercato reports that MLS side LA Galaxy would like to bring PSG defender Sergio Ramos to the club.
Ramos, 35, joined the French side from Real Madrid on a free transfer over the summer but has only managed to make five appearances due to injury issues.
08.52 GMT: Portuguese side Benfica have generated the most income from the transfer of players from their youth academy, ahead of Real Madrid and Monaco.
A study done by the CIES Football Observatory ranked the top 50 clubs worldwide that have generated the most income from the transfer of players graduated from their youth academy since July 2015 and having been at the club for at least three years between the seasons of their 15th and 21st birthday.
Benfica, who picked up €126m from Joao Felix‘s move to Atletico Madrid in 2019, lead the table with €379m.
Real Madrid are second with €330m, while Kylian Mbappe‘s former club, AS Monaco, are third with €285m after netting €180m from his move to PSG.
Chelsea are the best ranked English Premier League club, in eighth place, with champions Manchester City in 17th.
With €2.03 billion, English clubs generated the most money in the transfer of academy graduates since July 2015.
08.30 GMT: Former Italy international Gianluigi Buffon is set to sign a new contract at Parma which will keep him at the club past his 46th birthday, sources told ESPN.
Buffon, who started his career with Parma as a 17-year-old in 1995, is Italy’s most capped male international footballer with 176 appearances. He left Parma to join Juventus in 2001 for a then world-record transfer fee for a goalkeeper of €52m and, after a successful two decades with the Turin club, he returned to his former side following their relegation to Serie B in 2021.
Buffon has played in 22 of Parma’s 26 league matches this term and sources have told ESPN he will pen a new contract until 2024.
1:06
Gab Marcotti likes the idea of AC Milan extending Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s deal, providing he takes a pay cut.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks set to continue his career in Serie A, with Ekrem Konur reporting that he wants an extension with AC Milan. The 40-year-old forward has scored eight goals in 11 appearances this season, helping to keep the Rossoneri in the title race, and is looking to spend another 12 months at San Siro.
– Real Madrid will focus on the signing of Kylian Mbappe before they work on ongoing contract situations, reports Goal. The LaLiga club are looking to extend the stays of players such as Vinicius Junior, Luka Modric and Eder Militao, but they are now set to focus on acquiring the 23-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker as the final months of his contract come to an end.
– Franck Kessie has an offer to consider from Aston Villa, reports Calciomercato. The 25-year-old AC Milan midfielder is weighing a number of options as he nears free-agent status, but despite Barcelona making an offer, it is reported that their financial package is less attractive than what Aston Villa can afford.
– Manchester United look resigned to losing both Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani in the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano. Lingard had a move to Newcastle United denied by the Red Devils hierarchy on transfer deadline day, and it looks as though the 29-year-old midfielder remains intent on leaving Old Trafford. Cavani, 35, is also said to be assessing his options as he approaches the final months of his deal.
– Wingers Antony and Noni Madueke have both been linked with AC Milan of late, but Rudy Galetti writes that there is no interest in bringing either of them to San Siro. Antony, 22, has been capturing the attention of a number of clubs after his impressive performances in the Champions League for Ajax Amsterdam this season, while 19-year-old Madueke’s campaign with PSV Eindhoven has seen him ease his way through the England youth international ranks.