The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is open again. Transfer Talk has been scouring the world’s media and setting our correspondents loose to see who could be heading to/out of your club this month.
TOP STORY: Yannick Carras-going to Arsenal
Arsenal are set to beat AC Milan to the signing of Belgium attacker Yannick Carrasco, according to Sky Italia (via The Mirror).
Carrasco is plying his trade in China with Dalian Yifang, but he’s ready to make the move back to Europe and it’s Arsenal who’ve apparently made the first move, making contact with the 25-year-old.
The player, who operates predominantly as a left winger, is said to have given his “approval” to the move, although it’s early days.
Carrasco first came to international attention when, as a 21-year-old, he was one of the goal scorers for Monaco when the French side stunned Arsenal with a 3-1 win at the Emirates in the 2014-15 Champions League.
That helped earn him a move to Atletico Madrid, where he spent three seasons before making the surprise move to China.
LIVE BLOG
08.25 GMT: New Athletic Bilbao sporting director Rafa Alkorta has confirmed his club is interested in signing former club players Ander Herrera of Manchester United and Tottenham forward Fernando Llorente.
Alkorta, who took on the position at the start of the year, says his club must bring experienced reinforcements to help the team turn its season around.
Athletic have won just three league games this season and are 17th in the standings, two points clear of the drop zone.
“We are interested in Javi Martinez, Ander Herrera, Llorente…all of them interest us,” Alkorta told Cadena Ser. “It’s obvious that any player that can play for Athletic is of interest to us. Nothing is easy but we are interested in having all of the ones that can come.
“We have not made any moves yet. We will start on Tuesday and we will see what can be done.”
PAPER TALK (Mark Thompson, Football Whispers):
No more Mousa
Tottenham fans have been thinking about the inevitable eventual departure of Mousa Dembele for some time and now, according to the Daily Mail, that time might have come.
The club have reportedly received an offer of £11 million for the 31-year-old from Beijing Guoan and Mauricio Pochettino is fine with selling him this window.
The Belgian is thought to be open to the opportunity of a lucrative offer from a Chinese club. He wouldn’t be the first…
Fabregas transfer needs some more fuel
It all looked so simple. Cesc Fabregas waved to fans as he came off during the FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest, personal terms agreed with Monaco, but it’s not so simple, say the London Evening Standard.
Because Monaco are still to agree a transfer fee with Chelsea.
Despite the fact Fabregas’ contract expires at the end of the season, the London club want £10m for him, but the Ligue 1 side aren’t convinced. An agreement is expected, it just hasn’t been reached quite yet.
A pretty penny for Piatek
AC Milan have knocked on Genoa’s door to enquire about their highly-rated striker Krzysztof Piatek, report Gazzetta dello Sport.
Piatek has been on the wish lists of top clubs around Europe, having scored 13 league goals so far this season at just 23 years of age.
However, Genoa are holding out for €60 million for the Pole, which would be a hefty profit on the €4m they spent on him in June.
The supersub should stay for good
Manchester United players want Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to stay on as the permanent manager, according to The Mirror.
The players, particularly the forwards (unsurprisingly) are enjoying the Norwegian’s man-management style, in contrast to what they experienced under Jose Mourinho.
Solskjaer is due to coach United until the end of the season before returning back to his home country and his job managing Molde.
Christian Eriksen to Real Madrid — 2.5
Real Madrid have, in that time-honoured transfer window phrase, “made contact” with Tottenham Hotspur about signing Eriksen, according to the Independent. The La Liga side, currently fifth-place, may have to part with £100m to get the Dane, but see him as more gettable than Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.
Timo Werner to Borussia Dortmund — 2.7
Dortmund have joined the fight to sign RB Leipzig’s talented 22-year-old, according to SportBild in Germany. Bayern Munich and Liverpool are both said to be interested, but the Bundesliga leaders could now make a push. Fee estimates have ranged from £35-50m, should Werner move this window.
Paulo Dybala to Manchester City — 2.0
The Premier League holders are one of several teams interested in Dybala, according to Tuttosport. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also tracking him, according to the Italian paper, and Juventus may consider selling him … but only if they get £90m for the Argentine.
Leandro Paredes to Chelsea — 2.2
With Fabregas set to leave, Chelsea are looking for a replacement, and Paredes is one of the names on their list according to Corriere dello Sport. Chelsea are also targeting Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella, but Paredes is thought to be the more likely choice.
Roberto Pereyra to Torino — 2.8
With former manager Walter Mazzarri in the dug-out in Turin, it seems increasingly likely that the Watford winger will be moving to Italy, Tuttosport report. Torino are willing to bring the player in and the 28-year-old Argentine would like to work for his old boss.