Football
ESPN 2y

LIVE Transfer Talk: Manchester United prepared for Paul Pogba departure to Real Madrid

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: Man United to let Pogba go

Paul Pogba's time at Old Trafford could be over, with reports that Manchester United are ready to move on from the France star.

Sources told ESPN in October that United are prepared to lose Pogba for free next summer. Now Marca's front page reveals that the Premier League club won't be offering him a new deal ahead of the January transfer window, allowing his contract to run down and expire at the end of the season.

Despite a positive start to the campaign, it is reported that confidence has been lost between the two parties for a number of months, pushing the 28-year-old midfielder towards the exit.

And Real Madrid are the club looking to capitalise on the unrest as they begin their approach to bring Pogba to the Santiago Bernabeu, with reports that the LaLiga club are now confident of getting a deal over the line ahead of Juventus or PSG.

- ESPN+ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more (U.S.)
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access

LIVE BLOG

21.57 GMT: Juventus have narrowed their winter window wish list down to Borussia Monchengladbach pair Denis Zakaria and Kouadio Kone, according to Tuttosport.

The Serie A club are keen to sign a midfielder in January as Massimiliano Allegri looks to reinforce his options, but no arrivals will occur before at least one player is moved on to make space in the squad. Zakaria, 24, is set to be out of contract next season, which has seen notable interest in his signature, while 20-year-old Kone joined the Bundesliga side on a four-year deal in January of this year.

21.24 GMT: Junior Sambia could move on from Montpellier with no progress made on a new contract, writes Le10 Sport. The 25-year-old wing-back will become a free agent in the summer and has already been tracked by Lille, but it is now reported that Bordeaux and Strasbourg are looking to sign him as a free agent.

20.51 GMT: The Sun writes that West Ham United will look to seal a £10m move for Jesse Lingard in the January transfer market. ESPN's Rob Dawson reported earlier in the week that the 28-year-old midfielder had shelved contract talks with Manchester United, amid the England international's lack of playing time at Old Trafford, and it now looks as though the Hammers have made the first move to win the race for Lingard's signature.

20.18 GMT: Speculation over the future of Filip Kostic is developing with interest from the Serie A in the Eintracht Frankfurt star.

That's according to Nicolo Schira, who writes that Internazionale, Fiorentina and Lazio are all monitoring his situation. It was revealed that the 29-year-old had signed with a new agent on Friday, with the Serbia international looking to move on from the Bundesliga.

19.45 GMT: Juventus will continue to scout Julian Alvarez before looking to advance negotiations over a potential transfer, reports Calciomercato. The 21-year-old forward has been attracting interest from some of Europe's elite clubs in recent months after impressive form for River Plate, but as some sides look to move closer to winning the race for his signature, Juve plan to wait until the end of December before they make a final decision.

19.12 GMT: Zinedine Zidane has been ruled out as a potential candidate to become Manchester United manager this season, reveals Pedro Almeida. It was reported earlier in the week that talks had taken place between the two parties, but any potential deal now appears to be off for the meantime, with the former Real Madrid head coach having no interest in taking over a job in the middle of a project.

18.39 GMT: Facundo Farias is being tracked by a number of clubs in Europe, according to Ekrem Konur. Fiorentina, Zenit St. Petersburg and Spartak Moscow are all keen on the acquisition of the 19-year-old forward who has contributed to six goals in 20 games for Colon in the Argentina Primeira Division this season.

18.06 GMT: Marca writes that Real Madrid are ready to step up their pursuit of Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger, with the club keen to begin negotiations as soon as possible over a free transfer this summer.

Those talks could take place as soon as January with no sign of the West London club meeting the wage demands of the 28-year-old. The LaLiga club are expecting to face competition from Bayern Munich, who are monitoring the situation closely.

17.33 GMT: Barcelona are confident of agreeing a new contract with midfielder Gavi despite Chelsea testing the waters for the 17-year-old. Fabrizio Romano writes that talks have progressed in recent weeks with a five-year proposal on the table from the Catalan club, with hopes that a final agreement will be reached soon.

17.00 GMT: West Ham United are keen to bring Niklas Stark to the London Stadium, according to SPORT1. David Moyes is interested in getting a deal done in January for the 28-year-old defender, but while he is open to joining the Hammers, it is reported that he won't force a move away from Hertha Berlin despite his contract expiring next summer.

16.27 GMT: Calciomercato claims that Tottenham are interested in signing Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.

McKennie, 23, impressed initially in Turin after joining on loan from Schalke then signing permanently for €18m. However, Juve are now willing to let him leave and new Tottenham boss Antonio Conte wants him to provide competition for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp in a three-man midfield.

The United States international could move for around €30m.

15.36 GMT: Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria would prefer to move to Barcelona over Real Madrid, says El Nacional.

Zakaria, 24, has a contract which expires in 2022 and has been linked with a host of top clubs including the two LaLiga giants, Juventus, PSG, Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and Man City.

And, unlike a host of other players they have been linked with, financially-stricken Barcelona can actually afford to sign the Switzerland international on a free transfer.

14.51 GMT: Football Insider reports that Man United are ready to move on five players in January.

Paul Pogba, Dean Henderson, Donny van de Beek, Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones are on the list to depart, either on loan or permanently, as United seek to raise funds for new arrivals.

14.31 GMT: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was not drawn on discussing Alexandre Lacazette's future at the club, despite the striker's contract expiring in 2022.

"There is so much talk," he told a new conference. "What I can say is that I'm really happy with what Laca is doing at the moment, and I've said that we are not going to be talking about any of that until the end of the season."

14.16 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino said coaching the Ligue 1 side with "the best players in the world" was not easy as he had to manage their emotions as well as their entourages.

Pochettino was appointed by PSG at the start of the year in the hope the Argentine would guide the club to an elusive Champions League crown.

PSG enjoy an embarrassment of riches in attack with Lionel Messi joining forces with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe while Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Julian Draxler are also options, leaving Pochettino with selection headaches every week.

"We manage people with emotions, everyone's behaviour is not a flat line. It's a succession of ups and downs -- one is happy, another is hurt, one is performing well, another not," Pochettino told L'Equipe. "I think the most important thing for the staff is to try to balance the moods. We must not forget that we have in our hands the best players in the world, but also their families, their media entourages, their followers. It's not easy."

13.30 GMT: Bob Bradley is out as LAFC's manager after being in charge of the Major League Soccer side's first four seasons, it was announced on Thursday. But why is he gone?

12.43 GMT: Manchester United are facing the prospect of losing Jesse Lingard for nothing in the summer after the midfielder decided to shelve contract talks because of a continued lack of game time at Old Trafford, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.

Lingard has already rejected one offer to extend his deal, which has seven months left to run, and has no plans to re-start negotiations after starting just one game so far this season in September's Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham.

The 28-year-old is determined to find regular first team football in an effort to win back his place in the England squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He was left out by manager Gareth Southgate for the last two qualifiers against Albania and San Marino along with United teammate Jadon Sancho.

Sources have told ESPN that Lingard and his representatives have been left frustrated by some of their dealings with United. It is understood United's initial contract offer was below the terms of his existing deal while promises made in the summer that he would be central to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans this season have not been followed through. He has played just 63 minutes in five substitute appearances in the Premier League this season but has still managed to score twice, including a late winner against West Ham in September.

Sources have told ESPN that Lingard could yet ask for a loan move in January ahead of a permanent transfer when his contract expires on June 30. A host of European clubs including Barcelona and AC Milan have registered an interest in signing Lingard on a free next summer while West Ham, Newcastle, Tottenham and Everton head up the list of interest from the Premier League.

12.07 GMT: Tottenham are looking to Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as a long-term successor for Hugo Lloris, says The Daily Telegraph.

Pickford, 27, has become No. 1 for club and country over recent seasons and helped England reach the final of Euro 2020 this summer.

At 34, Lloris is nearing the end of his career and Tottenham are considering options for the future. Pickford would reportedly cost around £25m if he were to leave Everton.

11.44 GMT: Uruguay midfielder Gaston Ramirez is expected to have a medical on Friday ahead of his return to Sampdoria, Ansa reports.

Ramirez, 30, has been without a club since leaving Sampdoria in July. The former Uruguay international's priority was to remain in Europe and he was a reported target of Peñarol and River Plate in the summer.

He made 117 appearances in his four seasons at Sampdoria. The club are in the relegation zone and have won just two of their 12 Serie A games heading into Sunday's game at Salternitana.

11.05 GMT: River Plate have reacted to interest from Real Madrid and Juventus in forward Julian Alvarez by telling his agents that they would only be willing to accept offers that meet his €20m release clause, up front and in full, according to Marca.

Alvarez has scored 19 goals for River this year and the Argentinian giants are keen to hang onto him. The 21-year-old forward previously went on trial at Real Madrid when he was 11.

The newspaper reports that River executives held a meeting with the player's agent to discuss a potential new contract, as well as the conditions under which the club would be prepared to let him go.

10.26 GMT: Barcelona couldn't get Lionel Messi back, could they?

10.03 GMT: RB Bragantino star Artur Victor Guimaraes has denied reports he has been contacted by Barcelona.

Reports in Spain claimed Barca are monitoring the Brazilian winger as a possible reinforcement for next year as the club looks to strengthen its attack.

Artur, 23, is a regular starter at Bragantino, the club he joined in January 2020 from Palmeiras. He has represented Brazil at youth level and was named in Brazil's squad for the September qualifiers, while he is under contract with his club until December 2024.

"Regarding the Barcelona rumours I know nothing yet and my focus is on Saturday's [Sudamericana] final against Paranaense," Artur said.

Saturday's final will be Bragantino's first international final in 93 years of club history.

"As a boy, everyone dreams of playing in Europe one day," he said. "My idols have done it and who knows if I will be able to experience that one day. My focus right now is on the final. This is the game of my career and of my life. We have high expectations. I've dreamed of scoring a goal in the final."

09.47 GMT: Real Madrid are monitoring teenage Flamengo striker Matheus Franca, according to ESPN Brasil.

Franca, 17, helped Flamengo's U17 side win the Brazil Championship, the Brazil Cup and the Supercup. The player has Flamengo's highest release clause, set at €100m, and is under contract until 2027. He has attracted the attention of several clubs after scoring 13 goals and setting up 12 more in 14 games this season.

Real Madrid have monitored Franca for some time and could make a move for the striker next summer.

Flamengo's U17 coach Mario Jorg said: "I think França is an extremely adaptable player. A versatile one as he can play in five different positions from midfield onwards. He can do the No. 7, the 8, the 9, the 10 and the 11. This versatility can help him a lot to fit in."

09.13 GMT: Real Madrid would welcome Antonio Rudiger "with open arms" when his Chelsea contract expires next summer, Marca reports, but face competition from Bayern Munich.

Madrid are looking to replicate the successful free transfer of David Alaba this year, the newspaper says, with the club's recent scouting reports recommending the signing of the 38-year-old Rudiger.

According to Marca, Bayern are the team who are frontrunners to land the centre-back alongside Madrid, with the German giants willing to meet his €12m-a-season wage demands.

08.48 GMT: Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has denied that he is interested in the Manchester United job amid mounting pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Last month, ESPN reported that Rodgers is a potential replacement for the Norwegian after impressing senior figures at Old Trafford during his short tenure at Leicester.

Rodgers, 48, signed a long-term contract in 2019 at the King Power Stadium and reiterated his desire to stay at the club at a news conference on Thursday.

When asked about the speculation, Rodgers replied: "Firstly, it's really disrespectful for you to ask the question when there is a manager in place at the club.

"Secondly, I can't really comment on it because it's not real. I'm proud to be here at Leicester City. It is frustrating for supporters and my players, but from a personal perspective, it is something that's in the modern game, but something I have no focus on whatsoever.

"I've got a huge respect for Khun Top [Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha] and the protection of his father's legacy. I feel I'm in the right place, at the right time, with the right people."

08.00 GMT: Former Barcelona technical secretary Ramon Planes is in the running to become Newcastle United's new director of football, sources have told ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

Planes, 54, left Barca earlier this week after agreeing to rescind his contract, which was due to expire next summer, with the Catalan club.

Sources have told ESPN he has been approached by Newcastle as the Premier League side narrow their search for the role down to a handful of names. Former Chelsea and Monaco sporting director Michael Emenalo is another candidate, with sources also adding there is at least one other option on the table.

Planes has worked in England previously. He was the technical secretary at Tottenham between 2014 and 2015 when Mauricio Pochettino was the coach at White Hart Lane. Prior to Spurs, he held a similar role at Espanyol and later worked for Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Getafe before joining Barca in 2018. He worked alongside Eric Abidal at Camp Nou at first and, more recently, under general manager Mateu Alemany.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)

- The Karim Adeyemi saga is continuing with reports that his representatives met with Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday, according to Sport 1. A tug of war for the signature of the FC Salzburg star has been going on for a number of months with Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig also keen to land him, but it is unclear where the 19-year-old forward will end up as his agents continue to talk to Europe's elite clubs.

- PSG are looking to take the lead in the race for AC Milan's Franck Kessie, writes Foot Mercato. The report says that the Ligue 1 club are best positioned to get a deal over the line for the 24-year-old midfielder, who could leave the San Siro as early as January, with the French outlet revealing that he has been looking to sell his house in Milan for a few weeks as his contract expires in the summer.

- Calciomercato reveals that AC Milan have offered a new deal to Alessio Romagnoli worth €3.5m per season after the latest meeting between the two parties. The 26-year-old defender has been a priority for the Serie A side to renew since the beginning of the season with his current terms expiring next summer. He has maintained his place as a regular this season, featuring in 12 games across Serie A and in the Champions League.

- Genoa are looking to reinforce the midfield with the signing of Stanislav Lobotka, according to Nicolo Schira. Head coach Andriy Shevchenko is keen on the 26-year-old star who has made just two appearances in Serie A for Napoli this season, with negotiations likely to start in January.

- Another from Calciomercato here, as journalist Rudy Galetti reveals that Xavi Simons has been linked to AC Milan. The 18-year-old PSG midfielder's future has been up in the air of late with concerns of whether he can get regular first-team appearances, and it looks as though agent Mino Raiola took advantage of his meeting with his club to see whether Italy is a potential landing spot for the Netherlands youth international.

^ Back to Top ^