The summer transfer window was unlike any other; see all the major deals and check out how we graded the biggest signings. And just because the window is shut until January, that doesn't mean the rumours won't keep coming. Here is the latest gossip and speculation.
TOP STORY: Barcelona eye Bakambu as part of revamp
The first signing of the Xavi Hernandez era at Barcelona could come from the Chinese Super League, with reports that Barcelona are tracking Cedric Bakambu.
El Nacional writes that the club is keen to get a deal over the line for the 30-year-old striker in January, with his contract set to expire with Beijing Guoan in two months.
Bakambu has experience in LaLiga after previously playing for Villarreal, where he scored 105 goals across three campaigns. And after the Blaugrana previously tried to bring him to Camp Nou in the summer, the club now hope to sign him on a free transfer.
The DR Congo international is expected to replace Luuk de Jong, who is on loan from Sevilla but Barca want to send him back after he scored just four goals in 20 appearances.
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21.15 BST: Birmingham City are looking to keep Australian midfielder Riley McGree for the rest of the season, even though his loan ends in December.
McGree is set to join Charlotte FC ahead of the club's maiden season in Major League Soccer, but the Sun reports that Birmingham want to hold onto the Socceroo star through the end of their campaign.
20.00 BST: Who are some of the names linked to the vacant Aston Villa manager position? According to the Daily Telegraph, among the candidates include Steven Gerrard and Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Hassenhuttl has been through the Premier League ringer at Southampton, where he has coached the Saints since Dec. 2018 after coming from RB Leipzig.
Gerrard has seen his name now tied to any and all major club openings, having impressed at Rangers since taking over in 2018. The Liverpool legend led the Glasgow side to the Scottish league title last year, their first in ten seasons.
18.22 GMT: The latest name to be linked with Newcastle is Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, according to The Sun.
It is reported that the 26-year-old Albania international was watched by scouts in Lazio's Europa League draw with Marseille next week. Strakosha is a free agent next summer and has yet to make a Serie A appearance this season.
17.15 GMT: The Sun reports Chelsea are facing a battle to keep 18-year-old midfielder Ben Elliott, with three Premier League rivals ready to offer him a move.
Elliott has already been elevated to the under-23 squad but is out of contract at the end of the season, and any other club would only need to pay a compensation figure rather than a transfer fee.
Brentford, Brighton and Southampton could look to offer the player a direct route into first-team football, as already enjoyed by Tariq Lamptey and Tino Livramento.
16.07 GMT: Genoa have appointed former Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko as their manager on a deal until 2024, the Serie A club announced on Sunday.
The former AC Milan striker, who won the 2004 Ballon d'Or after helping the Rossoneri to Serie A and Champions League triumphs, replaces Davide Ballardini following his sacking on Saturday.
🔴🔵 Andriy #Shevchenko è il nuovo allenatore del Genoa. Benvenuto, mister!
— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) November 7, 2021
🇺🇸🇬🇧 @jksheva7 is the new Genoa head coach.
🇺🇦 #Шевченко
📝 https://t.co/dYPIG2X5fp pic.twitter.com/oxYMb2kcLc
15.03 GMT: Aston Villa have parted company with manager Dean Smith. The decision comes on the back of a run of five successive Premier League defeats with Friday's 1-0 reverse at Southampton was Smith's final game in charge.
His last victory was on Sept. 25 when Villa beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford.
14.00 GMT: Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira is hoping to gazump Serie A leaders Napoli to land Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
Anguissa, 25, is on loan at Napoli from Fulham, and the Italians want to make the move permanent.
But The Sun reports that Vieira sees Anguissa as the man to anchor his midfield and is trying to win the race for his signature at the end of the season.
Palace tried to sign him in the summer only for Napoli to complete the loan deal.
12.49 GMT: Corriere Dello Sport reports that Napoli are considering a move for Sassuolo midfielder Jeremie Boga, should Lorenzo Insigne turn down the offer of a new contract.
Insigne, 30, is out of contract at the end of the season but could get a bigger deal elsewhere, so is expected to move on.
The report says that former Chelsea player Boga, 24, is being eyed as a replacement.
11.57 GMT: Remember Phil Jones? Yes, he is still a Manchester United player ... but might not be for much longer.
The Sun reports that the centre-back, who hasn't played for United for nearly two years, is wanted by an incredible 13 clubs. It'll be unlucky for some.
Newcastle, Watford, Derby and a host of other clubs in the Championship are said to be tracking the 29-year-old with a view to a loan in the second half of the season. However, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may want to keep him as back-up.
Jones' contract at Old Trafford runs until the summer of 2023.
11.02 GMT: Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has emerged as a transfer target for Borussia Monchengladbach, reports The Sun.
Nketiah, 22, has dropped down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta this season, and has only played two games in the Carabao Cup.
The report says that Gladbach are ready to make a move in January with the player out of contract at the end of the campaign.
Nketiah will be able to discuss a free transfer with any club outside of England as of Jan. 1, and if there is no sign of a contract extension the Gunners may have to take a cut-price transfer fee.
10.14 GMT: Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi has played down speculation that former coach Antonio Conte will look to take some players to Tottenham when the transfer window opens in January.
Conte was appointed the new manager of Spurs last week, and will already be making plans to reshape the squad. He won the Scudetto with Inter last season before walking away.
Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Stefan de Vrij, Lautaro Martinez and Milan Skriniar have already been linked with a Conte reunion.
"I've never thought about them, I am focused on games," Inzaghi said. "It's too early to think about January, we just think about the derby [on Sunday evening]."
09.30 GMT: AS reports that Real Madrid are taking steps to ensure they don't lose Vinicius Jr. ... by inserting a release clause worth €1 billion in his contract!
Vinicius Jr., 21, already has a release clause of €700 million, but Los Blancos want to make extra sure no one will come it and snatch the player by making it even higher.
The report says that the Brazilian is expected to sign a contract extension by the end of the season, with his current deal running out in 2024.
PAPER GOSSIP
- Fabrizio Romano reports that Paulo Dybala will sign a new contract with Juventus later this month. Talks over a new deal began in the summer and after an agreement was reached last month, the 27-year-old will finally put pen to paper when his agents meet with the Serie A club's representatives in the coming weeks.
- Nottingham Forest will have to fight off interest from the Premier League to keep hold of Brennan Johnson, with Football Insider reporting that Leeds United are keen on the 20-year-old attacking midfielder. Marcelo Bielsa's side have been tracking him for some time, with his ability to produce across the forward line catching the eye of scouts. Johnson has contributed to seven goals in 16 games so far this season in the Championship.
- Dundee United may struggle to keep highly rated prospect in Kerr Smith, with the 16-year-old defender attracting interest from Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool. That's according to The Sun, which reports that Liverpool are winning the race. Smith typically plays a centre-back, but has also showed his qualities as a right-back this season, with four appearances in the first team.
- Calciomercato writes that Juventus may finally be able to land Axel Witsel after missing out on the 32-year-old defensive midfielder in the summer. The report says that Borussia Dortmund are now willing to listen to transfer offers.
- Toni Kroos has been linked with a move to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks, but Real Madrid are looking to offer him a new contract until 2024, according to Nicolo Schira. The report adds that the Spanish club are ready to begin talks immediately to keep the Germany international. His deal is set to expire in the summer of 2023.