Football
ESPN 4y

LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United join Inter in race for Vidal?

It's go time as the January transfer window is open. Find out when it closes across Europe, view the latest transfers as they happen and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.

TOP STORY: Man United join Inter in race for Vidal?

Arturo Vidal looks set to leave Barcelona this window and Manchester United are interested, according to Italian publication Corriere della Sera.

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 have told ESPN.

The 32-year-old midfielder has been unhappy at Camp Nou for some time and stormed out of a training session after learning he would not start against Real Madrid in December.

Reports have suggested that Antonio Conte's Inter are leading the race for €20m-rated Vidal, but the player's agent Fernando Felicevich is now in Europe for talks and Manchester United have joined the race as they seek to aid their midfield problems.

LIVE BLOG

22.42 GMT: Representatives from Real Betis travelled to Mexico on Tuesday to close a deal for Argentine midfielder Guido Rodriguez, for whom Club America are holding out for a fee of $10m, according to ESPN Mexico.

21.49 GMT: In the market for another forward to replace the injured Wesley, Aston Villa are considering making a move for 30-year-old Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez, the Athletic reports.

20.56 GMT: Is Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez finally coming to MLS? It's been reported on SportsCenter Mexico that representatives with the LA Galaxy will travel to Sevilla next week to meet with the Mexico international about potentially replacing Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the Los Angeles club's talisman.

20.03 GMT: Amid rumours of Ajax potentially selling Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech, the Amsterdam club will soon need creative reinforcements, and Dutch outlet Voetbal International reports that Ajax have identified 21-year-old Cruz Azul midfielder Roberto Alvarado as a potential successor, with Leicester and Crystal Palace also interested in the Mexico international.

19.10 GMT: With Harry Kane out long term through injury, Tottenham are in need of cover at the striker position, and the Guardian writes that the North London club have joined the chase for AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek.

18.17 GMT: New York City FC have confirmed that they've agreed a permanent deal with Portuguese giants Benfica for U.S. international Keaton Parks, who spent the 2019 season on loan with the MLS club.

17.24 GMT: Tottenham are expected to allow right-back Kyle Walker-Peters leave the club on loan this month, according to Sky Sports, with Brighton, Crystal Palace and Southampton all keen to take on the 22-year-old.

16.31 GMT: Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard could move to Leicester as his former boss Brendan Rodgers is mulling a £30m bid, says the Daily Record.

Edouard, 21, has 16 goals and 15 assists in 31 matches for Celtic but could move on if Leicester let one of Ayoze Perez or Kelechi Iheanacho depart.

16.08 GMT: News from Norwich. Striker Dennis Srbeny has completed a permanent transfer back to German club SC Paderborn 07, having joined from the same club in January 2018.

16.02 GMT: Two from Mexico here:

Cruz Azul's Roberto Alvarado has been linked with Leicester, Crystal Palace, Ajax, PSV, Lyon and Atalanta by Football Insider. Though Cruz Azul sporting director told TUDN there is nothing formal as yet, a report from Dutch site VI says interest from Ajax is serious and he could replace Donny van de Beek or Hakim Ziyech.

Real Betis chiefs are travelling to Mexico to sign Argentina international Guido Rodriguez from Club America, reports Sevilla ABC.

15.42 GMT: Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has changed his agent mid-window, says Football.London, which suggests a move is imminent.

Sporx reports that he's been offered to Galatasaray, with the Turkish club keen to tie up a transfer in January.

15.15 GMT: Former Arsenal and PSG boss Unai Emery has been speaking to El Larguero about Neymar and a possible return to Barcelona --.which, sources have told ESPN, could be back on next summer.

"I helped to convince Neymar to join PSG [from Barcelona for €222m in 2017]," Emery said. "Now I am in Spain, I think he should come back! I think the best teams are in Spain, therefore the best players should be too. Neymar needs to be more consistent -- he is 27 and now is the perfect time to become the best player in the world. Without a doubt, he is the best player I have coached!"

15.06 GMT: Watford are struggling with injuries across the backline and Fulham left-back Joe Bryan has caught their eye, says Sky Sports.

14.35 GMT: Sky in Germany are reporting that Jadon Sancho won't be leaving Borussia Dortmund this month as they club don't believe they can find a replacement that quickly.

Sancho, 19, is one of the most highly rated young players in Europe with Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona all eyeing a €120m move for him.

However, Dortmund won't sell this month, opening the door to a summer move instead. Read all about Sancho's options here.

14.07 GMT: Update from 11.39 -- Ajax are interested in signing Galatasaray winger Ryan Babel on loan until the end of the season, sources told ESPN.

The 33-year-old Dutch international would add depth to the squad after the club failed to replace injured wingers Quincy Promes and David Neres.

Former Liverpool winger Babel has scored five goals in 20 appearances for Galatasary in all competitions since arriving from Fulham in June. He began his career at Ajax where he won a Eredivisie title and two Dutch Cups before leaving for Anfield in 2007.

13.57 GMT: Former Man United full-back Rafael da Silva could be set to return to the Premier League, says Sky Sports.

Brighton, Palace and Southampton are all keen on the 29-year-old, who has fallen behind Kenny Tete in the pecking order at Lyon.

13.39 GMT: Everton are going to be making some changes and Gylfi Sigurdsson could be one of the first to depart the club. But goalkeeper Jordan Pickford might also find himself searching for a new job in the coming months.

Pickford, 25, is the England No. 1 but has had a mixed season at Everton. The Sun claims that new boss Carlo Ancelotti "has ordered the Everton board to find him a new goalkeeper in this window" though that's just someone to provide some competition for Pickford at this stage.

Cenk Tosun, Theo Walcott, Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Keane are also rumoured to be on the way out.

13.14 GMT: Former Everton winger Ademola Lookman could return to Premier League just six months after joining Bundesliga club RB Leipzig on a permanent transfer.

The 22-year-old's move to Germany had been one of the longer transfer sagas last summer, but -- despite a good impression during a previous loan spell with Leipzig -- Lookman has struggled for game time under the club's new coach Julian Nagelsmann.

And Sky now reports that Newcastle United are hoping to add the attacker to their team as they hope to avoid a battle against relegation.

12.50 GMT: Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick believes his squad lacks depth going into the second half of the Bundesliga season, telling Bild: "The personnel situation is a bit poor."

Javi Martinez, Kingsley Coman, Niklas Sule and Robert Lewandowski have all failed to join the team during their winter training camp in Qatar. And while defender Lucas Hernandez has been able to take part in some training following an ankle injury, Germany star Serge Gnabry has not because of Achilles tendon problems.

Bayern resume their campaign, trailing leaders RB Leipzig by four points already, with a trip to Hertha Berlin next weekend and will also be without suspended Joshua Kimmich.

The defending champions have reportedly failed with a bid to loan Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace until the end of the season, while Manchester City's Leroy Sane, another target, is working on his comeback after an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered last summer.

"It's not ideal," Bayern attacker Thomas Muller said about the situation. "Especially if in King (Coman) and Serge (Gnabry) two wingers are injured at the same time."

12.44 GMT: Midfielder Bryan Cristante has signed a new deal with AS Roma.

12.35 GMT: Patrick Cutrone's move from Wolves to Fiorentina is edging a little closer, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The Italy striker, 22, has not settled in England a move back to Serie A looks most likely.

12.22 GMT: Yesterday we brought you news that Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been approached by MLS clubs D.C. United, Inter Miami and Atlanta United in recent weeks, but there is no prospect of a move in the short or medium term.

Here's what the FC TV guys make of the talk.

11.56 GMT: We'd venture that Brighton haven't sold too many players to Napoli in their long history but striker Neal Maupay is evidently on the Italian club's radar, says the Daily Telegraph.

Maupay has impressed since making the step up to the Premier League and is reportedly valued at £40m.

11.39 GMT: Get the #babelcopter fueled up and ready to go, Eurosport have news that Newcastle are interested in former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel.

The Galatasaray winger could be set to return to the Premier League but if Newcastle's run of injuries continues, he could find himself in the treatment room more than on the pitch.

11.22 GMT: Paco Alcacer's return to La Liga remains up in the air. The Borussia Dortmund attacker had seen his stock drop at the Westfalenstadion even before the arrival of Erling Haaland, and the Spain international has been linked with Atletico Madrid.

While Dortmund could be willing to sell for the right price, Alcacer must wait on news of Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani, who has also been linked with Atletico and is the club's first option in attack, German outlet Bild reports.

10.46 GMT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is considering a January move for Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, sources have told ESPN, with the Norwegian pushing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to secure reinforcements for his Manchester United squad this month.

Solskjaer has been given the green light to make signings during the transfer window, but the United manager admitted after Tuesday's 3-1 Carabao Cup semifinal first-leg defeat against Manchester City that "if it isn't the right thing, we won't do anything" due to the club's determination to avoid repeating the recruitment mistakes of recent seasons.

10.20 GMT: Manchester United defender Ashley Young is in talks with Inter Milan, sources have told ESPN.

The 34-year-old could sign for the Italian side this month or, if United block the deal, sign a precontract agreement and move to Serie A on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Young's contract at Old Trafford is due to expire on June 30 and he has been free to negotiate with clubs outside England since Jan. 1.

10.05 GMT: Barcelona are expecting a quiet month in January but one player who could leave is Jean-Clair Todibo, with Schalke 04 joining AC Milan in the battle for the French defender.

Milan's sporting director Frederic Massara flew into Barcelona last week to hold talks with Todibo in an attempt to get him to move to Italy. However, the ex-Toulouse centre-back's delay in giving the Rossoneri an answer has opened the door for Schalke, with one source telling ESPN the German club are now best placed to make the signing.

Barca are open to letting Todibo go but would prefer a sale with a buyback option rather than a loan. Bayer Leverkusen, Watford and Southampton have also expressed an interest in the 20-year-old.

09.53 GMT: Manchester City's Fernandinho told ESPN Brasil he is close to extending his contract, which runs out at the end of the campaign.

The Brazil international has been an important player for City since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and manager Pep Guardiola recently said he hopes Fernandinho will stay beyond the summer.

"When I renewed at the end of 2018, we put a clause that if I reached certain goals, my contract would be renewed automatically," Fernandinho said after City's 3-1 Carabao Cup semifinal first leg victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"Conversations have already started, we talked about it last month. I am close to reaching those goals and renewing the contract, but we can only confirm it after signing.The club have already shown interest in me staying, I have also shown [my interest] in staying."

09.43 GMT: This is one transfer we didn't see coming.

09.22 GMT: Barcelona and Aston Villa have reached an agreement for Louie Barry to return to England just six months after he joined the Spanish champions from West Bromwich Albion.

The 16-year-old's move will cost Villa up to €3m and he has agreed a four-year deal, sources have told ESPN.

There had been interest from several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester United, but Villa has been Barry's first-choice destination since the decision was made to leave Barca at the end of last year.

08.56 GMT: Espanyol are on the verge of signing Spanish striker Raul de Tomas from Benfica for €20m, according to Spanish radio station Cadena COPE.

De Tomas signed a five-year contract with Benfica last summer following his €20m transfer from Real Madrid. The 25-year-old has scored three goals in 17 appearances for the Portuguese giants, just 12 as a starter.

Espanyol lie at the foot of La Liga and have the worst attacking line in the competition with only 14 goals netted in 19 games. The Barcelona-based club recently appointed Abelardo as coach after dismissing Pablo Machin.

08.29 GMT: Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers insists that Manchester United target James Maddison will remain at the club "in January and beyond."

Sources told ESPN in September that Maddison, 23, is one of the players United have identified as they look to strengthen their midfield and forward line.

"There's no message [to Manchester United]," Rodgers told a news conference ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup semifinal first leg against Aston Villa (stream LIVE at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in the U.S.). "There's lots of speculation around lots of our players, which is great, because they're talents and it means they and the team are doing very well.

"Nobody will leave here in January that's for sure. There's no pressure to sell here and there's no need for us to sell. Our idea is to keep the squad together and ask: 'Can we add to it rather than diminish the quality?'

"You're talking speculation. I don't talk about speculation and gossip. James is a very talented player, a wonderful player and he will be here in January and beyond."

The Leicester Mercury reports that England midfielder Maddison has been in talks with Leicester over a new contract for several months, but both parties are relaxed about the timescale for signing a new deal.

08.00 GMT: Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster joined Championship side Swansea City on loan for the rest of the season on Tuesday.

Brewster made his third senior appearance when he came on as a substitute in Liverpool's FA Cup third-round win over Everton on Sunday.

The 19-year-old made his first-team debut in a 2-0 win over MK Dons in the Carabao Cup in September. He was an unused substitute for Jurgen Klopp's side in their 2019 Champions League final win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Swansea are sixth in the Championship, one point inside the playoff places.

PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd)

Spurs join Chelsea in race for Zaha

While the Express reported that Chelsea are monitoring Wilfried Zaha's availability this January, the Mirror is reporting that the player's agent is trying to push through a move to Tottenham.

The north Londoners were keen on Zaha in the summer but were put off by the £80 million asking price, but with Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko out three months with an injury, Jose Mourinho is keen to bolster his squad.

Zaha is reportedly still keen to leave Selhurst Park and a move across London would suit the 27-year-old. Not only would he be able to stay close to friends and family, but he would also get the chance to play the Champions League football he craves.

The Daily Mail reported last week that Zaha has enlisted the services of "super agent" Pini Zahavi to help facilitate the big move he has long craved.

Aston Villa offered Reina loan deal by AC Milan

Aston Villa are looking for a goalkeeper to replace the injured Tom Heaton and Italian giants AC Milan have offered them an unlikely lifeline in former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, say the Mail.

Villa manager Dean Smith has already added to his squad with the addition of Danny Drinkwater and Barcelona teenager Louie Barry. However, a new goalkeeper remains a top priority given the season-ending injury to Heaton and Reina, who has been providing cover for Gianluigi Donnarumma at the San Siro, appears to be open to a move back to England.

The 37-year-old custodian has played just five times in the Italian capital but would bring a wealth of experience to the Midlands. He played 285 times for Liverpool and clocked another 140 appearances for Napoli across two spells, and at those two clubs he won five cup winners' medals.

The move would appear to suit all parties, with Villa in particular landing a marquee name to try and help lift the club out of a difficult patch of form.

Juventus eye Mertens move

Juventus could make a shock move for Napoli striker Dries Mertens this January, if Calciomercato are to be believed.

The Italian title is putting two and two together as the end of the Belgian's contract draws nearer next summer and they believe Juventus lead a number of other Italian clubs including Roma and Inter keen to lure the mercurial player away from the club he's represented for six years.

Mertens has been out of action recently and has been granted time to rest by Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso, but the Belgian's future remains a hot topic in Italy.

He has been a key player for Napoli since joining the club from PSV Eindhoven in 2013, scoring 88 goals in 219 games.

With a record of one goal every two-and-a-half games, plus an ability to dribble past players and create chances for others, it's no surprise the diminutive playmaker is a wanted man.

Conte targets Alonso reunion at Inter

Inter Milan could bolster their Serie A title charge by signing Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso, reports the Telegraph.

Chelsea are willing to listen to offers from former Blues coach Antonio Conte who appears keen to work with the attacking left full-back again. Alonso has played 14 times this season but Lampard appears to prefer Emerson Palmieri on the left-hand side, and so would be prepared to offload the Spaniard for the right price.

Lampard is also reportedly tempted to re-sign defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth, and he could use any money raised from the sale of Alonso to net the former Chelsea youngster, though the Blues boss faces stiff competition for Ake's services from Manchester City, among others.

Alonso's current contract runs until 2023, which leaves them in a strong position at the negotiating table. Alonso joined Chelsea in 2016 and formed a pivotal part of the team that won the title under Conte. It could be that Conte, and his penchant for wing-backs, tempts the Spaniard away from London this month.

Tap ins

- A host of Championship clubs are queueing up to sign Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jack Clarke, reports The Mail. Clarke joined Spurs for £11m following his breakout season last year but he was loaned back to Leeds before he was recalled after playing just 19 minutes. However, the likes of Middlesbrough, QPR, Stoke City, Fulham and Brentford are all keen to add his attacking powers to their armoury. 

- The race to sign Chelsea hotshot Conor Gallagher continues to gather momentum, with Norwich City the latest club interested in adding the freescoring midfielder to their ranks. Gallagher has bagged six goals and more assists during his loan spell at the Valley and is likely to cut his season-long deal with Charlton short. As well as Norwich, Burnley are also keen to sign the 19-year-old, according to the Daily Mail.  

- Juventus could be fairly busy in this transfer window and the emphasis of their signings appears to be on youth, with Nantes teenage full-back Jean-Claude Ntenda topping of their shopping list. In fact, Calciomercato believe the deal to be close to the finishing line, with Nantes said to be devastated at losing one of their rising stars at such an early stage of his career. Ntenda is considered to be one of the best up and coming defenders in France, and Juve are making a play at scouring Europe for the best young players. 

^ Back to Top ^