The January transfer window is fast approaching and, naturally, all the gossip on who’s moving where is heating up. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz as we count down to the 2022 winter window.
TOP STORY: PSG-Madrid tie could affect Mbappe decision
Paris Saint-Germain managed to keep Kylian Mbappe ahead of this season, but his long-term future has remained uncertain and a new report claims the conclusion of the French club’s Champions League knockout stage clash with Real Madrid could be the point at which he makes his choice.
If the timeline, as reported by AS, holds, Mbappe will decide his future no earlier than March 9 — the date of the tie’s second leg — with the Bernabeu club considered favourites to sign him. From Saturday — Jan. 1 — clubs can begin pre-contract negotiations to sign the 23-year-old as a free agent in July.
Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 initially on loan but then permanently in a deal worth approximately €180m. He previously stated his wish to move on from the Ligue 1 leaders; the more time that passes without a renewal at Parc des Princes, the greater likelihood he is playing elsewhere next season.
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13.34 GMT: Real Madrid players believe Antonio Rudiger‘s free transfer move from Chelsea is pretty much a done deal, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Rudiger, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season and he has already turned down an offer of a new on £140,000-a-week. There is no sign that the two parties are close to an agreement over a new contract.
The report says that Real Madrid are ready to double that offer, meaning a move to the Bernabeu is all but assured.
12.43 GMT: According to The Sun, AS Roma boss Jose Mourinho is hoping to return to former club Manchester United to sign Charlie Wellens.
Wellens, 19, has found it tough to break into the first-team picture at Old Trafford despite being involving in training sessions during Mourinho’s tenure.
The midfielder, who has also been linked with Inter Milan, has a contract which expires in the summer.
11.55 GMT: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says the club will be active in the transfer market in January — if they can find the right players to improve the squad.
“If you can tweak what you need to in that period, which is not easy, it would be really helpful,” Arteta said. “We are working on that to see the necessities we can have and whether we can find the right solutions.”
11.07 GMT: Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is trying to manage fans’ expectations ahead of the transfer window reopening on Saturday.
Howe, who replaced Steve Bruce earlier this year, has seen his side linked with a whole host of players after the Saudi-led takeover was completed.
Defensive reinforcements are Howe’s main priority, with the boss saying it will be tough to get the right players in.
“We can’t be signing everyone,” Howe said. “If we signed everyone we have been linked with we’d have a squad of 1,000 players.
“There has to be some realism. Players have to concentrate on their own future, get their own performances right.”
Kieran Trippier, Philippe Coutinho, Jesse Lingard and Aaron Ramsey are among the players to be linked with Newcastle.
10.21 GMT: The Daily Star reports that Manchester United have put Florian Wirtz at the top of their wanted list for the summer.
Wirtz, 18, has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in European football with Bayer Leverkusen, and he already has senior caps for Germany.
The left-sided attacker is being tracked by most of Europe’s top clubs — including Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Leverkusen will want a transfer fee of more than £70m for the player.
09.30 GMT: A reminder that AS Roma are in talks to sign Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles on loan next month, sources have told ESPN’s James Olley It is understood the Italian club’s sporting director Tiago Pinto has made contact with Arsenal to explore the possibility of signing the midfielder, who is open to the move.
Sources have told ESPN Roma are keen to discuss a loan move with an option to make the deal permanent. Discussions have centred around a four-year contract but as yet no potential fee for a permanent deal has been negotiated.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Dusan Vlahovic could cost himself a move due to excessive salary demands, reports the Daily Star. The 21-year-old striker is reported to be requesting weekly wages of £200,000 — after tax — in any deal, which would mean clubs in the Premier League would need to offer a salary in the region of £350,000-per-week.
It was reported earlier that Manchester City would not make an immediate move to replace Ferran Torres in January, but Vlahovic, who appears certain to leave Fiorentina after rejecting a new contract, has also been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
– Giovanni Simeone‘s form is continuing to attract interest from around Europe, with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla preparing to step up negotiations for the Hellas Verona striker, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. The 26-year-old Simeone has been a standout performer in the Serie A this season, scoring 12 goals in 14 games. And with the star’s father Diego manager of Atletico Madrid, it appears likely that Los Colchoneros have the advantage in any race for his signature.
– AC Milan are battling it out with Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona to sign Hakim Ziyech, with the club keen to use a strong relationship with Chelsea to seal the deal. Calciomercato reports the Premier League club are prepared to accept a loan deal for the 28-year-old, with an obligation to make the move permanent. If Ziyech does move from Stamford Bridge to San Siro, the attacking midfielder would follow in the recent footsteps of Tiemoue Bakayoko, Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori.
– Arnaut Danjuma has drawn attention from Liverpool, but will not leave Villarreal in January, reports journalist Fabrizio Romano. The 24-year-old winger has been a standout player for the LaLiga club this season, contributing to 12 goals in 18 appearances, and could be an option to bolster squad depth at Anfield.
– With Diego Godin set to leave Cagliari, three top Turkish clubs are rumoured to be keen on the 35-year-old centre-back. Pedro Almeida reports that Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have all made offers for the legendary Uruguayan.