With the calendar soon turning over to the new year, the gossip ahead of the January transfer window is heating up. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest rumours.
Harry Kane leads Real Madrid shortlist
Real Madrid are set to launch a sensational £150 million bid for Harry Kane, which could see Gareth Bale return to Tottenham in part-exchange, the Daily Star reports.
Spurs have first option on Bale should Real Madrid decide to sell their record signing, with Manchester United known to be long-term admirers of the winger.
But it is now believed that the Spanish champions will try to use Bale as a makeweight in a move for Kane, who ends 2017 as the highest scorer in Europe's top five leagues.
The report adds that Bale's £300,000 per week wages could prove a sticking point, with Spurs determined to hold on to Kane until the end of the season at least.
Barcelona revive Philippe Coutinho deal
Barcelona aren't hanging around in their bid to sign Philippe Coutinho, with the Daily Mirror reporting that the Catalan giants are set to lodge a new £130 million offer for the midfielder.
Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he doesn't need to sell players to cover Liverpool's £75 million splurge on Virgil van Dijk, but Coutinho's exit would certainly give him options to further strengthen his squad.
The Brazilian has been in fine form this season and captained the Reds against Swansea on Boxing Day. It's thought that he remains keen on a move to the Camp Nou despite Liverpool's reluctance to reopen negotiations.
Man United want Joao Mario
Joao Mario is the latest name to be linked with a move to Manchester United as Jose Mourinho looks to bolster his squad in January, according to The Sun.
The Inter Milan midfielder is valued at around £40 million, the amount the Serie A club paid to sign him from Sporting Lisbon 18 months ago.
Mario starred in Portugal's Euro 2016 triumph but has struggled to maintain his form in Italy and is apparently keen to find a new challenge.
With Inter tracking United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, it looks as though a potential swap deal could be struck when the transfer window opens.
Tap-ins
-- Huddersfield are set to sign Monaco defender Terence Kongolo on loan for the rest of the season, The Sun claims. The Dutch international has struggled to command a first-team place with the French champions since he left Feyenoord in the summer.
-- Loic Remy is eyeing a return to the Premier League after being told that he can leave Las Palmas, according to the Independent. The former Chelsea striker has scored six goals in 13 appearances after moving to Spain in September.
-- Manchester United are chasing highly rated Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, the Daily Star reports. The 20-year-old has four assists in La Liga this season and has been tipped for a Spain call-up in the near future.
-- Former Benfica star Nicolas Gaitan is a €15 million target for Southampton, Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham in January, Spanish outlet AS claims. The Argentine winger has been told that he is surplus to requirements at Atletico Madrid.
-- New MLS club Los Angeles FC has made a formal offer of an extravagant-by-league-standards sum of €7 million ($8.4 million) for 21-year-old Benfica midfielder Andre Horta, who is currently on loan at Braga, according to A Bola.
-- Speaking of the U.S., one-time prodigy Freddy Adu is near a deal with Swedish third-division club Oskarshamns AIK, reports Aftonbladet, in a move that would make a 14th club for the 28-year-old, who did not play in 2017 besides trials.
-- Taylor Booth, another promising American teenager, is appearing likely to choose Bayern Munich over his academy's parent club Real Salt Lake, says a Washington Post report, but he doesn't turn 18 until May 2019.