Football
ESPN 4y

LIVE Transfer Talk: Juventus to usurp Manchester United's Haaland plans

January is just around the corner. Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.

Juve's Haaland hunt could cause Man Utd heartache

Manchester United appeared to be in the driver's seat for FC Salzburg's Norwegian sensation Erling Braut Haaland but Italian publication Tuttosport has reported that Juventus are now in the lead. 

The 19-year-old has scored 28 goals in 22 appearances for the Austrian league leaders and has attracted interest from all of Europe's biggest clubs.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has history with Haaland from the duo's days at Molde, but noted super-agent Mino Raiola is seemingly in the midst of a deal to get the player to Italy.

Should they be pipped by Juventus in the Haaland sweepstakes, then the club from Old Trafford could turn its attention to Everton forward Richarlison as an alternative, according to the Evening Standard. 

The 22-year-old Brazilian has scored 22 goals in 57 games for the Toffees since arriving for an initial £35 million from Watford in 2018 but would figure to get better service and support at a club like United.

LIVE BLOG 

18.15 GMT: Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is said to be considering approaching former club Napoli over Lorenzo Insigne.

Ancelotti, who was dismissed by the Serie A side this month before taking over at Goodison Park, coached Italy international Insigne for a year-and-a-half at Napoli.

LeSport10 has reported that the forward is keen on a new challenge after a decade at the club.

17.15 GMT: While Arteta may be prioritising Arsenal's defence as an area for improvement in January, he might be forced to move for a midfielder as well.

Granit Xhaka's agent said this week that the Switzerland international has informed the Gunners of his desire to join Hertha Berlin.

And so -- according to SportMediaSet -- Arsenal are looking to Adrien Rabiot.

But Juventus are unlikely to sell the France international -- not until the end of the season, at least.

16.25 GMT: Le Parisien has reported that Arsenal may make a fresh approach for RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano in January.

The Gunners saw a €60m bid for the 20-year-old defender rejected over the summer, but new coach Mikel Arteta has seemingly identified his team's back four as an area that needs reinforcing as soon as possible.

Upamecano's contract is set to keep him at the Bundesliga club until 2021, but according to Le Parisien, Leipzig would let the centre-back go if they are able to sign PSG defender Tanguy Kouassi, 17.

15.40 GMT: Sources have told ESPN that Arturo Vidal is claiming €2.4 million in unpaid bonuses from Barcelona in a move that the Catalan club believe is an attempt to force a January exit.

Sources at the club said they were "surprised" by the demands being made by Vidal and his representatives, insisting that the player's payments are in order and that they think he is trying to engineer a move to Italian side Inter Milan next month.

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed the Serie A leaders would be keen on signing Vidal, who previously played under the club's coach, Antonio Conte, at Juventus.

ESPN also contacted Vidal's agent Fernando Felicevich, but at the time of publication he had not responded to a request for comment.

14.50 GMT: Manchester United may have to wait until next summer to acquire Ricardo Pereira, according to Le10Sport.

The Leicester defender, who joined from Porto in 2018, has impressed in Brendan Rodgers' side this season, leading United to identify the Portugal international as a potential target.

But if the Red Devils are to bring Pereira to Manchester, it seems it won't be until the end of the season, with Leicester unwilling to let the full-back leave in the middle of such a successful season, in which they are second in the Premier League at the halfway point.

PSG are also said to be interested in the 26-year-old.

13.50 GMT: Chelsea winger Pedro has his sights set on a return to the Nou Camp, the Daily Mail has reported.

The 32-year-old joined Chelsea in 2015,  2having spent the entirety of his career up to that point at Barcelona.

And having made just four Premier League appearances this season, the Spain international seemingly wants nothing more than a move back home.

"If Barcelona call me, I leave everything," he is reported as having said. "This preseason there was a possibility of returning ... I was talking to the coach, but the door closed quickly."

13.05 GMT: Earlier today, Real Sociedad made a joke announcement that they had loaned Martin Odegaard to Manchester City, but we have some genuine La Liga transfer news for you now...

Real Betis have announced the signing of Carles Alena on loan from Barcelona.

The midfielder, who turns 22 next week, will play for Betis until the end of the season.

12.20 GMT: Premier League sides Arsenal and Newcastle have joined PSG in pursuit of Gremio forward Everton, according to Foot Mercato.

The French publication has also reported that Newcastle have made the first move for the 23-year-old Brazil international.

The Magpies have apparently put in a loan offer with an option to buy for approximately £40m.

However, reports in England suggest that -- while Newcastle are interested -- the club are not yet that far along in a move for the player. 

11.38 GMT: Trent Alexander-Arnold mimicking Kylian Mbappe's trademark goal celebration when he scored against Leicester on Thursday got Liverpool fans dreaming that the Paris Saint-Germain star is on his way to Anfield.

However, ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop maintains that long-term admirers Real Madrid remain the leading contenders to sign Mbappe should he leave PSG.

10.55 GMT: Leeds United will try their best to stop Arsenal recalling on-loan striker Eddie Nketiah in January, according to the club's chief executive.

Nketiah, 20, moved to Elland Road on a season-long loan in the summer but, despite scoring four goals in his first six appearances, is yet to start a league game for Marcelo Bielsa's side.

Leeds have already seen winger Jack Clarke's season-long loan from Tottenham cut short after he suffered from a shortage of game time, and the Championship club do not want to miss out on the services of another young talent to the Premier League.

"I appreciate much speculation still surrounds the future of Eddie Nketiah and although Arsenal have the right to recall him in January, we still believe he can make a huge impact over the remainder of the season at Leeds United," Angus Kinnear said in the Daily Mirror.

"We are endeavouring to convince Eddie and the technical team at Arsenal that the coaching environment at Elland Road is still the best choice for his long-term development."

10.12 GMT: Everton's new manager Carlo Ancelotti would exercise his authority over transfers at Goodison Park by blocking any move from Manchester United for forward Richarlison, according to The Sun.

Richarlison, 22, has scored eight goals for the Toffees so far this season, maintaining his decent record since signing for Everton for £40m 18 months ago.

The Brazil international has been linked with interest from Manchester United, who reportedly see him as having the potential to rejuvenate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad.

However, The Sun reports that Ancelotti has the power to rebuff any offers amid talk of a £70m bid from Old Trafford in January.

09.30 GMT: AC Milan have signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer after the former Sweden international left LA Galaxy earlier this year.

"AC Milan is delighted to announce the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic," the team said in a statement on Friday. "The club and the striker have agreed on a deal until the end of the current season with an option to extend the contract for the next one."

Ibrahimovic spent two seasons with Milan from 2010 to 2012, winning a Serie A title, and had long been linked with a return to the club. However, sources told ESPN the 38-year-old needed to lower his wage demands in order to facilitate the move. 

Ibrahimovic, who will have his medical on Jan. 2, announced the move in his own style.

PAPER TALK (by Rich Edwards): Spurs bid for Canaries' star unlikely to fly

Norwich can keep hold of Max Aarons -- despite Spurs lining up a bid for the full-back.

According to the Telegraph, Canaries' boss Daniel Farke believes that the Premier League stragglers can resist Tottenham's attempts to sign a player that they have expressed an interest in in the past.

Aarons was linked with a move to North London in the summer and Norwich's current predicament hardly bodes well as the January transfer window prepares to open. However, the club's German manager insists that the Canaries have no intention of selling one of their most marketable players.

"I'm not worried about any bidding," said Farke. "Interest in our players means we doing many things right. Last season, we always had to sell our best players but we don't have to sell any players. That's a good situation."

Mind you, after Norwich dropped to the foot of the Premier League table on Boxing Day, there's no doubt that Spurs hold the whip hand in this particular situation. No matter what their manager says.

More outs than ins at Barcelona in January

Any Barca fan dreaming of big name signings in the New Year might have to temper their expectations -- with more players set to leave the Nou Camp than arrive. That's according to Marca, which claims that the Spanish giants have 'no intention' of signing anyone new when the transfer window opens next month. That decision is a result of the club's substantial outlay on Antoine Griezmann and Frenkie de Jong in the summer.

The Spanish outlet reports that Carles Alena will be leaving Barca on a loan deal to Real Betis, while Jean-Clair Todibo could also be allowed to leave, with the club again willing to sanction a loan deal for the player.

As January drifts quietly by in Catalonia, the club will focus their attention on another transfer splurge this summer, with a right-back and a centre-back thought to be among their top priorities. All of which piles the pressure on Nelson Semedo, Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti in the second half of the season. A central midfielder could also be on the club's wish-list, with both Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic set to leave Barca before their current deals expire. 

And Neymar continued to fuel the rumours of a potential return to Barcalona by posing for a photo with his former teammates, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The Daily Mail report that the Brazilian was at a party to celebrate Luis Suarez's 10-year wedding anniversary and posted the snap on his Instagram story. 

Tap-ins

-- Carlo Ancelotti has only just arrived at Goodison Park but he has already identified a target from his former club as he looks to resurrect Everton's fortunes. French outlet Le 10 Sport report that the Italian is intent on making a move for Lorenzo Insigne, who worked successfully with the former Chelsea boss during his time in Naples. The 28-year-old hasn't had the easiest ride at Napoli this season, with the player attracting pelters from the passionate fans in Naples. 

-- With the aforementioned hunt for Haaland in fifth gear and Liverpool's recent signing of Takumi Minamino on a four-and-a-half year deal, there could be another FC Salzburg player on the move in January. Hwang Hee-Chan is edging toward a deal with Wolves, with the South Korean star being the subject of a £23 million fee should he get to Molineux, according to German outlet Hamburger Morgenpost. 

-- A new name has emerged in Inter Miami's coaching search. According to ESPN Deportes' Jorge Ramos, former Pachuca and Monterrey manager Diego Alonso could be in line to be the first boss for the MLS expansion club, co-owned by David Beckham. Uruguayan native Alonso had success in Liga MX, winning a domestic title and the CONCACAF Champions League with Pachuca, plus another CCL crown with Monterrey. 

^ Back to Top ^