The summer transfer window is closed for the top leagues in Europe! After a summer full of international football, countless clubs waited until the last minute to pull off their transfers. See all the major deals here and check out how we graded the biggest signings. But just because the window is shut until January, that doesn’t mean the rumours won’t keep coming.
TOP STORY: PSG would look to Lewandowski if Mbappe leaves
Paris Saint-Germain are considering a move for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski if Kylian Mbappe does not sign a new contract by the end of the season.
Mbappe, 22, is out of contract in 2022, and with interest from Real Madrid and an agreement over an extension not seemingly any closer, the Parisians are looking at potential successors.
Le10 Sport reports that the Ligue 1 side are keen to make a move for the Poland international happen and they would make him one of the highest earners at the club.
Lewandowski, 33, reportedly prefers to stay at Bayern for the time being but hasn’t ruled out a potential move away from Germany. His current deal runs until 2023, and while he wouldn’t be against signing an improved contract, it would come under the guarantee of being a key part of the team despite his advancing age.
The striker has been at Bayern since 2014, when he joined on a free transfer after leaving rivals Borussia Dortmund. Since then, he has scored 307 goals in 338 appearances for the club, even beating Gerd Muller’s record for goals in a single Bundesliga season with 41 in the last campaign.
– ESPN+ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more (U.S.)
– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
– Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access
LIVE BLOG
09.34 BST: Cristiano Ronaldo‘s demand for the highest standards at Manchester United has led to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to urge his players to move the ball quicker in attacking areas in order to get the best out of the Portugal forward, sources told ESPN’s Mark Ogden.
Ronaldo has scored five goals in five games for United since returning to the club from Juventus in the summer, after a 12-year absence. But sources told ESPN that Ronaldo has made it clear to Solskjaer and his coaches that he can further increase his goal ratio if United become sharper and quicker when distributing the ball in the opposition half.
Sources told ESPN that United’s coaching staff believe Raphael Varane‘s arrival from Real Madrid has helped improve the team’s speed of play, with the France international more capable of moving the ball forward with pace and precision than Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly.
But work is ongoing on the training pitch to get the ball to Ronaldo quicker, as Solskjaer attempts to make United more ruthless in front of goal.
08.30 BST: Barcelona continue to seek alternatives to replace Ronald Koeman, with former Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo and River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo the latest names added to the list of candidates, several sources have told ESPN.
While former Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez and Belgium coach Roberto Martinez remain on the list, several sources have told ESPN that Barca president Joan Laporta could also opt for Albert Capellas, who works in Barca’s youth academy, as an urgent solution.
Barca vice president Eduard Romeu announced earlier this week that money would not be a problem for the club to part company with Koeman, but there are several discrepancies as to how to carry out the coach’s dismissal without breaking LaLiga’s rules on salary caps.
LaLiga announced on Wednesday that Barca’s spending limit for the 2021-22 campaign is €97.9 million and that the club will only be able to spend 25% of what they save in wages or make in transfer fees on registering new players or making signings.
Nevertheless, various sources told ESPN that those limitations would not affect the hiring of a new coach as Koeman’s dismissal would not count as a saving but rather as an expense as it is a termination of employment. Thus, Barcelona could increase its salary limit by 4% to sign a new coach based on Article 74 of the economic control regulations.
2:12
Sid Lowe explains what’s keeping Ronald Koeman at Barcelona after another embarrassing defeat.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Luke Thrower)
– Brentford, Leeds United and Aston Villa are all eyeing a move for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. The 22-year-old is yet to feature in a Premier League squad for the Gunners and is seeking a move away in January for first-team minutes.
– Barcelona are hoping to sign Dani Olmo in January as a “perfect fit” for the La Liga club. Fabrizio Romano reports that the Barcelona board view the 23-year-old as a “very important target,” and while the Spain international would be keen on a move, he would be respectful to RB Leipzig, meaning the two clubs will have to strike a deal without the attacking midfielder forcing a move.
– Liverpool are keen on adding Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, according to Calciomercato. The 22-year-old has impressed in the Bundesliga, earning an international call-up for France in September as well as many potential suitors across Europe.
– On the hunt for a striker, AC Milan are interested in Torino’s Andrea Belotti and Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette, according to Calciomercato. The Rossoneri would like to sign a striker due to Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic being in the latter part of their careers. Both Lacazette’s and Belotti’s contracts for their clubs expire next summer, meaning the Serie A side could save money on capturing either.
– PSG are eyeing a potential move for Internazionale‘s Nicolo Barella, according to Calciomercato. The 24-year-old is one of many top European midfielders the Ligue 1 powerhouse are monitoring, with Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Man United’s Paul Pogba and Milan’s Franck Kessie also mentioned.
