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.
Manchester City eye £200m move for Kylian Mbappe
Not content with a forward line that reads like the Who’s Who of football stars already, Manchester City are reportedly keen to add arguably the world’s best young player, Kylian Mbappe, to their ranks.
The Sun claim that Pep Guardiola wants Mbappe to help City finally win the Champions League and is willing to pay a new world record of £200 million to make it happen.
City really would be unstoppable if they were able to add the World Cup-winning 19-year-old, though they would have to sell Raheem Sterling to balance the books with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play folks looking carefully at any deal.
Paris Saint-Germain are, of course, loathe to sell Mbappe. But the club may be forced to if the FFP gurus wave their magic wands. And if it’s for more than £198m, a certain Mr. Neymar Jr. is going to be annoyed he’s no longer the world’s most expensive player. So they can’t really win …
Chelsea want Ramsey, Morata to Juve
Aaron Ramsey blanked Unai Emery as he was taken off against Watford and Arsenal’s removal of their contract offer last week means he’s almost certain to depart on a free in the summer or for a small fee in January.
The Daily Express say Chelsea are now ahead of Manchester United, Juventus and others for the Welshman’s signature.
However, not all is good news at Stamford Bridge. The Sun insist Alvaro Morata isn’t really enjoying life under Maurizio Sarri, so he’s going to head back to Juventus to be upstaged by Cristiano Ronaldo every week instead of by Eden Hazard.
Man United not lining up Zidane as boss
It’s Jose Mourinho’s third season at Manchester United, so surely nobody can be surprised that things are turning out the way they are. United would certainly be forgiven for talking to his potential replacement already, and according to a BeIN Sport report, they have already.
Zinedine Zidane is the man they want. No major shock given he’s (A) free, (B) a winner of the past three Champions League titles and (C) someone who smiles more than once a month.
But hold your horses. Not so, say ESPN FC sources close to the club. United may be stuck with Jose for some time yet.
And ditto Paul Pogba, whom the Daily Express claim will be forced to hang around at Old Trafford until Barcelona can gather all their cash into a nice big suitcase and deposit it with Mino Raiola next summer.
Bayern want to add the new Lewandowski to Lewandowski
You can’t get too much of a good thing. Genoa star Krzysztof Piatek has been touted as the next Robert Lewandowski, so Bayern Munich are, of course, tracking him so they can slot him in as a like-for-like replacement when the Poland striker decides to move on.
Bild claim Piatek’s 10 goals in six games made Bayern sit up and take notice. Though the German champions really couldn’t have missed all those “next Lewandowski” headlines. Just seems like lazy scouting to us.
Tap ins
– Oh Eden Hazard, you tease. “I am with Chelsea for now,” he told BT Sport. “I have two years left on my contract. I can sign a new deal — but maybe not. I don’t know.” At least the Blues might be able to keep hold of one Hazard: Eden’s 15-year-old brother, Ethan.
– Marca insist that there was “a curious encounter” between Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino at the FIFA Best awards. If by “curious” you mean two men who work in the same industry being in the same room together at the same time, of course …
– Can you imagine former Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner Kaka playing in the Italian Serie C? Us neither. But it could happen due to the fact former AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi is now in charge of Monza, say Corriere dello Sport.