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LIVE Transfer Talk: Mauricio Pochettino keen on Manchester United move

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs might be closed, but they are still working tirelessly behind the scenes to line up the arrival of their next star. Transfer Talk has been scouring the world's media to see who could be heading to your club when Jan. 1 arrives.

TOP STORY: Pochettino keen on United job

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen on becoming Jose Mourinho's permanent successor at Manchester United, according to The Times.

Following Mourinho's sacking on Tuesday, sources told ESPN FC that Pochettino is United's top target to become the next permanent manager.

Although Pochettino remained coy on rumours linking him with the job during a news conference on Tuesday, the report states that United have identified the Argentine as the ideal candidate to take the club forward in the long-term having earned a reputation as one of the game's most astute tacticians during his four-and-a-half years at Spurs.

Former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been announced in the role until the end of the season but the north London club are braced for an approach for Pochettino, who reportedly views the Old Trafford role as "too good to turn down."

LIVE BLOG

23.30 GMT: That will wrap up the latest installment of our Transfer Talk LIVE blog. We hope you enjoyed it and remind you to check back for more rumours, rumblings and reports in a few hours. Take care!

23.18 GMT: Updating an earlier report from Marca on Atletico Madrid's Lucas Hernandez.

As a refresher, early Wednesday the Spanish outlet stated that the French full-back would be joining German champions Bayern Munich in January for €80 million, which would be the second-highest fee ever for a defender

Atletico have responded and adamantly squashed that report in a statement.

"In regard to the information published by Marca over Bayern Munich's supposed deal with our player Lucas Hernandez ..., Atletico Madrid wants to state that in conversation with the club, [Hernandez] denies the existence of a deal with the German club and also his intention to leave Atletico Madrid."

The statement goes on to say "On the other hand, the excellent relationship between our club and the German side has caused Bayern Munich themselves to deny the supposed deal this afternoon in a conversation between the two sides."

So now that both clubs have denied this report was it rubbish all along or is this a case of where there's smoke, there's fire? The World Cup winner will certainly be a name to follow in the January transfer window, as Marca's reported deal would make him the second-most expensive defender on the planet behind only Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

22.40 GMT: For those hoping to sign Bournemouth's Callum Wilson (we are looking at you Chelsea) don't get your hopes up.

Following his side's Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea, Cherries manager Eddie Howe reiterated that his striker is not for sale.

"Callum is our player, he is very focused on us and you could see that from his performance tonight," said Howe. "He gave everything for the team."

Wilson has scored eight goals and set up another five this season for Bournemouth and now fit and playing the best football of his life, has been linked with a move to a bigger English club.

21.20 GMT: With injuries to Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen in defence, Barcelona are being linked with a promising young Italian defender.

Spanish newspaper Sport writes that the Catalans are eyeing a loan swoop for Juventus centre-back Daniele Rugani as they search for defensive reinforcements.

The 24-year-old, who was heavily linked this summer with Chelsea and a reunion with his former Empoli boss Maurizio Sarri, has featured just five times this season for the Bianconeri.

Rugani would be a stop-gap for Barcelona in the league and would not be eligible for the Champions League or a potential matchup with Juventus. A move would seem to benefit both sides here, as Rugani would provide some cover for Barcelona in defence and  Rugani getting more regular playing time would seem a positive from a Juventus perspective.

20.12 GMT: There is an update regarding a player Chelsea enquired about last summer.

Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes, who Chelsea were reportedly interested in signing during the summer, could now be made available in January according to a report from RMC Sport.

The outlet claims that Lille have grown impatient with the 26-year-old Brazilian and could sell him for something in the neighborhood of €25-30 million. Lille may also have added incentive to sell, as the money for Mendes would allow Lille the financial ability to keep prized asset and highly coveted winger Nicolas Pepe through the end of the season.

PSG, Wolfsburg and Schalke are three other clubs rumoured to have had interest in the former Sao Paulo man in the past but there is no word if Chelsea still covet the player given their crowded central midfield.

19.15 GMT: Manuel Pellegrini and West Ham have made no secret of their desire to add a striker in January and the latest name linked with a move to the club is forgotten man Gabriel Barbosa, aka Gabigol.

The 22-year-old is still on the books at Inter Milan but spent last season on loan in his native Brazil with Santos. The former Brazil phenom led the Brazilian top flight in goals last season with 18 and is looking for somewhere to reignite/ignite his career in Europe.

The Guardian writes that West Ham are monitoring Barbosa situation at Inter and can be counted as a team that would be interested in bringing in the player on loan. West Ham have primarily been playing with winger Marko Arnautovic as striker, although Javier Hernandez has scored a few goals of late.

Gabigol to London? We'll see but still just 22, don't rule out the youngster coming good just yet.

18.06 GMT: Completely out of favour at Real Madrid since Santi Solari took over, Isco has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bernabeu, and particularly with Manchester City.

According to the Sun, a new potential destination in England has emerged: Chelsea. The paper claims that Chelsea will make a £70 million bid for the Spanish international and are willing to pay the 26-year-old string-puller around £250,000 a week in wages.

Isco has yet to start a game in La Liga under Solari, playing just 95 total minutes in the league in the six games since the Argentine took over at the end of October.

17.15 GMT: Could Aston Villa swoop for a goalkeeper come January?

The Villains, currently eighth in the Championship, have a poor defensive record (34 goals conceded in 22 matches) and are being linked with a keeper who played at the last World Cup.

The Birmingham Live indicates that Dean Smith and Co. are zeroing in on Croatia and Gent keeper Lovre Kalinic. The 28-year-old was a target for Villa three years ago and is apparently on the club's radar again, the report indicating he was in Birmingham recently to discuss a move. 

Kalinic's previous move was foiled by his failure to secure a work permit, but now that he is a full international that would no longer seem to be an obstacle. Summer signing, Orjan Nyland has been Villa's No. 1 to this point of the season but he was signed under the previous staff led by Steve Bruce.

16.01 GMT: Barcelona have asked Chelsea about the possibility of signing centre-back Andreas Christensen on loan next month, say the Evening Standard.

The 22-year-old hasn't featured much under coach Maurizio Sarri, despite being a regular with Antonio Conte. And Barcelona need a defender because of the knee injury to Samuel Umtiti.

15.19 GMT: Bournemouth striker Lys Mousset needs to play and Fulham need a striker. See where we're going with this? The 22-year-old is on his way to the Cottage according to Sky Sports.

14.46 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has admitted to RMC Sport that he would have retired with former club Juventus if his current employers or one of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona had not come calling for him this summer.

PSG snapped up the decorated 40-year-old up on a free transfer and he is currently playing regularly under coach Thomas Tuchel and still feels challenged at Parc des Princes.

"The important thing is no longer passion, it is the challenge -- I like that a lot," said Buffon. "I had decided to retire and only a call from PSG, Real Madrid or Barcelona could have changed my mind. It was only a dream, craziness, and then it happened! I was already getting ready for life after football. The call came back in May and I thought about it for two weeks. I decided that I was able to do one or two more seasons."

13.27 GMT: Sport claim that Barcelona have denied Adrien Rabiot's move to the club from PSG has already been agreed.

"Barca say there is no deal and many clubs are talking to the Frenchman to sound out his future" according to the paper, and there could still be some work to do.

13.05 GMT: Leicester City have signed a player. That player is 24-year-old Italian striker Davide Lorenzo, who has been given a short-term contract after a trial period according to the Leicester Mercury.

13.02 GMT: Besiktas defender Gary Medel is known as "Pitbull" for his combative style and could soon be lining up in a West Ham shirt, according to Sky Sports.

They report: "no formal offer has been made, but it's thought Manuel Pellegrini is keen to get the deal tied up as soon as possible, as he tries to strengthen his squad in the January window." The 31-year-old Chile international can play in midfield or defence and the Premier League does seem made for him.

12.35 GMT: Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben has become the subject of an unusual campaign by fans in the Groningen province of his native Netherlands as they seek to land his signature.

12.03 GMT: Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has suggested the club will have little or no money to spend in January. Asked whether he planned to spend in the transfer window, he pulled out the lining of his pocket to show it was empty. "He asks me if I'm going to spend money," he said. "I don't have money!"

When the reporter said: "As a club?" Pochettino again showed his empty pocket and said, laughing: "As a club."

11.43 GMT: Injuries to Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen have forced Barcelona to look into the possibility of signing a centre-back on a short-term basis in January and sources have told ESPN FC that meetings have taken place this week as the club weigh up their options.

Chelsea's Andreas Christensen and Zenit Saint Petersburg's Branislav Ivanovic have been linked, but various media reports in Spain suggest Jeison Murillo is the leading candidate. The Colombia centre-back, formerly of Inter Milan, would join Barca on loan when the transfer window opens next month.

11.01 GMT: Tammy Abraham has scored 12 goals in 16 Championship games this season for Aston Villa and the Chelsea loanee is now being linked to Newcastle by The Northern Echo.

Crystal Palace are also reportedly keen to secure his signature with the 21-year-old seemingly not part of Maurizio Sarri's long-term plans.

10.25 GMT: Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has had his own say about captain Mauro Icardi and the new contract he was reportedly not offered...

"We are happy with Icardi as a player, with what he is giving on the pitch for Inter. He always takes responsibility and is afraid of nothing," Ausilio told reporters. "The rest doesn't matter: there is an official headquarters, I am at everyone's disposal. Icardi's agent knows where to find me, either in the office or by telephone. The rest, social media, the media, the Christmas box office movie, is of no interest to me.

"I have been very honest, I said how things stand. Icardi received a new contract two years ago and signed it. The most recent proposal was two months ago, he received it and at this moment has not accepted. That does not mean we cannot go forward. As far as we are concerned, we want to continue the negotiations and continue working together."

09.45 GMT: France's National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) has backed Adrien Rabiot's desire to see out his PSG contract before potentially leaving and declared the Ligue 1 leaders' decision to cut him out of the senior picture as "inadmissible."

Indeed, they said: "It is inadmissible that these practices from another time are unfortunately still prevalent today."

09.40 GMT: Liverpool and England striker Dominic Solanke hasn't been getting much game time at Anfield and could look to leave on loan. The Evening Standard report that Crystal Palace are interested in the 21-year-old and are top of the queue.

09.21 GMT: Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been named as caretaker manager following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, after the club negotiated his release from Norwegian side Molde.

08.25 GMT: Bayern Munich have moved ahead in the race to sign AS Roma forward Cengiz Under but Premier League duo Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also registered their interest, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.

Bayern view the 21-year-old as the man to replace Arjen Robben, who will leave the reigning Bundesliga champions at the end of the season. However, sources added that Under -- who is valued at €50m by Roma -- is keen on a move to the Premier League.

Sources told ESPN FC earlier this month that Manchester City and Manchester United have also scouted the Turkey international, but neither club has established contact with the player's representatives.

Under have been in impressive form for Roma this season with four assists and two goals in 14 Serie A appearances, while he has registered three goals and two assists thus far in the Champions League.

PAPER TALK (by Matt Gault, Football Whispers)

Napoli rejected United's world record Koulibaly bid

United failed in a £95 million bid for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to the Italian club's chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis.

The 27-year-old has in recent months emerged as a key target for the Red Devils, who are prioritising defensive reinforcements after conceding 29 goals in 17 Premier League games.

"[Jose] Mourinho wanted him, we rejected [the bid]," De Laurentiis said via Goal. "But now it's impossible that he leaves Napoli."

Had the bid been accepted, the Senegal international would have become the most expensive defender in history, his fee comfortably surpassing the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk.

Pepe a target for Wolves

Wolves are set to make a surprise move for veteran defender Pepe in the January transfer window, according to Portuguese outlet Record.

The 35-year-old is a free agent after leaving Besiktas and could become the latest Portuguese player in Nuno Espirito Santo's ranks. Wolves are hoping their close ties with Pepe's agent Jorge Mendes will smooth negotiations as the club aim to build on an impressive start to life back in the Premier League.

Pepe was also apparently targeted by Mourinho before the latter left United, having previously played under the coach at Real Madrid.

Southampton keen on Fulham stopper as McCarthy replacement

Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is being tracked by Southampton, according to the Daily Mail.

The Saints, who are looking to rebuild under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, are braced for the departure of Alex McCarthy amid interest from several Premier League clubs and have identified Bettinelli as a potential replacement.

The 26-year-old was the Cottagers' first-choice keeper last season but has recently lost his place to Sergio Rico, who joined on loan from Sevilla in the summer.

Everton looking to offload Niasse

Everton are prepared to sell striker Oumar Niasse in January, as per the Liverpool Echo. The 28-year-old has fallen out of favour under Marco Silva, who has not named him in a Premier League matchday squad since September.

The Senegal international is behind Richarlison, Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the pecking order at Goodison Park and the club will listen to offers during the winter window.

Cardiff are said to be interested in the forward, who joined the Toffees from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2016.

Football Whispers' top five emerging whispers

Football Whispers' transfer algorithm gives the likelihood of rumours happening a score out of five.

Callum Wilson to Chelsea -- 3.3

Blues assistant manager Gianfranco Zola has confirmed the Bournemouth forward is one of several players the club are looking at as Maurizio Sarri aims to bolster his striking options in January."Certainly [he] is doing well for his club and is of interest not only of us but for many," Zola said ahead of Chelsea's Carabao Cup quarterfinal clash with Bournemouth on Wednesday night. The 26-year-old has impressed for the Cherries this season, with eight goals and five assists in 16 league games.

Adrien Rabiot to Barcelona -- 3.7

The long-running saga surrounding the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is edging towards its conclusion. According to reports in France, Barcelona have agreed terms with 23-year-old but question marks remain over whether Rabiot will move in January or next summer when his contract at the Parc des Princes expires.

Ozan Kabak to Manchester United -- 2.0

The Galatasaray defender has emerged as a Manchester United target. The 18-year-old has impressed for the Istanbul club despite having only made his debut earlier this year. The centre-back has a £6.7m release clause in his contract and has also attracted interest from Manchester City, Inter and Roma.

Isco to Manchester City -- 1.8

The Premier League champions are weighing up a big-money move for the Spanish playmaker, who is struggling for starts under new Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari. Pep Guardiola is a long-time admirer of the 26-year-old and, although Isco has a £630m release clause, Real president Florentino Perez is reportedly willing to listen to offers.

Mario Balotelli to Fiorentina -- 1.2

Fiorentina are interested in bringing the striker back to Serie A. Balotelli is currently at Nice but is out of contract in the summer and, having recently struggled to replicate the form which made him a hit during his first two years in France, may be tempted by a return to his homeland.

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