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Transfer Talk: Juventus target Ousmane Dembele as Barcelona eye Kingsley Coman

The summer transfer window was unlike any other; see all the major deals and check out how we graded the biggest signings. And just because the window is shut until January, that doesn't mean the rumours won't keep coming. Here is the latest gossip and speculation. 

TOP STORY: Coman to Barca, Dembele to Juve?

A domino effect looks to be looming between two of Europe's biggest clubs, with Barcelona's pursuit of Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman set to trigger Juventus to begin their chase for Ousmane Dembele, according to Calciomercato.

The two France internationals have recently been linked with moves away from their current clubs, with Dembele excluded from Barca's first-team activities while his contract talks stall. And with reports that Xavi is set to become the new manager of the Blaugrana, the Italian outlet claims that he wants to make Coman his first signing.

The 25-year-old is seen as an ideal replacement for Dembele, who can begin negotiating his next move with other clubs in January, with Juventus expected to challenge Newcastle United for his signature if Coman swaps the Allianz Arena for Camp Nou.

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22.02 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain have identified Joao Palhinha as a replacement for Danilo Pereira, writes O Jogo.

The 26-year-old defensive midfielder could be signed for a fee of €60 million if PSG decide to activate his release clause, with his contract not due to expire until 2025.

Palhinha has been a stand out performer for Sporting so far this season and got on the scoresheet when he was last on international duty with Portugal.

21.14 GMT: Nicolo Schira reveals that Dani Ceballos is set to leave the Santiago Bernabeu in January, with both Real Betis and AS Roma interested in a move for the 25-year-old midfielder.

While Betis would like to do a deal on an initial loan with an option to buy, Real Madrid are keen to move Ceballos out on a permanent basis. And Betis may need to be willing to meet the demands, with Roma open to a move in January which would include an obligation to buy.

20.31 GMT: Newcastle United have initiated contact with Eddie Howe, according to TV Dello Sport.

The vacant manager's job at St. James' Park has seen a number of names linked to take over after the departure of Steve Bruce, and now reports suggest that the former Bournemouth manager could be in line for a Premier League return.

The 43-year-old last managed AFC Bournemouth, which he left in August 2020 after over 450 games in charge.

19.53 GMT: El Nacional reports that Marco Asensio has multiple offers from Europe's top leagues, which could trigger his exit from Real Madrid.

It is reported that the club are prepared to let him leave if the 25-year-old winger lets Florentino Perez know which team he would like to join in January.

Juventus and AC Milan have registered their interest from Serie A, while there is also Arsenal, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund who would challenge for his signature.

19.16 GMT: Juventus are preparing to offload Aaron Ramsey and Weston McKennie in January, writes Calciomercato.

Massimiliano Allegri is reported to be unconvinced by the pair and wants to make space in the squad so that they can bring in a new signing when the market reopens.

McKennie, 23, has scored in consecutive Serie A clashes, while 30-year-old Ramsey has made just one start this season.

18.43 GMT: Newcastle United are set to offer Donny van de Beek a way out of Manchester United with the Tyneside club preparing a €20m approach in January. That's according to CalcioInPillole, which writes that the 24-year-old midfielder is also in demand from the Serie A, with Juventus and AS Roma also considering talks with the Red Devils over a potential deal.

18.10 GMT: Il Messaggero reports that Lazio are keen to secure the future of head coach Maurizio Sarri.

The report suggests that the 62-year-old has already been in contact with the board over an extension that would see him remain at the Estadio Olimpico until 2025. The Biancocelesti are challenging for a place in Serie A's top four, sitting just one point behind rivals AS Roma.

17.37 GMT: Marca writes that Eden Hazard will remain at Real Madrid in January amid reports linking him with a move away from the Bernabeu in January.

The 30-year-old winger has struggled to find consistent form since joining from Chelsea in 2019, but it is reported that he intends to fight for his place despite the LaLiga club's intention to target Kylian Mbappe next summer. Hazard is yet to score this season with the majority of his appearances coming from the bench.

17.04 GMT: Fabrizio Romano writes that Antonio Conte is set to sign as new manager of Tottenham Hotspur until June 2023. The 52-year-old manager is in London and reported to be bringing a number of backroom staff with him, with a deal finally in place after Daniel Levy's approach during the summer fell through.

16.31 GMT: Newcastle United are keen to have a manager appointed by the end of the week in order for them to get to work during this month's international break, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Graeme Jones is expected to continue as caretaker manager against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, after which he will step aside for his new full-time replacement.

The Telegraph reports that Newcastle have sounded out John Terry and Frank Lampard to gauge their suitability for the role, while former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has expressed his interest.

The story adds that former Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre and ex-Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, but Roberto Martinez is reticent about leaving his post with the Belgium national team to take over a club battling against relegation.

15.38 GMT: Manchester United wanted to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye in the summer transfer window but were unable to make any room in their squad for him, the Daily Mail reports.

Gueye impressed in the Premier League during spells at Aston Villa and Everton before moving to PSG in 2019 in a £30m transfer. The 32-year-old emerged as a potential target at Old Trafford after they were not willing to pay the transfer West Ham United wanted for Declan Rice.

However, the Mail reports that United never made an official bid for the Senegal international because Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard all remained at the club.

14.18 GMT: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappe needs to improve his game and "taste blood and walk on fire" to become the best player in the world.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker has contributed six goals and eight assists in all competitions this season and scored the winning goal for France in the UEFA Nations League final.

The 22-year-old has also been nominated for the men's 2021 Ballon d'Or award, but Ibrahimovic said Mbappe needs to do more.

"I love Mbappe, but he isn't doing enough," Ibrahimovic told Telefoot. "He can become very strong if he hurts himself. He needs to taste blood and walk on fire.

"Surround yourself with people who tell you you're not good enough and you will become the best."

13.14 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has denied a report that the club are considering rescinding Sergio Ramos' contract.

The Spanish centre-back has not played with PSG since joining the club four months ago as a free agent. He sustained a left calf injury in training in July and has yet to join his teammates in training.

Ramos, 35, signed a two-year contract with the French giants, but he has not played a game since May 5.

According to Le Parisien, the option to rescind Ramos' contract is a potential option for PSG, but L:eonardo denied it was true. .

"We know Ramos has had an injury," he said. "The press are playing games, we all knew he had a problem. We know what's happening here."

Ramos recently posted a video on Instagram where he is seen training with the message: "We keep on working and pushing forward. Looking forward to getting back!"

12.23 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced talks to appoint Antonio Conte as their new manager after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo on Monday, sources have told ESPN's James Olley.

Nuno was removed after just 17 games in charge following talks involving chairman Daniel Levy, managing director of football Fabio Paratici and other members of the club's board on Sunday.

Conte is expected in London within the coming hours to continue talks and is open to returning to the Premier League after previously leading Chelsea to the 2017 title before departing a year later.

Sources have told ESPN that Conte walked away from negotiations with Tottenham in the summer in part because the club refused to grant the Italian wide-ranging control of first-team affairs including recruitment.

Spurs privately denied Conte was ever formally offered the job, but Conte later publicly rejected claims that salary concerns prevented an agreement, adding: "I look for the projects instead and I am ready to stay at home if something is not convincing me. It has to do with vision, honesty and principles."

However, sources have told ESPN that Conte's readiness to revive discussions was the final factor pushing Tottenham into deciding to part with Nuno.

11.47 GMT: Vinicius Junior is due a "Galactico renewal" at Real Madrid, according to Marca's front-page story on Monday, with his impressive form this season "demanding an improved contract."

The Brazil winger, 21, has already scored seven times in LaLiga -- and twice in the Champions League -- including a brace in Madrid's 2-1 win at Elche on Saturday (stream the replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.). Vinicius' current deal still has a long way to run, expiring in June 2025.

Marca says "his progression obliges the club to face a stellar operation" with his current terms more appropriate for a promising youngster, rather than a key member of the first team.

10.52 GMT: Lionel Messi has revealed he would like to be technical secretary at a club once his football career is over, potentially even at former club Barcelona.

Asked if he will return to Barcelona after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in two years' time, he told Sport: "I don't know if it will be when my contract with PSG ends.

"What is almost confirmed and certain, is that we will return to live in Barcelona and that our life will be there. That is what my wife and I want."

Asked about a return to the club he first joined as a teenager, Messi said: "Yes. I always said I would love to help the club in what I can by being useful, giving my contribution and helping the club be well.

"I would love to be technical secretary at some point. I don't know if will be at Barcelona or not...if the possibility is there, I would love to give, however, I can because it's a club that I love and I would love for it to be well, to continue to grow and be among the best in the world."

09.58 GMT: Some breaking news, but not very surprising news -- Nuno Espirito Santo has been sacked as Tottenham Hotspur manager after just four months in charge.

The news comes after a terrible run of results for Spurs since the start of the 2021-22 campaign which included a dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United, where Nuno was booed by his own fans.

Spurs also suffered disappointing losses against London rivals Chelsea, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and West Ham United in the Premier League.

Nuno was appointed Spurs manager in June but was not the club's first choice to succeed Jose Mourinho following his sacking in April.

Antonio Conte, Gennaro Gattuso, Paulo Fonseca, Brendan Rodgers, Julian Nagelsmann, and Erik ten Hag were all linked with the vacancy before Nuno was given the job.

09.48 GMT: Celta Vigo coach Eduardo Coudet has revealed his club was close to signing Radamel Falcao this summer.

The Colombia international was a target of Celta in the last transfer window but joined Rayo Vallecano instead as a free agent.

"We already had our three non-European spots taken when we were offered to sign Falcao," Coudet said. "He was willing to come to Spain making the same [financial] sacrifice as he has done for Rayo. But at the time we couldn't. Had we had to pay him what he was getting in Turkey [with Galatasaray] we would have had to sold our new training ground to pay for it. But that wasn't the case."

Celta were only able to get Mexican central defender Nestor Araujo to become a Spain national "at the last moment" and by then, Falcao had agreed to join Rayo.

08.53 GMT: Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has talked up the quality of Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, a long-term target for Los Blancos.

Madrid's late bid to sign Mbappe in the summer transfer window failed, but with the France international's contract at the Parc des Princes expiring in the summer, he is free to agree a precontract with the LaLiga giants from Jan. 1.

"Mbappe is a great player, just like Cristiano Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi are," Vinicius said. "He is the new generation that is already here to stay for many years. All the players want to play with Mbappe. But at Real Madrid we don't talk about other players. I play with [Karim] Benzema, Rodrygo, [Eden] Hazard, [Marco] Asensio and other great ones I enjoy."

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08.00 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur are considering whether to sack Nuno Espirito Santo in the wake of fan unrest during Saturday's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United, sources have told ESPN's James Olley.

Spurs are eighth in the Premier League after losing five of their opening 10 matches following Nuno's appointment in the summer.

Sources told ESPN chairman Daniel Levy is talking with footballing director Fabio Paratici on Sunday but is reluctant to make a knee-jerk decision so early in the campaign. However, the level of hostility from the club's supporters inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend is said to have surprised many senior figures at the club.

It is unclear at this stage whether Nuno will be sacked, but one source has claimed "all options are open" after a damaging result in which the team were booed off at half-time and full-time.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)

- Liverpool could target a striker in January in the form of Luka Jovic, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that the 23-year-old forward is on the Premier League club's radar. Jovic has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid throughout Carlo Ancelotti's tenure as he continues to see his minutes on the pitch limited this season. And with clubs around Europe monitoring the situation for some time, the race now looks to be heating up further with Liverpool the latest club linked with his signature.

- Jose Mourinho has identified Nacho Fernandez as a potential January signing with the 31-year-old centre-back currently not in first-team plans at Real Madrid. That's according to El Nacional, who reveals that the Roma manager is prepared to give him a leading role should he make the switch to the Estadio Olimpico. While Nacho has made nine appearances this season, only four games have been from his preferred position at centre-back.

- Sport writes that Barcelona want to add more goals to their midfield, and have made Donny van de Beek a priority signing in the January transfer window. The LaLiga club have been tracking the 24-year-old midfielder as he continues to be frustrated with playing time at Manchester United, but it is reported that they will only be able to afford a loan due to the economical situation at Camp Nou.

- Paris Saint-Germain are considering a move for Marcelo Brozovic, with Leonardo keen on acquiring the Croatia international on a free transfer next summer, according to Le10Sport. Brozovic's contract with Internazionale is set to expire at the end of the season, but it was recently reported that he will be delaying talks over a potential renewal. The 28-year-old has featured 14 times for the Serie A club this season.

- Xavi Simons will take time to consider whether to pen new terms with Paris Saint-Germain, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that he is concerned about the difficulty of breaking into the first-team at the Parc des Princes on the Here We Go Podcast. The 18-year-old midfielder has been linked with a return to Barcelona in recent times, but despite PSG keen to tie him down to an extension, his future could be destined elsewhere if he is not guaranteed first-team football.

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