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The coronavirus pandemic made the summer transfer market unlike any before it, but there were still plenty of deals done, and you can check out the major ones here. The window might be closed across the top leagues in Europe, but here are the best rumours from around the globe.
TOP STORY: PSG inch ahead in race for Alaba
Paris Saint-Germain are starting to edge ahead in the race to sign Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, Sport reports.
For the longest time, Real Madrid have been most closely linked with regard to signing Alaba, who looks destined to leave the Allianz Arena after a successful run with the German champions.
PSG, though, are reportedly willing to bow to his wage demands, whereas Real are a bit more hesitant on the matter.
The reason behind Madrid wanting to pursue Alaba in the first place is due to the impending threat of Sergio Ramos leaving, but unfortunately for them, they’re trailing behind right now.
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08.34 GMT: Jerome Boateng is looking forward to a new challenge when his contract at Bayern Munich expires next summer. Boateng, 32, joined Bayern Munich from Manchester City in 2011 and was a key member for the club’s Treble-winning sides in 2013 and 2020.
“I am someone who loves to get to know new cities, cultures and people,” the centre-back told Spox. “I am really not the guy who likes to stay at one place for too long. That’s why Paris, London but also cities outside of Europe are interesting for me.”
Earlier this month, Boateng learned via the media that Bayern were making their plans for next season without him. When asked about that decision, the 2014 World Cup winner said: “I was surprised and would have wished for a meeting before. But I am now longer thinking about it.”
Bundesliga champions Bayern host Werder Bremen on Saturday as domestic football resumes after the international break (stream LIVE at 9:30 a.m. ET on ESPN+ in the U.S.).
08.00 GMT: Derby County’s battle to avoid relegation from the EFL Championship is likely to scupper Wayne Rooney‘s prospects of taking his first steps into management at the club, sources told ESPN’s Mark Ogden.
The former Everton, Manchester United and D.C. United forward, who has yet to secure all of his coaching qualifications, signed an 18-month contract as player-coach when he arrived at Derby last January, with the move designed to prepare the 35-year-old for a managerial role at a later date.
Rooney is part of a four-man interim coaching team, alongside Shay Given, Liam Rosenior and Justin Walker, appointed by Derby to take charge of the first-team following the sacking of manager Phillip Cocu, the former PSV Eindhoven coach, on Nov. 14.
“I am ambitious,” Rooney said. “I want to go into management. I have been quite open about that. There is an opportunity to show the different ideas you have. I want to be a manager one day.”
Derby are bottom of the 24-team Championship, with just one win from 11 games so far this season, and on the verge of being taken over by United Arab Emirates businessman Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed al Nahyan.
And although sources told ESPN that Rooney is one of several candidates being considered for the manager’s job by the incoming owners, his lack of experience and the necessary coaching qualifications point towards the former England captain instead being asked to work under a proven manager capable of steering Derby away from the relegation zone.
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1:08
Wayne Rooney says he wants to turn his interim position as Derby manager into a permanent role.
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle): Barcelona concerned over Dembele
Barcelona are concerned that Ousmane Dembele could wind up leaving the club on a free transfer, Sport reports.
Barca were interested in selling him during the summer transfer window, but he was reportedly eager to stay. However, the Catalans now believe that he could be planning to leave for nothing when his contract expires in 2022.
He will be free to speak with clubs before then, and with Manchester United being one of the teams that are interested, Dembele’s attention could soon turn away from the Nou Camp.
Erling Haaland‘s father, Alf-Inge, has confirmed that his son is not thinking about leaving Borussia Dortmund.
The Norway striker continues to be linked with a move away from the German giants, but in an interview with Sport1, Alf-Inge Haaland made it clear that the priority is to try to find success in Dortmund.
“At the moment it’s not in Erling’s or my head that another club will be vying for him,” Haaland’s father said.
“We signed a long contract with Dortmund and they have a fantastic team for Erling right now. We don’t want to look any further ahead.”
Tap-ins
– The Guardian is reporting that Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is ready to leave Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window. The veteran World Cup winner has rarely been able to find his way into the first team under Frank Lampard this season, and with next summer’s Euros on his mind, he is hoping for a move away, with his preferred options being Italy or another Premier League club.
– Eintracht Frankfurt‘s Jetro Willems is interested in a return to Newcastle United, Calciomercato reports. The Dutchman spent last season on loan with the Magpies, but after an unfortunate injury cut his time short, Willems is now going in search of another chance to try to impress in the Premier League with the very same club.