The coronavirus pandemic made the summer transfer market unlike any before it, but there were still plenty of deals done, and you can check out the major ones here. The window might be closed across the top leagues in Europe, but here are the best rumours from around the globe.
TOP STORY: Odegaard to assist Real with Haaland
Real Madrid are hoping that Martin Odegaard will help them in securing the signing of Erling Haaland, AS reports.
The two Norway internationals are believed to be close friends, with the hope being that Haaland will also be open to the pair linking up at the Bernabeu.
There is reportedly an agreement of sorts in place between Haaland's agent and Real for the youngster to join Zinedine Zidane's side in 2022, but if they want the Borussia Dortmund star any sooner, Odegaard could help in the recruiting.
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20.51 GMT: After selling right-back Bouna Sarr to Bayern Munich this summer, Marseille could use some cover at right-back.
Telefoot La Chaine has learned that Marseille sporting director Pablo Longoria has his eyes on Man City youngster Issa Kabore, who is currently on loan in Belgium at KV Mechelen. The 19-year-old is a full Burkina Faso international and could reportedly by pried away from City for €5 million.
20.03 GMT: Inter Milan's Matias Vecino could be nearing an end in Milan, according to Tuttosport.
The Uruguayan midfielder is out injured until January but is reportedly on the radar of two Serie A clubs: Torino and Naples. Vecino, 29, joined Inter from Fiorentina for €24 million in 2017.
19.25 GMT: Milan and Leicester to battle over a World Cup winner?
Calciomercato writes that the Rossoneri and Leicester City are both tracking Marseille winger Florian Thauvin. Marseille are attempting to renew the 27-year-old, but to this point have been unsuccessful.
Marseille are looking for €20 million for the player, who reportedly wants a three-year contract at €5m per season in salary.
18.36 GMT: With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez out with long-term injuries, Liverpool could use centre-back help.
Portuguese Television station Sic Noticias claims that Olympiakos defender Ruben Semedo could be an option in January. The Greek club are asking for €20 million for the 26-year-old, who recently has earned two caps for Portugal.
Semedo doesn't come without some serious baggage though, as the former Villarreal defender has a troubling and well-documented legal history.
17.42 GMT: Wolves star Raul Jimenez has confirmed there was indeed summer interest from Man United.
"One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an agreement was never reached and nothing was close. I'm very happy at Wolves," Jimenez told TUDN.
"The truth is I am very happy in Wolverhampton. It's never wrong to be in a place where you are well but they know that I am not satisfied [with my form], I always look for more.
"It [a move] did not happen this time. If it happens at some point then it will have to be what is best for me, for Wolves and the team that I join. But I am very happy at Wolves and being considered a very important player."
The 29-year-old, who has scored 48 goals in 108 games with Wolves since arriving, initially on loan, from Benfica, signed a new contract in October which ties him to Molineux through 2024.
16.58 GMT: The Chicago Fire have made their first signing of the offseason, the club announcing they have signed Nigerian forward Chinonso Offor from Latvian club FK Rīgas Futbola Skola.
Making moves in attack.
— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) November 13, 2020
Welcome to Chicago, Chinonso Offor. pic.twitter.com/4H9pGYDVov
The 20-year-old has racked up 16 goals and seven assists over the past two-and-a-half seasons (40 games) for FK RFS.
"We are very pleased to welcome Chinonso to the Fire family," sporting director Georg Heitz said in a statement. "His signing is the latest example of our intention to add promising young players to the roster. With his skillset, we believe that Chinonso will complement our current attacking players very well and be a key contributor to the team."
16.07 GMT: Barcelona must pay Lionel Messi a €33m loyalty bonus next summer as part of the contract he signed with the club in 2017, sources told ESPN's Moises Llorens. Messi has received half of the €66m bonus in February, with the second half due in June when his contract expires and he can leave for free.
It's not the first time Barca have chosen to reward players in this manner. Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta also received bonuses -- although nowhere near as much as Messi -- while other players, including Carles Puyol, turned down the chance to make more money from the club.
According to sources, Messi also received a renewal bonus "worth around €100m" when he signed the four-year deal three years ago. That bonus was paid in instalments across the course of his contract.
Messi, 33, would have given up the second half of the bonus had he left the club earlier this year, as he wanted to. Instead, he remained at Camp Nou and his future beyond this season heavily depends on who is elected as the club's new president after Josep Maria Bartomeu stepped down. Messi's 20-year stay at the club hinges on the incoming president being able to sell the club's new sporting project to him.
The €33m owed to Messi comes at a bad time for Barca as they continue to negotiate wage deferrals with the club's employees, including the first-team squad. Several players have already agreed to new contracts which will see them take a hit on their salaries this season under the agreement that it's returned in the coming years.
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15.18 GMT: With Liverpool's current woes with injuries to centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, could Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano be the answer?
14.29 GMT: Real Madrid's players will be asked to take another pay cut as the club deals with the ongoing losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, sources have told ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez.
The club are putting the finishing touches to this season's budget, which will be finalised in the next few days, and will then present a proposal to the first team squad.
Sources have told ESPN the exact percentage of salaries that the players will be asked to give up has not yet been fixed.
When that figure is set, talks will be held with the club's captains Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane.
In April, a first pay cut of between 10% and 20% was agreed for players, coaching staff and top executives, while the club decided not to spend money on new signings during the summer transfer window. The squad also agreed to give up bonuses they were owed for winning La Liga this summer.
13.35 GMT: Portuguese defender David Carmo is attracting interest from Premier League clubs including Manchester United, sources told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
The highly rated 21-year-old has impressed for Braga in Portugal, emerging as a target for a number of clubs in England and across Europe. Roma and Fiorentina were among the clubs to express an interest in Carmo during the summer.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains keen to add a left-sided centre-back to his squad and Carmo, part of the Portugal Under-19 team which won the European Championship in 2018, is among the options.
However, any move for a defender is likely to be based on at least one centre-back leaving Old Trafford. United are open to offers for both Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo after the pair were left out of this season's Champions League squad.
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12.43 GMT: Barcelona will elect a new president on Jan. 24, 88 days after Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned from the role, sources have told ESPN's Sam Marsden.
The managing committee overseeing the running of the club had to call the election within 90 days of Bartomeu stepping down and eventually agreed on a date on Thursday following several meetings.
Acting president Carles Tusquets has said the club will still be able to make signings in January, even if there is no president in place to sign them off.
During the 2015 electoral campaign, Barca signed Arda Turan after coach Luis Enrique requested his signing and the managing committee at the time did the deal.
Manager Ronald Koeman would like two signings in January with Manchester City defender Eric Garcia and Lyon forward Memphis Depay, both of whom are out of contract next summer, targets. However, Tusquets has also said there must be player sales before signings due to the club's financial situation.
So far, seven people have announced that they will stand to be the next Barca president. Victor Font, Xavier Vilajoana, Jordi Farre, Agusti Benedito, Luis Fernandez Ala, Toni Freixa and Pere Riera are all running.
11.58 GMT: Cristiano Ronaldo has no intention of leaving Juventus despite reports linking him with Paris Saint-Germain and a return to Manchester United, according to Diario AS.
Earlier this week, PSG sporting director Leonardo responded to questions about the French club's reported interest in the Portugal star -- potentially in a swap deal with Neymar -- by saying the Ligue 1 champions were within the "closed circle" of clubs who could sign him.
Meanwhile, FOX America journalist Christian Martin reported that Manchester United were considering a shock move to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, 11 years after he left for Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of €94m.
Juve have been hit financially by the COVID-19 pandemic and are reportedly open to letting him go and saving around €600,000-a-week in wages on his contract, which is due to run until 2022.
However, AS reports that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has no plans to leave Juve before the end of his contract.
11.06 GMT: Inter Milan playmaker Christian Eriksen has expressed some misgivings over his move to the Italian club and has hinted that he may consider a move in the January transfer window.
Eriksen joined Inter from Tottenham in January in a €20m transfer just months before his contract in north London was due to expire. Since then, the Denmark international has started just 11 Serie A matches, and did not start any of Inter's games at the Europa League mini-tournament in August as they reached the semifinals.
"This isn't what I dreamed of," Eriksen told TV2 while on international duty. "All players want to play as much as possible, but the coach decides who gets to go on the pitch.
"Right now it may not be going so well in the club, but in the past, when I did not play that much either, there was great success. I am concentrating on my football, then when the transfer window opens we will see if something will happen or not."
Inter Milan were optimistic in offering Eriksen back to Tottenham this week. Sources told ESPN's James Olley that neither Eriksen nor Spurs are particularly keen to revisit a partnership that ended with an awkward transfer, prompted by the midfielder deciding to run down the final year of his contract.
10.18 GMT: Real Madrid are "on the trail" of Dominik Szoboszlai, according to Friday's front page story in Diario AS.
The FC Salzburg midfielder, 20, scored a last-minute solo wonder goal on Thursday to see Hungary qualify for Euro 2020 with a dramatic 2-1 playoff win over Iceland (stream highlights in the U.S.).
The German newspaper Bild had reported this week that Szoboszlai was close to joining RB Leipzig.
The player's agent, Matyas Esterhazy, denied that on Wednesday, telling Hungarian website Index that "Dominik Szoboszlai has no agreement with Leipzig or any other club."
AS says that Real Madrid "are following the evolution" of the playmaker, who has also been linked with Arsenal, and "are receiving positive reports."
09.27 GMT: USMNT star Giovanni Reyna has signed a new long term contract with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, sources have told ESPN's Stephan Uersfeld.
Dortmund have not disclosed the length of the deal but sources said Reyna, 18 on Friday, has signed a new deal that would last until 2024.
The young forward made his USMNT debut in Thursday's 0-0 draw against Wales and is regarded as one of the most promising talents in the Bundesliga.
Sources have told ESPN there was interest in Reyna from the Premier League and La Liga, but he was focused solely on continuing his career with Dortmund.
Reyna signed an initial three-year deal when he agreed to join Dortmund from MLS side New York City in November 2018. He arrived at BVB in July 2019 and went on to make his debut in February 2020.
He has been an ever-present this season, making 12 appearances for Dortmund, scoring twice, and contributing five assists.
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08.40 GMT: Brighton & Hove Albion right-back Tariq Lamptey has opened up about his decision to leave Chelsea in January, insisting: "I'm an ambitious boy."
Lamptey has attracted interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, including European champions Bayern Munich and Spanish side Atletico Madrid, for his performances in the Premier League since joining the Seagulls.
The 20-year-old told the adidas X podcast that he turned down "quite a few options" to continue his development at Brighton, but that he has dreams of reaching the top of the game.
"I'm an ambitious boy," he said. "I look at things and enjoy them in the moment, but the next day I'm looking to see what I need to improve on and how I can stay at that level. I'm always looking for a chance to play again, and that moment made me even more hungry. I'd had a taste of it and I wasn't going to let it go.
"I sat down with the coaches, family members and agents and thought about what's best for me. It was a really tough decision. Being at a club since the age of nine, going up through the whole system and making your first-team debut, everything happened so quickly, but I had to look at where I would get the most football and how I could take my game to the next level.
"It wasn't an easy decision. I thought about it every day. But the opportunity came for me to come to Brighton, which is a fantastic club with a really good plan for the team, and the move made a lot of sense and I'm really happy to be here.
"There were quite a few options to go to, but I sat down with my family and talked about where would be best for me, where could help me develop, and I thought Brighton would be the best club for me."
08.00 GMT: Manchester United chief Ed Woodward says he is "absolutely" behind manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer amid a poor start to the season that has seen the club slip to 14th in the table.
Victory at Everton before the international break gave the Norwegian some breathing space and Woodward insists he remains committed to keeping the 47-year-old in charge.
"While there is still hard work ahead to achieve greater consistency, we remain absolutely committed to the positive path we are on under Ole as the team continues to develop," said Woodward, speaking as the club released their latest financial results.
"We miss playing in front of our fans and we are working hard together with our governing bodies and relevant authorities to ensure that fans can safely return as soon as possible."
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PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle): Milan chase Milenkovic
AC Milan are contemplating a move to try and sign Fiorentina's Nikola Milenkovic, Calciomercato reports.
The Serbian defender has been with the club since back in 2017 but after their failure to lock him down to a new contract, Milan are hoping to swoop in for the 23-year-old.
He is currently valued at around €15 million, but if La Viola can't come to some sort of arrangement with him by the January transfer window, they could well consider a sale -- even if it's to one of their league rivals.
Giroud to Inter in January?
Internazionale could pursue the signing of Olivier Giroud once again during the January transfer window, Calciomercato reports.
The Chelsea veteran looked set to join Antonio Conte in Milan back at the start of the year only for the proposed deal to fall through. Inter will come again in the early stages of 2021 as the Frenchman continues to struggle for game time under Frank Lampard.
Giroud himself is said to be the driving force behind the potential switch and at the age of 34, it could be one of his last chances of playing at a prominent European side.
Tap-ins
- Besiktas have confirmed that they would be interested in bringing Cenk Tousn back from Everton, beIN SPORTS reports. The Turkish club's president has made it clear that Tosun, who was with Besiktas for four years before heading to Goodison Park, is a man they'd be interested in acquiring once again.
- Chelsea will need to sell a few notable players if they want to complete the signing of West Ham United star Declan Rice, Football Insider reports. The belief is that if the England international is to make the move over to Stamford Bridge, the Blues will have to free up some cash in order to finance the move. The players that the club is reportedly willing to listen to offers for are Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho and Marcos Alonso.