Football
ESPN 4y

LIVE Transfer Talk: Juventus turn to Thiago as alternative to Pogba

The winter transfer window is closed, but now it's time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around following the Jan. 31 deadline day.

TOP STORY: Juve eye Thiago as Pogba alternative

Just when you thought Paul Pogba's Manchester United departure finally seemed to be on the horizon, it seems there's another twist in the tail of the year's longest-running transfer saga.

Reports of late had suggested that Juventus were in pole position to sign the France international in a potential swap deal involving Aaron Ramsey, but now Tuttosport writes that the Red Devils could be dealt a lifeline in their hopes of retaining the midfielder.

According to the Turin-based publication, the Old Lady may instead turn to Bayern Munich ace Thiago, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season, with the Bundesliga side said to be considering cashing in now with any contract renewal likely to be an expensive process.

However, Maurizio Sarri's side have been left a man light in midfield following Emre Can's departure to Borussia Dortmund and, despite also expressing interest in Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic, the Serie A leaders may yet opt to pursue both Thiago and Pogba, meaning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's hopes of keeping hold of the World Cup winner remain slim.

LIVE BLOG

23.10 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!

22.49 GMT: Man City's two-year UEFA ban could lead to a mass exodus at the Etihad but the club won't be mandated to sell their top players.

City are currently appealing the ruling but even if they are unsuccessful, City will not be forced to have a fire sale.

'There would be no need for a firesale,' the University of Liverpool's Kieran Maguire told Sportsmail.

'They will actually benefit from not being in Europe because FFP limits under UEFA are €30million losses over three years, compared to £105m under Premier League limits.'

Now can City convince Pep Guardiola and stars like Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne to stay even while out of Europe? That may be a different story...

22.03 GMT: Roy Hodgson to stay on long-term at Crystal Palace?

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish told Palace TV that the former England boss, who has one year remaining on his current deal, has been offered a new contract.

"We've presented a contract to Roy, we are talking to him about that but I think everyone is pretty focused on the games.

"Roy said himself in the press the other day that he is very relaxed about the whole thing. We are very relaxed about it, I think we will get that done in the fullness of time."

Hodgson, 72, has been at Palace since Sept. 2017, amassing 38 wins, 27 draws and 48 defeats while helping Palace consistently punch above their weight.

21.11 GMT: Todd Cantwell to... Liverpool?

The 21-year-old midfielder has had a nice debut season but Liverpool are surely a step or three too high for him -- right now at least. The England underage international has scored six goals and added two assists and according to many outlets Cantwell could be a target, namely if the Reds need to increase their quota of English players due to Brexit.

What a meteoric rise that would be for the youngster!

20.33 GMT: Arsenal have had some better results of late but the club still have a lot of work to do under new manager Mikel Arteta.

According to Calciomercato, Arteta wants a new central midfielder and is sending scouts to Italy to watch Roma's Bryan Cristante. The 24-year-old, who made his rise three years ago at Atalanta scoring nine goals, has played 13 times in Serie A this season, scoring one goal.

Arsenal currently have Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos and Lucas Torreira on the books in central midfield.

20.04 GMT: Mario Pasalic, remember him?

The Croatian midfielder is still property of Chelsea, having signed with the club from Hajduk Split in 2014. We'll forgive those of you in England who don't know the name, as Pasalic has never played for the Blues and is in the midst of his sixth-straight loan spell. After spells with Elche, Monaco, Milan and Spartak Moscow, the 25-year-old seems to have found a home in Italy with Atalanta.

Pasalic, in his second season with the Bergamo club, is having a fine campaign for the Champions League upstarts and The Guardian writes that Atalanta will sign him permanently for £12.5 million this summer. In 30 games over all competitions, Pasalic has tallied seven goals and five assists so far this campaign.

19.16 GMT: Chelsea's Emerson Palmieri has fallen out of Frank Lampard's starting XI, ratcheting up talk that the Italian international could return to Serie A.

His agent, Luis Fernando Garcia, is claiming so much, telling Juvenews.eu ""We know very well about Juventus' interest but also about Inter. So far there has been no talk of a transfer with Chelsea, nor has there been any official offer."

The Brazilian-born full-back has previously played in Italy with Palermo and Roma.

18.38 GMT: The way Liverpool have been going this season could anybody possibly turn them down?

Well it turns out a talented and confident 20-year-old did just that this winter That player? Bayern Munich goalkeeper Christian Fruchtl

According to Sport1, Liverpool approached Bayern in December in hopes of signing the goalkeeper to backup Alisson, only for Fruchtl to turn down a move. The youngster was reportedly only interested in leaving to be a No. 1 but with Neuer, and highly-touted Alexander Nubel joining from Schalke come the summer, it would seem Fruchtl will have to leave Bayern to further his career.

17.59 GMT: The Seattle Sounders have signed former Minnesota United midfielder Miguel Ibarra.

The 29-year-old played the last three seasons with the Loons and previously had a spell in Mexico with Leon. Ibarra, who cut his teeth with Minnesota in the NASL, the second division of American soccer, has also made three appearances internationally for the United States.

Last season, "Batman" as he is called, contributed one goal and one assist in 29 games as the Loons made the playoffs for the first time in team history.

17.20 GMT: Chelsea winger Willian, 31, will be one of the most-coveted free transfers on the market this summer but there is no guarantee the Brazilian will leave Stamford Bridge at all.

The tricky winger recently obtained British citizenship and in an article with The Players Tribune, called London his "second home." 

"If you ask my wife if she wants to leave London, she'll say no,' he told The Players Tribune. "My daughters feel the same way. Of course, Brazil is Brazil, right? It's our home, our culture. We always feel good when we go there on holiday and see family and friends. But London is my second home."

Willian has lived in London since joining Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013 and to this point has made 324 appearances for the Blues, scoring 57 goals and adding 58 assists.

If Willian does leave, don't be surprised if Barcelona are involved, as the Catalan club have made multiple runs at signing the Brazilian over the past two years.

16.47 GMT: Tottenham are clearly going to be active in the market this summer and Fenerbahce captain Ozan Tufan is on their radar, says Turkishfootball.

Tufan, 24, has been linked with Everton too, but Tottenham are going to need a new midfielder with Eric Dier's contract set to expire next year and no signs yet of him signing a new one.

"Ozan has always wanted to play in Europe. He returned to Fenerbahce and felt he had a debt to pay," Tufan's agent, Utku Cenikli, said. "He does have a €20m release clause which will be his way of giving back."

16.00 GMT: Edin Julardzija is probably not a name you've heard of before ... and fair enough, he's not made his first team debut for Dinamo Zagreb yet.

However, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder has impressed for the club's UEFA Youth League squad and Croatia U18s and that's enough to get the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham sniffing around, as well as Sassuolo, Inter and Roma from Italy.

If you're thinking that Sassuolo are the odd club out in that list then bear in mind this news comes from Sassuolonews.it.

15.28 GMT: FC Cincinnati have signed Siem de Jong from Champions League semifinalists Ajax on a free transfer.

15.14 GMT: Inter Milan are just desperate to sign more Premier League misfits and have turned to Chelsea full-back Marcos Alonso.

Alonso's future at the Blues is uncertain, but Inter boss Antonio Conte will make a fresh bid to land him for €30m this summer, says Calciomercato.

14.27 GMT: Want to know more about why Christian Eriksen left Tottenham for Inter Milan in January? Ask Denmark manager Age Hareide.

"There were clubs in England that were interested in him. Manchester United were interested in Christian Eriksen. I know that Ole Gunnar [Solskjaer] was," he told Norway's Viasport.

"There was talk of Real Madrid and in part Barcelona ... but mostly Real Madrid. But along the way, Inter and [Antonio] Conte showed their interest. And they showed real interest in Christian, and that was the most important thing."

13.55 GMT: Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers says he hasn't made any approach to Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana over a free transfer in the summer.

13.44 GMT: PSG captain Thiago Silva has yet to agree a new contract, with his current deal running out in the summer. But his agent Paulo Tonietto has spoken to Tuttomercatoweb: "For now, we have not discussed an extension with PSG. Thiago wants to stay, but he is ruling nothing out.

"Thiago has always had a great relationship with AC Milan. If he does not stay on with PSG, anything is possible."

13.02 GMT: Former Juventus and Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has denied being in talks with PSG to replace Thomas Tuchel as coach.

"No [there has been no PSG approach for his services this summer]," he told AFP. "First of all, there is nothing. Secondly, it would be a lack of respect towards others. Today, I am in Paris, a magnificent city, to present my book, especially my anecdotes and experiences. I am not talking about my future as I do not know what it holds. In September, I should be back -- even if I am very used to being on holiday and not working. So, I must come back!"

12.23 GMT: Salomon Rondon has been speaking about his potential move to Man United in January.

Rondon, 30, plays for Dalian Professional in the Chinese Super League, having had spells at Newcastle and West Brom. But the striker was being linked to United before they signed Odion Ighalo on loan. 

"There was something. It was not smoke," he told Spanish outlet AS. "They were rumours and very strong. In the end it could not be specified and now I have to focus on Dalian."

Rondon added to The Athletic: "It was all out of my hands. It means a lot to be linked with Manchester United because they have a great history and it must mean they think I did well in the Premier League.

"They started to talk to my agent and I was just waiting by my phone for a decision, maybe for the lawyers, but then I saw Ighalo had signed. It didn't get to the stage where an offer was made or anything like that, but I think it was really close."

11.46 GMT: Wolves winger Adama Traore says he would have no problem joining Real Madrid despite coming through Barcelona's youth system.

The 24-year-old left Barca in 2015 after 11 years at the club and, after stints at Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, has become a regular in Nuno Espirito Santo's Wolves side.

Traore has been linked with a number of top clubs, Barca and Madrid among them. And, when asked if he could see himself wearing the Real Madrid jersey one day, Traore told La Vanguardia ahead of Thursday's Europa League game against Espanyol: "It wouldn't be a problem for me. I don't close the door to anything. Right now I'm very happy here, the way the team works is fantastic. But regarding Real Madrid and Barca, it will come whenever it comes."

Asked if a return to Barca would be a dream, Traore said: "I hold no resentment towards what happened. I have no problem with the club. I know how the club works. I spent 10 years in the youth team and I had some minutes with the first team. I have a lot more good memories than bad. I took a decision at that moment and I don't regret it. My spells at Aston Villa and Middlesbrough were tough but helped me to grow. But when it comes to decide my future I have no problem going to Madrid. "

11.08 GMT: Real Madrid have not contacted captain Sergio Ramos to begin talks over a contract extension, according to Diario AS.

Ramos, 33, is tied to Los Blancos until June 2021 and wants to extend his contract for a further two seasons.

Diario AS claim Madrid are in no hurry to sit down and negotiate with the Spain captain until next year and will only consider offering the veteran defender a contract on a season-per-season basis.

Ramos and Gareth Bale are the highest earners at Real Madrid pocketing around €14m net each per season.

The former Sevilla star considered leaving Madrid at the end of last season after receiving a lucrative offer from a Chinese club but said that he "would play for Real Madrid for free" and insisted he wants to retire at Madrid.

Since joining Madrid in the summer of 2005 from Sevilla, Ramos has signed three contract extensions, his last in 2017. None of the previous three Madrid captains -- Iker Casillas, Raul Gonzalez and Fernando Hierro -- have retired at the club.

10.20 GMT: Barcelona have completed the surprise signing of Leganes' Martin Braithwaite after being given permission to bring in a forward outside the transfer window.

Braithwaite, 28, has signed until 2024 and could make his debut on Saturday against Eibar after Barcelona paid his €18m release clause.

09.46 GMT: Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller says that the club will assess the future of midfielder Kai Havertz in the summer.

Havertz, 20, is one of the hottest properties in Europe and has seen interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool and a host of other top clubs.

"I am glad that we still held [on to Kai Havertz] this year," Voller said on the TV programme '100% Bundesliga - Football at Nitro'. "We'll see how it looks in summer. He still has a contract until 2022 -- these are, of course, the classic facts.

"There was already interest in the summer, but we told him that it would be good for him to stay with us for another year. And that was the right decision."

- Schoenfeld: Havertz is Germany's next big thing

09.30 GMT: Sevilla have announced they have agreed to sell captain Daniel Carrico to Chinese Super League side Wuhan Zall FC.

Carrico, 31, leaves Sevilla after six-and-a-half seasons at the Sanchez Pizjuan. He made a total of 167 appearances for Sevilla, including 11 league appearances this season, helping the club win three consecutive Europa League titles since joining the La Liga outfit in the summer of 2013 from Reading.

09.18 GMT: Mauro Icardi's wife and agent Wanda Nara has been speaking about the striker's future.

Icardi moved from Inter Milan to PSG on loan in the summer and now Nara told Oggi via Foot Mercato: "I do not know if he will play with Juventus ever. With football, you never know [if they will be living in Milan or Paris next year]. Mauro will choose and we will follow him."

08.32 GMT: Barcelona's Lionel Messi has been speaking and when the GOAT speaks, we listen.

Regarding the clause in his contract that would allow him to walk away for nothing at the end of the season, even though his deal runs until 2021, he told El Mundo Deportivo: "The truth is that I've always had the [choice] to decide not just because of that clause. Many times I had the possibility to leave the club, there were many clubs interested that were prepared to pay even my release clause but at no time did it enter my mind to leave, nor does it now. My idea is to continue at the club. I want to win another Champions League, continue to win league titles and that is what I always aspire to."

Messi also spoke about his desire for Neymar to return to Barcelona and the quality of compatriot and Inter and Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, who is a reported target of Barca to replace Luis Suarez long-term.

"I've said it many times, from a sporting standpoint Ney is one of the best in the world and I would love for him to return," Messi said. "He is very eager to return and always showed his regret. He did a lot to return and that would be the first step to try to come back.

"Lautaro is spectacular, he has impressive conditions, you could always see he was going to be a great player, now he's taken off and he is showing it. He is very strong, he is very good on one-on-one, he has a lot of goals ... he has a lot of quality. He is complete."

08.00 GMT: Liverpool's hopes of signing Timo Werner may well have been given a boost after the Germany international told Viasport Fotball he is proud to be linked with the Premier League side.

Speaking after his side's Champions League win over Tottenham, Werner said: "When you're linked with that team it makes you very proud ... it's a pleasure, but I know Liverpool have a lot of good players."

PAPER TALK (by Liam Wheeler)

Dembele dreams of Man United move

Manchester United will sign a striker this summer, according to Sky Sports, and Lyon's Moussa Dembele desperate to make a dream move to Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old forward has grown increasingly frustrated at the Ligue 1 club's decision not to sell him in January, but he will be allowed to move on this summer. And he has his sights set on a return to English football, having played at Fulham from 2012 to 2016.

Chelsea had a €40m bid rejected last month, while Manchester City, Newcastle and West Ham are also said to be interested. Despite the glut of interested parties, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas likely will have to settle for less than his €100m asking price.

Lazio still keen on Giroud

Italian side Lazio remain keen on Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, despite the France striker remaining committed to helping the Blues in their push for a Champions League place, Le10 Sport reports.

Giroud was the subject of unrelenting speculation throughout the January transfer window, having fallen behind both Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

Lazio were reported to have been one of the clubs interested in the veteran forward's services, but despite a move failing to materialise, the club -- who sit just a point behind leaders Juventus in Serie A -- are set to offer Giroud a pre-contract offer that would allow the 33-year-old to finally end his Chelsea misery in the summer.

Giroud has featured just eight times for Frank Lampard's side this campaign, scoring once.

Tap-ins

- Manchester United will spend big to land Jack Grealish from Aston Villa this summer, the Mirror reports. The creative midfielder has already exceeded his goal-scoring record in any other season at Villa Park and the paper writes that he could set the Red Devils back £80m should Villa stay in the Premier League.

^ Back to Top ^