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: Newcastle eye Rabiot as big signing
Following the club's recent takeover, Calciomercato reports that Newcastle United are interested in a move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
The Old Lady are said to be willing to move on the France international as they start a midfield shakeup of the squad, while the 26-year-old would prefer a move to the Premier League.
Juventus are eyeing a reshuffle to their midfield ranks -- AS Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni and Manchester United's Donny van de Beek are seen as options -- but the Italian side must move some players beforehad.
Newcastle are now being linked to numerous transfers due to the wealth of the club's new owners, with UEFA Nations League winner Rabiot the latest to enter the conversation.
Juventus would be able to move him on for a minimal valuation whilst losing very little, as the player joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. He has struggled in Serie A amid a mixture of inconsistent performances and injuries.
A new club could also be the fresh start Rabiot needs to stay in the mix with Les Bleus ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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22.25 BST: Folks that will do it for another day of our live Transfer Talk blog. Thanks as always for checking in and please come back tomorrow for another round!
21.44 BST: Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling would be willing to leave the Premier League club and move abroad, he said on Thursday.
The England international, 26, has fallen out of favour with City coach Pep Guardiola this season, starting only two of seven Premier League games.
"If there was an opportunity to go somewhere else, I'd be open to it at this moment in time," Sterling said during the FT Business of Sport US Summit.
"As an English player, all I know is the Premier League. I've always known that maybe one day, I would love to play abroad and see how I would come up against that challenge."
Sterling, who is under contract with City until 2023, talked of his admiration of Real Madrid last year, before City met Los Blancos in a Champions League last-16 tie.
Spanish media have reported that Barcelona are interested in Sterling, although a move for the England forward would be hampered by their financial problems, which forced them to part ways with all-time top scorer Lionel Messi in August.
21.01 BST: In an attempt to end their contract dispute with Mohamed Salah, Liverpool are ready to offer the Egypt international a £350,000-per-week deal that would comfortably make him their top earner, reports Football Insider.
The winger's current contract runs until 2023 and he wants his next one to last until 2026. Owners Fenway Sports Group have come to the realisation that Salah is a special case and are hoping that this offer will see him sign before the January transfer window opens.
20.14 BST: The Athletic has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks could leave on loan in January in search of more game time. The 25-year-old, who will be hoping to regain his place in the England setup, received interest from Aston Villa, Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion during the summer, while he also drew attention from Italy and Spain.
19.33 BST: West Ham United and Tottenham are among the clubs interested in signing St. Etienne goalkeeper Etienne Green, as has been reported by TEAMtalk.
The England Under-21 international has impressed in Ligue 1 this season and the London rivals are vying to bring the 21-year-old back to the land of his birth.
19.02 BST: Atletico Madrid have contacted Angers regarding a move for 17-year-old striker Mohamed-Ali Cho, reports Le10Sport.
The France Under-21 international has impressed with his Ligue 1 performances -- scoring twice in eight starts this season -- and Atleti are the first big club to act upon their interest, with Angers admitting they could have to offload Cho in order to financially stabilise.
18.37 BST: Earlier (14.58 BST) we brought you news about Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette and now here is an update about another Gunners forward, with Mikel Arteta completely ruling out the possibility of Gabriel Martinelli leaving on loan in January.
The 20-year-old has played just 240 minutes in all competitions this season and is currently sidelined by injury, but Arteta ruled out a move.
"No, I'm very happy with him and we aren't thinking about anything like that," the Arsenal manager said. "We have a lot of trust with Gabby and we need to find the right space for him to grow within the squad."
18.01 BST: Leeds United are keeping an eye on Ajax right-back Noussair Mazraoui, whose contract expires in the summer of 2022, reports Football Insider.
With Luke Ayling the only natural senior right-back, the Elland Road club is looking to bring in proven competition and see Mazraoui as an option, but Leeds could face competition from Arsenal and Roma.
17.32 BST: Fiorentina are hoping to sign Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic on loan in January, according to Calciomercato.
The Serbian striker, 23, has managed just 84 minutes across all competitions this term, and La Viola are aiming to bring him in until June.
17.03 BST: Erling Haaland has been warned by Borussia Dortmund teammate Mats Hummels that "the grass is not always greener" amid continued speculation over his future.
Haaland has been linked with every top club in Europe and, although he has a contract at Dortmund which runs until 2024, it is likely the Bundesliga side will receive bids for him in the summer.
Hummels, who left Dortmund for Bayern Munich before returning after three years, told Sport-Bild: "I can fully understand him if he wants to stay! Because it's great in Dortmund, because he knows what he's got here. I haven't given up hope that he'll stay for a long time.
"The grass on the other hand is not always greener. You really should be aware of that in football. It's worth a lot if you have a good environment, and you feel comfortable with the guys, too. You have to appreciate that. That is not the case in every club. So we have a lot to offer Erling, it is not like that."
16.27 BST: Real Madrid are confident of signing Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba on a free transfer next summer and believe that will help them land Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, according to The Sun.
France international teammates Pogba, 28, and 22-year-old Mbappe are both out of contract at their clubs at the end of this season, and both are long-term targets for Real Madrid.
PSG coach Maurcio Pochettino has said this week that French club will do all they can to convince Mbappe to sign a new deal (see 12.11 BST), but The Sun reports that Madrid hope that the prospect of playing alongside Pogba at club level as well as for his national team will be enough to tempt the forward to move to the Bernabeu.
15.42 BST: Following the news of Pedri agreeing a new Barcelona contract with a €1bn release clause (see 13.50 BST), Marca reports that Ansu Fati's agent Jorge Mendes is in the city to put the finishing touches on the player's new contract.
The Spain international has a contract with Barca until June 2022 although the club can unilaterally extend the deal for a further two seasons. The 18-year-old has reportedly been offered a new improved deal until June 2025 and negotiations are at an advanced stage. The new deal is expected to include a considerable increase in Ansu's release clause.
"First of all, it wouldn't depend on me but on the sporting aspect, which is the priority," Barca financial vice-president Eduard Romeu told Mundo Deportivo. "But that is not the case. Our wealth is this. If I'm placing value on La Masia [the club's academy], I'm not going to sell La Masia."
Ansu, who inherited Lionel Messi's No.10 jersey, recently returned to play after 10 months out of action with a knee injury.
14.58 BST: Mikel Arteta insists Alexandre Lacazette remains committed to Arsenal despite speculation linking him with a move away from the club in January.
Sources told ESPN's James Olley last month that Lacazette has no contract offer on the table from the Gunners even though his existing deal expires at the end of the season. The 30-year-old has made just two Premier League appearances this season -- both as a substitute -- and the striker will be free to talk to overseas clubs directly from Jan. 1.
"We are focusing on getting the best out of Laca and he shows every day his commitment is here," Arteta told reporters on Thursday. "We just want to give him the right minutes so that he can show his quality and help the team to do better."
Atletico Madrid have a longstanding interest in Lacazette while Juventus, AC Milan and Sevilla are also reportedly monitoring Lacazette's situation.
- Olley: 'No Thomas, no Partey' -- Arsenal's pivotal player in Arteta's rebuild
14.23 BT: Premier League rivals Manchester City and Manchester United are two of the big clubs who want to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. Which club would suit him best?
13.50 BST: Barcelona's teenage midfielder Pedri has agreed a new contract until 2026 with his release clause rising to €1 billion ($1.57bn), the Catalan club have confirmed.
Pedri's previous deal was due to expire at the end of the season and, once the transfer window closed in the summer, Barca made committing him to new terms a priority.
The Spain international's release clause has more than doubled in the process, going from €400m to €1bn to set a new club record. Antoine Griezmann's contract, signed in 2019, included an €800m buyout option, which was the previous record. Lionel Messi's clause reached €700m during his time at Camp Nou, but never higher.
Pedri, who will turn 19 in November, has enjoyed a breakout 14 months since joining Barca from Las Palmas in 2020 for an initial fee of around €5m. With add-ons, the deal could potentially be worth €25m to the Canary Islanders.
It's done #DreamTeen pic.twitter.com/7dbumsqJYB
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 14, 2021
13.27 BST: Real Madrid and Barcelona are battling out for the signings of Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea and Franck Kessie from AC Milan next summer, according to Diario AS' front-page story.
The Spanish newspaper calls it a "Zero Cost Clasico" with both players having been identified by the LaLiga giants as potential recruits next summer when their contracts expire.
Madrid and Barca both took advantage of free transfers to strengthen their squads at minimal cost this year, bringing in David Alaba and Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero respectively.
Kessie, 24 -- who has been a regular in the Milan first team since joining in 2017 -- has refused to agree a renewal at San Siro and is also reportedly a target for Paris Saint-Germain.
Rudiger impressed for Chelsea in their Champions League win last season and is reportedly keen to leverage his current high profile to pursue a lucrative deal at a new club from 2022.
🌒 ¡Buenas noches!
— Diario AS (@diarioas) October 13, 2021
🗞️ Aquí está nuestra #PortadAS del 14 de octubre
💸 Clásico a coste cero pic.twitter.com/FGDHCByWUD
12.54 BST: ESPN's Mark Ogden has a warning for Newcastle United fans expecting a slew of bag names arriving at St James' Park in the January transfer window:
"Forget, for a moment, all of the hype and speculation about transfer spending and the game's biggest stars now being attracted to the club following their recent takeover as they attempt to take the same short-cut to success as Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. The truth right now is that Newcastle are one of the weakest teams in the Premier League and the January transfer window may yet bring as many problems as solutions.
"... Newcastle have the dual problem of being restricted by spending limits at the same time as having to add to a squad in relegation trouble, so it will be much more difficult to follow the same path as Chelsea and City. When they get to January, Newcastle will quickly discover that players already well-paid elsewhere will not want to risk a relegation battle with a team that will take perhaps three to four transfer windows to become competitive. A move to Newcastle in January may bring the promise of regular football and a big pay rise, but there will be no Champions League football on the horizon until August 2023 at the earliest, and that is an extremely optimistic scenario, so the top players will opt to sit and wait until Newcastle becomes a team capable of attracting them to St James' Park.
"If Newcastle employ the best scouts and advisors, they will realise that January will be about signing a certain type of player; those with experience, quality and the hunger to help turn the situation around. But they will also encounter agents and clubs who want to offload players who will put financial motivation ahead of playing ambition and end up with those they can't rely on to deliver when it really matters."
- Ogden: Newcastle owners must forget star signings, they're battling relegation
12.11 BST: Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino insists the club is doing all it can to keep Kylian Mbappe for next season.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and sporting director Leonardo are still working on convincing Mbappe to remain at the club beyond next summer when his contract expires.
"Who can't think that PSG wouldn't want him [Mbappe] to continue here for many more years?" Pochettino said. "The club will try to convince him and seduce him to continue here."
A long-term target of Real Madrid, Mbappe confirmed that he had wanted to leave PSG in July, but the Ligue 1 giants refused to sell him despite knowing the France striker could sign for a new club on Jan. 1, as he will be a free agent next summer. Mbappe's mother, Fayza Lamari, recently said her son is in talks to sign a new deal with PSG despite intense interest from Madrid.
"He is clear about things and loves football," Pochettino said. "He is 22 but is very mature to manage this type of situations regarding his future. I have no doubt in my mind that Kylian can face any challenge that the future brings him.
"You cannot underestimate football players. They have their entourage, their advisors, but it is them that take their own decisions. Kylian will take the decision he needs to take, and the club will do everything possible to keep Kylian because we are talking about one of the best players in the world. He is 22 and has great potential."
11.31 BST: Jesse Lingard is wanted by Barcelona and AC Milan as he gets closer to the end of his contract at Manchester United, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
Lingard has entered the final year of his deal at Old Trafford and will be able to negotiate with clubs outside England from Jan. 1 ahead of a potential free transfer next summer.
Barcelona and Milan are among a host of clubs monitoring the situation and Lingard is open to moving to either Spain or Italy as he plots the next step in his career.
The opportunity to sign an experienced England international on a free transfer during a time when finances have been restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic has made Lingard an attractive prospect for a number of Europe's top clubs.
Lingard has already rejected a contract offer from United over concerns he may not get enough opportunities to keep his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad as the 2022 World Cup approaches. United are yet to return with a fresh proposal.
10.39 BST: Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has no interest in taking over at Newcastle United should the club decide to fire Steve Bruce, the Daily Telegraph reports.
A Saudi Arabia-led takeover of Newcastle was completed last week, with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) buying the Premier League club in a deal worth just over £300m. The takeover by the world's largest sovereign wealth fund has led to speculation over the future of Bruce and who might replace him at St James' Park.
However, the Telegraph reports that Rodgers -- whose Leicester side beat Chelsea to win the FA Cup final last season -- is totally committed to the Foxes and has no plans to leave them for Newcastle.
09.44 BT: Diego Simeone has admitted that he wanted to bring Lionel Messi to Atletico Madrid this summer, saying he called Luis Suarez to ask if a deal was possible.
Messi became a free agent when his Barcelona contract expired on June 30, and planned to stay until the club announced that financial problems would prevent them from registering a new, agreed deal.
The 34-year-old eventually signed for Paris Saint-Germain on August 10, signing a two-year contract with the option of a further year.
"When what happened at Barcelona happened, we called Luis," Simeone told Argentine newspaper Diario Ole. "I didn't call Leo. But I called Luis to say 'look, how is he? Would he be keen? Is there the slightest possibility... imagining that he could come to Atletico Madrid."
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08.51 BST: Former England midfielder Jack Wilshere insists he is still hoping to find a club to continue his playing career despite working toward his coaching qualifications at former club Arsenal.
Wilshere is a free agent after being released by Bournemouth in the summer and then having his signing for Serie B club Como blocked due to EU restrictions.
The 29-year-old is back training at Arsenal -- where he spent a decade as a player -- and has been helping academy boss Per Mertesacker while keeping fit while he looks for a new club to join.
"At the moment I am doing my coaching badges and the club is helping me with them and I am helping some of the academy kids out as well," Wilshere told Sky. "It is certainly something I enjoy and maybe something to look at in the future but for now I still want to play.
"I feel like I still have a lot to give and something to prove which is why I don't want to finish playing now and start a coaching career just yet."
On being invited back to Arsenal by manager Mikel Arteta, a former teammate of Wilshere's the midfielder added: "It's nice to be back seeing some old faces who I spent a lot of my life with.
"Fitness-wise I am getting there and it's great to be back training with good players and the quality is only going to be beneficial for me moving forward.
"I'm there [at Arsenal] until January and there's no news on any clubs but hopefully something will come up then."
08.00 BST: Phil Foden is set to pledge his long-term future to Manchester City by signing a new six-year contract, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
The midfielder has three years left to run on his current deal but the fresh terms will reflect his rise to become one of the most important members of Pep Guardiola's squad. Sources have told ESPN that City are expected to make an announcement once the final details are tied up.
The 21-year-old Foden has become a central figure since coming through the club's academy. He made 50 appearances, scoring 16 goals, as City won the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final last season.
Foden is the latest City player to agree a new contract following Ederson, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne. His deal is set to keep him at the Etihad Stadium until at least 2027.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Luke Thrower)
- AC Milan are ready to move on winger Samu Castillejo with LaLiga club Getafe interested, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The 26-year-old has recently found himself out of Stefano Pioli's plans for the future, with Getafe reportedly reaching an agreement with the player over a move back to Spain.
- LaLiga sides Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are interested in Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. The Hungary international has impressed this season in in the Turkish league. At 23 years old, he could still improve at centre-back.
- Juventus have joined AS Roma in showing interest in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria. According to Tuttosport, Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is eyeing the Switzerland international if they cannot land the aforementioned Tchouameni, with contacts opening over the possible transfer of the midfielder.
- AC Milan are interested in signing Serie B side Pisa's youngster Lorenzo Lucca, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Rossoneri are in search of a young central striker to succeed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and eventually Olivier Giroud. Lucca, 21, has impressed with his consistency, with a valuation of €10 million reportedly set on him.
- Robert Lewandowski is reportedly frustrated at Bayern Munich amid uncertainty over his future, according to Sport BILD. The Poland international is irked about links between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland and FC Salzburg's Karim Adeyemi, both seen as potential successors to the 33-year-old.