The January transfer window opens in a matter of days and speculation is heating up about potential deals. Check out the latest gossip below and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Wijnaldum still considering Liverpool offer
Liverpool‘s Georginio Wijnaldum is “desperate” to remain at Anfield but is still holding off on agreeing a new contract with the club amid interest from Barcelona, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Wijnaldum’s contract with the Premier League champions expires at the end of the season, and he is able to open talks with potential new clubs from Friday over a free transfer in the summer.
The 30-year-old became a target for Barca during the extended summer window after Ronald Koeman, his former coach at international level with Netherlands, took over at Camp Nou.
Following reports that Liverpool have made their offer of a new deal to Wijnaldum, the Echo cites sources close to the player indicating that he and his family are settled on on Merseyside and don’t want to move.
However, given Wijnaldum’s standing as one of Klopp’s senior members of the squad, the midfielder may be waiting for the club to come back with a package that he feels better reflects that status.
– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
– ESPN+ viewer’s guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more
LIVE BLOG
11.33 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur expect former manager Mauricio Pochettino to make moves for several of their players when he officially takes over at Paris Saint-Germain, Eurosport reports.
Sources have told ESPN’s Julien Laurens that Pochettino is set to replace Thomas Tuchel, whose departure was officially announced by the club on Tuesday, five days after the German coach was relieved of his duties.
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli was linked with a move to Paris in the summer after falling out of favour with boss Jose Mourinho, while Christian Eriksen — who has struggled at Inter Milan since joining them from Spurs at the start of the year — is another who is of interest to PSG.
However, Eurosport reports that Spurs are braced for approaches to come for other players at some stage, namely goalkeeper and club captain Hugo Lloris, right-back and former PSG player Serge Aurier and England midfielder Harry Winks.
– Laurens: Why PSG decided to sack Tuchel and chose Pochettino
10.40 GMT: RB Leipzig are hopeful that club captain Marcel Sabitzer will sign a new contract but aware of interest from other clubs including Tottenham Hotspur.
Sabitzer scored two goals against Spurs in the second leg of last season’s Champions League round-of-16 tie, and the Austria international was a key part of the German club’s run to the semifinals.
Speaking about the club’s talks over a new deal with the midfielder, RB Leipzig sporting director Markus Krosche told Bild: “We wanted to end the year first, both sides will deal more intensively with the topic in the spring.
When asked directly about tottenham’s possible interest, Krosche would only say: “As I said, he has developed well. It goes without saying that other clubs also notice this.”
09.52 GMT: Sergio Reguilon has laughed off suggestions that he could convince friend and former Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos to join him at Tottenham Hotspur.
Ramos’ contract at the Bernabeu expires in June 2021 and he’ll be free to negotiate with other clubs from Jan. 1.
“I think in the end it will be sorted out,” Reguilon, who joined Spurs from Madrid in September, told Diario AS. “For both Madrid and Sergio. Looking at it from the outside, I can’t see Madrid without Ramos.”
When asked if he’d message Ramos about a move to north London, Reguilon added: “He wouldn’t pay much attention to me!”
09.00 GMT: Diego Costa left Atletico Madrid when his contract was terminated by mutual consent on Wednesday, and The Times reports he could be returning to the Premier League.
Costa, 32, re-joined Atletico from Chelsea in January 2018 for €66m after spending three-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge. However, if he now joins a La Liga rival (Barcelona, Real Madrid and Sevilla) or a Champions League club, he will be liable to pay Atletico €15m due to the terms of his exit.
That means he could accept an offer to join Wolves, who desperately need reinforcements to their forward line after Raul Jimenez suffered a fractured skull.
1:06
ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe on Atletico Madrid’s stipulations towards Diego Costa after being released from the club.
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle)
Fosu-Mensah to leave Man United?
Manchester United defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah could leave the club during the January transfer window, according to Football Insider.
The Red Devils have offered the 22-year-old a three-and-a-half-year deal but he has yet to accept, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it seems as if he’s weighing up his options.
The two clubs chasing his signature are Marseille and Hertha Berlin.
Tap-ins
– Gianluca Di Marzio writes that Genoa are closing in on a deal to sign Lazio centre-back Denis Vavro. The report suggests that Vavro, who isn’t part of Lazio’s plans at present, will join the club on loan with an option to buy set at €15 million. He could make the trip over as soon as Wednesday in order to complete his medical prior to the deal becoming official.
– Aston Villa are preparing to send Frederic Guilbert out on loan in January, according to Football Insider. Villa have no plans to part with Guilbert permanently, but the 26-year-old right-back slipped down the pecking order at Villa Park and a temporary move away could give him a chance for regular first-team minutes.
