Transfer news LIVE! Vlahovic, Haaland, Mbappe latest; Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Tottenham rumours today
Transfer news LIVE!
What promises to be an intriguing January transfer window is fast approaching and clubs are making moves behind the scenes before the market officially opens on January 1.
Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham are ready to do business next month and some high-profile players could be on the move. Antonio Conte has spoken about the need to improve his squad and Dusan Vlahovic, Lorenzo Insigne, Nikola Milenkovic and Marcelo Brozovic have been linked with moves to Spurs from Serie A.
With Manchester United in a fight to qualify for the Champions League, it will be interesting to see whether new manager Ralf Rangnick is backed with funds.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could leave Arsenal after being stripped of the captaincy. Edinson Cavani is a target for Barcelona, while Anthony Martial is pushing to leave Manchester United.
Chelsea are still pursuing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, with a January move not off the table. West Ham are in the market for a new centre-back and a striker, while all eyes will be on Newcastle following their Saudi-led takeover.
Keep up to date with all of today’s latest transfer news, rumours and gossip!
Key Points
Vlahovic rejects new Fiorentina contract
Juve want Aubameyang
20:39 , Malik Ouzia
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang didn’t look like being one of the central characters this January up until a couple of weeks ago, when news emerged of the disciplinary breach that subsequently saw him stripped of the Arsenal captaincy.
The forward is not currently being considered for selection and won’t play for the Gunners until after the AFCON at the earliest.
But will he still be at the club by then? Italian outlet Tuttosport are reporting that Juventus are interested in signing him next month, initially on loan before making the deal permanent in the summer.
De Ligt ready for move
19:36 , Malik Ouzia
Juventus defender Mathijs de Ligt is keen to leave the club this summer, according to his agent Mino Raiola.
De Ligt joined the Italian club from Ajax in 2019 but Raiola says he is ready for a new challenge, with the Italian side having declined badly in recent seasons.
“He is ready for a new step,” Raiola said in an interview with NRC. “He thinks that, too.”
“In the summer we have to see if there are clubs on the market. That can be the Premier League, but also Barcelona, ââReal Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.”
More City paydays
19:11 , Malik Ouzia
It’s not only Bernardo Silva who looks like he could be in line for a new Man City contract.
The Star are reporting that his countryman Joao Cancelo, who has been in similarly outstanding form this season, is set to get a £250,000-per-week deal in reward. Merry Christmas indeed.
Anyone want a Coutinho?
18:48 , Malik Ouzia
It feels like Newcastle are going to be involved in just about every other transfer story over the course of the next six weeks so strap in.
The Mirror says that Barcelona have offered Philippe Coutinho to several Premier League clubs, Newcastle and Tottenham among them, as they look to shift the Brazilian’s astronomical wages off their bill.
They’ve been trying to do that for some time, though...
Bernardo set for new City deal
18:24 , Malik Ouzia
Remember when Bernardo Silva was on his way out of Manchester City?
Only last summer, the Portuguese was reportedly keen to leave having grown frustrated at a reduced role last season, but he has been an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s plans since then and, along with Mo Salah, has probably been the standout player in the country this season.
The Sun claim that he is set to be rewarded for his form with a bumper new contract. How quickly things change in football.
Trippier headed to Toon?
18:05 , Malik Ouzia
Well, Newcastle’s hopes of signing Jesse Lingard appear to have taken a hit there, but better news could be coming from Spain.
The Mail are reporting that Atletico Madrid are willing to sell Kieran Trippier next month, and for as little as £15m, so long as they can find a replacement.
Lingard to stay at United
17:45 , Malik Ouzia
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard is planning to stay at the club next month, according to The Telegraph.
Lingard moved to West Ham on loan last January and revitalised his career with a superb run of form that almost saw him force his way back into the England squad for Euro 2020.
He returned to United this season but has again found regular football hard to come by and he has been linked with a move to newly-monied Newcastle.
However, the report claims Lingard has decided to see out the final six months of his contract at Old Trafford before moving on a free in the summer.
17:20 , Malik Ouzia
And, of course, Erling Haaland is not Real Madrid’s only major target.
Next month, Kylian Mbappe will enter the final six months of his contract at PSG and thus become eligible to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with another foreign club.
The France star has shown no signs of wanting to sign a new deal at the French side and has been regularly linked with Real Madrid for several years.
Where next in the Haaland saga?
16:55 , Malik Ouzia
The question of where Erling Haaland will go next has been prominent pretty much from the moment he signed for Borussia Dortmund, but it does feel like things are coming to a head.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke confirmed to German outlet Bild that Real Madrid are interested in signing the Norwegian, though they are hardly likely to be alone.
Whether Haaland moves next month is another matter - the expectation is that he will see out the season in the Bundesliga before making his big transfer in the summer.
Wanted: Dusan Vlahovic
16:46 , Malik Ouzia
Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic is one of the most talked about players in world football at the moment as is said to be a target for several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City.
The forward’s contract is due to expire in the summer of 2023 and he has so far refused to sign a new one, as confirmed by the club’s director, Joe Barone, yesterday.
“Dusan and his agent have turned down our new contract proposal,” Barone said. “We offered the best salary in Fiorentina history”.
It means that January - or possibly at the end of the season - will likely see the Serie A side forced to cash-in.
Good afternoon!
16:41 , Malik Ouzia
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the January transfer window!
The window opens in less than a fortnight’s time and the rumour mill is beginning to churn ahead of what could be a very interesting month...
