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: Juventus eye Pogba loan move
Paul Pogba transfer drama is back on the agenda after his agent, Mino Raiola, told Tuttosport “it’s over” for him at Manchester United.
But where will Pogba end up? Well, the Daily Mirror reckons he could rejoin Juventus in January — on loan with an obligation to buy in the summer.
United valued Pogba at £150 million when he was being tracked by Real Madrid, but they have no chance of getting that fee in the current financial climate. Added to that, Pogba is out of contract in 18 months time so this window is probably their last opportunity to get a proper return on the £89.3m they paid Juve to re-sign him in 2016.
Pogba has already walked out on United once at the end of his contract, when he first headed to Turin, and Ed Woodward doesn’t want history to repeat itself.
But Calciomercato has a different angle, and reports that United have already rejected a swap deal involving Douglas Costa and Miralem Pjanic heading to Old Trafford.
Pogba says he is “1,000%” committed to United but has refused to deny comments made by his agent that he wants to leave.
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17.20 GMT: RB Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff has confirmed they are interested in signing Dominik Szoboszlai from their sister club, FC Salzburg. The Hungary international has been tracked by a number of clubs, with Arsenal one of his suitors. But the Gunners might find it difficult to win the race for the midfielder against a fellow club from the Red Bull stable.
“He is someone we find very interesting,” Mintzlaff told Sky Sport Germany. “I can say that we are concerned with him. You can gaze into a crystal ball and know more than I do. We are not the only ones [who are interested].”
16.12 GMT: Wolverhampton Wanderers could look to bring Salomon Rondon back to the Premier League as a replacement for Raul Jimenez, who fractured his skull against Arsenal. The former Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion striker has just finished the Chinese Super League season with Dalian Professional, and could be available in January, according to The Sun.
14.59 GMT: The Sun is reporting that Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori could be set to join Nice on loan in January. The 22-year-old has made just one Premier League appearance this season. He turned down at loan move to West Ham before the start of the season. Newcastle United are also said to be interested.
14.06 GMT: Marco Verratti has rejected speculation that he could leave Paris Saint-Germain.
The 28-year-old was linked with a move to Real Madrid last month although his agent, Mino Raiola, said he would not be leaving the Parc des Princes.
“I want to win the Champions League here,” Verratti told Telefoot. “I am in love with this club. Not many players stay in the same team for nine years. My dream is to win here in Paris. Yes, win the Champions League, and continue to winning championships which is not so easy. In 10 years, supporters will remember these historic moments.”
13.15 GMT: Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira has confirmed he wants to leave the club in January, and it sounds like he could be headed for Everton.
The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and it’s reported Juve would be prepared to terminate his deal early so he could sign for another club. He has not played for the Serie A club this season. Khedira mentioned how he had been in contact with Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti.
“I’m open to a new challenge,” he told Bild. “I had a bad time and I want to play football again, fighting for three points week after week. This is what I look forward to.
“I still have a lot of strength and energy, so I don’t look at the summer of 2021, but [I can leave] in December or January. A change is realistic; that’s my main objective.
“With Carlo Ancelotti we often talk on the phone and write to each other. He knows my situation. It could end up being a completely different club. Even outside England. It would be very fun to join a team with many young players, who I could help as a mentor in the field and share work experiences.”
12.33 GMT: More transfer talk about Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Bild reporting that the club are considering a move for 17-year-old Mainz midfielder Marlon Roos-Trujillo.
The midfielder is out of contract in the summer but there’s a problem. Premier League clubs will be barred from signing players aged under 18 when they become bound by FIFA rules upon leaving the EU. And Roos-Trujillo’s birthday is Aug. 16. Will Wolves be scuppered by Brexit?
11.52 GMT: Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente has plenty of suitors yet he has no intention of leaving the club any time soon, according to his agent.
Llorente, who joined Atletico in the summer of 2019 from Real Madrid in a reported €40m transfer, is tied to the Rojiblancos until June 2024. The 25-year-old made headlines earlier this year when he came off the bench to score twice in extra time to sink Liverpool at Anfield and allow Atletico to progress to the Champions League quarterfinals.
“You always receive calls about players that are playing at a high level,” said Julio Llorente, Marcos’ agent and uncle. “Since Anfield, I have received a lot of calls, but they don’t ask too much because they know he has a long-term contract and Atletico are not going to let him go easily.”
11.04 GMT: Louis van Gaal reckons Donny van de Beek made a mistake by joining Manchester United from Ajax in the summer.
Van de Beek cost the Red Devils £35m but he has struggled to make an impact, starting only two Premier League games.
Van Gaal, who managed United between 2014 and 2016, told Ziggo Sport the player will live to regret the move.
“I hope his time will come, but I don’t think he made a good choice. I said that right away,” Van Gaal said. “If you have Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, what position should Van de Beek be in?
“He doesn’t have the qualities of Pogba and Fernandes. And now you see that Pogba often doesn’t start. Where should Van de Beek play then?
“I think you could have seen that beforehand. There are so many teams, which could have done better justice to him, also in the top. He is a boy with many qualities.”
Former Manchester United boss
10.19 GMT: The Daily Star says that Wolverhampton Wanderers made a failed attempt to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City in the summer, but are ready to make a renewed bid in January.
Zinchenko has made only six appearances for City this season, and is stuck on the fringes of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The report says that Wolves offered £19m for the defender earlier this year, but that was knocked back. Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santos will test the waters again next month.
09.30 GMT: Kylian Mbappe has been linked with a move to Real Madrid for some time now, though the coronavirus financial crisis seems to suggest he will stay at Paris Saint-Germain for a while yet. But even when he does leave, the player says his parents will play a leading role.
“We make every decision together, as a family. I think it’s the strongest possible thing,” Mbappe told COPA90. “This has pushed me higher and allowed me to be where I am today.
“Without them, it would be impossible, because sometimes you have bad moments. When you have bad moments in your career, you can see which people are there for you, and my parents are there for me every time. Without them, I don’t think I would have everything I do at the moment. They show me the right way to be and I’m really lucky to have these parents.”
PSG are trying to tie Mbappe down to a contract extension.
PAPER ROUND
Everton make push for Alli
Everton are ready to offer Tottenham Hotspur outcast Dele Alli a route out of the club, the Daily Mirror reports.
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Alli has been on the outside looking in at the starting XI in recent weeks, and while some believe he has a chance at working his way back into the team, he continues to be linked with a move away from north London.
Paris Saint-Germain have been the leading club in the mix to secure his signature, but Carlo Ancelotti is a known admirer and has emerged as the man now leading the chase to keep him in the Premier League.
Chelsea aim for five departures
Chelsea are aiming to find buyers for five players during the January transfer window, the Daily Express reports.
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Chelsea transfer chief Marina Granovskaia is hoping to drum up interest in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Danny Drinkwater and Baba Rahman, but is struggling to do so ahead of what is bound to be a competitive window next month.
The Blues are hoping to go in search of a deal for David Alaba, and the five aforementioned names could be used as makeweights in a move for the Austrian. Regardless, they are not part of the Blues’ plans going forward.
AC Milan may try to sign FC Dallas teenager Bryan Reynolds, Major League Soccer writer Tom Bogert reports.
The 19-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from MLS in the past with Juventus being one of the interested parties, but it is only now that it seems a serious bid could be imminent.
Now, Milan, who are top of Serie A, have made a serious push despite him starting less than two dozen games in his professional career so far.
Tap-ins
– Everton are planning on big signings moving forward, Marca reports. Farhad Moshiri, the majority shareholder in the club, is set to inject fresh cash at Goodison Park in the name of improving the squad on Merseyside. With low prices being set on a number of key players in the upcoming summer transfer window, Moshiri wants to take advantage.
– Sampdoria are interested in making a push to sign Fernando Llorente, Sky Sport Italia reports. The Napoli striker has been linked with a move away for a few months now with the belief being that the contact has already been made and talks will be made over the course of the next few weeks with Llorente going in search of regular first-team football.
– FC Dallas have made a move for Pumas star Juan Ignacio Dinenno, Record reports. Pumas are more than open to the idea of selling him, but only if they can find the right replacement, and on Dallas’ side, the club looks to be going in search of some transfers that will revolutionise their push for an MLS title.
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