The transfer windows in Europe's top leagues are closed, but it's never too early to look forward to January. Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.
TOP STORY: Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal eye move for James
Reports in Spain suggests that Premier League sides Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all interested in signing Real Madrid's attacking midfielder James Rodriguez.
The former Monaco man moved to the Bernabeu in a €75m move in 2014, but has struggled to light up La Liga and recently returned from a two-year loan spell with Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga side turned down the chance to make the deal permanently this summer, with Real now expected to push for a January exit as they look to reclaim some of their initial investment.
That has put a host of clubs on red alert, but United are believed to hold the upper-hand with Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane said to be preparing a player-plus-cash deal to land Paul Pogba.
LIVE BLOG
22.51 GMT: That's it for Friday's edition of Transfer Talk. Tune in soon for Saturday's rolling live blog!
21.28 GMT: It's not a transfer, per se, but Tottenham are facing a fight to keep one of their most talented youngsters beyond next summer.
According to reports recapped here by TEAMTalk, 20-year-old defender Japhet Tanganga has rejected Spurs' first attempt at a contract extension though the club is readying an improved offer in order to keep him with the club.
Tanganga, who normally plays in central defence, is regarded as one of the club's top prospects alongside midfielder Oliver Skipp and striker Troy Parrott. Can they get it done and preserve their up-and-coming core?
20.40 GMT: We know it's not the transfer window currently but teams can still sign free agents/out of contract players and that's why we have a DONE DEAL in Serie A as winger Jonathan Biabiany has joined Trapani in Serie B.
Biabiany, 31, has made over 200 appearances in Italy's top flight for clubs like Parma and Inter Milan but has struggled to stay fit in recent years and therefore has a fresh chance in the second tier. Best of luck to you, Jonathan!
19.24 GMT: Time for another update already on Granit Xhaka! Despite Newcastle's interest, Arsenal are reportedly only looking at selling him to the Bundesliga instead of strengthening another Premier League side. Xhaka, 27, is already absent from Arsenal's trip to Leicester City for Saturday's evening fixture.
18.34 GMT: Aston Villa could use some scoring power in the January window, having managed just 16 goals in 11 league games so far -- and five of those coming in one emphatic win against Norwich. But according to the Daily Express, they won't be making a move for Rangers forward Alfredo Morales.
Morales, 23, already has 18 goals for Rangers in all competitions this season and is being linked with a move to the Premier League but for now, it looks like links to the Midlands are premature. That said, Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is confident he will not be losing his star to an English team any time soon.
Said Gerrard following Thursday's 2-0 win over Porto in the Europa League, "I'm not confident, I'm sure, I'm 100 percent sure he's not going anywhere.">
17.30 GMT: Burnley and New Zealand international striker Chris Wood has signed a new contract with the club until June 2023.
"I'm very happy to have it signed and looking forward to the future," said Wood, who signed for a club record £15m from Leeds in August 2017. "I'm settled and happy, now it's about pushing forward and doing even better."
16.16 GMT: Ander Herrera has had some interesting things to say about Manchester United, now he's a PSG player.
The Spain midfielder told So Foot: "I was very happy in this incredible club. I am very grateful to the supporters. I was immensely happy in Manchester but in the club there were times when I felt that football was not considered the most important thing."
When it was suggested that the most important at Old Trafford was business, Herrera added: "That does not come out of my mouth. I don't know, but football was not the most important thing in Manchester. I do not want to compare, all I know is that here, I feel like I'm breathing football on all sides. And I like it.
"I cannot talk about what was happening in previous seasons because I was not [at PSG]. But, since I'm here, what I see is that I'm in a club that thinks solely and exclusively about football. And I say it sincerely because sometimes, seen from the outside, PSG can have a glamorous side that can irritate some.
"But here we sweat, we train, we work. When I arrive at the training centre, physios, podiatrists and physical trainers are already at work. Football, football, football. Leonardo (the sporting director) is there every day."
15.19 GMT: Plenty of players have done it before, will Erling Braut Haaland move from FC Salzburg to RB Leipzig and stay in the Red Bull family?
Sky Sports News reports that Europe's hottest striking prospect, who has 23 goals in 17 appearances, could move to the Bundesliga as he considers his future.
Clearly it's a stepping stone but with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus all on the 19-year-old trail, it won't be long before he's playing for one of the top teams in Europe.
14.33 GMT: Barcelona are facing a Luis Suarez dilemma with sources telling ESPN FC they would be unsure what to do should the Uruguayan striker receive a concrete offer from Major League Soccer.
Suarez's international teammate Nicolas Lodeiro, who plays for Seattle Sounders, revealed this week that the Barca frontman is keen to move to MLS when his time in Spain is up.
"I think you need to convince Barcelona [because] he wants to come to MLS," Lodeiro said. "He is always asking me about the league. His dream was to play for Barcelona. He's playing at a great level and he feels comfortable there. Sooner or later he'll come to MLS, though. Well, hopefully. He likes the league. He's always asking me things about it. I think it's only a matter of time before he's out here.
13.36 GMT: Matildas star Sam Kerr will play in Europe this season, but which club will land Australia's best?
13.00 GMT: Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has responded to criticism from Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo who accused him of "destablising" Kylian Mbappe with "annoying" comments earlier this week.
Zidane is a long-term admirer of the forward, and Madrid came close to signing Mbappe before his move to Paris in 2017.
"I just said what the player has said, that it was his dream to play for Real Madrid," Zidane told a news conference. "I said it, I'll say it again, and I'll say it as many times as I like."
11.45 GMT: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested he would be willing to manage in Italy in the future.
Guardiola spent one season in Serie A with Brescia, and his contract at the Etihad expires at the end of next season.
"Training in Italy? Why not," he told Sky in Italy. "It was a pleasure [to be there] as a player, with the great (Carlo) Mazzone [former Brescia manager]. I had a great time and I love the country but now I feel good in England, it's a great championship. But maybe yes, I'm not that old."
11.10 GMT: Inter Milan look set to continue their pursuit of Premier League players.
The Serie A side are looking to sign Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The France international has seen his playing time limited this season due to the impressive form of Tammy Abraham.
Antonio Conte already acquired the services of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez this summer.
09.34 GMT: More on the future of Granit Xhaka from the Times.
Newcastle are a possible destination for the midfielder. Because obviously the passionate fans up at St James' never turn on one of their own players....
08.30 GMT: Arsenal are set to lose Granit Xhaka and could suffer a double midfield blow with Lucas Torreira set to hold talks over his future, according to the Mirror.
Torreira, 23, impressed in his first season but has dropped down the pecking order this year. Perhaps the exit of Xhaka will grant him a new lease of life at the Emirates.
PAPER TALK (by Liam Wheeler)
Xhaka's days numbered at Arsenal
Premier League side Arsenal are set to sell midfielder Granit Xhaka in January following the aftermath of last month's clash with Crystal Palace, according to the Daily Mirror.
Xhaka upset the Gunners' faithful by cupping his hand to his ear in response to jeers as he departed as a substitute, and boss Unai Emery is believed to see no way back for the apologetic Switzerland international, who has also been stripped of the club captaincy.
According to the Mirror, Xhaka is almost certain to be shown the door when the transfer window opens, with the Bundesliga his most likely destination.
A move may be best for both parties as Xhaka looks to secure his place at the European Championships next summer.
Tap-Ins
- Serie A and city rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan are set to go head-to-head in a battle to land the signature of Udinese winger Rodrigo De Paul, Calciomercato are reporting. Both clubs are believed to have been trying to lure the Argentina international to the San Siro for some time, but may have to splash out €35m to convince Le Zebrette to part with their star man.
- In addition to their pursuit of De Paul, AC Milan have joined the list of clubs interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, Tuttosport are reporting. However, the deal could hit a stumbling block with Barca unwilling to let the Croatian head to the San Siro unless the Rossoneri agree in advance to sign the player permanently upon completion of any potential loan spell.