The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Juve, AC Milan, Barca eye Man Utd’s Dalot
There is plenty of interest in Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot, and Calciomercato reports that Juventus, AC Milan, and Barcelona are keen on signing him.
Part of the appeal will be that the Portugal international — who has started every game this season for United — has entered the final year of his contract, meaning there is the possibility that he could leave Old Trafford as a free agent in the summer.
However, the Red Devils have the option to extend Dalot’s contract by another year, with it previously being reported by various outlets that United are likely to take up that option.
Nevertheless, AC Milan are hoping that they will be able to permanently bring in the 23-year-old after he spent the 2020-21 season on loan with the Rossoneri.
Juventus are another club looking at him, states the report, with Dalot likely being seen as a replacement for Juan Cuadrado, whose own contract expires in the summer and is deemed unlikely to be renewed.
Finally, Barcelona are also interested in Dalot, although the situation of United States full-back Sergino Dest — on loan at AC Milan — could also play into the thinking of the Blaugrana.
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12.28 BST: Chelsea have been linked with a move for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao and, with two clubs facing each other in the Champions League on Wednesday, the story is back.
Corriere della Sera reports that the Serie A side “received several informal offers” to sign the Leao over the summer, with Chelsea one of them.
The 23-year-old Portugal international has been in superb form and the report claims that Milan won’t accept less than €100m, even with his contract expiring in 2024.
11.44 BST: Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has a host of top clubs interested in signing him, reports Il Bianconero.
Vlahovic, 22, only joined Juve for €70m in January 2022 and has scored 14 goals in 30 games for the club since.
Premier League clubs Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in his services, while Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are also in the market for a No. 9 after the exit of Robert Lewandowski.
11.00 BST: Can Steven Gerrard get Aston Villa back on track?
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Steve Nicol reacts to Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw against Leeds United in the Premier League.
09.47 BST: Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli snubbed interest from Manchester United during the summer, claims Sportmediaset.
Locatelli, 24, helped Italy to Euro 2020 success and had been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal after impressing over recent years.
However, United reportedly made a move and the midfielder turned down the chance to move to Old Trafford as he wanted to prove himself at Juve.
09.24 BST: Valencia coach Gennaro Gattuso is confident that captain Jose Luis Gaya will remain at the club beyond next summer.
Gaya, 27, who becomes a free agent in June 2023, has been offered a new five-year contract.
“I think that Jose, our captain, is happy and I look forward to his renewal because the club has made a great effort,” Gattuso said. “We have spoken and I think he is going to sign the renewal. I hope he does because in the proposal the club has made a great effort according to his value.”
The Spain international gained promotion to Valencia’s first team in 2014.
08.53 BST: Former Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez is among the candidates Sevilla are considering should Julen Lopetegui be dismissed, says Mundo Deportivo.
Sevilla have won one and lost five of their nine games this season and Lopetegui is under fire heading into Wednesday’s Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.
Benitez, 62, has been out of a job since being sacked by Everton in January. The former Valencia and Real Madrid boss has not coached in LaLiga since his departure from Madrid in 2016.
Ex-Valencia coaches Jose Bordalas and Javi Gracia are also reportedly in the running while Jorge Sampaoli, who guided Sevilla in the 2016-17 campaign, is also being considered.
08.25 BST: The Athletic reports that RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea to move next summer.
Nkunku, 24, has been tracked by the top clubs in Europe — including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. And sources told ESPN last week that the France international underwent private medical tests Frankfurt, with a Chelsea orthopaedist present, ahead of a proposed transfer next year.
The Athletic report claims that Chelsea will pay a transfer fee in excess of Nkunku’s €60m release clause in order to land their man ahead of rivals.
08.00 BST: Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench during the side’s 6-3 defeat to Manchester City out of “respect” for the striker, he said.
Ronaldo was an unused substitute at the Etihad Stadium despite United finding themselves 4-0 down at half-time.
Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Fred, Casemiro and Luke Shaw all came off the bench ahead of Ronaldo, with Ten Hag insisting afterward the 37-year-old did not deserve to be subjected to humiliation at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s champions.
“I wouldn’t bring him in out of respect for Cristiano, for his big career,” Ten Hag said. “The other thing was the advantage that I could bring on Anthony Martial. He needs the minutes, but I don’t want to point it out like that.”
2:02
Steve Nicol debates whether Wolves could target a “big name” manager to replace Bruno Lage.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Romelu Lukaku is already looking towards the summer and has decided that he doesn’t want to go back to Chelsea when his loan deal with Internazionale comes to an end, as reported by Calciomercato. The Belgium international left Stamford Bridge in the offseason and will aim to find a way of persuading Todd Boehly and the club’s executives to let him leave again. The hope is that another loan spell could be an option considering the amount of money Chelsea spent to sign him.
– Fabrizio Romano has reported that discussions between RB Leipzig and Chelsea are taking place about a fee and payment terms over striker Christopher Nkunku‘s transfer. Chelsea aim to trigger the Frenchman’s €60m clause in 2023.
– AC Milan and Juventus are looking at Spezia‘s Jakub Kiwior and Eintracht Frankfurt‘s Evan N’Dicka, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The former has impressed for his club as well as the Poland national team and has a contract that runs until 2025, while the latter’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2023, meaning he would be available as a free agent.
– Lazio signed Luis Maximiano from Granada in the summer, but Calciomercato has suggested that he could already leave in the summer after failing to impress Maurizio Sarri. The 23-year-old was sent off six minutes into his debut against Bologna on the opening day and has not played since.
