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LIVE Transfer Talk: Erling Haaland tops Chelsea's January target list

The January transfer window opens in a matter of days and speculation is heating up about potential deals. Check out the latest gossip below and see all official deals here.

TOP STORY: Chelsea prioritise Haaland

Chelsea are believed to be prioritising the signing of Erling Haaland in the January transfer window, according to Sky Sports Italia journalist Angelo Mangiante.

The Blues were the Premier League's biggest spenders in the summer after splashing out around £250 million on the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Edouard Mendy, Ben Chilwell and Timo Werner.

- FC 100: Haaland second only to Lewandowski in the world

However, it appears as though Chelsea aren't finished spending just yet, according to Mangiante, and Frank Lampard has discussed the prospect of signing Borussia Dortmund star Haaland as he looks to continue transforming the Blues into Premier League title contenders.

Haaland is likely to be one of the most sought-after players in Europe when the transfer window reopens, and Chelsea are likely to face stiff opposition from Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Chelsea have three strikers on the books, but Olivier Giroud has been linked with a move away from West London, while Werner has failed to live up to expectations and was substituted at half-time in the Blues' 3-1 Boxing Day loss to Arsenal.

LIVE BLOG

22.30 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!

22.00 GMT: Barcelona are not giving up on getting their man: Man City's Eric Garcia.

Sport claims that Barcelona are set to make one final push to sign the young centre-back and are prepared to offer the 24-year-old a pre-contract when the market opens in January. If Barcelona are able to come to terms with Garcia as expected, then they would need to negotiate with City in order to finalise the deal in January. If not, Barcelona will have to wait until the summer for Garcia to join their ranks.

21.31 GMT: Would Mohamed Salah leave Liverpool in favour of a move to La Liga? ESPN's Shaka Hislop for one doesn't believe the Egyptian would.

20.44 GMT: Crystal Palace are one of the English clubs monitoring Fiorentina youngster Christian Kouame, reports Calciomercato.

The 23-year-old forward, who previously impressed at Genoa, has struggled for playing time with La Viola and could try and force a move come January.

19.59 GMT: Wolves have been mentioned as a club interested in Liverpool forward Divock Origi, but Calciomercato has learned of at least two others who are considering the Belgian.

The Italian outlet lists Fiorentina and Schalke as two clubs interested in the forward's services, with Origi currently struggling for playing time at Liverpool. With the Euros next summer, the 25-year-old is keen to find regular playing time and some form in hopes of cracking Belgium's star-studded team.

19.16 GMT: Juventus want Paul Pogba back but finances would make a deal with Manchester United tricky.

Eurosport claims that Juve are keen to do a swap deal for Pogba, unless they could prise the Frenchman away from Old Trafford for under £50 million. While Juventus realise £50m may be unrealistic, the club believe they can make a deal work by sending Man United players back in return. Real Madrid are also keen on Pogba, whose agent Mino Raiola says is no longer happy at Man United.

Stay tuned...

18.28 GMT: Tottenham full-back Serge Aurier has hinted at a potential transfer.

The enigmatic Ivory Coast international has been linked with a return to PSG and a reunion with Mauricio Pochettino, and has hardly done anything to quiet those rumblings.

"When I say PSG is the club close to my heart, I don't want journalists to say, 'He can't say that!' But of course I will answer," said Aurier ahead of Spurs' match on Sunday with Wolves.

"It's the club I've loved the most out of all the clubs I've played for.

"Paris is where I turned into a man, as a professional, where I discovered myself more. That's where I enjoyed myself the most.

"When I was a youngster at Lens, Paris was the club of my heart.

"One day, it would be no problem at all to go back, with pleasure. I will never turn down an offer from Paris, that is absolutely certain.

"If ever it comes up, why not? If it doesn't, I'm very happy where I am and things are going well for me."

The 28-year-old right-back previously played for PSG between 2015-17 and was signed by Pochettino for Spurs in Aug.2017.

17.45 GMT: Roma to move for out-of-favour Napoli pair?

Corriere dello Sport suggests that Roma could be in play for Arkadiusz Milik and Elseid Hysaj on free transfers come June. Both players are coming to the end of their contracts at Napoli with neither likely to extend their stay in Naples.

Milik has been completely frozen out with the Partenopei and has been heavily-tipped for a move in January. Roma could reignite their interest in the Pole, who at 26, could serve as the heir to 34-year-old frontman Edin Dzeko. Hysaj, also 26, is another player Roma have previously shown interest in, with the right-back represented by the same agent as current Roma star Jordan Veretout.

17.02 GMT: Villarreal are keen on signing Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue, writes Marca.

The report from Spain states that the La Liga side have made signing the Frenchman a 'priority', while France's RMC Sport claims that the two clubs have already reached an agreement for the 32-year-old.

The ex-Tottenham man has been an ever-present for the Hornets since arriving in 2015, having made almost 200 appearances for the club.

16.13 GMT: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been a godsend for AC Milan but how long will the 39-year-old stay?

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis had the following to say about the Swedish striker's future with the club:

"We haven't spoken about his contract extension yet. It's not going to be the club's decision only, but also his decision. He is a special person with extraordinary qualities and great intelligence. This combination gives him great strength in everything he does. We had already tried to sign him January 2019, but he told us no because the story with the Galaxy was not over. Ibra makes the group improve because he challenges everybody to give more, and this challenge is accepted by each one of the players."

Ibrahimovic, whose one-year contract extension expires at the end of the season, has scored 11 goals in 10 appearances over all competitions this season for the current Serie A leaders.

15.30 GMT: Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo is eager to add strength to his attacking department, and Tuttosport reckons his key target is Napoli's Fernando Llorente. Alvaro Morata is Juve's only out-and-out striker and Pirlo does not want to be caught short at the business end of the season. The report says that Llorente is a player who would fit into the wage structure, and knows Juve well having played for the Turin club between 2013 and 2015.

If that move doesn't come off, the Juve could look to re-sign Simone Zaza, who is now playing for Torino, or Leonardo Pavoletti of Cagliari.

14.44 GMT: Several clubs must have been ready to offer Luka Modric a precontract on Friday, with the player's Real Madrid agreement due to expire at the end of the season. But Marca reports that the Croatia international has reached an agreement in principle to sign a new deal to run through to the summer of 2022. Modric, who had been linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur, will take a pay cut to extend his stay at the Bernabeu. 

13.53 GMT: Shaka Hislop says signing Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum on a free transfer would be a great deal for any side -- including Barcelona.

13.00 GMT: Folarin Balogun is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season, and other clubs are casting admiring glances. The Athletic reports that Liverpool are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old striker should he fail to agree new terms with Mikel Arteta's men. 

12.04 GMT: Lionel Messi will miss Barcelona's La Liga game against Eibar on Tuesday after being after being given extra time off at Christmas by the club. By the time Barca travel to Huesca at the weekend, Messi will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with other clubs.

The forward's deal at Camp Nou expires on June 30 and he's not even opened talks over a renewal as he awaits to see who is elected as the club's new president on Jan. 24. In the meantime, other clubs are free to make him a proposal ahead of a potential free transfer in the summer when his Barca terms expire.

11.15 GMT: Daniel James has started two of Manchester United's last three games, but that hasn't stopped the Daily Star from linking the Wales international with a January loan move away from Old Trafford.

The report states that Sam Allardyce wants to add the forward to his squad as he bids to keep West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley and Leeds United are said to be rivals for the 23-year-old.

10.23 GMT: Wolverhampton Wanderers desperately need to being in reinforcements up front with Raul Jimenez facing an extended period on the sidelines after fracturing his skull against Arsenal. The Express & Star reports that Real Madrid misfit Luka Jovic is very much on the shortlist of names the Premier League club are considering making a move for in January. Jovic has failed to fit in at the Bernabeu after moving to the club from Eintracht Frankfurt 18 months ago.

Liverpool striker Divock Origi is also being considered but is reported to be a less likely option.

09.30 GMT: Could Phil Foden leave Manchester City for Real Madrid? The Sunday Mirror reckons the England international is at the top of the Bernabeu wanted list, and they could make a move if Foden does not become first choice.

The 20-year-old was expected to become a first-team regular this season after the departure of David Silva but has made only five starts in the Premier League -- only one of those since October.

PAPER ROUND

Arsenal look to Brandt for creativity

Arsenal are believed to be considering bidding for Borussia Dortmund winger Julian Brandt, according to The Athletic.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is keen to reinforce his ailing side this January as he looks to lift them out of the bottom half of the table following their disappointing start to the season.

Brandt has been out of favour at Dortmund for most of this season, though he has been on new BVB manager Edin Terzic's bench for the past two games.

Arsenal are desperate for more creativity in the middle and, despite Emile Smith Rowe's recent positive form, Arteta is hoping he can add new options in January.

Brandt appears to be next on the Gunners' shortlist after they missed out on Dominik Szoboszlai, who will join RB Leipzig in January.

Reynolds targeted by Juve and Roma

Juventus and AS Roma are interested in signing 19-year right-back Bryan Reynolds from FC Dallas, according to Sky Sports Italia.

Juve are contemplating a move for the youngster with a view to loaning him to Cagliari, while Roma are also keen to land the player.

Belgian side Club Brugge are also keen, and as such are the only club to have so far made an offer at this stage -- their bid is believed to be €7m.

Reynolds holds the record for the youngest player in FC Dallas' history, and his dribbling, passing and crossing stats exceed any other player in his position in Major League Soccer -- which is the reason he has become a target for some of Europe's top clubs.

Tap-ins

- Inter Milan are considering Juan Musso as a successor to Samir Handanovic, according to Calciomercato. Musso is 26 and his current club, Udinese, value him at around €30m, which could be too steep for Antonio Conte's side.

- Christian Eriksen looks set to leave Inter in January and the only question is where he will end up next. Calciomercato believes Manchester United, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain all lead the way for the Denmark international, with all three clubs looking at potential swap deals in an effort to tempt Eriksen. Man United could consider allowing Donny van de Beek to leave on loan, while Inter could be interested in Arsenal's Granit Xhaka.

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