The summer transfer window was unlike any other, see all the major deals and check out how we graded the biggest signings. And just because the window is shut until January, that doesn’t mean the rumours won’t keep coming. Here’s the latest gossip and speculation.
TOP STORY: Man Utd to beat Barca for Werner
Manchester United are the favourites to sign Chelsea forward Timo Werner ahead of Barcelona, as reported by El Nacional.
The Germany international hasn’t had been able to find his goal-scoring form since joining Chelsea in 2020, and has one Premier League goal to his name this term.
Despite this, the Blaugrana have been linked with the 25-year-old after attempting to sign him while he was still at RB Leipzig.
The plan was to move for him in January — with Chelsea willing to negotiate — on an initial loan with the option to make the deal permanent for around €40 million.
However, Ralf Rangnick’s arrival at Old Trafford has seen the Red Devils enter the conversation, as he hopes to reunite with Werner having worked with him at Leipzig.
This doesn’t change things in the mind of Roman Abramovich, as the Chelsea owner would rather see Werner join Barcelona than strengthen a Premier League competitor.
Werner would prefer to team up with Rangnick again and move to Manchester, even if there is more competition, potentially making it tougher for him to get the minutes he wants.
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11.50 GMT: Out-of-favour Isco is yet to receive any offers to leave Real Madrid in the January transfer window, according to Diario AS.
The 29-year-old playmaker was expected to get more opportunities under Carlo Ancelotti after falling out with predecessor Zinedine Zidane — but this season he’s found himself behind Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde and new signing Eduardo Camavinga in the pecking order at the Bernabeu.
With his contract due to expire next June, AS reports that Madrid might be willing to consider helping him move on in January by continuing to pay some of his wages.
11.03 GMT: Newcastle United now know the transfer fee needed to sign Romain Faivre — confirmed by the player himself!
Faivre, 23, is a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Brest and is linked with a January move to Tyneside.
He told Onze Mondial: “The price of my transfer? Between 15 and 20 million euros.”
That’s small change to Newcastle these days…
The player was expected to sign for AC Milan in the summer but the deal fell through.
10.22 GMT: The London Evening Standard reports that Arsenal have two striker transfer targets next summer, with Everton‘s Dominic Calvert-Lewin first choice.
Calvert-Lewin, 24, has been out injured for the last two months, during which time Everton have toiled. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to add more strength to his forward line and sees Calvert-Lewis as the perfect signing.
If the Gunners cannot sign Calvert-Lewin, the report says that Lille‘s Jonathan David is also being considered. The Canada international is the top scorer in Ligue 1 this season.
09.30 GMT: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Nat Phillips could move on in January, with first team opportunities how limited at Anfield.
“We cannot keep him forever, that’s clear,” Klopp said. “We needed him, just to be safe, for that half-year [due to injuries]. We will see what happens in the window. He was fine doing it because he’s a great guy.
“His development is absolutely insane. You saw it last year, you would have said ‘Nat Phillips, oh my god, he plays in the last line?’
“People love him because of his heading but with his feet he is unbelievable. He’s a late starter, but his development is unbelievable. I would sign him for any club except Liverpool, because we have him.”
PAPER GOSSIP
– Argentine club Velez Sarsfield have stated that they have reached an agreement for midfielder Thiago Almada to join Major League Soccer side Atlanta United FC for what could be a MLS-record $16m transfer. However, Atlanta said it is “not committed to acquiring the player at this time.”
– Vinicius Junior‘s contract renewal was meant to be straight forward, as the Brazilian’s current contract keeps him at Real Madrid until 2024. However, El Nacional reports that Los Blancos’ pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain‘s Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund‘s Erling Haaland could complicate things. The 21-year-old Vincius could end up on the bench if those stars join, so he wants a big deal or will listen to offers from elsewhere.
– Sky Sports Deutschland are reporting that Borussia Dortmund are ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign FC Salzburg attacker Karim Adeyemi. The Blaugrana have contacted the Germany international personally and submitted a written offer to him, but Dortmund’s offer is better.
– AC Milan are looking to take action in January following defender Simon Kjaer‘s season-ending knee surgery, with journalist Ekrem Konur suggesting that they want to bring in Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger, Bayern Munich‘s Niklas Sule or Internazionale‘s Marcelo Brozovic — all of whom have contracts that run out in the summer. Diario Sport have added Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti to the list, with the Frenchman struggling for game time.
– National League side Wrexham are making an ambitious attempt to sign former Premier League midfielder Jack Wilshere, according to Football Insider. The club that is owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney currently sit seventh and will attempt to sign the free agent in an effort to improve that position.
