With the winter window opening soon, the rumour mill is beginning to gather pace. Who will be moving where come January? Transfer Talk has the latest.
TOP STORY: Madrid could turn to Zlatan or Falcao
Real Madrid are mulling a move for LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Monaco’s Radamel Falcao as they seek an experienced addition to their attacking options, Sport reports.
It says Madrid want to increase their goal-scoring options, with Cristiano Ronaldo having joined Juventus and Karim Benzema in inconsistent form.
They are keen to make the new signing without paying a big fee, which has led them to consider both the 37-year-old Ibrahimovic and the 32-year-old Falcao.
Sport suggests that Ibrahimovic could be the favourite, with the fact that Falcao is under contract until 2020 meaning Monaco might demand a hefty sum.
It adds that the Colombia international, linked with a move to the Bernabeu in previous years, is keen to “escape the crisis at struggling Monaco as soon as possible.”
LIVE BLOG
23.07 GMT: That’s going to bring Monday’s live edition of Transfer Talk to a close. Thanks very much for joining us, and be sure to check back in a few short hours when we return with all the latest gossip pulled from Tuesday’s back pages.
22.45 GMT: When AC Milan took Tiemoue Bakayoko on loan from Chelsea, the agreement included a £31m option to buy, but the Express cites Italian outlet Tuttosport as reporting that the Rossoneri will only offer £22m for the 24-year-old midfielder.
21.59 GMT: With former Juventus CEO Beppe Marotta set to take over at Inter under the same title, Calciomercato cites Corriere della Sera as reporting that the Nerazzurri have struck a deal in principle with Lazio over a summer move for 23-year-old midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who drew interest from Europe’s biggest clubs last sumer.
20.43 GMT: Besiktas are interested in a January move for West Ham striker Javier Hernandez, sources have told ESPN FC. Read the full story.
19.37 GMT: With an eye toward funding a summer of investment, Inter may finally be prepared to part with longtime Manchester United target Ivan Perisic, setting a price of €35m, according to Calciomercato.
18.21 GMT: The Mirror cites Corriere dello Sport as reporting that Paul Pogba has told former teammates at Juventus that he wants to quit Manchester United and has looked into engineering a return to Turin.
17.06 GMT: In a bid to ease their injury crisis, AC Milan could be ready to make a bid for Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, it is being reported in Il Corriere dello Sport.
16.15 GMT: Barcelona have scouted Krzysztof Piatek, Nicolas Pepe and Luka Jovic this season as they look for a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez.
15.19 GMT: Catalan daily Sport are reporting that Barcelona have offered Ousmane Dembele an ultimatum. They have told the France international he needs to improve his lifestyle or he will be heading out of the exit door in the summer.
14.34 GMT: AC Milan have held a four-hour meeting with Mino Raiola, according to MilanNews.it. Chief among the discussions was a potential return for Zlatan Ibrahimovic which would pave the way for a possible link between the club and Raiola.
13.40 GMT: Bundesliga top goal scorer Luka Jovic, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, is on Barcelona’s radar, according to Mundo Deportivo.
12.29 GMT: Gazzetta dello Sport are reporting that Roma are interested in signing Donny van de Beek from Ajax.
11.37 GMT: A report on Calciomercato claims that AC Milan director Leonardo has been in contact with Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas over a move to the Rossoneri.
10.42 GMT: Real Madrid will battle Barcelona for the signing of Ajax’s Frenkie De Jong, it is being reported in Sport — and the European champions are ready to make their move in January.
09.50 GMT: Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini is holding face-to-face talks with the club following reports of a bid from Manchester United, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Pellegrini, 22, came through the youth ranks at his hometown club, and has made more than 50 appearances for the Giallorossi since returning in 2017 following a two-year spell at Sassuolo.
08.55 GMT: A Premier League return could be on the cards for Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Vermaelen was Arsenal’s club captain when he left for the Camp Nou in 2014. However, the 33-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and he does not anticipate being offered a new one. That means the Belgium international could agree a summer free transfer to a foreign league in January, and could even make a move next month if Barca will allow it.
08.00 GMT: Christian Pulisic will not move in the January transfer window, Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc told kicker amid the U.S. international’s links with Chelsea and Liverpool. Pulisic is under contract at Dortmund until 2020, and has so far not agreed to a new deal with the Bundesliga club.
“We are planning with him at least until the end of the season,” BVB sporting director Michael Zorc told kicker, acknowledging the recent rumours as nothing new. “We will need Christian significantly.”
PAPER TALK (by Chris Borg): Pogba, Eriksen, Ramsey and Rabiot on Juve’s list
Juventus remain interested in bringing their former midfielder, Paul Pogba, back from Manchester United, but he is only one of a number of targets, the Mail reports.
It suggests that a move for Pogba is realistic after his “difficult time at United, having fallen out with Jose Mourinho on several occasions.”
But if the signing of the France international does not come to pass, Italian champions Juve could switch their focus to Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal.
Citing reports in Italy, the Mail says Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen is an alternative, and the club “believe they can lure him away should a Pogba move not materialise.”
PSG’s France international Adrien Rabiot is another target, while Arsenal’s Wales international Aaron Ramsey, who will leave when his contract expires in the summer, is still on Juve’s radar.
Spurs boss runs rule over Barca B star
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino could be readying a move for Barcelona B midfielder Riqui Puig after watching the teenager in action over the weekend, the Sun suggests.
It says Pochettino, in the city for a conference, saw Puig — linked with Spurs in the past — help his team to a win over Cornella.
The Spurs boss wants to add to his squad after the club failed to make any signings over the summer.
But the Londoners would have to dig deep for Puig — the Sun says Barca “are thought to have tied him to an £88 million release clause.”
Tap-ins
— Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi will hold talks with Pep Guardiola after featuring only seven times so far this season.
Otamendi has been sidelined by John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, and the Sun says the Argentina international wants to find out whether he has a future at the Etihad, with reports suggesting that Barcelona or Real Madrid could be interested.
— Newcastle are keen on Atlanta United playmaker Miguel Almiron but would have to break their transfer record to sign him, the Chronicle reports.
It says Paraguay international Almiron’s agent watched Newcastle’s win over Bournemouth last weekend, but a move would see the Magpies having to spend around £25 million — comfortably in excess of the £16 million paid for Aleksandar Mitrovic.