Welcome to our daily transfer news roundup from across Europe. With the January transfer window less than 10 days away the rumour mills are hotting up and clubs are closing in on their targets.
The big news of the day is that Serie A giants Juventus have enter the race to sign Real Madrid star James Rodriguez, while Barcelona are also eyeing a cut-price deal for a Belgian midfielder.
Here are all the transfer news and rumours from 22nd December 2016:
Serie A
Juventus enter race for James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez has been linked with a host of clubs worldwide ever since he accepted that he has received offers from different clubs. However, the latest team to join the race to sign the Colombian are Serie A giants Juventus.
Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta has refused to rule out a move for the Colombian sensation. Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: "It depends on what we do in the transfer market.
"We have to respect the balance sheet, but Juve want to position themselves among the best clubs in the world and this is and always will be our ambitious objective. Four or five years ago, we certainly could not have allowed ourselves to spend the figures we spent on players such as [Gonzalo] Higuain or [Miralem] Pjanic, but now we can.
"Our potential has grown a great deal thanks to the excellent job done by president Andrea Agnelli which means we can afford major investments in the sporting area. And we certainly want to continue travelling down this road.”
Juventus CEO rules out move for Julian Draxler
Giuseppe Marotta – CEO of Bayern Munich – has ruled out the club from making a move for Wolfsburg forward Julian Draxler – who is destined to leave the Wolfswagen Arena in January. The 59-year-old insisted that no player joins Juventus if they have refused them once.
He said: "It's impossible that [Draxler] will join Juventus because it bothered us a lot when he turned us down.
"If you refuse us once, well, Juventus just look elsewhere."
Torino looking to make Joe Hart deal permanent amidst Liverpool interest
Serie A outfit Torino are interested in making the loan move of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart permanent in the summer but could face stern competition from Premier League outfit Liverpool, according to Daily Mirror.
According to the report, Liverpool are monitoring the situation of the 29-year-old and a return to the Premier League will definitely suite the Englishman more than a stint in Serie A. The Reds had signed Loris Karius in the summer, in a bid to end their goalkeeping woes but the German has failed to establish himself as the first-choice at Anfield, forcing Jurgen Klopp to look for alternatives.
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich hopeful of extending Arjen Robben’s contract
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – CEO of Bayern Munich – has insisted that star forward Arjen Robben is close to extending his contract with the Allianz Arena outfit. Robben’s current deal with Bayern culminates at the end of the current season.
Rummenigge said: "We are very optimistic. Both sides want it. These are good pre-conditions."
Transfer fee the biggest stumbling block in Niklas Sule’s Bayern Munich move
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness admitted that transfer fee could prove to be the biggest stumbling block in the transfer of Hoffenheim to Die Roten. It has been reported earlier that the Allianz Arena side are closing in on a €25million deal that will see the 21-year-old change clubs in the summer.
However, according to reports the interest of PSG and Chelsea has driven the centre-back’s price up.
Speaking in an interview with Kicker, Hoeness said: "There are still big problems. The transfer fee could seriously endanger the deal."
Premier League
Victor Lindelof’s agent confirms bid
Victor Lindelof’s agent Hasan Cetinkaya has admitted that there is a bid on the table from an unnamed club for the services of his client. The Benfica defender has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United but Cetinkaya has refused to reveal if the interested club indeed are the Red Devils.
Speaking in an interview with Aftonbladet, Cetinkaya said: "I will not comment on specific clubs. I can only comment that there is a bid on Benfica's table, they can consider it. And I'll be meeting with Benfica also.
"He knows that there is a concrete bid and is happy about it - this is proof that he has done very well."
Manchester City to battle Liverpool for Moussa Dembele’s services
According to The Sun, Manchester City are the latest club to enter the race to sign Celtic star Moussa Dembele. The 20-year-old has been on fire this season ever since his move from Fulham to Scotland and has netted 17 goals thus far. Liverpool scouts have monitored the youngster on numerous occasions according to the report but it remains to be seen if they are the only club who will bid for the Frenchman.
Mario Balotelli eyeing Premier League return
According to Mario Balotelli’s manager Mino Raiola, the Italian has held talks with a Premier League club over a potential return to England. The mercurial striker moved from Liverpool to Nice in the summer on a free after failing on his return to England.
Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT, Raiola said: "We've already had talks with English clubs, but it's really too early to say. We want to keep it day-by-day with Mario.
"For Mario I always knew it [his return to form] will come. He was in his last year at Liverpool and he was very stable and not so emotional any more."
Hugo Lloris signs new Tottenham Hotspur deal
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has put pen to paper on a new deal with the North London outfit which will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2022. The Frenchman was attracting interests from European giants like Real Madrid but has opted to stay at Spurs.
La Liga
Barcelona enter race for Axel Witsel
Barcelona are the latest club to enter the race to sign Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel. The Belgian has already rejected the chance to move to the Premier League, refusing offers from Chelsea and Everton and has been heavily linked with Serie A giants Juventus.
According to Calciomercato, while Juventus are still negotiating a deal to sign Witsel from the Russian outfit in January, Barcelona are also tempted to offer him a huge contract to sign for them at the end of the current season. Barcelona have struggled due to their midfield this season and Witsel could prove to be an incredible addition if they can sign him in January.
Manchester City slap huge price-tag on Samir Nasri
According to the Telegraph, Manchester City have slapped a huge price-tag of £21m for the services of French midfielder Samir Nasri, who is currently on loan at Sevilla. The Frenchman joined Sevilla on a season-long loan in the summer and the La Liga outfit are interested in making his deal a permanent one.
The Etihad outfit are looking to recoupe the majority of the £24m the paid to Arsenal for his services in 2011.
Rest of the World
PSV looking to sign Chelsea’s Marco van Ginkel
Sporting Director of PSV – Marcel Brands – has admitted that the Eredivisie side are interested in signing out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel. The Dutchman has struggled to break into the first-team this season and has been relegated to play for the U23s instead.
Speaking in an interview with Omroep Brabant, Brands said: "We need to check with Chelsea. Of course he's on our list, but we must also see if there is a spot for him at this time in our team.”
Julian Draxler edges closer to PSG move
Wantaway Wolfsburg midfielder Julian Draxler has admitted that he is in talks with some clubs but a final decision is yet to be made. According to reports, Ligue 1 giants PSG are closing in on the signing of the 23-year-old.
The midfielder also described the first-half of the ongoing season as the worst of his career. Draxler had expressed his desire to leave Volkswagen Arena in the summer and reiterated it recently following which he was dropped from the first team.
“I am in talks with some clubs, but there is no final decision as of yet," the German international was quoted as saying by Bild.
"We will definitely make a decision that is in everybody's best interest - and this time we will make it together. I think this has been the worst first half of the season of my career so far," he added.
