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's the latest gossip and speculation.
TOP STORY: Real Madrid to wait to sign Mbappe for free
Real Madrid are ready to wait until June 2022 to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, rather than submit a bid in January, says Mundo Deportivo.
Mbappe, 22, has a contract which expires next summer and, if he does not sign a new one, he will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with Madrid, or any other club outside Ligue 1, in January with a view to moving for no fee.
Despite his contract running down, Madrid made a final offer of €200 million to sign Mbappe in August but received no reply from PSG, sources close to the LaLiga club told ESPN.
Mbappe has been Real Madrid's top transfer target for multiple seasons, sources said. The club had been carefully managing its spending -- with no transfer fees paid on first-team players since 2019, in addition to the departures of Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Martin Odegaard this summer -- in preparation for the arrival of Mbappe.
The France international has made it clear that he wants to move to Madrid and won't extend his PSG deal despite the club still trying to convince him to stay longer in Paris.
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LIVE BLOG
21.32 GMT: Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Marcelo Brozovic's entourage has held an initial meeting with Internazionale executives, in which it was outlined that the Serie A club want to renew the Croatia international's contract ahead of its culmination in the summer of 2022. It is expected that this will be followed by further meetings in the coming weeks that will see the finer details of negotiations sorted out.
20.48 GMT: Manchester City and Liverpool are scouting Fluminense attacking midfielder Arthur Wenderroscky, according to Ekrem Konur.
The 17-year-old has only ever played 15 minutes for the Brazilian side's first-team, but has seemingly done enough to capture the Premier League giants' attention.
20.13 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain hope to sign 17-year-old centre-back Diego Almeida from Barcelona, according to Diario Sport.
The Spain youth international has not made his Barcelona B debut, but has impressed the French giants. Almeida's aim is to continue with the Blaugrana, but there are other clubs from France and Italy trying to sign him.
19.44 GMT: Bordeaux hope to sign Boavista centre-back Jackson Porozo during the January transfer window, according to Le10Sport.
Vladimir Petkovic wants to make reinforcements at the back and, after the Ligue 1 side looked at the 21-year-old in the summer, they are likely to make another move.
19.17 GMT: The agent of Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz's has contacted Atletico Madrid about a move, according to El Nacional.
The forward has made just one appearance this season and is looking to get more game time, but is reluctant to leave the Spanish capital. However, the likes of Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix mean the 28-year-old might not be needed at the Wanda Metropolitano.
18.47 GMT: Theo Hernandez's AC Milan contract is set to run until 2024, but Calciomercato reports that the Rossoneri want to extend.
It is suggested that the €1.5m-per-season salary of the France international, who starred in the recent UEFA Nations League finals, could rise to €4m.
18.14 GMT: After The Pioneer Press originally reported the news, MLSsoccer.com has confirmed that Minnesota United are in advanced talks to sign Botafogo forward Rafael Navarro.
The move would see the 21-year-old join as a free agent in the winter window, likely being added as an U-22 Initiative signing.
17.50 GMT: As quoted by Fabrizio Romano, Joan Laporta has confirmed that Barcelona are working on the contract renewals of Ousmane Dembele, Gavi and Ronald Araujo.
The Camp Nou president said: "Hopefully we can achieve more renewals soon, talks are ongoing. We're working on this."
17.17 GMT: Tottenham could make an offer to sign West Ham United forward Michail Antonio in the January transfer window, according to Ekrem Konur.
The 31-year-old, who has impressed with seven goals and four assists in all competitions this season and scored a superb equaliser for Jamaica against the United States on Tuesday, netted the winner when the Hammers came out on top against Spurs in October.
16.19 GMT: Football Insider claims that Villarreal are "planning to resist all offers for Liverpool target Arnaut Danjuma in January."
Danjuma, 24, has impressed in LaLiga since moving from Bournemouth for around €25m in the summer with seven goals from 15 matches.
The Netherlands international has caught the eye of Liverpool, who will be short of forward players when Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane head off to the African Cup of Nations in early 2022. But it seems Villarreal won't be letting him go.
15.22 GMT: Barcelona president Joan Laporta says he won't rule out bringing Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta back to the club after completing the signing of Dani Alves.
Alves, 38, has signed a contract with Barca until the end of the season and was presented at Camp Nou in front of over 10,000 supporters on Wednesday. The Brazilian international, who left Barca in 2016 after eight years at the club, cannot be registered until January but is already training with his new teammates.
"I can't rule it out," Laporta said at Alves' presentation when asked if Messi and Iniesta could follow the right-back back to the club in the future. "It's happened with Dani Alves, who has seen the situation and wanted to help. We're grateful for the financial sacrifice he's made. He wants to help us turn things around.
"Leo and Andres are two spectacular players. I can't predict the future. They are Barca greats and who made this club what it is and they will always be present, but they're players with contracts with other clubs. That must be respected, but in life you never know."
Meanwhile, with the club's gross debt standing at over €1.4 billion, director of football Mateu Alemany explained it will be difficult for Barca to afford any more signings in January.
"The reality is we can register Xavi and his coaching staff but beyond that we can't do anything else right now," explained Alemany, with Barca's spending limit for the season set at €97m by LaLiga. "We are working on different situations but as of now it will not be possible to register [new signings] on Jan.1. We will see if we can make room to remain within [LaLiga's] fair play [regulations]."
14.44 GMT: Borussia Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel could leave in January, says Sky Sports Germany.
Witsel, 32, has fallen down the pecking order with Mahmoud Dahoud and Emre Can given the chance to play in the central midfield positions for Dortmund this season. The Belgium international wants to move on as quickly as possible and Juventus are reported to be interested in signing him.
13.53 GMT: Will Harry Kane's form for England help get him a move to Manchester City?
13.10 GMT: 90min reports that goalkeeper Dean Henderson wants to leave Manchester United.
Henderson, 24, is behind David de Gea in the pecking order and has made just one start (in the EFL Cup) since May. The England international is under contract until 2025 and although United are willing to loan him out, Henderson wants to depart for good.
The report states that "Henderson is unsure about the benefits of a long-term loan and would rather secure a permanent move, given there is no indication that the club are ready to move on from current number one De Gea."
De Gea's own contract expires in 2023 and the club are reported to have approached him about an extension.
12.35 GMT: The club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has said Manchester United are committed to delivering success with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they announced their latest financial results.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, United revealed revenues are up by 16% to £126.5m thanks in part to supporters returning to Old Trafford after the coronavirus pandemic but in pointed comments, Woodward said it was "success on the pitch" which matters more.
Solskjaer's team have lost six of their last 12 games to heap the pressure on the Norwegian ahead of Saturday's trip to Watford.
"While these financial results today demonstrate our resilience through the pandemic, our top priority is success on the pitch," Woodward said. "The manager, players and everyone at the club are determined to achieve that objective."
12.19 GMT: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has been speaking about his client's future to Tuttomercatoweb.
Pogba, 28, is a free agent in the summer and has been linked with a move to PSG, Juventus or Real Madrid. Sources have told ESPN that United expect him to leave when his contract expires.
"Dreaming is free, those who do not dream are dead," Raiola said. "I do not forbid dreaming to anyone, I do them too every day so let's dream, it's good for you. Then let's see if they come true."
Asked about the financial issue of Pogba signing for Juventus, he added: "December is the month for dreaming, with Christmas and all the holidays. It's still too early, let's see what happens. We don't know why, but when we talk about Pogba in England, even the dead wake up.
"So better not talk about it, too because then maybe some former Manchester United players, if they don't talk about Pogba and me, they don't talk about anything. So it's better not to talk about it."
11.36 GMT: Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the futures of full-backs Diogo Dalot and Kieran Trippier are intertwined.
AS Roma want to sign Dalot from Manchester United, but United will only let him go if they can persuade Atletico Madrid to let them sign Trippier
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have been chasing Trippier, 31, for months but are put off by the €40m release clause in his contract. Roma are looking to land the 22-year-old Dalot on loan, with an option to sign him permanently afterwards.
11.03 GMT: Barcelona re-signed 38-year-old right-back Dani Alves recently.
10.11 GMT: Juventus are considering a move to sign Julian Alvarez from River Plate during the January transfer window, according to ESPN Argentina reporter Gustavo Yarroch.
Yarroch says that there have been already informal talks between the clubs with the Italian giants keen on paying around €15m up front plus €10m in add-ons which will depend on certain clauses.
However, River would demand his €20m release clause which will increase to €25m if the offer arrives in the last 10 days of the transfer window.
09.45 GMT: Sport1 says that talks between Bayern Munich and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer over a new contract are underway.
Neuer, 35, wants to extend his deal until 2025 and there is general agreement at the club that he should stay.
08.51 GMT: Portuguese club Benfica have denied reports that they are looking to making a coaching change and insist coach Jorge Jesus will remain at the helm at least until next summer.
Benfica, who face Barcelona at Camp Nou next week in the Champions League, are third in the Primeira Liga, one point adrift of leaders FC Porto. They are third in Champions League Group E after a 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich on Nov. 2.
Reports in Portugal claimed Benfica had already contacted Vitoria SC coach Pepa to replace Jorge Jesus, who returned to the club in 2020 from Flamengo.
But a club statement said: "The strategy of spreading falsehoods to divide the Benfica fans reached an intolerable dimension earlier this week. It is false that Benfica is preparing the departure of Jorge Jesus from the technical command of his team. It is false that Benfica has established contacts with other coaches or their agents.
"Such a lie seriously disrespects not only Benfica and its coach Jorge Jesus, but also for Vitoria SC, coach Pepa and, not least, all the basic principles of journalism. We make a clear appeal to our supporters. May we remain united, serene and focused on the objective we all want: to win. Always win!"
08.30 GMT: Villarreal president Fernando Roig is hopeful that teenage midfielder Yeremi Pino will continue at the club beyond 2027 after renewing his contract for a further three seasons.
"It's a big satisfaction for us," Roig said in a press conference. "He is a very important player for Villarreal, an example of what we want. He came from Las Palmas at the age of 14 and in five years, he has arrived to the national team."
Yeremi, 19, helped Villarreal win the Europa League last season in his debut campaign with the first team. He has scored two goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for Villarreal this season and also earned a spot in Spain's national team. Real Madrid were among the clubs that had shown interest in Yeremi.
"If in the future there is an offer, we will evaluate it as we have always done," Roig said. "But my wish is that Yeremi will renew his contract before 2027. He has a long career ahead."
Yeremi, meanwhile, says he is unfazed by his release clause having increased to €80m. "I don't care about the clause," he said." I want to be here for many more years. I'm very happy with what they have given me and want to give this club what it deserves."
PAPER GOSSIP
- Dani Olmo's future move from RB Leipzig to Barcelona had seemed pretty much inevitable, but El Nacional are now claiming that the transfer could be in doubt. The midfielder, who came through Barca's La Masia academy, made it clear that he hopes to play at Camp Nou when the Blaugrana attempted to sign him towards the end of the summer transfer window. However, the Spain international is now having doubts due to Barcelona's interest in Manchester City's Raheem Sterling.
- Arsenal have joined AC Milan in showing interest in Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, according to Le10 Sport. While the Gunners haven't yet made an offer for the Portugal international, it is stated that they have made their interest known and could go in for him in the coming weeks. Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been linked by various outlets in recent times.
- Fluminense are dreaming of a Thiago Silva return, after he left them to join AC Milan in 2007, and have begun talks with his agent, as reported by Nicolo Schira. While the centre-back's Chelsea contract ends in 2022, his priority is still the Blues as there are set to be conversations around an extension in the coming weeks.
- Juventus are showing interest in FC Midtjylland midfielder Jens Cajuste, as has been reported by Calciomercato. The Serie A side have been linked with various midfielders, while also looking to offload Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot, and it seems the 22-year-old Sweden international is now on their radar.
- Having taken over as Norwich City manager, Dean Smith is hoping to take Conor Hourihane with him on loan, according to Football Insider. The Irishman is currently on loan from Aston Villa to Sheffield United, but has struggled for game time with the Blades. Smith's hope is that Villa will be able to recall the midfielder and loan him back out again.
- AS Roma are set to renew the contracts of defender Gianluca Mancini and midfielder Ebrima Darboe, as has been reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. The former is returning from international duty and will sign a deal that will run until 2026 and see him earn above €3m-per-season -- the latter will stay for the same length of time.