LIVE: Messi, Pogba are City's dream duo
The winter window opened on Jan. 2, and, as always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to all the latest rumours and gossip. See all the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: Messi, Pogba at heart of Pep’s Man City dream team
Manchester City may not be making many impressive January moves, but they’re certainly planning for the future. With Pep Guardiola keen on a Premier League job this summer, The Sun suggests City will tempt the Catalan coach with the challenge of making them “the biggest on the planet.” How will they do that? With money, and lots of it.
City will reportedly look to build around Lionel Messi, who won it all with Guardiola at Barcelona. As well as the Blaugrana talisman, City will be after Messi’s Camp Nou teammate Gerard Pique, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and Bayern Munich all-rounder David Alaba. To sweeten the deal, Guardiola has also been “promised” a future coaching role at City’s MLS sister club New York City FC — an attractive proposition considering Pep spent his sabbatical year in Manhattan.
The Star says Chelsea are not giving up on Guardiola, but the Manchester Evening News says United have admitted defeat.
LIVE BLOG:
09.54 GMT: Norwich agreed deal to sign right-back Ivo Pinto from Dinamo Zagreb on a three-year deal, according to ESPN FC sources.
09.30 GMT: We’ve got ourselves a completed transfer in Germany with Sinan Kurt joining Hertha Berlin from Bayern Munich.
Schaut mal, wen @mitch23elijah da mitgebracht hat… #hahohe pic.twitter.com/vFAm6nMVx7
– Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) January 7, 2016
09.07 GMT: Central Coast Mariners playmaker Anthony Caceres looks set to become Manchester City’s surprise first signing of the January transfer window after his club confirmed an approach from the Premier League side.
08.36 GMT: Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has said he wants to remain in the Premier League even if his contract is not extended at Anfield, while joking he could join Real Madrid.
With his contract due to expire in the summer, Toure said in the Daily Mirror: “If I can play like that [at Stoke] then maybe I will go to Real Madrid!”
08.14 GMT: Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez said his Bundesliga form this season is the result of regular opportunities to play, something he was lacking in recent seasons at Manchester United and Real Madrid.
07.50 GMT: Marouane Fellaini won’t be joining AC Milan anytime soon, according to the Serie A club’s CEO Adriano Galliani.
Recent reports have suggested that the Italian giants were looking to bring in the Belgium international in on a temporary loan as they chase Champions League qualification for next season.
07.02 GMT: Good news for Manchester United fans to start the day. Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has said that the Serie A side are willing to listen to offers for long-time Red Devils target Felipe Anderson.
PAPER ROUND
Bale and Ronaldo both leaving Real?
Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale are just two of the big names that could swap clubs this summer, though Cristiano Ronaldo also looks set to be thrown into the transfer mixer as well. The Mail reports that Belgian attacker Hazard “has told close friends” that he wants to leave Chelsea, but will not be sold this month. According to the paper, Paris Saint-Germain are favourites for the Stamford Bridge winger’s signature, but Bayern Munich and Real Madrid — now coached by Hazard admirer Zinedine Zidane — are also involved.
As for Bale, The Sun reports that no fewer than four “European superpowers” want to take the 26-year-old Wales winger away from the Bernabeu with Chelsea, Man United, PSG and Bayern having made enquiries — but the fee would be around £120m.
And though Madrid selling Ronaldo still seems unthinkable given his goal record, the Telegraph suggests the Portuguese forward is expected to leave the Spanish capital this summer and move to either PSG or a Premier League club.
Thursday’s Daily Mail back page: Hazard’s Off #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #cfc pic.twitter.com/L6ldP2Z0ta
– Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 6, 2016
Mane merry-go-round continues
Manchester United may want Sadio Mane this month, but a source close to the club has told ESPN FC that Southampton have no plans to sell the attacker in the January transfer window, despite Mane, 23, being left out of the starting line-up for last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Norwich for missing a team meeting. As a possible result of that rebuttal, United have asked Borussia Dortmund to cancel their season-long loan deal for Adnan Januzaj, according to ESPN FC sources.
The Belgium international has made just five appearances for Dortmund, and United have been disappointed with Januzaj’s lack of involvement at the Westfalenstadion. As for Marouane Fellaini? The Mirror reports that while Van Gaal initially turned down an advance for the Belgian from AC Milan, the Dutch coach is “prepared to rip up his Plan B” and entertain offers.
And while Van Gaal remains in his job, the Mail reports that Ed Woodward “sounded out Carlo Ancelotti over the possibility of a summer move to Old Trafford” before the Italian opted for Bayern.
Spurs starlet set for new deal
Dele Alli’s sensational form for Tottenham this season is both a blessing and a curse for Spurs: with each impressive performance, the line of suitors will grow and grow, as will the midfielder’s expectations. The Mirror reports that despite the 19-year-old only fully joining Mauricio Pochettino’s side from MK Dons last summer, Spurs are prepared to offer the starlet a “lucrative” new contract which would see his current £10,000-a-week deal “at least double.”
The Star reports that his current salary stands at £12,500 a week and would rise to £25,000, but at this point we’re splitting hairs — it’s clear Spurs are going to look to tie Alli down to a new long-term deal. Given that they reportedly beat Bayern to the midfielder’s signature the first time round, Europe’s elite clubs may come calling again.
Drogba leads MLS transfer talk
There’s hope yet for Montreal Impact fans — star striker Didier Drogba says he has yet to decide his future, despite a report in French paper L’Equipe claiming he will leave the MLS franchise to return to Chelsea as a member of Guus Hiddink’s coaching staff.
Lovely to receive these messages but I have not yet announced my retirement & am still in discussion with @impactmontreal about my future.
– Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) January 6, 2016
Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes have signed Jamaican international midfielder Simon Dawkins as a designated player, the club announced on Wednesday. Elsewhere, the LA Galaxy announced a deal with free agent Jeff Larentowicz, with the midfield veteran joining after 11 seasons in MLS.
And the New England Revolution have been boosted by the news that midfielder Diego Fagundez — the first Homegrown Player in the club’s history — has signed a new multi-year deal with the club.
Yup. Think we’ll keep him around for a while. ýý https://t.co/dpe78J9Wvs
– NE Revolution (@NERevolution) January 6, 2016
Klopp shoring up defence
With Liverpool facing the prospect of having no fit centre-backs for Friday’s FA Cup tie against Exeter, the Mirror reports that Jurgen Klopp is talking to former club Dortmund to loan them defender Neven Subotic. The paper suggests talks over Subotic are currently stuck, so Liverpool are also discussing a loan move for Italy international Andrea Ranocchia from Inter Milan.
And while Liverpool are being linked with goalkeepers every day despite Klopp’s insistence that he’s happy with Simon Mignolet, Koln goalkeeper Timo Horn is fairly certain he won’t be heading to Anfield this month. He said on the club’s website: “Jurgen Klopp has already said it all. There are no concrete offers and it’s not something I’m worrying myself with.”
The Reds may instead target one for the future, with the Guardian reporting that Klopp is after 16-year-old Polish keeper Kamil Grabara — the youngster has had trials with Man United and City, but has “agreed a move to Anfield for an initial £250,000.”
TAP-INS:
– One January rumour that may surprise Central Coast Mariners fans is Fox Sports reporting that Man City are on the verge of a “shock move” for Anthony Caceres, with the 23-year-old playmaker set to leave the A-League for the Premier League title chasers.
– The Newcastle Jets have tied “talented youngsters” Nicholas Cowburn and Lachlan Jackson to new deals with the club.
– And so it begins … Marko Arnautovic has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks, and the Guardian reports that the Austrian forward has rejected Stoke’s opening offer of a new contract.
– Southampton look likely to cut Steven Caulker’s season-long loan spell at St Mary’s short this month, and the Mail reports that Crystal Palace want the QPR defender.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
