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: Liverpool make an offer for Schuurs
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is considering dropping into the transfer market to replace injured defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, and Corriere dello Sport believes Klopp has submitted a bid for Ajax centre-back Perr Schuurs.
The Italian newspaper reports Klopp has offered £27 million for Schuurs, who has excelled for Ajax since the sale of Matthijs de Ligt to Juventus.
Schuurs has a similar playing style to that of De Ligt and his presence could provide Liverpool with further options as they look to defend their title, with their two first-choice central defenders set to miss most of the season.
Schuurs is reportedly a priority for Klopp, despite his stance that Joel Matip could enjoy an injury-free run to the end of the season. The paper says that Ajax would be prepared to sell for €27m.
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20.07 GMT: Real Betis are in the market for a centre-back on the cheap, and AS reports that free agent and former Valencia defender Ezequiel Garay is high on their list, although they'll need to fend off reported interest in the 34-year-old from Barcelona and Newll's Old Boys.
18.20 GMT: AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has spoken about the prospect of the Rossoneri recruiting Marseille wide man Florian Thauvin in an interview with TeleFoot, saying that bringing in the 27-year-old on a free transfer in the summer is "an interesting operation."
16.33 GMT: Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico has agreed a new contract in principle but has been told he will be able to leave at the end of the season, reports De Telegraaf. Ajax agreed to allow the player to "pursue his dream of playing in a top competition."
Tagliafico, 28, joined the club from Argentine side Independiente in 2018. The new contract will see the Dutch side fetch a far higher transfer fee when he is sold next summer. His previous deal had 18 months to run, which is now extended through to the summer of 2023.
Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester City are both interested in the player. Frank Lampard's side may want better cover for Ben Chilwell, while City are short of senior left-backs.
15.50 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur could be set to sign Leicester City winger Demarai Gray on a free transfer, according to the Daily Express.
Gray, 24, is out of contract at the end of the season with Jose Mourinho a keen admirer. Gray, signed from Championship side Birmingham City in 2016, is yet to feature in the Premier League this season and has played only once for the senior side in the Carabao Cup.
Gray only saw three starts in the first-team last campaign under manager Brendan Rodgers, and this season the forward's lack of senior action has meant he has been dropped to the under-23s. He is not expected to sign a new deal with the Foxes.
15.02 GMT: Mario Mandzukic's agent has said the striker was "born to play in the Premier League." Mandzukic, 34, has been a free agent since leaving Al-Duhail but his representative, Ivan Cvjetkovic, as so far been unable to find him a new club.
"He is training very well. He is working in Zagreb and is 100% fit," Cvjetkovic told Tuttosport. "He is waiting for the right opportunity, a team that really wants him.
"He refused some offers because he wasn't convinced they really wanted to sign him. I don't know if he will play in Italy again, he is born to play in the Premier League but he never had the right chance. He is 200% ready."
14.15 GMT: This one keeps cropping up, and here it is again. Tuttosport is reporting that Manchester United have been back in contact with the agent of AC Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Turkey international has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for most of the year, with his Milan contract running out at the end of the season and the two parties unable to agree terms on a new deal.
Tuttosport says United are trying to get in prime position to sign him on a free next summer, while Juventus remain interested.
13.33 GMT: Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun came off the bench to score his first goal for the club in the 3-0 Europa League win at Molde on Thursday night, but the Gunners risk losing him as he is out of contract at the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta wants to keep the player, and is confident a new deal will be agreed. Arteta said: "He wants to stay, we want him to stay. We gave him the opportunity and he took it straight away."
12.44 GMT: Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has dismissed any possibility of a move away striker Erling Haaland. Zorc, who oversees transfers at Dortmund, denied reports that Haaland could leave the club anytime soon.
"We plan for the long term with Erling. [Rumours] do not have to be dealt with at all, I will see him with us for a long time," he said in a news conference ahead of Dortmund's game against Cologne on Saturday.
Haaland, 21, has in recent weeks linked with moves to Real Madrid, Manchester United and Manchester City. The Norwegian striker, who joined Dortmund from FC Salzburg at the start of the year for just €20m, has a reported buyout clause of €75m which can be activated in 2022.
Is Zorc just posturing? Probably...
12.01 GMT: Juventus could try to land Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek next summer following a tough start to life at Old Trafford, according to Calciomercato.
Van de Beek joined Manchester United for €44 million in the summer from Dutch side Ajax having come through their academy. But the midfielder has yet to start a Premier League match and has only played 474 minutes under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Italian giants Juve are interested, but would sign the player next summer over a loan move in January.
11.15 GMT: La Liga president Javier Tebas has said he wants to attract managers such as Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Tottenham's Jose Mourinho to La Liga to help it grow, as well as players like Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo.
Tebas, at the helm of the Spanish Football League (LFP) since 2013, has pushed for La Liga to compete with the Premier League on an economic level.
"We always want the best," Tebas said."I want [Lionel] Messi in La Liga. Just as I want Mourinho, Guardiola, Klopp, Cristiano [Ronaldo]... All of those would help us grow."
10.33 GMT: Barcelona presidential hopeful Emili Rousaud said he wants to rename the Camp Nou in honour of forward Lionel Messi, he said in an interview with Catalunya Radio.
"We will hold a referendum to change the name of the stadium to Camp Nou -- Leo Messi," Rousaud said.
Rousaud, 51, is looking to gain the presidency of Barcelona following the resignation of Josep Maria Bartomeu earlier this year. Rousaud also promised to launch a bid to re-sign PSG forward Neymar.
Pressure on the former president reached boiling point after Messi asked to leave Barcelona, the Argentina international has less than a year left on his contract with the Catalan side.
09.47 GMT: Spanish third division club Racing Murcia say they've signed the former Manchester City, Everton and England defender Joleon Lescott to play their upcoming Copa del Rey match against top-flight Levante.
Lescott, 38, last played for Sunderland in 2017, and has since been working as City's loan manager.
Nuestro presidente Morris Pagniello @MorrisPagniell2 y el club #RacingMurcia están felices de anunciar el fichaje de la estrella inglesa Joleon #Lescott @JoleonLescott, que disputará el partido de #CopaDelRey contra @LevanteUD.#England #ManCity #futbol #RacingCityGroup pic.twitter.com/4udIsndMPh
— Racing Murcia FC (@racingmurciafc) November 27, 2020
Murcia president Morris Pagniello had promised a high-profile signing for the fixture, claiming talks had been held with Samuel Eto'o and Antonio Cassano over a short-term deal.
The club haven't revealed details of the length of Lescott's contract, and if he'll stay beyond the cup game, which is due to be played in the third week of December.
09.00 GMT: Sport in Spain is insisting that Manchester United have not given up on signing Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona. The Red Devils missed out on the striker in the summer window, after he decided to stay at Camp Nou. But with the player's contract expiring in 18 months, Barca know that time is running out to get a return on their investment. The asking price is €70m, but that might be too much for United right now.
PAPER ROUND
Giroud tempting for London rivals
Inter Milan aren't the only club interested in signing Olivier Giroud, with Tottenham and West Ham United also keen on landing the in-demand Chelsea striker.
The Daily Mail claims that Giroud is willing to leave the Blues in the January transfer window in an effort to improve his chances of playing for France at next year's Euros.
And despite Frank Lampard insisting the Frenchman has a part to play at Stamford Bridge, Spurs and West Ham see the striker as the perfect player to bolster their own attacking options.
Giroud was expected to leave Chelsea in the summer and now, after falling behind Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham in the pecking order, he could have his pick of new opportunities in January.
As well as the two London clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami also are monitoring his situation.
Barca candidate rules out Neymar signing
Potential Barcelona president Toni Freixa has declared he wouldn't attempt to sign Neymar if he won the election.
Neymar has been linked with a return to Camp Nou ever since he left for Paris in 2017. And talking to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Freixa admitted his focus would be on the team as a collective, not one single superstar.
Freixa also said he didn't feel Neymar was among the best players in Europe anymore.
Neymar has scored 73 goals in 93 games since joining Paris Saint-Germain and formed part of a formidable attack during his four seasons at Barcelona.
The Barcelona presidential election will take place on Jan. 24.
Tap-ins
- The Sun reports that Rangers are favourites to sign free agent Jack Wilshere. The 28-year-old has posted pictures of himself training in the same facility used by Steven Gerrard's side during the last winter break, which has sent Gers fans into a spin about a potential move for the former Arsenal man. Wilshere was pictured working hard in Dubai, and Gerrard might feel his side needs more options as they continue to challenge for the Scottish title while also competing in Europe.
- Manchester United have joined Liverpool in the race for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, according to La Razon in Spain. The 21-year-old Nigerian has caught the eye and also impressed Chelsea, Wolves, Leicester City and Everton, as well as rivals United and Liverpool. Chukwueze can play on either wing and has been in fine form for the past two seasons, but he has a £80m release clause and is contracted until 2023.