Ronaldo-Blanc chat fans transfer flames
The winter window gets closer with each passing day and the transfer rumour mill is starting to pick up steam. As always, Transfer Talk has the latest and greatest. See all the summer deals here.
Paris firming as CR7’s next destination
Manchester United have been dealt another blow in their pursuit to bring fan favourite Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.
Rumours have been bubbling away for weeks that this could be Ronaldo’s final year at Real Madrid, and that Paris Saint-Germain are more than willing to part with huge sums of cash to land the three-time Ballon d’Or winner.
But, according to the Sun, it was the Portugal captain’s actions after Real’s Champions League clash against PSG on Tuesday that has really set the cat among the pigeons.
The 30-year-old was seen smiling and whispering something in the ear of Les Parisiens manager Laurent Blanc after the final whistle, and later WINKED at PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi in front of the media.
Later, Blanc stoked the flames further by saying: “Ronaldo told me certain things, yes.
“But as you might suspect, I won’t say what it was. It was very complimentary anyway. I won’t say any more about it.”
We might as well call this one a DONE DEAL already!
Kiessling the answer to Reds’ striker crisis
Liverpool’s move in the summer to bring in a striker with a questionable injury record — Christian Benteke — to provide cover for a striker with a questionable injury record — Daniel Sturridge — was perhaps not the most thought-out plan from the Reds’ transfer committee.
Danny Ings’ anterior cruciate ligament injury just piled on to the attacking woes at Anfield, leading new manager Jurgen Klopp to field the untried Divock Origi up front and, later, Roberto Firmino as a makeshift false No. 9.
January, however, looms as a chance for Liverpool to right those wrongs and strengthen their attack and German media outlet Express says that Stefan Kiessling is the man Klopp has his eye on.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward has been capped six times by Germany and has bagged over 130 goals during his career. What’s more, the 31-year-old missed only one game through injury last season.
Sign him up Jurgen!
Prem Lge scouts at Gent-Valencia match
Tottenham had scouts on hand at Gent’s 1-0 Champions League win against Valencia Wednesday to monitor the progress of Laurent Depoitre from the Belgian club, according to the Mail.
Depoitre, who has six goals in 14 matches in the Belgian top flight, played all 90 minutes as Gent earned their first Champions League group stage win. The 6-foot-3 Belgian could make a nice addition to Mauricio Pochettino’s club as they continue to look for a player to help ease the goals burden off Harry Kane’s shoulders.
Southampton, Manchester United and Man City also reportedly had scouts at the match, with Valencia trio Shkodran Mustafi, Jose Luis Gaya and Andre Gomes among those being monitored.
City say ‘no’ to Pirlo loan
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manuel Pellegrini has no interest in bringing former Juventus star Andrea Pirlo to Man City on loan.
Pirlo, 36, currently plays for Major League Soccer’s New York City FC. They are owned by City Football Group, who also own Manchester City and A-League club Melbourne City. All of which has led to speculation that Pirlo, who’s MLS season is over, might spend some time in Manchester during his offseason.
Pirlo’s NYCFC teammate David Villa has also been linked with a possible loan to the Premier League over the winter.
Tap-Ins
– Jurgen Klopp has ruled out a return to the Liverpool first team for Steven Gerrard, but the German boss is open to the longtime Reds captain joining the club to train at their Melwood facility.
– The agent for Leicester revelation Riyad Mahrez has played down talk of his client making a move to Manchester United. The Algeria international has scored seven goals and made five assists in 10 Premier League games to help Leicester up to third spot in the table.
– The Mirror reports that Monaco had a £10 million offer for Chelsea’s Charly Musonda turned down in the summer, but are ready to up their bid once the January window opens.
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