With just a week to go before the transfer window opens on January 1st, the transfer window heats up at a frenetic pace. The giants from the Bundesliga, Serie A, Premier League, Serie A and the Rest of Europe will be hoping that they can cement their positions in their respective title races with some reinforcements in the winter transfer window.
The football may have wrapped up in some leagues that have a winter break, but agents, players, directors of football and managers will all be fielding a lot of calls as the transfer market heats up.
Here are the biggest transfer news and rumours of the day:
Serie A
- Inter Milan are keen on a move for Luis Gustavo, according to a report in Il Corriere dello Sport. The Wolfsburg midfielder is disappointed with his club’s fortunes this season and is hoping to make a big money move to Inter Milan, with new manager Stefano Pioli hoping for reinforcements in midfield.
- Maradona is in talks for a shock return to Napoli, although in the role of a ‘team manager.’ The Argentine legend’s agent said, “Talks have been opened, but he needs the pitch, to feel the dressing room and be close to the players. He’d be perfect for the role of team manager. Maradona loves Napoli unconditionally and especially the fans. A man like him deserves a platform like that of a great Neapolitan theatre.”
- Juventus are seriously considering a bid for unsettled Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez. The Bianconeri are looking for a creative midfielder to build their team around and are hoping that James is tempted by Juventus’ big money offer, with the Colombian also fielding offers from Chelsea and PSG. Juve CEO Beppe Marrotta refused to rule out a move for James in a press conference, adding fuel to the fire.
- With Inter Milan in the market for a central midfielder, manager Stefano Pioli is keen to add AS Monaco lynchpin Joao Moutinho. The Portuguese central midfield maestro has been a long term target, although prising him away from the principality will be a tall ask, especially since Monaco are in the title race in Ligue 1. However, Moutinho has not been central to coach Leonardo Jardim’s plans, and could be tempted with a loan move.
Bundesliga
- Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Omer Toprak for a €25 million fee, according to German newspaper BILD. The Schwarzgelben had reportedly already agreed a €12 million fee for the Turkish defender in the summer, but have decided to bring in defensive reinforcements in January.
- Niklas Sule’s move from Hoffenheim to Bayern Munich is all but done, according to a report in Bild. The German defender’s move was in peril as Hoffenheim had asked for a fee in excess of €25 million, but Bayern have apparently brought it down to €20 million, after the player let his club know he was not interested in a move to Chelsea.
- Borussia Monchengladbach’s new manager, Dieter Heking, has authorised the club’s move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Wimmer, according to a report in Kicker. The Austrian has fallen behind the pecking order at Spurs, with Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier ahead of him.
Premier League
- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Morgan Schneiderlin has asked to leave, with West Brom the club who have made a bid. The Portuguese tactician said, “He opened his heart a couple of times, and my answer is simple - if he’s playing regularly with me, I have the right to say ‘no way’. If he’s not playing regularly then I have no right to say to a player ‘no’. So my answer was that if an offer is right and our board thinks that offer is a good offer in relation to the quality of a player like Morgan, then I would not stop him from going.”
- Liverpool outcast Mahamadou Sakho has been offered an escape route by West Ham and West Bromwich Albion. The French defender still has his admirers, but they have been put off by Liverpool’s high asking price. The Reds are willing to consider a loan move in January, although still want the purchasing club to bankroll his salary and pay Liverpool £500,000 for a 6-month loan.
- Chelsea midfielder Oscar has finalised his £60m move to Shanghai SIPG of the Chinese Super League earlier today. The Brazilian will earn a massive £400,000-a-week salary, with the move expected to be ratified at the beginning of January. Shanghai SIPG confirmed the news, saying “Oscar will arrive in Shanghai in the coming days to officially join SIPG.” The Blues are hoping to spend the windfall on AS Monaco duo Tiemoue Bakayoko and Djibril Sidibe.
La Liga
- With the transfer ban reduced to only this January, Real Madrid have had the shackles taken off them. Zinedine Zidane wants to bring the Galacticos era back to the Santiago Bernabeu, with an audacious £200 million outlay on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marco Verratti and Hector Bellerin being mooted, according to reports in Spain.
- Florentino Perez has been a long-time admirer of Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and is hoping to use James Rodriguez as a makeweight in a deal to bring the Argentine to Real Madrid. Los Blancos are hoping to sign a pre-contract with Juventus, that will see James move in January, while Dybala makes the opposite move in the summer. The move is likely to infuriate rivals Barcelona, who are long time admirers of the Argentine sensation.
- Barcelona stars Ivan Rakitic and Aleix Vidal are on the way out of the club, according to a report in Spanish news outlet Sport. The Croatian midfielder has only completed 90 minutes once all season long under Luis Enrique, and is reportedly fielding offers from Manchester United and Juventus. Meanwhile, Aleix Vidal is hoping to seal a loan move to Swansea City, after a mooted move to Sevilla was vetoed.
Rest of Europe
- PSG have all but sealed a €45 million move for Wolfsburg winger Julian Draxler. The German youngster was also considering a move to Arsenal but has decided to opt for the Ligue 1 giants. Former Real Madrid winger Jese will probably be loaned to La Liga side Las Palmas to make room for Draxler’s talents in the squad.
- With PSG still suffering from injuries in central midfield, manager Unai Emery is keen on bringing in Napoli midfielder Jorginho. The Italian midfielder has found playing time hard under Maurizio Sarri this season, who has preferred new singing Amadou Diawara in midfield.
- Ligue 1 leaders Nice are keen on bringing in Omar El Kaddouri, according to France Football. The Napoli midfielder has found chances hard to come by and is hoping to revitalise his career much like Mario Balotelli. Nice are in the market for an attacking midfielder, after being priced out of a move by FC Porto for Yacine Brahimi.
