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LIVE Transfer Talk: Jose Mourinho aims to bring Gareth Bale back to Tottenham

The transfer windows in Europe's top leagues are closed, but it's never too early to look forward to January. Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.

TOP STORY: Mourinho to offer Bale Spurs return

We're less than a day into his Tottenham tenure, but already the seemingly inevitable has occurred: Jose Mourinho is being linked with a move for Gareth Bale.

Spanish publication AS claims that the Real Madrid star is on Mourinho's shopping list, which could potentially see Bale make an emotional return to North London, six years after his initial exit. The media outlet states that 30-year-old Bale could be the perfect signing for Mourinho, with the Portuguese coach keen to make his mark at the club from the onset.

AS also quotes Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, who claims that his client would not be leaving in the winter market, with the player instead preferring a summer move next year.

Regardless of where he goes, Bale's days in Madrid seem numbered, with the Wales international angering Los Blancos with this little stunt after his country's Euro 2020-clinching win over Hungary on Tuesday.

LIVE BLOG

22.58 BST: Unhappy under Unai Emery and unsettled in North London, Lucas Torreira could be on his way out of Arsenal in January, according to the Sun, who writes that AC Milan and Napoli are keen to take the former Sampdoria man back to Serie A on an 18-month loan with an obligation to buy.

21.41 BST: While Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have been linked with a move for wantaway Juventus midfielder Emre Can for months now, Calciomercato writes it's another club who's submitted the first bid for the Germany international: Real Betis. However, the 25-year-old is said to have dismissed the approach out of hand.

20.14 BST: Leicester City are determined to reject any Chelsea approach for left-back Ben Chilwell, the Evening Standard reports. The West London club could have its two-window transfer ban overturned, leaving them free to sign players in January, and have long been linked with a move for the 22-year-old England left-back, who the Foxes value in excess of £60m.

18.57 BST: AC Milan have submitted an initial offer to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. The report states that Milan are hopeful of getting a jump on the competition for the 28-year-old's services -- Napoli and Bologna are two clubs mentioned as always entertaining an offer -- but that there is a gap between the Swede's "considerably high" wage demands and what's on offer at the San Siro.

17.30 GMT: Thiago Silva's agent Paulo Tonietto has been speaking to Tuttomercatoweb about the Brazilian defender's future.

"Thiago's contract is up in June, but we are not worried at all," he said. "Thiago is doing very well in Paris and playing for a big club -- he is happy. We must speak with PSG's leaders and we will do that in January. However, as long as we are not speaking, I do not know what could happen. Anything can happen -- a contract extension, or a departure. Obviously we are thinking about Ligue 1 and the Champions League right now. PSG is the priority. In January, we will discuss a potential renewal."

Asked for his opinion on Silva's future after this season, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel was vocal in his support of giving the 35-year-old a contract extension and said he cannot imagine life without the defender.

"Leonardo [PSG's sporting director] knows my opinion," Tuchel said. "I hope to play a role. Thiago is an incredible captain -- he is a leader and a role model for us in the dressing room and on the pitch. He has been playing exceptionally well since I arrived. OK, age is a topic, just not the most important one. I do not want to imagine a PSG without Thiago."

16.24 GMT: Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson has been linked with a £50m move to Manchester United and Chelsea in recent years, but he told Versus that he's not thinking about a transfer.

"I usually find out by people reading stuff and coming up to me! I'm just kind of like 'you know as much as me' -- I don't really listen to it. I don't read papers and I don't read Twitter feeds about transfer rumours ... I tend to just focus on myself," he said. "I've signed a contract at Bournemouth so I'm committed there. I try not to let anything like that affect my game."

15.38 GMT: Villarreal defender Pau Torres in on the Arsenal radar, as the Gunners seek a €40m move to bolster their defence.

Torres, 22, made his debut for the Spain national team earlier this month and is tipped as a top young prospect, with ABC De Sevilla reporting that Arsenal want to pair him with new recruit William Saliba next season.

15.00 GMT: Jose Mourinho has described his Tottenham squad as a "gift" and said he will not need to sign new players in the January transfer window.

Mourinho, speaking at his first news conference since replacing the sacked Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs manager on Wednesday, will start his reign in charge with a trip to West Ham on Saturday aiming to kickstart the club's season following just three wins in 12 Premier League games so far.

But despite inheriting a team that is currently sitting in the bottom half of the table, Mourinho insisted that the squad which reached last season's Champions League final is much stronger than its league position suggests. And as a result, he will not be asking chairman Daniel Levy for reinforcements when the transfer window opens.

"For players, the best gift is the ones that are here," Mourinho said. "I don't need players, I am so happy with the ones I have.

"But I need to get to know them. I know them well from playing against them, but you never know them well enough until you work with them. But my gift is this squad. It is a very, very good squad. I am not here to make dramatic changes, just follow my ideas in the progressive way."

14.34 GMT: Peterborough forward Ricky Jade-Jones has been the subject of a £1.75m bid from Tottenham, reports the Sun.

Despite sacking Mauricio Pochettino and hiring Jose Mourinho inside 11 hours, Tottenham are still on the hunt for new players and the 17-year-old forward is on the radar.

However, Peterborough aren't willing to sell for less than £10m and manager Darren Ferguson recently described Jade-Jones as "the quickest player I have ever managed."

13.54 GMT: Nicolas Gaitan is set to leave MLS side Chicago Fire when his contract expires this month and the Guardian reports that West Ham, Aston Villa and Sheffield United are interested.

Gaitan, 31, picked up four goals and 11 assists in 27 MLS games last season and the Argentine forward is now keen to return to Europe. He previously played at Chinese side Dalian Yifang and was linked with Manchester United a few years ago but may be ready to join another Premier League side.

13.03 GMT: Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino won't be out of a job for long if Sky Germany are to be believed.

Bayern are looking at the Argentine to replace interim boss Hansi Flick, after the club sacked Niko Kavac earlier this month. But they'll need to move fast as Manchester United and Real Madrid will also been keen to snap up Poch.

12.19 GMT: Last month we brought you news that Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to continue his policy of targeting British players next summer with Jadon Sancho and James Maddison, sources told ESPN FC.

However, England midfielder Maddison could sign a new contract at Leicester, according to the MEN.

That said, the report states: "Sources close to Maddison insist a new deal with Leicester is not close and Maddison could wait until the end of the season before deciding on his future."

So make of that what you will.

11.31 GMT: You might expect Tottenham to be keen now Jose Mourinho is in charge, but Atletico Madrid have joined AC Milan in the race to sign Nemanja Matic from Manchester United in January, sources have told ESPN FC.

The Serbia midfielder, who has played under Mourinho twice and completed a £40m move to Old Trafford from Chelsea in July 2017, has fallen out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season, making just five appearances in all competitions, and is ready to seek a move away from the club during the transfer window.

United rejected interest from AC Milan in the 31-year-old this summer, but Matic remains a target for the Italian club. Atletico have now emerged as a rival for Matic's signature, however, with the Spanish club seeking experienced reinforcements in midfield.

10.15 GMT: Big one here, if true...

Spanish TV programme "Chiringuito De Jugones" had journalist Eduardo Inda on and he asserted that Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for a stunning return to Manchester United.

Ronaldo, 34, has reportedly had a falling out with new boss Maurizio Sarri and will quit the club if they don't win the Champions League this season -- paving the way for a move to Old Trafford as Juve eye other targets.

"Juventus want to sign [Paul] Pogba and [Kylian] Mbappe," he said. "I think it is going to be difficult for them, especially the second one. Due to the salary limits, if they want to sign these players they would have to allow for Ronaldo's exit from the club, so it is becoming a very likely outcome."

09.34 GMT: With Mauricio Pochettino now available, should the Manchester United manager be worried?

08.31 GMT: Martin Odegaard has reiterated his plans to stay on loan at Real Sociedad for two years, as he prepares to face parent club Real Madrid on Saturday.

The 20-year-old playmaker, one of La Liga's outstanding players this season, has been out of action this month with an ankle injury, but expects to feature at the Bernabeu.

"You never know in football, but the plan is to stay here for two years" he told radio show El Larguero on Wednesday night.

Odegaard joined Real Madrid in 2015 but made just one first-team appearance, spending two-and-a-half years on loan in the Dutch Eredivisie before this current spell in San Sebastian.

- Hamilton: Odegaard goes from flop to La Liga star

 08.01 GMT: Manchester United are in the market for a striker in January and a new name is on their radar -- and it's a familiar face. Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has caught Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's eye and the United boss could make a move for the Roma man when the window opens.  

While United's transfer policy under Solskjaer has focused on promising young players, executive vice chairman Ed Woodward may sanction a move for Dzeko, 33, having also come close to landing Juventus' Mario Mandzukic last summer. More on him below ... 

United are said to want an experienced option in attack to lessen the burden on Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, which could lead to a move for Dzeko, who has scored six in 15 appearances so far this season.

Sources have told ESPN that United were close to completing a £14 million move for Mandzukic, 33, in August before shelving the deal. United have retained a tentative interest in the Croatia international, who is yet to kick a ball for Juventus this season. But Dzeko is seen as a viable alternative. 

08.00 GMT: Welcome to another edition of LIVE Transfer Talk ... and we have quite the story to kick things off! Coming up...

PAPER TALK (by Tom Fenton)

Mandzukic edges closer to Juve exit

Croatia star Mario Mandzukic could be set to leave Juventus following a recent lack of game time in Turin, Calciomercato reports.

The 33-year-old has played an instrumental role in Juventus' recent domestic success, but a change in management has also brought a change in fortunes for the powerful striker. Calciomercato says that Mauricio Sarri's appointment as Juve boss in the summer has led to Mandzukic finding himself on the sideline all too often for the player's liking.

With the likes of Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund both reportedly keen, the Italian publication claims that a January move might now finally be on the cards.

Aubameyang holding out for potential Barca move

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still not renewing his contract with Arsenal, Sport is claiming that Barcelona interest could be the key reason why. The Gabon striker, who has a deal until 2021, knows of the Catalan club's interest and is thought to be ready to explore the idea of a move, should the possibility present itself.

Reports in the UK have suggested that Aubameyang's contract decision ultimately hinges upon whether Arsenal qualify for next season's Champions League, and that a final call will be made only once the club's fate is known.

The Spanish publication claims that the Arsenal forward is viewed as possible competition for Luis Suarez, with his goal-scoring ability reportedly seducing the Catalan giants.

Tap ins

- Former United States star Claudio Reyna is leaving his post as sporting director of New York City FC to take a similar position for expansion team Austin FC, The Athletic reported Wednesday, and Austin officials didn't deny that something is in the works. Reyna, 46, has built an expansion team from scratch before. He became NYCFC sporting director in 2013 and prepared the franchise for its debut 2015 season.

- Newcastle United could be set to rival the likes of Celtic and Leicester City in the race to sign Le Mans winger Stephane Diarra, according to The Daily Star. The 20-year-old has featured 16 times for the French outfit so far this season, netting on three occasions. 

- Another from Major League Soccer here, as the Houston Dynamo announced that they acquired Victor Cabrera from the Montreal Impact in exchange for Romell Quioto and $100,000 in allocation money.

- Another from The Daily Mail, which reports that Wolves are preparing a January move for England youth international Danny Loader. The Reading forward is seemingly a player in demand, with Manchester United also said to be tracking the 19-year-old. The Mail claims that Wolves first expressed interest in Loader in August, but a move ultimately failed to materialise.

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