Maxxcash The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Table of Contents
TOP STORY: Real want Haaland
Real Madrid have made Erling Haaland their No. 1 priority to replace Karim Benzema in 2024, according to Sky Sports Germany.
The 22-year-old forward has been in exceptional form for Manchester City this season, but the report indicates that the LaLiga champions will wait before making their move for him, aiming to utilise a €200 million release clause that will become active in 2024. City manager Pep Guardiola, however, denies that such a clause in Haaland’s contract exists.
Benzema has enjoyed a bright start to the 2022-23 campaign and, after signing new terms at the Santiago Bernabeu last season, talks are ongoing for the France international to extend his stay in Spain’s top flight for another year.
Until then, it looks as though Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be keeping a close eye on the Norway international unless any other clear targets emerge, with interest in a move for Kylian Mbappe seemingly to have cooled since he signed an extension with Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.)
LIVE BLOG
12.00 BST: Christian Pulisic seems a bit happier at Chelsea now he’s scoring.
1:13
Steve Nicol feels Christian Pulisic and the Chelsea squad have a skip in their step under new manager Graham Potter.
10.37 BST: PSG aren’t afraid to spend big on star talent and could be set to do the same for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao.
Media Foot claims that PSG are ready to offer the Portugal international’s release clause of €150m to land him.
Leao, 23, has four goals and seven assists so far this season, while he has been tracked by Chelsea.
10.08 BST: Real Betis would be open to placing midfielder Guido Rodriguez on the transfer list, amid reports from La Razon that Liverpool want to sign the Argentine in January.
Liverpool are keen to strengthen their midfield after a host of injuries in the centre this season. Rodriguez, 28, is under contract with Betis until June 2024, has made 10 appearances in all competitions for Betis and has attracted the attention of several clubs.
Betis are reportedly prepared to negotiate with Liverpool but the offer has to be in the range of €25m as Rodriguez’s former club CF America would get a percentage of any transfer fee.
09.35 BST: Former Roma great Daniele De Rossi is in line to replace Roberto Venturato at the helm of Serie B club SPAL following his sacking, according to Sky Italia.
SPAL dismissed Venturato after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Frosinone and De Rossi has agreed a contract with the Ferrara-based club until June 2024.
It will be De Rossi’s first coaching experience. The former Italy international retired from football in January 2020 after a stint at Boca Juniors.
De Rossi, 39, will inherit a team that are 14th in Italy’s second tier with two wins and three losses from eight games.
08.57 BST: On-loan Liverpool midfielder Arthur Melo is currently out of action for three months, after suffering an injury in training, and CBS claims the club won’t sign him permanently at the end of the season.
The Brazilian has appeared for just 13 minutes for Liverpool since joining on a season-long loan from Juventus on transfer deadline day. He has yet to make an appearance in the Premier League, with his sole outing coming as a substitute in a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Napoli to last month.
Liverpool are paying a loan fee of €4.5 and have the option to make the transfer permanent for a fee of €37.5m, but CBS insists he’ll be sent back to Turin at the end of the loan.
08.24 BST: Thiago Silva hinted he could manage AC Milan one day, but said his more immediate concern is seeking clarity over his Chelsea future.
The 38-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and it is unclear whether Silva will be offered the chance to extend his stay after moving to Stamford Bridge on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.
Silva previously spent three years at Milan between 2009 and 2012, where he won one Serie A title and an Italian Super Cup.
Speaking on Monday ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash against the Rossoneri, the centre-back was asked about a possible return to San Siro and said: “I can tell you that I already made my history here at AC Milan, so I believe this is not the case at the moment.
“If it could happen at any case, it would have been before me joining Chelsea. But I don’t know about the future. Who knows what will happen in the future, we’ll have to see. But I am very happy now to be at Chelsea, a very big club, great professionals. In the future, we will see. Maybe the coach? Who knows?”
08.00 BST: Antoine Griezmann has rejoined Atletico Madrid on a permanent basis after Barcelona agreed to reduce the transfer fee from €40m to €20m, Atletico have confirmed.
Barca president Joan Laporta revealed on Sunday that Atletico could also have to pay an additional €4m in “easily attainable add-ons,” with Griezmann agreeing a contract until 2026 at the Metropolitano.
Barca and Atletico had been in dispute over a clause in the contract that saw Griezmann return to Atletico on loan at the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
Griezmann, 31, joined Atletico on a two-year loan deal with an obligatory purchase option of €40m in the event he played over 45 minutes in 50% of the games for which he was available. But Atletico started to use Griezmann sparingly this season, bringing him on after the 60th minute in a string of games in an attempt to reduce the percentage of games he met the threshold for.
The France international had signed for Barca from Atletico in 2019 when the Catalan club paid his €120m release clause, one year after he turned down a move to Camp Nou at the end of a documentary he had recorded called The Decision.
1:23
Rob Dawson talks about Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United striker scores his 700th career club goal.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
– Manchester United are set to make a decision over whether they move for Frenkie de Jong or Jude Bellingham, reveals the Independent. The Red Devils are still in contact with Barcelona over a deal for the 25-year-old midfielder, who decided to stay at Camp Nou this summer, but the report indicates that they could end their pursuit in favour of joining the race for Bellingham. The England international, 19, has been a key player for Borussia Dortmund this season and he is also on the radar of Liverpool.
– Liverpool’s Naby Keita has emerged as a potential target for Barcelona, according to Sport. The Blaugrana are reported to be monitoring the 27-year-old midfielder ahead of a potential pre-contract agreement, with Keita set to enter the final six months of his deal in January. Xavi Hernandez’s side are believed to be assessing a number of players they can acquire on a free transfer next summer, with Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan among them.
– Ivan Toney is set to be offered a new contract by Brentford, reveals the Mirror. It is reported that the Bees will offer the 26-year-old striker a deal that sees him earn over £100,000 per week, while also including a significant release clause. Toney has been one of Thomas Frank’s standout players since gaining promotion to the Premier League, and he has contributed nine goals in 10 games across all competitions this season.
– Inter Milan have identified Ramy Bensebaini as a potential replacement for Robin Gosens, writes Tuttosport. The 27-year-old wing-back has been in impressive form for Borussia Monchengladbach this season, scoring four goals in eight Bundesliga starts. The Serie A club are hopeful of landing him on a free transfer, with his deal set to expire next summer.
– Arsenal will have to treble Gabriel Martinelli‘s wages if they are to reach an agreement over a new contract with him, reports the Daily Mail. The Gunners have been looking to secure the 21-year-old winger at the Emirates Stadium after his star performances this season, but the report indicates that they aren’t close to reaching an agreement in the region of £200,000 a week.
