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LIVE Transfer Talk: Chelsea confident of landing Werner from RB Leipzig

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: Werner tops Chelsea's January spending 

Chelsea are like kids in a sweet shop with the January transfer window approaching and Timo Werner is at the top of their wanted list, reports the Telegraph.

The Blues are expected to look into whether or not the RB Leipzig forward has a release clause that could be triggered when the window opens on Jan. 1.

Leipzig will no doubt have other ideas. The team are top of the Bundesliga and are preparing to face Tottenham in the round of 16 in the Champions League, which means they're desperate to keep their man.

Werner has scored 23 goals in 24 games but, as well as a central striking position, he can also play out wide, which would suit the way Chelsea have been set up under manager Frank Lampard this season.

The Telegraph adds that Chelsea are also reportedly looking into Moussa Dembele, Jadon Sancho, Wilfried Zaha, Leon Bailey and Samuel Chukwueze. OK, basically everyone!

LIVE BLOG

22.00 GMT: Well transfer fans, it's been a sleepy end to the month of December, but with the window opening on Jan. 1 in England, German and France things looks to get spicy again in the coming hours and days. Thanks as always for checking in and join us again tomorrow as the Transfer Talk Live Blog brings you all the deals from the upcoming winter window.

21.15 GMT: The Daily Mail is reporting that Manchester City are considering cancelling the loan of Patrick Roberts to Norwich City. The 22-year-old, who left the Etihad for the Canaries in search of more playing time, has featured just five times this season for Norwich and the report says Man City reckon he can find more minutes at Championship side Middlesbrough.

20.20 GMT: More MLS news out of southern California, with 2019 Supporters' Shield winners LAFC has announced that left-back Jordan Harvey and center-back Dejan Jakovic have both signed new deals for the upcoming season.

18.59 GMT: The LA Galaxy have announced the signing of midfielder Aleksandar Katai from the Chicago Fire with the use of Targeted Allocation Money. The MLS outfit said in a press release that it hopes the 28-year-old Serbian, who has experience playing in Europe and scored 18 goals during two seasons with the Fire, will give the team added firepower on the heels of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's departure.

17.21 GMT: We have confirmation of a move involving Borussia Dortmund well, because they've tweeted the well wishes for former midfielder Julian Weigl, who is joining Benfica.

Weigl, 24, played nearly 100 games for Dortmund since 2015 but struggled with injuries across that span and was also used as a jack-of-all-trades player, slotting in as a defensive midfielder, centre-back and full-back when needed. The fee is reportedly in the 20 million range: good business for a player who's out of favour at Dortmund on the depth chart.

16.12 GMT: The Daily Mirror reports that "Inter Milan are ready to rival Barcelona in the battle to sign Arsenal 's unsettled striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang."

Aubameyang reportedly won't sign a new deal and could leave the Gunners in the summer, with one year left on his contract.

The striker has seen plenty of interest from big clubs but Inter are now part of the race, despite having spent £70m on Romelu Lukaku already.

15.31 GMT: Barcelona have made an official approach to Dinamo Zagreb over a summer move for Spain international Dani Olmo, multiple sources have told ESPN.

The Spanish champions have informed Zagreb that they are interested in signing the versatile forward and enquired about a possible price, although they have not made an official bid at this stage.

Olmo, who came through Barca's La Masia academy before leaving for Croatia in 2014 aged 16, has a contract with Zagreb until 2021.

Barca have been following him intensely in recent months, especially in the Champions League, where he scored two goals in six group games.

15.08 GMT: Atletico Madrid have been in need of a replacement for Rodri after the midfielder joined Man City in the summer, with Argentine teenager Thiago Almada on the radar, according to AS.

Almada, 18, has impressed at Velez Sarsfield and coach Diego Simeone is reportedly keen to make a €17m move in January.

14.27 GMT: Chelsea could find themselves with a £25m offer for Emerson Palmieri from Inter Milan, according to The Independent.

The acceptance of the offer hinges on the Blues getting a replacement, but Leicester's Ben Chilwell is Frank Lampard's preferred target at left-back and he could cost £70m.

The report adds: "Juventus have also shown an interest in the 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea on a four-and-a-half-year contract in January 2018, but Antonio Conte's side are considered the more likely destination if any move was sanctioned."

13.58 GMT: Wilfried Zaha is one of those who could be on the move this window, but Crystal Palace will only consider bids of £80m or above.

Asked whether the 27-year-old would be sold in January, Palace boss Roy Hodgson replied: "Well, Wilf is not for sale, so basically I don't need assurances. We aren't trying to sell Wilfried Zaha, we want to keep Wilfried Zaha. I have the assurance there is no one in the club that wants to sell Wilfried Zaha, but of course you never know where bids are going to come from and I suppose every time there is a serious bid for one of your players the board of directors needs to take it seriously."

13.39 GMT: Transfers are getting complicated these days. Now to sign a world-class player, you have to play the long game.

AS are linking Ethan Mbappe, the younger brother of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, with Real Madrid. The kid is only 13 but caught the eye at the recent International Champions Cup Futures tournament and is evidently a key part of the Spanish club's efforts to land his big bro.

As a result, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is being linked back with PSG but it's unlikely the club will replace him with Ethan (or Kylian) just yet.

13.17 GMT: Foot Mercato claims that PSG sporting director Leonardo is keeping an eye on Gremio forward Everton Soares. The Brazilian has previously been on the radar of Arsenal.

Over in Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport, Sport Mediaset and Tuttosport say PSG want AC Milan's Lucas Paqueta, while Sport Mediaset reckon PSG will offer €10m plus Germany winger Julian Draxler.

PSG are also discussing the loan of 18-year-old centre-back Loic Mbe Soh with Le Havre, according to RMC Sport.

12.35 GMT: Real Madrid forward James Rodriguez is being linked with Everton, as he is reportedly keen to link up with manager Carlo Ancelotti again.

However, Ancelotti himself isn't even thinking about transfers until Jan. 5, after the Merseyside derby with Liverpool in the FA Cup.

"The market is not open yet. It opens tomorrow," he told a news conference. "There are a lot of rumours, that is normal. Everywhere in the world is like this. After the 5th of January we will have a meeting with the club and see if it is impossible to improve the squad. It is, in my opinion, a good squad."

12.03 GMT: Nemanja Matic could be on the move from Man United in January, with Atletico Madrid interested, as he's slipped down the pecking order.

"I don't know what to say. I have a contract for another six months, we'll see in January what's going to happen," Matic told the Telegraf. "Will I extend the contract or try to find something else?

"United have some option to extend my contract, but we will see if the plans of the club match my plans. I couldn't say anything more because I don't really know either."

11.27 GMT: Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka could be set to join Hertha Berlin next month and one FC TV pundit thinks his exit would be good for the Gunners.

11.04 GMT: Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo has only played twice in La Liga this season and looks set to join AC Milan on loan for the rest of the season, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Todibo, 20, could join the Italian club for around €20m in the summer if everything goes to plan.

10.44 GMT: Real Madrid are considering cancelling Jesus Vallejo's loan with Wolves early, with the Spanish defender having not played since Oct. 30 for technical reasons, according to Diario AS.

The centre-back joined Wolves on a season-long loan in the summer and has made just seven appearances in all competitions with just one start in the Premier League. The Spanish outlet report that Madrid have contacted Wolves to discuss the option of ending the loan deal early, with other clubs keen to sign Vallejo temporarily for the second half of the season.

La Liga side Leganes and Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt are among the clubs interested in adding the defender to their squad in the winter transfer window. 

10.00 GMT: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he is "optimistic" about making signings in January despite missing out on Erling Haaland.

"I'm always an optimist," Solskjaer said. "I'm optimistic we can keep players fit and if the right ones become available we do have the resources and I do have the backing from the board, but it's also about getting the right ones. It has to be.

"There's no point suddenly bringing someone else in now for the sake of three or four months if that can disrupt any good feeling or chemistry in the group, because the chemistry in the group is really good. It has to be the right type and it has to be a good investment for the long term as well."

09.35 GMT: Atletico Madrid are looking to strengthen their attack in the transfer window with Paco Alcacer now considered their No. 1 target, according to Marca.

The Rojiblancos had evaluated signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani, who becomes a free agent next summer. However, the player's high wage demands and Cavani's preference to leave the French giants at the end of the season, have been a stumbling block.

Alcacer, 26, has reportedly notified Borussia Dortmund of his wish to leave the club in January after the Bungesliga giants announced the signing of highly rated striker Erling  Haaland from FC Salzburg.

A former Valencia star, Alcacer has made just six Bundesliga starts this season and the arrival of Haaland will see him fall further down the pecking order. The Spanish forward wants to return to La Liga and Atletico would offer him the option to join on loan, with a purchase option included in the deal.

09.00 GMT: Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo almost joined Everton in the summer and is preparing to leave the club in the January transfer window.

Rojo, 29, has been a bit-part player this season and doesn't see a future for himself at Old Trafford. The MEN reports a move is on the cards.

PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd)

Arteta to toughen up Arsenal with Upamecano

Staying in Saxony, the Mirror is reporting that new Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta aims to strengthen his back line with the capture of Werner's Leipzig teammate Dayot Upamecano.

The Gunners' defence has been a weak spot this season and Arteta is expected to be given funds to reinforce it. The 21-year-old centre-back is central to the plans, with Arteta believed to be keeping tabs on Upamecano, who could be allowed to leave next month as a result of his contract coming to an end in 2021.

Upamecano is attracting interest from a host of other clubs, but Arteta will be more desperate than most. With his defence already struggling, he also lost Calum Chambers to injury during the 2-1 loss against Chelsea on Sunday and already has Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney on the treatment table. That leaves Arteta with David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi, neither of whom have been in form.

- When does the transfer window reopen?
- All major completed transfer deals

Klopp expecting Lallana exit

Jurgen Klopp is hoping to tempt Adam Lallana into signing a one-year extension to his contract, reports the Telegraph. However, the Liverpool boss admits his midfielder is targeting first-team action.

Lallana's contract expires in the summer and he is able to discuss and agree to terms with other clubs from Jan. 1, with a view to moving in six months' time. The England international impressed against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, and his growing importance to the squad has not been lost on Klopp.

Lallana's situation vis-a-vis playing time won't be helped by the arrival of Japan international Takumi Minamino, which means there's an interesting month ahead for the Liverpool hierarchy.

Manchester United to lose out on Kulusevski?

Manchester United could be set to lose out on another January transfer target if Gazzetta dello Sport is to be believed. The Italian title is suggesting that Juventus are not only ready to hijack their signing of Atalanta star Dejan Kulusevski, but that personal terms have already been agreed with a view to the transfer going ahead when the window opens.

Kulusevski has been on loan at Parma this season and has scored four goals and contributed seven assists in 17 Serie A appearances, starring in their recent win against Napoli with a goal and late assist.

The fee is believed to be around £30m, with the 19-year-old allowed to stay at Parma for the remainder of the season.

Tap-ins

- Manchester United are lining up their summer business early, with Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin believed to be one of their main transfer targets, reports the Sun. United have already missed out on prime target Erling Haaland, who joined Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, and while Jadon Sancho remains on the Red Devils' wanted list, Calvert-Lewin could be seen as a bargain at just £50m.

- Aston Villa are looking to sign Danny Drinkwater on loan from his current loan deal at Burnley from Chelsea, reports the Mail. Drinkwater has made just two appearances for the Clarets this season, but the club are keen to extend the agreement. Villa, though, are keen to add new faces to a squad that has endured a dramatic loss of form in recent weeks.

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