Transfer Talk: Ronaldo exit could give Man Utd up to £100m for January signings
The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Ten Hag will reportedly receive £70m for January transfers, but this could increase to £100m if Ronaldo leaves.
Ronaldo, 37, still wants to leave Old Trafford and had been linked with numerous sides during the summer. With the Portugal international earning £450,000 a week, his exit would afford the Red Devils an extra £30m to invest in the side.
Ten Hag could reignite his interest in Frenkie de Jong after a deal collapsed with Barcelona this summer. The 25-year-old Netherlands midfielder’s future remains uncertain at Camp Nou, as he has started only two games under Xavi Hernandez in LaLiga this season.
Ten Hag is looking for at least three more players to build a squad able to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League.
20.49 BST: A group led by Bill Foley, majority owner of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, is in exclusive talks to buy AFC Bournemouth, reports the Athletic. Current owner Maxim Demin is said to have been trying to offload the Premier League side for the past four years, and he is asking for around $172m.
20.16 BST: Paris Saint-Germain advisor Luis Campos has told RMC Sport that he is “unsatisfied” with the club’s summer transfer window. The former AS Monaco and Lille sporting director expressed regret that the Ligue 1 champions could not signa central defender, with financial fair play restrictions holding back their pursuit of Milan Skriniar from Inter Milan.
19.43 BST: Fabrizio Romano reports that Liverpool have no plans to send midfielder Arthur back to Juventus in January. This comes off the back of reports earlier in the week that suggested the Anfield outfit were open to returning the 26-year-old Brazil international in the winter transfer window, having decided they could find a more suitable and long-term replacement in the market.
19.10 BST: Former VfB Stuttgart captain Gonzalo Castro has announced his retirement on Friday. The 35-year-old midfielder had been without a club since leaving Arminia Bielefeld in July following their relegation from the German top flight.
18.37 BST: Everton manager Frank Lampard has confirmed new contract talks are underway with attacker Anthony Gordon, reports the Athletic. The 21-year-old England youth international looked set to leave Goodison Park this summer, amid strong interest from Chelsea, but the Toffees are attempting to negotiate a new deal with Gordon as his existing contract expires in 2025.
18.04 BST: United States men’s national team right-back Sergino Dest hopes that he can make his loan move to AC Milan permanent, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 21-year-old joined the Italian champions on loan from Barcelona on transfer deadline day, and he said on Friday that he hopes the Rossoneri activate his €20m permanent transfer clause at the end of the season.
“There’s a buy option in the contract between AC Milan and Barcelona, so I will do my best here as I hope Milan will sign me on a permanent deal”, Dest is quoted as saying. The former Ajax starlet has made two appearances off the bench so far for Milan, both in the Champions League.
17.31 BST: Paris Saint-Germain have completed an audacious signing in adding longtime Lyon goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi on a one-year contract, the French capital club announced on Friday. The 35-year-old France international spent 12 years with Les Fenottes, a period in which she won 11 league titles and eight Champions Leagues.
16.58 BST: It appears that Olympiakos were unable to convince Costa Rica No. 1 Keylor Navas to join them as they completed a dizzying spending spree to close the summer transfer window in Greece on Thursday. James Rodriguez, Marcelo, Sime Vrsaljko, Hwang Ui-Jo, Konrad de la Fuente and Aboubakar Kamara all moved to Piraeus, but Foot Mercato reports that the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was not keen on leaving Ligue 1 for the Super League Greece.
16.25 BST: Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster announced his retirement from football on Thursday, and the Athletic adds that the ex-Watford No. 1 turned down an opportunity to join Atlanta United FC this summer. While the 39-year-old declined that offer, the report states that he’s left the door open to playing in MLS should the right offer arrive.
15.52 BST: LAFC have shown an interest in signing Max Kruse, according to Bild.
The 34-year-old is on the books of Wolfsburg this season, but coach Nico Kovac has said he no longer considers him to be part of his plans.
The midfielder has previously spoken of his interest in playing in Major League Soccer, while LAFC coach Steven Cherundolo is an admirer.
The MLS transfer window is now closed, so Kruse could head to California for the 2023 season.
14.44 BST: Nikola Vlasic is set to join Torino on a permanent deal from West Ham after impressing in the first month of his loan at the Serie A club.
Vlasic, 24, failed to adapt to life in the Premier League after joining West Ham from CSKA Moscow last summer, scoring just once in 19 Premier League appearances.
But after moving to Italy the Croatia international has scored three goals in six Serie A matches.
Tuttosport reports that Torino will now step up moves to covert the loan into a full transfer, activating their €15m option.
14.00 BST: According to Calciomercato, AC Milan have FC Salzburg striker Noah Okafor in mind as a long-term successor to veterans Olivier Giroud, 35, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 40.
The 22-year-old Okafor has already scored against Milan in the Champions League this season, and also netted against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Okafor has less than two years remaining on his contract, meaning the Austrian club may need to do a deal in the next two windows to get full transfer value.
The Switzerland international is seen as a possible alternative with the signing of free agent Divock Origi, who has struggled for fitness and form, not working out.
13.08 BST: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that AC Milan are hoping Rafael Leao will sign a new contract as the club amid continuing interest from Chelsea.
Leao, 23, has become one of the most in-demand players over the last year, with his superb performances for AC Milan helping the Rossoneri win the Scudetto last season.
The Portugal international was linked with a move to Chelsea throughout the last window, and it was confirmed earlier this week the Blues had made an informal approach. If the forward’s form continues to be strong, the firm transfer offer is likely to follow.
Gazzetta says that Milan are hoping that a new deal might put off his suitors.
12.15 BST: Barcelona have confirmed the appointment of Jordi Cruyff as the club’s new sporting director, a role he has held unofficially since July.
Cruyff’s promotion was made official on Friday when he signed his new contract with Barca, who he previously played for between 1988 and 1996 when his father, Johan, was the coach.
Alongside general manager Mateu Alemany, Cruyff has played a major role in Barca’s last two transfer windows, which have seen the club spend over €200m on Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde.
He first returned to Barca in the summer of 2021 in an advisory role and later was appointed to oversee international recruitment.
“It is a very special moment in my life,” Cruyff told Barca TV. “For years there have been talks about coming back to the club in different roles, but I think it was the perfect moment to return.
“It’s a huge responsibility but I like challenges and I am delighted to work for a club as special as Barça. The relationship with Mateu, [coach] Xavi and the president [Joan Laporta] is really important.”
?? @JordiCruyff, new sporting director of the Clubhttps://t.co/XEtM4MqWg5
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 16, 2022
11.20 BST: David De Gea has revealed he came very close to signing for Wigan Athletic before moving to Manchester United.
The goalkeeper explained how during the 2009-10 season he found himself the third-choice goalkeeper at Atletico Madrid and was disillusioned.
“I was at Atletico and it was the same season I made my debut and I was like the third keeper and not even counting for the team much, just training. Nothing else,” De Gea told BT Sport’s “What I Wore.”
“So Wigan got in contact with me just to sign for them and I was very, very close to sign for Wigan.”
De Gea stayed at Atletico, became first choice and the rest his history. He moved to Manchester United in a £19m deal in the summer of 2011 and went on to be regarded one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world throughout the 2010s.
10.24 BST: Kepa Arrizabalaga says he is happy to have stayed at Chelsea after being linked with a move to Napoli in the summer.
“There were things [interest from other teams], but the club always said they had confidence in me, wanted me to be a part of the squad,” Kepa told El Larguero. “We analysed the situation together, spoke about it. I’m happy to have stayed, to help the team and be part of this great club. I’m very excited about the season.”
Kepa also spoke about the appointment of coach Graham Potter in place of the sacked Thomas Tuchel.
“It’s been a crazy week,” he said. “When a coach leaves it’s always sad, especially a coach with whom we have won so much and had good moments too. With the new coach it’s new ideas.”
Asked if he hopes he will regain his regular starting place under Potter, Kepa said: “I hope so. For the time being I’m happy to be given opportunities.”
???? Kepa Arrizabalaga, jugador del @ChelseaFC_Sp, se pasó por @ellarguero
?? “Ha sido una semana un poco loca con Potter, es triste ver a Tuchel marchar”
?????? “Sueño con estar en el Mundial, trabajo para estar ahí”
???? Vuelve a escuchar su entrevista aquí pic.twitter.com/kYVAoGmTpz
— El Larguero (@ellarguero) September 15, 2022
09.30 BST: James Rodriguez joined Olympiakos from Qatari club Al-Rayyan on Thursday, and the Colombia international has said he is happy to be reunited with former Real Madrid teammate Marcelo.
James moved on a one-year contract, with the option of a 12-month extension.
James and Marcelo watched together Olympiakos’ 3-0 Europa League defeat to Freiburg at the Giorgos Karaiskaks Stadium in Piraeus on Thursday.
Marcelo posted a message on Instagram and wrote: “So happy to be back with you bro. Welcome @jamesrodriguez10 !!! Let’s go guys!!”
James responded in Portuguese and wrote: “Let’s go, my brother.”
08.49 BST: Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo has told Argentine newspaper Ole that it would be difficult to turn down Chelsea.
Caicedo, 20, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, following the same route taken by former Brighton wing-back Marc Cucurella and manager Graham Potter.
“Right now, I’m focused on Brighton and the World Cup,” he told Ole. “I want to have a great World Cup and then we’ll see what happens.
“I think Chelsea are one of the best teams in the world and nobody would turn down an offer from Chelsea or any other club like that. It is a dream to be part of one of the best teams in the world and succeed there.”
Caicedo has 23 caps for Ecuador.
08.00 BST: Liverpool are considering a move for Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes, according to Portuguese outlet UOL.
Jurgen Klopp is desperate to strengthen in the centre of the park, and his No. 1 target remains Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham. But Nunes, the Portugal international who only joined Wolves last month in a €45m deal from Sporting CP, could be another option.
However, the 24-year-old Nunes will not be eligible to play for another club this season as he played for Sporting CP in August before moving to Wolves, and FIFA rules state a player can play for a maximum of two clubs in one season.
If Liverpool want someone who can sign in January, Enzo Fernandez — who himself only joined Benfica from River Plate in June — is on the shortlist too.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Inter Milan have set a deadline for the contract extension of Milan Skriniar, as they hope to hold off interest from Paris Saint-Germain, reports Calciomercato. After previously agreeing to a new deal reportedly worth €5.5m-a-year at the end of last season, the Nerazzurri are now preparing to offer the 27-year-old centre-back a more lucrative contract in an attempt to keep him at the San Siro. With his deal expiring at the end of the season, Inter may be forced to transfer the Slovakia international in January if they cannot reach an agreement. The Serie A side will resume contract negotiations with the defender after the international break, and are prepared to offer €6.5m plus add-ons, which would make Skriniar the second-highest paid player behind frontman Romelu Lukaku.
– After being linked to Nikola Maksimovic, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Jason Denayer, AS Roma have decided against signing a free agent centre-back, according to Rudy Galetti. The Giallorossi will now prepare talks with Victor Lindelof, Japhet Tanganga and Trevoh Chalobah ahead of the January transfer window, with Roma boss Jose Mourinho still keen on signing a central defender.
– Eddie Howe has given Newcastle United the green light to compete with Arsenal for Mykhailo Mudryk in January, according to Football Insider. Brentford had a bid rejected by Shakhtar Donetsk for the 21-year-old’s transfer this summer, and the Magpies are now reportedly amongst a host of sides that will attempt to entice the Ukrainian star, who has two goals in the Champions League this season.
– Barcelona are still monitoring AS Monaco left-back Caio Henrique, according to Sport. The Catalan side could reignite their interest in the 25-year-old, who has had a blistering start in Ligue 1 this season, with four assists in five games for the Monegasques, despite Marcos Alonso, Alejandro Balde, and Jordi Alba battling for the starting left-back position. However, this may change in January, with Alba tipped to depart Camp Nou and 18-year-old Balde reportedly with several admirers from the Premier League. In addition to Henrique, Xavi Hernandez is reportedly watching Valencia captain Jose Gaya, with the 27-year-old’s deal to expire next summer.
– Arsenal have left room for a free agent after finalising their squad for the Premier League, according to the Daily Mirror. There is a limit of 17 players above the age of 21 and not classified as Home Grown Players that can be named, and with the Gunners calling on 14, the report speculates there is a place for former Lille midfielder Xeka to head to the Emirates as a free agent. Mikel Arteta is looking to add a central midfielder to his side, with several attempts to sign Douglas Luiz rebuffed by Aston Villa this summer and the setback of an injury to Thomas Partey.