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.
TOP STORY: Real deal for Mourinho?
Real Madrid have reportedly contacted Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho about the possibility of him returning to the club, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais.
The report went into further detail, stating that Mourinho had met with the corporate director of Real Madrid, Jose Angel Sanchez, but it also mentions that Mourinho will wait to be sacked from Manchester United rather than leave of his own accord.
While Julen Lopetegui faces the prospect of being sacked just months into a job which cost him the opportunity to manage Spain at the World Cup, the club believe that replacing him with an authoritative figure such as Mourinho will help turn their season around. For his part, Mourinho has tamped down such speculation.
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08.00 BST: We told you it would happen. And it has happened. Marcos Alonso has signed a new contract at Chelsea that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until June 2023.
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Hazard safe at Chelsea if Real appoint Conte
The Daily Mirror reports that Antonio Conte is actually the favourite to replace struggling Lopetegui, but if the Italian takes over at the European champions it could end their hopes of signing Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard.
The report states that Conte’s failure to get the best out of the Belgian star during his time at Stamford Bridge could deter Hazard from a move to Spain, or at least to Real.
The 27-year-old has shone so far under Maurizio Sarri, and he’s helped the London club remain in touch with Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table during the early stages of this season. Hazard has regularly said he’s happy at Chelsea and recently said he would consider spending the rest of his career there, but he’s never ruled out a move to a European super-club as he approaches his peak years.
But Chelsea set to miss out on Icardi and Piatek
It’s not all good news for Blues’ fans though as the club look for alternatives to Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud up front.
The Evening Standard reports that Chelsea are “are set to be frustrated in their attempts to lure strikers Mauro Icardi and Krzysztof Piatek to Stamford Bridge.”
They believe that Icardi would only consider leaving Inter for Real Madrid, while Genoa have no desire to sell Piatek while he is banging in the goals and his transfer value is rising. Maybe next year…
Tap-ins
– Reiss Nelson has three goals in his last two league games for Hoffenheim and has joined compatriot Jadon Sancho in lighting up the Bundesliga. So much so that Hoffenheim have looked into signing him on a permanent deal. But according to a report in German newspaper Bild, Arsenal have big plans for Nelson next season, and will not allow him to leave.
– Inter Milan are still some way off agreeing a new deal with defender Milan Skriniar, as Manchester City and Manchester United continue to monitor his situation. Italian outlet Mediaset reports that talks are continuing between the centre-back and his current club, but an agreement between the two parties remains distant.