The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is open. Transfer Talk has been scouring the world’s media and setting our correspondents loose to see who could be heading to or out of your club this month.
TOP STORY: Liverpool look to land McKennie
Liverpool were beaten to the punch by Chelsea to sign Christian Pulisic but they are reportedly interested in landing his U.S. international teammate Weston McKennie, according to the Sun.
McKennie, 20, has become a key player at Schalke after breaking into the first-team last season and his versatility is attracting the interest of Jurgen Klopp as he can play in both midfield and defence. The report claims that a deal worth £20m is on the cards, with Liverpool weighing up whether to bid in January or delay their interest until the summer.
Any player who has been side by side with Pulisic since the age of 13 is certainly worth a look, but having signed him to a contract that runs until 2022, Schalke have the ball in their court.
LIVE BLOG
09.25 GMT: Marouane Fellaini has been an offered the opportunity to follow Belgium teammate Mousa Dembele to the Chinese Super League, with sources telling ESPN FC that clubs in Beijing and Guangzhou are targeting the Manchester United midfielder.
United are ready to listen to offers for Fellaini, who signed a two-year contract worth £100,000-a-week to stay at Old Trafford following the backing of former manager Jose Mourinho last summer. But the 31-year-old has clocked up just three minutes of first-team action during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s six-game reign as caretaker manager and the Norwegian is understood to be happy for United to sell Fellaini this month.
Solskjaer revealed on Friday that Fellaini has a “long-term” calf injury, but sources have told ESPN FC that it is not serious enough to threaten a mode away, especially with the Chinese transfer window open until the end of February.
09.04 GMT: Christopher Nkunku‘s agent Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan has told Le Parisien of his client’s unhappiness.
“His playing time and his place in PSG’s rotation are both insufficient,” he said. “Christopher is open to leaving in order to develop. Nothing has been discussed with PSG yet, but in sporting terms, it is not enough. He must take the next step and that is not possible at PSG — especially as his playing role is never defined or fixed.”
08.43 GMT: Sevilla have announced they have reached an agreement with Red Bull Salzburg to acquire Israel international forward Munas Dabbur on a permanent deal, with the transfer to be effective on July 1, 2019.
Dabbur, who will continue playing for the Austrian club on loan until the end of the season, has signed a contract until June 2023.
08.30 GMT: Marca report that Real Madrid are set to complete the signing of FC Porto defender Eder Militao in the coming days.
According to the Madrid-based sports daily, the Spanish club’s executives decided to go ahead with the deal after watching the Brazilian play five games. FC Porto will reportedly not allow the 21-year-old leave, however, unless a club pays his €50m release clause. That figure would rise by 50 percent to €75m if the negotiation is not completed by July 15.
If the deal is to be completed with Madrid, Militao, who is also a reported target of Manchester United and Barcelona, will not join the Spanish club until the summer. He joined FC Porto last summer from Sao Paulo in a €4m transfer.
PAPER TALK (by Danny Lee, Footballwhispers)
Spurs set to snag Sanabria
Tottenham are looking to limit the effect Harry Kane’s injury will have on their season by signing a striker this January.
They have already revived their interest in Brazilian winger Malcom, who is now at Barcelona, but are also looking at the possibility of signing Antonio Sanabria from Real Betis, according to the Independent.
The Paraguayan forward was a target for Spurs two years ago when he left Roma for Betis, and they have renewed their interest and are attracted by the 22-year-old’s £26 million release clause.
With Son Heung-Min at the Asian Cup for the rest of the month, the timing of Kane’s injury couldn’t have been worse, but at least the transfer window is open for Tottenham to deal with the issue — but will they?
Higuain to complete Chelsea move
Gonzalo Higuain will fly to London in the next 24 hours to complete his move to Chelsea, according to the Mirror.
The Argentine striker is seen as the solution to Maurizio Sarri’s problems up front, and will join on loan from Juventus, having spent the first half of the season on loan at AC Milan.
The 31-year-old played for Sarri during his time at Napoli, and will be reunited with the Italian boss even if only for a short time. This means he should have no problems fitting in immediately, as Sarri’s tactics are much the same now as they were in Serie A.
Higuain’s brother Nicolas, who also acts as his agent, is already in England to sort out the deal.
Paredes next in line for Chelsea
Sarri is also set to bolster his midfield ranks with the signing of Leandro Paredes from Zenit Saint Petersburg this month, according to the Express.
The Chelsea manager has recently spoken about his reliance on Jorginho in the deep-lying midfield position, and the arrival of Paredes would allow the integral Italian to be rested.
Paredes would offer a similar style to Jorginho, but might also be more expansive with his playmaking, which would be useful in certain games.
The transfer is set to cost Chelsea £31m, and their new boss is showing that he’s not messing around when it comes to making his mark on the club.
They had targeted Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella as well, but the Russia-based Argentine proved more attainable.
Football Whispers’ top emerging whispers
Football Whispers’ transfer algorithm gives the likelihood of rumours happening a score out of 5.
Alvaro Morata to Atletico Madrid – 4.3
With a deal for Gonzalo Higuaín in the works at Chelsea, their out-of-favour Spanish striker is on the verge of joining Atletico Madrid for £45m, according to Sky Sports.
Malcom to Tottenham Hotspur – 2.7
Tottenham are looking at the possibility of signing reinforcements in attack due to Kane’s injury, and the Independent believes Barcelona’s Brazilian winger Malcom is an option at £39m.
Michy Batshuayi to Everton – 2.4
The Belgian striker is nearing a move to Monaco, but Everton have emerged as a possible destination for the 25-year-old, with a £40m deal reported by the Star.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United – 2.0
The Crystal Palace right-back is enjoying a breakthrough season in the Premier League and is now drawing interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as Manchester City, according to the Mirror.
Eder Militao to Real Madrid – 2.0
Spanish outlet AS reports that Liverpool could lose out on the versatile Brazilian defender to Real Madrid, who are ready to pay his £44.7m release fee.