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Reportedly Benitez’s time is still not up at Real MadridFootball clubs around the world are keeping a close tab on their respective transfer targets as we fast-approach the opening of January transfer window. The clubs are steadily getting aware of the players who could add more quality to the existing squad. With the gradual progression of the 2015/16 campaign, the rumours are also coming thick and fast. Some ridiculously unbelievable, others crafted with some sense and perhaps truth behind them, al always, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.Here are the transfer news and rumours for November 23.
#1 La Liga
Sky Sports reports that Real Madrid director Florentino Perez has decided to back Rafa Benitez whose position as the manager of the team was in jeopardy after Real’s thrashing in the El Clasico. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told the Sky Sports HQ that Perez will not take the harsh and immature decision of sacking the manager after just 12 matches into the season.
"In the cold light of day Florentino Perez has analysed the situation and realised that if lets Benitez go with less than one-third of the season gone he will he doing something he has never done before," Balague said.
"The board is disappointed with the team's performance but know that this is not the right time to get rid of him," he added.
Rafinha has extended his contract with FC Barcelona, which can keep him at the club till 2020 as stated on Barcelona’s official website. His buyout clause has been set at 75 million euros.
Barcelona is believed to be interested in Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, Gazzetta Dello Sport reports. The Bosnian midfielder has already scored eight goals for the Giallorossi this term. The two teams are set to face each other in the Champions League this week and reportedly the Blaugrana will wait until next summer to table a concrete offer for him.
#2 English Premier League
The defending champions Chelsea are presumably in for Southampton winger Sadio Mane, The Mirror reports. Mane was previously monitored by Manchester United as well and the race to sign the Senegal international can get interesting in the coming months.
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United want to offer Ashley Cole a life-line so as to solve their left-back problem for as long as Luke Shaw is out with injury as per reports in English daily The Sun. United is believed to offer a 6-month deal for the former Arsenal man.
According to The Mirror, Louis Van Gaal has told the Manchester United board that he wants to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Theater of Dreams.
“Ronaldo plays on the wings and he is fast and scores goals, there is no trainer in the world that doesn’t like him. Of course we are looking - but are looking at all players, not just Ronaldo. But these players are mostly ungettable. With Ronaldo, let’s wait and hope,” LVG was reported saying.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain is set to get over this summer is interested in joining Arsenal, The Mirror reports. Ibra has never played in the Premier League and might want to play a season or two in England before his retirement.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs are ready to go head to head for the signing of Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato, Daily Star reports. Though Mauricio Pochettino's prime target is West Brom’s Saido Berahino but if they fail to land the Englishman, Pochettino will go for the Brazilian who is also being scouted by West Ham.
Chelsea is believed to be interested in signing Borussia Dortmund’s star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, The Sun reports. The struggling form of Diego Costa and Falcao has made Mourinho think about a new striker and undoubtedly the Gabon international is right now the hottest striker in European circuit.
#3 Rest of Europe
Borussia Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has said that the club will do its best to hold on to the top players, Sky Sports reports.
A number of Dortmund players in Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, Marko Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have shown a brilliant run of form this season and top clubs all around Europe are interested in them. However, Watzke told Kicker, “We will fight tooth and nail for every single star player of our club, and we are definitely able to compete financially. Some players of our club were out to leave us, however in the end all of them stayed at our club!”
Inter Milan are supposed to be interested in the Nice winger Hatem Ben Arfa, Tuttosport reports. The winger has scored seven goals in fifteen appearances this term and the Nerazzurri will hope to lure him in the summer transfer window.
The 23-year-old Swiss international Granit Xhaka has stated that he does not wish to leave Borussia Monchengladbach anytime soon, Sky Sports reports. The midfielder was reportedly scouted by Liverpool and Juventus, however, he dismissed the speculations, saying, “I am under contract until 2019 here and I am really enjoying life at the club, this is all that matters to me, for the rest I have got my advisor and my father!”
