Despite the transfer window still being more than three months away from reopening, Barcelona are already making plans, but reports in Marca claim the Catalan giants will be prioritizing sales rather than purchases in January.
Balancing the books remains very much on the Barca agenda, meaning Camp Nou chiefs will launch fresh attempts to sell Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti and Arturo Vidal when the window reopens.
Manager Ernesto Valverde knows he has to trim his midfield, where there are currently seven players vying for three slots in the La Liga champions' engine room.
Even if substantial sales are made at the turn of the year, the Spanish paper says that there will still be no major arrivals through the door.
LIVE BLOG
20.35 BST: Following a solid performance against Astana in Europa League play, Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes may be rewarded with a contract extension.
The 19-year-old midfielder got his first ever senior side start against Astana in the 1-0 win on Thursday and has impressed the Old Trafford brass enough that he could get a contract extension, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Gomes has been part of United's youth system since he was six -- but that's not too say he's part of the long-term plans. None other Barcelona are keeping tabs on him should he be let go on a free transfer.
19.30 BST: Napoli right-back Elseid Hysaj could be set for a new deal with the Serie A side, according to his agent (via Calciomercato).
The Albania defender suffered an injury during the latest international break but his agent said the player is calm about it and focusing on his club perfomance.
Hysaj joined Napoli in 2015 and has appeared in 134 apperances matches for them and is signed through 2021.
16.36 BST: Sources have told ESPN FC that Arsene Wenger is set to take up a job at FIFA in the upcoming weeks.
The former Arsenal boss is still keen to get back into management but he is on the verge of joining FIFA in a technical role.
14.53 BST: Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi has insisted he was never planning on leaving Juventus this summer.
The World Cup winner was linked with a move away from the Italian champions but said he is happy to stay in Turin.
"You were convinced I'd leave in the summer, but I never considered this an option," he told Tuttomercatoweb.
"I work every day for the team and I'm only thinking about what happens on the pitch. Juve are a great team and they give me so much confidence."
13.17 BST: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has labelled Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic a "super exciting player" ahead of the Premier League clash between the two sides on Sunday.
However, ESPN FC's Craig Burley believes the United States international is too lightweight to make an impact in England.
12.25 BST: Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has told the Financial Times that the club could have easily spent more money in previous years.
Spurs failed to sign a single player in two consecutive transfer windows and manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his frustration on more than one occasion.
"We could have easily spent more money on players," said Levy. "Who knows if that would have bought us more success or not. The right approach is to build from the bottom up.
"There is no quick fix to becoming a much more significant global club. I understand, as I am a fan, clearly you want to win on the pitch.
"But we have been trying to look at this slightly differently, in that we want to make sure we ensure an infrastructure here to stand the test of time."
Spurs finally splashed the cash this summer by signing Tanguy Ndombele for a club record transfer. They also secured the signatures of Ryan Sessegnon, Jack Clarke and Giovani Lo Celso on loan.
11.05 BST: The Independent claims that David Silva is set to join David Beckham's Inter Miami next summer.
Silva, 33, has already confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season and the report says he is intrigued by the idea of being the star man for Miami's inaugural campaign.
10.10 BST: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wants former midfielder Xabi Alonso to replace Zinedine Zidane as the club's head coach, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Alonso -- who spent five years at the Bernabeu -- is managing Real Sociedad B in the third tier of Spanish football but the report claims that Perez believes he is the right man to lead Madrid in the future.
Perez is reportedly convinced Alonso is a better option to replace Zidane than Castilla coach and Madrid legend Raul and he told his relatives he made a mistake letting Alonso go to Sociedad.
Zidane is under severe pressure at Madrid following a disappointing defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
09.00 BST: A report from Gazzetta dello Sport's Nicolo Schira says that Liverpool are about to hand a brand new contract to the in-form Sadio Mane. The Senegal international will become the club's highest-paid player, earning £220,000-a-week on a deal through to the summer of 2025.
PAPER ROUND
Liverpool Malen it in
Calciomercato claims Liverpool are keeping tabs on highly rated PSV Eindhoven striker Donyell Malen.
The 20-year-old -- who came through Arsenal's academy before moving to the Netherlands -- has started the season in blistering form, netting nine goals in 12 games, including a scoring ratio of better than a goal per game in the Eredivisie. He also has form on the European stage after he netted in his side's 3-2 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League on Thursday night.
That has alerted the Premier League leaders, who are on the lookout for a young centre-forward to provide competition for Roberto Firmino.
PSV stand to make a huge profit on a player they signed for less than £1 million just over two years ago when Malen opted to return to his homeland following a two-year spell at Arsenal.
Mustafi move still on the table
Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has refused to rule out a move away from the Emirates, despite returning to the Gunners' starting lineup in their 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.
The German was placed on the transfer list by Unai Emery after a disappointing campaign last time out but, after the North Londoners were unable to find a buyer over the summer, the 27-year-old stayed put.
The former Valencia man is remaining coy regarding his future at the club, but claims he will not kick up a fuss if it is decided his future is elsewhere. A return to Germany is believed to be his preferred destination if he were to depart the Premier League.
Mustafi told the Daily Mail: "If at some point a club from Germany has interest and it fits, I'm open for it."
Tap-ins
- La Liga side Villarreal are interested in signing FC Salzburg striker Takumi Minamino, according to Calciomercato. The Japan international has had a hand in 10 goals in just eight games this season, and has just over 18 months remaining on his deal in Austria.
- The Sun claims Watford are hoping to beat Championship outfit Hull City to the signing of young Swedish prospect Kevin Harletun. The 19-year-old striker had been training at Hull ahead of the expiration of his contract at Malmo, but the Hornets have now entered the race for the Sweden youth international.
- Sources at the Mirror believe Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke invested his own money into the club for their summer transfer splurge -- instead of the club's usual self-sustainable model, signalling a potential change in the long-term transfer strategy at the club. Arsenal spent heavily in the close season, including the £72m purchase of Nicolas Pepe from Lille.
- Experienced German striker Alexander Meier is on his way to the A-League, according to AAP. The former Eintracht Frankfurt star will sign for Markus Babbel's Western Sydney Wanderers.
