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LIVE Transfer Talk: Kalvin Phillips set to snub Manchester United, join Liverpool

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: Phillips to snub Man United for Liverpool

The Sun is reporting that Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips will snub Manchester United in favour of a move to Liverpool next summer.

The Red Devils are desperate to strengthen their midfield at the end of the season and, while they may conduct some business in January, their main focus is on Phillips when the current campaign concludes.

The 26-year-old has played a pivotal role in Marcelo Bielsa's side's ascent to and success in the Premier League, but will reportedly miss the next two months of the season with a hamstring injury.

Phillips' loyalty to Leeds has reportedly made him "wary" of joining rivals Man United and Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of his work, not least during Euro 2020 when he played a key role in England's run to the final.

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LIVE BLOG

21.30 GMT: Divock Origi is in line for a contract extension at Liverpool, according to Ekrem Konur.

With goals in back-to-back games against Wolves and Milan this week, the 26-year-old forward has recaptured his best form after a mixed 2020-21 campaign and could extend his Anfield contract beyond 2024.

21.00 GMT: Tigres and Toluca are in the running to sign Club America's Sebastian Cordova, according to TUDN. The Liga MX attacking midfielder had previously been tied to rumors regarding a move to Chivas.

The 24-year-old, who is a product of Club America's academy, took part in Mexico's friendly on Wednesday night against Chile, providing an assist in the 2-2 draw.

20.30 GMT: After more than 14 years at Real Madrid, the curtains looks to finally be coming on Marcelo's time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 33-year-old left-back has been linked with a number of clubs in his home nation of Brazil, with los Blancos showing no intention of extending his stay beyond the end of the season.

And Mundo Deportivo writes that Palmeiras are the latest club keen to acquire his signature, joining Fluminese in a race that can begin officially when teams start discussing a pre-contract agreement in January.

20.00 GMT: Following reports of a short-term loan for Georginio Wijnaldum, Internazionale and Paris Saint-Germain could visit the idea of a swap deal involving Marcelo Brozovic, writes Calciomercato.

The Ligue 1 club have been tracking the 29-year-old, whose contract is set to expire next summer. And with Wijnaldum yet to find his best form at Parc des Princes, the 31-year-old's stay could be cut short in a straight player-swap for Croatia international Brozovic.

19.30 GMT: LA Galaxy and New England Revolution are discussing a trade involving Sebastian Lletget ahead of the MLS transfer window opening on Sunday, reports the Washington Post's Steven Goff.

The Revs will not send a player to the west coast as they look to acquire the 29-year-old midfielder, who contributed to seven goals in 21 starts for the Galaxy in 2021, Lletget's sixth with the club and one in which he earned all-star honours.

19.00 GMT: Newcastle's shopping list is growing as January nears and the Daily Mail reports several defensive reinforcements have been identified, including 23-year-old Lloyd Kelly, who has been a standout performer for Eddie Howe's former club Bournemouth in the Championship.

There is also interest in targets abroad: Lille star Sven Botman, 21, is on the radar of many clubs and has a contract until 2025, so Matthias Ginter could be a more realistic option; the 27-year-old Borussia Monchengladbach star is out of contract at the end of this season.

18.30 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain are moving closer to contract extensions for Angel Di Maria and Marquinhos, according to Le Parisien.

Di Maria, 33, already has a verbal agreement, with the winger keen to remain at the Parc des Princes. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Marquinhos looks set to extend his time at the club beyond a decade after joining PSG in 2013.

18.00 GMT: Paulinho is set to join Corinthians, for whom he played from 2010-13, on a three-year deal after leaving Al-Ahli, writes Ekrem Konur.

It is reported that the 33-year-old rejected three offers from Europe, with a number of teams keen on adding the formers Tottenham Hotspur midfielder on a free transfer.

17.30 GMT: Former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke is close to becoming manager of Besiktas, according to SPORT1.

The 45-year-old parted ways with the Canaries in November, but after just one month without a job, looks set for an immediate return to management. The Turkish Super Lig club are expected to make a decision in the next 48 hours.

17.00 GMT: Manchester City are set to open talks with Joao Cancelo over the coming months with a new contract proposal.

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who writes the club consider the 27-year-old wing-back a key player, with hopes of him staying beyond his current deal that is due to expire in the summer of 2025.

16.26 GMT: Mohamed Salah wants assurances that L:iverpool are going to continue to invest in the squad to be able to compete at the highest level before signing a new contract at Anfield, Sky reports.

Salah, 29, has 18 months left on his current deal and talks with Liverpool over extending his stay have been ongoing for some time.

According to Sky, one of the factors holding up the deal is Liverpool trying to find a wage that reflects Salah's status as one of the world's top players without disrupting the club's wage structure.

Salah, meanwhile, is reportedly concerned over Liverpool's commitment to replenishing the club's ageing squad in order to remain a force in the Premier League and Champions League.

15.35 GMT: Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has refused to engage in any talk about what transfer fee he he potentially move for in the future.

When the Brazil international was asked what price he would give himself in the transfer window, whether it would be above or below €100m, he said with a laugh: "Better not to put anything and remain at Real Madrid."

Vinicius, who has scored 12 goals and set up five more in 22 appearances in all competitions for Madrid this season, was asked if he believes he can one day win the Ballon d'Or.

"I have to work hard for that and continue to play here, continue to do things well and always show my best version If I continue to play like this of course I can win it," he said. "The most important thing for me is to win with the team and win many titles with Real Madrid."

14.39 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is open to returning to the Premier League on loan in January, just six months after leaving Liverpool, Sky reports.

Wijnaldum, 31, left Anfield in the summer as a free agent after he was unable to agree a new contract with the club.

The Netherlands international was a key player for Liverpool, but has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular since moving to Paris, and is reportedly looking to reignite his career back in England.

Sky reports that Arsenal are one of the clubs interested in a move for the former Newcastle midfielder, although PSG are unlikely to be willing to sanction it.

13.26 GMT: Aaron Ramsey could be set for a January move to Everton, Calciomercato reports, in a blow to Newcastle United's hopes of signing the Juventus midfielder.

Ramsey, 30, has been regularly linked with a transfer out of the Turin club, who would like to get his €400,000-a-week contract off of their wage bill to help fund new signings.

Newcastle have reportedly identified the former Arsenal player as a potential first marquee signing since the club's takeover by the Saudi-backed PIF, but Calciomercato reports that Everton have made first contact with his agent.

12.30 GMT: With questions marks surrounding the futures of Cesar Azpilicueta (see 08.00 GMT) and Antonio Rudiger (11.45 GMT) at Chelsea, is it time for Chelsea to bolster coach Thomas Tuchel's defensive options in the January transfer window?

11.45 GMT: Real Madrid are leading the race to sign highly coveted centre-back Antonio Rudiger, according to AS.

The Chelsea defender has not signed a contract extension with Chelsea and his contract expires at the end of the season.

Talks between Chelsea and Rudiger have been stalled for some time and Real Madrid are hopeful that the 28-year-old can sign a pre-contract with them in January and join the club as a free agent in the summer.

10.51 GMT: Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is a target for West Ham United to solve their defensive injury problems, the London Evening Standard reports.

Phillips, 24, made his third appearances of the season in Liverpool's 2-1 Champions League at AC Milan on Tuesday.

West Ham's hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League this season have been hit by injuries to centre-backs Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna, and the Evening Standard reports that Phillips is one of the player being considered for a January transfer.

Phillips told Liverpool's website after the Milan match: "Obviously I want to be playing as much as possible, but the competition is really difficult, so I've got to be ready when I'm called upon. I felt like I stood myself in good stead [against Milan]."

09.48 GMT: Diego Costa says he is "calm" about his future at Brazilian champions Atletico Mineiro.

Costa, 33, joined the Belo Horizonte club in August after ending his second spell at Atletico Madrid. The Brazil-born Spain international scored four goals for his new club to help them end their 50-year wait for a league title.

While taking part in an Instagram Live Q&A with teammates Nathan and Dylan Borrero, a fan asked Costa about his future at the club. Costa, who has a contract at Atletico until Dec. 31, 2022, responded: "I am calm. I don't understand this thing there. I'm fine."

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08.53 GMT: Lucas Digne could leave Everton in the January transfer window after falling out with manager Rafa Benitez, The Athletic reports.

Digne was left out of Monday's 2-1 win over Arsenal, and after the match Benitez said that the France international was "unavailable" but did not specify that he was injured.

However, The Athletic reports that Digne and Benitez have has several disagreements since the Spanish coach took over at Goodison Park in the summer.

"As a manager, you have to make decisions and you have to do your team selection," Benitez added after the Arsenal game. "I decided that Ben Godfrey could be a good option for us for this game. He did really well, so I am really pleased with that. That's it. The main thing is to be sure the team is performing and we have the right mentality."

08.00 GMT: Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are keen to sign Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta should he not agree a new deal with Chelsea, according to AS.

Azpilicueta, 32, becomes a free agent next summer. He is in talks with Chelsea to renew his contract.

However, the Chelsea captain wants to keep his options open and is reportedly considering other options.

Atletico and Barca are on the lookout for an experienced right back in the winter transfer window and Azpilicueta would be the ideal candidate.

Azpilicueta, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2012 from Olympique Marseille, has made 16 appearances in all competitions for the Blues this season.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Harry Kettle)

- Franck Kessie could leave AC Milan on a free transfer in the wake of Gianluigi Donnarumma doing the same thing, Tuttomercatoweb reports. The renewal of Kessie's contract in Italy is believed to be at a "standstill" with there being a gap between the demands of him and his team, and what Milan are willing to offer.

- Calciomercato is reporting that AC Milan will ramp up their pursuit of Club Brugge star Charles De Ketelaere. The fact that Brugge are officially out of Europe is seen as a huge bonus for Milan, mainly due to the fact that his proposed value of €20 million is set to drop because of it.

- West Ham United are considering a loan move for Daniele Rugani in the January transfer window, Calciomercato reports. Rugani has fallen out of favour with Juventus and, when you combine that with David Moyes' desire to bring in defensive reinforcements, it could turn out to be the perfect fit.

- Jens Stryger Larsen won't be extending his contract with Udinese, as per Nicolo Schira, but he also won't be heading to Roma. The 30-year-old has been in Italy since 2017 and in that time, he's enjoyed a strong run with the club. Now, though, as his Udinese tenure prepares to come to an end, speculation has begun regarding where he'll end up next. Stryger Larsen has hired Hasan Cetinkaya as his new agent as the countdown to his contract expiring in June continues.

- River Plate are set to offer Juan Fernando Quintero a route back to the club, TyC Sports reports. The Colombian had two solid spells with River, one on loan and one permanent, before moving to Shenzhen earlier this year. Now, Quintero is pushing for a return with Shenzhen reportedly owing him a "fortune" in pay.

- Gianluca Di Marzio is reporting that Fiorentina are getting closer to completing the signing of Jonathan Ikone. The €15m agreement between the Italian side and Lille has already been agreed with the two clubs meeting soon to finalise the deal, with negotiations now described as being "safe" heading into the weekend and next month's January window.

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