On a day when the entire media frenzy has shifted towards the spectacular Champions League knockout round draw, we are here to bring you the best transfer news and rumours making the headlines.
The biggest news of the day comes from the Emirates where Arsenal are preparing to make a move for a Manchester United star while Barcelona seem ready to splash more than €175million to sign four players, including a former Galactico.
Serie A
Fabregas nears a move to AS Roma
Cesc Fabregas' move to AS Roma is beginning to gather pace after reports from Il Tempo claim that the Blues are hopeful of seeing one of their targets Antonio Rudiger or Radja Nainggolan move in the opposite direction. Reports claim that Chelsea are not interested in making a deal for Fabregas with any other club but the Giallorossi. West Ham and AC Milan are also interested in signing Fabregas in January.
Mandzukic backed to stay at Juventus
Juventus legend and one of the current vice-presidents, Pavel Nedved, has jumped to the defence of under-fire striker Mario Mandzukic. The Croatian striker was reportedly unhappy with being substituted in the 3-1 win over Torino and did not celebrate with rest of the team. However, Nedved claims that the player and club both have moved on from the incident.
Nedved said: “We’ve reached the point where we can improve, so far, we’ve been competitive in Italy at large and achieved impressive results.”
Barcelona considering a move for Carlos Bacca
Barcelona are eying a move for the unsettled AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca, according to reports from Spanish journal Diario Gol. The reports claim that Bacca is unhappy at Milan after being criticised of attending a Sevilla game when he was out injured. Bacca is also linked with a move back to Sevilla but Barcelona are the favourites to sign the Colombian and are ready to offer their summer signing Paco Alcacer to make the transfer possible.
Bundesliga
Lewandowski offered a new bumper deal
Bayern Munich are adamant in keeping their best players at Allianz Arena next season after offering a new deal to their in-form striker Robert Lewandowski. According to reports from Bild, Lewandowski will put pen to a new 4-year deal before the end of the current season bringing an end to the constant rumours of him joining Manchester United or Real Madrid next summer.
Manchester City keeping a close eye on Dortmund hero
Manchester City scouts have continued to monitor Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s situation at Borussia Dortmund after the striker’s constant claims of quitting Bundesliga in the near future. According to Marca, Real Madrid have already agreed a first-to-buy deal with Dortmund if they decide to sell the Gabon international striker, however, City are hopeful that they can use Madrid’s transfer ban as leverage against them and sign Aubameynag next summer for a reported fee of £60-65million.
Premier League
Arsenal want Man United’s Jesse Lingard
In arguably the most shocking transfer news of the day, Arsenal are planning to raid Manchester United in January in order to sign Jesse Lingard, according to reports from The Express. The report claims that the Gunners see Lingard’s situation somewhat similar to Danny Welbeck where the England international has fallen down the pecking order and is likely to sit most games on the bench. Arsenal could make a £10million January bid to test United’s resolve.
Jose Fonte available for £5million in January
Southampton have turned down Jose Fonte’s demands of a new contract and increased salary to stay at St. Mary’s and have put the defender on the transfer list in January. According to reports from ESPN, Fonte will be available for as little £5million. Fonte was very close to joining Manchester United in the summer but no deal could be struck. With Fonte’s asking price dropping down, we may see United make a fresh move for the Portuguese in January.
Spurs and Chelsea battling for Inter Milan star
Tottenham and Chelsea will go head to head to sign Inter Milan’s midfield star Marcelo Brozovic, according to reports from Sports Witness. The report says that Brozovic could be ‘sacrificed on the altar of financial fair play’ and sold for something like €25m to €30m.
Van Dijk linked with Manchester City
According to Daily Star, Manchester City are ready to offer stiff competition to Liverpool and Manchester United for the signing of Southampton’s defender Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutchman has been one of Premier League’s outstanding defenders this season with all the big teams battling for his signature.
Van Dijk is likely to cost City a fortune considering how poor their £50million signing John Stones has been this season. Pep Guardiola wants a powerful defender to plug the holes in his defence and sees Van Dijk as the ideal signing.
La Liga
Barcelona’s €175million transfer gamble
Barcelona are ready to spend big in the transfer market next summer as they eye the signings of Angel Di Maria, Hector Bellerin, Joshua Kimmich and Anthony Martial, according to reports from The Express (via Globesporte). It would cost the Catalan club in the region of €175million but Luis Enrique believes that spending big is perhaps the only way to continue their domination in Spanish football.
France Football accidentally leaks Ballon d’Or winner
In a rather bizarre story, the reputed journal France Football leaked their magazine’s next front page which had Cristiano Ronaldo holding the Ballon d’Or trophy in jubilation. The popular belief is that Ronaldo will pip Lionel Messi to win his 4th Ballon d’Or trophy (2nd in a row) in the gala award ceremony to be held later tonight.
Follow the Live Ballon d’Or ceremony HERE
James Rodriguez to go out on loan in January
PSG are not backing out from their pursuit of James Rodriguez anytime soon after Marca reported a story earlier today where they claimed that Real Madrid are ready to part ways with the player as he is becoming a burden on Zinedine Zidane’s squad. The report also confirms that PSG owners are desperate to splash the cash to bring a marquee name to Paris and believe James will be the ideal signing.
Rest of Europe
PSG to trigger release clause of Arsenal target
PSG are set to match Ricardo Rodriguez’s €25 million release clause to sign the Swiss left-back from Wolfsburg in January, RMC Sport reports. The 24-year-old defender is a long time target of Arsenal but the hesitant approach from the Gunners has given PSG the advantage in signing the flamboyant left back.
Reading targeting Crystal Palace midfielder
Championship side Reading are interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Jordon Mutch next month, and further bolster their squad as they look to get promoted this season. Jaap Stam’s side currently sit in third place in the Championship table, six points behind leaders Newcastle.
