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Guardiola to Man City, Chelsea or Man United?The winter window gets closer with each passing day and the transfer rumour mill is starting to pick up steam. There has been a buzz around many players and clubs, some needing reinforcements, others seeking moves away from their respective clubs for more than a single reason. Nonetheless, the January window is poised to give us some interesting news.Here are the top transfer news and rumours of the day from leagues around Europe.
#1 Serie A
- AC Milan have agreed a deal to re-sign Kevin-Prince Boateng from Schalke 04. The Ghana international was released by the Bundesliga club in May and Milan’s CEO Adriano Galliani confirmed that the deal is in place and Boateng will join the club as soon as the winter transfer window opens.
“On January 4 we will register Boateng's contract with the Lega Serie A and he will be available for selection,” Galliani said.
- Lazio and Sampdoria are set to make a move for Croatian starlet Ivan Mocinic, Daily Record reports.
The youngster has been scouted by Celtic as well who are supposedly lining up a £2.5m move for him in the January transfer window. However, the Serie A clubs have upped the ante in their chase for the NK Rijeka midfielder and will move for him come January.
- Juventus are planning to make a bid for Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega, Sportsmole reports.
Banega is currently in contract talks with the reigning Europa League champions, but no agreement has been reached as of yet. The Turin giants are believed to make a move for the 27-year old in the January transfer window.
#2 La Liga
- Sevilla want to re-sign defender Fazio from Tottenham Hotspurs as per club’s president Joe Castro.
The Argentine has just made one appearance this season for the North London-based club and might be open for a move back to Spain in search of first team action.
“It is clear that Fazio did not leave Sevilla in the best of ways and that really upset me, but I have to think about Sevilla's interests.”
“I have to swallow my anger, because this club needs Fazio. I do not like swallowing my pride, but I am willing to do something I do not like because it is in Sevilla's best interest.”
- Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has said that he will find difficulty in leaving the Rojiblancos in the future amidst rumours of him joining Chelsea after the season gets over.
“Why can’t I be here longer?”
“Why did I choose a five-year contract? Because I see a club that is ‘virgin’ and Miguel Angel [Gil Marin, the chief executive] and Enrique [Cerezo, the president] have the ability to open up new sources to strengthen in. It’s not easy to leave Atletico.”
- Real Madrid are interested in Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Fichajes reports.
Real’s manager Rafa Benitez wants to work with the 28-year-old and might urge his club’s board to make a move for the ex-Barcelona man in January. The Spaniard has been in dismal form this season and will want to turn the tide, with Mourinho now sacked and the new manager Guus Hiddink already in place.
#3 English Premier League
- Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are set to go head-to-head for the signing of Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez, The Telegraph reports.
Mahrez, along with his partner in crime, Jamie Vardy has powered the Foxes to the top of the Premier League and interest from financially bigger clubs in the league comes as no surprise. Supposedly, both clubs have already offered €41 million (£29.9m) for the midfielder.
- Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is hoping to lure Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola to the club, Daily Mail reports.
The ex-Barcelona manager is out of contract with the Bavarian giants next summer and has already announced his plans to move on from Germany. Manchester City are believed to be the front-runners for his signature and Manchester United are reportedly interested as well. But with Chelsea coming into the fray with their own financial powers, things could get interesting in the summer transfer window.
- Arsenal were interested in Celta Vigo forward Nolito, according to various reports in the past few weeks. However, Guillem Balague, the Spanish football pundit has claimed that the Gunners are not interested in the forward and will not move for him in the January transfer window.
#4 Rest of Europe
- Soon to be Bayern Munich manager and ex-Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti has asked the Bayern board to block the supposed move of Robert Lewandowski to Real Madrid, Spanish publication AS reports.
The 27-year-old was believed to be high on the transfer list of the Los Blancos, but things might now get a bit difficult for the Madrid-based club to sign their desired striker.
- Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said that he is aware of Pep Guardiola’s next destination but chose not to reveal the Spaniard's destination and left it to him and his future employers.
“I think I know where he is going,” Rummenigge said. “But I want to leave the announcement to him or his new employer.
“At the Christmas party two weeks ago he came to me, he told me that he was looking for a new challenge and almost apologised. It was clearly difficult for him, I'm not disappointed in him.”
Guardiola has been linked with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United in the past few weeks.
