Football
James Capps 5y

LIVE Transfer Talk: Barcelona scouting Napoli duo Koulibaly, Fabian

The transfer windows in Europe's top leagues are closed, but it's never too late to look forward to January! Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.

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TOP STORY: Barca scout casts eye on Napoli pair

Barcelona director of football Eric Abidal was spotted in attendance at the Stadio Via del Mare to watch Napoli face Lecce in Serie A, and Spanish publication Marca believes the Frenchman was there to watch two potential transfer targets.

Reports claim the La Liga champions are keeping tabs on Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz, as well as his colleague Kalidou Koulibaly, as Barca prepare to make January moves for targets following their worst start to a league season in 25 years.

Fabian has emerged as a serious target after impressive form for Napoli saw the 23-year-old receive a full call-up to the Spain squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers. Koulibaly, meanwhile, has been on the Catalan radar for some time, and has risen up the shopping list after Ernesto Valverde's side missed out on the signing of Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

LIVE BLOG

14.11 BST: Mario Mandzukic has his heart set on moving to the Premier League in January, according to Tuttosport.

The report claims there is a deal on the table from Qatar for the Juventus striker but negotiations have stalled.

The Croatia international has played in Spain, Italy and Germany during his football career.

13.38 BST: Jose Mourinho has questioned why Manchester United made the decision to tie David de Gea down to a long-term contract.

The goalkeeper's new deal will see him remain at the club until at least 2023, but his former boss is far from convinced.

"The moment where he signed his huge contract is a moment where I don't think United needs to pay as much as that to have him," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

"One or two years ago he had the world after him and, in this moment, where he has signed his incredible contract, I think the majority of the big doors are closed."

12.29 BST: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori is on the verge of signing a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

The club have reportedly opened talks with the youngster and are willing to sign him up until 2024.

11.47 BST: Frenkie de Jong has admitted he had the option to move to Manchester City before completing a deal with Barcelona.

"If it had not been Barca, it is hard for me to say now, but it would have been PSG or Manchester City," he told El Periodico.

"It is not good to talk about being motivated by money. Money is not my business -- it was never a topic of discussion at meetings I attended. That was my agent's business."

Barca signed De Jong from Ajax for €75 million but he only moved to the Catalan club at the start of the new season.

10.25 BST: Gremio forward Everton Soares is set to sign a new contract at the club, according to Calcio Mercato.

Soares attracted interest from Arsenal and AC Milan last summer but the report claims that his new deal will include a £70.6 million release clause, which means both clubs will need to splash the cash in order to secure his services in the future.

09.00 BST: Everton have suffered a stuttering start to the season, and it took a nosedive on Saturday when they lost 2-0 at home to Sheffield United. Now the Daily Express reports that RB Leipzig striker Yussuf Poulsen is on their radar. With just five goals in their opening six games, manager Marco Silva is desperate for added firepower. Everton have sent scouts to what the Denmark international in action.

PAPER ROUND: Juve need to sell to balance books

Reports in Calciomercato claim Juventus need to make capital gains worth €300 million in order to balance the books for financial fair play -- down partly to the fee and wages splashed out on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Financial reports from the club show an increase in transfer expenditure over the last four seasons has led to a huge hole in the club's operating costs, and it is now looking more certain than ever that the Serie A champions will need to sell a number of their high profile stars to restore financial parity.

Paulo Dybala appears to be the most likely to leave Turin, with a potential sale value of around €100 million, while Blaise Matuidi, Emre Can and Miralem Pjanic have all been linked with moves over the summer, and could be nudged towards the Juve exit door to raise funds.

Inter to cash in on Gabigol

Inter Milan outcast Gabriel Barbosa is banging in the goals while on loan at Brazilian club Flamengo, and Tuttosport claims the Nerazzurri will cash in on the 23-year-old in January, with a string of European clubs interested in the forward.

The Brazilian, also known as Gabigol, has spent the past 18 months on loan in his homeland with Santos and Flamengo, and his stunning league form at the latter has seen his market value sharply rise, and a call-up the Brazilian national team has done his sell-on value no harm at all.

It initially appeared that Flamengo would complete a permanent move for the former Benfica loanee for a fee of around €19 million at the end of this year, but his great form has forced Inter to change their stance and consider options on the continent, with clubs in Spain and England keeping tabs.

Tap Ins

- Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has confirmed that Qatar-based Al-Gharafa have just one week left to complete protracted negotiations to sign striker Mario Mandzukic. The Croatian is free to leave the club, having struggled for game time this season.

- Reports from Sport claim Lyon legend Juninho Pernambucano recommended midfielder Arthur to the French club before the he moved to Barcelona from Gremio in the summer of 2018. The Brazilian made the switch to the Camp Nou for a fee of around €31 million.

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