January is just around the corner. Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.
TOP STORY: Arsenal bracing for Auba, Ozil exodus
Arsenal stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil are both wanting to leave the club in search of a new challenge.
The Independent reported on Thursday that a source close to the club claims Gunners skipper Aubameyang wants to leave the Emirates amid interest from Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
It was hoped by Arsenal that Unai Emery's sacking -- and the reported arrival of Mikel Arteta -- would buy the club time with with their star players, but Alexandre Lacazette and Granit Xhaka also are understandably keen to end their stay in north London.
Meanwhile, Ozil took a major step forward in his attempt to exit Arsenal as he met with Fenerbahce bosses, according to Turkish publication Fotomac.
Ozil, 31, has been linked with the Istanbul-based club amid his wish to pursue options elsewhere. But Fotomac claimed on Thursday that Ozil discussed the possibility of moving to play in the Super Lig on a loan agreement.
This season, Ozil has made 11 appearances for the Gunners and failed to score a single goal -- the German's last goal in an Arsenal shirt occurred on April 21 during the club's 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
LIVE BLOG
23.10 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!
22.43 GMT: PSG and Juventus are among the favourites to win the Champions League but could the two be set to make a swap deal in January?
RMC Sport suggests former Liverpool midfielder Emre Can wants to leave Turin after being left out of Juventus' Champions League squad and that fellow central midfielder Leandro Paredes, could go in the opposite direction. PSG reportedly want to add a more physical midfielder, while Paredes has made just 20 appearances since arriving in Paris from Zenit St. Petersburg last January.
Can has been linked with multiple clubs, as the Germany midfielder has fallen down the pecking order under Maurizio Sarri at Juventus.
22.06 GMT: Philippe Coutinho is currently enjoying his loan spell at Bayern Munich from Barcelona but what is in store long-term for the diminutive Brazilian?
Former Man United and Brazil midfielder Kleberson believes Man City should move for the playmaker, who has amassed seven goals and seven assists so far this season at Bayern.
"The way City play with more possession of the ball. Philippe Coutinho could bring a lot of quality to Manchester City," Kleberson told Bet O'Clock . "He is not the best player at Bayern, but he looks much better. With the players around him, I think he would be a good fit at Manchester City."
Coutinho, 27, no longer looks to have a future at Barcelona, who spent £130 million for the player back in Jan. 2018, but Man City? We think Pep Guardiola has enough attacking options at his disposal already...
21.22 GMT: Teams looking for help at striker could do worse than landing Olivier Giroud in January. The 33-year-old has started just two Premier League games this season but just last season was the leading scorer in the Europa League.
The World Cup winner has reason to leave Chelsea in January as well, as the former Arsenal man is searching for regular football to help solidify his case to make France's squad for next summer's 2020 Euros. Goal.com writes that Bordeaux are the leaders for Giroud and are confident of signing the striker, but that Giroud would prefer a move to Antonio Conte's Inter Milan,
A dominant aerial presence, Giroud figures to be able to chip in some goals for someone this season if he does leave Stamford Bridge.
20.57 GMT: Aston Villa are cash-strapped at the moment but loan moves are not out of the question for the Premier League club.
Football Insider suggests the Villains are one of the clubs battling it out for Liverpool starlet Rhian Brewster. The report lists Villa, Leeds, Swansea and Huddersfield Town with the highly-touted 19-year-old. Liverpool are hoping to find regular playing time for Brewster, who has been a star with Liverpool's reserves and various England underage sides.
One would think Brewster is destined for a Championship side, though, as it is hard to imagine a 19-year-old loanee getting consistent playing time at a Premier League club that looks that it might be headed for a relegation fight.
20.16 GMT: Could Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic be looking to sign a striker in January?
Manager Neil Lennon confirmed in his Friday news conference that in-form Slovan Bratislava hitman Andraz Sporar is one player the club have interest in. Sporar, 25, has scored 20 goals in 26 games this season for Slovan, putting himself firmly in the European shop window. A full international, Sporar has played 19 times for his native Slovenia, scoring twice.
19.41 GMT: We have another Liga MX to MLS deal to announce...
The Columbus Crew have announced they have acquired Argentine midfielder Lucas Zelarayan from Tigres. The 27-year-old was heavily tipped with a move to Columbus, and the Crew have finished off the job, signing Zelarayan for a club record fee in access of $7 million.
Welcome to Columbus, @Lucazelarayan31!
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) December 20, 2019
The Argentine midfielder joins #Crew96 from @TigresOficial for a Club-record transfer fee.
We are excited to welcome Lucas Zelarayan to Columbus Crew SC," president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a club release. "Lucas is both an intelligent and skillful player whose ability to score and create goals makes him the type of playmaker we want on our team. He has been a key member of one of the most dominant Liga MX teams in recent years, consistently winning national and international titles with Tigres UANL. We expect Lucas to be both a difference-maker and a leader in our squad."
Zelarayan spent the last four seasons at Tigres, scoring 23 goals and adding 14 assists, while also winning three league titles.
18:53 GMT: Tottenham's Lucas Moura has told ESPN Brasil he was close to joining Manchester United in 2012. The Brazil international opted to sign for PSG instead, then moved to Spurs in 2018.
18.10 GMT: Rangers coach Steven Gerrard is considering re-approaching his former club Liverpool over midfielder Herbie Kane in January, Football Insider has reported. The Scottish side were unable to agree a deal for the youngster in the summer
17.30 GMT: Crystal Palace are interested in AC Milan forward Fabio Borini, according to Corriere Dello Sport. The Italian, 28, spent a spell at Liverpool between 2012 and 2015.
16.45 GMT: In light of their transfer ban being reduced, Chelsea are targeting Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior, Spanish publication El Desmarque has reported. The Premier League club will apparently look to move for the 19-year-old Brazil international in January.
16.00 GMT: Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is holding off on a deal with Real Madrid, in case Manchester United or Manchester City come knocking at the end of the season, according to The Sun.
15.05 GMT: The latest chapter in today's saga around Erling Haaland visiting Manchester is in. It seems the player's father -- who works as the 19-year-old's agent -- is having some fun on Twitter while at the airport... None of the destinations pictured are Manchester though...
14.20 GMT: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde says he doesn't know what will happen with Jean-Clair Todibo after the young defender was linked with a January move to Manchester United. Sources told ESPN earlier this month that Todibo, 19, is drawing interest from Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan, Southampton and Watford.
13:15 GMT: Super agent Mino Raiola has told The Telegraph that Paul Pogba wants to stay at Manchester United but needs "more support." The France midfielder has not played since United took on Arsenal on Sept. 30.
12.40 GMT: The plot thickens in the Erling Haaland to Manchester United story... A Manchester Evening News source has said there has been no sign of the Norway international at Manchester Airport and no passengers saw the 19-year-old.
12.00 GMT: Sources have told ESPN that Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin are keen on signing Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka. The Switzerland international, who previously played in the Bundesliga for Borussia Monchengladbach, was stripped of the club captaincy shortly before Unai Emery's sacking last month.
11.12 GMT: According to The Sun, Manchester United and Manchester City are both keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz, ahead of a possible summer swoop for the 20-year-old.
10.36 GMT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has played down the prospect of Erling Haaland joining Manchester United in January despite reports on Friday the FC Salzburg striker is flying into Manchester for talks.
10.08 GMT: Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has signed a new contract. A Tottenham statement read: "We are delighted to announce that Toby Alderweireld has signed a new contract with the Club until 2023."
09.36 GMT: Time for an Erling Haaland update! Aftenbladet in Norway is reporting that the FC Salzburg striker and his father, Alf-Inge, will travel to Manchester on Friday for talks with Manchester United. It was United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who first spotted Haaland, signing him for Molde from Byrne in January 2017.
09.00 GMT: Reports in Italy, from Calcio Mercato, say that Carlo Ancelotti will look to sign free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic in January, if he is confirmed as the new manager of Everton
PAPER ROUND
Little hope for Pogba amid Madrid interest
The Mirror has reported that Manchester United players and officials are convinced Paul Pogba has played his final game for the club, amid transfer rumours linking him with Real Madrid.
United's record £89 million signing was due to return to action this week after recovering from a foot injury that has ruled him out since September, but he has been setback further by a mystery illness.
Now, it's been reported that those employed by the club are confident Pogba will not play in red again -- that's despite manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer insisting the midfielder remains a key part of his plans going forward.
It's reported that interested clubs will have to cough up around £150m to prize Pogba away from Old Trafford. His contract expires in the summer 2021.
Tap ins
- Premier League dark horses Sheffield United have confirmed free agent Jack Rodwell is training with the first team amid rumours of a potential move. Rodwell's contract with Blackburn ended in the summer, and he has been without a club since. But now, the Daily Mail has reported the 28-year-old's two-year topflight absence could be about to end with Chris Wilder revealing something may develop in the weeks building up to the opening of the January transfer window.
- AC Milan central midfielder Franck Kessie has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League. MilanNews has reported that the 23-year-old could be on his way out of the San Siro with manager Stefano Pioli reportedly keen to add some reinforcements to his improving squad. Kessie has appeared 14 times in Seria A this season, scoring no goals.