The winter transfer window is closed, but now it’s time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around following the Jan. 31 deadline day.
TOP STORY: Could Lallana return to Saints?
Six years after leaving Southampton for Liverpool in a £25 million deal, Adam Lallana could be set to return to the South Coast, according to the Express.
The 31-year-old midfielder has been besieged by injuries during his time at Anfield. He has made just 13 Premier League appearances for the Reds this season, and only 25 between 2017 and 2019.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Leicester had made an approach for the England international, with Brendan Rodgers keen to be reunited with the player he recruited during his time in charge of Liverpool. Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham are all also credited with interest in acquiring Lallana on a free transfer this summer.
But surely a return to boyhood club Saints would be the most romantic of options.
LIVE BLOG
08.45 GMT: Anyone would think that the Real Madrid players have been told to go on a charm offensive of late.
Casemiro told Onda Cero: “I speak with Neymar most days and the truth is that I would rather have him with us here at Real. He and Kylian Mbappe are both great players — explosive and totally different.”
08.21 GMT: LA Galaxy’s Argentinian coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto has denied rumours that his outfit tried to lure Barcelona star Lionel Messi to the club.
Speaking to reporters, Schelotto was asked if contact had been made with Messi to bring him to the MLS, he said: “No. Nothing. There’s no truth and nothing to state. The fact that I have a certain rapport with him could open the possibility but there was no type of approach, obviously.”
On Thursday, Messi brushed off speculation the could make a move away from Camp Nou, declaring Barcelona is “my home” to El Mundo Deportivo.
08.00 GMT: AS have an interview with Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling ahead of the Champions League game against Real Madrid.
Of course a transfer came up and, asked about a move to Real Madrid, he said: “Right now with City I’m really happy, but as I say Madrid is a fantastic club. When you see the white shirt you know exactly what it stands for, it’s massive. At the same time I’ve got a massive contract with City now that I’ve got to respect. But it’s a fantastic club…. It’s something you see all the while. But as I said I’m a City player, I’m enjoying my football at the moment even though things haven’t gone how we wanted in the league.
“We’ve got a massive opportunity now in the Champions League, but I keep saying Real Madrid is a fantastic club, with lovely weather. But as I keep saying, at the moment I’m quite happy at City … No-one knows what the future holds. I’m a person that’s always open to challenges, but right now my challenge is at City.”
PAPER TALK (by Shaun Reynolds)
Chelsea raise price on Inter target Alonso
There is no love lost between Chelsea and former manager Antonio Conte. That’s been apparent since the Italian took his former employers to court over the remainder of his salary following his dismissal in summer of 2018.
But the latest such example of the sour relationship between the now Inter coach and the West London club is the Nerazzurri‘s pursuit of Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso, Calciomercato reports. The San Siro side were keen to add the 29-year-old in January, but couldn’t get a deal done. And now, the Blues have raised the asking price on Alonso to €30m.
That’s a fee that Inter are unwilling to pay, which leaves this transfer tale dead in the water, right? Not exactly.
Alonso isn’t central to the plans of Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, having made just eight appearances in the league this season. Should the former Fiorentina man ask for a move away, the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge may just lower their asking price.
Madrid target another teenage sensation
It’s become something of a habit. In 2017, Real Madrid struck an agreement to sign then-17-year-old Vinicius Jr. A year later, they signed Rodrygo, also 17 at the time. One day after turning 18, just last month, Reinier was signed from Flamengo.
Los Blancos have a predilection for teenage talents, and Marca writes that the La Liga leaders have another 17-year-old in their sights: Rennes’ Eduardo Camavinga. The holding midfielder has impressed in Ligue 1 this season, drawing the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
But Madrid will look to beat them to the punch for the France U21 international. With Camavinga having just two years remaining on his contract come the summer, it may be the ideal time for Rennes to cash in.
Tap-ins
– Calciomercato reports that Inter recently rejected a bid from Manchester City totaling €70m for centre-back Milan Skriniar, and another from Barcelona, and won’t do business for the 25-year-old Slovakia international for anything less than €90m.
– Twenty-three-year-old Argentina international centre-back Alan Franco has refused to train with club Independiente in order to push through a move to MLS giants LA Galaxy, according to Fox Sports Argentina.