The transfer window for all of Europe’s big five leagues is closed, but that doesn’t stop Transfer Talk from rummaging around about who will be moving where come January.
Barcelona couldn’t afford Pogba
There are growing doubts that Barcelona could finance a move for Paul Pogba even if they did want to sign the unsettled French midfielder from Manchester United this January.
According to the Telegraph, United would demand a £100 million-plus fee for Pogba, whose future is very much in the balance at the club following a succession of quarrels with manager Jose Mourinho.
Even supposing United sanctioned the transfer, Barca would be forced to spread the payment out across the entirety of any contract Pogba signed (e.g. five years) with their Premier League rivals highly unlikely to aid Old Trafford to that degree.
Barca are due to publish their latest set of financial results next month but all the signs point to the Catalan club not being in any position to shell out another £100m transfer fee without making a slew of significant sales first and reducing their wage bill fairly drastically.
All in all, it means that Pogba is left with very few immediate options, with most of his potentially eligible suitors priced out of a move for the foreseeable future.
Man City after Lyon star Ndombele
Manchester City would very much like to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon despite failing with a summer bid for the 21-year-old midfielder.
City reportedly lodged a £44.5m offer for Ndombele only to see it rejected by the Ligue 1 club, so claim The Sun.
However, after the France Under-21 star impressed during the recent Champions League bout between the two sides, City are now preparing to return with a second bid ahead of the January window.
Pep Guardiola is seeking to add a little depth and competition to their central midfield ranks. His first choice for the role was Jorginho, but the Spanish coach was forced to stand by and watch as the Italian international opted to join Chelsea back in July.
Spurs target opens contract talks with Fulham
Tottenham look set to fall short in their attempt to sign teenage starlet Ryan Sessegnon with news that the Fulham prodigy has opened talks over a new contract at Craven Cottage.
BBC Sport report that the 18-year-old, who is already close to making 100 appearances for Fulham having made his senior debut two seasons ago, is currently in the early stages of discussing a new deal that will tie him down for the long term.
Spurs have been linked with a move for Sessegnon on several occasions in the recent past, but it is said that the player has “no interest” in leaving and thus the Cottagers are confident an agreement will be reached sooner rather than later.
Tap Ins
– Bayern Munich want to sign former Newcastle flop Florian Thauvin, who has since resurrected with Olympique de Marseille with six goals and one assist already under his belt this campaign. Ouest France reckon the Bavarian giants view Thauvin as the natural successor to Franck Ribery and as such will pay as much as €80m to get him on board.
— No less than three Premier League clubs are tracking Bordeaux forward Francois Kamano, who has scored five goals in seven appearances in Ligue 1 so far this season. According to Calciomercato, those clubs are Newcastle, Brighton and Fulham.