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The transfer windows in Europe’s top leagues are closed, but it’s never too early to look forward to January. Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.
TOP STORY: Arsenal to make move for Soyuncu
Life has a funny way of reminding you of your mistakes, and Arsenal‘s board have certainly learnt their lesson when it comes to Leicester City’s Caglar Soyuncu.
Arsenal nearly signed the Turkish defender from Freiburg two seasons ago and now he has seamlessly replaced Harry Maguire in the Leicester defence, even outperforming the £80m Man United star this season.
Soyuncu, 23, has been linked with various clubs in the top six, but Arsenal are the ones who need defensive help badly, and Soyuncu could arrive in January to upgrade the current options at the Emirates.
Turkish newspaper Star reports that Arsenal scouts are watching Soyuncu this international break — and they would have already had a good chance when Leicester beat the Gunners 2-0 recently — while his Turkey teammate Merih Demiral is also on the radar after failing to make the breakthrough with Juventus.
LIVE BLOG
22.50 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!
21.19 GMT: Man United have been linked with Leeds youngster Kalvin Phillips of late and there is good news to update United fans on regarding Phillips’ future.
Former Leeds player Noel Whelan has told Football Insider that Phillips does in fact have a release clause if Leeds fail to win promotion this season.
“Kalvin’s contract is based on promotion,” the former Whites player told Football Insider. “He has a release clause allowing him to go for a set price – more than £20million – if we don’t go up.”
Phillips, 23, has become a mainstay at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa and was linked with a £20 million move to Aston Villa over the summer.
20.34 GMT: More potential Napoli woe…
After reportedly turning down €50 million from Chelsea for Elseid Hysaj a year and a half ago, Napoli are set to lose the Albania right-back for free this summer.
“Whatever happens with him, the outcome will be great,” Mario Giuffredi, Hysaj’s agent told Radio Punto Nuovo.
“If we leave, we’ll do what we had to do in the summer. If we don’t leave, Napoli will lose the player on a free transfer, but it’ll always work out for us.
“A year and a half ago, Napoli could’ve taken €50 million (£43m/$56m) from Chelsea.
“If Hysaj stays at Napoli, the Neapolitan club risks losing the player for nothing.”
Hysaj, 25, has played just four games in Serie A this season. The hits just keep coming for Napoli at the moment…
19.56 GMT: More Liverpool news next. Are they looking to sign a player they’ve faced in this season’s Champions League? TalkSPORT reports that the Reds have made contact with Genk regarding their 21-year-old Sander Berge following his strong performances in Europe against the competition’s defending champions.
Genk chairman Dimitri de Conde confirmed that both Liverpool and Napoli were monitoring the six-foot-four midfielder, saying to an Italian radio station that “Napoli are interested in Sander and it’s is a possibility. We also know Liverpool follow him carefully. Klopp spoke to the boy after the Anfield game, congratulating him on the performance.
Any price tag would reportedly be in the range of 18 million pounds should a side get serious with their interest.
18.44 GMT: Liverpool struck gold with one Scottish player, Andy Robertson, but is there another move to be made north of the border as well?
The Daily Record reports that the Premier League leaders have joined the hunt for 15-year-old winger Bruno Davison, who is already on trial with former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City this season. That said Davidson has plenty of teams to reportedly choose from: in addition to Leicester and Liverpool, Wolves, Sunderland, Celtic, Southampton and West Ham United are all keeping tabs on the youngster, who’s currently playing for Edinburgh-based Hutchison Vale.
17.51 GMT: Arsenal have been enjoying the benefits of Dani Ceballos since he joined on a season-long loan from Real Madrid in the summer but is there a chance that the Gunners will keep him longer? According to the Daily Mail, the Spain midfielder will “refuse” to return to Real Madrid as long as Zinedine Zidane is in charge given how infrequently the 23-year-old was used at the Bernabeu.
Ceballos’ contract at Real runs through 2023 but his desire not to return to his parent club could accelerate a permanent transfer as early as next summer. One to watch, for sure.
17.00 GMT: Manchester United are ready to bring forward a formal approach for Erling Haaland after seeing the teenager’s value skyrocket during the first half of the season, sources have told ESPN FC.
United are set to enquire about the FC Salzburg striker’s availability in January as fears grow that his price could increase even further in the coming months and see them leapfrogged in the queue by European heavyweights including Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Sources said he is already rated at more than £85m by Salzburg.
United are willing to explore the possibility of signing Haaland in January and loan him back to the Austrian side for the remainder of the campaign in an attempt to avoid a bidding war in the summer. Earlier, the Athletic reported that United will try and offload Alexis Sanchez to Inter Milan on a permanent deal next summer to free up funds to sign the 19-year-old striker.
Meanwhile, sources said that United are yet to receive an approach from Roma to turn Chris Smalling‘s season-long loan into a permanent deal.
Smalling has impressed since moving to Italy in the summer, prompting speculation that Roma want to keep the 29-year-old defender beyond the end of the season, but a formal offer has not yet been submitted.
16.02 GMT: Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic is still of interest to Manchester United, says La Republicca.
Milenkovic, 22, was linked with a move to the club while Jose Mourinho was manager but the £80m arrival of Harry Maguire had put paid to that speculation.
Now both United and Atletico Madrid are following the Serbian again, although Fiorentina value him at over €40m and have no desire to sell in January.
15.15 GMT: Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has signed a new contract with Ajax, ending speculation he could head back to Old Trafford as a director of football.
“Very happy with my contract extension at this beautiful club! I started as a goalie in 1991, three years ago I became Ajax CEO,” he wrote on Twitter. “We’ve had some difficult moments, but the good times are definitely back. And of course we want more in the future!”
14.26 GMT: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira is keen to leave London and that Napoli are lining up a move.
Torreira, 23, hasn’t cemented his place in the side under Unai Emery and could replace Brazilian star Allan at the San Paolo Stadium with the club in disarray.
13.31 GMT: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is gone, but someone quite familiar to him could be the replacement at LA Galaxy.
Edinson Cavani has been linked, while his agent and brother Walter Guglielmone has been speaking about the PSG striker’s future. In an interview with CalcioNapoli1926, Guglielmone’s response to the MLS links was: “For now, we are talking. There is nothing at the moment.”
On the topic of a possible contract extension at PSG past next summer, Guglielmone insisted Cavani, 32, is relaxed over his future.
“We are not worried about a new deal,” he said. “Edinson will undoubtedly get many opportunities, particularly once his contract is up.”
Guglielmone also stated that Cavani’s future “depends on the club project,” adding that El Matador can play for “three more years at the highest level.” However, he did say the Uruguayan “will not leave PSG this winter.”
12.50 GMT: It has been a while since clubs were circling AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but now Juventus are looking to make a move, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Donnarumma, who has 19 months left on his Milan contract, is still only 20 years old and viewed as the future of the Italy national team.
Juve are ready to make a cash offer, but are also reportedly willing to part with one of centre-back duo Merih Demiral or Daniele Rugani to make it a more appealing deal for struggling Milan.
11.23 GMT: Flamengo have been doing well in Brazil and 17-year-old Reinier in particular has attracted attention.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Arsenal, Man City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are all keen but Atletico Madrid are frontrunners in a deal that could be worth €40m.
Globo Esporte report that the attacking midfielder’s release clause is set at €70m after he signed a new five-year deal recently, so the Brazilian club have plenty of time to get the price they want.
10.20 GMT: Sporting Lisbon captain Bruno Fernandes says he has dreams to realise but is not forcing his way out of the club.
The Portugal international was strongly linked with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window. Liverpool are reportedly in the race to sign the 25-year-old, who has scored nine goals and set up six more in 17 appearances in all competitions this season.
Fernandes told reporters after Portugal’s 6-0 win over Lithuania: “I’m not worried at all [about transfer window speculation]. Since 2016, there’s been talk about my possible departure. I’m well, doing my job and doing the best I can. I have dreams to fulfil but I have no need to force my departure. I feel the love here and if I have to leave, I hope I leave good memories.”
09.34 GMT: Kylian Mbappe is the man everyone wants to sign, but how long will he stay at PSG?
08.37 GMT: Granit Xhaka could be offered a route out of Arsenal within the Premier League due to interest from Newcastle United, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Xhaka has not played for Arsenal since his angry reaction to being booed by fans after being substituted in the Gunners’ draw with Crystal Palace last month, which saw him stripped of the club captaincy.
The Switzerland midfielder said earlier this week that he feels ready to return to play for the Gunners, but his next game could be for Newcastle if Magpies manager Steve Bruce can convince him and Arsenal to sanction a January loan move.
The Telegraph report adds that AC Milan are thought to be the front-runners, should the 27-year-old make a move.
08.00 GMT: Borussia Dortmund have entered the race to sign Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud in January, according to the Daily Mirror.
Giroud, 33, is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer, but German giants Dortmund and Inter Milan are both keen on signing him in in the winter window. The France international would be available for £5m.
France international Giroud has made just six appearances for Chelsea this season, with only two of those coming as a starter. His one club goal this season came in the UEFA Super Cup, which Liverpool eventually won on penalties.
However, he has four times for his country this term, and the Mirror reports he is keen on a January move in order to get regular first-team football in the run-up to Euro 2020.
PAPER TALK
Koulibaly available for £69m
Manchester United fans can get excited as Il Mattino has reported that Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly could leave the club for A LOT less than his market value.
Koulibaly, 28, was one of United’s top transfer targets of the past year and the club reportedly had a £91m bid for the Senegal defender rejected in 2018.
However, Napoli are in turmoil and sit 13 points behind Serie A leaders Juventus already. As a result, there have been suggestions that players could be sold and Koulibaly will be one of the first out the exit door if they need to raise funds quickly.
Bayern enter race for Haaland
FC Salzburg striker Erling Braut Haaland has attracted the attention of every top club in Europe, but you can now add Bayern Munich to that list, according to Kicker.
Haaland, 19, has 19 goals in 15 games in the Austrian league so far this season and has been tracked by Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
And, with Bayern looking to replace Robert Lewandowski in the near future, Haaland clearly fits the bill and would cost around £85m if the German giants were to move for him now.
Mandzukic still a Man United option
Manchester United still need a striker — Zlatan Ibrahimovic, we can hear you — but Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic is still very much on the agenda, says Sky Sports.
Mandzukic, 33, has agreed to join United in January, according to various reports in Italy, but Sky says that he won’t be training with the club before the transfer window opens despite having stopped training in Turin since October when he fell out with manager Maurizio Sarri.
The Croatian was a target to replace Romelu Lukaku in the summer, but the two clubs were unable to reach an agreement.
Tap-ins
– When you spend a world-record £71.6m on a goalkeeper, you’d hope he wouldn’t need too much coaching. But Chelsea are reportedly looking to bring in Derby’s goalkeeping coach Shay Given to work with Spain No. 1 Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to the Daily Mail.
– When Chelsea’s transfer ban is lifted, they should be able to snap up Napoli full-back Elseid Hysaj on a free transfer, says the Sun. That’s after his agent revealed the Blues failed with a £43m bid just 18 months ago.
– Arsenal fans are already worried about some of their top players leaving, and Hector Bellerin‘s agent won’t have made that any better. Alberto Botines has told Sky Sport Italia that the right-back likes Italy and there’s already interest from a club. “At the moment, he’s focused on the team’s commitments,” he said. “He comes from a bad injury and is returning to his usual level. He likes Italy — there’s already been interest from an Italian club, but I can’t reveal it. He has a long contract and it won’t be easy to take him away from Arsenal — he’s their vice-captain. We’ll see how the season goes.”