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LIVE Transfer Talk: Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku could take pay cut to return to Inter Milan

The 2022 January transfer window is closed, but there's still plenty of gossip swirling about who's moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Lukaku keen to move back to Serie A

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is willing to take a pay cut in order to re-sign for Internazionale, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Belgium international, who earns £325,000-per-week, has been linked with a return to the San Siro since joining the Blues and even got in trouble for statements made about his feelings towards the Nerazzurri.

The report says that his desire to leave Stamford Bridge and sign for Inter has been strengthened by recent events surrounding Chelsea and an imminent sale by Roman Abramovich under the direction of the UK government.

Despite the desires, it is also noted that any move would likely only be a loan spell. It would also hinge on whether or not Abramovich sells the club and whether the director Marina Granovskaia departs her role.

Lukaku has long cut a frustrated figure at Chelsea, with Thomas Tuchel admitting that the striker is not happy with his role in the side, finding himself out of the team at times with Kai Havertz preferred to lead the line.

So far this term, the 28-year-old has 11 goals and two assists from 31 appearances in all competitions.

Comparatively, he contributed 30 goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances last term as Inter went on to win their first Scudetto since 2009-10.

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LIVE BLOG

21.15 GMT: Still in the chase to win the inaugural Europa Conference League, Jose Mourinho and AS Roma face uncertainty over what players to try and keep in the summer.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma must decide what to do about loanees Sergio Oliveira (Porto) and Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), with Oliveira seeing as a more probable permanent addition due to Maitland-Niles' high transfer fee. Sampdoria's Bartosz Bereszynski remains an option, who admitted to be have on Roma's wishlist during the winter window.

The report lists Barcelona's Sergino Dest and Manchester United's Diogo Dialot as other players on Mourinho's radar, although it would depend on if Roma can clinch a Champions League berth.

20.00 GMT: As AC Milan battle Inter and Napoli for the Serie A title, the Rossoneri are also eyeing reinforcements for their midfield with AS Monaco's Mamadou Coulibaly seen as an option.

According to Gazzetta della Italia, Coulibaly is a player of interest at the San Siro, although clubs such as Tottenham and Juventus are also keeping tabs on the 17-year-old, who has yet to make an senior Ligue 1 appearance but has drawn comparisons to Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga. 

18.40 GMT: Klaas Jan Huntelaar is back at Ajax, but this time joining the club's front office in a technical advisory role.

Huntelaar, an ex-AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Schalke star who had two stints as a player for Ajax, will work alongside technical manager Gerry Hamstra head coach Erik ten Hag. He joins a front office that recently saw the resignation of Marc Overmars as director of football after multiple complaints from female colleagues over inappropriate messages.

"Ajax have kept in touch with [Klaas Jan] since the he moved to Schalke. We were aware of his interests and his ambition to eventually become technical director at a professional club," general manager Edwin van der Sar said in a statement.

17.30 GMT: Manchester United are in the market for a backup keeper, with West Brom's Sam Johnstone seen as a top choice. 

According to the Sun, United are keen to bring Johnstone back to Old Trafford with Dean Henderson out of favour as David de Gea's deputy.

Johnstone is a free agent at the end of this season, with Tottenham and West Ham also among those clubs looking at teh 28-year-old.

Since departing Old Trafford for West Brom in 2018, Johnstone has racked up over 150 appearances for the Baggies and has been part of Gareth Southgate's England squad.

16.41 GMT: Juventus are interested in signing two Italy internationals from Chelsea as and when the Premier League club are allowed to conduct transfer business again, according to Tuttosport.

Chelsea are currently banned from making any incoming or outgoing transfers, aside from players leaving as free agents (see 12:40 GMT), but that would change if owner Roman Abramovich can find a buyer for the club.

When that happens, Tuttosport reports that midfielder Jorginho and left-back Emerson Palmieri are both in Juve's sights.

The two members of Italy's Euro 2020-winning squad are both under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2023. Jorginho remains a key player at Chelsea, while Emerson has spent the season on loan at Ligue 1 side Lyon.

15.28 GMT: Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club won't break the bank to beat Real Madrid and Manchester City to the signing of Erling Haaland.

Sources have told ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens that Barca will target low-cost signings in other positions this summer to focus on Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland. However, Laporta's comments appear to play down Barca's chances of landing the Norway international just days after reports in England suggested City are leading the race.

"Even if our financial situation is the best it could possibly be, there are some deals that we would still not do for the sake of the club," Laporta told reporters when asked about Haaland after Barca's women's team won the league on Sunday. "We won't do any deals that places the club's [future] in risk."

Haaland would cost a reported €75 million, per a clause in his contract with Dortmund, plus commission for his agent Mino Raiola and a big salary.

Barca's financial situation has hampered them over the last two years and led to the departure of Lionel Messi in August, but Laporta declared the club are a "player" on the market again after signing Ferran Torres from City for €55m in January.

In addition to Barca and City, ESPN also reported this month that Madrid remain keen on Haaland and would open talks with Dortmund soon. Madrid expect to sign Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer but that has not cancelled out their interest in Haaland.

14.33 GMT: Manchester United will target Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak in the summer, the Daily Star reports.

Isak, 22, has attracted attention from Old Trafford in part because he is seen as a much more attainable signing than Erling Haaland.

The Sweden international, who has scored eight goals in all competitions so far this season to help La Real to fifth in LaLiga, is reportedly available for £60m.

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13.37 GMT: Real Madrid are facing a "No. 9 dilemma" and must decide whether to go for Erling Haaland this summer given Karim Benzema's outstanding form, Diario AS reports.

Benzema, 34, is showing no signs of slowing down, scoring a Champions League hat trick against Paris Saint-Germain this week and with 20 goals in LaLiga this season.

According to AS, that has left Haaland's entourage "worried" that Madrid will opt against entering the race -- viewing Haaland and Benzema as incompatible, with Vinicius Junior and possibly Kylian Mbappe also needing to fit into the attack next season.

The Borussia Dortmund star would prefer to join Madrid ahead of suitors Manchester City, Manchester United, PSG and Barcelona, the newspaper says, but "the ball is in Real Madrid's court."

12.40 GMT: Chelsea will try to sign midfielder Saul Niguez on a permanent transfer in the summer if they are permitted to amid the sanctions brought against the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, the Daily Mirror reports.

The world and European champions have been frozen as an asset of Abramovich by the U.K. government for his ties with Russia President Vladimir Putin. As part of the conditions of the sanctions, the club cannot agree new contracts for existing players or agree any new transactions for the summer, although payment arrangements for deals relating to loans or transfers -- meaning instalments due on existing deals -- can continue as normal.

Saul is on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid, and the terms of his deal include a €35m option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.

It remains to be seen if this agreement means Chelsea can sign the 27-year-old while still a frozen asset, but the Mirror reports that they must inform Atletico of their intention to take up their option by May 30.

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11.46 GMT: Manchester United would consider offering Juan Mata a coaching role at Old Trafford if the midfielder decides to retire at the end of the season, according to The Sun.

Mata is out of contract this summer, and the 33-year-old has made just four appearances all season and has not played a minute in the Premier League.

The Spain international is taking his coaching badges and a management course, and The Sun reports that United feel he has the potential to emulate the quick move into coaching by Mikel Arteta, who retired at the age of 34 in 2016 and worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City before becoming Arsenal boss in 2019.

10.51 GMT: AC Milan are hopeful of sealing a summer transfer for Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, Calciomercato reports.

Serie A leaders Milan had agreed a deal with the reigning French champions to sign the Portugal international in the January transfer window for an initial €20m, only for the player to decide to stay and assess his options at the end of the season.

Calciomercato reports that Milan's Serie A rivals Juventus and club in the Premier League are also interested in signing Sanches, whose contract at Lille expires at the end of next season, but Milan remain in pole position.

09.56 GMT: Liverpool face a difficult choice over whether or not to break their existing pay structure to offer forward Mohamed Salah a new deal that reflects his status as one of the world's best players, according to former Anfield striker Peter Crouch.

Salah, 29, is out of contract at the end of next season. Despite manager Jurgen Klopp's recent insistence that there is "no rush" over agreeing a new deal, the Egypt international's situation could attract plenty of interest from Europe's top clubs this summer.

"From Salah's point of view, he can say 'I should be the highest-paid player in the world,'" Crouch said on BT Sport. "He's been that good. There's no one better than him in the Premier League at the moment.

"If they get held to ransom they're not going to break the pay structure for one player. If Liverpool get offered the right price they may have to look at it."

09.00 GMT: With Paul Pogba's contract at Manchester United ending in the summer, the France midfielder's personal trainer, Coach Meddy, has had his say.

"At the end of June he will no longer be a Manchester [United] player," he said in an interview with Calciomercato. "I think it is right for him to look elsewhere, perhaps Manchester also wants to renew themselves and the most sensible thing is to separate. The time will come to change and try new challenges, new emotions, new environments for both Pogba and Manchester, to try something different and maybe they will both be happy.

"Right now, I think he's enjoying himself, they have a good team, especially since [Cristiano] Ronaldo decided to return. The problem is that the results don't come. A top player doesn't waste his time on minor competitions, he wants to be motivated to play for ambitious trophies."

PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)

- Alvaro Morata has declared his desire to stay at Juventus, where he is currently on loan from Atletico Madrid, the Spaniard said in quotes appearing in Calciomercato: "My future? It is not up to me. My desire for Juve has never gone away, I will be the main fan even if I no longer have to be here next year. I can only work to try and win the trophies, the rest is not up to me."

However, his future could depend on that of Paulo Dybala. The Argentine's contract expires in the summer and if he doesn't renew, Juventus will view keeping Morata as a greater priority. If Dybala does sign, they will try to keep Morata permanently, but try to do it at a discounted price of €15m, adds the Italian outlet.

- Contrary to reports elsewhere, Diario Sport are claiming that Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland hasn't made his mind up about his future and prefers a move to Spain. The report agrees that Manchester City have done everything they can to sign the Norway international and have made a strong proposal. However, it also claims that there are concerns that Real Madrid could come in with a big offer, while Barcelona can't compete financially but will try to persuade him to join nonetheless.

- If they are unable to sign Haaland, Barcelona could bring in Alexandre Lacazette as a free agent, reports Le 10 Sport. The Frenchman's contract with Arsenal comes to an end in the summer and Mikel Arteta has already stated that the Gunners will wait until the end of the season to discuss a renewal, with multiple players expected to leave when the window opens.

Luka Modric's Real Madrid contract ends this summer and while the Croatia international wants to stay, there hasn't been an agreement made with the club yet, reports Marca. The belief within Los Blancos is that Modric will wind up staying, but top clubs from across Europe are watching in case there is an opportunity to sign him.

- Newcastle United are willing to challenge Aston Villa to sign Kalvin Phillips in the summer, according to The Daily Mail. Leeds have struggled without Phillips at the base of their midfield during his time out injured and they could have to do without him permanently, as the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and West Ham United have also shown interest in the England international. Leeds won't give up easily, as they are determined to stay in the Premier League and keep their local hero.

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