The transfer window may have slammed shut, but that doesn't mean the rumour mill has shut down! Speculation over summer moves is heating up so check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Liverpool look to Neuhaus to bolster midfield
Liverpool have joined Borussia Dortmund in the queue for Borussia Monchengladbach's Florian Neuhaus, according to Kicker. However, The Sun reports the Reds are also keeping tabs on Udinese's Rodrigo De Paul.
Neuhaus has been earning rave reviews for his performances in the Bundesliga, and Liverpool are just one of many clubs, including Manchester City, to be interested in signing the 23-year-old. Juventus and Bayern Munich are also tracking his progress.
Liverpool have other options, and The Sun reports that they could be tempted by Udinese's Argentine midfielder De Paul. The 26-year-old is valued at £30 million by the Italians, with Leeds also interested.
Leeds were close to signing De Paul last summer, and Liverpool see both as a possible replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, should he leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.
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21.53 GMT: With highly touted 19-year-old forward Folarin Balogun out of contract in the summer, the Mirror writes that Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart and Stade Rennes are hoping to sign the Arsenal prodigy on a free transfer.
21.16 GMT: The looming transfer drama of the summer is over before it ever truly began! Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has confirmed to Bild that RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano will move to Bavaria in the summer, when the eight-times-defending German champions will activate the 22-year-old's reported €42.5m release clause. Liverpool and Chelsea were reported to be the finalists who missed out on the chance to sign the France international.
20.39 GMT: Atlanta United have announced that they've signed 21-year-old holding midfielder and Argentina U20 international Santiago Sosa on a permanent transfer from Buenos Aires giants River Plate.
The time has come.
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) February 12, 2021
Welcome @SantiSosa_99 to the ATL‼️
DETAILS: https://t.co/ermYJNtB3D pic.twitter.com/9EwfbKulEN
20.02 GMT: When AC Milan brought Brahim Diaz to the San Siro on loan from Real Madrid, there was no purchase option in the agreement, but Goal reports that the Rossoneri are keen to open negotiations with Los Blancos in hopes of the 21-year-old forward moving to Italy on a permanent basis.
19.25 GMT: The New York Red Bulls and MLS have asked the U.S. Soccer Federation not to release the International Transfer Certificate for Kaku, continuing the saga surrounding the attempted signing of the midfielder by Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawoun FC that shows no signs of abating. Read the full story.
18.48 GMT: Bayern Munich have announced that they've signed FC Dallas centre-back Justin Che on loan for the remainder of the season, with the 17-year-old expected to join the Bavarians' U19 side upon arriving in Germany.
The good news keeps coming!
— 🇺🇸 FC Bayern US 🇨🇦 (@FCBayernUS) February 12, 2021
American Justin Che joins FC Bayern from @FCDallas on loan. Welcome to the family, Justin! 🇺🇸@FCBjuniorteam #MiaSanFamily
18.11 GMT: Bild reports that RB Leipzig have negotiated a purchase option for forward Justin Kluivert, on loan from Roma, which is said to be between €10m and €13m and must be activated by May. The 21-year-old Netherlands international has scored two goals in just 451 minutes of action across all competitions this season, having missed seven games through calf and ankle injuries.
17.34 GMT: The New York Red Bulls and D.C. United are considering joining the race to sign West Bromwich Albion defender Kieran Gibbs, who remains a target for Inter Miami CF, sources have told ESPN's James Olley. Read the full story.
16.57 GMT: Amid ongoing speculation linking Real Madrid outcast Isco with a move to Sevilla to be reunited with former Spain and Los Blancos manager Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla sporting director Monchi has told Estadio Deportivo that the extent of discussions surrounding the 28-year-old is limited to a "15 or 20 second" conversation about potential signings with club president Jose Castro Carmona.
16.20 GMT: Gazzetta dello Sport brings us more news from the world of Mino Raiola, with the Italian paper reporting that he wants Gigio Donnarumma to be second highest-paid keper in the world, behind only Manchester United's David De Gea. Donnarumma already earns €6m-a-year but with his AC Milan contract expiring at the end of the season he could earn more elsewhere.
Gazzetta reports that Raiola wants Milan to up his deal to €10m-a-year, but the Rossoneri have so far only offered €7.5m-a-year.
"You must leave Gigio alone, because he is trying to achieve something very important for Milan and for his career," Raiola said of the player's future recently. "The rest will be done secretly, without letting you know anything, it's like this and it will always be like this."
15.33 GMT: The Manchester Evening News reports that Manchester United are still to trigger one-year contract extensions for Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata.
Cavani, who celebrates his 34th birthday on Sunday, has emerged as an important player for United, and seems likely to earn a new deal. The same cannot be said of the 32-year-old Mata, who has struggled to make the matchday squad recently may want to return to Spain.
"The decision is very difficult every time with Juan," Solskjaer said this week. "You know he has the quality. If he plays, he scores goals, he has contributed this season. Then again, you have other players who have taken his role as well. Mason [Greenwood] has done well in that position and Paul [Pogba] now."
14.52 GMT: Tuttomercatoweb reports that AC Milan and Juventus are watching Andrea Belotti's situation with interest. The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season, so if a new deal isn't signed Torino may need to cash in this summer.
Belotti, who should be in the Italy squad for Euro 2020, has scored 90 goals in 195 Serie A appearances for Torino, with 11 of those coming in the first half of this season.
Tuttosport confirms the link with Milan, and reports that Belotti could be seen as a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
14.09 GMT: We mentioned earlier how Hakim Ziyech was being linked with a summer move to Italy, but he is not the only Chelsea signing who has struggled this season. Kai Havertz, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Bayer Leverkusen, has yet to hit top form. But new Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is confident that Ziyech will come good.
"I am pretty sure we will see [the Leverkusen Havertz], there is no short answer though," Tuchel said. "What we know is there is all this potential in him and he can show it on the pitch.
"For every transfer, change of club, every player is different. Some players need more time to adapt, sometimes it is a process. All we can do is push him, support him and give him what he needs. He had a good start with us, good matches and I have a feeling that he is a guy who is clear, self-aware, humble and very talented. There are no doubts he will show this.
"Hopefully he can come back in the next days because I am confident he can have a big impact."
13.31 GMT: Archie Rhind-Tutt argues Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho will still be highly sought-after this summer despite his dip in form.
12.53 GMT: West Brom boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed the club have ended their interest in Nigeria international Ahmed Musa. Musa, who is a free agent, had been training with the Baggies but they couldn't afford to offer the striker a short-term deal.
"We bought four players in so that didn't fall within our budget," Allardyce said. "It was a shame Musa didn't come in earlier because of COVID and he may have been one of the four we brought in but because he was the fifth it couldn't get done."
West Brom signed Mbaye Diagne, Andy Lonergan, Robert Snodgrass and Okay Yokuslu in January in their desperate bid to stay in the Premier League.
12.15 GMT: Who will Manchester have at the top of their wanted list when the transfer mark reopens in the summer? Mark Ogden has his say.
11.32 GMT: Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal's original January transfer target was Barcelona starlet Riqui Puig, before the Gunners eventually signed Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid on a temporary deal.
Romano said on his Here We Go podcast: "At the start of the window Arsenal were seriously trying to sign Riqui Puig on loan with a buy option, in a similar deal as Odegaard."
The Daily Express says that the Gunners also enquired about Norwich City's Emi Buendia and Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt.
10.40 GMT: LA Galaxy have upped their bid to sign Boca Juniors winger Cristian Pavon, according to reports. The Galaxy have made an official offer of $7m for 70% of Pavon's sporting rights. Pavon scored 14 goals in 35 MLS appearances on loan at the MLS club last season, and new coach Greg Vanney is eager to bring the player back.
Negotiations between the two clubs are advancing with Pavon surplus to requirements at Boca, who have Sebastian Villa and Eduardo Salvio first choice. Pavon's Boca expires in 18 months and he is open to a move in search of regular playing time.
09.57 GMT: More from Chelsea now, and Calciomercato reports that Hakim Ziyech is being tracked by both AC Milan and Juventus. Ziyech has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League after moving from Ajax last summer, and the two Italian clubs will be watching closely if Chelsea decide to cut their losses.
New boss Thomas Tuchel has not started Ziyech in the Premier League so far. And while he was named in the XI for the FA Cup win over Barnsley on Thursday night, he was replaced by teenager Faustino Anjorin in the 69th minute. If Ziyech cannot force his way into Tuchel's plans, he could look to move on.
09.15 GMT: Manchester United will prioritise signing a new centre-back in the summer as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to solve his team's defensive frailties, sources told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
Solskjaer is keen to bring in a partner for captain Harry Maguire, who cost £80m from Leicester in 2019, with Sevilla's Jules Kounde, Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings, Raphael Varane at Real Madrid and Braga's David Carmo the names on his shortlist. RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano is also a target but there are fears among United's recruitment team that Bayern Munich are a step ahead in the race for his signature.
08.30 GMT: Could Christian Eriksen be heading back to London... with Chelsea? Calciomercato reckons he is on Thomas Tuchel's radar and a summer deal could be arranged. Eriksen had a disappointing first 12 months at Inter Milan and was expected to leave in January, but a suppressed transfer market meant he stayed at the San Siro.
The report says Chelsea could offer Jorginho in a swap deal -- which would suit both clubs.
PAPER ROUND
City close to Kayky deal
Manchester City are close to signing Brazilian wonderkid Kayky from Fluminense on a five-year deal, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Romano reports that City have managed to fend off interest from a host of Spanish clubs -- and Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk -- to land the 17-year-old, who will join the club's academy in 2022 if the paperwork and permit is completed without any hitches.
Manchester City officials believe the Fluminese starlet is one of the best U18 talents in South America, which is why they're ready to invest €10m in the youngster. That fee that could rise to €17m in future add-ons.
Kayky has drawn comparisons with compatriot Neymar for his style of play.
City were also rumoured to be interested in signing Kayky's teammate Metinho. Fluminese president Mario Bittencourt is under pressure to deliver a solid return on both Metinho and Kayky after receiving criticism for his handling of the transfer of another young star, Marcos Paulo, to Atletico Madrid.
Spurs face competition for Damsgaard
Tottenham Hotspur are keen to sign Sampdoria midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard, but the Daily Star says that Spurs face competition from Southampton, West Ham United and Leeds United.
Damsgaard has been in electric form for his Serie A club, scoring two goals and adding four assists in a season that has seen the 20-year-old attract interest from all over Europe.
Damsgaard can play in the centre or on the wing, and he has already earned full international caps with Denmark.
Spurs have asked to be kept informed of his developments, while Juve are also said to be tracking his progress. Now, though, a host of Premier League clubs are watching him, too.
Damsgaard signed with Sampdoria for £5.2m last summer, and the Italians are said to be willing to let him leave the club for around £15m.
Tap-ins
- Paul Pogba's next move continues to be a source of mystery, and his agent, Mino Raiola, has done little to play down rumours linking the Frenchman with a move to Juventus. Pogba will have one year left on his current contract at the end of this season, and Italian papers are suggesting Juve are preparing a bid. However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Raiola is unwilling to talk about the situation. He says: "I will do what I have to do in front of you, but in the shadows, as I have always done."
- Atletico Madrid are looking to sign Andre Silva, according to Serbian paper Republic, and Eintracht Frankfurt will use that money to bring Luka Jovic back from Real Madrid on a permanent deal. Silva and Jovic are both in excellent form. Silva has scored 17 goals, more than Erling Haaland, and Atletico could be willing to offer as much as €30-€40m. That could be enough for Frankfurt to tempt Jovic away from Real Madrid for good.