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As we soldier on into winter, the top European leagues are all settling down and taking shape. Some of the frontrunners are in top form while a few others are having trouble keeping up. As a result, the winter transfer window is quite crucial for any team that's looking for a shot in the arm.
If the rumours that are doing the rounds are to be believed, we might see a lot of big deals going over the line this January. And we have compiled the top rumours that are doing the rounds as on 21st November 2018.
So, let's take a look at them.
Rafinha to leave Barcelona
The 25-year-old who has been on the fringes at Barcelona due to his injury streak might well be playing his last season for the club. Rafinha has started just 4 games so far this season for the Cules.
Rafinha is frustrated with the lack of game time and his father and agent Mazinho, revealed in an interview with Radio Galicia Sport that his son needs to leave the Catalan giants for the sake of his future.
Mazinho said,
"It's crazy, he can't understand anything,"
"Only the coach knows what he has or doesn't have. The truth is that we're trying to get Rafa into a situation where he plays regularly.
"We have to look for an exit because it's really complicated for him here [at Barcelona].
"It's been basically two years hardly playing and he needs a club to give him 30 or 40 games a season."
"Here, when you have three games in a row, then you're cut [from the team]. The coach has in his head his way of working, but for the player... [Rafinha] has done well in preseason, he's had some spectacular games. He doesn't understand it.
Mazinho, however, harbours no hard feelings against Barcelona and understands how this is all a natural outcome of the competitive environment of top-flight football.
"This is football, it's normal, of course, and we have to be happy because we're at a great club. But we need to leave to play more."
AC Milan eyeing a loan deal for Andreas Christensen
As per Metro, Christensen, who finds himself in the doghouse at Chelsea, could be offered a way out of Stamford Bridge by AC Milan. Christensen was one of Chelsea's go-to centrebacks under Antonio Conte.
However, Maurizio Sarri has chosen David Luiz over Christensen this season and this has, in turn, frustrated the Dane. Christensen has only been afforded cup game appearances this season and the Chelsea youth product could be looking for an out if things remain the same.
The report adds that according to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Christensen's father and agent Sten suggested a while ago that his son could leave Chelsea as early as January. He is quoted as saying,
“If his situation doesn’t change around Christmas, we’ll obviously schedule a chat with Chelsea and say, “Okay, what can we do for Andreas? Can we move him?”
Liverpool not keen to meet Barcelona's valuation of Ousmane Dembele
Barcelona are reportedly quite confident of cashing in on Ousmane Dembele. However, the latest report from the Mirror suggests that Jurgen Klopp has been put off by the Cules' £100 million valuation of the asset they acquired from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017.
Dembele has shown his quality only sporadically and has had quite a few run-ins with the club management due to his apparent lack of discipline. As a result, Barcelona are hoping to cash in when they can still salvage close to what they paid for him in the first place.
Barcelona putting the £100 million price tag on Dembele certainly has something to do with the fact that Liverpool haven't shied away from splashing the cash in the market. However, it now looks like Liverpool would rather look at their other targets than spend a ridiculous sum of money on a player who seems to have disciplinary issues.
Chelsea and Juventus interested in Anthony Martial as contract talks stall
Anthony Martial has been on fire recently and Manchester United are once again coming to understand the kind of explosive talent that the Frenchman is. As a result, they are desperate to tie him to a new contract and they might want to get it over the line soon as Chelsea and Juventus are keeping their eye on him, according to Sky Sports.
The report also claims that contract talks appear to have reached a stumbling block and the parties are far away from putting pen on paper.
The Manchester United top brass has always stood by Martial and were committed to holding on to him despite Mourinho being reportedly ready to let him go in the summer. Martial has emerged as a saviour for Mourinho and the Special One has waxed lyrical about the 22-year-old several times as of late.
Real Madrid take lead in the race to sign Frenkie De Jong from Ajax
Real Madrid looks to have stolen a march on Barcelona and both the Manchester clubs by edging past them in the race to sign Ajax wonderkid Frenkie De Jong, according to Ok Diario via Express.
De Jong has turned quite a few heads with his performances and as a result, the bigwigs of Europe are all keeping an eye on him. Barcelona want him to be a mainstay in their midfield in the years to come just like Manchester City who have a handful of players who are walking into the twilight of their careers.
Manchester United are also interested in the 21-year-old. But the report states that Real Madrid's representatives were present at the Rotterdam stadium to watch De Jong play in Holland's game against France in the UEFA Nations League.
The report also adds that the club officials have already contacted De Jong's representatives and hence have edged past their high-profile competition to the signing of the wonderkid.
Another report from The Mirror claims that Manchester City have been told that De Jong's price stands at a whopping £75 million. So one thing is clear. Whoever wants to sign De Jong is going to have to break the bank to do it.
